More pics

No time to post, so here are pics! Marissa's birthday party courtesy of LL's mom and dad.

This was cute because she was past her nap time and got a bunny as a gift. She immediately jammed her fingers in her mouth in preparation of sleeping. 

Dad is also having a birthday, Saturday actually, and so I got a few gifts as well. Marissa needed to check them out!

My folks.

Auntie Lori.

Aunt Bee.

Marissa LOVED the noisemakers. Sooooo excited. 

Studio shot one.

Studio shot two.

When LL and I were headed to the Hawks game.

Just love this devilish look. WHAT am I going to get into next.....bwah-ha-ha-ha!!!

Happy Birthday Marissa!

It's late, so just pictures for now. Note to self: don't have Marissa open gifts first thing in the morning and she's not a big fan of cake. Interesting.....

She loves her balloon and in this cake picture I think is asking for "more" already through sign language. She didn't want "more" though. 

Looking a little tired with the bright flash.

Much happier moment from the day before.

Eating time is usually happy time!

I think she's pointing to herself saying "Me" which is what she does if you call out Marissa. Very cute.

Congratulations Joisey Ken!!!

Joisey Ken welcomed his second daughter into the world this morning! She's 7 lbs 4 ozs and almost 20" long. No name selected at the time of this writing, but come back for updates. All are doing well, but since it was another c-section, wife Dawn will be in the hospital a few days at least. Ken is now surrounded by women in the house...including their dog!!!

Okay, back to Marissa

Our little angel turns one in a week so it's probably time to start celebrating her. Actually, we celebrate her pretty much every day, but she makes it easy as she seems to do something adorable or learns something new every day. She really has "no" and "yes" and "more" (in sign language as well) down pat. The other morning I was pushing her around on her stuffed panda scooter and when I stopped she both said "more" and made the sign for more. Very cute.

In addition to words, she getting very good at animal noises as evidenced by this video (you may need to turn your sound up):

I tell ya, it's heard to not get super excited when I hear her responding like she does. Last night, after she went to bed, she started crying more than normal. When that happens, one of us will go in to console her, calm her down and put her back to bed. She's been sleeping through the night, so it seems to work well now. So I went in last night and she sees me coming through the door and she drops from a standing position in the crib to her tummy while crying "NO!" It was very cute, despite the clear indication that she wanted her mama. Anyway, I picked her up, calmed her down while we rocked in the chair (which really only takes a minute) and rocked a little longer to get her sleepy again. She went right down and was good for the rest of the night. Still, not the best welcoming for her ol'man. 

Laura snapped this picture of her as she was frustrated about getting her flashlight to work the way she wanted. So cute. Oh and she now says "Doh!" with great regularity. Thanks to dad for that one!

My favorite tree

There are so many Marissa topics to post about, but I'm taking a break to mention my favorite tree. I've included a picture below, so go ahead and check it out. Not much to look at when you think of the grandiose trees that line my street, fill the nearby parks and line the lake front. Nope, nothing too spectacular about it's size. It's also not a very pretty tree as you can clearly see (that was sort of Dr. Seuss-like), but it is winter after all and trees rarely look good in the winter. This one doesn't look all that great in the spring, summer or fall though either.

It's odd in a way, that I should even have a favorite tree, seeing as I'm allergic to them (as well as grass, mold, dust, dander, mites, horse hair and many other things). But I do have a favorite tree and this one is it. It's not near my house, which you think it would be, seeing as it's my favorite and all. But no, I have to drive there to see it....or more appropriately, hear it.

Yes, my favorite tree makes a noise. Actually, it makes noises while all other trees around don't. In the middle of winter, and all winter, as you can see in the picture, it has dead leaves still attached. No matter the wind gusts or snow accumulations or cold temps, my favorite tree clings to its leaves. But that hardly makes it extraordinary now does it? Many trees have leaves all winter. Well, maybe not many, but certainly some.

My favorite tree though happens to not only be one of those with leaves, but is also a tree I pass frequently in winter. Well, not as frequently as I would like truth be told, but often enough I guess. It's around the corner from my gym. In the summer I usually ride my bike and then don't pass the tree. But in winter, I drive the mile or so distance and usually park down the street from the tree, which is why I walk past it.

But I don't just walk past it, at least anymore. I stop underneath it for at least a few seconds, depending on just how cold it is. Even on the stillest of days, the leaves will rustle and take me back to the nicer days of the other seasons when all trees have leaves. Yes, my favorite tree with its dead, brown leaves, provides me a slight respite from the winter that surrounds it and me in that moment.

On top of all that, I then proceed to the gym to workout which for me, is a labor of love. My favorite tree reminds me of the good things to come.