Things I used to say/ spell wrong for longer than I should have...

Seasonal Affectation disorder*
Buisness
Fornification

*But I kind of think seasonal affectation disorder is way more fun. Like if you just walked around with a fake British accent all winter?

Also, I've been reading Carol Goodman lately. She's a sort of literary mystery writer. I think you can spot the plot twists, but she uses a lot of fun motifs (fairy tales, Latin, stained glass) in her novels.

I hope to go see The Other Boleyn Girl this weekend. I really liked the book. At first I was irritated by their casting choice, then I realized I got the actresses playing the sisters mixed up. I think Natalie Portman is the right choice for Anne Boleyn. Their is something about Scarlet Johansen that kind of bugs. (But I don't like Kathryn Heigl either. It isn't a blonde thing, but I can't figure out why.)

And! It's Pulaski day on Monday! That great Revolutionary hero and friend to GW. I'll gladly toast you with sausage and beer as I enjoy yet another three day weekend!

Happy Birthday Liza!

Child labor laws???

Pshaw... we start 'em early around these parts. I have to train him to be a good little husband someday.

P.S. This is post number 300! So those of you complaining about the dearth of posts... that is a little more than 100 per year. Plus, do you really think my comic gems come so easily? I have to work a little at being this witty.

The Dorko Family

I haven't written much lately because life here is kind of boring. We keep getting snowed in. What else is there to do but try on hats and torture your child with photos?

First PB&J

This has been a really relaxing weekend at home. We had some friends over Friday and went sledding on Saturday. Sunday we didn't watch the Superbowl. All around... a wonderful weekend.

The Philadelphia Story

Last night Joel and I watched The Philadelphia Story. I had never seen it before and I really enjoyed it. The thing is, while it was fine for Tracy to end up with Dexter, I kind of prefer the bookish, quick-to-judge, sensitive Macaulay. What do you think? Cary Grant? Jimmy Stewart?

Like father like son...

Bucket Head

Kiddo's kind of strange.

First Haircut

Little Man had his first hair cut yesterday. Mainly as a futile attempt to tame his perpetual bed head. We went to a place that specializes in haircuts for kids. He could pick out a movie to watch while the stylist worked, and older kids could even choose to play a video game. (Check out the other stylist in the background of the third picture.) I am torn about this place, frankly. It was great for his first hair cut for sure. There was no crying and screaming as a strange woman approached him with sharp objects. (From me or from Dex.) Still, isn't the fact that we never have to make our kids sit still part of the reason why they can't? It seems like one of those things that causes ADD. Still, he looks so grown up with his new cut. They also saved a lock of his hair for me. This is another thing I am not sure of. Is keeping hair as a souvenir kind of weird? I suppose I'll be able to sell it on Ebay when he becomes a Nobel Laureate.

Dashing Dex just wasn't in the mood to deal with the Paparazzi (Mamarazzo) today.

We're runnin' through Cheerios here as if they're going out of style.

Snowed in!

Well, we stayed in Michigan a night longer than planned because once we tried to venture out, the roads were just too bad. Joel's Dad was nice enough to welcome us back, but before that we spent a fun few days with Joel's Mom.

The smoothie monster...

(The main thing you can see is this picture is that I have no vanity. Why do I keep posting these hideous pictures of myself?)

Dexter's feeling better and has his appetite back. So much so that I can't feed him fast enough so sometimes he has to take matters into his own hands. He loved the Smoothie. (Or he's reenacting a lost scene from Lord of the Flies. You decide.)

My mom taught Dexter to share his Cheerios. It's pretty funny when he feeds them to you, but just as often he goes to put it in your mouth and then takes it away at the last second. Pretty much he is the cutest kid ever. I used to be embarrassed to say things like that. But doesn't every kid deserve to have his parents think he is the cutest baby in the world? (I'm just the only parent that is right. Haha.)

Hangin' out on a Sunday Morning

One of my recent obsessions...

Have you been on Etsy? It is a marketplace for people who make crafts. The prices are reasonable, and so far the vendors I have dealt with are nice. I am trying to do as much Christmas shopping there as possible because the idea of buying handmade gifts rather than plastic gadgets manufactured in China follows my current economic/ environmental sensibilities. (Still, if you really wanted to send an iPod Touch my way it isn't like I'd turn it down. Music IS my boyfriend.) So don't be surprised if you unwrap a gift from me and find this, this, or this. (OK... two of those were kind of a joke... but there really are some great things on the sight .)

Sickos

Dexter and I have been home sick. We had a very nice party this weekend with all of his grandparents, some of his aunties, and our neighbors. Still, the Little Man just wasn't his normal, funny self. He stuck one finger in his cake and then shoved it aside. He did love having a room full of people sing "Happy Birthday" to him.
Look at those gorgeous sickies! We both woke up feeling pretty cranky and sick on Sunday. I broke a lot of my rules about how much Little Einstein and Sesame Street I'd let him watch in a day as I laid on the couch, moaning. Mostly we just cuddled and tried to feel better.

I never had that magical movie moment when right after giving birth, the nurse hands you a pretty pink baby and you all sit there, glowing, looking at each other with a gentle tear running down your face. For me… it wasn’t love-at-first-sight. It was visceral-need-to-protect-at-any-cost,-perhaps-even violently, at first sight. I remember laying there begging, for water, as the nurse measured and administered to Dexter. At some point through the haze I picked up on a note of concern in her voice. Soon they told me Baby Boy Barr would have to go to the special care nursery because he had low glucose levels. I got to hold him for a minute and I was just scared. I worried for him, but didn’t really understand what was wrong, and couldn’t really think clearly. The next forty-eight hours were pretty surreal. Each time Joel rolled me down to the NICU, I would cry. My emotions ranged from the frantic need to fight some unspeakable battle to take care of this little one, to complete vulnerability because this was a situation no one could control. Of course, Dex ended up being fine. He was slow to eat, perhaps because of the bruise on his head, and consequently he had low blood sugar. We were so lucky, and he is a strong kid. Mostly I mention that because those first few hours were nothing like my expectation of that love at first sight I’d seen in countless films.

What I have experienced is more of a gradual change from curiosity and concern to hopeless, unabashed love for my little man. I feel deliriously lucky and happy to have spent this last year getting to know him. He smiled and laughed pretty early and hasn’t stopped since. I am surprised at how many personality traits already seem to have emerged. Dex is a class clown. He loves to do things that make people laugh and if you oblige him, he’ll keep going for the laugh. Also, much to Joel’s joy, he is a drummer. He bangs on everything with his tiny little hands, or with the remote controls as drumsticks. I love every part of being his mom. Happy birthday Little Man.

Afternoon Snacktime

Joel and Dex like their hummus. Don't get in the way.

Hey! How was your Thanksgiving? (I ALMOST wrote Turkey Day... that is one of the things that embarrasses me about myself. Yes. I am the kind of person who sometimes says things like Turkey Day. Also, sometimes, at the end of the week if I am talking to work people I don't know very well I say something like, "Hey at least it's Friday." NERD!)

After an initial hiccup, our break was great. The traffic Wednesday was horrible. Joel and I were not filled with much gratitude as we navigated the Illinois Toll roads on our way out to Wisconsin.

Thursday morning we drove the rest of the way to Minneapolis to stay with Joel's step-brother and family. It was so relaxing. I avoided Black Friday, but am going to sign off now to take advantage of the free shipping of "Cyber Monday".