Beau:  WEEK ONE

Beau:  ONE YEAR

I can't believe how fast the time has flown by.  He was literally just born.  Well, the baby weight is all off.  That only took an entire frickin' year.  It's only because Shep is into EVERYTHING and I have no time to sit and shove carbs into my mouth.  

In case you can't tell, Beau is an exact duplicate of Chris physically, but has my personality.

Beau even has Chris' ears and hands.

Every time something comes to me worth writing down, I don't have the time to do it.  Darn it all.  So, here I am, time to write, no inspiration.

Beau's first birthday has come and gone.  There were lots of friends and family at our house, a wagon full of puppies and fire truck.  Good times if you ask me.  Beau loved it.  He slept 12 hours that night.

Pictures of his bash to follow.

The dog days of summer are being spent at splash pads since our local pool is CLOSED DURING THE FUCKING WEEK.  This is a hot-ass button for me.... no pun intended.  Get this:

Chris and I paid $200 to join Cypress Cove.  It's great:  splash pad, zero depth pool....  Great for kiddies Beau's age.  So, we're cruising along July then BAM!  August hits.  They don't have enough staff to keep the damn place open Monday-Friday.  WTF.  So what if all the college-aged lifeguards need to go back to Greek Row.  Find some late season peeps to police the pool and be done with it.  So now, I hit up the splash pads in the area for some heat relief.  Its more of an annoyance than anything.  I will not be joining Shit's Cove next summer.  Count on that.  Write that down.

I'm pumped for fall.  Bring on the mums, crispy weather, Bears games and Yankee Candle Leaves scent.  Did I mention turtlenecks.  Yeah.  Turtlenecks.

BYSTANDER EFFECT.

My pal KKR mentioned this in her most recent blog post, so I feel it necessary to add my two-sense.  Bystander effect is when no one does anything because they think someone else will:

The bystander effect is a social psychological phenomenon that refers to cases in which individuals do not offer any means of help to a victim when other people are present. The probability of help is inversely related to the number of bystanders.

In other words, you're either part of the solution or part of the problem.  Plain and simple.  Think about this for a moment.  One or the other.  On the bus or off the bus.  I'm always on that mother f'in bus.  Example, my mom was visiting this week and while driving home from some errands, we saw a woman with a broken down car stuck at an intersection.  There was already a gentleman trying to push her car out of the way.  Obviously, he wasnt having much success.  I kept asking my mom if we should pull over and help.  With a starving and exhausted toddler in the car, I called 911.  If I didn't have Shep, my ass would've been pushing alongside that fella.

So, ask yourself.... are you solution-willing or an asshole?

Beau received his first birthday gift.  Mimi bought him a pair of "Polish moccasins" from a European children's shoe store.  Well worth it.  The kid is "sure as shit" with his steps now.  He will be walking in the next few days.  No doubt.

I watched a few episodes of "Friday Night Lights" and am re-in love with Tim Riggins.  I need not explain myself.

I wish my parents lived closer.  4 1/2 hours isn't that far of a drive however, with a 1 year old, it seems like an eternity.  Each time we make the trek back to the Hills, the journey seems farther and farther.  

Dad's here for a few nights-- I wonder what "life skill" he will teach Beau.  When Dad visits Carrie's house, he normally teaches Gertie-Beth a "skill" such as how to spit or blow a whistle.  Maybe "pull my finger" will be the next in Gert's socialization?

I'm tired today.  Shep has been getting up at least once a night crying-- not sure why.  I'm going to guess its teething; the kid just had all 4 molars surface.  That can't feel good.  Doctors need to invent some kind of super potent painkiller (non-opiate/habit forming) for little ones to make them sleep more comfortably when teething.... or to give mom and dad a break once in a while.