Hey baby

I've been meaning to do this one for a while. Just how many small tots are running around in my life these days? A LOT. Most of which, I have had a chance to visit with this summer. One even came to visit me. Aren't I lucky!

I don't have any kids, not sure if I ever will, but with all these smiling faces in my life, I get my fixes on a regular basis. And then get to come home to a nice, quiet house. Yeah, it's the best of both worlds.



Jillian. Big sister. Happy-go-lucky gal pal. Niece.



Grant. Little brother. Strong arm. Sweet giggle. Nephew.



Suzy. World traveler. Great wit and loads of charm. Niece.



James. Bearer of the name. Defier of the odds. Cousin.



Anna. Life of the party. Girly girl. Sparkly. Friend.



William. Little brother. Funny boy. Easy to please. Friend.



Allie. Big sister. Knows what she wants. And how to get it. Friend.



Dominic. First born. Loves ceiling fans. Aggie. Friend.

So, you get my drift. Many thanks to my friends and relations for taking it upon themselves to grow the population of the world. These are some very good melons.

And before I go, you are listening to the new Arcade Fire album, aren't you? Cos if not, you better get on that.

Babies and tunes

Oh my GOSH. How are you bloggy-blog? I've missed you. I'm having some rare, stellar moment at work when things aren't piled upon my desk, and though it makes me suspicious, I just had to take the opportunity to say hi.

I wish I had more interesting things to share. Mostly I just mine about looking for new music. Here's the latest song (and band) that's on repeat in the ol' noggin.



It's a band called Local Natives and the song is "Airplanes." I might go see 'em when they come through town in April.

Hrm, what else. Crocheting and knitting as usual. I've completed two of my three scheduled spring baby blankets (for my three spring babies). Here's the first who came along, and his accompanying blanket. His name is Grant and he's my nephew!



Blanket suits him I think. Isn't he handsome? In a cute infant sorta way? Baby number two may come along today or tomorrow - mom is at the hospital as I type! Wish I could be there. And the last will be along in about a month. Woo!



I've got other projects completed and in-the-works, but you know me and the photo editing. I'm not even going to talk about the state of my DVR. But at this stage in life, I'm not one to consider a busy life anything but a blessing. Ya know?

Gave up sweets for Lent again. Always a good idea, though I had a few moments of weakness which I may or may not have succumb to. But now that I get to indulge guilt-free come Sunday, I think I need to make a cobbler with that last bag of peaches in the freezer. Also went and saw a lady about a Hoosier yesterday (you remember me and that obsession, right?). It's a craigslist find, and I'm still debating the decision. I will say that it would be much easier if I had a man and a truck at my disposal. But then again, wouldn't everything?

Seven years later

While editing photos from my trip to Belgium, I was inspired to go dig out this photo of my niece Mary on my brother's shoulders, taken at the end of December 2001.



She used to love sitting on his shoulders, and he'd lean forward ever-so-slightly and she'd squeal and just go into fits of laughter. We were endlessly amused by this.

What reminded me of it? Well, this one, taken at the end of December 2008. Here is my niece Suzanna on my brother's shoulders.



Between his now three children and the countless moves in those seven years since, the poor fellow has lost even more of his hair. But that's what being a daddy does to you. Especially a daddy of such high caliber as he is.

Mary and Suzy's birthdays are only about 2-3 weeks apart so they are very near the same age in these photos. I love that.

45-degree angle

Yes I am here! Moved in to my place in Dallas on Sunday. Things are obviously in great state of upheaval still--I want to get the kitchen unpacked first but I'm having to scrub down fridge, freezer, and all cabinets and drawers and shelves before I'll put stuff in there because I'm anal like that. So it's going very slow in there, and everything else waits.

The cable was set up today, so then of course the day was ruined for productivity (though I did make it out to Target). Also interwebs don't arrive until Wednesday, so I'm picking up little snippets of random wireless signals that go away completely every 10-15 seconds. So hopefully I'll get this updated in one of those connected snippets.

On Wednesday my friend Natalie is coming to visit along with her husband (who will be here on business) and her baby (who will be cute). This is her baby.



Yeah, woot for babies.

Lots to share but I'm just going to go on and get to bed and will wait until I can work at my desk versus on the couch with laptop held at 45-degree angle so as to best connect with aforementioned signal.

PS - Don't forget to vote. (Right, maybe if you lived in a cave.)
PPS - Oprah + 30 Rock in t-minus 3 days.