Odds and Ends

So my photo editor was going through the past couple weeks of photos and we've been up to a lot of random stuff so thought I'd share.

Mae and I went deep sea diving in the tub.

We've been doing laundry basket rides upstairs, taking turns being the driver.

Mae and I made a Six Flags theme park in our backyard while Pax took his first swing on the swing.

Paxton got his first haircut. Just a trim off the top swiping the original mohawk hair he had when he was born as it was turning into a nasty comb-over.

Pax giving himself a little comb when it was done.

And then last night Mae decided we should do our best Kermit D. Frog impersonations. As you'll see, mine needs some work but Mae might be getting a call from Jim Henson's folks soon.

Father's Day... My Day

Well, if you've been following lately you know Fin is in Disney World and she left me - "Ralph" - in charge of the blog while she's gone.

So since I have the floor here I'd just like to take a few moments because, well, it's Father's Day, so rumor has it I can do what I want today. And what I want to do is spend some time honoring all three of my dogs (and this is the part where the girls go "whoof whoof!")

Each one, such an individual.

There's Finley Ames, for whom this blog was birthed. Smart as a whip, often a full blown adult emotionally and a wonderfully sensitive soul. The bond forged from years of "midnight parties" (nights wide awake due to ear infections) with Fin will forever go unbroken. She's well aware that wherever she goes in this life, and no matter who she meets, she will never know anyone who loves her more than her Dad (sorry, dude who has the task of marrying this one, you're forever in second place). Fin knows me inside and out - often offering me her last bite of chocolate donut or pizza, or asking if I need a back scratch - and it's kinda nice to have a little person always looking out for me, literally caring for me when five year olds are supposed to be thinking only of themselves. Constantly proud of her, this kid and I are as thick as thieves.

Ahhh, Mabel Jane, no matter the room I'm in it immediately gets brighter when this breath of fresh air enters. It wasn't til she was two years old that I learned the name "Mabel" means "Loveable." Unfathomably appropriate. This one spends 94% of her time kissing and hugging people, and her ability at a young age to put other people's happiness before her own has always made me smile. The comedian of our crew, her theatrics keep us in stitches, and her love of music (you can't drive one block without her screaming "turn up the music!") reminds me of someone else I know. This one is a chip off the old block and there is not a person on earth I enjoy being around more.

Little Pax - the man with the mohawk came in with a bang and though we're just getting to know each other he has already reintroduced to our world a wonderful and important gift - perspective. He gave us a run for our money back on May 11, but he now knows how tough a bird his momma is, so he's been on his best behavior since. Looking so forward to watching him grow into a little dude and thankful that him coming out as a boy will give Dad a little break from the estrogen jungle as the years go by.

And there'd be no Father's Day without, simply put, the love of my life. Appropriately standing in the middle of these two, she is the glue in this family that keeps us going. For who she is, this day is as much hers as mine.

My three amigos, my three blind mice, the three little pigs... whatever you want to call them, they bless me not just this Father's Day, but every day. Now Finley, GET BACK HOME FROM DISNEY WORLD - YOUR DAD MISSES YOU!!!

And the winner of the Great American Hair-Off is...

So I had this idea after I saw that Pax had unbelievable hair.

I had my photo editor go back into the archives and pull out some old photos of  Mabel and me at around the same age as Pax because I remembered I, too, had great hair and so did Mae.

So the objective here is to see who had/has the BEST hair upon arrival into this great journey that we call life (I know, pretty deep).

So, here goes.

First is little old me. Yes, you can see, filled in nicely all around. Had a nice bob-thing going with a really tight part across the front. All around good stuff.

Next is Mae. Also filled in nicely all over... very chia pet'ish. Outstanding movement from mid-head sending everything center-forward straight towards her eyes and everything center-back straight towards the skies. Well done, Mae. I'd say at this point you're in the lead.

Then comes Little Man Pax. Dude came out sporting a legit mohawk and the thing hasn't gone away yet. Here are two really early pics from a few days after he was born. I mean, we couldn't get this thing to go down if we tried... brill cream and a hat won't work on this bad boy.

I'd say at this point it's neck and neck. Mae's got a party on top of her noggin and when people say, "Oh, he was just born cool" I'm pretty sure they're talking about Paxton's hair.

Which leads me to the tie-breaker. The back of the head is where you can often find someone who goes the extra mile.

And though Mae here has a really solid, really full head with a slight spinner on it out from the colic...

Well, Pax basically looks like either a golden peacock is sitting on his head or a yellow firework just got blown off the back of his neck.

So there you have it, folks. A massively close race but Pax takes the cake home with his golden colic explosion.

Don't worry about me for coming in third of three in these shenanigans. Mae often doesn't know her a$% from her elbow and Pax still needs his wiped so I'd say they might have beaten me in the hair game but I've definitely got a leg up in the game of life.

Ta Ta For Now,
Finley Ames