Love Actually...

I get that Alex says things because I say them. I realize that mimicry is one of the ways that she learns the language. I am fully in charge of my faculties and not an overly doting father... until this.



And then I melt.

It is entirely possible that she has already beaten me.

Little Star...

Two things about the following video:
1. Believe it or not, this is Twinkle Twinkle.
2. That cheesy smile at the end is her new reaction every time she sees a camera. Adorable.

Oktoberfest...

Friday after work we headed downtown to enjoy Oktoberfest! Robin and Bobbo joined us and it was a perfect, warm, sunny evening to sit outside and imbibe.
Alex had a great time running around and people watching... but when the band started playing, she was enthralled. She stood and stared. Then she started swaying. Then full-on dancing. I think we will have to find more live music for her to enjoy. And if it happens to come with local, delicious craft beer, sobeit.

The butterfly effect...

Last weekend Michele was in Dallas, so Alex and I had to roll solo to watch Michigan football with the regular rabble.On the phone prior to game time she asked what the little munchkin would be wearing to the party. "Michigan won last week.", seemed like a perfectly reasonable response to me.

"So?"
"So, she'll be wearing exactly what she wore last week..." I said, a bit irritated.
"You... are... nuts."

Now, I don't consider myself to be especially spiritual. I wouldn't say that I am superstitious, necessarily. But it makes perfect sense to me that the entire world is connected, if not directly, then indirectly and with a sensitive dependence on any given initial condition and the effects thereof. I don't think that a butterfly flapping a wing will cause a hurricane across the globe... but who am I to say that it can't.

Does Alex wearing this adorable outfit lead to Michigan winning? Probably not. But I won't be testing it, and Alex will be swathed in this exact uniform until it falls apart, or the Wolverines do.

I might be nuts, but I'm not crazy.

Petting Farm II: Pet Harder...

Last week we went once again to the petting farm @ Domino Farms. This is where I would usually describe how GD cute Alex is and how she still points with her middle finger and how she makes all the animal noises except the llama because who knows what a llama says... but instead please enjoy a bucket full of adorable:

Not so fast...

Michele's flight home from Dallas was canceled. I have to hope that Alex's tiny little brain has a short memory because the last thing she did before her night time routine was get right in my face, hands on my shoulders, and say, "Almost Papa? Almost?". It turns out I lied.

If all goes well she'll be there to pick the little munchkin up from daycare tomorrow. Let's hope so, because I am a terrible liar.

Almost...

Yesterday we dropped Michele off at the airport... Alex cried. She is in Dallas visiting her friend Jen and her three little ones Hudson, Zoe, & Levi (a baby who is the apple of Alex's eye). The crying didn't last long, and she eventually fell sound asleep in her carseat... but it was still heartbreaking.

Alexandra and I spend a fair bit of time on our own. I work from home a couple days a week and we are mostly alone on those days. She'll occaisonally ask about Mama, but a quick "Mama's at work" seems to satisfy her. But, since we dropped Michele at the curb, we have had some variation of the following conversation at least once every ten minutes:

Mama?
Mama's in Texas.
Baby?
Yes, she is visiting Levi.
Lee-Lye!!!!
Yes, Levi.
Home?
She'll be home Sunday.
Almost?
Yes baby, almost.

I'm not sure how she senses the difference between this absence and the norm, but it was the first thing she said again this morning.

Almost baby, almost.

Go Blue...

Last weekend was the first football games of the season, and we were excited. We watch Michigan almost every week at our friend's house with a group of great, if not overly excitable, UM faithful. Last season was tough. This season we realize that things will be different. Not only because the second year of a sea change overhaul of offensive and practice philosophy brings with it a previously unrealized basic understanding that allows the kids and the staff to start on step one instead of in the hole, but also because keeping up with a toddler while screaming at the TV is harder than just plopping down an infant.

We also realized that, after buying this adorable outfit, Alex is at least a 2T now... holy crap she is getting too big!

She enjoyed herself and didn't get in the way too much... we'll see how it goes this week when we fly solo because Michele will be in Dallas.

Okay...

...I know that we have been lazy, lean, and behind in our blogging duties. I know this because we have gotten sh*t from friends and family from sea to shining sea.

I am officially trying again...

Hair cut

While Alexandra in no way needed a hair cut, we got her hair trimmed last week. I say that she didn't need a hair cut-only some hairs. Specifically those in the back of her head. She started to look like she had a tail...old school 80s style. Except that boys had those and it was just looking back. So I took her into my hair dresser for a quick trim.

She was a bit overwhelmed by the salon but as long as I was next to her, she was fine. We placed her on the booster and after a few snips here and a few to stack the back (?), she was done. Easy Peasy.

Alexandra looks no different, but we took her curl (I have no clue what the hell I am going to do with it). Another first for Alexandra. She is getting so big.