Anniversary

It was our anniversary yesterday.  We got a babysitter and went out to dinner (at The Carlyle of course).  It's been a good four years.  I can't think of anyone I'd want to spend it with more. 

Miss Aviva

Aviva has been a nightmare in the sleep department lately, but she's so much fun to play with.  She's scooting herself around on her back and grabbing at things.  She's very free with her smiles, and she is a fountain of slobber.  I have to change her outfit all the time because it is drenched. 

Snow Day

It finally snowed yesterday so we went out  o play and take some pictures.  Max has been talking about Christmas non-stop since then and how Santa is coming to bring him a big surprise.  I keep telling him Christmas isn't for a long time, but I think he figures if there is snow, it must be right around the corner.

Max and Noah

Max spent the majority of the time trying to wipe the snow off of his boots

Aviva was happy as long as we kept on moving.

Max did not believe that his hands would stay warmer in his mittens than in his mouth.

The Monster of all Monsters

As you know, we've been quarantined for a week.  Max has had to get really creative.  I was on the couch typing on the computer and Max comes cruisin' around the corner screaming like he's being chased and jumps in my lap for me to save him.  I figured he just started playing chase by himself, vivid imagination and all.  So he's in my lap pretending to be scared for a full 30 seconds when suddenly I see this...

A New Preference

Does this look like a comfortable way to watch TV to anyone else?  And just cause she's so cute...

Don't Judge Me

But I sort of wish I hadn't.  First of all, we took Vivi and Max to the doctor last night at 6:50 (bedtime) and Max has and ear infection and bronchitis.  So we all went to bed late and got up early.  I'm also not feeling well and it was about all I could do to shower, leave my hair soaking wet and slip on some sweat pants.  Max and Aviva didn't even make it out of their pajamas, and I really don't want to admit this, but neither of us thought to change their diapers before we went.  (This is where the title of this post comes in).

So we go to the polls, me in my sweats and wet hair, Max with dried snot all over his face, dry static hair, medicine stains on his pajama top, and slippers on his feet.  At this point he has also started reek of pee.  I wanted to throw up.  Oh, and every few minutes he would burst into a coughing fit.  Nice.  We wait in line for 40 minutes to find out we are at the wrong place.  We are supposed to be next door.  So we go wait for 20 more minutes and of course run into an acquaintance who may no longer count us among his friends.  So we may not have been a pretty sight (well, Abram was a pretty sight, he was ready for work, but his rating has got to go down with three vagabonds at his side), but dad gum it, we voted. 

Just When You Thought Reality TV Was Your Only Alternative to the Writer's Strike

There is a series on PBS right now called African American Lives 2.  I watched the first of four segments and I was really impressed.  A professor at Harvard and his team do the genealogy of several celebrities and then present them with what they find.  I was particularly struck by Chris Rock.  

He had a grandfather who risked his life to join the Union army during the civil war.  He advanced and became an officer.  After the war he was elected to the state legislature.  Once reconstruction ended he was basically sent back to where he came from with nothing.  However, by the time he died, he had become a successful member of the community and actually owned 45 acres of land.

I was really touched by Chris's reaction to this news.  If you click on this link you can watch what he says.   

You can click on this link to find out when the next segments will air this week in Northern VA (you'll have to look it up on your local PBS station if you live somewhere else). 

I Love...

when Aviva gets up from a nap.  She grabs a fistful of my hair in both of her hands, then nuzzles her head into my shoulder.  It's like a little baby hug.

when I feed Aviva, her eyes are closed and she absent-mindedly bats at my hair with her fist or grabs on tight to the top of my shirt.

when Aviva hears my voice and starts looking all around trying to find me. 

when Max says something in his upset voice and instead of putting his hands on his hips, he puts them in his armpits with his elbows sticking out.

when max tries to comfort the baby when she is crying by holding her hand or patting her head.  The other day while Abram was at work I heard him saying to her, "Miss Daddy, baby?  It's all right, he be back in a second."

when Max insists on wearing his hat backwards.  Which is mostly every time he leaves the house.

Teppanyaki

We went to a Teppanyaki restaurant tonight.  It was fun to watch Max when he saw the big fires, the chef doing his crazy knife thing, and all the fun egg tricks.  The best part however, was when he started flinging pieces of shrimp up in the air for the adults to catch in their mouths.  There was one piece left and he turned to Max and asked if he wanted to try.  Max opened his mouth, the chef flung the shrimp in the air and it landed short.  Right on Max's plate.  Max, apparently disgusted with the guy's aim, picks up the shrimp, and with his signature dirty look,  throws it back at him.  Oh my gosh.  I almost busted a gut I was laughing so hard.  Luckily our chef took the high road and left or we could have had a major food fight on our hands.  I don't think Max would have backed down.  

Uncle Shawn

Uncle Shawn is in town on business so he came over last night.  He didn't have any cash, so when he got to the house we were waiting outside and he ran over to us to get the money to pay the cab driver.  Max shouted excitedly, "Hi Shawn!"  Shawn yelled hi as he ran back to the road and the cab.  Max must have been confused because then he shouted, "Bye Shawn!"  and looked up at me as if to say, "well, that was a nice visit, what are we going to do now?"  

Luckily, Shawn came back.  A little train time and a few games of Hide from the Witch/Ghost/Animals later, Max was completely won over.  He had to sit by him at dinner and then he got Giant Jelly Bean story (pictured above) before bed.  Once I got him upstairs I was changing his diaper and he sighed, "I miss Shawn."

One of the little bits of goodness that came along with parenthood that was completely unexpected, is the joy of seeing Max love his extended family.  It's crazy how he just seems to know that they are special and loves them with all his little might.  

Pop Quiz

My fellow Broadway aficionados, you must go to Dan Richard's blog, Unravel Every Riddle, and check out his post on President Monson.  Let me know how you do. 

Those Darn Writers

Wolf

I have been uncharacteristically productive over the past few months.  The secret to my success?  The writers strike.  Best thing that ever happened to me.  

Tonight I was reminded why I haven't turned on the TV during primetime since December (except of course for Friday Night Lights).  Abram came home early and while I blogged he switched back and forth between American Gladiator and Dance War: Carrie Ann vs. Bruno.   Yeah, I know.  

It doesn't get much worse than Hulk Hogan hosting.  Highlight of the night?  When the gladiator "Wolf" let the contender know, "The last one got by me because he ran away like a scared rabbit, but when I get through with you you're not even going to be able to move."  Yeeeeeees.  Touche Wolf, touche.

Yes We Can

I love love love this video.  It's so inspiring.  Thanks to Ryan D. (who recently joined the blogosphere - click here) for the head's up.  Of course she knew I'd love it. 

Here are the words used in the above video. They come from Obama's speech after the New Hampshire primary:

It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation. 
Yes we can. 
It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom. 
Yes we can. 
It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.

Yes we can. 
It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballots; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.

Yes we can to justice and equality. 
Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity. 
Yes we can heal this nation. 
Yes we can repair this world. 
Yes we can. 
We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.

We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics…they will only grow louder and more dissonant ……….. We’ve been asked to pause for a reality check. We’ve been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope. 
Now the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea –

Yes. We. Can.

Abram -- Tagged

I've been tagged. Not my favorite game, but since I some times appreciate reading others' tag-responses, I figured I'd better play along ... Even if it officially means that Melanie (see the Gunnels blog to the side) is now better friends with Kristin than me.

Here are the rules:

• Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog, as we all want to know them.
  
• Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
• Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Below are my 7:

1. I have a tattoo that has led at least one observer to question whether I've tattooed Laman or Lemuel on my back -- picture of what the tattoo is supposed to look like attached.
2. I only believe in hustle sports -- finesse sports like golf, horse-shoes, etc., only bring out the worst in me.
3. I wore all black the day George H.W. Bush lost to Bill Clinton -- yeah, I was in mourning. I can't explain it except to say I was a deluded youth.
4. I am confident that upon request I could individually reenact, with a separate voice for all appropriate characters, 25 episodes of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, 20 episodes of Little Einsteins, and 5 episodes of Dora the Explorer.
   
5. Other than time spent with family, my favorite time of each day is the car ride home from work.
6. More than any other material possession, I desperately want to own a boat. And I hate the water, the outdoors, and everything that goes along with both of those things. In addition to loving the idyllic image of me sipping a diet root-beer with a skipper hat on ... I'm wedded to the idea of spending Saturdays in the summer with the Ellis family water-skiing/wake-boarding their away across the Commonwealth.
7. I have a really hard time admitting I'm wrong. But I will admit that Kristin is almost always right -- except for the times that I keep track of on this little list in my mind. Sorry, can't help it; my mind just naturally keeps lists like that (like the number of times I've been wronged by people in Settlers). Don't judge me.
   

If Miss Norway Could See Him Now...

We found out today what Max's destiny will be...  to become a professional hockey player.  Well, that or Olympic figure skater, but I didn't mention the later to Abram.  

Aida, Kristin and Jamie invited us to go ice skating with them and if I'm honest, I was a little skeptical.  I figured we would get there, he would fall, cry, get cold, and want to come home.  But no!  We had a fabulous time.  Max didn't fall at all - thanks to a big white bucket he clung on to for dear life.  And no thanks to the skating prowess of either of his parents.  

In fact, Abram and I argued on the way there who should skate with him.  I told Abram I hadn't skated since I was Max's age, and he told me the last time he skated was in college when he asked a Norwegian girl out.  She promptly ended it after seeing his moves on the ice.   Why he decided this would be a good thing to do with a girl who practically comes from the North Pole, I'm not sure, but I digress.    

The point is, Max was in heaven the whole time.  Nothing but big grins and a couple commands of "faster!"  Who knew it would be such a hit?  So besides my aching legs, I'm so glad we went and can't wait to go again.