Josie loves Daddy and sleeping and smiling

Here's a picture capturing Josie's sleep smile. She's been doing this for a long time...we are getting more "awake" social smiles now, too (see below).






I couldn't quite reduce all the redeye in this pic, but it was too cute not to post.

Zeeb needs love

Zeeb has been trying all sorts of tricks lately to get some attention.

Swingin' on the Flippity Flop

This week we bought Josie a swing. That, plus some insomnia on my part, resulted in another video.

It's a real break with my previous work, in that it doesn't end with a cat, or the "World's Best Kitty" graphic.





The title is stolen from the "Grunge Hoax" of 1992.

Crib fun

Josie is getting used to hanging out in the crib.

Here she is smiling at her 'Sophie la Girafe' toy. It squeaks and is gnawable. She loves it.







This is how we keep Josie warm in the crib. No stuffed animals or babies were harmed in the making of this photo.







The sock monkey gets in on the shot.

Running

Yesterday I went running for the first time in a long time. It was certainly the first major attempt at exercise since Josie was born, not to mention one of the few times I've been outside on my own since then for reasons other than doctor's visits.

I ran a little at the beginning of the pregnancy (in fact, it turns out that I ran some long training runs and a half marathon back in late July/early August in the early weeks before I realized I was pregnant. Whoops!), but this petered out to occasional rounds on the elliptical machine at the gym and then, near the end, not much exercise besides walking.

Now, hopefully, I won't have to feel so wistful when I see the many other runners out there. And maybe when Josie is bigger I can get her into a jog stroller and we can go running together.

PS That's an ID tag in the picture above, in case anyone is wondering what is on my shoe. It's an old shot of my foot from marathon training a few years ago. It identified me as being part of the training group and also served as ID in case of emergency. I've seen falls, crashes, illness and even a heart attack while out running--always a good idea to carry identification just in case.

Smiling

This seems to be the week that Josie is beginning to smile. Here are some shots from the changing table earlier today.

Josie's cheeks are so big, they don't always fit in the frame completely.











Sometimes her grin is kinda goofy-lookin'.








Cootchie-coo











Happy baby.

Two thumbs way up

With the Cannes film festival's end yesterday, it seems only fitting to honor an up-and-coming new director whose work has been receiving critical acclaim here on this blog. Here are two early selections from his oeuvre. You'll notice some of the same themes still evident in his work today.

These two pre-Josie masterpieces also offer a rare glimpse of this influential filmmaker's original costars together. Behold a breathtakingly beautiful Isa Butzbaugh at the height of her career, before her early demise deprived film lovers everywhere of her talent, and her renowned sister, Zeeb Butzbaugh, the grand dame of SimpRoss, Inc. cinema then and now.

Without further ado:

dc hates cats


cat love

Josie's ninth week

Josie turned nine weeks old on Tuesday of this week. She's now weighing in at over 10 pounds. Here are a bunch of pix from this week in Josie:


Josie is starting to smile this week. Here's a glimmer of what's to come...couldn't quite capture her in full-on grin mode yet, but we think it's coming. Stay tuned.


Oooooh....I'm so vewy angwy!


This picture was included mainly to document the "US Weekly" issue in the background. I've been reading to Josie from it so she can keep up on celebrity news.


Josie loves mommy.


Josie loves daddy.


I call this one "demon baby." I could have used the red-eye reduction, but then that title wouldn't have worked.


Artsy tummy time shot.

Josephine and Enihpesoj

Quality time with Josie and Zeeb

Josie on the Move

Here's another movie.

It was a troubled production from the start. The star of the film kept passing out during filming. The kangaroo wrangler walked off the set. But was it worth it? You bet it was!

(Note: when talking about making a movie, it is very easy to start talking like Robert Evans.)




Music: "Mashed Potatoes USA" by James Brown.

Mother's Day

Lob-stah attack II: Don't go back in the water

You may remember the original still from lob-stah attack I, the original lob-stah attack. In this shot, Josie is just over 2 weeks old.










Here she is at almost 8 weeks, chilling out with her lob-stah pal.








Nice lob-stah.

Weekend highlights

You can't ignore Solana's techno.








Benjamin's recently published tour de force, "Dedicated to Myself."











Josie napping in Aunt Kathy's arms.








And Josie being adored by Aunt Joan and Grandma.

Simpson family gathering

Three cousins hanging out.








Cousin Solana has a baby doll (Name? Josie 2). Here Josie 1 and Josie 2 share the boppy.







Josie 2 is napping in the crib.








Josie 2 and her mommy are ready to roll.








Daddy has a chance to hold Josie 1.

From the week in Josie

An aerial view of Josie lounging in the crib...thanks for the visually stimulating mobile, Beth!







Josie thinks she's being followed.








Cartoon Josie? Drunk Josie? Melting Josie?








Josie and the pussy cat. They're doing their best to ignore each other.

Still Sleeping, Humboldt Park

Growing season

We took Josie to the plant store today.
As usual, she slept through most of the journey.

New sweater

Here are a few shots of Josie wearing the sweater that Beth knit for her which made its fashion debut today. It *almost* fits her. It's a gray, dreary day, though...perfect for wearing a cozy, roomy sweater.

I think Josie's feet look pretty cute in this picture.








She's almost smiling in this picture and possibly even winking, but I think it's just a reaction to the light coming in from the window.






OK, so I took a bunch of pictures of her in the sweater before we headed out on an errand. In this one she's saying "Just take the picture already, will ya?"






Got your nose!