Lisa and Owen taking a nap - both weren't feeling too good lately... 

After several complaints...

There will be NO toenail-removal pics posted to this blog. Since we're so full of Owen-y goodness, it was decided that gross shots of my toes had no place here. You can stop squinting when you open this page - the pictures won't be here!

For those of you unaware, I had my big toenails removed on March 22nd...

What do you get with four guys and two hours of sweating? Well, if you live my life, you get your hottub moved across town and into your backyard. Doesn't it just look like our decks were BUILT for this thing? 

Owen sitting up in our bed - although you can't really tell, because he's wearing a sleepsack... 

Gleefully stolen from Peri

who gleefully NICKED it from Crash:

Make your own South Park character!

Here's South Park Higgy...

Yes, he's tired-looking, wearing a headset (I have a lot of time on conference calls) but still has a beer!

Make your own character here!

A bit of a blurry shot, but I got his smile at last! 

Owen has discovered mirrors. I love the look on his face! 

We then went for Mexican food - during which, Arwen showed us her patented "nostril grab" maneuver..... 

Gene would "fly" Owen in to Arwen's face. It worked fine until he actually headbutted her!  

Gene is grooving on being a new dad as well (Arwen was born in July 2005.) It looks like Owen is more interested in the beer than in being held.... 

We drove up to Truckee CA to meet with our friends Gene and May (and their daughter Arwen.) They wanted a chance to meet Owen (and do a little skiing at the same time!) 

We're off to meet up with Gene, May, Arwen and Aunt Joan

My good friend Gene is skiing in Tahoe this week - and we're going to go meet up with him, his wife and daughter in Truckee, CA. We're also going to meet his Aunt Joan, who first introduced Gene to J.R.R Tolkien! Very exciting stuff. Will post pictures tomorrow.

It got COLD over the weekend, so we bundled the little guy up - doesn't he look snug? 

Then Owen hangs out with Dad for a little bit.... 

Owen and mom hanging out in Pete's office. Note the dragons playing "Houses and Humans" in the background! 

Gleefully stolen from Deon..

is THIS interesting little site. You do a sketch, submit it, then get a sketch from someone else!

This shot cracks me up - that orange fish has my son hypnotized... 

It's TUMMY TIME! - actually, here it looks like he's picking out a book instead of playing... 

Then later, we practice standing on Dad's crotch.... 

Totally conked out.... 

Nothing like a nap on a boppy after a hard day of spitting up on Mom and Dad... 

I'm a total Simpsons nerd...

so I find THIS absolutely brilliant!

*gleefully stolen from Dave Barry's blog*

Yeah, it's pretty comfy in Dad's arms... 

Then it's time to sit with Dad for a while... 

This shot cracked me up. It's like he's doing the hand-jive or something... 

Napping out at Sam's Club... 

And after some more playing, it's time for a nap on Dad... 

Especially when he tries to figure out what's on it. FYI - this is my commemorative shirt from the old rugby stadium in Cardiff - The Arms Park. They tore it down and put up the Millenium Stadium instead.  

So yesterday was St David's Day, so I was wearing a red shirt. Kinda gives Owen a freaky look....  

Gleefully stolen from Melodie...

Are my World Map and State Maps. You can generate your own here!

Conclusions :
1. Hey, there IS a Mid-West... One of these days I'll really have to see it.
2. It really is a big world out there - most of my visits were when I was a child.
3. I'd love to go back to some of these places and see how it's changed. Especially KL.

Why is it...

That an infant sleeping like a log in your arms will immediately wake up and scream when placed in his crib? No matter how gently you do it, no matter if you put a heated rice sack in there for warmth, no matter if you stand over it and go "SHHHH" until you run out of breath and pass out - none of this will work.

Some of the sounds, I swear you'd think we were torturing him...

My worst moment to date: I was clipping Owen's nails yesterday while Lisa was feeding him. Those things can get like razor blades, so we try to tag-team him to get it done quicker. I misjudged one thumb nail and dug into the tip of his thumb by mistake. A tiny pinpoint of blood and a little line on the flesh were all that you could see - but he screamed his head off! My heart sunk and I felt like the worst father on the face of the planet. I'd CUT my little baby boy! Talk about feeling crappy.