Another Contest

Get ready, because this Wednesday, we here at Allbeehive are having a little contest. This year, the prize is not a knitted item, but instead, the winner will get a Starbucks gift card for $10. Go crazy, get a pastry AND a drink.

My dad took a picture of something last week, and you will have to guess what it is. This time however, winners will have to come through comments only. Stay tuned!

Hadley Loves Her Grandpa

The previous evening, before bath time, I brought naked baby downstairs to parade her in front of her grandparents. When my Dad asked to hold her, I warned him that in her naked state she could possibly pee. Sure enough, as my Dad was playing with her and holding her over his head, she started to let him have it. Luckily, he didn't take it to the face, having learned from me when I was 4 months old above his head and peed on him. However, he promptly pushed her towards me, holding her over the rug. Being the practical mom, I covered her tush with my hand which started the sprinkler effect and pushed her back over my father. I mean seriously, I didn't want to get it on the rug or couch. Grandpas are good for that.

Things Grandparents Do

Hadley loves it when Nana reads her stories. She stares intently at all of the pictures.


Nana and Hadley have great conversations.


But when Nana puts this bow on Hadley that she got her for Christmas, Hadley is unsure of how 1983 she looks. The bow was promptly removed when DG came home. "It's burning my eyes, my eyes." It burning MY minds eye.


Here is a much better use of the bow. Now Gibson and Tica look like Chippendales Dancers.


Lap dance anyone?

I Love Me Some Nana and Grandpa

A week ago, when a friend came over, Hadley got the giggles and laughed her head off for several minutes. It's like her funny bone took over and shook her whole body in fits of belly giggles. It is probably the cutest thing I have EVER seen.

For the whole week following, I did everything except stand on my head and sing showtunes to get her to laugh like that again. I blew raspberries on her belly, tickled her feet, danced around singing songs about butts. Nothing. I was her own personal cartoon character. Nothing. A caricature of myself. Nothing. "Am I not as funny as I think I am?" I asked myself? How could this beeee?

Then her grandparents came to town, and one day while her Nana was holding her, David said the word Bazooka to her, which got the giggle factory going. I then followed it up with every B word I could possible think of. Each word, worked her up more and more into an hysterical giggle fit. Bumble Bee, brassiere, Booby, Brown Bunny, Barbara, Bling, Banana...I tried to fit in a few P and D words too, but they did not elicit the same response. I'm hoping to get this on video some day because when you watch it, you won't be able to say you've had a bad day.

Nana and Poppa at last!

My dad was afraid that Hadley would lose that new baby smell before they arrived. But really sour milk and Dreft doesn't wash away easily.

The Tryptich Masterpiece

I thought that a craft project would be fun when Mom and Aunt Betty were out visiting. I got the idea for this tryptich when I was looking at Baby Art on Ebay. I saw some some lovely wall hangings that were hand painted with a child's initials and hung from the wall with ribbons. I went out and got some canvas and acrylic paint and proceeded to sketch out the 3 panels that I wanted. I decided that I didn't want to paint the baby's room and instead chose to give it color with accessories, including a green lamp shade, green curtains, pink and green bedding and pink and green wall art.

As shown here, sometimes you need to open your mouth to really concentrate on creating a masterpiece.
Templates are also a good use of making the process faster.

And voila, the final pieces. Ok, maybe it will never see the walls of the Louvre, but I am tickled pink with how it turned out.

Mumsie in Town

Last Friday, my mom and Aunt came to town to go to my baby shower this week-end. We had a great time all week-end crafting, painting, knitting, cross stitching, having many great conversations, and enjoying each other's company.

I designed a tryptich for Baby Gs room and put everyone to work on painting one of the panels. We also found the perfect green material for curtains that I need to sew up this week as well. Perhaps I've watched to many DIY design shows on TLC. Pictures coming soon.

Next time mom comes to town, she will be a Nana.

Life is Good

I just got back from spending an amazing week with my parents. I was not at all ready to leave. *sniff* In case you missed me while I was gone, you can check out my dad's blog here. He posted a picture and video of me saying good-bye to my childhood stuffed animals.

The Future is Bright

My dad has a saying that goes something to the effect of "Life is really good until it is not."

My mom had a serious heart attack this week and though she is in good spirits and expected to make a full recovery, life has been difficult. I'll be traveling back to the East Coast to spend time with my parents in a few days. Please keep our family in your thoughts.

House Project Numero Dos

First we spent the entire Memorial Day week-end planting a small patch in the front yard which DG outlines here. That was project numero uno. The second project my dad handled when he was here last week-end.

Ta daaaaaaaaa. Presenting our new ceiling fan in the master bedroom. So pretty, yet a tricky little bugger to install. You see, the entire inside of the house had 70's brown support beams running the lengths of the high ceilings. In the redo, they lowered the ceilings to cover up the horrendous look of them, while adding steel for added support. The plate next to the fan was the original location of the bedroom light. Dad measured 5 times and found the support beam the first time. Then he drilled through the metal, all so that he wouldn't have to stay up at night worrying about the fan falling on his new grand baby.

I say tricky, but honestly I spent the entire time laying on the couch eating bon bons while he did all the work. Thanks Dad, now we can all sleep cool through the summer.

A Girl and Her Daddy

My dad came to visit this week-end to see the baby bump, celebrate his future grand-baby, try out the new guest suite, and install a ceiling fan. We went to a great baseball game (10th row behind 3rd base), had a stupendous brunch while listening to a jazz band, walked around a festival, saw Judge Roughneck play, took a tour of DG's office, and all in all had a great time.

By the way, my dad does NOT want his picture broadcast on the blog so that is not a picture of my dad, it's just some wierd guy I met at game.

Dad's Advice Continued

This was too good to leave in the comments section and it deserves it's own entry.

Age 13: I think I said bumping and grinding. (i.e. Come and let me know so that I can lock YOU up.) This was “THE TALK” at the kitchen table after dinner. I would not let you leave until I was done. To get me off your back you finally told me you wanted to be a virgin when you got married. (How did that work out anyway?)

Age 16: On how to kiss a boy: I think I said don’t suck on anything lower than their lower lip.

Age 19: I think I said Boys only want one thing, EVEN IF they are gay.

Age 24: Happiness is a state of mind. You should not dwell on the negative.
I said exactly that. It was out of selfishness because I did not want you to leave even though you were a pain in the ass.

Age mid-20's: Surround yourself with positive people and you will live a happier life. I did say that and you followed my advice very well.

Age mid-20's: Regarding marriage: When you are ready to spend the rest of your life with someone you will know. The funny part is that I also knew that this was the right time and person for you.

Age 26: Only use your power for good and never evil. Yes I said this and I believe you have only used your power for good. Accept that one time when you tried to beat up your 24 year old brother and he literally wiped the kitchen floor with you.

Age 28: Practice practice practice. To be a rock star you have to practice. I did say this and it is true for anything you want to do.

I have some advice for you now. It may not make since but when you get older and have time for reflection you will understand.

When you go into a crowded public place there are 2 things you want to know. Where is the fire exit and where is the bathroom.

Don’t drink a lot of liquid before a long trip.

Whole grain food makes you gassy.

My Daddy

I was born on the same day as my father, on his 22nd birthday. I got his teeth and need to be right all the time. We are very similar and even though in his recent comment he eluded to the fact that I couldn't stand to be seen with him as a teenager, I have a different story. Though I went through my "don't touch me" phase, I was also very aware growing up that my parents were young, liberal, and very cool. Recently while going through old emails, I found a list I had created of my Dad's witicisms and I could not wait for father's day to post them. In 1999, my mother agreed to speak at a father/daughter luncheon and she asked me for a list of advice that my dad has given me over the years. Unfortunately, the pearls of wisdom I have learned may not be the most pulpit appropriate advice, though I think that they may explain a lot about who I am. I also believe they have spanned the test of time, and are universally great advice for all children young and old.

Age 13: Your hormones will be humping and bumping soon and I want you to know you can always talk to me. (ie. Come and let me know when boys want to touch you so I can cut their hands off.)

Age 16: On how to kiss a boy: Just suck on their lower lip. "Gawd gross dad, stop, I don't want to hear any more."

Age 19: Boys only want one thing, unless they are gay, and then you still have to be careful. (ie. I think you are too young to have good gaydar, or I think you are dating a lot of bisexuals.)

Age 24: Happiness is a state of mind. You should not dwell on the negative. You have to be happy with who you are. (This is when I was moving from Indiana to Colorado because I was unhappy. He thought that moving out of Indiana wouldn't make me happy if I was trying to escape something.) Though the advice was true, it ended up being a great decision for me. Dad: 5, Daughter: 1.

Age mid-20's: Surround yourself with positive people and you will live a happier life. Cut out the negativity in your life.

Age mid-20's: Regarding marriage: When you are ready to spend the rest of your life with someone you will know. You can't force a relationship to happen. If it is not meant to be, it is not meant to be, but that doesn't mean it won't hurt.

Age 26: Only use your power for good and never evil. (When he refered to me as Kickboxing Zena Warrior Wench.)

Age 28: Practice practice practice. To be a rock star you have to practice. (This can go for many things in life.)

I love you dad and I am sure that even though I am a full on adult now, that there is still a lot of advice forthcoming. This is where my dad chimes in and explains what he was really trying to say, which will end up being much funnier than my actual post.

Honey, we are going to need some more butter!

It is like attack of the Killer Lobsta! I got these great pics from my dad the other day of an 8lb. 6oz. lobster he bought at a seafood market. When I asked if a lobster this large was even edible the response I got was "I never met a lobster that I didn't like." Apparently it was very sweet. It was so big they could barely fit it into their pot and they only ate the meat in one claw. The rest was saved for lobster bisque and lobster rolls. Yum.