Once upon a time, I was a girl with a blog.  It was an etiquette blog, and I used a pen name so I could say whatever I wanted.  It's been five years since I launched Simple Etiquette.  (Time flies.  Like woah.)

Then, I became a girl with a blog and a baby.  But my blog wasn't about my baby, so I started another blog. Then, I was a girl with two blogs and a baby.

That's a busy girl.

So, I took the leap.  I got my own URL and stepped out from behind the pen name.  And just like that, two blogs are now one.  Introducing, www.ProperPaige.com!  (TA DA!)

I'll blog about etiquette there, so if you only read this to find out about Jack, you'll want to skim those posts.

I'll also blog about Jack there, so you'll still have lots of the cute.  I'll just use initials there, FYI. My boys will be known as D and J.

I'll be great.  I won't even say epic.  Because that's lame.  And it will not be lame.

Hope your day is full of trips to my kick ass new blog.  

Talk soon,

Heather

reflection

The other night, Jack chose, "Oh the Places You'll Go" as one of his books before bed.

The copy he chose is the one I did my Pinterest-magic to -- it bears notes and signatures from all of the daycare teachers he's had thus far.  I'll keep gathering these notes as he grows up.  It's sure to be a memorable keepsake and hard core tearjerker for years to come.

Anyway, despite the fact that book is always sort of trendy, have you read it lately?  Like, not in the ho hum way that we sometimes zip through books at story time.  As in, have you read it and thought about it lately?

I did.  And let me tell you.  Woah.

It says this:

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.Some windows are lighted. But mostly they're darked.A place you could sprain both you elbow and chin!Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?Or go around back and sneak in from behind?Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confusedthat you'll start in to racedown long wiggled roads at a break-necking paceand grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.The Waiting Place...

...for people just waiting.Waiting for a train to goor a bus to come, or a plane to goor the mail to come, or the rain to goor the phone to ring, or the snow to snowor waiting around for a Yes or a Noor waiting for their hair to grow.Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to biteor waiting for wind to fly a kiteor waiting around for Friday nightor waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jakeor a pot to boil, or a Better Breakor a sting of pearls, or a pair of pantsor a wig with curls, or Another Chance.Everyone is just waiting.

NO!That's not for you!

It really made me think.  And I liked it.  A little introspection and reflection for me, courtesy of Dr. Seuss, was much appreciated.

Hope you have some good reflection this weekend.

Talk soon,
Heather

update

We're cruising toward having a 2 1/2 year old in these parts.

Here is an update, of sorts:

Jack still really likes the Fresh Beat Band.  This show makes me smile and makes Durel want to stick a fork in his eye.  The fact that one of us can tolerate it seems about right for kids' shows.

Jack is a con artist.  If you tell him it's bedtime, he tends to develop a raging hunger, unquenchable thirst, or deep desire to cuddle on the couch with you.  Note:  All of these things do not involve taking a bath and going to bed.

Jack loves his daddy.  But, he prefers to call him Durel.  As in, this happened:

Jack:  Hi, Durel!
Durel:  Jack, call me Daddy.
Jack:  OK, Durel.

Jack is ticklish.

May you tickle with impunity today.

Talk soon,

Heather

maryland

I went to Maryland a few weeks ago.  I may have chosen Austin as my forever home, but I'll always be from Maryland.

This means several things.

1.  On any given day, I could lapse and pronounce the word "water" as if it's spelled "wooder."

2.  I will not eat a crab cake anywhere other than the Delmarva peninsula.

3.  I know what I am talking about when I say "Delmarva peninsula."

4.  I'm an Orioles fan.

5.  When the occasion presents itself, I do enjoy scrapple.

6.  I know what I'm talking about when I say "scrapple."

7.  I don't think it's weird to call everyone "hon."

I said I would take pictures while I was in Maryland.  I didn't, really.  But I did take a few pictures as proof of my seafood bender, and also a few flashback snapshots I found while at my parents' house.

Clockwise from top left:
I played field hockey, which is also a very Maryland thing to do.  I played badly.
Crab cake sammich.
My adorable mom as a bridesmaid in my aunt's wedding.  (That's not my dad.)
The best oysters I've ever had. Not even joking.  

Hope somebody calls you hon today.

Talk later,

Heather

ahoy, maties

Captain Jack wants ye all to have an AAAAARRRRRRGGGH kind of weekend.

Or he'll make ye walk the plank.

Look at that face.  He'll totally do it.

Hope your day is full of sequined pirate hats, and not a lot of plank walking.

Talk soon,
Heather