… I thought it best to get his baby book done.

And you know those long, flat Rubbermaid containers? The kind you store gift wrap or sweaters in under the bed? I had one of those FULL of baby memorabilia. Everything from receipts for hospital meals to extra passport photos taken at two weeks old for our trip to South Africa.

I had visions of having to buy a second album to fit it all in. “You wanna see my kid’s baby book? Oh … take a seat. Here … oof! And here … oof! Well, let’s put that second volume on the floor then. We’ll take a break for dinner in between the two.”

Actually, it ended up being not quite that bad. I managed to get it all in the one album, and have it look nice without being cluttered and overdone. Not a big fan of the over-the-top scrapbooky look. You know what I mean. One cropped photo and about three tons of layered paper, ribbon and swirly doodads on each page. Wanted to avoid that.

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Compact and demure looking, isn’t it?

When I posted the contents of my handbag, making reference to my Mom’s bag (aka Le Pantechnicon), I had no idea.

No idea.

Either I’ve forgotten just how much crapola my mother carries around or she’s anticipating a string of global disasters. Those of you living in the path of hurricanes take note.

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So after our Target shop this past weekend, I take Tau into a shoe store in the same plaza. Him still belted into the Target cart because it’s better than having him run up and down the aisles, pulling boxes off the shelves yelling, “Weeee! Weeee!”

I’m looking for a pair of black slides to replace my favorite shoes that died recently. That and another pair of sandals for the boy because he only has one pair that fits right now and it’s still 95 degrees most days, so definitely not socks-and-shoes weather.

No luck in the womens’ aisle and as I turn to head to the kids’ section, I smell something very familiar. And there are no other toddlers around.

Lowering my head to his, I whisper quietly as I can, “Pssst! Tau … did you do a stinky poo?”

Crinkling up his nose, pressing it to mine, he whispers quietly so no one can hear, “Jaaaa!”

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Yesterday afternoon we met our friend Joslin and her dog Doug at Kate Sessions Park for a picnic dinner. We hadn’t met Doug and she hadn’t seen Tau in a while.

Kate Sessions Park is probably one of San Diego’s best kept secrets. Take a look at this view (random shot found on Flickr) of downtown and the bay.

More of our pics of the play date are in our Flickr stream.

Posted by Dave

L to R: Aunty Boo, Aunty Joy, and Gran

1. It’s no longer safe to move the paper recycling from the large African basket in the kitchen to our recycling blue box in the garage without checking the contents. Last week it contained two cans of salsa verde (green salsa) and a tennis ball — in with all the paper to be recycled.

2. The exact same evening, I find a certain 22-month-old’s juice cup, with juice, in the cutlery drawer.

3. Last week to calm the screaming 22-month-old down, we all step outside onto our quiet patio to say hello to the stars and moon. Over the fence we hear a group of (likely) 22-year-olds joking and messing around with each other, liberally using the F-word, on the way to their car. The 22-month-old stops mid-tantrum and mutters, “Kids!”

4. And later that same week, as we pass by the black-and-white family pictures on the way up the stairs, he spots the photo shown above of Sue’s 91-year-old gran with her sisters when they were little. “Kids!” says the 22-month-old.

5. I am told by the daycare teachers that he has grown 3 inches … since May. He barely fits on the change table at daycare and can reach up and grab the fire-alarm lever while having his diaper changed. Great.

6. The 22-month old is known affectionately as Taco at daycare. This goes back to when he was wrapped tightly as an infant in his sleeping blanket. One of the teachers, Gaby, still calls him Taco. Nothing to our young man to turn it on her. Even though he clearly knows her name, if you ask him what he calls Miss Gaby, he’ll tell you “Taco” with a big, warm smile. Apparently this has caused enough amusement among the other teachers that they now stop by the toddler room to elicit the response from him.

Still life with Handbag and Corporate Access Pass

Canadian blogger Her Bad Mother recently posted the contents of her handbag and invited readers to do likewise. Which got me thinking about the sad state of my bag and how I am not one of those women who carry pocket Kama Sutras or silk scarves or Japanese blotting tissue at all times.

Instead, I am one of a long line of women who carry a far more practical bag. With the bare essentials. And at least a year’s worth of gum wrappers, passed doctor’s appointment cards and old shopping lists scribbled on scrunched-up post-its.

Not much different from my mother’s or maternal grandmother’s handbags really. Except that Granny Sylvia always carried a roll of Triple-X mints and Mom’s bag weighed a bit heavier with that bunch of keys — a Fort Knox-like fistful of keys befitting the manageress of one of Durban’s larger branches of the Permanent Building Society.

Yes, our women folk believe in purses that are up to the job. Purses of solid brown or black with sturdy handles. And when my mother refers to her bag as “The Pantechnicon” she isn’t kidding.

Without further a do, the contents of my handbag:

1. Pile of doctor notes, post-its, and a monthly statement for the store card I’ve been meaning to cancel because I don’t use it.
2. Wad of calling cards we got made not too long after we moved here (free from Vista Print). Thought they would come in handy when we met new people but since then we’ve changed our web address and ISP, and my work phone number is no longer current. Why do I still carry these? (more…)

… a pair of Ryka shoes in Sk*rt’s Off and Running contest.

I could really do with a new pair of running shoes to use in the gym. My current runners are at least four years old (did I just admit that?) and even though they feel and look okay, I’ll bet the support in them is shot.

Waiting to hear from the folks at Ryka — I get to choose whatever I like! Leaning towards the N-Gage Run, shown above. Who-hoo!

Tau is this Thursday’s cute kid on GoodyBlog, a fun parenting site that I read.

Go check it out!

Both garden watering cans had to be on the tray table, with the food and the juice, while he was eating.

Update: Wanted them in the car with him on the way to daycare this morning also.

I recently nominated nacken.com for a couple of Blogger’s Choice Awards.

Peter and Ritsu blog from Italy about raising their sweet boy Julius. We discovered nacken.com when we were searching YouTube for clips of cute babies to show Tau when he was really little. This one has remained a favorite but as Tau has grown we’ve moved on to videos of Julius riding his bike and brushing his teeth (the power of peer pressure works wonders).

Part parenting, photo, food and travel blog, there is a little something for everyone. Pictures and video clips of the family’s travels and Julius’s antics are definitely a cut above average. Very entertaining and well worth a visit. Peter really does a great job!

Take a look and cast your votes.