Ella The Talking Baby!

Grandma and the obviously happy girl...

Learning how to sit upright on her own!


Boo!

I love this picture.

Good times!

How can anyone resist this face?!?!

Now, without further adieu, here is my first attempt at posting a video (via YouTube). Hopefully this works! Just click the button in the middle of the image to play (for those who don't know!). Video courtesy of Martini.

An Apple A Day...

Today was Ella's 3-month doctors appointment. She now weighs 12.4lbs and is 22.25 inches long! She was such a trooper - she was smiling and giggling the entire time, until, of course, the shots were administered. At which point she gave a little shriek of annoyance, and then started to smile again. No bad reactions this time!

Reading my buddy Josh's Blog made me start to get my ass in gear to sort out Ella's US Passport. We are doing that one first, and once it gets in the works, we shall get her UK Passport (we have to send all sorts of stuff to the UK Embassy to get that one!). I shall attach Ella's first Passport photo - what a photogenic face, eh?


Oh, and LETS GO METS!!! Game 7, tomorrow night. Then, WORLD SERIES on Saturday!!! Hopefully...

Pic-O-Rama

Goin' for a walk!

Momma and Ella - both ready for surgery in their scrubs!

Getting Our Money's Worth

Here's me when I was a wee lad wearing my bunny outfit...and Ella wearing the very same outfit! Now THAT'S getting our money's worth! 30 yrs worth of use!

Newsflash!

Ella finally slept through the night last night!!!! 7pm til 5:30am!!! HALLELUJAH!!!! Let's hope this continues....

She loves her daddy!

When You're Smiling...

So, today was the first day I got to look after Ella all alone while mommy went to work! We had a good time, as you can see from the following photos - we ate (ok, I ate), we drank, we laughed, we cried (ok, she cried), we puked (again, she did, not me)...was an eye-opener for sure! I didn't get to relax the whole day, so I can definitely see how Angela has been living these past couple of months and it gives me even more respect for her and makes me prouder of her than ever.

Oh, also, speaking of smiling, me and Lenny went to see Jackass Number 2 tonight, and it had me laughing pretty much straight through for an hour and a half. If you are into mindless humor involving poo and people getting hurt, definitely check it out!

Reflections

Ecstatic!

She loves this firefly...

Giggling!

Mets Clinch!!

2006 NL East Champs - NY METS BABY!

Mo' Fotos!

The weather was fine today, so I decided to go for a run on the boardwalk.

Grandpa Marty with the princess

Grandma Karen and the little supermodel-in-training...look at that glance!

"Holy crap, I can't believe I have half of this lunatic's genes..."

*Giggles!*

A bit drooly in her new hat! (Thanks again Rachel!)

Look at those blue eyes - just like her momma!

Loungin'...

A Whole Lotta Love

Today was Susan and Dave's wedding day - it was a stunning affair, very posh, and we had a lovely time. Saw some friends from vet school that I hadn't seen in years - it was so great seeing them, I wish I could do so more often! Also, Michelle and Rachel came over to meet Ella last night - it is always lovely to have them over. Angela's mum, stepdad and sister came over thursday night to meet little Ella as well, they are leaving tomorrow, and we will be sad to see them go. I will attach a mish-mash of photos - I am really exhausted (the 4 double shots of flavored vodka in 10 minutes time isnt helping to keep me awake), so this may sound a bit disjointed...but, too bad. I can do what I want BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Ella's nursery...finally finished!

Getting so big!!

Angela, Me, Michelle and Rach in an unfortunately blurry photo at the wedding! (Michelle and Rach - when you read this, PLEASE email me some of your wedding photos!)

Can ya feeeeeeeeeeel the love?!? I can.

There they are...the happy couple!

A bit clearer...

Me in my new pimp-suit.

Angela's sister Diane, Stepdad Nick, Mum Shiela, Me in some bizarre pose (please don't ask - I do NOT have a stick shoved up my ass), my beautiful wife.

R.I.P. Crocodile Hunter

"Steve Irwin, the hugely popular Australian television personality and environmentalist known as the "Crocodile Hunter," was killed Monday by a stingray during a diving expedition. He was 44.

Irwin was filming an underwater documentary on the Great Barrier Reef in northeastern Queensland state when he was stung, Sydney's The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported on its Web site.

He collapsed at Batt Reef, near Low Isle and the resort town of Port Douglas, Queensland state police said in a statement. Port Douglas is about 1,260 miles north of Brisbane, the state capital.

A rescue helicopter rushed to the scene but Irwin had died, the statement said.

Queensland ambulance service spokesman Bob Hamil confirmed that a diver had been killed by a stingray off Lowe Isles Reef and said cause of death appeared to be a "stingray strike to the chest."

Stingrays have flat bodies and tails with serrated spines, which contain venom and can cause cuts and puncture wounds. The creatures are not aggressive and injury usually occurs when a swimmer or diver accidentally steps on one." - Associated Press


Poor bastard. Figures that he would die while fucking around with stingrays rather than getting his head chomped off by a massive croc. And you just know it wasn't an accident either, he had to have been trying to give the fucking thing a hug or a kiss or something. How do we know this? He got stung in the CHEST. Not the foot or ankle. The chest. So he was trying to be cute for his documentary by slapping a wet one on this poor stingray, and WHAM, right in the chest. Can you blame the stingray? I would try and get him off me by any means possible too. You have to feel bad for his kids though. Notice, I said "kids" not "wife and kids" because his wife was a willing participant in all of his stupid tv shows, so she had to know that he was risking his life daily. Now their kids get to grow up without a dad. Well done, Steve.

Farewell Andre...

I have very few memories of high school that I truly cherish. There is one, however, that I will never forget, and it has been brought back to the forefront of my mind today.

During my Aunt Audrey's wedding at a fancy restaurant in Manhattan, word had been going around that Andre Agassi was dining downstairs with his then wife Brooke Shields. My cousin Aimee was, at that time, completely obsessed with tennis and Andre was top of her list of crushes. This was, I think, in 1994 or 1995, so it was basically during Andre's heyday. Myself, my drunk-ass girlfriend and my sister decided to go downstairs to see if the hype was true. We didn't want to disturb them, and we had no intention of walking up to their table or anything, we just wanted to see if they were there. So, we walked down, and as we approached the restaurant area, they were up from their table and about to leave. As they walked toward us, I decided to say hello. Andre was extremely courteous while Brooke was pulling him to leave, not even acknowledging the 18yr old star-struck kid standing there. Andre shook my hand and I was just in awe. I asked him a simple favor - I told him about Aimee and asked if he would wave to her. I walked with him towards the door, and just at that moment Aimee was walking down the stairs. Now, I know this was 11 or 12 years ago, but I remember the next part so clearly...I was standing behind him. I tapped him on the shoulder and pointed up to Aimee and said, "That's her." He looked at her, smiled and waved. I'll never forget the look on Aimee's face as I thought she was going to collapse and fall down the stairs (she didn't). I thanked him, and he and his bitch wife left. I am glad he dumped her ass a few years later.

From then on, I became an Andre fan. He was very kind to me and my cousin when he could have easily breezed out of there or had me arrested for touching his shoulder. He is a class act, and I enjoyed watching him win tennis tournaments. It was a bit difficult watching him struggle today, during his last ever professional tournament. He retired today, after 21 years as a pro. That's a long time in any sport, let alone one as physically demanding as tennis. We saw his trademark "four corner salute" for the last time today. I think the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium is still applauding as I write this nearly 12 hours later.


So, I just wanted to post this, for posterity, that I will be sad to see Andre retire, but I am sure his family and his body will thank him.

His final interview was eloquent. Who would have thought that this guy, who started his career with his long hair and "image is everything" slogan would end up this way? Not only did all of the players applaud him as he entered the locker room, but the PRESS gave him a standing ovation at the conclusion of his final press conference. How often do the media salute a star athlete in that way?? He said a few words before he left the court for the last time:


"The scoreboard said I lost today, but what the scoreboard doesn't say is what it is I have found. And over the last 21 years, I have found loyalty. You have pulled for me on the court and also in life. I've found inspiration. You have willed me to succeed, sometimes even in my lowest moments. And I've found generosity. You have given me your shoulders to stand on to reach for my dreams, dreams I could have never reached without you. Over the last 21 years, I have found you and I will take you and the memory of you with me for the rest of my life. Thank you."

Smile!

Mom, me, Ella (snuggled up in the Baby Bjorn carrier for the first time!) and Angela at the Boardwalk

Prelude to a smile...

Yay!!!!!! A real one!

Bathtime/Snoozin'

Ella's last bath - actually caught her NOT screaming!

Still being cooperative...!

On her way out with Mommy!


Naptime with Daddy!

The Nightlife

Tonight was the first night that Angela allowed me to take one of the late-night feedings off her hands so she can get some well earned sleep. She already did the 1am feeding, so when Ella started fussing at 4:30am, I hopped out of bed ready to roll...

I warmed up her bottle and started feeding her - she did great, drank it all down, burped, wee'd in her diaper, so I changed that, everything was great. But she wasn't looking at all sleepy. So I thought I would warm up some more milk for her, maybe she was still hungry...? Tried to feed her, not interested. Tried singing to her and rocking her...she started screaming (not that I blame her...have you heard me sing?). I tried swaddling her and giving her a pacifier...she squirmed around and started squawking and making monkey sounds. I tried laying her on my chest to relax her...she grabbed 2 tiny fistfuls of chest hair and yanked. HARD. It is now 6am and she is swinging in her wonderful, life-saving, best-gift-ever, automatic swinging device. Hiccuping. No sleepy for daddy.

As this minor episode unfolded, I could feel the acid building in the pit of my stomach as the frustration mounted deep inside of me. I can only imagine how Angela feels when trying to deal with this screaming little nutburger when she is alone, deprived of sleep and food, with sore nipples from having been chewed up only minutes before. It took all I had not to call Angela in and have her take over, because I had no idea what Ella could possibly want! In the end, however, I had made up my mind to deal with it on my own so Angela could get some sleep. Besides, in a month or so, a day or 2 a week it will be me and Ella alone while mommy is at work, so I better get used to dealing with it by myself!!!

Brucey goes home in a couple of hours, so no more sleep is imminent for me...but Ella is now sleeping, and I am going to post some more photos of the little princess/banshee.

Now THAT'S what I am talkin' about! Asleep in the god-sent swingy thing!

All dressed up with nowhere to go...

New family photo!

Requests?

After several "requests" (i.e. demands) for new photos of the little 'un, I have finally gotten around to getting some pics on the computer, so here ya go! Some quick updates in Ella's development: She is rapidly become more human-like and less pet-like - she is staying awake and alert a lot more, she adores being on her back on the changing pad or on the bed, at which time she squawks like a duck, makes monkey sounds, giggles and smiles. She loves swinging in her swing while staring at the little floating animals above. She also enjoys being in her vibrating bouncy chair. She still wakes up twice a night for feedings and diaper changes, but the feedings are going quicker, and she fills her diaper about 10-12 times daily (down from 20!). Angela and her are settling into nice routines with feeding, and although both are recovering from thrush (i.e. yeast infections), they are kicking ass. I am being allowed to feed her some pumped milk ~1x a day, and I enjoy doing so - she stares intently into my eyes as she sucks down her meal, it is a very cool experience. I think she is starting to recognize us more; she gazes at us frequently and you can almost sense that she knows who we are. Both of us can't wait til the day that her movements become more than flailing reflexes and turn into outstretched arms awaiting big hugs.

A lovely bracelet made for Ella by Apryl, our co-worker. She's a bit small for it yet...

One of the few times I have been allowed to feed the little one.

Long lost relative of Sideshow Bob??

Funny face!

Entraced by her momma.

Dressed up in her new Greek dress, courtesy of Aunt Melissa and Uncle Daniel!!!

Tango, anyone?

Well, hellllllllllo!

I have no idea what caption to write for this one - suggestions?

Trying...to...focus........can't...seem...to...focus.......

Pretty girl and her pretty momma.