Tuck In

We put Palmer's crib mattress on the floor in our room in an effort to start transitioning him out of our bed. Connor thought it would be a good idea to show him how comfy it is. It lasted about 10 minutes but that's a start!

Simple Machines

Connor has had a great school year so far.  His first report card was "straight A's" with only one little tiny comment about having a bit more patience when working in groups.  Shocker.  Most of his papers come home looking like the one above. This was a "pop" quiz in the middle of their Simple Machines module.  I don't think I learned about simple machines until 5th or 6th grade. 

Connor--Dad an I are so thrilled with how you are doing.  Keep up the good work!

Say It

I can't remember Connor's speech development progress.  I wish I had kept a record.  I feel as though Palmer is a little bit later of a talker and based on the milestones that you find on insane parenting websites and the information from our pediatrician, that seems to be true.  Its really only in the last 6 weeks or so that his vocabulary has taken off a bit.  I jotted the primary words down:

Dada, or more frequently this week, BOB!  BOB!  BOB!
Mama (he also called my mother this today on the phone--too cute!)
Brubby (brother) 
Apple
Ear
Nose
More
Eyes
Baby
Ball
Shoe
Eat
Door
Yes (he seldom says this...not a good sign!)

OUTSIDE (his largest word and one he uses and loves very much.  this is said as some kind of chant as he digs in the basket to find shoes while he's still in his pajamas)

and his favorite word of all....NO!   This is usually executed with a wild shaking of the head back and forth. 

He understands everything you say.  He just doesn't have much to say back.  He employs a grunting sound for alot of his communication.  If he wants your cup, he'll point at it and grunt.  If he doesn't want his diaper changed, he'll roll over and grunt.  It's very effective.


If I recall, they'll come flying in fast and furious now, so another vestige of the baby days is on its way goodbye.  I'll miss it.  But I'm thinking I won't miss the grunts that much.  :)

A Rare Moment of Silence

So rare, I felt compelled to document it. 

Morning At The Museum

Yesterday was a school holiday so we took a trip downtown to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum.
It was a bit crowded but we had a good time.

Watch out boys!

This was some forensic demo room.  You can't see it in the photo but there are outlines of bodies on the floor.

Checking out some insects at the Orkin Zoo

The insect tunnel.

The Golden Globes-The Periphery

These are the ones that bear discussion.  Not the best, not the worst, but notable for some reason.

Charlize Theron in Dior Couture.  Another of the deadly "Pales" but its very feminine and pretty. What I don't like is the way it makes her boobs look so deflated and I HATE the headband and hair style.  Like with Julie Bowen, this color makes her blonde look really bad and cheap.

Madonna in Reem Acra.  I love the weaved skirt.  I think its really different and interesting.  Don't like the bodice and little sleeves so much. 

Tina Fey in Oscar De La Renta.   Really awesome dress.  And her hair being down is okay with this.  I would have liked some exciting bracelets, though. 

Emma Stone in Lanvin.  Love the colors but not the belt.  Its like some Roman Legionnaires war banner.

Dianna Agron in Giles Deacon.  Great color and very interesting cutouts.  A very smashing gown.

Kelly MacDonald in Lorena Sarbu. Wow. What a color and what sparkle.  But jeepers does she need some jewelry.  And a little hair wouldn't hurt either. 

Giuliana Rancic in Monique Callignon. Great on her.  Very high neck is hard to do and she does it superbly.

Sarah Michelle Gellar in Monique Lhullier.  She said she let her two year old pick it out.  It shows.  

Maria Menounos in ?  Those are all tiny yellow sequins.  Not the classiest gown, I'll give you that.  But as my guy friends would say, "She looks bangin'".  Wow

The Golden Globes-The Worst Dressed

There are two in the "Pale Trend" post that could have made it on this list--Emily Watson and Amy Poehler. But here they are in no particular order.

Julianna Margulies in Naeem Kahn.  Bad fit.  Can't imagine what she was thinking.

Salma Hayek in Gucci.  I really like her.  And I love the ombre hair.  But this just seems tone deaf.  Very Las Vegas strip.

Lea Michele in Marchesa.  She was clearly trying to take a risk or drum up some buzz but its just wrong.   Ugh.

Michelle Williams in Jason Wu.  WHAT?  How could she do this?  The same woman who is capable of making this incredibly exquisite choice made this one here?  How can that possibly be?  Everything about this is just so wrong.  Including the headband.

Emily Deschanel in "I HAVE NO IDEA SHE MAY HAVE SEWN IT HERSELF".  One sleeve is hard to make work and this proves the point. Ugh.  Just ugly. 

Did you have one you thought was a real disaster that I missed?

The Golden Globes-Best Dressed

As I mentioned in my previous post, all of these images are from MSN's Wonderwall.

Best of the Night


I tried to keep my choices to five, but I could only get to six.  These are my favorites.

Kate Winslet in Jenny Packham.  Love the color blocking.  Love the keyhole bodice.  Love the fabric.  Very unfrilly but feminine and strong.

Sofia Vergara in Vera Wang.  Wow.  Just stunning.  The color is unique and and the fit is perfect. 

Evan Rachel Wood in Gucci.  It is so hard to pull of feathers (not literally--you know what I mean).  This is a stunner.  It captures those iridescent black to green to blue tones you see in a feather when you find it. 

Kate Beckinsale in Cavalli.  Okay, I know I bitched about the "pales" in an earlier post, but this is my exception.  I'm allowed one.  The bodice on this is so structured and strong and the bottom is so feminine.  Love the cuffs.  I also note that the pale blush gown just works really well with her coloring.

Jessica Alba in Gucci.  Its just so pretty and in a great color for her.   Solid and firm feeling at the top with that drop back waistline and the beading is lovely.

Helen Mirren in Badgely Mischka.  She's just stunning.  This isn't the best photo of the dress.  That skirt is stunning and it moved so nicely.

Golden Globes-The Pale Trend

I love watching movie and TV award shows.  I never have time to blog about it because...well, I don't have time and its superfluous.  But I'm off work today for MLK and the boys are asleep.

First...a word about standing.  I realize that I never have to get dressed up and parade around and get criticized for how I dress and look.  I'm grateful for that.  But that doesn't disqualify me from being able to comment and criticize.  If your average guy can criticize how the best quarterback in the league just threw a ball, I can criticize Angelina's dress choice.  Its not like they're suddenly going to get up off the couch and walk onto Lambeau Field at game time.

Second...a word about credit.  All of these images are from MSN's Wonderwall.  

There was a flock of pale gowns last night.  A flock.  Though some of these are just lovely, in general, I think they are ill-advised.  Its like a plain old goose wandering into a field full of peacocks.  You just wonder what the heck they are doing there.  Are they lost?  Confused about where they are?  Check them out below.  (Designer noted if I could find it.)

Amy Poehler in Naeem Khan.  Just boring.  Nothing else.

Kristin Wiig in Bill Blass.  Nice structure and shape.  But it disappears. You have to squint to see it.

Emily Watson in Giorgio Armani.  Ugh. Jersey material. Bleh.  Bad shape on her body.  Needs a better bra.

Giuliana Rancic in Basil Soda. Very pretty.  But very...well...pale.

Taissa Farmiga in Vera Wang. Darkest of the pales, but totally unexciting just like her facial expression. 

Katharine McPhee in DKNY. Best of the bunch because its sexy.

Shaileene  Woodley (who is she?) in Marchesa. Bleh.  I can't even see the detailing. 

Piper Perabo in Theory. Okay.  This one is at least interesting.  The material is kind of plastic-y.  It wouldn't work in a dark or bright color so I guess I get it. But its mighty big.  It moved nicely, though.

Sarah Paulson  in Pamella Roland. Bleh.  Boring.

Amanda Peet in Marc Jacobs.  Ugly AND pale.  It looks like a Gunne Sax dress I wore for 8th grade graduation. It does NOTHING for her.

Elle McPherson in Zac Posen  Fun, pretty gown.  But it would have been so much better in a jewel tone.

Julie Bowen in Reem Acra. Just juvenile looking and her hair color looks horrible with it-she needs a toner.  She's so cute but this does nothing for her. 

Rocket Man

Connor started his third season of Giant Basketball last week and had his first game today. His team is the Houston Rockets and they lost. The other team was littler and scrappier. Plus, Connor's team has a bunch of kids who have never played before and who can barely dribble. Its a short league--over in just 6 weeks, but its a small time commitment and basically just a little something to do in the dead of winter.

Connor looks as if he's going to a prize fight.  And Georghe Muresan there on the right is obviously trying to get them to pay attention to something.

Trying to steal the ball from the opponent.

Flying down the court.

In the hunt

Blocking

In the thick of it

Balls

Welcome to the official first post in the category "Things P Says"!

Today at daycare a raucous lunchtime was had by all the teachers because my baby boy was on a quest....a quest for meatballs.

Apparently, the menu changed (I'm sure they communicated this but I pay little attention to things that are not likely to cause immediate injury or death to my offspring.) and the new meatballs were...shall we say...a hit. A big hit. Palmer apparently ate all of his and then began vocalizing a "ba" sound. When this wasn't getting through, he finally completed the grunting word..BALLS. "BALLS! BALLS! BALLS!" He would not be denied. He stalked the table like a hungry big cat stalks the high grass. He was so angry and relentless that the teachers went to the other classrooms for leftovers to give him.

I can see them tossing him over the fence to the angry toddler, can't you?

Packing Heat

Second child syndrome to the max. I would have been APPALLED at the thought of my baby Connor running around with an automatic weapon. Palmer---he's packing heat and it seems totally normal. He can't be the only kid in the bushes without a weapon.

Don't Say That

A few days before the holidays I ran into the office for two hours or so and Connor came with me. He was great. He played quietly on his iPod while I cleared out some emails and did one conference call. Barely a peep from him. Forgot he was there. At some point in a phone conversation I was talking to someone about communicating a fairly complex regulatory issue to a large number of field sales personnel. No disrespect to them, but I mentioned that I use as my barometer whether the communication I'm writing could be understood by a third-grader. They're busy. They have short attention spans. So, I said "you need to talk to them like you're talking to a third-grader so that they'll understand it." There was a third-grader in the room. I'd forgotten. A few moments later this note was quietly shoved in my face between my nose an my monitor. It was unceremoniously dropped and the author stomped out of the office and down the hall to the lavatory. My bad. My big bad. I had alot of 'splaining to do, as Ricky Ricardo would say. He forgave me. We're over it now. :)