Babies -- They're Just Like Us!

Any avid reader of US Weekly knows that the magazine has a regular feature called "Stars -- They're Just Like Us !" The section usually shows pictures of celebrities picking up their dry cleaning, cleaning their car, etc. So I am starting a new blog feature: "Babies -- They're Just Like Us!"

They go grocery shopping!

They shop on the Internet!

(note credit card next to mouse pad...I expect a new train table to arrive any day now)

Cousin Blake

Tate is very intrigued by his new cousin, Blake. He points to him and says "baby" over and over and likes to 'pat' him...

...and it appears Blake is not so sure about older cousin Tate. But with a birth weight of 10 lbs, 2 oz, I don't think it will be long before Blake can fight back. (and yeah, so I didn't button Tate's pants back up after his last diaper change. It was almost bath time, OK?)

For some great pictures of Baby Blake, check out these pictures on photographer Melissa Zihlman's blog...they are awesome.

Welcome to the world Baby Blake!!

New School, New Worries

Tate started at a Montessori school in our neighborhood today. He's been in a typical daycare until now...'typical' in that one of his teachers was working on her GED and the other one just quit to become a receptionist at a nail salon because "the pay was better." The new school is a whole new world. How different? Well, for one thing, the music teacher graduated from Juilliard. (of course Rob's response was "Well now we know what happens to the person who graduates last in her class at Juilliard").

So I dropped Tate off at the brand new facility with its pale wood floors and white walls and uniformed kids and Masters-degreed teachers and whispered in his ear, "Tate, this is NOT the place where they are going to want to see your guns." I took him to his class and noted on the class schedule that today they would be learning Mandarin. I don't think they meant the orange.

So how did Tate do? Well as I was leaving, he had already emptied a bucket of blocks on the floor. I went back at lunch to peek in on him and saw him sneaking food off the plates of the other kids who were in line to wash their hands for lunch. When I picked him up, he was in a different outfit than when I dropped him off. They explained that they "don't use sippy cups" and Tate's first experience with an open cup resulted in a milk bath. Who doesn't use sippy cups with 18 month to 3 year olds??? Who is this Maria Montessori chick and why does she hate me?!?

So I am a little uneasy about the whole thing. Don't get me wrong -- I want Tate to have a good start on his education, but I also want him to have fun. And to be fair, they were very kind and warm and Tate was having a blast on the playground when I picked him up. One of his classmates (a 3-year old hussy) gave him a big slobbery kiss on the cheek as we were saying goodbye, so apparently he ignored my advice and gave them a gun show anyway...

So I second-guessed myself for having him in a 'typical' daycare and now I'm second-guessing myself for having him in a fancy school...does parenting ever get to the point where you aren't constantly worrying that what you're doing isn't best for your child?

Learning to impress the ladies

Tate has learned a few tricks, and they are all sure to impress the ladies. First, some animal noises. Then, some big smiles. And finally....the gun show.

Fourth of July 2009

This is what he does if you say "give me a big smile!"


Getting ready for the neighborhood parade in his decked-out Cozy Coupe



Life is good when you're two...

Until you run out of gas!

After a hard day of being pushed around in a buggy, it's time for popsicles with Big Guy.

The End.

Happy Fourth of July!!