Frankie's been a busy boy this week...

...laying tile on the screened porch...

... and reading a little Jean Kilbourne (upside down, no less!)

Everyone should read that book, especially young women; it's called Can't Buy My Love: How Advertising Changes the Way We Think and Feel. In short, it's about how advertising targets women and the insiduous messages that are often hidden in seemingly harmless ads. I recommend it a lot on other blogs when people ask about feminist literature, although it's probably more accessible than your typical academic fare. For those of you not into the reading, Kilbourne actually made a movie of it titled "Killing Us Softly", which is also excellent. She made her first installment in 1979 and has updated it twice since then. I picked up the book and re-read the introduction earlier this week and remembered how much I enjoyed reading it for the first time just over two years ago. Frankie picked it up today and trashed a couple of pages. I wish I'd gotten my hands on it when I was fifteen or so; it might've changed my life at that time. Alas, I'm getting a bit old, but I'm starting my son young!

P.S. My camera decided to die a premature death, so my blog might be a bit more bare until I resolve the situation or until I win the lotto. I think that there's a better chance of Bridget learning to do taxes.

The Easter Fashion Show, Frankie Style

Yes, the shirt is pink. And yes, that is a little tie. What a dapper young man.

And now, a word from our sponsors...

Last night, Juston attended the Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film For Theaters premiere. It was a star-studded event, as far as Adult Swim events go. Juston had a great time and arrived home at 1 AM after partying with Tim and Eric, Seth Green, and the crazy people at ATHF. Juston worked on the film, but didn't make the credits. (He's not credited as Dick Rindlesbach, either.) I'm bummed that I didn't get to go, but I think that Juston had enough fun for the two of us.

The Plaza Theater marquee

Master Shake on the green carpet

Juston and Inignokt

Space Ghost interviews Tim and Eric.

Juston with Tim Heidecker. When Juston met Eric, Tim's partner, he said "My wife is a huge fan." Eric replied, "And you aren't?" Way to represent, Juston.

Why Do I Always Have To Come Up With Titles?

I caved in and got a bumbo seat. The children on the box look so happy sitting in their bumbos. Frankie looks midly annoyed, but he tolerates it well.

Sometimes I call Frankie 'Bat Boy' because of his huge eyes. I thought 'Nosferatu!' when I first saw this photo..as in Max Schreck or Klaus Kinski in the two films of the same name. Love that Herzog.

Ridin' Dirrty Diaper.

Public Input!

I know that only a few people read this blog, but I need some help choosing my summer shoes. I've narrowed the field to three pairs...but I can't decide and I can only afford one! Please leave a comment and let me know which ones you like best.

Pair #1 - I think I'm in love

Pair #2 - Love the peep toe concept on a canvas shoe

Pair #3 - Owls!

Your help is greatly appreciated. And if anyone just feels like sending a pair of shoes my way...I wear a size 7. Thanks!

Playtime

Frankie has trouble sitting on his own. It's not that he can't do it, it's more as though he just doesn't care to do it. In order to motivate him to sit without being forced, I put him in his boppy and motivated him to play with his ball. Cuteness and trunk strengthening all in one!

Cool, baby

Today we got Frankie a pair of sunglasses...the lady at the store told me that Frankie wouldn't be ready for spring without a pair. And I fell for it, but he looks so cute it makes me giggle!

April 17th

Mark your calendars...it's Ben & Jerry's FREE CONE DAY!!!!!!!!!!! (Can you tell I'm excited?) I'm putting this up not only to inform everyone else, but to make sure that I myself do not forget. So go get your free, yummy ice cream and patronize a business that seems to actually have some corporate values. Oh wait, that would require buying stuff. I guess you can also buy stuff, if you're that way inclined.

The Easter Bunny Cometh

While 'spring cleaning' today, I forced Frankie to join in the spirit of the season by wearing rabbit-themed headgear.

Photo Amalgam

Frankie plays on the bathroom rug, the funnest place in the whole house to play!

Bridget snogs Frankie. It's not as dirty as it sounds, but it's definitely as wet.

And here's the photo that we like to pretend is special for some reason...the baby just happened to move, which made it a happy accident.

And finally, Bridget after getting a shower. There's nothing more pathetic than a trapped, wet pug.

For those of you who have influence, pester Juston. He's working on a flashy HD video of Frankie for this blog. Soon you'll get baby in action, but we have to make it happen first!

I covet, oh how I covet...

Today we found our dream loft. It's a three bedroom, two bathroom in Atlanta's historic Castleberry Hill district. Here's a link so that you can take a gander. (Note: the pictures on the link are outdated, as is the price on the page. It's decorated better now, although you get an idea of the greatness of this loft from the photographs.) We're setting up a donation fund to get Mary and Juston and Frankie a loft. Donations of any size are acceptable, although we do appreciate gifts of $100,000 or more, since the asking price is $355,000. That's a steal for comparable properties in the area. Just think of what you could do for our family with a mere 100 grand - create instant happiness and eternal indebtedness and gratitude in the hearts of three people and one pug.

Foot Fetish

Frankie loves his feet. His new favorite trick is to mercilessly rip his socks from them. I snapped this photo when he decided to play with them mid-diaper change.

Hair Oh My!

I got a new hairdo. The photo doesn't do the color justice; it's BRIGHT red. I love it.

It looks a bit like Yu-Gi-O's hair, dontcha think?

My Little Carnivore

Frankie celebrates his first meal of meat (aka pureed turkey) by raising his spoon in honor of all the little, delicious animals out there.

The Whole Dam Family (Minus the Dam Dog)

Since the photos of Frankie, while cute, were starting to get monotonous, when Juston got home from work tonight, I pulled out the camera and we snapped a few!

The one in the middle is what happens when you cross the one on the left with the one on the right.

It looks as though I might take a large bite out of Frankie's head.

Frankie sure loves his Daddy.

And another of me + pnut.

Frankie is a stiffy stiffersons, as demonstrated by Daddy.

Key Lime Heaven

I made a pie. Yum!

Finally...as promised!

Frankie pics! An impending bath awaits...

Frankie proudly displays his favorite political cause on his onesie (btw, that's a 0-3 month size onesie - it still fits.)

I know, he's a one-trick pony, always photographed in that exersaucer.

He was kind of smiling in this photo - he's a very smiley, happy baby, but he's a bit camera shy.

*Sigh*

I just spent several minutes writing this fantastic and profound post (using lots of big words no less) about life and politics and regret when, lo and behold, I acidentally kicked the power strip and lost it all. I suppose it wasn't meant to be.

To summarize, there've been no pictures because Frankie developed what I call the 'snot faucet' - he's been sick. Juston's been sick, too. I spent the better part of last weekend cooped up at home. Wiping snot - not the sexiest job ever. New photos soon.

Stats

Frankie had his six month checkup yesterday. While he's still recovering from his vaccinations, he is otherwise healthy as a horse (not Barbaro).


Weight: 14 lbs, 11 oz.
Height: 23 inches - For the first time, he's fallen off the short end of the growth charts, but the doctor doesn't seem worried since he was already in the 5th percentile to begin with; he didn't have far to fall.
Head: Big! He's got big brains - his head is growing nicely and he's in the double digits in percentile!


Conclusion: Small and hearty, Frankie continues to fit in 3 month clothes but is growing steadily and strongly and has chunky thighs to boot!

A Movie Recommendation

I'm not in the habit of recommending films; mainly because I'm too much of a critic and there aren't many worth recommending. This weekend, however, I watched a film, States of Grace that not many people have seen, and that's a pity. I want to spread the word among my few friends and family that come here to see pictures of Frankie. The trailer on the website doesn't accurately portray the plot of the film; in fact, it's a rare film that shifts focus about halfway through and the story takes on a multi-dimensional aspect. The trailer chooses to focus only on one story line, and the film ultimately ends up being about the redemption of a different character. It's not perfect by any means, but as far as so-called "Mormon" filmmaking goes (and that's such a loaded term; I hate to use it), the film is quite brilliant. It tackles some really tough issues in terms of sin and repentance and earns the label 'edgy' that was so flippantly thrown around back when the film was released last year. It uses symbolism to portray meaning and even though some of it is conventional, it's highly effective and Richard Dutcher, the director, has no shame in blatantly making the viewer feel emotions through these conventions; I found myself - this is me we're talking about here - getting teary-eyed at the film's end because I ached for the characters, and the swelling musical score didn't help any. If you can find this film, you should see it. We purchased a copy when we visited Utah at Christmas, so anyone that lives in the ATL is welcome to borrow it, but if you like it, please support the filmmaker so that more films like this get made instead of drivel like Church Ball. This was a risky film for Dutcher because Mormon audiences do not like to see themselves exposed in such a naked manner, as imperfect human beings with serious problems and perhaps a lack of compassion for others. However, we may never get substantial Mormon art until we start uncovering our flaws and examining them in a public light. States of Grace will be hard for some, and might even be 'shocking' for those expecting standard Mormon fare, because standard, it ain't - it rises above.


I will reveal nothing about the plot. See it and decide what you think for yourself.
As a side note for those of you unfamiliar with why I would recommend this movie, I studied film in school and wrote a paper for a graduate seminar on "Mormon Cinema." I am not terribly involved with Mormon filmmaking anymore, but I want to support good art when I see it.

Romance

This is what happens when your spouse goes to CVS at 11 PM on Valentine's Day to buy a thoughtful gift. Nothing says love like a chocolate with dogs on it. Love you too.

Can you spot the baby?

Camo baby. Sneaky!

A Mother's Bias? OR THE CUTEST BABY EVER?

I told you, this kid sucks his thumb. It's cute and terrifying at the same time. Braces. Better start saving money now.

I couldn't decide which picture to post from this series, so I just posted three of them. I love how blue his eyes look when he wears this particular outfit.

Depending on the lighting, this blond-haired baby (well, what little there is of it anyway) looks a bit like a redhead...

And for good measure, photographic proof that Juston owes me big time. I made him like 60 heart-shaped, frosted, and hand sprinkled sugar cookies for a work meeting today. Apparently, I'm too nice sometimes.

The Carnage Begins...

We're having the large, very dead tree in our front yard removed. Here is the first photo of the demolition:

Today they're outside, working on the trunk and making firewood out of it - the tree service also specializes in firewood. Smart, right? More photos to come.

Oh, a bad trip to Target...

On Saturday I went to Target. Target was fine, but the products I purchased have not done so well in the last two days.


Culprit #1: Jergens Ultra Healing Body Lotion. DON'T BUY IT! Unless you like smelling like Charlie perfume. Gross. The label said NOTHING about a scent and I was duped; I was expecting it to have a generic pasty lotion scent, not a cheap drugstore sickening 'eau de toilette' odor that you can't escape. I put in a complaint today and we'll see if they reply to my rather blunt statement about their lotion's stench.
UPDATE! The Kao Brands people replied and are sending me a coupon to replace my stinky lotion. Thanks! You can continue to patronize them and buy their products.



Culprit #2: Leap Frog Baby Gentle Vibes Teether Seems like a simple enough concept, right? Baby bites down on teether, teether vibrates. Oh no, my friend. Teether vibrates...and vibrates...and vibrates...nonstop...starting this afternoon and continuting until this very moment. It's driving me CRAZY. I threw it in the fridge at one point so I wouldn't hear its gentle vibrations. The fridge started shaking. It's now on a bookshelf in the laundry room where its vibrating terror cannot afflict me. I'm sure that I won't be able to sleep tonight because it will gently DRIVE ME NUTS. I've also put in my complaint (i.e. desperate plea for help) to the Leap Frog corporation.


Is it feasible to take things back like the aforementioned items? I do still have the receipt. If not, can you contribute to my 'buy Mary some non-stinky lotion' fund? Donations of all sizes are accepted, but we prefer a minimum donation of $5. :)

Babies Suck

...but not in the way you might think! Frankie is teething, and has started to vigorously suck his thumb over the past few days. I thought I'd dust off the old paci and see if he would take it. He struggles to keep it in his mouth, but he seems to like the results.

Bridget waits for the pacifier to fall out so she can eat it (it wouldn't be the first to meet this fate.)

Of course, it just fell out, I showed it to him, and he stuck his thumb back in his mouth; I guess the thumb is attached and harder to lose. Figures.

More Great Frankie Moments

Here are some photos of the baby. If you like them, you can always leave a comment so I can feel validated in what I'm doing. I thrive on validation.

Yeah, there's a lot of pictures of Frankie in his high chair. It's easy to take pictures when he's on lockdown.

Frankie passed the six month mark last week. It's hard to believe. We're also forcing him to sleep through the night. Last night, he slept through the night, but guess who else was up at 4:30 AM? I'm still adjusting to the possibility of having more than four hours of sleep in a row.