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Who has the coolest mom? Maggie, of course!

In our desperate attempts to spoil our poor pitiful injured daughter I have proven my supreme coolness.

Maggie is disappointed that while in a cast (for insurance reasons) she cannot work out with the hotshots group at her gym. This very reasonable ban from the gym is in effect until May 30 (when the term ends). Her coach did a really good job working with me to create a workout that she can do at home. It just isn't the same. There must be something in the chalk that creates intense longing to punish your body. She has been a season ticket holder for UK Gymnastics since the 2004 season. She loves the "UK Gymnastic girls." During her first week in the cast she was particularly dejected, so on a lark I e-mailed the Coach of the UK Gymnastics team. I asked if the team could sign Maggie's cast.

This is Emilie Rymer (well, the back of her head) Maggie was able to watch her work on her floor routine while we were at the practice facility.

This is my favorite UK gymnast, Kristen O'Shields. She spoke with Maggie for about 10 minutes. How many college students do you know that prolong conversations with 6 yr olds?

Heather Hite, one of Maggie's top fav's from the team, made sure to find out what Maggie's favorite event was. Maggie asked her why she stopped using the Pirate's of the Caribbean theme music for her floor routine.

Hillary Ferguson, the most dynamic on floor I've seen since Michelle Gales competed for the Cats, seems really shy. It was surprising because how sassy she is during competition.

This is Coach Mo Mitchell. I am thankful he let us interrupt their workout to make my girl happy. The team had the last regular season meet to get ready for. YOU ROCK MO!!!!!!

Recovering

Maggie is back home from the hospital. She had surgery this morning and is now resting comfortably. She has a new movie to watch that her mother bought for her, and as you can see it made her very happy.

She'll be fine in a couple of months and will be able to resume gymnastics, but she's obviously feeling a little down about having to take a couple of months off. Any well wishes for her a greatly appreciated and can be left either in the comments section or they can be e-mailed to me at tom@tombakerguitar.com. I'll pass them on to her.

Sleep well, princess.

Spring? Give Me a Break!

Shannon and I have both gone back to college this semester, which may help to explain why my postings have been even more sporadic than usual of late (read: nonexistent). Anyway, this week is our Spring Break. We still have to work, so we're not going to go off to the beach and get blitzed like more traditional college students. I think we'll just stay home and PLAY IN THE SNOW! Maybe Spring Break should actually take place in, I don't know, the Spring. That's just a thought. Anyway, enjoy the pictures Maggie and I took this morning.

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?

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: