The three cuties

Sometimes leaving for work is difficult. Look at these three cuties. This picture was taken on one of those mornings when I linger around the house to see more of Jonas, even though I am about to be late for work. By the way, that black and white blanket is featured in many pictures, because we use it all of the time. It was made by Liv. The other side of the blanket is a print that features every state in the country, which I think is neat-o. And look at this. Jonas loves to look at himself in the mirror. In this pic he is actually looking at me and the camera. Aunt Lisa is also in the picture.

Another picture from the Louisburg fall apple fest. See below for more...

Baseball, Cider, Art and Tricia Winning at Poker

Jonas enjoyed a full weekend of good times as Aunt Lisa and Uncle Michael drove up from Lawrence.

Friday started with Jason's industrial strength toe shattering a pair of clippers (see below) and Jonas's first baseball game, courtesy of Michael via the generous and ticket-rich Greg Welch. The Royals lost and Michael failed to catch a foul ball, which he whined about after every inning. But we did see some pretty decent fireworks, and minor league player of the year Alex Gordon waived at Lisa (she
knows Gordon's girlfriend).

Saturday, we drove out to Louisburg, KS, drank some cider, at doughnuts and all got stomach aches (except Jonas), and then later that night, went to the Plaza Art Fair, where Jonas met up with his pal Loki. Even later that night, Tricia won at poker for the first time in my memory (although not hers). She said she was too tired to continue playing, so she decided to bet all her chips every hand. Three hands later, she had all the chips and $15.

And finally, Sunday morning, Jason nearly burned the house down. He left a rag too close to a burner on the stove, then left the kitchen to attend to other business. Michael may not have caught a foul ball, but he did catch the fire in time. See his blog (linked over to the right) for a more detailed and heroic account.

Tough as Nails

Much excitement this weekend (uncle Michael saving the house from burning down, Jonas attending the Plaza Art Fair and the Louisburg
Cider Fest -- all in the same day -- Tricia winning at poker), but lets
start with the big news about my big toe. As people who have seen my
bare feet know, I have some big big toes. On Friday, I couldn't find
any regular nail clippers, so I grabbed a pair of Jonas's baby clippers,
and to the left, you can see the end result. My nails are indeed
tougher than steel, as instead of my nail getting clipped, the end of
the clipper snapped off and flew through the air.

A look back

Jonas is growing everyday and to see just how much he has grown, I decided to look back at the early pictures tonight. Jonas went to bed a little earlier than usual (7:30) and I should be cleaning or grading papers, but it was more fun to look at pictures of little Jonas. I just find it hard to believe how much he has grown in 15 weeks. Look at this picture--he wasn't even 2 weeks old yet--he is so little and his hands and feet look so big. In fact, while the rest of his body has grown I think his hands and feet may have stayed the same size.

While I am posting...some news on Jonas and nighttime feedings.
Last night he only woke up once to eat. This is a first. The second time he woke up was around 6, so that doesn't count as a nightime feeding. I actually think I woke him up to feed him before I got up for work. Just a month ago, he was still waking up every couple of hours to eat. As long as I am able to function at work, I don't mind feeding him in the middle of the night. But sleeping for more than four hours at a stretch is nice.

Heads Up

Jonas has been teething (we think), which causes him great distress and also shortens his naps, which makes him even crankier and harder to soothe. The only sure-fire remedy is strapping him into the Bjorn and taking a walk, particularly when the weather is nice, sunny and cool, as it was today. So that's what we did. Since Tricia likes for me to talk to him while we walk, and since I feel goofy doing so, lately I've been listening to music and singing while we walk, which I feel is much more dignified. About a half mile into the walk, and about half way through Steve Earle's F the CC, the breeze became a gusting wind, and out of nowhere, an acorn came whizzing past my cheek and, at an extreme velocity, plunked Jonas squarely in the left shoulder. Jonas, who trusts me to protect him, wailed and wailed and wailed, and it took some time before he finally calmed down. So now, not only does Jonas have achy teeth, he has a bum shoulder, too. Poor kid.

Click on the play button below to check out a riveting and lengthy conversation between Tricia and Jonas. The video was captured over the weekend following a camping trip to Wallace State Park. Other highlights of the trip include:

-- Tricia interrupting a public talk by the park's naturalist, who was speaking to a large group of children and parents, to find out whether the park had any milkweed she could pick for her dying caterpillar. Many of the youngsters had their hands raised when Tricia stepped right through them, cutting them off in mid-query, to get her question answered. (Tricia asked just about everyone she saw this question, including a retired couple who oversaw the park, a woman cleaning the public restroom and a convenience store clerk in Cameron, Mo., who thought Tricia was asking about a different kind of weed altogether).

-- Michael mistaking "naturalist" for "nudist." He was profoundly disappointed when he showed up for the talk and the park ranger was fully clothed.

-- A nosiy and heavy rainstorm that soaked Jason and Holden, who slept in a leaky tent on loan from Tricia and Jason. The rain did not dampen Holden's spirits, though. He spent the morning running around the campsite, saying: "I want some Butterfinger hot chocolate! I want some Butterfinger hot chocolate!"

More details on the trip soon ...