After months of only ripping her pacifier out of her mouth, just when she really needs it, those infernal hands are finally doing Hazel’s bidding…
Archive for July, 2010
Happy Place
23
Jul
While I was conference calling into Hazel’s 6 month check-up today (as I often do), I heard her pediatrician ask how Grace and Hazel got along. I wanted to yell into the phone “CHECK OUT THE VIDEO!!” but I realized that I hadn’t posted the video yet, and that Jenn shoving her iPhone into Dr Piel’s face was probably unseemly. Here is the video that, I think, says it all.
The current status is LOVE. Hazel can’t help smiling whenever she sees Grace and Grace just wants to give her little sister kisses and hugs. Grace shares her toys and her special chair without a moments hesitation because “She’s my sistuh”.
Who knows if this mutual adoration will stand the test of time. They almost have to fight at some point in the future when they realize they want the same thing at the same time and there is only one of said thing…like boys…ugh. When that time comes, I will lock myself in a room and watch this video over and over again as my “happy place”.
This picture is pretty good too…
Happy Half Year, Hazy!
22
Jul
Originally uploaded by Lincoln Topliff
Just one day into her 6th month–as I was looking for a video to use for her blog post–Hazel decided to treat us to a little show. After complaining briefly about being set on her tummy, she took matters into her own thighs and kicked her bad little self over onto her cute little back! Here, we thought we were just pissing her off and she went and performed a trick! For the camera, no less…
Now we can add this to the growing list of actual things that little Hazy can…um, whats the word?…”DO”. Rolling over joins laughing, smiling, blowing raspberries with a mouth full of food, grabbing stuff that she wants (which is also new this week). I would put “getting bigger” on the list but she has ALWAYS been doing THAT like a champ.
So, 6 months down and a lifetime to go. Now it gets good!
Happy 6th Monthiversary, Hazy
“I ride a Pony!”
13
Jul
Before there was Disneyland, before the cousins, before the 4th of July…there was Max. Grace met Max in a little circle of life in a corner of the San Mateo County Fair, and it was love at first ride.
We didn’t know what to expect from Grace and a pony ride. It was the end of the day for us at the fair and we wanted her to get to go on a ride, but the rides were across the fair and we were tired. And then we saw Max. On a whim I plunked down my $7, handed Grace the token and put her in line. Then I walked away, taking my position with a video camera in one hand and still camera in the other to watch the action. She just calmly stood there in line until she was lifted by some guy in a cowboy hat and belted onto the back of the shortest pony in the ring. Grace had previously piloted a plastic carousel horse up and down and round and round and she probably expected the same here. 30 seconds into the video (which is tastefully edited from its original 7 minute footage…you are welcome very much) you can see the second that she realizes that this is a live pony and she is riding it when a smile spreads suddenly from one ear to the other.
HAT Day II: The Sequel
12
Jul
…or, “Why My Mom and Sister Get to Babysit Whenever They Want”
Summer is the time of sequels and easy distractions and despite my best efforts to get all the vacation posts onto the internets, I have been distracted (very easily) by my sister’s sequel to her 2008 Hat Day photoshoot.
Just about 2 years ago, Auntie Julie took advantage of Grace’s visit to Grammie’s house to break out the costume hat collection and her camera. The results were classic. This weekend the hat collection came back out and this time the camera turned on little Hazel Anne Topliff, with equally hilarious results.
This one was Jenn’s fast favorite…
Our little ladies look equally ready for cucumber sandwiches and tea, but you will have to decide for yourself whether you think they look like each other. The craziest part for me is that I just did the math and Grace is just over 4 months old here while Hazel is coming up on 6 months. What preemie?
We’re baaaaack!
08
Jul
We have triumphantly returned from our 10-day family roadtrip and boy do I owe some blog posts. I have now caught up on most of my sleep and knocked the must-dos off my list so I can sit down and get to business.
Some of the highlights that you can expect to see in the next few days:
- Graces first pony ride (pre-road trip)
- Visiting the kissing (and hugging) cousins
- Marcie and Dave’s Chicken Coop (and lovely home) in LA
- D – I – S – N – E – Y – L – A – N – D – !!!!
- The Fourth of July by the Sea
I promise! I will ignore the whole family for a week if that’s what it takes to post the pictures, videos and words to describe our wonderful and exhausting holiday. Sorry Honey, I’m going into the man-cave now…tell the kids that I still love them.