So much to play with

Alex has so many toys, and his favorites are:

1. the remotes
2. the box his toys came in!

Blankets in bed

I guess I understand why they don't recommend letting your infant sleep with a blanket:

The great outdoors

We were able to enjoy beautiful North Carolina with the Fuqua Outdoors Club a couple of weeks ago. What do you think -- does Alex like hiking?

Double Dukie family

Most of you know that I'm a student at Duke, but did you know Alex is too? He went to his first day of day care at the Duke's Children Campus on August 17th. I didn't think it would be a big deal, Alex is super adaptable. And for me? I knew it would be a piece of cake.

Um, not so much. I cried as we left him, which surprised me. There is just something about walking away from your baby that is so heartbreaking. I turned around and looked at Alex, who was laughing and smiling at the teacher. He didn't seem to mind at all. That's good, right? I know that, but for some reason it made me feel even worse.

One of the women up in the front noticed that I was crying. "First day, huh?" she asked. "Yep," I sniffed.

"Well, it could be worse." I just looked at her. "He could be going off to college like mine is."

Okay, I'll give her that. That is worse. But the part that really troubled me -- this feeling won't subside in the next 17 years?

Generation Y

You have probably all heard complaints about Generation Y and its sense of entitlement. These are the kids coming out of college demanding six-figure salaries (even in a recession) and generally just thinking they deserve more than anyone else.

Some speculate this generation behaves like this because of the never-ending praise their doting parents bestowed upon them as they were growing up.

Hmmm. A sample of the things I say to Alex on a daily (hourly? minutely?) basis:

"You are the cutest baby ever!"
"How was I lucky enough to get such a perfect baby?"
"You are Mommy's special boy!"
"You are the most beautiful boy I have ever seen!"
"You are so smart!"
"Mommy loves you so much, and you are perfect!"

I can only imagine what Alex's future bosses will think. Wait, what am I talking about? Alex is never going to have a boss! I mean, have you met him? He's so smart, he won't have to work for anyone else! And if his intelligence didn't get him where he needs to go, his good looks will!

Tough love

I was having a conversation with one of my professors about a team member that wasn't pulling his weight on the team (I didn't tattle -- she approached me!). Anyway, she said that at some point, the team was going to have to talk to him and give him a kick in the butt.

"Tough love," she said. "You understand what that is, you're a parent."

I raised my eyebrows. "Tough love? My baby is ten months old. I have NO idea what tough love is!"

I mean, would you be able to say no to this face?

Cousins, Cousins, the next generation

About twenty years or so ago, you could find my cousins and me hanging out on my parents' hammock, making up cousin chants. They were really creative -- you know, "Cousins, cousins! Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!" Now that some of us have kids, well, here's hoping they don't turn out to be as dorky as we were.

Here are some pictures of Alex and his second (third? second once removed?) cousins from our trip to Chicago in July:

from l to r: Alex, Cindy's boys Brian and Griffin, Sandy's kids McKayla and Kevin

Charlie's kids CJ, Casey and Bailey and Alex

Hanging with the boys (Uh oh, it looks like Alex is looking admiringly at Kevin. Alex, stop it! There's a reason we didn't name you Kevin!)

Maggie's daughter Allison (this was actually in North Carolina when they came to town for a few days)