Do I find it irksome? You betcha!

Does it get on my every last little nerve that so many people try to interview themselves? Yes, I find it incredibly irritating and more than a bit insulting to the interviewer.
Do I think that it makes the interviewee sound like an ignorant jackass? Well, however did you guess? In fact I do think it makes them appear as if they've never quite grasped the concept that the journalist asks the questions, the interviewee answers the questions.
Does it seem like something that many kindergartners could get a handle on. Well, yes, I think that could be an accurate assessment of the situation.

Yesterday, one of my coworkers had on a shirt that said Good Grammar Is Free. Amen sista.

What Not To Wear

So, whose job is it to help elk accessorize? Because - whoever's responsibility this is, they are clearly falling down on the job. I know that the fashion trends of the 80's are reemerging, but the big, plastic, yellow bangles just aren't ready to come back yet.

Budding Thespian

Since it is currently impossible for me to get new photos off of my camera, I'm just going to randomly share photos that haven't yet been posted. Keira's been literally begging to go to the zoo, so this one seemed appropriate. Can't remember why she has the binky - she's not had it during the day for ages.

There are moments, just little, little moments, when you realize that the short one has just reached a milestone. This past week, Keira decided to try pulling one over on me and it was instantly clear that we're in a whole different ball game now.

Of course, being two, she tried to do this right in front of me, but I did get a peek at her budding acting skills (no danger of an in-house thespian here). While just the two of us are sitting at the table, finishing up dinner, she puts her bowl on top of her spoon and pretends that it just disappeared. When you read the following dialogue, you have to think C-movie actor, in a B-movie, acting the part of a bad B-movie actor. Bad baddy, bad, bad, bad - so bad it's funny.

Keira says dramatically: Moooommmy. Where did my spoon go. It's not here - where did it go?

Me: I don't know, could it be on the table?

K: I don't know! I don't see it! I don't know where it is. What happened?

M: Really, wow, do you think Phoebe took it? (Phoebe, of course, not being the least bit interested in ever using a utensil - due to her being a cat and all)

K: Yeah! Phoebe, give it back, give me my fork.

M: Isn't it your spoon?

K: Oh yeah, my spoon. Where go my spoon, mommy.

M: Hey, I think I see it. I think I see it under your bowl. How did that happen?

K: I donnow? Wow, I donnow what happen. Mommy, you move my spoon?

Seriously, right in front of me and she's already blaming me. Hhm, this will be interesting.

External Monolouge

Clearly I have some catching up to do, so keep checking in as I'm hoping to have the posts going up pretty hot and heavy over the next few weeks. I finally sorted out the laptop connection at home, so I think I'll be able to get back to a more regular posting schedule.
While it's been a really crazy last month or two at Chez Cerda, I'll bore you with more Keira stories today, and work on catching everyone up over the next week.
As just one more indicator that Keira takes after me to an alarming extent, she's developed what Chad and I refer to as her external monologue. She's constantly muttering to herself while doing things, and many times insists that I chime in to reiterate her own advice. Example? Keira is getting read to drink some juice:
Keira: "Be carefuw Keira. Don't spill it Keira. No spill the juice. Hold da lid. Be careful Keira, don't spill it, be careful - Mommy!"
Me: "Okay, Keira, be careful and don't spill any of your juice."
Keira: "Okay Mommy. I be careful. I not spill it."
And on it goes. She's her own little coach.
Perhaps the most chuckle-worthy manifestation of this trait is when she's really had it with me. She'll sit there fuming and muttering to herself "don't bite Mommy. No bite Mommy." Hmmm. I wonder what it is that she really wants to do?

Stick a Fork In It

It's official. The hard drive and computer are no more. While I like to think that I'm generally an organized person, we just kept procrastinating on backing up our hard drive. As you may have deduced - we lost it all. No computer, no photos, no files - nada. At least I feel I'm in good company - most of our techy-est friends admitted in a panic that they've probably not backed up for two to three years either. If you would be so kind as to indulge me in some eloquent words of wisdom- git up off yo' lazy ass and do it. It really sucks if you don't.

Because I have a really awful habit of creating duplicate files all over the place, I've actually been able to recreate much of the photo collection of Keira, although there are some candids we'll never see again. We actually lost a much higher percentage of photos taken with friends and of the cats.

If any of you have received any photos from me or from Chad over the past several years, we'd very much appreciate it if you could send a copy back to us. In addition, if you have any fun photos taken with us that you've not yet shared, we'd love a copy.

We're not going to get a computer for a bit since we are intrigued by the new Mac operating system and it's not due out for another couple of months. In the meantime we have a pinch hitter, and the blog will be back up and running.

Don't hold your breath for the next few days though, I was out of town on Saturday so I'm still only 200 or so pages into the final Harry Potter....

Radio Silence

Hi All,
Just a quick post to let you know that I've not given up the blog (aka project) but rather, our hard drive fried. So, I have no computer access at home. Since I rather like my job, this will be the only post I do from work, and it's just to let you know that for the next couple of weeks there likely won't be any more.
Please do check in a couple weeks from now, I should be back on line. Keep your fingers crossed, we're hoping we didn't loose loads of photos.
One quick update:
One child's pullover - check
Five squares on my blanket - check
Half of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - check
Start of one more HP hat for knit along - check

Double-Digit Growth

Notice how early the multi-tasking starts? Why did I never think to mow the lawn and walk the baby at the same time?

Another spurt!

How are we meant to keep up? Every time we get the hang of what she can and can't do, she up and makes leaps and bounds. Things that she couldn't do just 3 weeks ago are now becoming old hat, and I really think she's doing it just to keep me on my toes.

She's scrabbling up the side of the jungle gym at our local playground, getting herself into her bath, and helping to mow the lawn (okay, that last bit's really just pretend.)

Did I mention that her ability to pretend is one of those things just exponentially increasing by the minute? Everything now is pretend and it's a hoot. The other night in her bath, she mimed grabbing my nose and stuffing it in her mouth. It was all fun and games till Mommy tried. Then, I was Mommy Dearest. She bawled. It was so freakin' funny I felt in danger of wetting myself, but she was really upset so I did my best composed-but-not-composed expression.

This afternoon as I was pulling her out of the car, she squinted up at me, reached out her arm, and pinched in the air, then mimes stuffing the "pinch" into her mouth. She follows this up with "I ate Mommy." Should I be worried?

Late this afternoon she saddled up to her play kitchen and worked like crazy. I finally asked her what she was making. "I making coffee -you. Sorry, Mommy, hot, hot, coffee. You can't have it." Hmmm, does she think we're teasing her with dinner. Sorry honey, wait a minute, that's still too hot. Makes me wonder.