The Blueberry Band

Background to conversation: Dave has been guitar shopping for several weeks now (he's got an itch and the only thing that can scratch it is a shiny new guitar). The whole kit and caboodle went one evening on his quest and walked out with not a guitar but a free drum kit instead.
Further backstory: A guy at the guitar place noticed how much the kids loved the drums in the percussion room (oh what I wouldn't have given for a handful of Excederin that evening) and he was trying to unload some drums. So now we are the proud owners of a lovingly used drum kit in the basement. Just what every basement needs.

Dave: So what color guitar should I get—a black one or an orange and black one?
Ellie (pensive): Neither. You should get a blue one so you can be part of our blueberry band. We'll play in the basement.
Dave: The Blueberry Band eh?
Ellie: Yeah! Mommy, you can play the pianyo, Jonah can play the xylaphone and Daddy you play the guitar.
Me: Who will sing?
Ellie (thinks a minute): Daddy, because sometimes the guys with the guitars sing.

Sounds like we need ourselves some tee-shirts printed. Our tour schedule soon to follow.

Behind the Scenes

Here are some behind the scenes shots our friend Dave Worthington (thanks Dave!) captured from our last EBK photoshoot.

We had lots of hands involved in this one. Thank you to everyone who trekked out to Hometown Girl—home to one of the best soda fountains and gift shops around. And I need to say a special thank you to our intern Kia whose help was greatly appreciated.

This was one of my favorite shoots to date. We all had an amazing time (who wouldn't when milkshakes topped with cherries are involved?). Good people + fun kids + yummy treats = one fantastic way to spend a Saturday morning!

What It's Really Like to Work From Home

J:Hey check this out. It's my new dance called the jumping zombie. You like it?
D:(briefly looks up from computer)Um, yeah.
J:Don't try to stop me from dancing man. I'm like Kevin Bacon in Footloose. (pauses for breath) Jonah really likes that drum we got yesterday.
(tom, tom, tom...pause...tom, tom, tom)
D:When you have a sec come over here and take a look at this video. It's a great video. He doesn't look like you would expect him too.

J:I love it. (brief pause) Jonah where's the other drum stick? I don't want the dog to chew it up. WINNIE! Dave she's eating cat poop again.
(tom, tom, tom....pause...tom, tom, tom)
D:Winnie, outside you go! Ugh. Now she stinks. (looks at clock) Jen, do you see what time it is? You have to go pick up Ellie.
J:Oh. I gotta run!
(tom, tom, tom....pause...tom, tom, tom)

And he says he has to go to Panera to work because it's too distracting here. Pushaw!

Party In Baltimore

Baby Loves Disco is coming to Baltimore and we're joining the party along with our friends at Bediboo. Bediboo is dishing out prizes from their store for the BLD dance off and we'll be raffling off his and her playdate packs.

Baby Loves Disco has been talked about on NPR, Nightline, The Big Idea w/ Donny Deutsch and countless other places (both here and internationally). So we hope to see you on February 9th! Make sure you stop by and say "hi."

Marriage II

While lying in bed

Him: Ma-ma-ma-my Sharona. Never gonna stop, give it up. Never gonna stop, mine-mine-mine-mine-woo
Her: Could you please stop that.
Him: What, you don't like my singing?
Her: No.
Him (laughing): You're the first woman in bed to ever tell me that.
Her: Let me put it this way, I enjoy your singing about as much as you enjoy my dancing.
Him (chortles with laughter): I had no idea it was that bad. By all means I'll stop right now.
Her: You're such an @##.
Him (grins, self-sastified): Good night sweetie. He leans over to kiss her on the cheek.
Her (grumpily): Good night.

Poopin Place

I've noticed the signs.

First it was that he had a consistent poopin spot located behind the table. Then I realized he went to that spot the same time every day.

Then I noticed the eyes. They gleamed with excitement at the thought of depressing the flusher on the toilet. A smile stretched across his wee little face as he watched the water swoosh down the drain over and over and over again. Finally, watching him wash his hands with minimal help has sealed his fate. And if I required further illumination on the readiness it came this evening....

During the evening diaper change: I want cream on my tooshie! I want cream on my tooshie!

Nothing says you're ready to start potty training quite like demanding cream on your toosh.

Let's get ready to rumble. Potty training commence.

We're Not First Cousins. Really!

Post Office Employee: Hey, is your wife the one who does Eely Beely something?
Dave: Ellie Bellie Kids? Yes that's her.
Post Office Employee: You know, you two really look alike.

The exchanged occurred this morning. So naturally when I ran across this article a couple hours later, I vomited a little in my mouth.

Mini Picasso

This is a picture our budding artist drew which he titled Pete (a friend of ours). If I was forced to qualify his work at this point in his life I think I'd have to say his style is somewhere between surrealist and impressionistic in nature.

File Under: For Real?!

Here's a story from the campaign trail that boggles my mind. Whether you're a fan of politics or not (Dave and I rather enjoy watching the debates, in fact it makes me feel downright all patriotically warm and fuzzy inside) you have to admit that these, I guess I'll loosely use the term protesters, make for a disturbingly interesting window into a minority view point. I mean for real? People still believe that crap? A woman's place is ironing shirts. Really? When was that ever the case?

Now don't get me wrong. I occasionally like to iron a shirt or two myself. Very occasionally. But to have to iron while running the country makes it feel too limiting. I mean shouldn't they demanded her to iron with one hand, cook with the other, while slinging a baby and teleconferencing with world leaders? Why just limit it to ironing? I expect a little more out of my president.

Irving Berlin I Ain't

A classic I liked to sing...

Leave the Rent Colette

The actual title of this Prince song is Little Red Corvette but when you're a kid, you don't really think about the words, you just dance along. The embarrassing part is that I didn't realize I had been singing it wrong until I was like 17.