I was in the kitchen when I realized David had been quietly occupying himself for a few minutes. Usually that means he’s gotten into the compost bin or Tom’s sheet music. When I went to check on him, I was so happy to see he was playing with his ball rather than elbow-deep in kitty
Recently I was looking through my tag cloud and decided to clean it up. I have a tag for “Virginia Tech” and also “Hokies”. Probably don’t need both. I also have a “natural disasters” tag. I used it when I did an update on the first two weeks of David’s life. Remember those two weeks?
Remember my 2012 goals? It’s June, half-way through the year, the perfect time for a goal check-in. As predicted, Tom has been riding his bike to work 2-3 times a week. Every now and then he has to work past dark or has a meeting across town, both of which make cycling hard. But other
For weeks it seems like we’ve had at least a little rain almost every day. We’ve had several showers that come out of nowhere and leave just as quickly. Each time, as soon as the rain let up, David and I would go on a “Rainbow Hunt.” Rainbow Hunt just means carrying out to the
Before you watch this video, turn up the volume on your computer as high as possible. It might seem hard to believe, but that sound is even more annoying in person. And did you notice when he lunges across the floor and then sort of bears down on a particular spot? At first glance it
Check this out. My friend Elizabeth is having a huge yard sale. And see where it says adoption Yard Sale? That’s because all of the proceeds go toward helping Elizabeth’s family adopt a little boy from China named Charlie. (Her blog is choc-full of their decision to adopt, but you can read the beginning of this particular
My kid already knows how to work the power seat. He’s gripping both arms of the chair like he’s Donald Trump in the board room. And that look of annoyance? It’s the kind of annoyance that comes with a feeling of superiority…and being forced to wear seersucker. It’s as if he’s saying, “I might be drooling
A few days ago I walked out of the room, and when I came back I saw this. David doesn’t pull up often, and I think it’s because of his modified crawling style. If he was up on all fours, it’d be easier to rock back on his knees and use his legs to pull
We don’t use our dryer. It’s one of those weird things I picked up from my parents, and Tom goes along with it because not using the dryer saves money. In addition to saving money, using a clothes line is one of those simple things you can do to live a greener lifestyle. Hanging our
We moved a few plants from our old house to our new one, including three lilies. Our new yard was full of rabbits and in no time they chewed the lilies at the base and left them there looking like trees in a clear-cut forest. Unexpectedly, the lilies came back this year. This time there
Yesterday when I went to put David down for a nap I found Brigham curled up in the corner of the crib. I put David in the crib with the cat because I figured the one thing that would make the crib no longer comfortable to Brigham would be a baby. It works in most
Nothing makes you appreciate your house (the way it has walls an a roof, for example) like spending the night outside. Last weekend we took David camping for the very first time. Two years ago a couple known as Tom and Amanda Before They Had a Baby went backpacking in West Virginia. We ran into
David has a new trick. It’s very technical. It’s called “crawling through the coffee table.” The first time he did it I went nuts. My heart exploded and I grabbed the camera. These photos? They’re for his college applications. I didn’t take any photos of the dismount because at that point he hadn’t quite mastered
All my friends’ Facebook statuses say neVer forgeT, as if anyone ever could. It’s been five years, and thinking about this day still makes my stomach feel heavy. I remember almost every minute of April 16, 2007 and the days following. I was in my car, driving to campus when I heard Nikki Giovanni make
He’s been doing this for a few weeks now. I don’t know what the technical definition of crawling is, but I’m pretty sure this isn’t it. I’ve heard moms call it the “Army crawl” but with all the grunting and struggling, David’s crawl is more like a castaway lugging his body across the beach in
Last weekend Tom and I embarked on what people fear even before they have babies. That this scares people before their lives implode into a newborn means it should be taken seriously. Before the baby is when people are sure they’ll be laid-back, unencumbered by baby gear and will stay out past their child’s dorkishly
We are so excited for Easter. So excited, in fact, that we didn’t mind the loss of dignity that occurred as a result of this photo shoot.
Last Saturday Tom and I both made to-do lists. One of our lists looked like this: 1. run 10 miles2. mow the lawn 3. enclose our compost pile4. vacuum5. dust6. trim shrubs7. watch 10 hours of basketball The other looked like this: 1. Go to the playground and put David in the baby swing I’ll just
Those of you who know my husband will be surprised to find out that he was the catalyst for getting the baby sunglasses.
The bushes in my front yard are unstoppable. I know these don’t look like much, but you can smell them from three blocks away. I read in Better Homes & Gardens that you should never plant fragrant flowers by your front door because they attract bees, and a swarm of bees on your porch isn’t
The whole time we were watching this performance, Tom kept saying, “but they’re not really doing that stuff, are they?” Yes, yes they are. (Performance begins about a minute in.) I’m glad they cut to George Clooney for five straight minutes. Because we can’t really enjoy a performance without knowing how George Clooney feels about it.
On warm days like today, David helps with the laundry. I bring out a blanket and he looks around, listens to the birds, and tries his hardest to do this: Brigham comes, too. But mostly he just acts like he doesn’t know us.
This sketch is combines everything I love: 1) new parents 2) pop music references 3) making fun of Bon Iver. That Jay Z impression SPOT ON. I’ve been irritated at Beyonce for weeks now. How dare she go out in public lookin’ all showered and sparkly? All this time I had my husband believing it
In case you can’t tell what’s happening here, David has somehow wedged his thumb into his pacifier. (Sorry for the blur. David was on my lap, super close to the lens.) It was the collision of his two favorite worlds in a way he never dreamed possible. If a look can say, “Woman. If you
We started giving David some solids. Over the past few days he’s had avocado, potato and banana. He LOVES it. It’s wigged out his digestive system, though. He went from pooping three or so times a day to…zero. I’ve heard this is normal, and that when his system decides to move it will MOVE. I
Thankfully, David’s standards for humor aren’t high. He finds it hilarious when I just stand back and say “boop”. No punchline required.
Is it just me or does David look like he’s ready to crack open a bag of jalapeno potato chips and watch the Giants win the Super Bowl?
I’m no expert, but isn’t it a little early for Camellias to be blooming? Careful Jonquils, it’s only February.
I know some consider this is a bad habit… But is there anything sweeter than a baby sucking its thumb?
Reading outside with daddy.
I went to the grocery store this morning and I knew something was up when I saw four different women with carts full of fresh flowers. Something WAS up: Tulips on sale for less than $2 a bunch. Outside: 67 and sunny Inside: fresh cut tulips on my dining room table. February, you better not
Contrary to what these photos might imply, we haven’t started solids with David yet. Instead, we’ve just been putting him in his high chair while WE eat solids. He likes it so far; being on the same level with us is his version of a Caribbean cruise. When we went to Franklin County for my mom’s birthday,
I haven’t written much about running lately, but it’s not because I haven’t been running. Instead, running has become less of an Event and more commonplace. I’m getting back to my old self. Not totally, but I’m getting there. The other day I went for a run wearing my running tights. I wore them earlier this
The fish hook.
Tom has started riding his bike to work a few times a week. It’s all part of our overall goal to live frugally and stay healthy. Plus, it means less wear and tear on the car and it’s good for the environment. His goal is to cycle to work 2-3 times a week. The weather
A few weeks ago I went to my first post-pregnancy dentist appointment. I was nervous; I’d heard pregnancy can wreak havoc on your teeth. I was not, however prepared to hear that I had THREE cavities. (It was actually four, but four was such an embarrassing number my dentist agreed we’d say three since one
Did you know newborns eat every two to three hours. Also known as ALL THE TIME? the timer for eating starts when they BEGIN eating, not when they finish. So if sweet baby starts eating at noon, they’ll probably finish around 12:40, then be ready to eat again at 2. I’d like to see YOU
I went to bed before the fourth quarter, so I didn’t get to see this live. This morning Tom asked if I thought my dad was mad. Yes, I’m 100% positive my dad was mad.
I bought David this onesie specifically for the Sugar Bowl. The only clothing we bought before David’s arrival was Virginia Tech clothes. We didn’t know if he was a boy or a girl and we didn’t want to invest too much in baby clothes. Good thing maroon and orange are gender neutral. I did the
And how did he repay Mimi and Pops for their hospitality, kindness and generosity on Christmas? By pooping on their carpet. *A more complete description would have been, “He pooped on his new Christmas outfit, daddy’s jeans, daddy’s brand new Virginia Tech hoodie, Mimi’s chair AND their carpet.” But typing the whole list was almost as
Moments before Kanye and I started our performance, David was screaming his way to Santa’s naughty list. I’m dreading the day he sees people with REAL moves; someone like Usher, Justin Timberlake, or Amanda Giobbi. The moment he’s exposed to good dancing, I’m ruined.
But he loved the bows. Can you see the glitter on his face? It’s because his mommy let him get aholt of a gold glitter ribbon. Consequentially, he was a glitter baby for the rest of the day. And I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking “aholt” isn’t a word. You’re thinking, “I can tell she
to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be calledWonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:32
See this bulge under the quilt? It’s Brigham. He likes to get all cozy under the covers in the winter months. He might want to stay there, too, because David has started noticing Brigham. This is terrible news for the kitty cat.
On the same day David turned a whole four months old, Tom’s dad also celebrated a milestone birthday. We celebrated a few days after his actual birthday, because he was busy babysitting for one of his grandsons on his birthday. Did you catch that? He was babysitting. On his birthday. And what was his lovely
We had a visit from some old friends this weekend. It’s good for us to have visitors. Otherwise I’m not sure I’d ever clean the bathrooms. The boys ended our brunch with a sing-a-long. It sounded something like this. (Tanner forgot his wings. But he remembered his banjo.)
When I have more than one kid, will I have time to put ridiculous things on them. Take photos. And post them on the Internet?
It’s Thursday and I’m still posting about the weekend. We did a lot: 1. Dawg reunion 2. Learned to roll over 3. Jingle Bell 5k 4. We got a Christmas tree! We had a busy weekend. With so much going on, it helps to be organized, and the Tom and Amanda branch of the Krieger
When I went off to college as an impressionable, uncertain 17-year old, God was so good to put me in a dorm smack dab in the middle of some amazing girls. We became quick and necessary friends. The hallmark of our group was our obnoxious use of the term “dawg”. I say obnoxious because we