Hiatus

This recent 11 month hiatus from blogging has been busy. We had a sweet baby girl, Daphne, on 2-18-11. Augie turned one (and will turn two in a month). Home renovations are almost completely done (finally ;) ), and I'm getting used to typing one handed once again. I will soon document these exciting happenings with photographic evidence just as soon as I find out what happened to all the pictures!

Augie get baptized...four months ago.

Augie was baptized in Corpus Christi at the same church Bill and I were married in. My Pop's did the dunking and my good friend, Beverly, and my brother, Ben, were Godparents. It was all very nice even though Ben tried to burn the church down.

Look! the baby's praying along.

Wonderful action shot really shows the solemnity of the occasion.

Augie rocks the just dipped look.

The proud parents.

In the city by the bay....

We went down to my ancestral home this past weekend and enjoyed many of the delights Corpus Christi had to offer.


As always the famous banana-horn of C.C. played a prominent part in all gatherings.



Augie was focused and centered during the city wide Thai Chi class.



Of course he had some downtime too, this is Augs cutting loose with the city jester.


Augie enjoyed himself but, as always, was left to wonder if his hair would always be this fabulous.

Sad day

I was hoping we wouldn't see this kind of behavior until Augie was much older but he attempted to run away from home the other day. I guess I can't leave all the doors open now. Don't worry, he didn't get very far, first of all he can't walk and he doesn't have any money. When he asked me for cab fare I knew something was up.....





(first time down the steps alone!!!!)

A day in the life

We begin today, a typical day, with baby waking mom up. As always he's a snuggle and a smile waiting to happen










After a leisurely morning, Augie goes to work. Those traffic cones aren't going to set themselves up.















And now lunch! Baby gets extra miles out of his food by not just eating it but wearing it as well.


Spaghetti is so in right now.

















Augie continues his commitment to physical fitness by working out everyday. That medicine ball is his best friend.












At the end of a hard day nothing relaxes baby like a nice documented bubble bath.

Ridiculously somber baby photos.

Lenny wants you to know that he does not appove.











Uncle Pat and Augie display a visceral level of contempt.

Though Lauren looks as though she is willing to put up with this Augie does not allow her to dilute his scorn.
Augie manages to look relaxed while expressing complete disdain for miniature recliners.

The Destroyer

To the right you'll notice what we in the Russell home call the 'tower of power'. Augie delights in watching the towers construction and then pulls a Godzilla. This behavior was our first inclination that baby might have an alternate ego...The Destroyer.





















The tunnel holds equal fascination for the child. He often attacks it from all sides. Though he does engage in the traditional crawling through method of tunnel play, he also like to attack the tunnel from above and show it who is boss. And this boss is not kind.









There are often times when we'll find Augie chucking balls willy nilly. We don't want to superimpose a meaning on this behavior but I think he's embracing chaos theory...chilling in one so young.


This last photo is probably the most compelling evidence that Augie has indeed embraced the persona 'Destroyer'. I've been waylaid and strewn about the floor and Lenny is whimpering and begging for mercy. What does the Destoryer do? Laugh, he just laughs and laughs.