hail to the chief

I couldn't be more proud.

just dance

Sometimes, on a random Wednesday afternoon, you just gotta dance.  So we do

it was all yellow

This actually happened a couple months ago, and I keep forgetting to post about it. I want to make sure and write it up for you though Boogie, because it was funny and cute. Especially now that some time has passed.

On our flight home from our Easter trip to Las Vegas you, your Daddy and me were seated in the row of three waiting for everyone to finish boarding. You had just learned your colors, and "lellow" was by far and away your fave. Well lo and behold a man with the lellow-est shirt ever strutted on by us. Seriously, this guy might have had on one of the actual yellow jerseys from the Tour De France.

Do you see where this is going? I'm thinking you do. You immediately started pointing and saying "lellow, lellow." Your Dad and I tried to quietly agree with you "yes baby that is yellow, shhhhhh good job" and distract you with barf bags and Sky Mall magazines. But you were not to be deterred. "lellow, lellow, LELLOW" accompanied by now frantic pointing.

Well the man finally got past us and took his seat. Two rows behind us. OF COURSE he was only two rows back. And there was that yellow shirt, just shining like the sun. So what did you do? Well you stood up on your seat and turned around and pointed and screamed "LEEEEELLLLLOOOOOWWWWWW!!!!" Just like that, on repeat. By now this man's face was puce, a nice complement to his yellow shirt. I'm not sure how we eventually got you to stop, I'm guessing it involved raisins or goldfish though. But it went on for quite awhile before you did actually stop. I then spent the rest of the flight in fear that you would stand up at any minute and take up your lellow chant once more.

I wonder if that guy burned that shirt when he got to his final destination. If so, he should really thank you. That shirt was God awful.

what's your name, who's your daddy

As much as it pains me to "say" this Milky, you are a Daddy's boy through and through. Don't get me wrong, you like me ok, and I'm a pretty good option most times, except if your papa is around. And then I am chopped liver. Or something even more lowly. Btw, did you know this is the origin of the phrase "chopped liver"? This blog is nothing if not educational.

Anyways, you really like your dad.

Exhibit A.


Exhibit B
The other morning you got in bed with us around 6:30 am and went back to sleep until 9:00 (thank you sweet Baby Jeebus). Sometime in between those two times I looked over and you and your dad were spooning. Actually spooning. And you were smushed together on the edge of the bed as if to remain as far away from me as humanly possibly,

The Prosecution rests Your Honor.

it's a beautiful day

D,

I have a new name for this winter "2012 - The Winter that Wasn't". In all my years (so many years) I can't remember such a mild winter. It has been nothing short of cray cray. I spent so much time this past fall worrying about the long cold winter months to come, only to have them not come. Guess the joke is on me.

Today, March 14th, it was EIGHT SIX degrees outside. 86. Quatre vingt six. I think Al Gore may be on to something with this whole global warming thing. So sad for the polar bears, but yea for us because we went to the park! Makenna came too, and you guys had a blast. What a difference from last summer when you weren't even walking yet. You ran up and down bridges, went through tunnels, and climbed up and down the slide eleventy billion times. It was like all of a sudden the park just clicked for you and you were all over it.

I think by summer's end I will have a professional park master on my hands.

i say no, no, no no

D (that's what you call yourself now),

Your Papa and I went away for our first weekend with out you. We missed you terribly. You, however, did not miss us. You were too busy having a blast at Mi Mi and Poppy's house. Apparently you invented a new game that involved a lot of falling. I think it scared your Mi Mi, because when I ask you what Mi Mi says, you answer "no, no, no, no."

I think you might have heard a lot of that this past weekend.

oh, i wanna talk to you

I must start this post by addressing the blog.......Ooooof! Poor blog. Lonely, sad and neglected blog. My deepest apologies. I've thought about trying to go back in time and fill in some of the gaps, but I am afraid if I saddle myself with that task I may get overwhelmed and just abandon you altogether. So in the interest of our relationship, we must move forward and never look back. Don't ever look back.

Now to you Boogey. In one short week you will be 18 months. That is half way to two. Two is old. Much older than one. Why does this keep happening?

Of course many things stand out about you, but there is one thing about you that everyone notices. One thing that everyone comments on when we are out in public (besides your full set of chompers). You. Talk. All. The. Time. I mean, really, all day every day. Real words mixed with Dylan chatter. I am sure that whatever you are saying is very important stuff because it comes complete with hand gestures and a side of attitude. It is hilarious. We spend so much time together that a lot of the time I really do think I know what you are saying, but sometimes you even have me baffled.

Dylan chatter is rapidly starting to give way to actual chatter. You are learning more new words every day now. I've been keeping a list. And not just because those stupid Babycenter.com emails have me all paranoid.

Dylan's Dictionary:
Mama
Dada
Mi Mi (Gramma)
Poppy (Grampa)
Indie
ball
Night Night
Bye Bye
HIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!
dog
car
Ice (random)
Pee pee (my personal fave)
NO!
All done
Please
up, up, UP!
down
this
that
bubble
turtle
Ninja - Ok, just kidding, you don't say Ninja. Yet. I'm working on that one still. How funny would it be for a baby to just randomly shout "ninja"? Pretty funny I tell you.

'till we just can't boogie no more

D,

If I ask you where your hair, belly, feet or teeth at you can point to all of them now. Sacre Bleu! Also, you know where one other thing(s) is located.



Muwhahahahahahaha.

walk this way

I am simultaneously proud and scared all at once. It is an odd feeling.

But yay for you!

we laugh until we think we'll die

Really all I was doing was hiding from you and jumping out, but to you, it was the greatest comedy act ever.

your kiss is on my list, of the best things in life

Monks,

This morning we were watching the Today Show (what? You just Loooove Natalie Morales) and you saw people on tv clapping. So you started clapping, which made me laugh. So I started clapping, which made you laugh. And suddenly we were both laughing and clapping like two crazies.

And then you grabbed the sides of my face and covered me with your signature open mouth kisses. All while we were still laughing.

It was one of the cutest things I have ever seen. Second only to this maybe.

I had to write it down because I wanted to remember forever.

one love

Happy First Birthday Baby!

On the eve of you turning one, I find myself sort of at a loss for words. Seems like such a big moment for all of us, and I'm not sure I can do it justice just now while I am all choked up thinking about what a big boy you have become.

So instead, for now, I'll just post this video and tell you that we love you. So, so much.

never say never

D,

There has long been a sort of running list (in my head) of things I would never own. For example, a digital picture frame, any sort of mat that goes on or around a toilet, a long denim skirt or a sports jersey. Those who know me best, in fact, probably know that vertical blinds are at the very tippity top of that list. Shudder.

Probably somewhere on this list - toward the middle to bottom- was a teepee (unless is was that really cool Fendi teepee I saw in Harrods years ago that had matching snowshoes and a canoe). I mean why would I have a teepee? I hate camping, and I like air conditioning.

Yet that is exactly what we got you for your first birthday. And your Pops and I are beyond excited to give it to you. I just know it is going to provide you (and by you, I mean us) with years of entertainment. We already set it up - for a dry run only - just to make sure it is all set to go for your actual birthday. Practical, really.

We did NOT watch Real Housewives of New Jersey while sitting in it and eating cupcakes from Makenna's party.

Mumford and Jackson enjoying some teepee time

every breath you take, I'll be watching you

Dilly,

I have confession. Every night when you are sleeping, just before I turn out all the lights and go to bed, I creep into your room on tiny mouse feet and gaze at you. I have hardly missed a night since the day you were born. I just stand over your crib and watch you peacefully breathing in and out and take in all of your yummy-ness. No matter how rough our day was, in that moment, all is perfect in the world. More than once, I have just stood over you and gotten all misty eyed from it all.

Last night, for the first time ever, you caught me.

It must have been so very creepy for you. You rolled over, looked up, and there I was just peering back at you. As an adult, that is actually one of my worst fears realized. You handled it better than I would have though. You scrunched up your eyebrows at me, smiled, reached up a finger to do your touch thing, and then scrunched up your eyebrows again.

I took that as my invitation to get out. So I did. And you fell right back asleep.

Still though, you can bet your sweet self I'll be right back in there again tonight. No lesson learned here.

this has gotta be the good life

Dylan,

There are some moments where I will look at you and it takes all my self control not to scoop you up and smother you with kisses, and it feels like my heart will burst open from loving you so, so much.

Today was definitely one of those moments, just all day long.

sunday, bloody sunday

Ruh-roh Milky. Look what we came home from vacation to find. I could replant them I guess, but it is the end of August, and well, who are we kidding? Please don't look at it as any sort of statement as to my ability to care for you. So lets just shut the curtains and pretend like this never happened.

I have failed you in every sense of the word.

p.s.- I am, however, happy to report that Maude is alive and well. I know at this point you are likely going to require some sort of photographic proof of that, but the camera is full and I am feeling lazy. But she is alive. I swear. Honestly.

hot child in the city

oh boogs,

We are having a hot summer. I thought last summer was bad being pregnant in the extreme heat carrying 20 plus pounds, but here I am one year later, in the extreme heat....carrying around 20+ pounds in the form of you! Despite the heat we have been on the go this summer. Trips to the swings, long walks, the zoo, the splash park and from all this running around we are both rocking one sweet farmer's tan. Your sandal tan on your feet is particularly cute.

And while we are on the subject of hot, you have a really cute new trick. Just this week you have started blowing on your food. I think I must spend a lot of time doing this (mostly because you are constantly screaming at me during mealtimes to move faster) and the other day at lunch I noticed you were blowing on your pineapple. So cute.

And when I put you down for a nap a little bit later, I could hear you in your crib still blowing on Le Tigre's head.

Love.

sweet child of mine

Happy 9 months D! I love, love this age. You are changing so much. And you are funny, and you find things funny! I feel like some days we spend a lot of the day just laughing at God knows what....and then there are the days that go quite differently. But really, you make a great summer buddy, we go on marathon walks, go to the park, have lunches out, go to the zoo and the farmer's market, meet up with friends, and take naps. Not too shabby, eh?

You army crawl (and you are fast now), you love to stand (with help), and you LOVE to eat. So far the only food you really do not like is peas. Just. like. your. daddy.

You are still sleeping through the night (thank you Jeebus), taking two naps a day, but still waking up way too early.

You have eight teeth...soon to be 10 since I can tell your incisors are close behind.

all in all, you are really rocking 9 months. I love it. Did I already say that?

Ummmm, there's something different about my hair, yes? No, no don't tell me....

plant new seeds and watch them grow

D,

In my new found effort to be one of those perfect mom's who keep perfect mom blogs (like here and here, but no so much here) I decided we should do something very Martha-y and plant a garden. Ok, calling it a "garden" is a bit of a stretch b/c right now it consists of one potted plant and a hanging basket of flowers. But, hey, we planted them all ourselves, and hot damn if that small amount of flowers didn't cost us $85!

So a garden it is. in fact, we have started lovingly referring to it as The Garden of Solace. Which is sort of funny considering said Garden overlooks a back alley where the bums like to loudly sift through our garbage and their seems to be a perpetual game of pick up basketball going on between some rowdy hooligans. Not very solace-ish at all.

Anyways, I have this romantic notion that you and I will watch our garden grow together this summer, and some day we will talk about how we use to live in the big city of Chicago when you were very small and all we had was one teeny tiny outdoor space to call our own but we made the most of it nonetheless (oh my run on sentence).

I will try and remember to take pictures of our garden ever so often this summer so we can see its progress. And if it dies I will find a look alike garden and take pictures of that in an effort to preserve the innocence of your youth.

Our potted plant we lovingly named Maude

gimmie a head with hair, long beautiful hair

my little Puckerman

Monks,

You have a faux-hawk. It is fairly bad ass. It just grows that way, hair concentrated down the center. Your uncle Moochie says it is a "wispy Mohican", which really doesn't sound that tough at all. But trust me, it is tough looking. Like a baby Mr. T.

A couple people have asked us if we put anything in it to make it look that way. I gasp and quickly put a shocked look on my face while repeatedly assuring them that we do no such thing. Lets be honest though, I would totally put product in your hair if I thought it necessary, which I do not....yet.