Maggie's Picture

Maggie drew a picture last night with her new art supplies (thanks Gran!) and wanted to share it with you all.

Happy Caleb Day!

In honor of the fourth anniversary of our youngest baby's birth and in order to compensate for my severe writer's block (roughly nine months have passed since my last post of any great length) I have decided to re-publish some of the things that I have written about our little monkey on previous birthdays followed by an update for this year. Happy Caleb Day!

From Caleb's second birthday post:

It's hard to believe that it's been two years already.

Our baby, Caleb Robert Baker, turns two today. What is equally hard to believe is that this child, Bam-Bam, he who wields the weapons of mass destruction that our president will never find on a daily basis at his siblings and our pets; he who's life's goal is to become a Jedi Knight (although I'm almost certain that he will turn to the dark side and become a Sith like his sister before him); he of Viking Warrior attire, physique, disposition, and fighting style; he to whom the only way to properly carry a cat is upside down; he to whom the only real sport is a contact sport, even golf (I see football and ice hockey in his future); he to whom even video games are full contact and no holds barred; he of countless emergency room trips for various feats of daring-do; he who lost his first tooth (again, I see ice hockey in this boy's future) at an age (four months) younger than when most children have received their first tooth, due to his rambunctious nature and aggressive sleeping style; "Mr. Boo-Boo Head" himself; how could he ever have ever been appropriately referred to as a "baby"?

Well, he is officially a "baby" no longer (even per his mother's and grandmother's standards regarding such matters). We have a two-year-old on our hands now. A "Big Kid". One who can walk and talk and who knows sixty-seven ways to kill you with a toy lightsaber. If the first two years of his life are any indication, the next few should be pretty exciting.

God help us all.

From Caleb's third birthday:

Well, Caleb is now three. No longer a "terrible two", yet somehow still terrifying. He has traded his lightsaber fetish for a sword fetish, which is still as deadly if not quite as geeky.

He actually may be a little bit geekier. He has declared that he is a "Jousting Guy", also know as "The Green Knight". He believes that this is a viable career path. He will even site Medieval Times as proof.

He still loves contact sports, although his emphasis has changed towards boxing, which he calls "the punching one". Caleb has a somewhat disturbing love for violence that seems to be contagious, but so is his smile.

Caleb is passionate, and it seems is growing more so every day. He, for as in-your-face as he can be with his rough housing, is just as in your face with his love. He thinks pulling hair is snuggling, but he does it so affectionately that the recipient can't help but like it. He has been known to randomly go up to people and say "I like you", and mean it. When he is angry, he is angry at everybody. But when he is happy, he is happy with everybody. No one's day would be complete without Caleb telling you why he loves you. My favorite is when he says: "Daddy I love you, you don't shout at me any more." I have no idea why he would say that, really (Well... maybe a little bit of an idea -- as his Grandmother says: It's a good thing Caleb's cute! He has been verbally corrected more than a few times, sometimes at a fairly high decibel level.)

While I may not like it, and he may not like it (he has thrown fits all week about not being able to be a two-year-old any more) Caleb is growing up.

So happy birthday to my knight in shining armor. Now try not to kill your sister this year!

So has anything changed about this little powder keg? If anything, he's become even more energetic, which is great for my physique! He's gotten really interested in wrestling and exercising, which as best I can tell to him are pretty much the same thing. He grabs a hold of whoever he plans to wrestle or exercise with (usually me -- like I said it's been great for my physique!) and will not let go for any reason. He will wrap around my legs, my arms, my waist, my whatever, and hold on for dear life as I drag him, kick him, strangle him, abuse him, and otherwise try to coerce him to release me. We're getting into great shape!

He's still a violent toothless wonder and an I'm-so-cute-and-I-know-it ladies man. All the girls at his pre-school adore him. He's also developing a real love for music and singing. Yesterday his school had their Christmas music program, and Caleb hammed it up on stage along with all the others. I will close this post with some pictures of Caleb from the show (I had to end with pics, that's my thing!)

Jolly Evil Elf?

The following is photographic evidence that clearly demonstrates that Santa Claus, far from being a benevolent giver of Christmas toys to all good children, is in fact the embodiment of pure unadulterated evil. (Hat tip to Heather.)

"Don't cry kid or I'll squeeze you till you pop!"

"You just keep crying, kid. Mommy's not coming. She's in my freezer."

"Wasn't this guy an extra in Killer Clowns From Outer Space?"

"LET ME GO!!!!"

"Mommy, I don't know about this. Why is his beard yellow? And what is that SMELL?"

"How much do you think I paid for these kids on eBay?"

"A little help here?"

"Huh?"

"Help me Mommy! He's like an evil Dumbledore!"

Baker Monkey Sightings!

Check out each of the following pictures. Do you see what they all have in common? No, I mean besides the University of Kentucky gymnasts. Look closer, in the background. Who is that beautiful woman with the pigtails and those three adorable (if not a little sleepy) children? Why, those are some Baker Monkeys!

Maggie's Tree

Maggie decided that Daddy's desk needed a Christmas tree. She took it upon herself to decorate it and I think she did a fantastic job. What do you think?

Do not press!

Because every website needs a SUCK button.

Happy Anniversary!

Has it really been eight years?!

Take your pick. You can have the roses, which are more traditionally appropriate for anniversaries.

You can have the lilacs, which I know are your favorite but you are so allergic to them that you could die.

(Fortunately this is just on the computer, instead of in the kitchen, otherwise the white roses might be more appropriate).

You could have a random assortment of flowers in a vase.

Or you could just have a skunk with a strange name.

Hell, it's our anniversary. Have 'em all. You just have to keep the skunk outside.

Thank you, Shannon, for eight years of putting up with my sh*t.

I want one!

I had the opportunity to play one of the new Parkwood hybrid (see the video above) guitars today. I have played a number of acoustic-electric hybrids including the much acclaimed Taylor T-5, and I can honestly say that the Parkwood blows it out of the water both in playability and tone.

I am thinking about posting a full review on my music website, but I just had to share this guitar's awesomeness and this blog is a lot easier to update. I promise to return to our regular Baker Monkeyness in my next post. Please forgive this guitar intrusion.

Beach Bakers!

We're back from the beach. I'd love to tell you all about the trip, but alas I am tired after the long drive home and then work today. Besides, if a picture is worth a thousand words then the I must seem pretty verbose after these: