Summer Events

I haven't updated this little blog for a long while, so I'll start with last weekend.  Genevieve seemed unenthused about her plethora of toys, so I decided to play dress up with her in my closet.

Who knew that boxes and bags could be so fun?

Oh, I did.

That's why I enjoy shopping.

She was quite content wearing my white feather fascinator.

I wore it for my raucous bachelorette party in Louisville.

I'm wearing a dress here, I promise.

That looks risqué.

I had no thoughts when I donned that little feathery head piece that 3 short years later I would have a blue eyed nugget wearing it in my closet for playtime.

No, I was thinking mostly about vodka that night.

I also went to have my nails done, courtesy of sister and her fam for my birthday.

I had a pedicure, since we all know I still gnaw my fingernails off like some sort of crack addict.

The nail salon was filled with Genevieve's nursery lights.

Abby and Papi came to visit, so we had to gear up.

Abby requires 3 things on her visits:

International House of Delight Coldstone Creamery coffee creamer (she's made me a fan as well),

bananas,

and

Simply Apple juice.

Don't try to fake her out.  She needs these exact things to be content in the morning.

Genevieve kept them in the cart at Meijer.

Rather, she continuously tried to toss them from our cart.

We celebrated Papi's birthday by grilling out and having margaritas and cake.

*G not pictured since this was taken at like 7:15 p.m, and you know she's out by like 6:45 for the night*

Once Abby had her juice, coffee and banana, she was ready and willing to feed our ladybug.

Happy Birthday to sweet Papi!

A Couple of High School Graduates

We went to celebrate my twin cousins' high school graduation on Saturday afternoon.

Their house and yard were party ready.

Scott is going to Purdue and John will attend Ball State in the fall. They had these cute boxes to collect some checks and goodies.

In typical Betsy fashion, I brought the cake pops.

I love the above picture with their dad, my Uncle Kent.

This is really how I always think of them.

Here's the whole crew, with the graduates front and center.

Look at them, all young and fresh faced, surrounded by all of those old farts.

Scott and his girlfriend Rachel gave Genevieve the attention she demanded.

Aunt Cindi was numero uno at entertaining our lady.  She had toys at the ready.

G was enjoying herself tremendously, despite this look of consternation.

This one is a bit more pleasant.

It was a beautiful party!

My Birthday and Father's Day

We had a small fiesta on Saturday to celebrate my 34th birthday.  I enjoyed the Mexican theme.

We had margaritas, tacos and every kind of Mexican beer we could find.  

I decided to forgo the pinata, for the good of all.

We had a beautiful night to party.

I fall in love with our screened in porch more each time we use it.  It is perfect for summer evenings.

Meghan and Robby had a few Coronas.

Ryan, Megan and Mandy were in the sauce too.

Jenny, Whitney and I chillaxed on the couch.

Trinity was sure to capture Ryan getting more ice for his drink when I asked him to take a picture of me and Mandy.

He is so clever.

Mandy and I consider ourselves little changed over the past 20+years.

She can still kick my a** in any sport, be the life of any party, and make me laugh until I cry.

Genevieve spent the night with my parents, so we went to pick her up on Sunday.  We had a joint birthday/Father's Day hootenanny. 

There was cake and card consumption.

Dad liked his new griddle and thanked the Lord that he produced 3 such perfect children, two of which were present that day.

We have enriched his life so much, you see.

We called Papi to wish him a happy day too.  We'll celebrate with Abby and Papi this weekend.

Trinity's parents sent some photos of Sweet T.

I see a bit of Genevieve in this one.  

Boy, is he rompin' that umbrella ducky romper.

I love this one.

Trinity has adopted this pose that his dad perfected back in 1976.

Trinity with his dad and his grandfather.

9 Months

Hello, people.

It is that time of the month again.

Not that one.

The 14th day of the month, which means Genevieve is one month older.

She was fairly cooperative this morning for her monthly photo shoot.

I think I must have shrunk Fancy Nancy in the dryer.

Except she has never been washed!

It is clear we have a large child on our hands.

Who me?

Yes you!

Wave it out!

Enough with that damn flash, mother.

I shan't speak that way again.

I will just attack Nancy, as I have a propensity to do.

If that doll lasts through the year, it will be miraculous.

We went to the well baby visit this morning and I was most embarrassed by G's outburst.

She was no lady.

She screamed from the time the nurse came in until the doctor left us about 45 minutes later.

There was red faced catterwalling, back arching and hugely theatrical displays of displeasure.

And that was before she got a vaccination.

Yikes.

Her doctor assured me that this was the age that visiting the old doctor gets hairy.

Unfortunately, not even an apple a day will keep us from attending these checkups.

I pray for fairer weather next time.

G's stats:

29 " long, 95th percentile

22 lbs 3 oz, 95th percentile

don't remember head circumference, but 95th percentile

It's a shame she's so puny.

We have one happy and healthy girl, as long as we're not a the doctor's office.

G's 1st Swim and I'm 34, I Think

Robby and I took Genevieve to The Riviera Club for her first swimming experience.  It has the largest pool in Indianapolis, and the whole place really looks straight out of the 50s or 60s.  They had those high life guard chairs and tons of diving boards.  Robby and I were laughing about when Squints pretends to be drowning so he can get mouth to mouth from Wendy Peppercorn.  The Sandlot is one of our favorites. We stuck mostly to the baby pool.

We started out eating some sunscreen.

We moved to the water and I was thrilled that Genevieve loved the pool.  

My arms were like jello from bouncing her constantly.  4 inches of water does not a buoyant baby make.

Note the bow under the sunhat.  We love bows.

Uncle Robby was there, just was too busy documenting the momentous occasion and therefore is not pictured.

I'm a tad concerned about my hunchback, but not concerned enough to hide it from the interweb.

We took a break to eat hot dogs.

That blue bikinied rear end is mine.

I wish.

Those days are over, people!

On my birthday yesterday my mother called to confirm whether I was 34 or 35.

Ah, I can't wait to not know how old my own child is.

Marinda, Camille and Walker went with us to the Strawberry Festival downtown.

Camille was a sport, as G is prone to a little hair pulling.

Here is the evil baby, plotting.

Gotcha, you naive little 7 year old girl!

Ha ha ha!!!!

Foiled, baby!

Camille's no fool.

I love all of the faces here.

We had our first babysitter last night, so we could go to dinner and a movie in honor of my 34th year of life.

I wish I had snapped a picture of Ashleigh and Genevieve.  They were like bread and butter.  Peanut butter and jelly, if you will.  Peas and carrots.  You get the idea.

It went well.  

We went to see The Internship.  Imagine my delight when I entered the theatre to discover it was completely empty!

Woot!  What did my asinine self do?

I'm not sure what this move is.

The shot put.  Let's go with that.

Tree pose.

Stayin' Alive.

I'm 34!  

1st Week of Summer 2013

I'll start with a random snapshot of my child actually smiling and showing her ridiculously happy baby self.  She is like this all of the time, until I get the camera.  

Then this happens.

YaYa and Uncle Robby joined us for lunch and summer sunning on Thursday.

We snagged a lemon shake up from Locally Grown Gardens and chilled on the Monon.

My, aren't you dapper, Uncle Robby!

We watched people being active while we lounged and slurped sugary citrus heaven.

Mother brought the aged hound.

As I have mentioned before, I imagine she smells like the peasants during the French Revolution, but my girl can't get enough of her.

She loves London so much that she shrieks, screams and claps her hands whenever she sees her.

Mom brought out the sombrero for a photo shoot.

Things got funny.

Further evidence of no smiling.

She prefers the pensive

and drooling look.

I was thrilled to see this hat.

My parents brought it to Caroline from Mexico when she was only 4 months old.

These have always been some of my favorites of Caroline.

Look at how my brother in law looks like a child here.

Speaking of Chipper, he texted me and turned my attention to a new internet phenomenon known as "cat bearding."

People hold up their cats as if to create a beard on their own faces.

I was up to the challenge.

Exhibit A:

Miserable fail.

Kashmir refused to look up at the Whisker Lickin' that Trinity was dangling over my head.  I promise I consumed no illegal drugs prior to this picture, as much as my eyes look to the contrary.

Exhibit B:

This was much better.

Still not perfect.

Perfecting the cat beard will be on my summer list of crap to do since I'm not working.

Look up cat bearding.

It's worth a Google.

We wrapped up our Saturday by touring mid century modern homes in Bloomington.

This house was my favorite.

I discovered that babies are a rarity at such an event, but gay men of the Baby Boomer generation are not.

Genevieve was a hit with the crowd.

There was a lot of cheek and fat wrist squeezing.

My favorite quotes of the day:

"look at the little mid century modern baby!"

"We have a little architecture connoisseur in our midst."

One man actually held up the line by grabbing her foot.

"Those shoes!  That hair bow!  It's clear that she has already learned to accessorize!" 

Why yes, indeed.

Looking at the pictures, I can't believe no one asked why her mother was showing her cleavage in broad daylight.

Oops.

All of the men were too enthralled with my baby and the houses.

It was so fun!