Fancy Footwork

Weston loves to dance. Ever since he was able to wiggle his little body he's been groovin' to the music. (Even if that music is just the song from a commercial on T.V.)
This morning I put on some lovely classical music to start the day. Weston particularly seemed to enjoy it! Here is a video clip of some of his fancy footwork. I realize the clip is 2 whole mintues, but if you just make it a little past the minute mark, that is the funniest part. Also, please ignore the laundry pile on the floor in the video. :) I'm about to go put it in the washing machine as we speak...

Two Firsts... okay, Three

Yesterday was Weston's first day wearing jeans - ever. I know it doesn't sound like a big deal, but to him it was. As soon as I put them on, it's like he realized there was something special about them. Maybe he noticed that they look like what mommy and daddy wear. I don't know! All I know is that as soon as I put them on, he started dancing around the house, laughing all the while. Usually he isn't a fan of wearing clothes, so I just had to take a couple of pictures:

The other first was eating avacado. Again, probably not a big deal to anyone besides me. I have been trying to get him to eat avacados since he was 7 months old. He's not a big fan of veggies, so I was thrilled that he ate some avacado! (even though it is technically a fruit) I think the key was putting salt on it. GO FIGURE! (Why didn't I think of that sooner?) If you look closely enough at the above pictures, I think you might even be able to see a little avacado on the corner of his mouth. (but who's looking?)

The third first was for me. Yesterday was my first time being on the radio. I honestly don't know what I think of it. As soon as the interview was over, I called my mom to see what she thought. But she hadn't been able to listen. Neither had my husband, dad, brother, sister-in-law, or anyone else in my family! So even though they will be able to listen later (which of course they will all do if they want Christmas presents this year - ha ha ha), I still don't have any feedback about how it went. If nothing else it was a good experience, and hopefully something positive will come of it!

I am being interviewed on the radio!

Yes, it is true. I will be interviewed tomorrow on a program called Careers From The Kitchen Table, talking about the consulting business my mom, sister-in-law and I started three years ago. It is an hour long show, and I will fill the second half of it. Mark Victor Hansen (who co-created Chicken Soup For The Soul) will be on just before me, at 3:00 pacific time. Since the show is aired in the NorthEast, you probably won't be able to catch it by turning on your radio. However, if you are interested, you can tune in on Wednesday by going to: http://www.careersfromthekitchentable.com/.
I am anxious and hope it goes well! If you are so inclined, I would greatly appreciate knowing that someone is listening! Wish me luck. :)

Political Madness

As we close in on the end of this presidential race, you may notice the increasingly frequent political ads on T.V. Should we be surprised? It happens every 4 years. The attacks ads always become more vicious as election day draws near. And without fail, every four years, we hear a bazillion comments like, “Americans don’t want to hear these juvenile attacks. They reveal a candidate that has nothing of substance to say. Americans like a positive message… yada, yada, yada.”
Yeah, right.
If attack ads are so counter-productive, why do presidential hopefuls from both parties consistently use them?
Anyway, I have barely begun, and already I am side-tracking myself. I don’t care if political commentators choose to voice their disapproval of attack ads, even though it is painfully obvious that they only use that line when it benefits their candidate.
What is making blood shoot out of my eyes tonight (as Glenn Beck would say) is what Americans should be OUTRAGED by, and yet are not. Recently Sarah Palin has started talking about Obama’s connection with William Ayers – the known terrorist who would be rotting in prison right now were it not for an unfortunate technicality that let him go free all those years ago. While most of the political pundits are again touting their brainless mantra about Americans despising such attacks, I am wondering if anyone is awake. I am wondering if maybe all the bright lights have begun to affect the brain function of those that spew this crap.
Honestly, is anyone awake?
While there are many real issues that concern Americans, did it ever occur to anyone that a valid attack could actually highlight a REAL issue? Call me crazy, but I view the tight connections Obama has had throughout his life with people who overtly hate America a very real issue!
Even if I sincerely believed in his socialist economic policies as many Americans do, I would be extremely hesitant to vote for someone that does not love their country! I am not blind to this nation’s imperfections. I believe there is more corruption in high places than we know. But I do love America. I love capitalism. I don’t love the government, and I want its involvement in my life to be as minimal as possible.
I am truly astounded at the indifference people have shown towards Obama’s multiple long-term, close associations with radicals and criminals. How can these facts not deeply trouble every American? I am in awe, but I guess I shouldn’t be. Many people are indifferent to their eternal salvation too, which makes even less sense.

Madness, I tell you. Pure madness.
I don't know whether that bumber sticker makes me angry, or just want to cry. I had to include this picture. It somehow reminds me of a Norman Rockwell painting. Doesn't it just make you smile? I had to end on a happy note after all.

Loving Daddy... then and now

I recently happened upon this precious picture of Weston just after he was born, warmly cuddled in daddy's arms.
It made my heart melt!
(As does practically every picture of that little stinker)
















This one was taken when he was exactly one month old:
















Then, just the other day I thought I'd snap a couple pics at the breakfast table. Daddy is reading the paper, pointing things out to Weston, and sharing breakfast.

Are they sweet together or what? :)

18 months!

So, Weston actually hit his 18 month mark on August 24th... exactly a month ago today!! But I wanted to at least post a few cute shots of the little guy around his birthday. Here are a few of his favorite things:
giggling
mommy




daddy




"reading" and sometimes tearing out favorite pages (we're working on that one!)

The monkey (that he doesn't know is actually a leash!)

yelling - or shall we say more accurately, "hooting"

doing the "shocked" expression

pretending to be shy









posing for the camera and charming us all

talking on the phone - or on two at a time if at all possible

The 24th of August happened to be a Sunday... here we are getting him all spiffied up for church and his first "official" day in the nursery.
It has been an eventful month... he's still not used to nursery but he's getting a little better each week.
For the record, here are a few of his favorites (this is so I will not forget as time goes on since favorites can change so rapidly):
Food: It totally depends on the day - but noodles, eggs, and monavie gelpacks seem to be his favorites right now. He's picky and doesn't seem to share my love for veggies... yet. (I am an optimist)
Toy: Balls - he can't get enough of them. He doesn't even care if it's a ball. If it is in a round shape (like an apple) he has to have it. The problem with apples is, he wants to throw them all over, then randomly pick them up to have a bite. (I know, gross)
Favorite activity: Playing with buttons (not the kind on coats, but the kind on computers, TV's, stereos and the like). If he pushes a button and nothing happens, he is looking for a plug to put in the wall. He also loves swings and slides, flushing toilets, "helping" me unload the dishwasher, sitting on the island in our kitchen (I know it's bad, but for some reason he eats the best while sitting up there), and running.
Most odd favorite activity: pushing strollers - we went to the coolest park this summer. It had everything a kid could hope for. And yet, all Weston did for the duration of our time there was push his stroller around and around.
Noises: grunting and hooting. Hooting is much cuter than grunting, mostly because the grunts can get pretty loud and desperate sounding. He grunts when he wants something that he can't get himself, which is like every 5 minutes.
Favorite object: Balloons. He is obsessed with balloons. They give them to kids at Trader Joe's, so every time we go shopping there he grunts LOUDLY until he gets one. It is rediculous! Sometimes he continues to grunt even after he gets the balloon because he wants another one.
Favorite person: At night, mommy takes the cake - but in the morning it's all about daddy. As soon as he wakes up, Weston runs down the hall shrieking, "DAAAD!!" It is very sweet.

The Hug Me Pillow

So, I was just searching google images for something when I found this:





It is from an online store called Apartment Therapy, whose goal is to "save the world, one room at a time"







Under the picture was this description:
The Hug Me pillow provides comfort as well as piece of mind; Unique shape provides firm sleeping support.

Isn't that kind of creepy, and yet incredibly funny? I guess I needed a good chuckle, because it made me laugh right out loud! Do you think anyone would really want to sleep with this thing?