Last days of winter

One morning before daycare and quite possibly the last time he will wear this adorable sweater and hat from Hannah Andersson. The bruise on his cheek is from falling into the patio ledge.

Bath Time!

Patrick sure does love his bubble baths. He can even say it when he wants to. He also likes to eat the bubbles and, surprise to me, loves having water poured over his head. I hated that as a child.

Where have we been?

I know, I know. I haven't been posting. For one, I can't get the camera to upload pictures onto my computer and Jesse is protective of his computer. Two, we have been lazy in the picture taking anyway. Three, why post when no one leaves comments (hint, hint)? Four, WE ARE BUSY PEOPLE.

Updates: Patrick had ear tubes put in at the end of Feb. Jesse started his new job at OFHEO (you can google that). I have been elected rector. That means I have a very permanent job until I decide to move on or the congregation makes me miserable (let's hope the latter doesn't happen). Holy Week is next week and I am sick, sick, sick from either the petri dish that is my son or all the hands I shake every Sunday (and I do use Purell).

Yesterday, Jesse took Patrick to a wonderful indoor playground and, as it was reported to me, Patrick went nuts and got right in there with the big kids. We understand there is a working farm/park in the area and are hoping for warmish weather soon so we can all go to that. It even has a petting zoo. Hopefully, we will get out and about and get some cute spring pictures.

BTW Grandmas: cute spring pictures don't happen without cute spring clothes. We love Hannah Andersson and Gymboree. Patrick is wearing an 80 (not quite at a 90 but will be by the end of summer I think) and an 18 month at Gymboree.

Obamalution

Over the last 7 years (well, more like 6.5 -- since September 11, 2001) I have been wondering why we Americans are not out in the streets demanding change. Well, this past weekend and tonight give me hope that real change is coming. Not just change in what we are doing but change in how we accomplish making different policies. It struck me several weeks ago that the difference in the type of change Obama puts forth and that of Clinton is that Obama wants to change the system.

WE NEED SYSTEMIC CHANGE!

I had the privilege of standing outside today in the freezing weather to campaign for Obama. There were one or two poorly informed people who believe Obama is a Muslim. He is, in fact, a Christian (a member of the United Church of Christ, I believe). But there were Republicans who glowed as they told me they were voting for a democrat for the first time and a black man who almost skipped into the polling site he was so happy (and all this in a quite conservative county of Virginia).

I hope Patrick grows up in a world where every little girl and boy, regardless of the color of their skin, the sexuality, their religion, etc., knows that they can be President. That will be worth the fact that my toes still haven't thawed out today.

First Sentence

I was hoping that Patrick would have a cute first sentence. Something nice having to do with how much he loves his mommy, daddy, or puppy (or even his piggy), but no. According to his teachers, there were two moments last week when people came into his classroom and he turned around and clearly said, "Get out!" Can you say ATTITUDE?

We are home and the car trip to Texas really wasn't bad. Patrick is a good baby. I also think Jakers, Sesame Street Old School, and Charlotte's Web DVDs had something to do with it. We made each way in just under two days. Impressive with a toddler.

In other news, Jesse starts his new job on March 3rd. He will be working on the housing crisis, among other things, at OFHEO (Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight -- man, way too many words!).

Over the river and through the woods...

We are leaving for a trip halfway across the continent on Wednesday.....with a toddler. O JOY! Though TV and DVDs are not usually a source of entertainment for Patrick, we are armed with a car DVD player, Sesame Street Old School (no annoying Elmo's World thank God!), Jakers! which are stories about a pig and his school mates in Ireland, and the old Charlotte's Web.

Jesse hopes to make this 22 hour trip in one and a half days. DVD or not, I think this will be hell. For once in my life, I would prefer to fly.

Christmas, etc.

First , I couldn't be happier about Obama's win in the Iowa Caucus.



Now for the good stuff!

Santa brought Duplos.

Unwrapping a quilt from Mommy.

Doesn't he make the cutest reindeer? His class "sang" Jingle Bells for the school "play."