8/30/06


Neigh moves on to comfort/stimulate another baby. It really is a lend-lease program - strictly short term as far as Felicity is concerned. He comes back to her each night.

Baby shampoo has never really caught on as a hairstyling product but it sure is fun.

That looks saves her many days.

Ready for our close-up.

Do you ever feel hemmed in by day to day life?

The 80's had a Boy in a Bubble - I've got a girl in a box.

Surprising depth of field in this picture. Sometimes the various default settings on the camera turn out some really interesting shots.

Sometimes the stroller gets boring. You have to get out and grab life by the horns.

8/23/06


We went to the National Dog Agility Championships in Burnaby on Sunday. Lots of dogs running obstacle courses and jumping off of things. It was substantially less interactive then I hoped. The competition was on the field and all the fans were in the bleachers. A good long walk to wear out the toddler and the parents. 2006.08.20

So I'm a little self-indulgent. It's my blog. :-)

I said gin, tonic, and a cigarette. Can't you get anything right? Do you think I got into this tutu eating fetticini alfredo?

14 here I come.

Didn't Mommy's heart swell over this one. :-)

Doing a very good job of being gentle with our baby brother.
This is our third or fourth attempt at Felicity holding Austin over a series of days. For future reference, keep in mind that a toddler when they don't want to give something back that they feel is theirs (this would be everything they see), they grit their teeth, gird their loins for battle and squeeze their doll or baby brother (hypothetically speaking) even tighter when their parents say irrational things like "time to give the baby back now."



And they wonder why people dream of bright flashing lights...

2006.08.17

2006.08.15 So that's what the sands of time look like as they are slipping through your fingers.

No I don't have a toddler at home, I just ran out of hair jel. Why do you ask?

Felicity and Austin. We spend a lot of time saying "gentle" and "Don't Squish his Head" and then she stands on the couch, squeezes her fingers together and goes "I'm squishing his head." Okay, I made that last part up.

2006.08.11 - The family.

8/8/06

Only traitors try to make us afraid of terrorists


Link
In this mind-blowing, exhaustively researched Cato institute paper by Ohio State University's John Mueller, the case against being afraid of terrorism is laid out in irrefutable logic, backed with credible, documented statistics about terrorism's risks. From the number of fatalities produced by terrorism to the trends in terrorism death to the fact that almost no one has ever died from a military biological agent to the fact that poison gas and dirty bombs in the field do only minor damage -- this paper is the most reassuring and infuriating piece of analysis I've read since September 11th, 2001.

The bottom line is, terrorism doesn't kill many people. Even in Israel, you're four times more likely to die in a car wreck than as a result of a terrorist attack. In the USA, you need to be more worried about lightning strikes than terrorism. The point of terrorism is to create terror, and by cynically convincing us that our very countries are at risk from terrorism, our politicians have delivered utter victory to the terrorists: we are terrified.

Much of the current alarm is generated from the knowledge that many of today's terrorists simply want to kill, and kill more or less randomly, for revenge or as an act of what they take to be The shock and tragedy of September 11 does demand a focused and dedicated program to confront international terrorism and to attempt to prevent a repeat. But it seems sensible to suggest that part of this reaction should include an effort by politicians, officials, and the media to inform the public reasonably and realistically about the terrorist context instead of playing into the hands of terrorists by frightening the public. What is needed, as one statistician suggests, is some sort of convincing, coherent, informed, and nuanced answer to a central question: "How worried should I be?" Instead, the message the nation has received so far is, as a Homeland Security official put (or caricatured) it, "Be scared; be very, very scared -- but go on with your lives." Such messages have led many people to develop what Leif Wenar of the University of Sheffield has aptly labeled "a false sense of insecurity."

Tucked in safe and sound. A shout out to Papa again for the great workmanship on the cradle.

The composition needs some work but you try getting a toddler to stand still exactly where you want them. :-)

I return to the car Saturday morning - family ready to be picked up at the hospital doors - car seat tested and ready to go - and discover this. Fortunately, the police attended and the individual responsible left their contact information. Unfortunately, there is enough damage that it might be written off instead of repaired. Not the situation you are prepared for on the day you are bringing baby home from the hospital. Luckily, papa and grandma were along for the ride. Come tuesday, get to know your insurance adjuster.

We're really noticed how big Felicity is now when you go from holding a seven pound baby to a 32 pound child.

Papa and Grandma viewing baby. Shots like these expose the limitations of the flash on a point and shoot.

They give you the bright colored blankets so it is easier to find the baby in the dark.

Experience.

We held a Big Sister party for Felicity on Friday to celebrate her role in the new and expanded family. Then she went off with Papa and Grandma Friday night and we went to the hospital to spend the night taking care of Austin.

8/6/06


I think papa would look better in the blue hat. :-)

Apparently Papa's heart skipped a beat last week when she decided to let go mid swing and remove her hat. Luckily, papa has quick reflexes and caught her before she hit the ground.

I'm ready - give me a big push and release the tiger - the crowd loves this one.

I've got the hat - where's the pony? (Best of Papa and Felicity Collection)

Nothing says summer like a lawn chair (Best of Papa and Felicity Collection)

From the Best of Papa and Felicity Collection

8/5/06


Lots of thoughts, photos and videos to come with beautiful narrative arcs - for now - we made it home - everybody is healthy and happy and we're almost through day 1. Lots of love. S.

8/3/06

Look Ma, no tubes!

O2 has been removed, the monitors have been turned off and he is still nice and pink and eating lots. He's coming home Saturday!