My sister Monica has a daughter, Michaela, who is only four months older than Annie. Everyone tells us they will competing with each other one day…we just had no idea how soon!

There’s an update to the laptop incident in the post below.

UPDATE:

Unfortunately nothing good to report. Alaska Airlines has been very helpful and is looking everywhere for the computer, but they have not yet found it. Heather will be back late tomorrow and will be able to use my computer to fill you in on things. We both want to thank you for your support.

- Mike

Recently Heather was asked to take part in an event put on by Coca-Cola in Washington D.C., and I immediately told her she absolutely had to do it. I would like to think I told her to do it because the event is for a great cause – to support America’s National Park’s in their efforts to link outdoor recreation, education and awareness to the physical and mental well being of Americans – but it might have had more to do with the fact I am the world’s Champion Diet Coke drinker. There’s photographic evidence:

Heather, motivated by more noble reasons than me, agreed to take part, so she, Annie, and Grandma Linda flew out to Washington D.C. on Alaskan Airlines Wednesday morning. Heather sent me lots of texts so I didn’t worry too much, and she even sent me this adorable photo of a very patient Annabel:

Unfortunately, the flight didn’t end happily, and not because she was stuck next to a passenger without a sense of personal space.  Once the flight landed Heather waited until everyone had de-planed (so as not to hold people up with the production that is traveling with a baby), then gathered her things and left with Annie and her Mom.  Upon getting to the hotel, however, she realized that she had left on the plane – of all things – her computer.

Heather immediately called the airport and spoke with an employee of Alaskan Airlines who said that the plane had been taken down to be cleaned by the cleaning crew, but that he would see if they found it and call back. Heather told him her seat number and exactly where the computer was (on the floor under her seat), then waited a very anxious hour until the employee called back and said….they couldn’t find it. Heather told him it had to be there as she was the last one off, so the employee asked the leader of the cleaning crew over the walkie-talkie if he was sure they didn’t find it. The leader of the cleaning crew (Heather could hear all of this over the phone) said that they only checked the seat pockets, and not on the floor as Heather had told them.

The Alaskan Airlines employee then told Heather he would have the morning crew check. That’s where we are now. Hopefully it’s there to be found, but it is an expensive item, and expensive items sometimes get taken when left behind.

I really hope the computer is there. Heather was really shook up…it has lots of priceless photos and videos of our Maddie on there.  If those are gone that is going to hurt beyond words.

Fingers crossed. Oh, and if you know anyone who will be cleaning the Alaskan Airlines Flight #6 out of Los Angeles in Washington D.C. tomorrow morning…give them a holler for Heather.  She needs it right now.

Heather feels stupid for having left the computer and knows she is supposed to be responsible for looking after her own stuff, but it still stinks. Feel free to leave a funny story about the time you did something stupid to help cheer up.

I’ll let you know what happens with all of this.

HOW are we already at this point?

Last week, Annabel hit the six month mark.

(month one, month two, month three, month four, month five)

Last week, I took Annie for her six month well baby visit with Dr. Looove. I was kind of a mess, as it was the morning after my aunt passed, and Dr. Looove immediately asked me what was wrong because she is the Best. Doctor. Ever. We talked for a while, and I just adore her. I feel so lucky that I found her when I did. I can’t imagine another doctor caring for me and my family.

Anyway, back to Annie’s visit. Dr. Looove went over Annie’s measurements:

weight: 18 pounds, 1 ounce
length: 26 1/2 inches
head: 17 inches
hair: thick

These measurements came out to length in the 50th percentile, head in the 75th percentile, and weight? NINETIETH PERCENTILE. NINE-OH. PERCENT. I know I say this every month, but it’s so hard for us to wrap our heads around all the delicious chub!

The rest of Annabel’s appointment went swimmingly. She’s right on target for everything. Basically, the 100th percentile of awesome. She’s rolling, grabbing, babbling, and doing all the other things she’s supposed to be doing.

Have I mentioned that I birthed myself? Sure, she looks like Mike (although, I think she looks like her sister), but her attitude is all me. She must be entertained constantly. She is loud. She brings her hand to her head as if to say, “My life as a baby, it is so hard! Woe!”

The solid food is…progressing. Some days she tolerates eating solids, and other days she hates it. But you know who LOVES it?

You can’t turn away for ONE SECOND or Rigby is all up in the baby’s grill. We have since moved to the high chair. I had to get that picture though, because it reminded me so much of this one:

Rigby has aged really well.

And…I just realized it’s even the same bib. Sigh.

Still no teeth, and I swear if they don’t pop through soon I am going to pull them out myself. Poor Annie is MISERABLE. I can’t wait until teething is over…you know, in two years.

Next week, I am going to New York City for the BlogHer conference. My mom and cousin Leah are also joining me, and of course no trip would be complete without my travel pal Annabel. I’m really excited to go back to my second home, and I’m going to be there for six days! This means I’ll have plenty of time to see my friends, both online and local.

When I lived in New York, I did the touristy things when my friends would come visit. So I’ve been to the Statue of Liberty, Ice Skated in Central Park, and eaten my way through Little Italy. So, this time, I want to make it more interesting.

Since life lists are totally the rage right now AND I’m embracing Thirty-Fun, I’m working on my New York City must-list.

• make a bootleg DVD of Annabel movies and sell it in SoHo for $5.
• get my mom on the Today Show’s Ambush Makeover. She needs something awesome like that after everything that’s happened (and she’s celebrating a big birthday this year).
• speaking of the Today Show, Annabel needs to meet her sister’s favorite guy, Matt Lauer.
• make Leah eat Tasti D Lite, watch her gag (she hates sugar, you guys. How are we even related?).
• threaten to take Brittany on the Roosevelt Island Tramway, video tape her peeing her pants in fear.
• and, speaking of Brittany, launch our awesome new venture in NYC, Mouth Media.
• eat from food carts and hunt down Mr. Softee, then spend days trying to get the jingle out of my head.
• kick ass at karaoke (yes, this is on my must-list for every city).
• convince tourists I am a dancer in a Broadway show.
• Order soup correctly from the Original Soup Man (aka the Soup Nazi)

It’s obviously still a work in progress.

Who else is going to NYC next week? What is the one thing you want to do there? And if you aren’t going, what one thing can I do for you and document with my cameras?

This totally just turned into Truth or Dare.