Bean's Day with G-Pops

Today, Westin was left in the care of G-pops while D and I shopped. I am trying my best to abandon my homeless not so polished look of a graduate student/post-doc and embrace the new professional, but functional, look of an Assistant Professor. This sort of transformation requires the help of trained professionals and a highly patient shopping partner (Thanks, D!). Thankfully, Westin was in good hands, so I could relax on that front. Westin went to the bank and wonderful variety shop in Mountain Brook called Smith's (where he most certainly walked out with new toys-he just loves the crinkly sound of cloth toys). G-Pops also took Westin (and Willis) to the McWane Science Center. This is a magical place with all sorts of fun things! Although, please note the following reactions:
Straps on the BOB (Incidentally, NOT part of any McWane exhibit).............entertaining and tasty.
Cool outer space exploration............BORING!
Cool Potato Head exhibit.............BORING!
Giant stuffed turkey..............WICKED COOL!

Ah, the life of the Bean. Tomorrow we are off to Memphis and Mississippi. See you there! Thanks to G-Pops for an awesome day!

Beans on Bourbon

Okay-for the record, despite our taking our baby boy to our local brewery a lot, Westin most certainly did not get BOBed down Bourbon St.. Clearly, this was overprotective, as I witnessed not just one baby/toddler on Bourbon past 8:30 pm, but multiple young ones-some even perched precariously on stools in daquiri bars. Sorry for keeping you in a plastic bubble, Westin-you might get to venture onto Bourbon Street when you are 40-okay, 30. Wait hold up--we were in New Orleans?? Yes, yes indeed. On the 11th, West and I arrived in Birmingham around 10:30 pm, only to get up the next morning and drive to New Orleans (with the gracious help of G-Pops and D, of course). Was this pure craziness or a really cool adventure? Well that is a very fine line isn't it? But I dare say that the trip was more than worth it. When I scheduled this Southern odyssey, it was very important to me that Westin meet his Uncle Raymond-and so it was. Our little Monkey charmed Uncle Raymond and it was so nice to visit with him again! Westin loved listening to Uncle Raymond talk, loved all of the mirrors in his condo, and loved hanging out with G-pops. As a special treat, Westin also got to meet D's sister Debbie. It was such a nice trip!! Back in Birmingham, we had Sunday dinner with family. Westin charmed cousin Matthew and Uncle Dayn. Aunt Diane gave Westin this super fun soft birdhouse filled with birds of different shapes and noise making capabilities...some birds being tastier than others :). We missed seeing cousin Christie, but wish her the best of luck in Denver and are so proud of her for making this very big transition. Good luck Christie!!

On this trip, Westin has tried redfish, veal, more hummus (a new favorite), ice cream (at first he did not like the cold, but the creamy goodness won out in the end), mashed potatoes, corn..well you get the idea. The solid food movement is gaining momentum :). We feel very lucky to have such a wonderful family. Stay tuned as Westin as I travel up to Memphis and over to Mississippi and then back to Birmingham again to see more family. Doesn't it feel good to be loved? Have a great week everybody!

Ice Cream and Cake and Cake!

Hello, and Happy Birthday.......
to me :)
Westin and I are in the middle of a REALLY BIG ADVENTURE in the South, but we took a little time today to celebrate my 33rd, I mean, 26th birthday. This morning West got blueberry pancakes (blueberries from the awesome Pepper Place Farmer's Market in Birmingham) and tonight he got cake...which I thought that he loved, until I found it in his seat and his belly button, and well everywhere, but apparently his mouth. This evening I had a lovely dinner at Do Di Yo's, which is a lovely Mediterranean restaurant in SoHo (that would be South Homewood to the rest of you). It was so yummy! It was a pretty perfect birthday-except that my wonderful husband is in Montana.

Tomorrow (yes fans of Westin, I mean tomorrow), I will start to recount our incredible journey in progress, but tonight I leave you with a lovely riddle. See what happens when you start to venture home is that Memory Lane is so very close (even if it is not represented on Google Maps), and because this is my birthday, then this riddle will feature two people that I love very much. Now, with the clues above, which picture is Auntie Shannon and which picture is of Master Westin??
The resemblance is uncanny, no?
















PS-Dalen and CopperDog, we miss you very much and wish that you were here--although Copper darling, it is exceptionally hot and muggy, so we wish that you were here in a wading pool especially made for you :) Love to you both and thanks for a happy birthday call!