Some important considerations for a Monday morning

• Tim continues to be disturbed by my (and my sisters') "insistence" on using our toes for "unnatural" purposes. The other day the baby rolled under our couch. I was sitting down, and since she was fairly close to my feet, I naturally used them to pull her out from under the couch. Tim then relayed a story about a dinner party we were at last week. My cardigan had apparently dropped from my lap to the floor. My four-year-old nephew Calvin was sitting close to it, so Tim asked him to hand it to him. Calvin said, "Sure!" He then carefully took off his shoe and corresponding sock, and picked up and handed Tim the cardigan with his toes. I'm so proud.
  
  
• We went to a catholic wedding Saturday afternoon. I'm a little embarrassed that it's the first time I've been to a catholic mass. It is harder to sleep during mass because there is a lot of standing up, sitting down, kneeling down, waving of hands, and singing to and/or with the priest. Good time had by all, and the bride was stunning, of course. (Tim tells me that he's never been to such a mass, and he was raised catholic.)
  
  
• I was impaled by a baby rattle this week, and have suffered moderate to severe bruising and humiliation. In the future, I'm going to watch where I sit.

Boo.

We were going to be Little Bo Peep and her Little Lost Sheep, but the costume shops seem to be under the impression that Little Bo Peep was an exotic dancer or stripper. Then we were going to be Little Miss Muffet and the Spider Beside Her. Repeat Bo Peep experience. So we decided to be Samantha and Tabatha.

On an unrelated note, Tim and Squiggles have a new morning ritual.

Autumnal

We went to the Berkshires. Tim was so delighted when we arrived at Old Orchard Hill.

We strolled through the apple trees,

Peaked at some leaves,

And drank fresh hot cider with donuts. Tim found his smile.

We stayed at a thousand-year old hotel. I'm going to marry this bathtub if Tim ever leaves me.

Tim enjoyed some very wet kisses from Squiggles.

Squiggles loves being naked. Yes, I let her suck on dirty socks.

Then we went to October Mountain.

Sadly, this is the best shot I could get of the three of us.

Tim and Squiggles helped me find pretty rocks for my collection.

Success!

Then we met friends at a bluegrass festival.

Crap. This picture is way out of order. Oh well... I'm pretty much a hippie so I don't care. Friday Tim made fennel-mustard pork for some friends from school. It was divine, as usual.

For Chadene

Supernanny

Tim's mom went back to teaching school earlier this month, so she hasn't been able to watch Squiggles while I'm at work. Thankfully, my sister Cami's family has generously opened their home to my daughter.

Everything is going pretty well with a couple exceptions. Lately, the instant I arrive to drop off or pick up the baby, I am bombarded unsolicited advice: instructions as to where to put the baby, whether to give her a binky, whether she should be put in a bouncy chair, whether she needs to take a nap, whether I need to read her a book, what toy she'd like to play with, whether she is hungry or wants more food, etc. I know she means well, and it's hard to complain about somebody who clearly adores my infant... but that's another thing.

I think she's starting to think the baby is her baby - not mine. She gets upset when I come to get her, and sometimes even cries when we leave. I don't know what to do. I mean, I have enough pressure as it is, Ivy!

Any advice?

My niece the supermodel...

Happy birthday, Beautiful!

Your tax dollars at work.

It was a slow day in the lab.