A Benetton Ad

This is Marc.  His dads Renaud and Dafydd are from France and Wales, respectively.  Renaud and Daffyd adopted Marc from Baton Rouge.   Marc understands French, Welsh, and English and he's just shy of two and a half years old.

He has the longest darkest eyelashes I've ever seen.

He's also built for rugby.

He is inquisitive, sweet, and comprehends two more languages than I do.

He and his dads are going to move to South Africa soon and we will miss them.   Everytime I see them, I am overwhelmed by the magnificent possibilities for this beautiful sweet child.

Here's Jack's First DC Glamour Photo

This picture was taken the day Mr. Dingell was honored for having served longer than any other member in the history of the House of Representatives. I particularly liked what President Clinton said at a reception in honor of Mr. Dingell's service: It was the quality of his service not the length that distinguished his career. It was an honor working for him (although he would be quick to point out...that we worked together.) Note that both Jack and I have not figured out how to do the "down and out" hence the double chins for the both of us. Jeff and Mr. Dingell on the other hand - old pros!

Awake? Asleep....

a belated Happy St. Pat's day to you all

Sir, please do NOT eat the baby

Sometimes you just wanna squeeeeeze 'em.

FEET!

Aunt Cathy took some amazing shots.  She said getting Jack's feet was the most difficult because he was moving them the whole time.  Hurdler? Dancing with the Stars?  Dodge Ball Master?  Too early to tell, but the feet are awfully cute.

This is a Dad-In-Training....

Note the proper hand placement, supporting the head.

The placement of the baby near the body.

The confused-deer-in-the-headlights look....

Tim and Sarah are due in June!

Mmmmm, Regent Thai

Jack, Jeff and I joined Fred, Bill and Josh at Regent Thai last night after a verrrry long week.  It was good fun to have him with his uncles who are just a little cuckoo over him!

Happy St. Patrick's Day from Saint Gert of County Sligo

Mom's people came from County Sligo.  It is a blue collar sort of place in the middle of Ireland.  Mom's granddad came over during the potato famine and started in West Virginia.  Mom's dad (and at least two of his brothers) moved to Kentucky.  Grandpa (Ignatius Loyola Mulvaney) then came to Birmingham to work on the L&N Railroad.  He had 11 kids with Grandma Catherine Caveness Mulvaney.  We ALL have Grandma Mulvaney's eyes.  Every last one of us (literally 60-70 first cousins, and scads more in the next generation and generation after that).  It's a little freaky.

Anyway, this is my hilarious Mom wishing everyone Happy St. Pat's day.  She has the St. Paddy's crown on. She will be meeting her 13th grandchild in a little less than 10 days.  I am so excited that she and Dad are finally going to get to hold Mr. Jack.

Cousin Sage should be credited with many of the photos in the collage

She is quite the artiste!

Collage of the Baby Shower

Here are some shots from the Baby Shower.  I realized later that I didn't get a lot of pics of everyone there.  We are so lucky to have so many good and decent friends.

Back to Jack....

Apologies to Jack's fans about the paucity of posting during the last week.  Jeff and I discovered up close and personal what it means to have 2 working dads and a full time baby!  Luckily, we have some of the best friends in the world.  Jack discovered a new canine friend named Lucy. He also is fascinated by a twirling ribbon....(nature or nurture?)

More posts soon!

Jack's cousins are having fun!

Party Monster

Uncle Dave is just plumb tuckered out after the party!

What a great day for Jack!

Here's to G-Mom Ruth

She is going to spoil that little boy rotten! (And we are going to grin the whole way there!)

A future pugilist?

This morning around 5:15, I got up to feed Jack a bottle.  He's gotten very good moving his arms around.  Today we went three rounds with him clenching his fists in front of his mouth and me ducking and weaving to get the bottle into his yawning maw!  

Pretty hilarious.  Probably would have been funnier around 8:30 or 9.

Hope you all have a good day.

Three Generations...

Grandma, Son, and Grandson - now that's a lot of Dygert packed into one frame!

What do we do when Grandma Ruth comes to town (Part 3)

3. snuggle some more....

What do we do when Grandma Ruth comes to town? (Part 2)

2. Snuggle.

What do you do when Grandma Ruth comes to town?

Eat French Food. 

Two times in a row.

Lavandou for dinner, then La Fourchette for brunch.  Jack had the Chateau Margaux from '82.

We LOVE when Grandma Ruth comes to town....

Did you hear that loud "CLICK" this afternoon?

It was the sound of "Everything" finally finding "Just Right." 

Grandma Ruth flew in from Santa Fe this afternoon and held Jack for the first time.  She's downstairs in the kitchen right now, gently rocking back and forth, cooing with him.  There will be a series of pictures over the next few days but here are just  a few.  It is something very special to see a grandmother hold her very first grandchild for the very first time.

Future leadership indicia...

Jeff thinks that Jack's hair style is remniscent of the exalted leader of a certain Pacific Rim nation. (I am trying to avoid cyber attacks so if you don't get the hints, it wouldn't be that funny anyway!)

GUILTY

I, Bill Abell, hereby confess that I am a baby hog.

As we all know, the first step to recovery is acknowledging your weakness.

In this instance, I acknowledge that I cannot put that baby down.

The second step is to try and 

do something to overcome your addiction.

After much consideration, I have decided to just stop at the first step.

Don't even try and take this baby from me.

He's happy here and he's not going anywhere.

I have very strong arms.

Now go away.

I am concentrating on holding the baby. 

Grandpa George and Jack are cutting up!

In the kitchen this morning, George, Linda and Jack were having a grand time. More smiles from himself this morning.

Brrrrrr

Jack says "Don't forget your mittens!"

Happy Birthdays!

They keep putting me in all of these crazy situations -- my question is when am I going to get to meet all you folks?

The International Facial Standards and Measurements Union has Declared This a True Smile and not A Gas-Induced Smirk

Jack makes Martinique giggle....

Martinique is turning into quite the volleyball player.  She told us that she can now touch 101 inches high!  We are thinking her sport moniker should be the Big Red Wall!

Let the parade of grandparents begin!

Grandpa George and Grandma Linda have arrived just ahead of the snow storm to snuggle with Jack.  The little tree frog has found a place on Grandma Linda that he thinks is jussstttt right!