55 days

PD came to visit me at work for the first time. here he is explaining to popular television personality jon stewart that separation of church and state is a novel idea that has been worn down through the years, and though noble in theory, can lay no serious claim to modern day practice.
or something like that.
i think the next picture was of jon cleaning spit-up off his sleeve.

now then...
it's been way too long since we last checked in with PD the superhero baby. that's entirely my fault. i could take the easy way out and blame the baby, but he'll read this one day and i fear he may take it the wrong way. and there's no telling what his powers may be at that point. he could melt me with a stare for all i know or control my emotions by hacking into my "mind computer" or take our hovercraft for a wild joyride or some other unforeseen, futuristic act of defiance.
so, yeah... my fault.


the highlight of these few weeks has quite simply been waking up every day and knowing that PD is my son and ellen is my wife. it's a feeling i'm 99% certain i will never get tired of. (for those of you who don't know it already, i'm 1% idiot.)
i don't have room here to get into what's happening in the world - the constant folly of our political leaders, devastating earthquakes, potentially hostile countries bragging about developing nuclear weapons... MTV's Jersey Shore. it's a long and sad list. suffice to say, it's a good thing the world's latest superhero baby has already started a significant workout regimen to help him one day battle such evils.
to see it, just click on this magical "link"...
BABY PUSH-UPS!
(http://bit.ly/FRFKmw)

special added bonus video!
i'm currently pitching this to the networks...
BABY MASSAGE!
(http://bit.ly/FQ3I4S)

and now... by popular demand... MORE PICTURES!


PD in the safe and wonderful hands of his beautiful cousin, Emeline.
(technically, she's his second cousin once removed or some such thing, but let's just agree on "cousin!")

speaking of which, how's this for a rockin' family-style photo...

i call it "happiness times 12 at the lake house".
more specifically, it's me, ellen and PD (in blue) with cousins, nieces, nephews and loved ones paxton, mary, annabel, emeline, peter, pam, susan, jackson and sus.
we robbed a bank right after this picture was taken.
true story.

and one more, for purposes of cuteness...

what?
you've never seen live baby puppet theater before?

this week's song comes courtesy of The Ronnettes. It's Be My Baby.
dig it...

I'll make you happy, baby
Just wait and see
For every kiss you give me
I'll give you three
Oh, since the day I saw you
I have been waiting for you
You know I will adore you
Till eternity
So won't you please
Be my little baby

and that goes for you too, ellen thomas.

30 days

time once again to check in on the ongoing adventures of "PD the superhero baby".

first of all, he's growing.
and how!
i'll tell you how.
you know how when david banner (mild mannered scientist) gets angry (every episode) he turns into "the hulk" (thanks to an overdose of gamma radiation) and rips all his clothes (yet somehow his pants still basically fit him)? well, PD's not quite like that, but he does get angry sometimes and he did grow out of a couple of his onesies. so... i feel like it's a suitable comparison.

that used to be on the inside!
believe it... or not.

one thing is clear: it takes about a month for the (above) average baby's cheeks to fill out. from the looks of it, little PD spent january storing up some nuts for february.




the big, sad, bundle of news since last i typed words here is that after 3 weeks of 'round-the-clock love and support, the one and only, the incomparable, the fantabulous auntie pam had to leave us and return home to atlanta.

ellen, PD and i are stronger, happier and all far better rested thanks to her. her presence was an extraordinary gesture of kindness and munificence.
(i'd like to thank both merriam and webster for their assistance in that last sentence.)

i'd be remiss if i didn't share some of her parting words. ellen thanked her for giving up her life to be with us. pam responded, "i didn't give up my life. i just lived it up here. i just lived it differently and it was a wonderful different."
well said, auntie pam.
we miss you.

the love is mutual.

a few "firsts"...
- first art show (in SOHO no less!)
- first smile (sleeping, see above)
- first dinner at a restaurant (Pampano - our favorite!)
- first bottle feeding (thank you, auntie pam!)
- first 4-hour nap (thank you, PD!)
- first signs of functioning neck muscles (thank you, functioning neck muscles!)

this week's song...
"Fly Like an Eagle" by The Steve Miller Band
i heard it and thought of PD soaring through life like the superhero baby that he is.
but it also made me think of children less fortunate then our little man.
dig it...

Feed the babies
Who don't have enough to eat
Shoe the children
With no shoes on their feet
House the people
Livin' in the street
Oh, oh, there's a solution.

maybe one day PD will grow up and be part of that solution.
no pressure though.

oh, like you never took a bad picture.