Senor Panda

Look at those shifty eyes... that shady ring of teethers... Who's he trying to fool with one purple ear and one orange? Does he think Jack is an idiot? And the flowers. Pahleeze. Don't even gt Jack started on the flowers. This guy. He's obviously a bad seed, anyone can tell that - especially Jack. Still... something in him... draws Jack to him. Perhaps they share a core fascination with spit bubbles, I don't know. But this Panda and Jack are inexplicably drawn to each other. Does Jack love him or hate him? Does Jack loathe everything Senor Panda stands for, or does he simply desire the bond of brotherhood with him?

When Jack had no control over his arms, he stared at the Panda. When he could flail them, he flailed them at Senor Panda. Now he can grab and oh... Panda knows it. The question that haunts Jack, is does Panda fear it or anticipate it?

Perhaps we will never know. Perhaps they will be locked in loving combat until the end of time.

Jack Laughs... Really

I know. I'm evil. But how can I resist tickling him when he is SO cute.

Abby's Insanity-making Book

So one of you dear people (I think the Lambs?) gave me this book when Abby was a baby - possibly even for her baby shower. It's a great book. I cannot tell you how much enjoyment has been had over the years for Abby and I.

I look forward to it bringing joy to Jack now for years to come.

Here's what else it does.

IT DRIVES ME INSANE

There are five pages: pigs, horses, cows, chickens and sheep. For each scene there are "interactive" or "multimedia" elements to the pages: hair for the horse, shiny bell for the cow, that sort of thing. Each scene has THREE of these elements....


The pig has: a piece of plywood for the fence, a velcro like fabric for the pig's skin, and a sticky thing for mud.




The horse has: hair for the horse's main, a shiny pail, and burlap for the hay



The chickens have: feathers for the chicken, bumpy stuff for the corn, and smooth paper for the egg.

The sheep have: soft wooly fabric for the sheepskin, plastic for the water, and soft silky material for a flower.

The cows have: soft fuzzy fabric for the cow hide, a shiny bell around the cow's neck, and... and...

AND...

NOTHING

EVERY OTHER SCENE HAS THREE WHY NOT THIS ONE?

WHY??!! I ask you WHY?

At first I thought it was random, I didn't notice, for example, the wood fence in the pig section so I thought, "Oh, well, some have three, some have two."

But that ain't it people. There are THREE elements on EVERY other page.

I keep thinking, maybe I'm missing it. Maybe this time there will be three for each scene. Maybe this time there will be harmony in the world. Maybe this time I won't put the book down with a twitch under my eye. Maybe it was a manufacturer's mistake in my one copy. Maybe there is meaning to this. Maybe I can sleep at night...

But no...

It drives me...


BATTY.

Jack's Traditional Bottom Shot

Catalogues for Abby

I am starting to think of plans for getting Abby more interested in different hair styles.

Already she's become much more interested in clothes since I started showing her catalogs. Her tastes already have grown - she still desperately wants rainbow - very loud patterns, very twirly skirts. But either peer pressure or just natural progression has made her judgmental of her old "dress over regular shirt/clothes" look. She said its ugly and is vehement against it.

SO next up... hair? She's already started brushing her own hair now and then and there have been less tantrums letting me finish it off. But up? Still a fight.

Abby - Outside Again

Hey - guess what that beautiful green color is toward the bottom of the frame!

GRASS!!!! We are open for business people.

Jack's Got a New Bag

Hazel tipped me off a few weeks ago that Jack's drooly bubbly number was intentional. I quickly realized that it is indeed not only intentional, but fun too. He has a great time making pools and pools of bubbly drool.