Here comes the son

We have a new member of our family: Otis Cash Isakson was born March 21st at 7:30 a.m. (just over an hour after we arrived at the hospital!) and was 7 lbs. 11 oz. and 19 inches long. He missed being an Easter baby by a bit, but made it just in time to be an Aries...like his dad, uncle and Grandpa Isakson. Everyone is extra tired but healthy and happy. Otis makes really cute, expressive, scrunchy baby faces and is a good eater and sleeper (although he does a lot more of the latter during the day than he does at night). Miles is doing a good big brothering job so far...meaning he hasn't tried to physically or psychologically harm Otis yet. He gives him random kisses, and eventhough he's already announced that the baby is going to go back in mommy's tummy, he seems generally excited about having him around. Grandma Allen came from California and will be here two weeks. She has been such a great help!

You nummy naughty nougat, you!

Right after Thanksgiving every year, it's inevitable. My eyes scan the Christmas candy selection for these addictive chewy treats. I usually stock up on a few bags before the season ends so that I can enjoy them at least until Spring. And some who love me and know me well have been supportive of my uncanny enjoyment of these. A few years ago, Brian was nice enough to hide a bag and then brought it out for me in the Spring sometime. Last year, when we moved from Atlanta in June, Vaughn and Margaret gave me a bag of it for an early b-day present.

They aren't the yummiest candies ever--I admit that. But the combination of their seasonality and cute little design and not-overly-pepperminty-ness has awarded it a slot on my top 5 candy list.

The other day, I realized that I have a bag and a half left of these gems. It's now almost April. These puppies won't be in stock again for a while. And as much as I love them, I am happy to give you some. Before summer '06 I would never have volunteered the fact that I have some stored up. But here's what happened: We were driving down to Florida for a vacation and stopped at a gas station. Walking around to get my wiggles out, I stopped dead in my tracks when I noticed a baggie of Christmas chews on someone's dashboard. I was frozen with awe that someone who clearly loves this candy had kept them around so long...and I was wondering if the door was unlocked. When the couple came back to their car, I mentioned that I'd noticed the candies and said that I was impressed they had saved some from Christmas. I mentioned they're one of my favorites (while at the same time sizing up the chick with the door open and calculating how a Christmas chew mugging incident might affect my future). The girl said simply,"Yeah we love em, too" and then got in and drove away. Had she not seen in my eyes that I needed one? Maybe she had but knew she couldn't spare any. Maybe she was rightfully spooked that I'd been standing there staring at their dashboard when they came out of the store. Who knows. But I know that just one of those little num-nums would have been heavenly for me.

So, if you like these puppies and want a few, let me know and I will give them little hugs then pass them along to you. I would put a bag of them on my dashboard, but I don't want my car broken into. Maybe I'll just wear a Christmas chew necklace and offer one to anybody who comments on it or drools at it.

Many Faces of Miles

Here are some of my favorite pictures of Miles from the past few months.

Tell me lies later, come and see me...

I just need to declare to the world what a proud father I am. Many of you know that I am a huge Neil Young fan. So, needless to say, I've been singing Neil Young songs to Miles since he was born. When he was a newborn, I would sing "Journey Thru the Past" to him everyday to get him to sleep and stop crying. I was so happy when he actually started singing it with me about a year ago. He's now added other songs to his catalogue: "Only Love Can Break Your Heart," "Tell Me Why," "Everybody Knows this is Nowhere," "Dance, Dance, Dance," "Love is a Rose," and he is currently learning "Albuquerque," "Barstool Blues" and "Losing End." Eventually I'll teach him "T-Bone" and "Mideast Vacation."

He likes other music, too, like Johnny Cash, Wilco, Bob Marley, the Beatles, and David "Bodhi." (Miles has a second cousin named Bodhi). He makes up fun versions of songs too. For example, "Ch ch ch changes, time to face the trains." Whenever music is turned on he always asks, "who is this?" What more could a dad ask for in a toddler?

P,S* I need to thank, my wife: who is a proud member of the "grammar police' for editing my punctuation on this post?