New Baby Friends

On Saturday, Luke and I picked up Nancy and went to Sacramento to visit our dear friend Stacy and meet her adorable new baby Piper. Piper and Luke are modeling their "Future Tiger" bibs in the photos below. Appropriate, considering Stacy and I were college roommates at UOP. (She dealt with my passive aggressive tendencies for a year and lived to tell about it.) As you can see, baby wrangling is a difficult job. Sadly, I don't think either photo has what it takes to make it into the next issue of the alumni magazine...even if I do have an "in" with the editor.

Luke expressing concern after almost kicking Piper in the head.

Luke, realizing that there is a small, crying creature touching him, freaks out.

Piper immediately stops all crying as Luke takes over.

Ha!

From Kaiser Permanente's "Healthy Babies" Newsletter:
"Try to accept that your partner or child care provider may do some things differently than you. As long as you are confident that your child is safe and well cared for, try not to be too critical of others who take care of your baby."

Easier said than done my friends. Easier said than done.

A Bit of Perspective

Luke getting excited about the pickles at Harry's Hofbrau in Livermore

After working obscenely late on Thursday night (that's the day I work from home, which means most of my WORK work is done after the Lukester goes to bed), incredibly late on Friday night because of a board dinner, and ALL day Saturday for the same, I was not in the best of moods on Sunday. I kind of overbooked us (typical), so we were on the go most of the day. I should know better than to do that the day after a board meeting, because I'm a girl who doesn't function well without a little downtime, but despite my mood it was still a relatively fun day. I was going to post a couple of pictures, but I think I'll wait. The point of this post was to share the perspective Justin gave me before I left the house this morning. (He, unfortunately, bore the brunt of my crankiness yesterday.) So, this morning, I woke up and got ready to leave for work after what basically felt like a non-weekend. He stopped me in the bedroom, forced me into a hug, and said, "repeat after me." In typical Becky-fashion, I was in no mood to play along or be trapped in his embrace, but I relented and started repeating his words:  "Today is going to be a great day. I have two eyes. I have two legs. I can hear." I don't even remember what came after that because I was laughing too hard.

It's true. With those three things going for me, how can it not be a great day? :)

(I should mention however, that Justin is on vacation this week, so his perspective may be a little skewed.)

Sophie

I first noticed Sophie when I was stalking someone on facebook. Can't remember who at the moment...it doesn't really matter because I started seeing her everywhere! She reminded me of a scene from Three Men and a Baby where Tom Selleck's character buys a toy giraffe from a street vendor. If you don't remember, it is kind of a funny scene. Anyway, I like to follow the crowd, so I searched for "Sophie the Giraffe" on Amazon. Sure enough, I found her! Made by Vulli, a French company, Sophie is a world-renowned teething toy. She has lots of appendages for Luke to chew on, she's rubbery, and makes a squeaky noise. What could be better. If we are going to have a favorite toy to carry around everywhere, I'm glad it's Sophie the French Giraffe!

Handy Manny er Mommy

Now that Luke is eating "real" food, we decided it was finally time for a highchair. I spent a couple of hours on Saturday afternoon putting this lovely wooden number together. I did it all by myself and it supports weight, is level, and everything. And there weren't even any screws left over! :) As you can tell, I'm pretty proud of this accomplishment.

My dad was adamant that Clyde (the monkey) sit in the chair first. He says Luke's modeling contract doesn't include quality control testing. Man that kid has good representation!

The Photo Studio

I have always fancied myself a photographer. The only problem is that I'm REALLY NOT very good. I have good ideas, but am never that great when it comes to executing them. The best ones always end up slightly out of focus or my composition is all off. Despite this, I still try. Over and over again. Sure it might be nice to have pictures done by someone with a really great camera...and lighting...and experience, but heck that requires me to make an appointment...and spend money...and leave the house. Here are a few of my recent endeavors in what I like to call "Mommy's Photo Studio" AKA blankets taped to the crib or draped over a chair or boppy. I promised my mom that I would splurge on Luke's 6-month and/or 1-year pictures and have them done by a "real"' photographer. We'll see...:)

EASTER PORTRAIT

Backdrop:  The solid backing of a fun beachy blanket

Props (all from Target):  Easter eggs ($.79 per pack), basket ($1.99), Easter grass (actually little mermaid pom poms from the dollar section that I thought were a prettier color and less messy than the actual  grass - $1). Luke trying to eat every prop on set:  priceless.

TIGER PRIDE PORTRAIT

Backdrop:  Fleece material that has been sitting around for months that I have been meaning to turn into one of those fringe-y tie blankets.

TWO MONTH PORTRAIT

Backdrop:  Fleece-y tie blanket that covers an ugly hand-me-down chair in Luke's room.

 Props:  Bear from Gram

MATERNITY PHOTOS

Not in the "photo studio." Done with the self-timer at UOP in the rose garden where we got married in 2002. The timer only gives you 10 seconds, so Justin had to hit the button and run around around the roses to get in position. We started off at a different bench, but the sprinklers came on and we had to make a run for it...

Maybe there is something to be said for hiring a professional.

Ladies Man

Surrounded by women already...