Dinnertime with the kid

"How does this damn bib work?"

"Stylish – but not quite."

"That's not going to do it either."

Poor, abused cat.

About damn time.

I know I've been slacking. There has been a severe lack of updates lately. Some of you may have actually mistaken this for my sister's blog. But I'm back. And I come bearing an update. If you're nice – I might even keep it up this time.

We made a trip to the Doctor of Babies again the other day. Everything checks out good – and no shots this time around. But the kid's got a memory. She was fine in the doctor's office until we got into the exam room ... and as soon as she saw that paper-covered table she started wailing. And wailing. And didn't stop until well after everything was over.

The only real update out of the visit is something we all knew already – the girl's little. Hard to believe that she's a year and a half old and she only weighs in at 22 pounds. And we all know it's not for lack of eating ...

But I hear you. "Enough with the blah, blah, blah – get on with the photos." So here we go – I live to serve.

Kaylee's favorite pre-dinner game involves pulling everything out of the cabinets. And sometimes finding new places to put them.

Kaylee took a trip to Gymboree this morning – and loved it. It's basically a room covered in mats, with all manner of slides, parachutes, balls, lots of kids and a barely 20-year-old woman making a complete fool of herself (and seriously getting on my nerves). We're thinking about signing her up for a 12 week course – but it's a 20 minute drive from the house.

(And check out those boogers – mmmmmmmmm.)

And tunnels. Kaylee dug the tunnels.

Just kickin' back. Enjoyin' breakfast. Wonderin' why Dad hasn't yelled at me to get my foot off the table yet ...

Tonight at dinner, Kaylee discovered the wonder of apples. She likes the juice, she likes the sauce – I guess she just never realized that the flavor came in this easy to carry package.

Kaylee and I teamed up to draw "Man-Man" (how cute is that?) on the table.
The kid's responsible for the eye-beams. I have to take credit for the rest – even if it does look like a 7-year-old drew it. (To my defense, I was drawing upside-down.)

Yes Dad, these are the skills my college education paid for.

Just one of the many examples of why it's so damn hard to say no to the kid. Look at that face ... don't you just want to spoil her?

More photos

Spent all day at home with a sick child today. Can't say that it broke my heart to do so. She may have felt bad – but she sure was in the mood to cuddle. The worst thing about the day was probably my decision to watch "Death Wish 4." The movie made me Charles Bronson would put me out of my misery.*

But I don't have photos from today. Instead, I give you happier times.

Like Saturday ...

We took Kaylee out for lunch and got her three favorite things. Ham. Cheese. Olives. I don't know where she got a taste for those vile, little, black things ... she sure didn't get it from me.

This weekend was the first time Kaylee has ever worn a hat without tearing it from her head – and the famed Fourth Avenue Street Fair. I just realized that Tucson has a street fair on an avenue. And it's not like we even pretend that it's a street. It's quite well known as Fourth Ave.  I guess you could call it the Avenue Fair. Or if you really want to have a street fair – just hold it on a street. Or if they really wanted to get an appropriate name, they could call it the Bunch of Crap in Tents on Fourth Avenue Fair.

But Kaylee seemed to like it. Especially after she got her balloon.

Now I know that it looks like I've got the kid on a leash. But she really wanted to walk. And she really wanted to hold her balloon. (She LOVES balloons.**) I tell you, this kid was in heaven ... right up until the time we got into the car, she got her diaper changed and Dad let the balloon fly out the open car door.

* I already brought this up with Maggie – but have you noticed that any evil "gang" in an 80s movie is an odd, multi-cultural mix of "Mad Max" and "Fame"? Usually led by a large white guy with a mohawk and some kind of urban tribal war paint. They're all chains and bad hair.

** If Grandpa Charlie and Cindy make sure there are balloons as wedding reception decorations, there will be at least one very happy grand child. Just sayin'.

Photo gallery

The iPhone's camera is pretty crappy – but it's pretty handy. And since I wasn't carrying around a REAL camera at the time, I guess we should all be thankful I was able to catch such great moments, despite the lack in resolution and color balance issues.

This was intended to be a picture of Kaylee pigging out and licking all the jelly off of Rae's toast. But what we ended up with was a picture of Rae learning just how many teeth the kid has. I just wish you could see her eyes – think  Arnold Schwarzenegger in "Total Recall".

Kaylee finds Dad lurking underneath the playground equipment.

Taking a break at the park – and very proud of the fact that she's stolen Mom's Sprite. (That's the remains of Mom's toast all over her shirt.)

Just a photo to prove that even when she looks ridiculous, she's still pretty darn cute. (Why Rae gave her a highlighter to play with still baffles me.)

Photo-rama-jama

Someone got Kaylee a subscription to Ranger Rick magazine. She loves the pictures of animals – I love that someone out there is still supporting print media!

Check it out – more teeth! She can finally bite stuff.
Just make sure to keep your fingers clear.

For some reason Rae thought it would be a good idea to let Kaylee feed herself yogurt. I got the "Mike – can you bring us a paper towel" call at least twice.

Photo-rama

Just because Kaylee and Eddie are the best of friends doesn't mean that she likes everything about him. His ears stink, he eats her food and that tongue is a killer.

Booger inspection.

Kaylee loves books.
Even if she doesn't really have the hang of them yet.