Apples and Pennies

This weekend, we took a trip to the Apple Store.  For fun?  Not really.  Let me rewind.  

A couple of days ago I picked up my computer and noticed this sound - like something was sliding around inside of the thing.  I looked at you, blinking adorably at me.  

"Jack, did you put something in my computer?"

(No hesitation.)  "Yep."

"What did you put in there?"

(Adorable face.)  "A penny."

"Ok.  Well.  Never do that again, ok?"

That was a couple of days ago, and I've been ignoring the coin rattling around in my best friend's guts.  Denial.  But ignoring it became impossible when your dad unknowingly tried to insert a DVD into the disc drive and all sorts of horrible sounds erupted from the thing.  Fast forward to our trip to the Apple Store.

I hate that place.  Are they trying to intimidate the customers by outnumbering them with employees?  Sweet Jesus, never walk in their wearing a blue shirt carrying an iPad - someone will attack you with nerd questions, even though you're a toddler.  It's also impossible to figure out where you're supposed to buy something because the Apple Store is too cool for a normal cash register.  No, at the Apple Store they use invisible laser air technology to ring you up.  Whatever.  Thank goodness for this:       

It kept you busy half the time we were there.  You occupied the other half with "can we leave NOW" questions.  

Trust me son, I wanted to leave, but they decided that before they open my hard drive to remove the penny and Monsters and Aliens, I should back up my computer.  Because I never have.  Because I didn't even know what that meant.  And because the penny might murder all of your baby photos.  

So we left the Apple Store $200 poorer, but at least there's still a penny in my MacBook.  And no, I did not purchase that Marc by Marc Jacobs computer sleeve seen in the above picture even though I really, really, really, really wanted to.

Signing Time

I'm trying to teach you (and myself) some sign language. Rachel Coleman teaches American Sign Language through a series of music videos, and they're fantastic. Check out her YouTube channel here.



Rachel's first daughter was born deaf. And her second daughter was born with cerebral palsy. Talk about overcoming challenges. It's amazing how, as parents, we adapt to whatever situation we find ourselves in with our children. "Normal" can mean a million different things. I hope you always remember that, Jack Attack.

If you're interested parents, you can read more about Rachel's story here.

We all sing with the same voice!

This just made me seriously happy:



I was showing you Sesame Street videos on YouTube while you were in your highchair, trying to distract you enough to eat ANYTHING (you've been sick, you're no longer into food), and I came across this video. The song came flooding back to me almost immediately, and when the chorus started, I practically flew out of my chair in a joyous, melodic movement.

"AND WE SING IN HAR-MON-EEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

Beautiful.

These kids must be like 50 now.

When life gives you lemons...

Yesterday, you sucked on a lemon and loved it. I refuse to turn that moment into a famous YouTube video, but I do not refuse to exploit others that have. Enjoy...

Baby GO!

Last night, we took you out for dinner because we have babysitter issues (we're afraid of them). We sat next to a couple who left their child at home, but were so obviously anxious about it and had such a difficult time enjoying their free time that they talked to us about you the entire evening. This may have annoyed us if they hadn't led us to the greatest discovery of all times... Baby Go!


It's an app for your Blackberry. Moms and dads, DOWNLOAD IT! That is, if your child is like mine, and likes to call random contacts from your address book or, on occasion, 911. This locks your phone and sends calls directly to voicemail when the app is in use. Your kid presses letters, and a little voice says the letter out loud. Or says an animal that begins with that letter. It's educational! It's amazing. It's FREE!

Thank you Awkward Couple Not Enjoying Your Date Night, thank you.

copy that

Update on yesterday's plan:

It didn't work.

It's probably for the best. I'm not sure how many more times I can watch Joe Biden nod and Nancy Pelosi blink. Tacos for dinner every night would make my other blog pretty pointless and boring. While I do have a love/hate relationship with showering, I'm not sure I could rock the mom dreadlock look in Santa Monica. And, as it turns out, Blythe Danner lives in New York, which would complicate our attempt at running into her daily.

So, back to a life of unpredictability and very little sleep. It's exciting!

Oh, and by the way, the most recent message you've typed into my blackberry:

CCPOOP.

Naturally, I think you must be reminding yourself to copy POOP on an email. Why are you emailing POOP? I don't know, I'm just your mother. I'm here to support, and not to judge.

iPoop

Apple unveiled their latest toy that we all MUST HAVE until a better one comes out in a year. It's called the iPad.


I'm only telling you this because, by the time you read this, it will likely compare to the Walkman in my life. What's that you say, history no longer recognizes the Walkman it's so old?! Yeah, yeah.

Well, I'm sure you're reading this in disbelief that the iPad was once something NEW. I've been in your position. My mom thought color TV was new once. Which leads me to wonder, what on EARTH will be new in your day and age?? Only time will tell. Unless, it's what everyone thinks the future holds... Flying Cars.


I can hear you now. You're at college, we're coming to visit, you tell your roommate... "My parents are DRIVING. Driving, in a car, ON THE ROAD. They're so ancient."

Yeah well, flying cars are dangerous. Look what a flock of geese did to a frickin' airplane!!