Peculiar

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It took some courage, I have to say, to drive for a few weeks in such a liberal area with this on the back of our car.

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The sign in our kitchen window didn't exactly win us friends, either.

This morning we quietly took down our sign and peeled away our bumper sticker, but not before Jack snapped this picture.

I love this picture.

When the girls are older, I think it can teach them something about taking a stand, and about being peculiar.

Because as 'popular' rapidly changes,

but our beliefs don't,

I imagine there will be plenty of instances when they feel quite peculiar.

Peculiar, Leah, is a good thing. You don't have to hang your head in shame.
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Grandson

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When my dad passed away in 2002, I kept his briefcase.

Inside, I put his golf tees and baseball cards, a ceramic dish I made him in 2nd grade that he would put coins in after work, and his reading glasses. There's also book of New York Times crossword puzzles, one of Drabble comics (our favorite), a cassette tape of Harry Chapin songs he used to play on the guitar, and a single photograph -

Him holding a birthday cake topped with lighted candles, smiling.

Whenever I miss my dad, which is often, I sort through the briefcase and look at him holding his birthday cake.

On Saturday, November 1st,

my dad's birthday,

our first son was born.

I had the picture with me in the hospital. It was the first time in six years it had left the briefcase. I know that somehow, Grandpa Jim came along to share his cake with our boy. I know that he will every year as he grows up.

I love you Dad. Happy Birthday to both of you.

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Calvin James
8 lb 8 oz

19 1/2 in
November 1, 2008
9:37 pm
Santa Barbara, CA

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Decision '08

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In the spirit of election season, we enfranchised the girls by letting them choose their own Halloween costumes, unimpeded (no small feat, considering my control issues).

Jolie turned her nose at every princess/fairy/ballerina getup she was shown, instead insisting upon Supergirl, telling us "Then I can rescue people." Atta girl. (Though if we're being honest, I think it was the boots).

Leah's little finger pointed to the bumble bee dress, and her wish was granted instantly. Leah gets whatever she wants. We love her to bits.

I thought my costume options were limited by my pregnancy, until Jack suggested I go as Bristol Palin. Perfect. He even offered to escort me as baby daddy Levi Johnston.

Thank you Grandpa Jack for the costumes, and for such a fun week with the girls!!
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Perhaps Naps are Overrated

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I used to dread the day Jolie would outgrow her naps. Now that she has, I'm surprised by how often I find myself looking forward to our afternoons together.

A year from now she'll be in kindergarten. Not off to college, I'm aware, but still...I'm appreciating these final days we have her all to ourselves.

So don't tell Leah, but it's often when she goes to sleep that the real fun begins. Today it was fairy dancing and, at Jolie's request, a "Lizard of Oz tea party," hosted by Dorothy.
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The Economist

The
Jack is 4 weeks from entering the job market and has been BURIED in his dissertation - Eating, sleeping and breathing nothing but economic analysis (To put things in perspective, he hasn’t watched a single football game since mid-September).

I had to keep this in mind when we had the following conversation this week -

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Me: The tooth I had the root canal on is killing me. I tried Tylenol but it does nothing. I may as well be swallowing Skittles.

Jack: Are you sure you can’t take Motrin when you're pregnant?

Me: I looked it up online. Everything I read said that Motrin is most dangerous during the last trimester, and that it can cause birth defects.

(thinks about it)

Jack: What kind of birth defects?

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What KIND of birth defects?

Huh.

Well, now that you mention it, I'm not sure. Call me “paranoid,” but the mere suggestion of birth defects had been enough to send me searching for Plan B.

But I'm no economist.

Apparently, when you spend 12 hours a day analyzing risks and rewards, there begins to exist the possibility that the cost of certain BIRTH DEFECTS could be outweighed by the benefit of temporarily alleviating a toothache.

I have to admit. It sort of got me thinking.

Well, let's see...I refuse to jeopardize the child's vital organs (that’s just the kind of mother I am). And, of course, he'll need all necessary athletic appendages - pitching arm, rotating ankles, opposable thumbs for gripping footballs, etc. That's a given.

But other than that…

You really only need one kidney, right? I have no clue what gall bladders do, but I hear about their removal often enough to consider them “optional.” And what about toes? Ten toes would be ideal, certainly, but - when pain is shooting through your gums and the simple act of eating something cold makes you feel like an interrogation subject on 24 - Suddenly a full set of toes doesn’t seem all that important.

It gave me something to think about. At the very least, it provided me a few moments distraction from my pain. In the end, though, nothing was worth it. I suffered through with Tylenol Skittles and ice packs.

That, and the best medicine of all – A break when Jack was able to sneak away from his office long enough to take the girls to the park, where he took these photographs. Until his dissertation has been filed, they'll be a great way for him to remember what they look like.
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Girls, Meet Fall

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