Dad + Days Off + Camera

So earlier I mentioned that this holiday season allows folks to be around so much more, with vacation to use up, work shut downs, etc. It also gives dads more time at home. Now what does a dad do at home with his daughter for a week? Well, whatever she wants. But if she is happily playing and you throw in a digital camera, I'm guessing that he annoys the heck out of everyone! Thank goodness Cara isn't old enough to be annoyed.

Christmas morning

Cara woke up Christmas morning just like normal... little did she know that a present opening riot was to break out in her living room!

"Would could be in this shiny treasure?"


"I love Christmas!"


"Who's more fun than Uncle Paul? Noone!"

Michele's visit

The Christmas season is great. Vacation days and holidays make a lot of friends and family available. The days leading up to Christmas brought Michele into town, which brought a bunch of fun people to see her. As you can see, Cara loves hanging out with Michele!

Cara and Michele


These girls are so fun, eh Cara?

Christmas Swap

Today we had some friends over for a Christmas swap. It was a great time, with some wacky, though not completely unruly swapping. We started a fun style last year with a timer... it is great! Last year there was diving and chop blocks, but I think having the kids in the room toned it down. It could also have been the fact that everyone seemed to choose really great gifts for the swap too!
Some good food rounded out the night... well, rounded me out for the night anyways. It is amazing that these kids are getting cuter and cuter! Here are some shots of the little rats.

Cara looks wary of this crew... smart baby!


Jamie and Ben, dancing the night away


I have heard of putting YOUR foot in your mouth, but...


Super Zach!


Ben doing what Ben does, smiling!


Hmmm, what do THEY have?


Don't interrupt her when she is opening presents!

"Hi Dada"

CRAZY morning today. I got Cara out of her crib after she had a great night's sleep. We played on the floor for a bit until it was breakfast time. Brigid made a bottle and gave it to Cara on the couch.
I sat on the couch next to Brigid and Cara. Cara was sitting on Brigid's lap, being burped. She was very happy, having been fed and still feeling good from her solid night's sleep. She was getting patted on the back, looking around and just generally playing.
Since I was sitting beside them, Cara was looking right at me. She got her left arm going in a spasm that could certainly be mistaken for a wave, since she has been waving a bit lately. She looked me right in the eyes said "Hi Dada." Brigid and I looked at each other in awe, then back at Cara who simply had no idea. It was really more like "Haaaeeee daDA" but it was close enough for me. There is no doubt that it was some random syllables put together but IT WAS AWESOME. Not wanting her to miss the significance, I freaked out with praise and kisses -- standard fatherly over-reactions.
So I put it to the Internet at large: HOW SMART IS THIS KID?
Can kids get scholarships for Mensa?

Santa!!!!!

Cara saw Santa at his home away from home today, the Mall at Rockingham Park. She was smiling and laughing the whole time, with no idea that a crazy old man all dressed in red was right behind her. When she found out, she was curious... not freaked, as I expected. Maybe I am projecting... maybe I am the only one freaked out by the whole process.

Milan Trip

The camera just doesn't click as often when Cara isn't around. I had a business trip to Milan, Italy last week. The week went well and the food was really spectacular. I spent the first day tracking down a replacement battery, since I accidentally left mine in the charger... which means I only got one late night tour around the city for some night shots. This is probably the best shot. It is of the Duomo in the city center. Apparently the facade is under renovation, so here is the best angle I could get.

Duomo in Milan, Italy

The Big Trip

Cara, Brigid, and I headed out to St. Louis this weekend. It was Cara's
first plane ride, Cara's first trip outside of New England, and first big
trip. We flew out Thursday evening and got back Sunday evening, so it was
a whirlwind tour. There was a lot going on, so I didn't get any "first
plane ride" pictures but she did great. We probably could time it better
for her, since we ended up getting in after her bedtime, but she didn't
complain!

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm


Little Brigid and Cara


Lilly is one cool cat


Push please!


Couple of guys hangin' out


Cara had so much fun with her cousins


So shy!

Honk Honk

Heavy on the horn. Honk honk honk. When her mom asked her why she was honking so much and where she learned how to do it Cara screamed "I learned it by watching you, alright?"

Out of the way

Cara's Crew Two

Brigid saw this post and asked, "don't you have any where Cara is acting normal?" The answer is no... or that normal baby is different than normal adult. I was tempted to post a series of these wacky ones with Cara eating Ben's hair, or patting his head, or leaning over to get at Jimmy but that may be overkill. Let's just leave it at the fact that this is the best of them.

From left to right: Jimmy Holmes, Ben Chisholm, Cara Begley, and Zach Burke


Ben is always so smiley... it bores Zach.

Happy Halloween

There was a big Halloween party up at the house today. A bunch of the kids came by all dressed up for candy and fun. It was madness. There were a bunch of toddlers running around and even more adults chasing after them.

Dance lady bug, dance!


Alexa was Minnie Mouse


Ben just kept singing "Under the bridge downtown, is where I drew some blood..."


Mary and Joe hold Nora and Charlotte... I mean Tiger One and Tiger Two


Pound Puppy Paulie


Charlie as Mickey Mouse...


Meowwwwwww...

Cara's First Snow

It started snowing today, first snow of the season. Cara had never seen snow, so I brought her to the window to look. She laughed at it, so we wrapped her up and ran her outside to get a closer look.

Happy Birthday Nathan!

Nathan Van Rees was born today!

Sit Cara, Sit -- Good Baby

Cara sat up today... well, she sat forward. Okay, it is not exactly great posture but I think it passes for sitting. At a minimum, we are very proud of Cara for laying forward on her legs.

What what?

Visit from Nana and Grandpa

Cara loves it when Nana and Grandpa come up.

Cara's Crew

Cara and her crew hung out today.

Cara, Zach, and Ben

As you can see, Zach hates to be called "Cara's Crew." It's just because she was born first, buddy... and her dad posts these. Plus Zach's Crew has no alliteration; it would be Zach's... Zach's... uhhhhhhh, Burke's Buds. Sorry Ben, the squeeky wheel gets the grease... you're in SOMEone's group.

Cara Joan in Cara's Jeans

Cara is such a little munchkin but from time to time she seems to be getting big so quickly. She weighs less than 20 pounds, but when we put her in this outfit with a little pair of jeans Cara seemed like a first grader. Hopefully she can sit up, walk, and talk by the first grade, but most of you know where I am coming from. This is such a little kid outfit as opposed to her normal infant onesy! Sure, the jeans have buttons all up the inside seam so we can get at her diaper, but what adult hasn't wished for and wouldn't appreciate those from time to time? Am I right or am I right? Who's with me? Is this thing on?

Forever in blue jeans


It's a hard life, hanging out on the play mat all day,

Nora Andrews Welcome!

Nora Andrews was born earlier this week and this is our first picture of her... I am sure there are others out there, this is OUR first one though. She is cute! She's the closest to Cara in age, so they are new best friends.

The newest cousin, Nora!

What up, Cuz?

A bunch of the kids were over this weekend. Charlie loves these family photos.

Patriots Sunday

Cara was set for the Pats game this week... we ended up putting a longer shirt on her since she was obscenely showing her belly to all!

Patriots Sunday Baby

These were cute, but I don't know why they came out of the camera like watercolor paintings! Let me know if you do.