Little Lamb with my little Lambie.

Gavin "Takes" a Haircut

The sheet is carefully draped to protect the customer's clothes....

"Be still!"

Combing it out to make sure the length is right....

Another satisfied client!

No, Gavin didn't actually have his hair cut, Claire was playing barber. After she had two haircuts in one week (the second was a recovery effort from the disasterous first) and I guess she thought it was time that Gavin had one too.

Size Matters.

Which is better?

This?

Or this?

Or maybe this?

Something about the font on my posts is bugging me. Please leave your preference in the comments. Maybe it's not the size, maybe I should try a new font. webdings. (webdings...does anyone know what webdings are actually for? Please enlighten the rest of us.)

Hi.

Originally this post was just going to be the picture, then I went through and looked at some of my other recent posts. In all of them Gavin is either naked or wearing this exact outfit. You see, we're trying to make a statement here. And that statement is that C is indeed for Cricket.

Rock A Bye Baby

Claire carried these rocks around all day today because they were her babies. (This despite that she has at least 58 stuffed animals and 24 baby dolls, most of which were still strewn about the house, regardless of the fact they were all but ignored in favor of these less cuddly but far more imaginative "babies".)

The two tiny pillows were not enough to make all of the babies comfortable, but the rabbit made a good pillow for the rest of them. Before long, they were all were stone-cold sleeping. haha.

Claire and Whitney Dancing

Some friends from work had a going away party for me. Shane and the kids stayed until about 9 and I stayed on until 1am. It was SO fun!

Wild Things

This fun afternoon playing in the water ended in a rather dramatic way shortly after these pictures were taken: Gavin had an enormous poo in the bumbo chair and Claire fell over and got a fat lip. As far as we know, the toad is unscathed.

In the video, Claire is making plant soup for Gavin. Listen how she praises the merits of rosemary.

Peas wipe my face! (sorry)

Father's Day

Spoon-fed

The H-Bomb

It's not all sunshine and butterflies. Today, Claire uttered the three little words that no parent wants to hear: I hate you. To me. Her mother!

What offense brought out this vitriol in such a sweet-natured child, you ask? Prepare yourself.

I didn't do her potato right.

First I cut it squares but she wanted it "big like yours". Then she wanted it "spread out" and "flatter". I cut the other piece of potato, spread it out and flattened it as directed, under her watchful eye, but I just couldn't get it right. As punishment, out came those three short words.

And with that, just like the potato, my heart was cut, spread out and flattened.

I asked her what she just said. (Why I wanted her to repeat it, I don't know anymore...disbelief?) She told me she was feeling very frustrated. OK, and what did you just say? Mama...I hate. (Note the absence of the third word...) What did you say? Mama, I hate. Mama I have to go potty. (Crying all the way.) Me having internal discussion about what to do next and trying to remember what the hell "Supernanny" would do at a time like this. Sniffles from the loo...no reminder needed to flush and wash hands...Sniffles.

"Mama! I am sorry!"

No request for apologies required, she offered it up on her own. Small mercies! We hugged and I told her that what she said made me very sad, and not to say it again. I think I handled it well. She knew I was upset, but I didn't blow my top or cry or anything. I think she got it from stupid (another word I ask her not to say...leading by example here...) Finding Nemo. Damn you, Disney.

I probably use the word hate 20 times a day for mild irritations like "I hate traffic", "Ooh! I hate it when that happens", " I hate this 100 degree weather in June" etc, etc. Somehow coming from her it sounded so awful. OK, I'll say it: I hated hearing it. I wonder how I will feel when a real 4-letter word spills out of her mouth!

As consolation, I will try to keep in my mind what she said, just minutes prior to the H-word:

"Mama...I love you as much as a dinosaurs neck!"

First Meal (besides milk)

Gavin has taken to eating "solid" food like a Claire to swimming pool. He grabs for the spoon and gets mad, mad, mad when I take too long re-filling his bowl. So far it's just rice cereal, but new gourmet offerings to come - and quickly! Tonight he was trying to lunge for the peanut chicken we were cajoling, threatening, bribing and tricking Claire into eating!

Six Months

Life is on fast-forward and Gavin is already six months old. These are the things we know about him:

• He loves to eat cereal, a new development.
• He can roll over from front to back and back to front.
• He likes to pull his blanket up over his head while he is sleeping, a habit that has earned him the nickname "Superman" at daycare, because it kind of looks like he's wearing a cape. (although technically, if the real Superman wore his cape over his head and face, Lex Luthor would prevail...)
• He is prone to ear infections.
• His sister can always make him laugh.
• He likes kicking his feet, especially in the bath.
• He likes to put his hand on my arm and gently stroke it when I am holding him.
• He only cries when he is mad, which is not often.
• He weighs almost 16.5 lbs.
• He can sleep in his crib all night long, although it's hard for me to let him.
• He looks great in red.
• His hair is not dark, dark brown anymore.
• His eyes are still changing from blue to brown, despite that the Dr said that after 2 months they don't change anymore.
• He and his dad can trade silly noises for an hour.
• He likes to wait until he has a freshly changed diaper to poop.
• He can lay on a play mat happily at daycare for ages...at home: 30 seconds max.
  
• He is a laid back baby, and I've stopped knocking wood every time I say it.
• He is the coolest, sweetest, cuddliest boy ever and we are so lucky.
• He has made our family complete.
  

Happy six month birthday, Little Buddy!

Perspective

Gavin and Babu on December 18th, 2008:


Gavin and Babu on May 8th, 2008:

Tidbits

From her dad:
The other day Claire and I were driving for our Friday Starbucks trip and listening to John Lee Hooker. She asked some questions about who was talking, she obviously hadn't heard anything like that before. Eventually she said "I don't think he is talking to me."

From mom:
We were swimming on Monday and Claire had a diving toy that looks like a rocket and I asked her where it was going and she said “To Planet Veggie Booties!”. I guess I should have given her a snack beforehand??

Dance Recital

Claire had a dance recital last weekend. She and her friends were very excited to perform for the parents and they were very proud indeed. Claire is pictured with her best friends Faith and Zoe.

This was the first year the dance instructors held an all day event and had many different classes attending at different times throughout the day. Unfortunately, that meant lots parents and family/friends of kids who weren't yet performing stood around and chatted through the dances they were not interested in. We were a bit appalled that so many of the grown ups were so inconsiderate of the little girls who were on stage, to say nothing of the poor example they were setting for their own children.

The good news is that Claire didn't seem to notice and was proud and excited that she received a trophy.
Claire's "Ft. Worx Granny" was there, as well as Heidi, Dennis and Gibson, all of whom Claire was thrilled to see out in the crowd.

Sweet Slumber

This was taken one morning before work. Claire came to our bed about 4am. When we are all in bed together, I sleep between Gavin and Claire since she is such a wiggly worm, and I don't want to risk her squishing her brother. I carefully got out of bed and left them sleeping as I took a shower and got ready to go. They snuggled up together once I left the bed.

Very occasionally, I will let Claire watch Sesame Street or Little Einsteins in the morning if she wakes up before I am showered and dressed. Shortly after this photo was taken, I woke Claire up to get her dressed. In an effort to campaign for a show, she said, "You are really, really dirty!" Imagine her disappointment to learn I had already showered.

Playing Games with Gummy

Claire and Gavin were sitting in the chair and Gummy was pretending to sit in it to their absolute delight! Gavin wasn't too sure what was going on, but he was enjoying himself nonetheless.

Safety First!

Warning! Nudity ahead!

Pics

Claire is sporting her new robe, purchased for a quick warm up after swim class. The color matches the color of her lips after swimming, regardless of the water temp! Funny how she likes her bath to be icy, but turns blue in the pool.

Gavin's outfit only just made it over his head before the photo shoot began. He was 15.6 lbs at his dr appt the other day. Our little big boy!