The Little Boy is ready!!!

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We're Under 24 hours!!!!

Hip Hip Hooray!!!

The Maine has Completed Her First Packing Run!

Whew!!!  Glad we got that one all wrapped up.

I was about the worry for a second.... Maybe being a new mother had robbed her of her prior superpowers.  But, as she has proven so many times before, I was wrong.

It all started this evening, as I was polishing off a nice tall Scotch (seems Daddy has had a rough week, and cannot wait until vacation).  After dinner, we adjourn to the bedroom... careful!... where the Maine has the suitcase all flambay-ed open.

And a packin we well go.  It was slow going at first.  Seems the Pizz has more clothes then both of us combined.  But the Maine was trying to keep us all in 1 suitcase (chew on that one for a little bit).  It looked rough for a moment.  My clothes were starting to pile up.  Somehow, the Maine got all of hers into 1 2x2 foot packing sack.  Wow!  Then she was feverishly trying to arrange my stuff.  It didn't look like we'd fit.

"Maine?" I ask "Why don't we take another suitcase too?  We can easily make do with the 'Little Boy' as well?"  (Editors note: we have a dual suitcase set, which we have accrued over time.  One is called the "Fat Man" and the "Little Boy"... or maybe it was "Big Boy and Little Boy".  Anyway, one is obviously bigger than the other... ok!)

"What do you mean?" she says with a sly smile...  "This is the Little Boy!!!"

"What!?!??!"  I went apoplectic.  "Are you telling me that I have to cut back on my european wardrobe, so that you can placate your inner packing demon?"

One look said enough.  And, deep down, it just made her want to pack and organize some more.  She turned and focused on the Little Boy.  I became very very quiet.

So now, after 30 minutes, the Travelers Yarnoz are cruising overseas in one suitcase, the Little Boy, with some extra space for goodies!!!

You know what they say, never mess with a woman who's packin!!!

Mirando La Copa!!!

What mommy doesn't know...

Shhhhhh


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This is a test

Of the BY Vacation Transmission System

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The Countdown Begins!

In honor of the First Inaugural BY Universe Family Vacation (aka Kemper Does Espana!), we have totally updated the looked and feel of BabyYarnoz. 

As of this time next Friday, the BY Universe will become extremely mobile and cross the pond to the Motherland!

Hopefully the International Passport of Cuteness will work!

The background is changed to incorporate some theme from the vacation... "the bullring".  Hopefully this will be the beginning of a wonderful 10days for the BY Universe.  Also, hopefully, you will all be along for the ride too (computers and wifi permitting)

This past week has been a little rough on the Editor, and sorry for not updating the Universe...  But hopefully each day leading up to the Takeoff will get us fired up!

Let us begin...!!!

"Hey Bull, I've got horns too!"

Fortress of Kemper-tude: The Extreme Makeover Edition

Well, this past weekend as another episode of Daddy Daycare!

So Saturday AM, I set about making the Fortress for another lovely day of watching the Pizz giggle.  So it's all set up, and I bring in the Pizz into her lair and set her down.  2 seconds into her sitting... "Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"  Nothing doing!

Seems the Pizz, with her new found mobility, doesn't want to be put in mini fortress anymore.  (Nobody puts Pizz in a corner!!!!)  She wants to be free!!!  Unfortunately, this meant that the rest of my Saturday was spent walking/crawling/chasing the Pizz around our house (and simultaneously placing plug covers in attractive spots!)  I barely was able to watch soccer.

So Saturday night, I was exhausted.  I tell the Maine that I was beat, and cannot take another day of that!  Then, in her infinite wisdom, says "maybe we should just expand the Fortress!  Give her more space"

Eureka!  My mind went wild, thinking of plans and turrets and "windows" for the Pizz!  I could barely fall asleep, thinking of all the different possibilities!

Then this morning arrived.  The Maine and I got up and "blew up" the old plans of the Fortress.  We expanded!  I found a suitable piece of cardboard to make a "window".  Then we brought in the Pizz.  She loooooved it!

It was awesome!  She crawled over to every designated "room" in her new Fortress.  She stayed in it almost the whole day (except for naps in her crib, and the obligatory run to the kitchen for Daddy food!)

When Maine came home, she found the Pizz happy and content!

If only the rest of parenting would be this easy!!!

The Best Sound In the BY Universe

Enjoy!

A Road-Trippin' With the Pizz Weekend

This past weekend one of my former college roommates got married in Durham. Since we had to go and were only 2 hours away, we felt this was an awesome opportunity to take the Pizzle on a road trip! See the sights, catch up with old friends!

So Saturday AM (after my Friday night on call), the Maine, the Pizz, and I set out, hybrid-style, for Durham. We were on a short time leash (due to the Noon wedding, and the Duke Chapel's strict timing requirements that called for us to be seated by 11:30.

So we blazed up (well as fast a the little hybrid could blaze... maybe more like a hum..) to Durham, and got to Karen's house at 10am. (Karen is a former roommate of the Maine's and one of the few who actually knew the two of us during our Duke years... simultaneously!... long story...) We caught up, and Karen was wonderful enough to watch the Pizz so the Maine and I could go to the ceremony.

We made it to the Chapel, and got there just in time. Sat down at watched the lovely ceremony. Seemed it was over before I knew (it was definitely a lot shorter that what I remembered from my wedding day). Then it was time to ski-daddle from the Chapel (you know, they had another 2 weddings that day! what a factory of God!)

We went back to Karen's to ready the Pizz. You see we couldn't come all this way for a wedding, and not try to pass around some Total Cuteness Package to all the attendees... could we? So we gussied up the Pizz and then, trucked out hybrid-style to the reception. (Side note: the groom, Charn, a Duke graduate, married a UNC graduate... and to make amends for the Duke Chapel nuptials, had the ceremony at the Carolina Inn.)

We drove through the UNC campus, and finally made it to the reception. I am surprised the hybrid's wheels didn't melt off, being in he(( and all! (Side note: Seems the Maine is not enamoured with my language recently. Seems I, the Editor, have a pretty foul mouth, and she does not want the Pizz to utter sh!^ or fu$%er as her first words. Seems she wants me to "tone it down some" So I'm trying...)

Then the lovely reception... and the Pizz, I think tired by the long day's travelling, didn't bring her full total cuteness A-game... But she did try.

We were able to snap a few Total Cuteness Moments!

But then, alas, the reception was over. But there was an after-party. (You know what they say about after-parties!!!) Unfortunately, the Pizzle was tuckered out, so the Maine graciously whisked her away, so I could partake in the after partizay! So my other former roommate (The Wu), his wife, and I made off for the after-party. And the merriment continued. Much laughter was spent going back down memory lane. But it, unfortunately, had to come to an end. The Maine then met us halfway (in a Walgreen's parking lot!!!) to pick up her lush husband and take him home.

Ahh, what a day!

Today started off ok, but then the Pizzle was just not herself. Not operating at 100% cuteness. So we had to leave early from Karen and Neal's. (A big shout out from the BY Universe for allowing us to crash in your casa!)

As we started our drive back to W-town, we though fondly of the Chapel. It would be a shame to get this close, and not take Total Cuteness Pics of the Pizz and her future college. Yes, it would. But she's pretty fussy. At this point, she let out a little giggle (very subtle and quiet, and if it was recorded probably could have been a cough). The Maine and I looked at each other... we knew! I turned the hybrid around, screeching and burning hybrid-rubber, and made off for Duke!

And the Cuteness was brought face to face with her future education (and I to the realization of the half-a-million $$$ pricetag!)

Can you say "Proud Graduate of the Class of 2030"???

The Week That Was!

Ah yes, BY Universe, it has been a while since the last posting... I know.

It was an eventful week, sort of. It all started last weekend with the arrival of Lala and Cousin Mo. There was plenty of Cuteness to go around. Even enough time (and baby sitting) to allow for a couple of dates for the Editor and the Maine.

Lala stayed for the weekend, but Mo dutifully lasted the whole week- helping out with the Pizz, cleaning, cooking, and drinking wine....

Oh, and she even brought some TCA's, which the Pizz wore dutifully... until she figured out how to take it off and put it in her mouth!

Then it was the Pizz's 3/4 birthday! ahhh... 9 months... where did it go? For a gift, she got an empty box of margarine... which she loved! (Almost as much as her empty box of Desitin!)

Then we all decided that it was time for us to increase the brood at the GM. Yes, we have been longing for one for a while, but couldn't figure out how to pull the trigger. So, Saturday the Maine and I just finally decided to go get one. And so we did!

Since, this blog was originally sponsored by Sears, that's where we first looked for our new addition to the GM. We walked in and started looking. The Maine's only requirement was "It had to be cute and sleek.!" Not sure how to find that at Sears.

But there it was! The cutest, sleekest grill in the whole Sears store! It was large enough that I could simultaneously cook 35 burgers at once! (Yes I know) But it wasn't so gaudy or showy. Of course I had to get propane, because I can't stand charcoal. The Maine approved the purchase, and we were now a family + grill!!!

We took it home, and after "some assembly"... the baby was up and ready to burn! We threw all the assorted foodstuffs on the grill, and cooked them up. I was in charge now... the Man of the House!!! Hooray! I was going to assert my authority over fire!!!

So we sat down at the table while the grill as a-cookin!

"Umm... Mike.... Why is there smoke billowing out of the grill?"

"Hmmm..." I turn around and stare... "Oh no worries, ladies, it's just burning off some stuff!"

I nonchalantly amble over to the grill and open her up! Whoosh!!! The Corn!!! oh no!!! The corn (still in the stalks) was fully on fire! Mo had lathered up the cobs with a concoction of garlic, olive oil, and butter. I dutifully replaced the husks back over the cobs, but the stuff must have acted like an accelerant! I start whacking the cobs with my spatula... nothing doing.

"Umm.. do you want to pour some water over it?" Maine asks. "No I got this!"

Whack, whack, whack!! I grab the cobs and move them over (still ablaze) to a pan on the side table. whack, whack, whack... nothing doing on the fire. Still going..

Finally, the Maine comes over and pours her water glass over the cobs... Problem solved.

There goes my grilling license!! (but everything else turned out great!) But such is life in the BY Universe.

(this was shot right before the blaze took out the corn!)

Kemper Vision

One Small Step for Kemper...

... One Giant Leap for BY Universe!!!!

The Pizz is crawling!!!

Oh boy...

It started off as a slow piddle. The Pizz would lean forward on all fours, with one leg still crossed over Indian style. Then the hands started t

o move forward. I figured she would do her usual thing of stopping, when she realized that her legs had to move too.

She didn't...

The legs... they got the message!

Next thing I knew, she was piddling across the kitchen floor to me. Oh boy! I shouted with glee.

Then she made it over where I was sitting. Hoooo-ray!!!

Then I turned her around and threw another toy off in the

distance. The Maine was watching too. She was off....

I got up to grab the camera to KemperVision the moment, but before I could start, she leaned forward and ... ker-plunk! ... a graceful Yarnoz faceplant on the tile! (I couldn't have done it any better if I had my blood drawn!) The waterworks were on!

No more crawling today...

But our lives, as the Maine and I had known them, are over!!!

A much simpler time in our lives!!

Kemper Vision

Warning: The picture is sideways... sorry!

A Belated Happy Mothers Day!

Well, it came and passed... Mother's Day Weekend 2010.

The First for the BY Universe...


And Daddy was working on call allllll weekend...



Alas....

But the Maine and The Pizz got to play all weekend in the Fortress!

So Happy Mother's Day!

The BY Universe salutes Charmaine aka the GC aka the DQ aka the Maine. I cannot think of any other woman who I would want to have as a role model for the Pizz.

A truly amazing, intelligent, beautiful, sarcastic, sexy, amazing woman for the Pizz to model herself on for years to come...

(except maybe the sexy part...)

International Package.... of ... Cuteness???

So, as many of you loyal BY viewers may know, this summer the Maine and I are taking the Pizz across the Pond to visit the homeland.

We're very excited, but as the days get closer... fear and apprehension is starting to creep in.

But that is not the story of today, my viewers! Oh No...

Today, is the story of the Pizz' Passport! (or, has I had wanted to call it... Passport to Cuteness!)

About 2 months ago, we realized that the Pizz needed this little document to get across the border. We knew we had to get it early and out of the way.

Before we went to the office, we were a little giddy with ourselves. We figured, for sure, that the Pizz' passport would be amazing. I mean she's the Total Cuteness Package. Plus, we were also buoyed by both of our passport photos, which are probably 2 of our best individual pictures ever....

See Exhibit A and B.

Deep down, I had visions of the three of us, being whisked through customs... with our beautiful US passports assuring us of rockstar like status... I mentioned this to the Maine... She didn't agree out loud, but I could see the wheels turning inside her head. She agreed.

So we took the Pizz, all gussied up to the Passport Agency to get her PtC! She was great (I cannot remember if I had blogged about it before... hmmm). She stayed upright long enough to get a photo... but then the thing was broken! oh gosh. Had to get the backup camera! (oh no!... I can see where this is going...) Photo number 2! Wha- la! Done. End of the day.

Until a couple of weeks ago. We get the "package" in the mail. I knew what it was, instantly before opening it! Yay, the PtC has arrived! I was so giddy as I tore open the envelope. The Maine peeked her head around the corner, and saw what I was doing... She knew what it was as well. She skipped downstairs to join my joy!

I open the envelope and pull out the passport... "Oooooohhh! New design... So modern... So cute!", as I stroke the outside.

"Open it you silly goose!" cackles the Maine.

We open.....

"aghast!!!!!" I shriek!!! Who is that!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! We stare dumbfounded at the photo in the passport. It sort of looked like our daughter. Possibly. But this rendition wasn't cute. Man, she looked like she was some poor orphan, trapped behind the Iron Curtain in some Eastern European country, begging you to adopt her. I think this pic came straight from one of those Sally Struthers commercials... I looked in my wallet for a spare dollar.

A tear came to my eye, as my dreams of rockstar customs status slowly left my head... The Maine sighed too...

I guess the Total Cuteness Package has kryptonite, and thy name is US Passport.

Before and After

It takes a lot of work being the Total Cuteness Package...

Case in point...

Exhibit A:

This AM, after her morning nap. The Yarnoz' hair curse... Everywhere!

So I go about combing... and combing...

and getting a damp towel...

and another...

and then start using the TCA's

A barrette here

A barrette there...

another barrette...

then ... finally... a masterpiece...

It takes a lot of work... and barrettes... to be cute...

Code Green!!!

So, the Pizz had been enjoying her new bathtub. It is nice to have all of her stuff in one place. She loves her small tub with all her toys. She seems to be getting comfortable in her new digs.

Almost too comfortable.

Today's bathtime, started out like any other... Daddy presents the naked baby to the warm tub water, admist a glowing fanfare of cheers...

and The Pizz plays with her toys, as Daddy tries furiously to clean all her nether regions, avoiding the splashing... He didn't realize he should be worried about other things....

After getting "ALLLLL CLEAN!", the Pizz was allowed to play with her toys and cups. A splish splash here... a cup there.

Then bubbles appeared.... Ha ha... I thought... just like her Daddy... and from a long line of Yarnoz genetics... forged in the mountains of Spain... She looked up at me, smiled, and kept on playing. I thought nothing of it. Turns out, it was a shot across the bow!

Next, came a little grunt... and then more bubbles.... ha ha... she's soo cute!

Then... came... the purple face ... (uh oh...) and then some grunting.... (UH OH!) and some serious straining. Then, she's done... back to playing... Hmmm... I think to myself... this isn't good. I look around for floating items... nothing. Whew! I'm safe. But I figure, I should just get her out to be safe....

I slide her rightward, so I can get a better grip.... a green streak is left behind on the bathtub floor.... oh crap! I lift her up... two sizeable green blobs were left in the tub. Oh god!

I pick her up, but then realize that I am not sure what is left on her backside... I can't just place her on the towel yet... oh gosh.... (The Maine is downstairs cooking dinner...)

I put her down, way over to the right side of the tub, to fully assess the situation. Then, the Pizz completes her evacuation with a grand Tee-Tee Esplosion! Great!

That's it... I think to myself... Time to call in for re-enforcements!

"Maine!!!! I need you!!!"

"What??" .... "Code brown.. CODE BROWN!!!"... er... "CODE GREEN!!!"

She comes upstairs and assesses the situation....

Guess who got to clean up the tub?

"I'm gonna wash that poop right outta my hair... I'm gonna wash...."

Postcard from the Fortress

Daddy Daycare and the Fortress of Kemper-tude!

Well, after a brutal Friday for the KP's parental units, we were in for some good times during a Daddy Daycare weekend!

The Maine was on nights, and is battling through a cold, which got worse... and threw the weekend into a tizzy!

But then the Editor (aka the Proprietor of Daddy Daycare) developed a secure play area for the Pizz... away from sharp objects and Ham's doggy breath...

I call it: "The Fortress of Kemper-tude!"

This nice little Fortress allowed the Pizz to play, do AA and eat ... all weekend!

The eating station is the bouncer to the right of the picture. The Pizz feeds herself! (well, bottles for now)

It was lovely. The Maine was resting off her cold... the Pizz was playing... and the Editor was watching the NFL Draft! (of which, he it totally pumped up for the Bucs this season... too bad I can't watch it here... or maybe that is a good thing...)

The Pizz had a grand time, even when it poured all Sunday... she had no idea, all snug in her Fortress!

She even had time to pass out some cuteness for my camera

Gettin' The GM's Digits!

So, about 3 weeks ago the Maine decided she had had enough. She couldn't stand the GM's Digits! (the 30 year-old address numbers that were drilled into a pine tree in our front lawn.) So she went online to find some new ones... (unbeknownst to me!)

"Something cool and trendy!" she says...

"Uh huh"

Then, they finally arrived last week... Guess who had to figure out how to put them up....

Bill and Matt, our contractors??? Ha ha ... Very funny...

Me...

After a weeks worth of nagging, and pestering, and whining, I set out this weekend to put the new numbers up. This entailed using the circular saw, painting, and drilling... all under the watchful eye of the Maine! (talk about stressors!!!)

So then, this PM, the contraption is finally complete. All that was left was the ceremonial placement.

The whole BY family trudged out to the front yard.

Daddy worked feverishly at removing the 30 yearold marker.

The Maine and the Pizz played.

and then we were done!

Wha- la!

But that is not the best or secret part!

What was "cool and trendy" about these numbers is that they have little solar panels, which charge little LED lights...