"Going to the park with Mom and Dad... they don't want my flawless baby skin to get burnt:-)"

Dan's mom's birthday is today so this is the picture we sent with her card.

Russell's new toy was given to us by the tenants upstairs:-) It was so nice of them to think of us when their son outgrew it! Russ kicks the blue part and the toy plays a song and the parts move.

"I love you, Mom."

"I love my swing!"

Taking a little break during tummy time to enjoy a suck on the fist (he hasn't found his fingers yet but loves the fist).

April (from SD) and Cassandra (from Seattle- moving to Hawai'i) came to visit on Friday and they stayed until Sunday. It was great to see them again and visit in person rather than over the phone. Dan had to work over the weekend but he was able to visit with them when he got home:-)

Downtown SF- very busy and a lot to see!

"Eating a little candy while watching 'Dreamer' (Kurt Russell, Dakota Fanning)... a 'feel good' movie but not bad for the first movie I've seen!"

"Every morning I get to lay in the big bed which is so nice because it has a lot of room and is really soft. Mom puts me here because I like it and I can see her get ready for the new day."

Story from my e-mail... for all women

A woman, renewing her driver's license at the Motor Vehicle's office, was asked by the clerk to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. "What I mean is," explained the clerk, "do you have a job or are you just a...?"

"Of course I have a job," snapped the woman. "I'm a Mom."

"We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it," said the clerk emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient and possessed of a high sounding title like, "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar."

"What is your occupation?" she probed. What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out. "I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations."

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest,"just what you do in your field?"

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and in the field,(normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters, (the whole darned family) and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money."

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up and personally ushered me to the door. As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another Mom."

Does this make grandmothers "Senior Research associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations" and great grandmothers "Executive Senior Research Associates"? I think so!!!! I also think it makes Aunts "Associate Research Assistants."