Now That's Cute

I must say, this is a cute couple. I didn't have to massage this picture at all. I know I'm opinionated, but they are so made for each other. :) Veronica loves pumpkins of all sizes, even the itty bitty ones.

Taunting the Pumpkin

This is a dorky Daddy with a cutie daughter, looking like they are are taunting the poor fat pumpkin soon to be Jack O'Lantern. Veronica LOVES pumpkins. She did last year, she does this year. I forget if she's had pumpkin pie before. Something tells me we are going to have an opportunity to find out if she favors her mommy or daddy...wait a minute...who doesn't like pumpkin pie in these families? Like I said, dorky daddy.

This Pumpkin!

She's been misplacing her cheese a lot lately...saying "cheese" for the camera, that is. She's always making a scrunchy face and looking off away from the camera. Then again, I guess that's what mommy and daddy do when folk try to take their pictures these days. We're getting better, though. She's still awfully cute. She's resting her back on the pumpkin that was destined to be a rockin Jack O'Lantern.

Gittyup and Yee-Haw!

It's official, she's had her first pony ride and daddy's in real trouble now. Jen has been teaching her to beg and plead and burble for a pony. On the way to a store to pick up drinks for my two sweethearts, Veronica pleaded in her most pathetic quibble yet, "Daddy, I want a po-o-o-ny!" Thanks hon, just what I need. ;) Luckily, her Aunt Vickie and cousin Tiffany had given her a "My Little Pony" not long before we took this little day trip. Anyway, she sure was cute. As little as the pony was, I don't think she would have been totally splits on a bigger mule. Her eyes lit up like sprinklers when the pony started to mosey. I guess mommy's did too. Daddy was too busy trying to get in front of them for a decent picture. I'm sure my friends in Montana would love to put her up on a real horse one of these days soon...we'll wait for the weather to warm back up though.

Chickees

These were also from the "petting zoo" in Canton the day before Halloween. Simply put, these were too cute not to print, so you got 'em.

Wassup, Bah-h-h?

This is the part of parenthood that teaches you to appreciate the "hardships" that I grew up with as a thankless welp in what I thought at the time was the backwoods of Vermont with too many stinky animals that had to be fed and watered every freakin' morning at five o'clock. This was Veronica's first "up and close" with a few of the animals her daddy had around...not at Veronica's age, but at an age we're not really looking forward to dealing with...the teenage years! Anyway, I digress. She thought lambs were supposed to be more lively. She wasn't so impressed with this one, though she did enjoy petting and hitting it. This was from the day before Halloween when we took Veronica to a farm out in Canton that had lots of pumpkins. The "petting zoo" and the pony ride were a bonus.

Straight Jacket

This is a picture from our neighborhood halloween party. You may have to click on the picture to see a larger version, but Veronica isn't really in a straight jacket. She was just very intent upon stripping her shirt off in our neighbor's bouncy thingy...where daddy couldn't crawl in and get to her. That's her boyfriend Evan chasising her for me, telling her "Keep you shirt on, 'Ronica!" Yup, kids are cute when they don't know any better. I just hope I can say it's mommy's problem when she gets old enough to know better! ;) (Kidding)

Jen's Pumpkin

For fairness, I did find a picture I took of Jen's pumpkin, it's just not a real good picture. I must have had too much coffee that day so I couldn't hold the camera still long enough to get a crisp picture. If you are wondering, you really need to photograph your Jack O'Lanterns without flash to get the right effect. I suppose you could try to mute the flash with tissue or something, but if you go through that trouble, you may as well set up a tripod or use a timer to keep the camera really still. Anyway, here 'tis, and it doesn't do it justice.

Jack O'Lantern - Happy Halloween

For some reason each year, I have been compelled to snap a picture of my Jack O'Lantern. I am always very impressed with my handiwork - nothing fancy, just your typical fat pumpkin carved with a traditional mean face. This'n was pretty cool because he was prett fat. I regret I was not able to get a good picture of Jen's pumpkin before it weakened from rot and was damaged from a falling pumpkin that rolled off the bale of straw above her Jack O'Lantern and rolled into the front yard. When we got up that morning to see the pumpkin in the yard, we were afraid kids had been messing with the pumpkins, but it turned out to be nothing less than nature herself. Anyway, I hope you like my Jack O'Lantern as much as I did. I'm also happy to tell you that we gave out more candy this year than any other year in my memory...doesn't say much, I know. I'm working dilligently on the remains to save my dear wife from the travesty of having to eat too much of it.

Very Sweet

These were taken a couple weeks ago, just minutes before calling her grandma.
Just minutes after getting on the phone, she broke into spontaneous hysterics...welcome to the world of two-year olds, eh?

All American Cutie

As I was getting ready to put this one up, Jen's words were, "They are going to think we feed this child nothing but sugar." Eh... Think what you want. She's a cutie!

And this second photo also shows she can still say "cheese" with ice cream.

Up on the counter again

Boy, do we spoil her or what? This was taken a week or so ago. She was being especially clingy and, surprise - wanting mommy and not daddy. And specifically, she had to have her spot on the counter watching mommy make eggs for breakfast. But isn't she cute?

Hunchback Darling

Thought you would enjoy this - appropriate for the time of year. Jen was talking to her sister Diane the other night while Veronica harassed her daddy with new clothes Diane sent. She brought each article of clothing to daddy to tie around her shoulders like a multilayered cape. Ain't she cute?

I forget what she was in the middle of saying...could have been "cheeze!" or "scarey!" (A lot of things have suddenly become scarey, like camera flashes, scuba divers, screwdrivers, etc.) All you longtime parents out there will be happy to know she has also just started the "I don't like it" stage...regardless of whether she's tasted it yet or not. As long as she stays cute... ug.

We are getting excited about spending Halloween with her. Jen's embarked upon ambitious plans ... she actually found material to make a costume. If you are in the family and know of her costuming experience (something about a Tigger suit), you know this will be fun. It will be even more fun because she's not subjecting her little baby to the costume, she's subjecting her big baby to it. Daddy will be some kind of Frankenstein Sully from Monsters, Inc. ;) We have all the faith in the world that the father-daughter team will be beyond adorable.

Piggies

Mommy took Veronica in the outdoor waterfall steps...she kept crying for "my piggies, my piggies!" Until mommy relented and took her for a stroll down the steps. We are not sure, but we think it was a pretty neat representation of the Trail of Tears - we were a little too distracted to make sure Veronica didn't run off in the water or slip down the steps. Of course, the birthday boy was a bit too busy carting the stroller down the dry steps alongside the water steps and trying to set up for a shot at a decent picture. This one didn't turn out so bad...

It was a beautiful day in the really pretty, charming little city of Chattanooga. (We debated its city status, but with Nathan growing up in Vermont and his experience with Burlington as the state's largest city, it wasn't much of an argument to make Chattanooga a city.) Looks like a great place to visit at greater leisure with family.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Let's see - Nathan almost forgot his own birthday this weekend. He turned 35...not much different than rolling over in bed, maybe just a bit more tired than on days past. We attempted dinner out at Nuevo Laredo - great food but boy was Veronica a pistol. We boxed up the dinner after a couple bites. :)

The real treat was on Sunday when we day tripped to Chattanooga for the acquarium. What a fun time. Here's Veronica in one of the aquariums - this one with some massive King Crabs. Is it wrong to get hungry for seafood at the aquarium?