Cameras Not Allowed

Tillie would like to point out that Scott puts the papa in paparazzi.

Baby's First Juice Box

'Twas enjoyed with the reverence one theorizes a first juice box would be enjoyed.

Sweaty Little Soldier

Why does my baby always look like she is in a combat zone in Vietnam or Iraq? It's not even summer yet, and the minute she steps outside she begins to wilt. I need to get her a little air-conditioned space suit or something.

Limerickathon

[image from: http://cuteoverload.com]

One of my favorite blogs, cuteoverload.com, has been having a contest this week. I have been diligently trying to win a portable video game console for my sweetie. I've been entering five times each day, but alas--I'm not winning--grrrr! It is obviously NOT based on talent, because here are my submissions for the limerick contest earlier in the week (based on photo above):

There once was a cat roly-poly,
Who liked to play only monopoly
He bought up Park Place,
Built a house on the space,
And took my money surely but slowly.

Cosmo the cat, an orange tabby,
At monopoly was not too shabby.
He bought up the railroads,
Made money by the bucket-loads,
Until we sent him to gambling rehab-y.

Why of why did I play this orange cat,
When I knew he was very good at
The game of monopoly
And winning unstoppably?
Oh I wish I had said to him "scat!"

There once was a tabby named Finn,
Who played Monopoly with a grin.
He landed on "Chance"
And started to dance
'Cause he knew the next card would win.

There once was an orange tabby cat,
Who won whatever game he played at.
He challenged poor me
To a game of monopoly,
And now I’m as poor as a rat.

What Year

Can you guess which photo was taken in 2009 and which was taken in 1969? Who looks just like her daddy?!

No Juice

Ug, we just had a tiny misadventure with the electric company. They snuck into our backyard and turned off the juice because we missed a payment. I'm not sure how it happened, probably a combination of lazy lateness and a misplaced envelope. Ouch--it will be an $80 reconnection fee. I'm glad that I am not a poor person who came home from my crap-paying job to find a hot house and a fridge full of spoiled food and a stove that needed to be lit with a match and no tv and a kid who is hungry and will have to make do with pantry food.

To celebrate my good fortune, let us remember how cute Tillie was at Easter:

Yardventures

Tillie and her friend Kai play with chalk shaped like eggs and rocks shaped like rocks.

String (Cheese) Theory

Dr. T posits that the tilliverse is slowly collapsing inward and that string cheese must be administered post haste post-daycare or there will be another big bang.

Smelling

Tillie smells.

Shoes

They are fun to put on, but only when one is allowed to do it all by oneself.

Tiny Shutter Bug

Guess who took this picture? Yep, this was Tillie's first photograph, which she took with her dada's iphone. Nice composish, no? She is quite handy with this snappy piece of technology--knows how to scroll through pictures, select applications, and even turn it off. (She says "bye-bye" when she's tired of it and wants to do something else.) I'm not sure even all of her grandparents could operate one of those things!

House Guest

Our 12-year-old nephew came into town last week. He's so tall and mature that I kept forgetting that he is still a kid. Whenever I offered him a beverage, I'd have to stop and remember not to offer him a beer. Plus, it just seemed that I should be able to hand him the keys to the car and let him make his own plans for the day. How frustrating it must be to be a minor and have to depend on others for your every need and desire. It was pretty cool to have someone to go see silly movies with and laugh at all your stupid jokes. I suppose when it's your own kid, they don't think you are quite so funny. I miss having him around.

Taxing

Tax season is probably the worst stress on my marriage (maybe a close second to moving). I am very proud because this year I used the F-word only three times on the subject. This is an exponentially great improvement over years past. Maybe by the time we hit our 50th anniversary, Scott and I will have paid our taxes in full, on time, and without exchanging a single cross word. I dream of that lovely day.

Here are some baby feet:

Happy Tillster

Tillie's first Easter (that she can really sink her teeth into) was a wild ride with many new experiences: egg hunt and holiday crafts at daycare, discovery that plastic eggs contain goodies, decorated cupcakes (yes, I am a cupcake genius!), a new love of pretty sandals and bunny ears, holiday fun with the cousins, first jelly beans, and the well-earned sugar crash.

Retro Sim

Scott got an iPhone, which is why lately all of our snapshots look like they were taken in the 70s. No these are not pictures of me, but current pics of the Tilster formatted to look vintage with snazzy apple software. I'm excitedly awaiting for the ap "iDaguerreotype" to come out.

It's a Stage

A local eatery has a fenced in gravel yard--because of the fence we go there almost every day. (Keeps the tyke from wandering into traffic.) The highlight for the toddler demographic is not a playground but a foot-high wooden platform. It's for bands, but we've never seen any performers on it. Tillie will play on this square stage for a full hour and still throw a fit when we are ready to leave. I'm thinking of building one in our backyard.

PS. I just scrolled down and I realize almost every post includes a picture of this place--I wasn't lying when I said we go there every day!

Big Sipper

Face Making

I wish I had more time in my day.

New Handle: DJ Oh No

Tillie's latest catch phrase is "Uh Oh...Oh No!" Just about ANY change in the status quo will elicit this comment: spilled food, dropped sock, cat at the door...

Hah!