June backBLOGGED

Ten days into August seems like a good time to wrap up the June highlights. At this rate, expect July and August images to appear between pumpkin and turkey days.



If the alarm doesn't wake Brian, then I bring in reinforcements.


She's still cute later in the day too.


The 'computer' grandparents visited in June. We call Brian's folks the computer grandparents because Sydney gets to talk to them using Skype on the computer.


Her other grandfather is known as the Diaper Fairy. And, just like most holiday elves and fairies, we never know when he is going to stop by.


Amy studying. This is what I will be doing a lot of the next few weeks/months. A couple weeks ago I was looking for a photo of myself to post on my Facebook site. It was difficult to find a photo of just me, and I actually went back to one from our 2005 Yellowstone trip.

Coming soon ... (well, depends on your definition of soon) July and August photos.

Miracle Grow

Not so long ago, Sydney was so tiny ...

Sydney must be on the eve of growth spurt, because she keeps waking at night. A couple nights ago, I tried to console her by sitting with her. But, she didn't fit on my lap ... at least in the narrow glider in her room.

I wasn't too surprised because I had recently read that it's not unusual for parents to 'discover this.'

Sydney's 18-month appointment was July 8. She was 29 pounds and 33.5 inches. She is 90th percentile height and weight (most likely a small forward).

Not so tiny any more ... But, I still think she is so small when she clings to her Daddy's leg or when she 'holds my hand' by just grabbing one finger. One day, she'll probably be taller and faster than me. Some day.

Chalk talk

Some local vandals keep striking our property with their graffiti. Brian is convinced it's a new gang - it could be Pink 'n Pretty, Bubble Babies or the Pony Pals.

:) We are often greeted with these works of art when we come home. Sometimes the artists are even outside to greet us.

Sydney and I play with the chalk too (I can't speak for Brian about his chalking habits). But I am no artist like her sitters (i.e., the people we pay to be Sydney's friends.)

I attempted to draw puppies for Sydney but my figures looked like sickly aliens. I was glad when the rain washed my pictures away.

Brian appreciates the chalk talk too. We were walking at a park today when we passed someone else's chalk pictures. Brian made a point to tell me ours are way better. I agree.

Like a good neighbor ...

We spent Father's Day in Indy. Driving back we hit a tense storm that sidelined us in Zionsville. We wondered if it hit West Lafayette. Our question was answered as soon as we exited the interstate. We noticed branches, then bigger branches on the ground.




Our grill was hurled across the yard, as well as one of patio chairs. What was amazing was the one of garden beds had a significant amount of mulch scattered across the yard.

A large branch on one our trees broke and shingles on our roof were ruffled.

By the time we returned home the sun was shining and the power was out. We wanted to know details about the storm so we went across the street and asked our neighbors. This is big for us, because we don't know our neighbors. It seems like when we get to know them, they move (you can read into that all you want). I hear people talk about wanting to live in the country or on land so they don't have to ineract with neighbors. Just move to our subdivision.

So, severe windstorms, Halloween and the ocassional subdivision garage sale are the few times we interact with the people we live by. Kinda sad. We should make more of an effort. Perhaps, I'll share the bounty from my garden next month. I don't want to get too cocky, but most of my tomato plants are flourishing.

Sydney 1.5

Today is Sydney's 18-month birthday. This night last year we spent the evening blowing bubbles.



So many cliches ... She is growing like a weed. etc. etc.


She just gets cuter, sweeter and smarter each day.


The next version, Sydney 2.0, will be out in January 2009.

Wild Kingdom

Two weeks ago, Sydney and I met my dear friend Melinda and her offspring at the Indy Zoo.



I'm really just friends with Melinda because she is so well-connected. Hence this behind-the-scenes photo of us and the elephant. (I pirated the photo from Melinda's Web site. Hope you don't mind!) Actually, our friendship started with an ad in the newspaper ...



Here is the same elephant getting a bath. There is a zoologist on the right washing behind the pachyderm's ear. Too cute. (Note to self: I should wash behind Sydney's ears once in a while.)


Forget animal watching. We watched these gal pals entertain themselves. Hopefully, Miss Lilly and Miss Sydney will be lucky enough to be such great friends like their Mommies.



I'll call this image: Ham meets Ham. Melinda's son Lucas is a riot. What a cute kid. And, Sydney just loved his material. Anything he did was hilarious and she imitated most of it. Perhaps there is such a thing as a rent-an-older-brother.

Ramblings ...

Like most zoos, the Indy Zoo promotes animal conservation and environmental preservation. Even the seats on the train have soundbite messages such as, recycling one aluminum can can power ## light bulbs.

I heard a story on NPR about a woman who conducted a two-week 'garbage' experiment. During this two-week period, she carried around any garbage that she could not recycle, reuse or compost. Could you imagine? I have. What would I do with the straw wrappers and straws for my occasional Coke from McDonalds (I usually recycle the cup)? My mascara containers. (How many mascara containers have I contributed to our landfills?) The annoying little plastic ties that restrain any kid toy in its packaging. The list can go on and on ... We try to recycle everything we can. I'll even tote plastic bottles home from places where recycling is not available. Just look at our recycling bins every other Friday. I wonder what our neighbors think ...

We don't recycle everything. And, I continue to deposit my mascara containers in the bathroom trash every two months. But, we do the best we can. And, we talk to Sydney about reduce-reuse-recycle. (I also believe babies are the worst thing ever for the environment, but that's another day's ramblings ...)

Bus Business

I'm backlogged in blogging ... I'll call it back-blogged :)

Sydney, like most kids, is fascinated by buses. So, we took a bus ride in West Lafayette - from Wabash Landing to campus.



Sydney waits with Brian.


Hanging on.


Cooling off at the Loeb Fountain outside of Beering Hall. Julie and I spent many warm afternoons sitting around the fountain reading/studying. Sometimes, we would be sitting there individually, look up, and see that we were sitting a few feet from each other. Life before cell phones.


Meet the Press

Losing Tim Russert saddened me, as well as Brian, and others who we work with in journalism. Of course, Russert's credentials and accolades are impressive, but I think of him most when I'm throwing something away in the large garbage cans in our garage. I read the book Russert wrote about him and his Dad. A good, simple read. What sticks with me the most are the lessons he learned from his Dad who was a sanitation worker in Buffalo, NY. The lesson I remember in particular is that his father taught him to be conscientious when he throws away garbage. Russert wrote that his father taught him to package broken glass in a shoe box, then tape it shut before pitching it. He did this so the garbage man would not be cut. 'Be accountable.' 'Think about how your actions affect others.' It's easy to see how Russert applied these lessons as a journalist.

One commentary about Russert said losing him at this time (the eve of the 2008 presidential race) is like losing your star quarterback before the Super Bowl. Russert was an incredible resource. The debates/state of the union were interesting to watch, but I was often more interested in what Russert had to say.