Like a bird

050417-LikeFather
Originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

Ah, they start so early, don't they?

So, what's with guys and the middle finger? (Now I say "guys" because I have yet to see a group of women demontrating to each other various ways of giving each other the bird.)

(Not that I'd do it myself, but...) I understand the motivation behind flipping off someone on the freeway. But what's with the weird bonding ritual of flipping each other off for fun? (McNutt, care to chime in?)

Addison Update

Chris and I heard that Addison's second bone marrow transplant took! He's become more active and is even walking on his own.

Thanks for all your positive thoughts. Keep that energy going so Addison will be well enough to come home in a month or so.

Happy Birthday Mrs. Parker

GPBR30300K
Originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

Mmmm. What's this?
Something's cookin' at the Parkers.
Oh, that's a nice touch. She'll like that.
Oh, what have we here? Nothing Brawny can't handle.
So strong. That's Brawny.
Now that's a bad little boy.
So soft. That's Brawny.
Happy Birthday to you Mrs. Parker.
Happy Birthday to you.

If you've been watching daytime TV (or the Food Network) you've probably seen this hilarious ad for Brawny paper towels. If, unlike me, you have a job...then you've got to go to http://www.brawnyman.com/products/ads.html

Check out the first commercial -- "Role Reversal": A man with the same strong, yet sensitive qualities as Brawny paper towels prepares a special evening for the woman in his life

Oh. And don't skimp. Watch the 30 second version. It's much better than the 15 second one.

BTW, let me know if anyone of you have the techinical savy to save a mpeg of this. I've got to have this for future viewing.

Houston, We Have Lift Off

We can all rest easy now. Eight days later and Parker's FINALLY poo'd. PHEW!

I guess now I'll have to restart the clock and see how long the next one takes. Maybe this will be come a "regular" thing. (Ha! Ha! I had to say it.) Maybe we'll be blessed with just one stinky diaper a week as opposed to a daily one.

Lil' Stripper

050422-Stripper
Originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

So Parker's been a bit crabby the last few days. We think it's because he hasn't pooped for at least six days! (It could be longer but who think to make a mental note for poop.) Well, I put him to bed for a nap but when he woke up he was angry and proceeded to use his legs to push...demonstrating his anger. Well, like a push-up stick he pop, not just out of his bed but out of his clothes. He was so upset and yet so cute...I had to take a picture.

When Cousins Collide

050417-CousinsCollide
Originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

We celebrated April birthdays (Carli's and Jasmine's) at Eric and Amy's house, which gave us an opportunity to try to get a photo with all the little ones. Half of the photos were on traditional film so we'll have to wait a day or so for the results but, as for the digital photos, here's our best shot with everyone in it.

Where's Parker, you ask? See that blue foot on the left. That's him. As I said, this was the best shot we could get of several moving targets.

Bathing Beauty

050416-BathingBeauty
Originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

While Niko was in town, she had to take advantage of the bath tub in our master bath...probably the feature of our house that gets the most ooo's and aah's.

Of course that meant we had to take a ton of pictures of the little cutie -- one of which, I'm sharing with you. Enjoy!

Kissing Cousins

050415-Cousins
Originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

So Niko (16mo) and Parker (6wk) have finally met. (Niko came with my sisters -- Joanie & Susie -- who made their way down south for a weekend visit.)

As you can see, Niko is a bit of a big baby and one of the reasons why I fretted about giving birth to a big baby during my preganancy. I mean, if my sister can have two, so can I. Now I realize that big baby gene is all Kevin's (Joanie's husband) fault. Phew!

Joanie mentioned that Niko's been a bit of a biter lately. To be honest, I think she just sees day care as a big smorgasbord and she's got to taste everyone.

That said, I'm sure when this picture was taken Niko's thinking "Baby! Get in my belly!"

Radar Love

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Originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

We get the best TV reception when Frankie has an unobstructed view of the southern sky.

Sunny Side Up

050413-Sunworshiper
Originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

I think I've been stuck at home for way too long because Frankie is the most entertaining thing in a very long while. With tha collar on, all I have to do is look at him and a smile will emerge. Things become even more humorous when he's eating (imagine someone placing a very large cup over the food dish), following me (excuse me is that your collar or are you just happy to see me), or even just looking out the window (now imaging that large cup placed against the glass).

I liked this picture because it reminded me of someone sunbathing with one of those reflectors.

You can't have just one

050412-MartiniGlass
Originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

How could I not upload this photo?! Can't write much more, though, because every time I hear a bump in the house I have to go check on Frankie and make sure he's all right. (Often, I find him standing in front of an object or near a doorway, wondering why he can't pass through/by it.)

Back From the Vet

050412-LessIsMore
Originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

Well, Frankie is now officially less of a man...err...dog...err...he's been neutered. To add to the humilation, he has to wear a funnel around his neck to prevent him from opening his stiches.

Poor Frankie. The funnel makes him a bit disoriented. I guess it takes about a day for him to get used to it. Until then he bumps into things as he's not fully aware of the new width of his head. Often, though, he just stands not sure where he can go.

One Month

And what have I learned? 1)There’s nothing like a happy baby. 2)Even better, there’s nothing like a sleeping baby. 3)Never assume a quiet baby in a crib is asleep. 4)Babies at Parker’s age are nearsighted.

With this knowledge in mind, I can never just cross the crib without first checking if Parker’s actually asleep. If I were to cross the crib even though he’s contently (not crying) awake, he would be set off, insisting on immediate attention. Consequently, any plans I had of writing, housework (pshaw! Yeah right.), feeding the cat, excercising the dog, etc. are now derailed. That said, I must now confess that in order to get past the baby I must make the most of his poor eyesight and limited mobility by…yes…getting down on all fours and crawling past his crib below his range of detection.

Talk about an awful mother but I figure I might as well take advantage of the situation while I still can. Soon enough, my army belly crawl will not evade detection and I’ll have to think of some other sneaky way to find a little time for myself.

Highs & Lows

The warmest feeling has to be holding a content baby in your arms. Trusting, he sleeps in your arms knowing that he’s right where he wants to be. Two have become one.

The loneliest feeling has to be holding a crying baby in your arms. Unhappy, he sobs but his cries are in a language you don’t understand. You’re unable to tear down the wall of tears, which stands between you.

You’re lucky you’re so darn cute

It’s 3am and you’ve been crying for the last half hour for no perceivable reason. I want to give up but when I look down upon you’re face – even though it’s gripped with anguish – I can’t help but think…you’re lucky you’re so darn cute.

Later that day, I make three consecutive diaper changes because you immediately soil each new diaper. When you christen the experience by shooting a perfect golden arc onto my shirt, I can’t help but think…you’re lucky you’re so darn cute.

Finally, when you smack and pop while you eat, as if you were chewing a wad of gum, I can't help but think...Holy Smokes, kid! Can you give Mom a break?!

The Super Supervisor

050402-SuperSupervisor
Originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

Well, Chris has finally made a huge step in with his shed project. He's poured the footing, which involved hiring a cement truck to deliver 4 cubic yards of cement -- all of which needed to be poured into its final resting place immediately. It required a lot of prep on Chris' part but, as you can see, Frankie (the project supervisor) is very proud of their progress.