Don Brownleeone

"I'll make him an offer he can't refuse."


















How was my Marlon Brando Dad? Spot on?
Want me to do "Waterfront" Now?


















You rolling Dad? Ok, take one.
"I Coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody..."


















Sorry...I lost it. Let's do another take.

Are you bringing me breakfast in bed?

Working out with Mom.

I'm getting psyched up for my workout.





























Mom says I should focus on my core strength.














Here goes...










































Mom: "One..."

Thanks Aunt Ellen!

My Aunt Ellen came to stay with us and help out Mom while Dad was in DC working. We had fun - walked a lot - but they also worked a lot on their computers - not that I know what a computer is; just that it distracts Mom from paying attention to me at all times.

We enjoyed your visit!






"Squeaks" the Pistol and "Inky"

My Throne

Let them eat cake!

Afternoon walk

Morning Calisthenics

Every morning I do my morning workout.



This is my instructor. I've got kind of a crush on him. He gets all my smiles and all my coos. I think Mom is jealous.



We do lots of bicycling of legs and windmilling of arms. I'm not sure he knows much else.



Someone cancelled my post workout massage! HEADS WILL ROLL!



Clean baby - earned my morning nap. Think I'll talk to my instructor a little more. Coo.

Goofy girl.

All smiles.












Cuckoo.














Why are you poking me?












Practicing our yodel.

The Pianist

Practicing her scales...

Recent pics.

Bundled up.

















Me and Grandma Carol.
















Me with Doda Arza

















Dad helps me create a bird of my own.













In my Christmas finest.















Tummy time.











The girls like to keep me company in the nursery.

Birds at the window

My first Cooper's Hawk
















My first Cooper's Hawk
















My first Pine Siskin















My first Tree Sparrow

Grace Ellen's Birthday

December 16, 2008 will always be Grace Ellen's Day for me.
No matter that Jane Austen and Beethoven were once born on December 16, it is now Grace Ellen's Birthday, and I hope I have better luck remembering it than I have had in the past, remembering Norris's.
Grace's Day is also the National Independence Day for Bahrain. Grace shares her day with Saint Bean, a very obscure Irish Saint who was "perhaps a lakeside hermit." Sounds romantic. On Grace's Day, the moon looked like this.

Watched my first 'Cuse game last night. I'm a good luck charm. Look for my first word to be Onuaku.

Me and Poppy (aka Grace and Norrie) in the hospital postpartum room.














Me (looking very cute) in the hospital nursery.















Me and Grandpa Wally and Grandma Carol.

Me and mom after my first bath.


















Me and Poppy (aka Grace and Norrie) in the home nursery.











Me and Granny DeeBee.

















Me and P-paw Porter.

Late mom

So, as a two week old infant, I get to dictate to my mom what to post on my blog. We're just past the craziness of the holidays and mom and dad are on their own after all the family came to help out - we were so spoiled! Dad is outside picking up trash. I'm swinging in my swing; and mom is playing on the computer and figured she'd better do some posting...

I came into the world on Tuesday, December 16. They named me Grace Ellen after family members on both sides of the family, not to mention my living up to the old adage, "Monday's child is fair of face; Tuesday's child is full of GRACE..." Guess I did what I was supposed to do. I came a week and a day early, mostly in response to my mom's begging me not to make her the Christmas entertainment when both families were in town. We spent two days in the hospital before they sent us home. My DeeBee (mom's mom) came the day after I was born to help out and we were so very grateful. The rest of the family (Grandpa Wally, Grandma Carol (dad's parents); my maternal grandfather (who wouldn't decide what he wanted to be called so we're making something up); my aunt Ellen; my aunt Arza, uncle T, and cousins Nadav and Aya) all arrived the following weekend.

My first week home was a bit crazy. At the one-week doctor's visit they decided I looked a bit jaundiced so we had to spend some time at the hospital to get lab work done - my bilirubin levels were low enough that I didn't require treatment, but still no fun to get your heel pricked for blood when you're barely a week old. But I was a good sport about it, despite my mom's worries over me.

Christmas came in that same week. That was fun and crazy. I took advantage of my infant ability to just sleep through noise and chaos and got some good napping in. Mom and dad opened my gifts and I got some fun things for when I'm a bit older. I got passed around a lot and there are photos of all the grands and me (Dad is in charge of posting photos since they're on his computer...). Mom and dad took turns sleeping in the nursery with me so that I had someone close if needed. The only bad part about everyone's visit was that we all caught colds. It's hard to nurse when your nostrils are clogged. I'm getting better but mom and dad are listening closely to make sure it doesn't go to my chest.

We had our two week doctor's visit this week. I got a good report. He said I was still a bit jaundiced despit my mother's conviction that I'm much less yellow than I was. I gained back 7 oz. over my birth weight so I'm eating well (or it's all that chocolate that mom is eating). We go back towards the middle of February.

The family all left this week. Aunt Ellen and Grandpa Porter took off on Monday. Ellen was spending new year's in NYC. GP (or PeeBaw or Papa P) had to get back to work. DeeBee left us on New Year's Eve and Grandpa Wally and Grandma Carol left this morning. Now mom and dad are totally in charge and on their own. Dad just left to go to the grocery to get staples. We have lots of goodies left over but no basics - mom has to eat healthier than she has been.

Now I just spend most of my time eating and sleeping. I'm starting to look around and notice things. I've got mom's and dad's faces and voices down. I haven't quite figured out the other members of the Muth team - dogs Bryn and Gretel (or Big G as mom calls her, me being Little G) and cat Fishes - but I'll get there. Mom likes to kiss on me. I like to try to eat her nose or latch on to her hair when she does. Fair's fair.

Well gotta go. Time for a bath.