Hello from Chattanooga. I now hang my hat in Tennessee. Today while wearing duck boots with shorts and pulling O in her new all-terrain wagon (Radio Flyer with monster tires) my wife said I look like a redneck. So, I decided to grow a rat tail.

O's 1st birthday was great. Everyone enjoyed themselves, even the grumpy old men. O went home with a ton of toys and books. Enjoy the pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/15588232@N00/sets/72057594115226199/

-m

This time last year I had been in labor for 10 hours. I remember thinking at some point fairly early on that the baby would be born by evening. And she would....the next evening. It's a good thing that none of us had any idea how long things were going to take. I don't think I would have been able to imagine that we would make it.

But we did. So many things were different from what I expected and I can't say that there is nothing I would change (yeah, ER staff, I'm looking at you), but she was perfect. I look at her today and can hardly believe that she has so quickly become a little girl. I so look forward to watching her eat her birthday cake tomorrow, and take her first steps, and learn how to talk, and play with her dad. My life has changed in every way. This time last year I just had no idea...

-p.

Olivia is pulling up, cruising, taking tiny little Frankenstein steps. And officially Into Everything. She is amazingly dexterous. She can take the top off of it, un-zip it, un-snap it, un-tie it...I have to come up with some new diversion for each diaper change as that has lately become the Activity Which Most Brings the Fury. I give her a chapstick and .68 seconds later, she's eating it. Yum, chapstick. Speaking of..."Eat, eat, EAT," is often heard in the house, sort of a half-query, half-command. Adorable. But it's no joke. That kid can eat. Yesterday I fed her a scrambled egg, a bowl of oatmeal (with wheat germ, yogurt, and blueberries), and half a banana before my mom made me stop. I was just going to see how much she would put away. (Kidding - I was only going to let her finish the banana.)

-p.