Newsflash: Cousin Tyler Walks - Film at . . . now

March 31, 2008
The Triangle

Not content to sit around all day in a Bumbo seat, watching March Madness and eating sausage balls like other North Carolinians, Cousin Tyler busts a move across the living room rug at 8 months old.



When Annabelle Chambers, first cousin and recent walker herself at 14 months, was asked for comments, her response was surprisingly curt:

"Great. That's wonderful," Chambers said. "Yeah, really terrific. Would this have anything to do with the fact that I still sleep in a pack'n'play and Tyler has a real baby bed? Anyway, I mean, I guess I am happy for us. We both walked in March right? I think that is how you measure it these days - by the month of the calendar year, not the month of your own life. I saw something in Parents Magazine. Yeah, you know, I was going to start walking in, um, December, but I was afraid of slipping on the ice and snow and hail in the Winter."

When reminded that she lives in Georgia, where there is no ice or snow or hail, Chambers promptly threw a partially eaten banana at our cameraman and shouted "well then get the hail out of my kitchen!" and slammed the door.

Other Chambers, Barritt, and Long family members, who could not be reached by the time of publication, were more supportive, and even proud of young Tyler.

Happy Birthday Dad!

We have a tradition around here of writing silly poems as a way of revealing a birthday surprise. I'll spare you this year's effort in its entirety, as it included rhyming "Birthday Bomb" with "grace and aplomb," and just tell you that we took a little road trip. We drove to Social Circle, Ga, to eat at the Blue Willow Inn, an antebellum mansion turned all-you-can-eat Southern buffet. It was a Birthday Bomb, indeed, and I mean in the best way. Happy Birthday Matt!

The other Chambers kid

Upon perusal of recent posts, it is evident that Annabelle only has the slightest of exposure. So here is a new picture of her, courtesy of YiaYia and her baby-friendly lens . . .

She looks sneaky because she is hatching plans to guarantee that she will be in more pictures in the future.

The Roanoke Weiner Stand

Dad has for years wanted to go to the Roanoke Weiner Stand. However, no one would accompany him, and he is loathe to eat tube steaks alone, especially in a town where he is only a guest.

But in April of 2005, a scion was delivered. One who would not remember a day that he did not want to go to hot dog restaurants. One who, as soon as he could sit on a swivelly barstool by himself, would accompany his father hither and yon to roadside eateries, kiosks, taco trucks, and above all, restaurants solely dedicated to America's favorite hot beef injection - the hot dog.

So, yesterday, Barritt joined Dad at the R.W.S.



















It wasn't very good. But that isn't even really the point. The point is that he located himself in history, becoming one of the thousands served in the half century the Roanoke Weiner Stand has existed. And from what we judged, he might have even experienced one of the RWS's last days - if the Health Dept. has anything to say about it.

Come thou long expected biped (v. 2.0)

We got it on tape! Maybe it is only one or two steps, but (enter cliche of choice here).

Now that it is 20 degrees with 30 mph gusts, we are on Spring Break. While we are in South Padre, you can warm your hearts with this little montage.

"I thought chickens were food, not animals"

Mom has been getting ready for our new yard by establishing a seed wish list on Burpee.com. Even though we won't move in until late May, there are ambitious plans afoot for the 2008 crops.

So Mom has apprised Barritt of the plans for swiss chard, chioggia beets, okra, Kentucky Wonder pole beans and so on. When asked what else he would like to grow in the garden, his first request: Eggs!
mom: Eggs? Where do eggs come from?
B: Chickens!
Mom: Can we grow chickens in the garden? I don't think so.
B (thinking for a minute): I thought chickens were food, not animals.

A related conversation:

Mom, reading from a book: "Feel the silky-soft red tulip"
B: what kind of flower is that one?
Mom: a daffodil
B: is that a daf-flip?
Mom: no, that's a tulip.
B: Which one is a daffi-do?
Mom: This one is a tulip.
B: No, its a one-lip.

One other thing. After waiting for months, we witnessed Annabelle take her first steps on Wednesday night. Not just a first step, but five in a row before collapsing on the hassock. But, like hundreds before us trying to document the Yeti, the Lock Ness Monster, and WMDs in Iraq, we have thus far failed to get this on camera.