This Is Ridiculous

On a Cute Scale of one to ten, one being not-so-much and ten being syrupy sweet, these babies have hit an unheard of 15. IT'S THAT EARHSHATTERINGLY CUTE.
And New Baby is seven times darker than her cousin. Viva Puerto Rico!

Apocalypse Now

If the morning view from my balcony is any indication, I think the world's going to end today.

Ways To Celebrate The Birth of Baby #2

Get a full night's sleep. You deserve it.

Call the family a record four times during the day, beginning at 5:00 a.m. and continuing until you get tired enough to go to bed.

Laugh at your father, who got bored while waiting for the baby and decided to run some errands.

Laugh at your mother, who says that the baby got the famous family nose from your brother. Where do you think we got these noses to begin with?

Look up at the moon and wonder about life, love, and the turning of the world.

Wish you were home to hold her and hug your brother.

Send silent thanks to God that this baby was born a little darker than other recent offspring. Long live the Puerto Rican genes!

Realize that, in a perfect world, you would be next. Get sad for a moment.

Plan Christmas gifts.

Think back to the birth of Baby #1 and how much life has changed.

Drink a Diet Coke in honor of your addict Sister-in-law.

Look at the pictures and try to decide if the baby looks more like a fish or an alien. Decide she's a Fish Alien.

Waiting for Baby #2

So my brother's wife went into the hospital this morning to try to squeeze out my first-ever niece, and is unfortunately still sitting in that hospital bed some 15 hours later. If I know her, she's demanding a Coke at this very moment and harassing the nurses for more painkillers.

SuperMegaCool KidTeen Agent Cody Banks

Et tu, Shania Twain?

Observation

Maybe you didn't find my class interesting. Maybe you were still a little upset that I told that no, you couldn't bring in cookies to class or drink your piping hot tea from a mug. To my credit, I did cave in and let you sip from a more conservative plastic cup and I even let you sit right next to my desk (an odd request from you, really). The students weren't reacting well to the lesson, and surprisingly only one student knew Renee Zellwegger's name. I know, the shock! But perhaps the most shocking moment of my class was when you, my dear fellow teacher come to observe how wonderfully I manage my classes, decided that it was acceptable -- nay, that you had somehow EARNED the right -- to begin to text message your friends and family during the class. And you didn't text on the down low, you put the phone inches from your face and typed out your messages. Here's the slightest hint, observing teacher: um, not a good idea.

Icicles by Patty Griffin

Tonight
I sing soft and low
Just like the moon
Over the snow
I hear icicles falling in the dark
We're just like anyone else
We just want a little bit
Of sun for ourselves
And a little bit of rain
To make it all grow
Maybe a minute or two
To get lost in the glow of love

There's always someone throwing matches around
Waving the shiny new knife
The first to run when the house burns down
I've seen it everyday of my life
I must confess there appears to be
Way more darkness than light
I want to fall like a pearl
To the bottom of the sea
There no one will find us tonight

Tonight
It might look pretty bad
We might lose everything
We thought that we had
But shadows will pass
Smoke, it will clear
If something survives of us around here
I'll be glad 'cause I know
I was lost in the glow
Of love