that's what he said

We're in Coeur d'Alene for Thanksgiving, and we were at the lighting ceremony tonight (it was really spectacular). During the coordinated music/fireworks show, Blake turned to me excitedly:

"Mom! This is one of my favorite Hymen Steamroller songs!"

snapshot of what it's like to parent a 7-year-old boy

So, I don't fault Lifetouch: they are cruising through hundreds of kids a day for school pictures. It's hard to make sure that each and every child takes a really great photo. Ok, I sort of blame Lifetouch. Based on the pics I've gotten of Blake, I'm pretty sure they don't even try. I mostly blame Blake, because he DEFINITELY doesn't try. The below all took place in a 10- to 15-minute span the other day. There are a few good smiles early on, but I realized that the line of the porch went straight through his head, so I had to reposition and try again. Just... just start scrolling.

I had to enlist Rob's help.

Ta da! Finally, something I can WORK with. At least, as all the previous photos show, I had a willing participant. That is, he was willing to have his photo taken, but only on HIS terms, the squirrelly little monkey butt.

After looking more closely at all of these, I might actually like photo 7 best, line through his head or not!

a more cheerful princess leia

I wrangled V back into her Halloween costume (over non-white jammies - I had to get while the gettin' was good!), for a smiling picture of her as Princess Leia. The hat was made by my friend, who cannot legally sell "baby Princess Leia beanies" in her Etsy shop, but what she does with her brown beanies and the potential add-on of two clip-on ear warmers is her business. I'll just point you to her, for those who asked, because HELL NO, I do not knit (or crochet, for that matter). I did make the robe from some white quilting fabric, loosely following the instructions here. It was very easy, only requiring some cutting and hemming. Rather than spend too much time on the belt, I just used silver ribbon.

I think Vesper is like her momma in that she's more photogenic IN hats than out of them. It's awfully convenient when I don't have time to blow-dry my hair and when it's winter and a flower on a headband doesn't protect her adorable ears.

punkinhead

To tide over the grandies and anyone else far away yet near and dear. This sweet little biscuit charms us daily. Vesper only really cries when something is wrong, and if you fix it, she stops crying. She rarely even cries in protest when it's bedtime, just rolling to her side, pulling the blankie up over her face, and sucking her thumb, as if to say, "Thank goodness, you FINALLY put me down! I love sleep." She likes to stand and bounce in your lap and is starting to get the hang of the Johnny Jump-Up, though she's still small enough to slip halfway out one of the leg holes. Blake loves to sit on the floor and help her gently bounce.

She's more serious than I think a baby should be, and you have to work pretty hard to get her to laugh, though she is free and delightful with her smiles. Rob and I are hopeful that more giggles will come, otherwise we'll experience eye-rolling and disdain for our goofy humor at a much earlier age than I'm mentally prepared for. She loves bath time, and kicks and splashes and propels herself up and down the tub surprisingly well, paying no heed to water in her eyes or ears or mouth. We've had to start clipping her into things, as she's very close to rolling over, and I caught her half flipped out of her swing tonight. She kept whining unusually, and I came around the counter to find her on her side in the swing, legs nearly dangling, a bit "What the heck just happened?" in her demeanor.

We're about at a pretty big transition, too, from bassinet in our closet all the way across the house to her own bedroom, in a crib. She nearly fills the bassinet, sleeps pretty much through the night most nights, and has done really well sleeping long and hard when I've put her in her room for some practice sessions in the new digs. I think I'd like to paint the walls well before I move her, but at the rate she's growing, I may not have time!

that's what he said

While I was watching The Help, Blake sat down next to me for a short scene.
B: Mom, she looks like you!
A: Emma Stone?! Wow, thanks Blake! That's very nice - I think she is very pretty.
B: Yeah, sometimes your hair is like that. Is that what you used to look like when you were a teenager?

The child gives... then takes away.

*****

I blame his sisters.