We all know the saying "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." My first born, The Boy, is a carbon copy of his handsome father. He has sandy brown hair and big brown eyes, the exact same head shape and he tans before summer has even begun. So when I found out I was pregnant with another little boy I admit to a brief moment of disappointment that there would be no "mini me". However, genetics are such a funny thing! From the moment The Baby was born he has lived up to his "Burton" characteristics (Burton is a family name on my side); with every passing day I smile a little wider as his hair becomes blonder, his eyes become greener, and his height continues to exceed the length of his pants. It's not just his looks either, the similarities are everywhere and especially pronounced in his love for "lovey" and left thumb sucking. I had "sunshine", a baby blanket quilted by my mother, that I took everywhere and fingered unconsciously until I drifted off to sleep. Hand The Baby "lovey", a small fleece square with a giraffe head, and he quickly finds the petal soft ears, plunks the thumb happily into his tender gums and away he goes to la la land. I've made the comment to enough people to feel obligated to share photos of each of us at approximately the same age. If you don't see a resemblance, please don't burst my bubble...





"It's date night tonight and you're taking Mommy to a show!" I told my 2 1/2 year old son. He had no idea what any of that meant but he was more than obliging to follow Mommy out of the house, quickly realizing that the baby was staying with Grand Bob and he would now have my undivided attention for the next two hours or more. Sesame Street recently visited Ft Hood with a song and dance performance that I am happy to report had an outstanding turnout. So often our family has ventured out to USO shows and free events for military families to find the attendance almost embarrassing to the performers. The number of toddlers and babies in attendance was staggering but we were able to meet up with bosom buddy Sydney for what would be the twosome's first auditorium style, lights out, live performance. We arrived slightly early, 5:30 for a 6pm show, to ensure good seating. The staff from the USO was delighted to present us with spinning Elmo toys, or as Julie and I quickly dubbed them "spinning nipple whippers!" The next 25 minutes were spent battling the battery operated weapons of the evening, trading children who wanted to be held by the mother that was NOT theirs, and bribing good behavior with M&M's and the world's longest game of Simon Says. FINALLY Elmo appeared! Natural light photography, in the dark, with a toddler on your lap, and a "spinning nipple whipper" doing what "spinning nipple whippers" do best, is not conducive to good photography. However, I did manage to catch a little twinkle in the eyes of our little ones as they gazed out across the stage and got their first glimpse of a seven foot tall puppet. I can't say that it was glee, but it WAS special. Elmo has tighter security than visiting diplomats; sadly, there was no meet and greet or photo op with any of the characters...









We've recently returned from a much needed and very restful vacation to New York and I find our family is overwhelmed with the task of unpacking and settling back into a routine here at home. After nearly two months of having loving Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, and close friends graciously assist in the waking, feeding, changing, wiping, bathing, entertaining, kissing, hugging, ins and outs of life with my boys, reality has settled in. We are once again on our own, the house is oddly calm and relatively quiet, but only because those cute little bums are tucked soundly into bed. Tomorrow will certainly begin early, demand much more of me than I have stored, and I may just have to take The Girl's advice: good eye protection and a confident gaze can prepare you for any obstacle!