Independence Day Fun

Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays of the year because of what was adopted on July 4, 1776.  Everyone calls it the Declaration of Independence, but the full title at the top of the document is: "The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America" (note the lowercase U in united and uppercase S in States).  I think my affinity for the Declaration started when I played Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration, in my 3rd grade play, white wig and all.  (I'm told that a video of my dramatic reading is now in the National Archives in Washington D.C.) 

One of the few wall hangings I owned before Alicia and I got married was of the Declaration.  She thinks it the epitome of my dorkiness.  I think that it secretly scored me some points. (Anika will know she's found her match someday when she finds a man who carries around a pocket Constitution and has a wall hanging of the Declaration!) Some of the language and principles in this document are timeless--"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." The history told by the train of abuses is an amazing account of what the Founders were reacting to when they created our system of government. And I love to look at the signatures at the bottom--of men who were signing what could have become a death warrant had the Revolution failed. All of this romanticism to say that Alicia, Anika and I started a brand new Freeman family tradition today--the reading aloud of the Declaration of Independence.

This is Anika getting ready for Independence Day--striking a modest pose.

Checking out the Declaration up close--Alicia insisted that we read from the wall hanging so as to put it to use.

Studying the signatures of the Founding Fathers.

By this time, Anika is in awe at how long it takes to read this thing aloud, and how difficult it is for Dad to read the tiny cursive. But we read every word!  You should too (http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html).

After our first annual reading of the Declaration, Anika insisted on doing more modern American things, like swimming. 

First she had to get lathered up with sunscreen.

Next she got suited up in her designer, hand-me-down swimsuit--looking like a doll, as usual.

Then, it's into the pool for the first time.  She's a bit cautious. Where did this giant bathtub come from!?

Anika absolutely loved this watering can.  I think it's because of the mutant blonde boy with the watering can on the back of her rice cereal box.

Family picture in the pool, but Anika can't be bothered to smile on account of the watering can.

The aftermath of our Independence Day swim (thanks to Auntie Karen for her hospitality)!

First Real Food--Grey, Grainy Gruel

Anika made history today and ate her first real food.  Alicia and I have been holding off because it sure seems like the eating routine can only go downhill from here.  Soon there will be lots of messiness, the transporting of kid food, lots of chopping and cutting things up into tiny bites (only to have lots of it go to waste), and a more taxing feeding regimen altogether.  But as Anika will be six months old in about a week and the wonderfulness of exclusively breastfeeding (especially for the Dad) cannot last forever without extreme social awkwardness, we took step one this afternoon.

Anika before her big meal--she doesn't know what she's in for.

Anika studying her food and being more interested in the feel of the box than what's inside.

Here's a close-up of the box.  I find it strange.  Who are these infants who can stand up, fill baskets, and use garden tools in wheat fields?  Where exactly are their parents, and why are they half naked in the middle of the day?  On the back the blonde boy (with a full head of hair) is using a watering can! Am I supposed to think this "non-GEI," "organic," whole grain rice cereal will turn Anika into a mutant gardener of a baby?

Anika is equally confused.

First we practice with an empty spoon.  But that's something of a let down.

The first real bite is an interesting one, and most of the not-so-solid, rice-cereal mixture comes spilling out onto the floor (see note above about increased messiness).

We keep working at it and learn that Anika likes chewing on the spoon as much as her grey, grainy gruel.  Is this the stuff that Oliver Twist had to eat?

Anika ultimately decides that its easier to lick the food out of the spoon than to swallow.

All in all it was a successful first attempt at eating "real" food.  Tomorrow I'm hoping Alicia will let us try Dairy Queen. I suspect it would go much smoother. What kid doesn't like Dairy Queen?

Scary Glove

I don't remember what toys were like when I was a small kid, but I don't think there was anything like what I've come to call the "scary glove."  I call it scary because I think it's creepy looking, and it's a glove because it fits on your hand.  In some ways, this toy is brilliant.  It's like having a mobile play mat in your lap.  But isn't this thing just plain strange looking?  

Is this thing schizophrenic, or is it just me?  Its designer must have been OCD.

The "scary glove" in action.  Anika gets mesmerized by this thing, and she seems to like it as much as her play mat.

This is the standard 6 a.m. routine; the scary glove proves its worth in the laziness it affords Alicia and I.

Move Over Rembrandt

Alicia made me this incredible birthday card for my 31st birthday this year (this is actually the card we sent to Alicia's Mom for her birthday; mine didn't have my name on it.)

Hands down the coolest birthday card I've ever seen.

Having set the bar so high, I decided to stretch my creativity and make something for Alicia for her birthday (Alicia turned 30 on June 6th).  Understanding the limitations of my genes, utilizing Anika's inner artist was my only good option.  And Anika's footprints seemed like a natural enough theme (hand prints would have been a disaster).  Thus, we embarked on Anika's first art project.  Thankfully, Grandma Freeman came over to lend her considerable grandmotherly skills to the effort.

Flexing and stretching her feet muscles, thinking of her most recent mani-pedi, and getting ready to make magic!  This bumbo chair is brilliant.

This is Anika's determined and serious art face.  Who needs a paint brush when you have toes?

All ready for print number one--it's go time.

On our way to the canvas--feeling motivated.

Carefully and methodically perfecting her craft (I hear Rembrandt started with footprints too).

Anika insisted that we switch from black to blue.  As a budding artist, her color preferences are much more hip than mine.

Anika's finished product.  I imagine someday it will sell at auction for millions.

It's hard to believe her feet have grown so much!

Next week, Anika is going to start practicing the Prodigal Son.

Baby Shoot

Alicia's friend Brianna Millet (http://bcm4110.wordpress.com/) recently did a photo shoot of a bunch of Alicia's friends and their babies.  Here's Anika developing her modeling skills.

Relaxing, working on my facial muscles, and practicing looking cute before the big shoot.

Maybe someday I'll have my own trailer to get ready in instead of this teal green bumbo chair.

Mani-pedi please.

The Hope moms and their baby girls (Rachel and Josie, Melissa and Eva, and Kathleen and Elsa).

My friend Elsa and I finding our inspiration between shots.

 

 

 

Obliging my mom with a picture.

One of the real disadvantages of being immobile is that I don't get to pick my own poses.  This one is goofy.

More goofing around with Elsa.

All of the babies.  Anika is perplexed by the mayhem. 

All tuckered out after a hard day's work.

The Sounds of Anika Joy

Drum roll please.  This is my first attempt to incorporate video into our blog.  Unfortunately, when recording the video I forgot that there's no "rotate" function for video, so you'll have to manually rotate your computer to see Anika right-side up.  Here are the current sounds of Anika Joy (lower your expectations):

Old School Diapering

After four months of conventional diapers, Alicia has decided that it's time to transition Anika to old-school cloth diapers.  This is a good move for the Freeman family for several reasons: (1) Anika is currently on a 10-day schedule (her record is 13--yes 13--days), which means the worst part of cloth diapering is minimized (particularly for Dad, who almost has a better chance of getting struck by lightning than having to change and clean a dirty diaper); (2) cloth diapers are economical (high start-up cost but we'll start saving soon); (3) the cloth diapers appease our environmental consciences (though it's amazing how much out of sight out of mind takes over when we just dump our trash into a giant bin); and (4) the cloth diapers look good, despite how big they make Anika's booty look.  Here's our babe, showing off her new look.

I'm so happy you aren't sending my diapers off to landfills and that you can use that saved money for my wedding--I mean college--fund.

Practicing plyometrics to increase my vertical jump and test out whether my new diapers are going to slow me down.

They look pretty bulky, but I can jump and dance in these things (Dad's thinking volleyball star but I'm thinking ballerina).

Taking a breather to chew on my hands.

Showing off my big, cloth-diaper booty while I log some tummy time.

What do you think of my lady bug outfit?  (It's from my Auntie Lynn).

I like this open-air feel (whoever invented tank tops is brilliant)!

I like to laugh at my parents' funny sounds (hopefully, it's this easy to entertain me forever).

Happy, happy, happy.

Working out my neck muscles (and hoping that pretty soon my head doesn't make up close to half of my weight).