A Little Cuteness for Your Sunday

Margot's first laughs.  Never a sweeter sound!

Life is Happening

Yep, I missed my bump update last week, but rest assured, I am still pregnant.  I'll catch you all up this week.

In the meantime, here's what's been going on round about these parts.  And yes, I could probably split this up into several posts, but let's be honest...I'm not so great with keeping up with the ole' blog lately, so this way is probably best.

• Since going back and forth approximately a million and three times about whether to try and sell our house and move or to stay put for awhile, we finally refinanced.  Why we didn't do this sooner, I'll never know.  We dragged our feet for far too long, and then suddenly, just like that, our mortgage payment is $300 less each month than we've been paying.  Thank you, President Obama, for your wonderful government program for those unfortunate homeowners like me, who have been previously unable to take advantage of these low interest rates.  We are now on a three year plan to move (actually, we're down to two and a half), and I'm okay with that.  Especially given all the recent work done around here to make all of our rooms usable spaces!
• We had to put down our sweet hound dog Daphne.  She very suddenly got very sick, and over the course of a heart wrenching month, declined to the point where we knew what we had to do.  It has been hard to get used to not having her around the house, but we are adjusting to being a one dog family.  And to find that silver lining- I had no idea how much easier life would be with only one.  We're glad Daphne is at peace now.
• Moving on past the sadness...the boy is finally becoming a talker.  At one point, I was keeping track of his words.  And then suddenly, there were too many, and we were adding to the list at such a rapid pace, that I gave up.  He has surprised us several times with things that he's able to say.  He knows the sounds of just about every farm animal, can name many body parts, and can ask for things he wants.  (Or at the very least, he has mastered "please" and will beg and point.)  And as it is clearly in his genes- his most clearly spoken word is "beer."  He points to J's glass each night and lets us know that he knows what's in it.  He also demonstrated last week that he is capable of repeating what he hears his parents say, as he very clearly said "DICK" from the backseat of the van after he heard me call a parking spot stealer this offensive term.  Oops.  Time to turn on the filter.
• And finally, this awesome video.  Enjoy.      

CollegeHumor's Favorite Funny Videos

He Walks

I think today is the day that the nugget has finally realized that he can walk.

Lately, he has been taking increasing numbers of steps here and there.  But as soon as he realized what he was doing, he would quickly grab onto something in a panic.  Today, he passed the four step mark and kept on going.  He occasionally lets out a giggle of pride, as he realizes that he is walking.

Here is the best few steps I've been able to capture thus far!  My cute little walker.

Gabe- Eleven Months

Now entering the last month of his first year- where did the time go?

Q: How is the big boy?
A: GREAT.  He is a walking, talking marvel.

Q: Walking and talking?!?!
A: Well, walkingish and talkingish.  His first word, as previously reported, was NO.  He uses this word occasionally when he is unhappy about something, and very frequently when we tell him not to do something.  If we tell him no, he repeats.  Fortunately, he usually follows our directions and stops whatever no-inducing activity he was enjoying.  He also seems to say "Oh no!" when particularly dismayed about something.

Since then, he has finally said Mama with meaning.  This usually happens when he is crying, as he crawls toward me saying "Mama, Mama, Mama" over and over again as my heart is breaking.  Somehow, when you add the "Mama" to the cries, they become so much sadder!

He has also put his two words together.  On the weekends, J usually gets up with him in the mornings and lets me sleep in.  Yes, my husband is THAT awesome.  Unfortunately for him, Gabe is in the Mama phase.  So when J gets him out of his crib, Gabe's reaction is typically "No.  Mama."  At which point J lowers his head and cries a little.  Okay, not really.  He knows this is just a phase, and that someday he will be Gabe's super hero.

As far as the walking goes, the little man has begun to take some steps.  When he doesn't realize what he's doing, he lets go of the furniture and takes a step or two here or there.  I expect him to let go purposefully and with confidence any second now...

Q: How is eating going?
A: Another success.  Big boy has completely given up the baby food.  He no longer has any use for pureed anything.  Give the kid some meatloaf or macaroni and cheese, and he's a happy camper.  Other favorites include NutriGrain bars, yogurt, and pears.  Basically, he's seating most of what we're eating.  He is enjoying chewing, as the case may be.

With his new found  love for food comes an increasing disdain for his bottles.  We dropped his nighttime bottle once we settled back in at home after our holiday travels.  I was forced to say goodbye to my last hope of baby cuddles, as that bedtime feeding was the only time my son would snuggle in with me.  Sniff, sniff...  I am quite sure that dropping that bottle was significantly harder on me than it was on the nugget.

Q: What are Gabe's current favorites?
A: His two favorites are being on the move, and making noise.  Hmm, can you say LITTLE BOY?

His Lightning McQueen walker is in constant use.  He will walk it from one end of the house to the other, and then move himself to its other side and walk it back.  He loves this.

He also loves banging things.  His hands on the coffee table, his rattle on the floor, one toy on another.  But his favorite is banging a wooden spoon on the dog bowl.  J gave him the spoon and taught him this trick.  Lucky me.


Q: How could he get any cuter?
A: I'm glad you asked.  You see, he has finally realized that the world thinks he's cute.  And when he wants his admirers to be particularly enamored of him, he does this.

Yes, he puts one arm up, tilts his head to the side, and cheeses.  This started out as raising both arms above his head, which he will still do if we say "Touchdown!"  Then it morphed into this people-think-I'm-so-cute-that-they-giggle-whenever-I-do-this gesture.  It really is just too much.

Well, friends, wish this mama luck as we sail into the boy's last month of babyhood!

My Little Reader

Being an early intervention literacy teacher, seeing a youngster pick up a book and enjoy it is a moment that brings nothing but happiness to my heart.  So imagine my joy when I saw my little child genius, carefully sounding out each word of his Winnie the Pooh book.


Okay, so maybe he's not reading it, but he sure is enjoying it!

Happy New Year!

Gabe is awfully excited about 2012- and this cool balloon.  Hope the new year brings nothing but joy and goodness to you all!

Get The Kleenex

I am a crier.  Happy tears, sad tears, angry tears...almost every day sees at least one of these.  Sometimes I apologize to J for being such a crybaby.  Luckily, he says that my sensitivity is one of the things he loves about me.  (He may just be saying that so that I don't cry harder, but we'll never know!) 

When I was pregnant, this crying problem only got worse.  I might've literally cried at the drop of a hat.

During this time, nothing brought on the waterworks more than happy family visions.  I COULD. NOT. HANDLE. the commercials for Disney World.  You know, the ones with the home videos of parents surprising their kids with a Disney trip?

Yesterday, J emailed me this one.  Of course, he knew that it would make me cry.  Which it did.  But it is just so precious and sweet, I had to watch and share.  Enjoy!

The Truth About Bedtime

WARNING: This reading contains mucho foul language, and is not for the faint of heart...however, if you are a parent, you are LYING if you tell me that you haven't thought these exact sentiments.

Although Gabe is the most precious, perfect baby in the wide world, I myself may have thought a few of these thoughts from time to time...

And now, Samuel L. Jackson, the epitome of BAMF, reading a new "children's book" (for adults).  Quite the bedtime story...

I Can't Wait!!

This new trailer, just released, literally gave me chills.  In just under a month, the epic saga comes to a close.  J and I will be there.  Anyone want to babysit?

Tips from Betty White

Oh, how I love the divine Ms. White.  HI-larious.  (Although I've come to the conclusion that any oldster using foul language is automatically funny, Betty is even more so than the average geriatric.)

Enjoy Betty White's Top Ten Tips for Living a Long and Happy Life:

I Hate You, Rebecca Black

The word 'Friday' used to have such pleasant connotations for me.  It meant the weekend was here...spending lots of time with J and G...sleeping in...checking things off the to-do list (maybe I'm weird, but that IS pleasant to me)...

But Rebecca Black has ruined all that for me.  Now, when I hear the word 'Friday', or even think about the work week coming to an end, my mind immediately floods with her horrid tune of the same name.

How is it that this video blew up and became so explosively popular?  Was it some sort of colossal joke?  Because I'm not sure if people know this or not, but let me be the first to tell you all...Rebecca Black can't sing!  RB is no wunderkind with the lyrics, either.  I mean, she actually lists the days of the week.  RB, this is not kindergarten!

So it's Friday, and we're partyin', partyin', YEAH!  Or maybe we're all just trying to get through the day without this despicable song rooting itself firmly in our brains. 

And for those of you who don't know about this contemptible video...for your viewing pleasure horror:






Happy Friday!

Disintegration

Friends, I think I have reached the point where I am officially embarrassed to be working for my current employer.

It was one thing to make national news headlines at the election of our new school board majority.  They came in with big ideas about student assignment- but in all fairness, this was the platform on which they ran.  And I found it somewhat refreshing to see politicians getting right to work to keep the promises that they had made to those who had elected them.

But then the uproar began.  People speaking out everywhere you turn against the ideas of this new board.  The public begging the new majority to slow down and really look at how their actions will affect the school system.  The NAACP threatening legal action at the prospect of resegregation in our county.

Next thing you know, the Washington Post publishes a "Letter to the Editor" from the U.S. Secretary of Education, in which he speaks out against the undoing of the WCPSS diversity policy.  Doesn't get much higher up than that.

Beyond embarrassing.

AND NOW, it's come to this...public ridicule from Stephen Colbert, himself. 

This is big, friends.  This is "The Word".

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Word - Disintegration
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog Video Archive

I must say that this is the proudest I have ever been to have done my research and voted, even in the tiny run-off school board election.  And I'm beyond proud to say that I voted for the other candidate.

GLEE and the Buckeyes- flash mob awesomeness!

So you all know I love Glee.  I also love The Ohio State University (annoying emhpasis on the The :) )  So I just HAD to share this.

I so would have loved to have been at the Ohio Union to see this complete, awesome, randomness!  It even includes guest appearances from Brutus and the university President!

I know a lot of my readers are haters...this is worth a watch, anyway!



Go BUCKS!

Awwww.....

For any of you who love dogs, or babies, or dogs AND babies, this video is a must-watch.

Could this be any cuter??

I find myself wondering what our dogs will behave like when we get around to having kids.  Sure, they've been around kids before-

Will, their favorite neighborhood baby, learned pretty quickly to shove them out of his face as they incessantly licked him.  Licking is their favorite.

I babysat my friend's baby Cate once, and Delilah raced around the house in circles every time she cried.

Friendly neighbors walk by with their baby strollers all the time...the dogs bark as if we're under attack.

But maybe all of this practice has been good!  Maybe once we have our own baby, Daphne and Delilah will ignore it.  It'll be old news.  They won't lick (and lick and lick and lick) or bark like idiots or run around in maniacal circles.  Maybe they'll gently howl the baby to sleep...

Yep, we're screwed.

What do you think?

What do you think is going through OMG Cat's mind?  Clearly she's seen something quite shocking.  Jaw-dropping, one might say.  I've come up with a few ideas of what she might be thinking...

• OMG!  There goes my kitty boyfriend walking down the street with that milkaholic Lindsey!
• OMG!  The dog is actually eating out of my litter box!  Gross.
• OMG!  You bought that pick camouflage jacket, and you expect me to wear it? 

Jason had an idea, as well...

• OMG!  A midget clown washing the dishes!

What do you think?