i'll be in my dressing room.

I AM a star! You've just been blinded by my greatness.



Without me, there would be no such thing as motion pictures.



I *am*big. It's the pictures that got small.



All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.




(We found a wig that belonged to Jason's grandma. I couldn't resist.)

the morning storm

First there were the ants. Ants! Tons and tons of ants teaming over the cat's water and food bowls. I took care of that with some scrubbing, some Raid and much squealing. I really, REALLY hate ants. They make me itch.

The ants were accompanied by screaming. Oh the screaming. Teething baby screaming. Did I mention the screaming? And the crying? Penny has been less than cheerful for days. She has two teeth coming in and all she can do is communicate the pain and unfairness of her condition. By screaming. But finally she calmed down enough for some food and a nap.

Then what did I see? MORE ANTS! They must have took my squealing as a battle cry because more ants were swarming over the cat's food. Another bowl of not-free-food down the drain. More scrubbing and crawling around on the floor to try and find where the little bastards were coming from. I even crawled around outside in the grass and the wind for awhile until I found what I think to be their entrance point and Raid-ed the hell out of it. Then I came in and washed all of my exposed parts. Because ants are itchy.

And then the cat was speeding around the house like a dervish because a storm is coming and storms make him crazy. Then he threw up. Not once. Twice.

And Penny's short nap was over and was replaced by the screaming.

All before 11:30am.

But I kid you not - I would choose this over a paying job any day of the week. Cat puke and all.

not just pretty but smart too

I know every parent must say this but I think my child is a genius. A regular Albert Schweitzer. She has not one but TWO teeth coming in. She laughs. She eats her feet. She can hold her own beverage. And she's not even 5 months old yet. Before you know it she'll be able to make Mama a sammich.

for which to sit upon

I don't like to wear shoes. At least not around the house. I would much rather be barefoot than have something on my feet. Don't get me wrong - I love shoes and own more than my fair share - but shoeless has always been the way to go. I think it comes from that fact that my body seems to regulate it's temperature through my feet. Even on the coldest of snowy nights, I can be found with my feet sticking out of the comforter.

Anyway. Back to shoes. When we moved into our house I knew I would want a place to put my shoes. So we bought a shoe rack and placed it by the front door. And everyone who comes into our house usually takes their shoes off too. Then we began noticing how hard it was to balance in the entryway trying to re-shoe. We both agreed that a bench was the perfect solution. You could sit down, be comfortable and get your shoes on without banging into the walls. But then we had a problem. Do you know how expensive benches are? Nice ones? Made of wood? That are big enough for your bum to actually fit on them? They're expensive. REALLY expensive. And we just had more important things to spend our money on. Like food and heat. So we either brought our shoes into the living room to put them on or balanced precariously in the hallway.

Then Jason did a few nights of overtime at the Sundance Film Festival as added security. And he decided to buy me a surprise present with some of our newly-earned money.




Isn't it wonderful? It has drawers AND baskets. And I'm absolutely beside myself trying to decide what should go in them. But the best part - you can sit on it.

4 months

Dear Penelope,

Everyone told me that time would just fly by while you were a baby. That before I know it you'll be walking and talking. What I didn't expect was for time to strap on a jet pack and roller skates. You're still so little and already have so much personality.

And then today, when I least expected it, you completed a HUGE milestone. You rolled over! This was your first attempt last night. You only got onto your side and couldn't quite make it over.



But then this morning during tummy time you astounded me. Your favorite toy, Timothy Elephant, was just out of reach and, girl, you were determined.



You're getting so strong now. You can hold yourself up on your arms when laying on your stomach. You even propped yourself up like a tripod - butt on the blanket and arms stretched in front - when we were playing the other morning. You love to talk and coo every chance you get but become completely distracted when I try to film you doing it. I swear you'll be talking any day now.

Baths are still your favorite time of the day. You and Daddy splash and giggle until your toes get wrinkly and you've eaten half the wash cloth. We started you on a nighttime routine and you've taken to it like a champ. You eat some, bath time, a little more food, hugs and kisses and then you go down for bed. And for the past week or so, you've gone to sleep without a peep. Daddy sings you a song and you're down for the night. I can't tell you how much stress your going to bed earlier has relieved. Mama was going out of her mind staying up until 2am with you. Now you're in bed between 6:30pm and 7pm. Mama and Daddy make it to bed around 11. And in the morning you're all smiles and laughs.
















And you poop rainbows and unicorns.



Love, Mama