Cutest Curl Ever

The title says it all--we were in the bathroom, playing with the toilet (sometimes we get bored with baby toys, okay?) and I actually gasped aloud at the cuteness of this random curl.
Side view:


You have no idea how hard it was to zoom and and take this picture. Bronwen doesn't like to hold still, even for a second:
And here is just a picture of the other side, so it wouldn't feel shunned. Note the TP has to be kept on the back of the toilet--remember my paper shredding post? Well, toilet paper is MUCH more fun for my shredding machine. Right when you get your cats trained, along comes a baby...

Post Cards

Bronwen may never receive a pen pal letter in the mail, but thankfully both her Aunt Jana and Barbara send postcards!

Things You Will Never Know

Dear Bronwen,
I was thinking about how different life today is from when I was growing up. I can't help but think of all the things I experienced that you will most likely never experience.

1. The feeling of using the World Book Encyclopedia for a report
2. Renting a movie from a video store
3. Writing a letter to a pen-pal. Receiving a letter from a pen-pal.
4. Playing a record or buying a tape, or even a CD for that matter
5. Looking up words in a book
6. Using a card catalog or the microfiche
7. Passing a handwritten note in a particularly boring class like Geometry (Tiff) or Educational Anthropology (Mel)

Added by others:
8. Recording songs off the radio
9. Making mix tapes
10. Using a pay phone
11. Watching a TV station that only played music videos
12. Riding a bike without fear of a head injury
13. Making popcorn in a pot on the stove
14. Remembering phone numbers
15. Using an AAA Triptych
16. Filling up your gas tank with $10.00
17. Programming a VCR


Most of these are items related to computers and technology, but they also tie in with the senses--the smell of old books, the feeling of thumbing through pages and seeing information about different things. The excitement of getting "real" mail or unwrapping the cellophane on a 45 that you desperately wanted.

Readers--add to my list. What are things that you think Bronwen may never experience for herself that we can share with her now? I feel like mine focus on the library--but I'm a self-professed bibliophile, so it fits. What else am I forgetting?

Name Change

Some of you may have noticed that I changed the name and description of my blog. Since Bronwen isn't really a "baby" any more, I went ahead and took that part off of the nomenclature. Also I once said "new mom" in my description. After a year, I think I am fairly seasoned! Granted, everything is still a new adventure, but I think that even after you have 6 kids, there are surprises daily. I'll let you know ;-)

Until then, I'm trying to allow Bronwen to grow up a little. It's hard, but I think it's a sign of my own growth as a mom. I'm still kicking a screaming a little about it, of course! Below Bronwen is "reading" the book her Mimi made for her birthday!If any of you have suggestions for a new name, please comment! Then I can create a poll and leave the decision up to my devoted fans. Should I keep the alliteration? Go in a new direction? Let me know!

Awesome Game--The Sequel

Often as I am blogging, I give Bronwen some independent play time. Since I don't allow her to watch T.V., she has to come up with her own creative games and activities. Often this includes pulling my books off the shelves, digging through the office garbage can and shredding the papers within, or playing with the cats on the couch. Since she has become a professional crawler, often times she will grab a toy, crawl up the hallway with it, and crawl back into the office. (She is shredding up the trash right now as I type this--my girl can save us a bundle on office equipment!) The hallway game is great, because with toy-in-hand I can hear her crawling up the tile floor...click clack click clack.

And then...I realized what her game TRULY was. Bronwen is too funny.

Our hallway:Laundry room door:Zoomed in view of cat door:
What I found on the other side:

Caught!








She has bed-head as this was just this morning, and we haven't even had breakfast yet!

All you Bloggers

I just stumbled upon an awesome site for all you crazy bloggers who actually want to keep all the work you've put into your blogs.

http://www.blurb.com/

This website actually allows you to turn your blog into a book. I am really excited; although I have no idea what it actually costs to print the book. I know the software is free.

I think I'll play around with it. Let me know if any of you decides to try it!

Splish Splash--Pt II

Now where was I? Oh yes, I was recounting our fun day in the pool, and then I got side-tracked with the avalanche of commentary concerning T.J.'s skin color. Yes, he is white. But as I replied in the comments, white is the new tan, folks! There is a reason all those skin doctors are pushing the sunscreen. Bronwen even sports a sun hat to keep out the harmful rays.

Okay, so there we were, playing in the pool with Bronwen. She got parched after a spell, and showed off her standing skills while taking a break for libation. Mr. Meow watched from a distance.After her thirst had been quenched, Bronwen decided that it was time (at last!) to check out the swing that Ronnie and Donalyn gave to her. We'd tried a couple of times to get her interested, but she had been reluctant to embrace the fun, and this past weekend she bid farewell to the fear and realized that she loved her swing!

Bronwen decided after a bit to go back to the pool. It is amazing how an empty bottle and water can be so entertaining. I had to call her several times to get her attention. "What Mama? I'm busy here!"
While I was busily playing paparazzo, T.J. was being a slave to the grill. He made sliders, 2 types of chicken (one involved injecting the breasts with apple butter and rum), and sausages. Paired with a frosty adult beverage, lunch was delicious! I am getting hungry now just remembering.

We hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend as well!