The G-Men

Uncle Sugarpants came to visit from Texas with Candy Cane. Granny G also came for a quick visit, bringing with her a cornucopia of groceries.

Family Song

We've recently taken to singing this song from "The Hangover" to Li'l Leighton as well....

Daddy Nap

Daddy & Leighton nap together. The slumber of clean consciences...

All Clean!

Li'l Ducky

go dry dry

Leighton's First Bath

Clean baby....

Overtime!!

Too much for the little Saint!

SAINTS / VIKINGS!!!

Speaking solely from a musical standpoint (which is hardly fair I know... New Orleans vs. Minnesota?) New Orleans should win hands down.

The Little Man in Black

Crawls the line... (Thanks Uncle Beck!)

Granny G. comes to visit!

Granny G. came to town, with a ton of groceries & treated us to lunch and dinner. A lovely visit with the lovely boy!

The Krewe of Southdowns Fete The Young Prince

Beloved Louisiana native, prison rodeo roadside savior, Royal Barrister, and all-around stellar dude Joe (pictured here) sent me an email about how his krewe - "The Krewe of Southdowns" of Baton Rouge celebrated The Young Prince's birth. As Leighton did arrive during Mardi Gras season they celebrated, as Joe wrote, "with an appropriate pagan ritual." Fabulous.

Nevermore?

According to an article in today's NY Post, the mysterious stranger who would leave cognac & roses on the grave of Edgar Allen Poe on the author's birthday (January 19th) every year for 60 years failed to show this year. I hope he's OK, as this was a great literary tradition I would hate to see end.

Morning, Sunshine!

The Young Prince greets the day...

Counterpoint

Leighton, little legs crossed, engages Mama in lively debate.

LI'L GATOR!!

CHOMP CHOMP!

Leighton's Namesake

God bless Sarge

Either...

Mommy's a ninja OR she made Daddy chili for lunch...

The Young Prince Kicks it Old School

Word

Super Prince

Holds up the sides of his bassinet

Parent Nap

on couch

Mama & Leighton Share a Private Joke

"Did you hear the one about..."

"Mom. I'm 7 days old. No. No I didn't hear that one."

GEAUX SAINTS!

Li'l Leighton may have absorbed the Pats mojo, but he's a li'l Saint so GEAUX NEW ORLEANS!

The Young Prince Ponders Global Domination

"First the crib, then the world... Oops. May have pooped myself."

The Young Prince Addresses His People

"People of Earth. I now walk! Well... Crawl! Well... Breathe among you."

Best. Birthday Card. Ever.

have received some lovely cards - from Amy P., Granny G. and now... Uncle Sugarpants. This one blew us away, and was addressed to Leighton directly. His first card!

And Uncle Sugarpants is already dropping the knowledge. Ninja knowledge. "Fear not the baby bottle, but the hand that wields it."

YAY!

Today's doctor appointment went GREAT & ALL IS WELL! So we're celebrating with "Family Fun & Relaxation" Day. The Young Prince has earned it. He rocked out to some Lynyrd Skynyrd & now we're all just relaxing on the couch. Perhaps a nap is in order after lunch.

(Actually, we think the Italian pediatrician has a crush on Li'l Leighton. Cougars, man... I have to talk to the boy about the perils of older women...)

Baby's First Cab Ride

First pediatrician appointment for vaccinations, but having some nasal respiratory issues so we're winging our way to ENT.

Leighton's fine. Poor fella's nose got scoped but he has no blockages and should grow out of his issues.

Baby Arrives During NFL Playoffs!

My boy, sportsman that he is, arrived during the NFL Playoffs. He couldn't imagine watching one second of a Jets victory so he waited for that game to be over and then popped out at 8:09PM for the Cowboys / Eagles game. Apparently he sucked all of the mojo out of the Patriots, (an infinitesimely small price to pay for so much mojo in one little child) and Mama & Papa watched the game in the hospital.

If I were a betting man, I would look out for those New Orleans Saints - because Leighton's certainly an angel!

To Leighton

At home

The Young Prince is on the Move

Leighton goes HOME!!! He did so well & got so strong, so fast...

Mama Naps

A quick few winks before another feeding

The Young Prince

Prepares to come home

The first song I sang to him was "Simple Man" by Lynyrd Skynyrd. (As I showered this morning, a "double shot" of Skynyrd began on the radio - an auspicious beginning to the day he came home.)

The first words I spoke to him were, "You are magnificent, and you are loved."

Tonight, his mother & I will toast him with our finest bottle of wine & then smash the glasses. For no one else shall ever drink from the glass with which I have celebrated my firstborn son's coming home...

Mama's Home

Having breakfast & hoping Leighton comes home today too.

Mama Needs Her Rest

After a long night of trying to feed The Young Prince

Baby Party!

A bunch of friends came to visit & we had an impromptu baby party!

The Sleepy Prince

Mama & Child

Mama & Child
Originally uploaded by Guzilla.

Leighton Thomas

born 1-9-10, 7lbs. 11 oz. Everyone doing great!

GAME ON!

At the hospital admitting!

Letters To Li'l Gator

Dear Li'l Gator:

Your Father was never perfect. You may find that hard to believe (and he may sometimes think it's a rumor too) but Mama, as she points out in her commentary during this video, reminds yo' Daddy that, occasionally, he misses a line.

Take that as a lesson my son or daughter. It's okay to miss a line now and then. But the show must go on. So sing. Love. Dance. Laugh too loudly. It's okay to miss a line. Now and then.

Make your way. The only way you know how.

But always know we love you.

Wouldn't change if we could...

Chris Dodd

As most of you know, I am DEEPLY apolitical. I love character. So I love John McCain. But I am a registered independent. Both parties have let me down.

But I am very proud of where I am from. And after a self-serving tour in the Senate, The Great State of Connecticut's Senator Chris Dodd said he wouldn't run again with this line that truly, truly bothers me:

"There's nothing more pathetic, in my view, than a politician who announces they are only leaving public life to spend more time with their family."

But at least he had the class to make this announcement with his family standing right behind him.

How dare you sir. Is there really nothing more pathetic? Or have you just let the public in on the secret that that term is code for someone who has stepped down because they don't want anything untoward brought to the fore? Like you knew you couldn't win the next election because of your scandals?

No matter what I do, no matter where my career takes me, if I ever had to step down to take care of my family, I would be God DAMNED if it wasn't the right thing to do that made me do it.

NOTHING could ever be more important. So how DARE YOU compare career and the concept of family. Or even worse...

Politics.

How dare you sir.

Gang Signs

I suspect the baby may have been recruited in to a gang in utero. (I guess that would be the Bloods?) Baby was throwing gang signs during the sonogram, until the nurse kept prodding for a better photo. Then the baby gave her the middle finger.

Definitely our child...

GATORGRAM!!

Baby, Mama & proud Papa all doing well. Chubby cheeks & pouty lips! Baby intensely dislikes paparazzi and is going to make his / her arrival on his / her own time. No photos please...

Popeye's Fried Chicken

Lunch at Popeye's post-Gatorgram! I have been craving fried chicken recently as it has been many months since I've had & The Wyfe took me to Popeye's for lunch! Good Wyfe.

Waiting for my flu shot

Was starting to get a bit stale in the apartment so The Wyfe took me for a walk and to get my flu shot. Still waiting...

Once I got the shot she even gave me a lollipop. Good Wyfe.

(In a rather unintentionally funny moment, the technician asked me if I was okay with needles. I responded, "Very. Oh wait.... Uh... I mean... Appropriately so." The Wyfe & the technician laughed.)

Baby's First Bowl Game!

We (all) are... Penn State!