So, here’s the thing. You may have noticed that we’ve been sorta sparse in the blogging arena. We registered, designed and produced this site as a way to keep a public journal of Charlie’s life. Our intentions were good; but tell me, what happens when you have one website specifically geared and branded towards your first and only kid..and then you have a second?

When we found out we were pregnant with Lucy, I purchased betababy.net, without thinking much about it. However, we certainly don’t have the time or energy to run two blogs—we barely run one.

This brings us to our options. Option 1: quit the blog and revert back to my real, true passion—scrapbooking. The collages, the stamps, the stencils, the texture if the paste in my mouth…

Or option 2: start a new blog—a blog that is slightly more generic. Less specific to the life of our amazing child, or even both of our amazing children. A blog that we feel comfortable discussing subjects completely irrelevant to children. Like, for instance that really awesome movie that we saw the other night. Not that we see movies; we have children, remember?….Well we’ll think of something.

Now, I’m going to ask you—especially if you’re a loyal reader—to click the link below. And please, make sure you update your RSS reader. We have no intention on dissolving alphababy.net—we’re far too nostalgic to scrap this ‘baby book’. We may even continue to post here when relevant. Our primary focus, however, will be directed here:

Thanks! Over and out.

This weekend was Grandma B’s birthday. I won’t mention her age, but it may or may not rhyme with schmixty. Happy Birthday, Gramma!

Her birthday also happens to mark Charlie’s HALF birthday, so naturally, we all got together and ate 1 1/2 cakes. And today, we will eat another 1/4 cake to celebrate Lucy’s 3-month birthday. And, unless anybody has a reason to eat the last 1/4 of the second cake, I will eat it without one.

33 months of children.

At the Children’s Museum.
Most kids want to be a fireman or astronaut. Not ours.

We are not spontaneous people; especially since having kids. So, at the beginning of last weekend, we were shocked to find ourselves driving to Portland for a couple of days. Our friend, Sizzle gave us the idea by missing her train to visit her Oregon friends. Andrea and I ‘joked’ about giving her a ride with the kids in the back seat. Then after a brief pause, we found ourselves looking for last-minute hotel deals. Sizzle ended up rescheduling her train, so didn’t tag along, which, in retrospect was a very good decision on her part. We knew it was a tight fit with the two car seats in the back, but we had not anticipated Lucy screaming for the entire 10-hour drive. Ok it was only 3-hours…but felt like 10.

We spent the weekend wandering the Pearl District and Downtown Portland. On Sunday, before heading home, we decided to take Charlie to the children’s museum, which, we’re certain is where he picked up croup.

Charlie, waitin’ to get out

It wasn’t until Tuesday that he really started showing symptoms — the hoarseness and barking cough. We put him to bed that evening and started to wind down. About an hour later, we heard him gasping for breath through the monitor. We ran into his room to find him sitting up, scared. His airway was so restricted that he was really having to work to get full breaths of air. After consulting the nurse’s hotline, we headed to Children’s ER. He received some steroid treatment that made him feel good enough to run circles around the room until we were finally discharged, around 3:30AM.

It was just shy of 4AM when we pulled into our neighborhood to find the single lane between parked cars blocked by a large SUV. Two of the passengers were out of the car and had opened a parked truck’s tailgate and canopy. A third guy kindly moved their SUV out of our way and rather casually went about stealing everything out of the back of the pickup. I immediately called 911, hoping to once and for all catch these guys. We couldn’t get their license plate number because of the fog—both literal and figurative. We watched the police circle our neighborhood several times, but I’m guessing the criminals got away, once again.

On my way home from work on Wednesday, the victim was outside examining his truck. I stopped to tell him what happened and quickly learned that he installs surveillance cameras for a living. He already had a plan to catch the crooks next time they decided to violate his property. Will they come back again? Yes. Yes they will.

In the last few months we have become exceedingly lazy. Between the Holidays, a new baby, and SNOWMAGEDDON ‘08 (which we can clearly blame on Al Gore), exercise had become less frequent. One night, as the new year was rapidly approaching, we were sitting around eating potato chips and spoonfuls of Nutella, when we got to thinkin’ about our ‘resolutions’. Andrea decided to dust off the 30-day Shred DVD that was currently being used as a coaster and begin working out. And I decided to quit being fair-weathered when it came to riding my bicycle to work. Seemed realistic.

Andrea got ’shredding’ right away, and is already showing great results; and last Tuesday, I finally went to pick up my bike from a much-needed tune-up. I was pretty excited to get back on the saddle and—ignoring the weather forecast—I had a dry ride into work on Wednesday morning. I spent most of my day at my desk on the 11th floor, paying as little attention to the weather as possible. At quittin’ time, I pulled my bike out of the parking garage to learn that it had begun pouring rain earlier in the afternoon—and had not let up.

By the time I got to the base of ‘Dexter hill’, I was drenched. But with another cyclist behind me, I stubbornly gave it my all. At the top of the hill, as we were picking up speed, I was paying close attention to a bus that had just left a stop and crossed over the bike lane. As it gained some distance in front of me, I once again began accelerating. It was that very second that my light struck what I only instantly saw as the inside of a car door opening. I managed to begin steering my bike to avoid collision but was unsuccessful. I ended up clipping the door with my upper body, shattering the window. I remember hearing the crunch of the door being hyper extended, the clap of my laptop bag hitting the ground next to me and the clattering of the cyclist behind as he landed on my bike. As I got up to brush the mud off and to assess the damage, I realized that I couldn’t lift my bag with my left arm. The other cyclist—who, it turned out also just got his bike out of the shop—hung around for a few minutes but was ok to continue his ride.

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That night, instead of going to dinner with friends, as originally planned, we ended up at the Northwest Hospital ER, learning all about what it means to separate a shoulder. Luckily, our friend Dr. Hodge was working that night and was able to get us star treatment—it was the quickest, most pleasant ER visit I’ve ever experienced. Thanks Doc!

I might need another sling

Since last Wednesday, I’ve given a lot of thought to the accident. I realize how lucky I am that it didn’t turn out worse than it did. I’ve heard about people being seriously maimed or even killed from being ‘doored’. Now, while I take a breath and wait until I am able to ride again, I will have to reassess my resolution…and unless anybody has a better suggestion, I’m thinking that it really ought to involve more Nutella.

We don’t do many top lists. In fact, if you ask me what my favorite..whatever, is. I’ll fight the urge to kick you in the shin. It’s just too much pressure to consider what, for instance, my FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME (echo echo echo…) might be. What if my answer is Steel Magnolias, then days later Robocop is on TNT and I remember how much more I liked the ED-209 than Tom Skerritt? what..if?

My point here is not that I have great taste in movies, but rather to help you understand that when I make a list such as this, it’s not because these are necessarily the best albums of the year. These albums just happen to be what I found along the way, and liked enough to listen to again and again—and ultimately share with you…and because they were the best.

10 : KEXP Live at KEXP Vol. 4

The annual compilations of in-studio performances that our local ‘listener-powered’ radio station release are almost always a hit with me. This year, there are a few misses, but there’s a nice range of artists from Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings to The Ravonettes. If you’re interested in getting a copy, better hurry; it is now out of print and only available until supplies last.

On halloween, Charlie toured the KEXP studio, click here and here.

Sample track: (”Grounds For Divorce” by Elbow)
[audio:http://www.alphababy.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/2008_10.mp3]

9 : Delta Spirit Ode To Sunshine

This album didn’t get much press, but it was one that I instantly fell in love with. Raw, ‘vintage’, jazzy, bluesy—an all around good listen.

Sample track:
[audio:http://www.alphababy.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/2008_09.mp3]

8 : Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend

To be honest, I was trying not to add this to the list. It got huge press and a lot of air-play and I was skeptical about the hype. I had the chance to see Vampire Weekend at the Crocodile last year, before it closed. While I thought they looked too young and hip with their old-school, oversized guitars and afro-pop beats to really be any good, I couldn’t help but do the “I’m too old and cool to dance, but I’ll move my old bald head to the beat”.

Their energy is incredible and any time I need a little pick-me-up, I make full use of these guys. Oh, and Charlie loves dancing along too.

Sample track:
[audio:http://www.alphababy.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/2008_08.mp3]

7 : Department of Eagles In Ear Park

This one took a few listens for me to truly appreciate. When I first started thinking about this list, it was maybe a runner up. Every time I listened it steadily moved up toward the top of the list.

If you want a treat, watch their Pitchfork.tv videos now posted on Department of Eagles’ site (specifically No One Does It Like You; apparently recorded on a rooftop in NYC.)

Sample track:
[audio:http://www.alphababy.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/2008_07.mp3]

6 : Hot Chip Made In the Dark

Just good ol’ fashion high-energy electronic beats. Their videos are always pretty interesting/funny; obviously they don’t take themselves too seriously, which I think is good for the genre.

Sample track:
[audio:http://www.alphababy.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/2008_06.mp3]

5 : Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes

Another one that I was skeptical about, but what can I say? It’s good. Very good. Beautiful, in fact. Fleet Foxes have received a ton of press and reached the top of many lists, including KEXP’s top 90.3 albums of ‘08. It wasn’t my #1 but when I want something to calm my nerves and relax, I turn these guys up.

And if you want to hear a nice cover, Stockholm’s First Aid Kit did an incredible version of “Tiger Mountain Peasant Song”.

Sample track:
[audio:http://www.alphababy.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/2008_05.mp3]

4 : MGMT Oracular Spectacular

I’m not exactly sure if I can explain why this is #4 on the list. I am having trouble describing it’s goodness, so I’ll quote their horribly noisy and non-user-friendly website: “the duo’s much-anticipated first full-length album, an enigmatic and prophetic collection of hallucinatory sounds and hook-riddled pop tones for the new millennium.”

So, there you have it.

Sample track:
[audio:http://www.alphababy.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/2008_04.mp3]

3 : Dodos Visiter

Good, somewhat rough sounds of acoustic guitars, banjo, drum—it sounds like they make good use of the studio. Through the first part of the year, I listened to ‘Visiter’ a LOT. And it’s still one I come back to again and again.

Pitchfork Media says (what I can’t): “Visiter alternates between longer, more improvisatory material and near-interludes, which can leave a slightly spotty impression on its first few listens. With more exposure, the record reveals the celebratory acoustics of Led Zeppelin III or a more song-oriented take on tourmates Akron/Family…” [MORE]

Sample track:
[audio:http://www.alphababy.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/2008_03.mp3]

2 : Girl Talk Feed the Animals

Alright kids, plug your ears. Girl Talk is a rather controversial ‘mash-up’ artist best described by Wired Magazine. It’s certainly not for everyone, but what I like most about this album (and his others) is his ability to take bad songs (old and new) mix them up a bit and make them very listenable. He takes a lot of rather hard-core hip-hop, old eighties favorites, and even modern pop; deconstructs the music; and molds them into his own masterpieces.

The controversy is that he uses a lot of artist’s and labels’ music without permission. In fact, the label he belonged to is called Illegal Art.

Need a pick-me-up? Grab a cup of coffee or pay what you want for Feed the Animals here.

Sample track: CAUTION: you may hear some explicit lyrics that you should probably just ignore.
[audio:http://www.alphababy.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/2008_02.mp3]

1 : Cloud Cult Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes)

Here it is. My #1 pick for the year. It was by far the most listened to album in my iTunes. It was the top album on The Onion’s list—although, now I’m not sure if I should take that seriously..

The music is beautiful. It refreshes me without making me drowsy. It rarely grows old. I can almost always depend on it.

And, while I’m at it I owe an apology to Cloud Cult. Last year’s list was completely void of their 2007 release, The Meaning of 8, which, I will say I like even better than Feel Good Ghosts.

Sample track from Feel Good Ghosts:
[audio:http://www.alphababy.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/2008_01.mp3]

Sample track from 2007’s Meaning of 8:
[audio:http://www.alphababy.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/2007_01.mp3]

Other albums in my iTunes that got a fair amount of play (in alphabetical order):
Beck - Modern Guilt
Black Angels - Directions to See a Ghost
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Brian Eno & David Byrne - Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs
DeVotchKa - A Mad and Faithful Telling
Los Campesinos! - Hold On Now, Youngster
Magnetic Fields - Distortion
Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping
Tapes ‘n Tapes - Walk It Off

And a couple of disappointments :
Snow Patrol - A Hundred Million Suns. I liked their last album (years ago, now). I was kind of looking forward to more. I gave this a listen and thought it was just a pile of crap.

My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges. The album isn’t horrible. It just got a lot of, what I thought was undeserved hype. I thought the album bordered on corny. But that’s just me.

So, there you have it. See you next year.