Hope Your Birthday Is Delicious.

Dear Grandma Sue -

Happy Birthday!

Love,

Thor, Brooke & Laney

Give Me A Bite Of That

Dear Laney,

These days, whenever your dad and I eat in front of you, this is what you do:

We assume this means "I'll have whatever you're having. NOW."

You're supposed to be sticking to a milk and baby food diet, but every once in a while, I give in...because experiments like this are fun:

click here

Love,

Mom

Daddy Day Care

Dear Laney,

I had to get some work done today, so you spent the whole day with Dad. He took you on a long hike to the mailbox, which was good, and he let you suck on a pickle, which was probably bad.

Right now, you're lying on the living room floor watching an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie with your dad and chewing on one of your socks. Again, probably not the best combination of activities for a baby, but you and dad seem happy - and I'm actually getting a few things done - so I'm not asking any questions.

Love,

Mom

It's Laundry Day!

Dear Laney,

I hope this is not an indication of how you're going to approach housework when you get older.

Love,

Mom

A New Friend!

Dear Laney,

Last week, your mom's best friend Karen had a little girl of her own: Samantha Appleton Crossley. I think we should call her Smapple.

Karen sent us photos of little 7 pound, 15 ounce Samantha, and your dad said "She's beautiful, but where's the rest of her?" I think he forgets that not all babies are 11+ pounds at birth like you were.

I hope you and Sam get to meet each other very soon - she looks like tons of fun.

Love,

Mom

They Must Taste Better Backward

Dear Laney,

Here's something I've noticed about you recently:

You would rather be in charge of your own pacifier and put it in handle-first than have someone else in charge, giving it to you the correct way.

I kind of admire this about you, even though it indicates a heaping helping of hard-headedness.

Love,

Mom

Fun With Reading

Dear Laney,

You seem to really be peeved with Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People" issue.

click here

See?

Love,

Mom

Life Lessons - #1

Dear Laney,

I thought it would be fun if occasionally I use this blog to share with you a little of the wisdom I've accumulated in my 33 years. (Incredible, I know - I don't look a day over 24.)

If you're anything like your mother, you will ignore all suggestions and advice and immediately go out and do the opposite of what you are told. That's fine. As my good friend Amy often smiles and tells her children, "I deserve you."

That being said, welcome to the first in a series of Life Lessons. When I was a teenager, Philip once told me:

If you get in a fight with your boyfriend,

be careful what you tell your mother.

You may forgive him, but she won't.

At the time, I thought it was a kooky thing to say. But tonight, as I was watching you doze in your swing like a little angel I realized something important: Philip was right. Because the first time some stupid punk boy hurts your feelings, I will march to his house and kick him in the shins.

Love,

Mom

Girls Gone Wild Weekend

Dear Laney,

This weekend, we took your dad to the airport in Spokane so he could go visit his grandpa Ron, and you and I spent the night with Grandma Sue and Erik. We had a great time. You had a nice relaxing bath, which was similar to a spa treatment at the Four Seasons - only in the kitchen sink.

You are rolling over these days like it's your job. No more elevated surfaces for you, young lady.

Love,

Mom

Rollin' rollin' rollin'...

Dear Laney,

Tonight - just one day shy of being 5 months old - you rolled over all by yourself. For a while now, you've been rolling up on your side, but you couldn't be counted on to go all the way over until tonight. And let me just say: this new development does not seem to make you happy.

You get all the way over, and then look around like you're wondering how you got there. That's when you start to cry, as if we've moved you without your permission.

It's the same look on your face as when you fall asleep in your car seat on the way to the store, and then don't wake up until I'm in the check-out line. You look around, bewildered, wondering how the heck you ended up in Target when the last thing you remember was the back seat. You're like an old guy who passes out in a bar and wakes up at a Waffle House. [Admittedly, this is not age-appropriate humor for a baby blog.]

Anyhoo, you're rolling over now and your dad and I are very excited, even if you're not.

Love,

Mom

Two Peas In A Sweaty Pod

Dear Laney,

Today, you went cross-country skiing with your dad. He wore you on his back in a backpack and the dogs pulled you down the road. As you scooted out of the driveway, I heard your dad yell, "We're movin' now, Pumpkin!!"

When the two of you got back, you were both so glowing and excited and giggly...and sweaty.

You had to air out for a minute.

I never imagined there could be someone who'd love snow sports as much as your Dad, until I went and gave birth to one.

Love,

Mom

Keep Calm and Carry On

Dear Laney,

At the start of World War II, the British government had posters made with the slogan "Keep Calm and Carry On." They were meant to be motivational, and to keep the country moving forward during the war. They looked like this:

After the week we've just had, I'm adopting it as our new motto. So this morning, we all got up and went for a hike in the snowy woods, which you thought was great fun. You did an excellent job of both keeping calm AND carrying on.

Love,

Mom

Mom At The Dentist / Super Pumpkin At Home

Dear Laney,

I had an appointment with the dentist today, and the plan was for your dad to entertain you for an hour while I had my teeth checked out. Dad decided to stroll you up and down the street right underneath the dentist's picture window. As the dentist was poking around in my mouth, I saw you stroll to the left...then stroll to the right...then stroll to the left...until even the hygienist started saying "Here comes your baby again." On your fifth trip under the window, Dad had abandoned the stroller and was carrying you in his arms because you were crying. You looked miserable out there together, so the dentist asked "Do you want to get up and go help them?" So I got out of the dentist's chair and ran outside to tell dad where to find the pacifiers and clean diapers while Dr. Noyd waited patiently.

Because the only thing I hate worse than having my teeth scraped is watching you cry.

We came home tonight and you and Dad hung out on the couch playing "Super Pumpkin":

click here

I'll say this about you, Laney, you sure make him work hard for every laugh - when it comes to your dad, you are one tough crowd. Could you throw him a courtesy laugh every now and then? I think it would really boost his self esteem.

Love,

Mom

We Are Having A Day

Dear Laney,

Sometimes in life, all you want to do is put your head down and hope the world leaves you alone for a little while. This is one of those days.

We went into town this morning to pick up a rental car to use while our car is getting fixed. By the way, you seem to think that all of this car drama is AWESOME - everyone got up with you at 6am instead of making you go back to sleep. You got to wear your pink bear pajamas to town, and all of the guys at Enterprise Rent-A-Car thought you were precious. It was probably because of that bear outfit that they decided to upgrade us to a brand new minivan.

Before we could even get the van home, our nutty neighbor drove into the side of it. I was fine, you were fine, and aside from being ancient and ornery, he was fine. But for those of you keeping track that makes two days, two car accidents.

I think our take-away lesson from recent events should be this:

Whenever possible, walk.

Love,

Mom

What Your Dad Did.

Dear Laney,

Yesterday afternoon, your dad took the dogs on a little ski trip. When they got in the car to come home, your dad noticed that the car was drifting sideways on the ice. There was nothing he could do, and the car went over the side of the road with him in it and slid down the hill until it came to a stop at a tree.

Originally, I was going to write a jokey little post about how one day you'll have a Learner's Permit, and statistics say that you'll be involved in a fender bender or two. I titled it "What Your Dad Did" because I was going to tell you that when that happens, and your dad gets mad, you should remind him of this day and tell him everyone makes mistakes.

But that's not the lesson I want you to take from this. As I was lying in bed last night, I was thinking about how much you and your dad mean to me, and how lucky I am to have you both, and how blessed we are that your dad made it home. Because coming home safely to us at the end of the day is What Your Dad Did.

And that's all that matters.

Love,

Mom