Faster than a fleeting smile

"Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing."  ~  Mother Teresa 

 

We finally captured that sweet smile.  Hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

(To see our previous smile-capturing attempts, click here and here.) 

Trip list

If you were to travel across the country, what would you bring?  Toothpaste?  Underwear?  Socks?  While visiting hubby at work the other day I spotted this list posted on one of the student worker's walls:

I imagine this cross-country traveler to be one active and sassy girl. :)

When you don't have a canvas...

We spotted this colorful bus during one of our walks.

"The marvels of daily life are exciting; no movie director can arrange the unexpected that you find in the street."  ~ Robert Doisneau

Austen-ophile

I love Jane Austen's novels.

I love them so much that I almost convinced hubby to name our child Fitzwilliam (after my beloved Mr. Darcy.)   So, imagine my delight when I saw this Pride and Prejudice board book shown on this lovely blog.  (Photos taken from blog)

Tiny child, big force

"The real magic wand is the child's own mind."  ~ Jose Gasset

Three weeks

Dear Baby Norris,

I love how you laugh in your sleep.
I love your big round head.
I love it when you fall asleep cuddled in my arms.

Love,
Mum

One small ham

Here's a photo of Baby Chuck hamming it up for the camera:

Dear Older Chuck Norris,
We didn't pose you.  You did this of your own volition.   We're so sorry, but this photo will probably end up in your wedding slide show one day.
Love,
Mum and Dad

Hey ladies!

My son is selling tickets...

to the gun show.

  

Crumb-y baby

Sometimes breastfeeding takes quite a bit of time, so I snack while I feed.  A couple of days ago I munched on a cookie and some crumbs fell onto Baby's head.  This snippet from Shel Silvertein's poem "The Dirtiest Man in the World" came across my mind as I quickly brushed the crumbs away...

Oh I'm Dirty Dan, the world's dirtiest man,

I never have taken a shower.

I can't see my shirt - it's so covered with dirt,

And my ears have enough to grow flowers...

6 years

"I love you, not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you."
~ Roy Croft

Hopefully one day we'll walk Baby Chuck Norris down that aisle.

Photo taken by our friend

An ode to Charlie

Happiness is having a dog for a pet

If you’re looking for a good friend, then he’s your best bet

He welcomes you home with a wet nose and a lick

He snuggles you at bedtime; he’s good company when you’re sick

He helps with the housework, with crumbs and dinner scraps

And he keeps you warm at nighttime, sleeping soundly in your lap

Yup, a dog is a good friend; he’s always loyal and always true,

Much more than a companion, he’s family, and he’ll always love you.

Savage Beauty

Sometimes I find myself wishing I was back in New York.  Don't get me wrong, I'm growing to love our new home, but sometimes I miss ethnic food, people watching (one of my favorite hobbies), subway rides, and artistic and cultural opportunities.

Yesterday was the last day of the Alexander McQueen exhibit at the Met.   Hubby and I never made it back to see the exhibit, so I was thrilled that the Met posted photos of selected objects online.  Now even though I'm far away, I can still experience some of that McQueen magic.

“I try to push the silhouette. To change the silhouette is to change the thinking of how we look." ~ Alexander McQueen

He was an amazing artist.   

3223 Wedding bells

Today a college friend is getting married in Chicago.  I wish I could be there, but I can't attend because it's too far away from our doctor.  So I'm sending them all my good thoughts and wishes.

Isn't this quote lovely?

This beautiful photo and card were seen here. 

2COOL4U

Hubby and I enjoy seeing the creative ways people customize their license plates.  Here are some plates that we recently spotted around town: 

If Hubby had his way, our license would read "DOGLUVR"

Funny Parenting advice

This weekend hubby's colleagues threw us a lovely baby shower.  We had a wonderful time and received lots of goodies and advice.  Here are some of their hilarious words of wisdom:

(1)  Don't let your children become teenagers.
(2)  Don't let your children grow up to be cowboys.
(3)  If they want to run away, help them pack.
(4)  If you have lots of children, make sure to count them when you leave the store.
(5)  Everything costs more than you think it will.

Circus Smirkus

Here's a confession:  I dislike clowns.

I find them quite scary.  They like playing tricks on you.  They wear garish clothing.  They have oddly proportioned bodies.  Plus, they wear tons of greasepaint, so I can never tell what they actually look like.


Yet, even this self proclaimed "clown-aphobe"* couldn't help but feel inspired by Sam Ferlo's story.  He's a 14 year old clown-in-training who wants to follow in his dad's very large footsteps. (See this NY Times article for info and photo.) 

Perhaps they're not scary after all?

If you're in the New England area, you can see Sam and other talented kids performing here.
 
* The official term describing a fear of clowns is coulrophobia. 

RIP Tom 1

Sadly, when Tom's red exterior,

Spoke of his flav'ry interior,

My hand had to act,

The fruit I did snatch,

And I savored his taste so superior.  

Scrabble baby decor

The area above Baby Chuck Norris's crib was looking a little bare, so I decided to decorate it.  I wanted to put up something fun and not too heavy (just in case it fell and bopped baby on the head.)  After wandering through the craft store aisles, I finally decided on this homage to Scrabble:

12 points! (Hmm... was I subconsciously inspired by this book?)

Oh the wonders of card stock, cardboard, and ModPodge!

Visitors and Chuck Norris

Some family members drove zillions of miles to visit us this past weekend.  It was so nice seeing everyone and feeling so loved.  Hubby and I were also inundated with TONS of baby clothes and gear from other faraway family members and friends.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  We're now officially ready for Baby Chuck Norris's* arrival.  

(*This will be baby's nickname until he arrives.)

Below are some shots from the weekend 

(along with some humorous Chuck Norris facts):

When Chuck Norris crosses the street, the cars have to look both ways.

Chuck Norris doesn't need to swallow while eating food.

Some people get lucky and kill two birds with one stone. Chuck Norris once killed four birds with half a stone.

Mother Nature used to be the boss, until the day Chuck Norris was born.

Q: How does your garden grow?

A:  Slowly.

A couple of days ago, I introduced  you to Tom.  Now *drum roll please* I introduce you to Tom 2.

Tom 1 now has a tiny friend, Tom 2!

I read somewhere that tomatoes take weeks to ripen on the vine.  *sigh*   According to Saint Augustine, "Patience is the companion of wisdom."  So hopefully this patio gardening process will grow some tomatoes for me and some patience and wisdom in me.