photo shoot

A baby photo shoot, attempting to get Ally's 5-month picture. As you can see, she now interacts with Mr. Giraffe.

Guess we'll try again tomorrow.

the cost of a baby

I took this picture last October on a beautiful fall day. When I look at it now, I realize how much has changed since last year and the day-to-day cost of having a baby. One major change? We don't really take pictures of our cats anymore. In fact, it seems like a challenge to just make sure they are fed, occasionally patted, and have clean litter. A few weeks ago we discovered clumps of hair on Leela's back because she needed to be brushed so badly. And Matilda's habit of curling up with me as I sleep, once endearing, is now a source of frustration when I try to climb out of bed to feed Ally at 3 AM. They have weathered their demotion in the household hierachy gracefully, though not without argument. But we have all made changes. My former exercise regimen stands in my memory only as a testament to my current inactivity. The cookbooks filled with interesting recipes are replaced by 30-minute meals and carryout. The cars stand unwashed. Our money, once earmarked for vacations and home projects, now pays for child care, a college fund, and baby gear. But Ally is happy, and I think we are too. 

free birthday stuff

In an episode of The Simpsons (Radio Bart), Bart celebrates his birthday with 46 coupons for free goodies including a free shave, tango lesson, and ice cream sundae. I haven't seen many offers for shaving or dancing, but when your birthday arrives you can get a free burger at Red Robin and ice cream from Baskin Robbins and Cold Stone Creamery. As for me, I'm just happy to be turning 29. :) Of course lots of restaurants will provide dessert if you subject yourself to singing and general embarrassment, but I'm more of a coupon-with-no-strings-attached kind of a gal.

when it rains

Child care has been a real challenge for us. After cancelling our enrollment at a big daycare center, we knew things would be complicated until early November when Ally would have an opening at a home-based daycare close to our house. But today things became even more complicated. Our temporary daycare provider, who we like very much, let us know that she can only watch Ally until mid-October, leaving us stranded without child care for a little more than 3 weeks in late October and early November. We're scrambling to find vacation time we can use to stay home and hoping for sympathy and mercy at work. Wish us luck.

Yay exersaucer.

A few months ago our friends David and Laura, who have two peanuts of their own, brought to us their exersaucer. At the time Ally was only a few weeks old and couldn't even keep her head from bobbling, so it was hard to imagine what it would be like to see her in the colorful plastic contraption. Today we discovered that exersaucers rule. 

Aunt Anne rocks

Beth's sister Anne and her twin daughters Olivia and Katie visited along with Beth's parents this past weekend. Anne & family live far away in North Carolina now so we can't see them as much as we want, but we can make the most of the time we have. Ally obviously thinks Aunt Anne is just swell. 

They beat us to it.

Our friends Mark & Emily beat us to this blogging thing by many months, but we beat them to the delivery room. Nevertheless their brilliant (evinced by his dramatic vocalizations)son Efram was a lively companion for Ally last weekend as we hosted baby fest '06. We're looking forward to watching them grow together. 

Hello world

You would think that two techies would have had a blog a long time ago. Particularly two techies who already have a web site and a baby they like to go on, and on, and on about. It took a few months, but here we are. Helllooo, world.