Teething is no walk in the park

Yep, no walk in the park (though I took a long one today). Sorry I haven't checked in lately, I've been busy..... teething. In fact, that's why I'm up blogging right now. It's hard to sleep when you've got pain in your mouth.

Besides teething, I've done lots of fun stuff lately. I took a really long walk with Mah and Pappy on Sunday. We met my friend Max and his folks after church. The grownups ate, we napped. I got to see a really wacky house. It's called the "Broken Angel". The city is gonna tear it down soon... something about it being "dangerously against building codes" but I thought it was shiny and neat. I've tried new foods: avocados and pears. I like the avocados okay but the pears make my eyes go down. Sour! I've tried swings in two different playgrounds now. It appears all the baby swings around here are the same style. Hmmm.. what else... that's about it. Oh, you know how I normally sleep all through the night? Well, not this week. My sore mouthie keeps waking me up. I'm hoping to be back to my normal self as soon as the first toothie pops through. Soon!

BTW... I'm too uncomfortable to write my own poem today so Mah is letting me use one that she noticed on the subway today. Let me tell you this... I only WISH I could eat meat off the bone. It might make my gums feel better. Mah thinks this poem might make Grampy misty-eyed (though he might change "feet" to "knees"). We'll see.

A Little Tooth
by Thomas Lux

Your baby grows a tooth, then two,

and four, and five, then she wants some meat

directly from the bone. It's all



over: she'll learn some words, she'll fall

in love with cretins, dolts, a sweet

talker on his way to jail. And you,



your wife, get old, flyblown, and rue

nothing. You did, you loved, your feet

are sore. It's dusk. Your daughter's tall.

I'm just swingin'

Today was a pretty, sunny day. Pappy took me on our Saturday stroll to the Old Stone House. Mah met us there. Then I tried something new, swinging! I swung in a baby swing and then I went down the tiny slide 5 times. Yeeks! 5 times! JJ Byrne Park is a great place for babies. When I got home I put on my Jayhawks jersey. Go Hawks!





Swing, swing peanut baby
Swing, swing peanut baby
Push, pull with Pap, Pap, Pap!

(Pean' Louise luckily went to bed before the 'Hawks sad loss to UCLA.... better luck next year Peanie!)

I'm a big, brave girl

Today was a special day for me. I became a big girl. Today was the first time I ever stayed with a babysitter in my whole life. Pappy went to work in Manhattan this morning and Mah went to work at big kid school. My friend, Rhonda, played with me all day. We went to the library, sang songs, played with toys, and read books. Rhonda is very very sweet. She is from Guyana. I have never been there but she says it's hot. I don't understand "hot". For Pete's sake, I've haven't had a Summer yet! I will see Rhonda next Monday and Friday. Fun!

So, "Big girls don't cry"
but I may have a few times.
Mah and Pappy left.

This picture says it all...

The product is called the Adiri Breast-bottle. Hmmmmmm....I'm interested but still not convinced. Can you order one with my Mah attached?

Brainy Babies Love Books

Today was a chilly, windy day. I was antsy being cooped up inside so Mah took me to the library. There were lots of kids there. I watched two preschoolers argue over a book. I've never seen that before. It sort of made me sad... but it was interesting! (BTW, they finally decided to read the book together)

Two kids were fighting:
"I want it!" "No, I do".
Sharing looks like work!

Chew on this...

The teething thing is really getting to me this week. Wooo-ooo. Ow. I've been chewing on everything: hands, mom's hands, toys, books, and... cucumbers! Yep, Mah has let me chew on all sorts of things this week. I've chewed on gluten-free cookies, bok choy, cabbage, apple peels, and cucumber slices. Don't worry! Just like Clinton didn't "inhale" I don't "swallow".

Today was a baby lunch day. My friend, Madeline, cut her first tooth. I am jealous. She'll probably get a tattoo before me too. No fair!

I'm teething - owow
I'm teething - owowowow
Mah used to drive Volare - ohoh
Then Aunt Kelly blew it up - ohohohoh

Grampy's a crazed vet so watch out!

From my grampy:

Dear Louise My Lass:

Interesting isn't it? Here you are an infant and by the developmental book you are supposed to be ego centric. Developmentally you are not yet able to think of anyone but yourself. Because of your age you do not yet have empathy, nor the social relationship skills of understanding and accepting the needs of others that are requirements for a civilized community. Ah but in your case we know those development level skills will come.

Sadly it appears you have chronologically adult neighbors who by their own words have never developed mentally past that infantile ego centric state of life.

Laying in bed mid morning whah whahing about a Little baby?

Gosh, who's the crybaby here?

All the best from your crazed combat veteran grandfather

Grammy's got my back...

Grammy... she's the best

Dearest Louise:

I received your latest blog and I have to say how sad I am for you. I'm having problems answering it directly so I hope your mommy will pass this message on to you. I think we can come up with a plan to counter the negative publicity that you've been receiving unfairly.

I've always been a fan of the underdog ( see season 2 of AI ) and I hate it when good people are unfairly maligned sooooo......... here's my proposed plan:

First have Ma and Pappy take one of your beautiful smiling pictures ( you've got a million of them and you're not even six months old) and have them print - Brooklyn's Happiest Baby Lives Here, have all your apartment mates sign it, laminate that sucker and post it out front for the whole world to see. There's nothing like countering negative publicity with a sense of humor and a dose of snark!
Then have your parents pull out their classic album Free to Be You And Me. Then listen to the sensational song stylist Rosie Greer and his rendition of It's All Right To Cry. What wonderful words to live by. I know that I'm 57 and a far cry(HA HA) from being a baby and a good cry every now and then always makes me feel better. And if you're feeling particularly naughty you can blast that song really loud from your window for one solid hour. How's that mean people?!?
Don't forget sweetheart, all beautiful girls have problems and sometimes they need to get away from big city living. ( I think they call it rehab) In just a few short weeks you can check yourself in here at Casa De' Grammy's for a little R&R. We Love you Sweetie!!

Your BFF - Your Biggest Fan Forever
Grammy

They are trying to silence me!

Mah and Pappy found a note slipped under our front door today.
It reads like this:

Dear neighbor,

I am writing to let you know that we are becoming increasingly disturbed by your baby's cries. I understand that you have little control over when your baby starts crying. However, it often begins before our alarm goes off on weekday mornings and sometimes lasts for over half and hour. At other times, the sobs begin again mere minutes after a previous bout of crying.

This is beginning to seriously disturb our sleep cycle. We are unable to sleep in on weekends or relax in our bedroom during the afternoon without being disturbed by an unhappy baby. I understand that you are going through the same thing; however, it was not our choice to subject ourselves to having an infant around.

I ask with all due respect to please be considerate of the neighbors as much as possible, particularly before 9am on weekdays and 10am on weekends.

Thanks you,

(unsigned)
Your next door neighbor

Well, what do ya'll think about that? Okay.....

Number 1: I sleep from 8:30pm till 7:30am every day. People DREAM to have a baby like me.
2: Yes, I am a baby and NO, Mah and Pappy DON'T have control over my cries. I cry when I want to. I also sing along to music loudly which can be confused with crying.
3: I only sob when I think of how Sanjaya is still on Idol. Why hasn't he been voted off yet?
4: Who are these trust fund sissies that they can sleep till 9 on weekdays AND be home during the day to be disturbed by me? What grownup "relaxes" in bed during the day?
5: I AM NOT AN UNHAPPY BABY. Mah and Pappy read The Happiest Baby On The Block and I feel I am very happy, thank you.
6: "It was not our choice to subject ourselves to having a baby around".... Well EXCUSE ME FOR LIVING! Ummm, I'm a baby. We are necessary for the propagation of the freakin' species!
7: Most importantly - You live in PARK SLOPE!!!!!! Hello, there are babies and dogs everywhere. If you live here you should expect to hear babies and step in dog crap!

Sooooo.... I (a normally VERY happy baby) am now a very pissy baby. I need your help. Mah and Pappy are too hacked off to compose an adequate response to this person's letter. We are soliciting response letters. You give me your response, I'll post it on the blog. The winning entry will get slipped into the mail slot of the meanie next door.

My cousin the tagger

I was cruising down the street in my Techno XT today when what do I see? A fresh tag on the inside of a newspaper bin. It was at perfect stroller height so I snapped a pic of it. Lola...not even 5 months old and breakin' the law!

My cousin Lola Frances
is a very naughty girl.
She acts just like a monkey
or the guy from the show called Earl.

I've tried zoology, now botany

Mah and Pappy think that I may have a career in either dance or politics but I feel that I am meant to be a naturalist. I enjoyed viewing the "fauna" on Monday but on Wednesday I checked out the "flora". Yes, I pulled on the ivy, I looked at the ivy, AND I tasted the ivy. Mmmmm, ivy.

BTW...I've switched to a new internet browser, Firefox. It works much better than stinky old Safari. Yay!

I laugh in the face of danger.... and alpacas!

Soooo, I went to the zoo on Monday. I really liked looking at all the animals. I liked the cow, I liked the sheep. I especially liked the baboons. But.... an animal liked me back. Yep, it almost liked me TOO much. This alpaca tried to eat my cheeks. It swiped me with it's mouth. I didn't cry though. No way.... I LAUGHED! Hahaha!

The big alpaca
tried to bite my chubby cheeks.
Everybody does!

Babies!!!!

Yay, just heard that the 'Hawks are the number one seed in the West after the OT win over Texas for the Big 12 championship today. Cool. I do look awfully nice in my jersey. I can get lots of wear out of it!

Today was my baby baby signing party. Mah showed the other mommies and pappies how to teach us babies how to use sign language. Cool. I would start signing tomorrow but my hands are a little busy in my mouth. Mmmmm, yummy yummy hands.

Okay, here is the baby bonanza picture. From left to right: Adva, Max, Rebecca, ME!, Elsie, Bess, Baila, Daphne, Madeline, and Isabella

I was the oldest baby there (Madeline and Elsie are 3 days younger). Baby Cali, the oldest baby in our crew, was out-of-town.

Ten babies once sat on a couch
A few of them started to grouch
One of them yowled, another few howled
Those ten grumpy kids on the couch.

(just kidding, we had FUN sitting together!)

I'm on a roll... just like the 'Hawks!

Guess what.... I rolled over last night. Heeheehee! I did! Yay! I was laying on my tummy, I pushed up, I rolled over. Woohoo! Isn't that awesome? Okay, so I haven't been able to repeat this feat yet but I will.

So, did you hear that the Jayhawks are ranked second in the nation? It's great. Yesterday was the start of the Big 12 tournament. The 'Hawks play Oklahoma today at 11:30 am CST. Go 'Hawks!

Madness tips off today for Jayhawks

By Mark Fagan

Friday, March 9, 2007

Oklahoma City — Lawrence resident Janice Arneson is relaxing in the first seat of the sixth row of section 118 at the Ford Center, watching the Nebraska Cornhuskers cut their first-half deficit to 30-19 by banking in a running buzzer-beater against Oklahoma State.

Not that she’s paying much attention. After all, she just spotted former Kansas University player Carl Henry and former coach Ted Owens in the crowd, among a smattering of crimson-and-blue faithful in a far-from-full arena.

This is the life.

“You can enjoy watching the games, because there’s no need to be nervous,” Arneson says, as Owens walks up the aisle to shake hands and say hello. “It’s just basketball, basketball, basketball.

“Today, you don’t need to get nervous. You just sit back and enjoy the next three games.”

Oh yes, that: the next three games. KU tips off Big 12 Tournament play at 11:30 a.m. today against Oklahoma in Oklahoma City, where the Jayhawks hope to continue through Saturday’s semifinals, a Sunday afternoon championship game and then hang out to watch the NCAA Selection Show and earn a No. 1 seed in the Big Dance and …

OK, enough about that.

Arneson and her sister, Eudora resident Geneva Tucker, have bigger problems. Their seats for the tournament may be great, but they found themselves sitting a row behind the Missouri Tigers.

That’s right: The team had plopped into a few rows of seats, watching the action before its own game to end the Thursday session.

“They’re just not as much fun to ridicule without Quin Snyder,” Tucker says with a whisper, her face screened by a Big 12 program.

Adds Arneson: “We haven’t developed a distaste for them yet under their new coach.”

But wait a few moments, and the true blue starts to come through.

“I guess I feel sorry for them — this year,” she says. “But it won’t take long. I still don’t like them.”

Snow No Go

Today is a snowy day. It started snowing early this morning and it just stoped a little bit ago. Finally, the sun came out (at 5 pm.... just in time for it to set). I stayed in all day today. Too cold and slippery for little me. So, I was bored. Hmmm, nothing to do? Might as well poo! Yep, I blew through (literally) 3 - count that - 3 onesies! Yeeks! It's a record. I'm including some pics - me during the act, me during clean up time, and one of my onesie victims.









Warning:
A bumbo seat looks an awful lot like a potty
for a good reason
Sit in it and it's twoie season!

Me - future tennis star

Mah and Pappy read a nice article in the NY Times this weekend. It was all about how to make me a post-Soviet style tennis prodigy. I'm all for it!

Here is a picture of some kids at the Spartak Tennis Academy outside Moscow. Hmmmm..... which of these kids do I identify with? Take a guess....... (it's the especially tall girl on the right!)

Black (nosed) bears...

In addition to rabid raccons and the stray coyote or turkey in Manhattan, we have more wildlife in the city. It appears that one of New Jersey's controversial black bears has escaped the hunt and taken refuge in Park Slope. Just kidding! It's me! My nose is black because the dye from Mah's scarf rubbed off on me. It is soooooo cold out that I had my little nosey buried in Mah's scarf to keep nosey from freezing off!

Today was a baby lunch day. Yay! It's always good to see all my baby friends. Rebecca, Isabella, Madeline, and Anabelle joined me. It was an all girl day. (We missed Max though)

Maxwell is a boy
the only boy I know of
except for Pappy

I know you've been waiting.....

So, I assume that you all have been wondering where I've been... well, don't blame me... the goofy website's been down. Oops! But, don't worry... I'm BACK! I've been busy lately. Ummm... I'm sitting up on my own for about 5 seconds at a time, I've been eating lots and lots of cereal, I can stand up when Mah holds my hands, I've written a cantata and published my first novel. Busy busy busy.

Golly, it was nice and warm this weekend. I took a super-nice walk in the park. But, today... cold and snowy. BTW, I LOVE to click the mouse on this laptop. I love to click it just like I like to push the keys on the big piano and my little piano. Yay!
Back to the weather.... I am getting ready for the warm weather though. Mah and our friends Aura and Baby Annabelle walked to Old Navy today to window shop. Mah took a pic of me checking out some summer shades. Fun!

"My future's so bright
I outta wear shades".
So goes the song
from long-ago days.
Back in the time
of dear Pappy's youth,
before I was born
or getting a tooth.