Adam Walks (with a little assistance)

Adam visits Papa and Yia Yia

Adam took us over to Papa and Yia Yia's house last Saturday morning to play.

Insanely Gate

I realize that this post is about a baby gate, but it's not often something so simple just blows me away with its usefulness.

The First Years Hands Free Gate has revolutionized our traffic flow with Adam. Toddlers don't get "no," and they don't get "stop," so we've resorted to becoming a gated community. When we were shopping for ways to create our walled garden, after exhausting our usual resources, we were still left without something to span the big entryway from our hall to the den.

Enter The First Years Hands Free Gate. By itself, it doesn't span the gap, but it does with its two extensions.

When you first get it out of the package, it looks like it's not going to work at all, because unlike some other baby gateage, it installs under high tension. It's hard to explain in words, but think of it, instead of coming like a "U", more like a "V" (except, of course, that the bottom is wider than a point... you see I told you this would be hard to explain...) You place the whole gate under tension, and it bends itself to the point where the swinging part is latched in place.

Here's the best part... it takes about 75-80 pounds of pressure to operate the footswitch for the gate... something Mommy and Daddy have no problem doing, but something Adam won't be able to do for years. We have the key, and it is us!

Going through the gate is like second nature for us now... even hands full isn't a problem, just step and knee through. And, since it's just held in place by pressure, if we needed to take it down, there'd be no holes in the wall or anything. Genius.

Many baby products try hard, and get it wrong. This one gets it right. Highly recommended, and a must for anyone with small creatures to contain.

There were no... survivors...

 

NASHVILLE, TN - Tonight, like almost every other night at the garage, was a tragedy.

Brentwood police are still stunned at the nightly carnage that happens at the Fisher Price garage on Carphilly Court. Each night, a multi-car pile-up occurs, usually at the bottom of the elevator shaft.

"People just can't be too careful at the garage. I mean, I've seen them zipping down the ramp shouting 'wheeeee!'... ripping past both floors like there wasn't even a curb," said officer Smallguy. "It's just not a safe place... there's no gate on the top or middle floors, and there's that gas pump at the bottom that's completely unattended. It's a tragedy in the making.

Motorists are urged to park at the FIsher Price garage with caution.

Adam at Fourteen Months

Getting pensive in my old age... 

triples report

Harris Teeter triples start today and run for a full week this time! Patrick went this morning before work and spent $11.82 and had $29.32 in coupons. See Kelly's site for coupon matchups.

Adam at 60 Weeks

(I did the math this time...)

today in USA Today

Although he's not quoted, he is pictured!

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-03-19-hymns-gospel_N.htm

book review

The Great Eight: How to Be Happy by Scott Hamilton

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
As a former figure skater, I loved how Scott related skating to life. I have always thought there are so many parallels. I also loved the perspective of someone who became a Christian later in life. There is something refreshing in his spiritual insight. Sometimes those of us who came to Christ as children become somewhat jaded in our outlook. The third thing I have in common with Scott is that we are both Tennesseans. Scott may have let the rest of the world in on the secret of what a great place Nashville is to live.



Scott had some people around him who gave him wise counsel as he achieved his success, and HE LISTENED to them. He realized that the Olympic Gold medal does not guarantee success or happiness, nor does it mean that the accolades will last forever. Scott knows it's not "all about him," and the world would be a better place if more people would realize this.


View all my reviews.

Adam at fifty-something weeks...

Is it time to go to church, Daddy?

UPDATE: According to timeanddate.com, Adam is 59 weeks old today. Why do the math when you've got the Internet, right?

parking place

Thanks to this, Adam got something I always wanted: the Fisher Price Little People Garage. I don't usually buy Adam toys, at least not new ones, but this was free and I wanted to play with it. Those of us who came along in the 70s remember the old school Fisher Price garage with the crank elevator, repair lift, and wooden, choking-hazard Little People. I think I was probably fascinated with it as a child because there weren't any parking garages in rural Kentucky.

The modern version does not come assembled (see pictures) and the ramp is a corkscrew, which generates greater speed for the included cars or whatever other objects your child sends down it. The two Little People that come with it are the androgenous tow truck driver and car repair person. I guess we will have to assign them genders. The elevator doesn't have a crank; it just has a lift handle on the outside, but it retains the old-school bell. Amazingly, the garage itself does not require any batteries, but the tow truck came with batteries for the annoying sound it makes. I think those batteries will get lost very soon. Overall, I like the new Racin' Ramps Garage, but I do miss the charm of the original.

Adam at 57 weeks

 

craft project

Lesson learned: when you put a one year-old's hand into blue clay, he wants to grab it.

Adam at 13 months

 

Mickey, this is how you get your picture taken...