PebbleHut: December 2011

Robert and I have decided to embrace a new form of parenting - it's based on the TV show Survivor. Basically, it involves putting your child through as many difficult situations as possible in a short time frame. Advocates praise the "toughening up" of their children and congratulate themselves on "teaching their children how to adapt."

Challenges include:

Restaurant sitting: No crying, no crawling, no eating what we're eating. Repeat - at least 15 times.
Long flights: Sitting nicely on Mom or Dad's lap is acceptable. Anything else and you'll get a comment from the jerk across the aisle "Wow, this is a nightmare - and I've got a front row seat" (I hope that guy has kids one day and they show him what a real nightmare is...) Repeat - at least 8 times.
Wedding receptions: Involves loud music, lots of people holding you and staying up at least 5 hours past your normal bedtime. Bonus points if you can endure the fact that Mom forgot to change your diaper before bed so you peed through everything in the middle of the night and everybody was too tired to notice. Oops. Repeat - 2 times.

You can spot the Survivor parents anywhere you go. They're the ones downing the booze while someone else walks their baby around. (joking, joking)

The good news is, Peter has passed the challenges with flying colors!! We have had an amazing two months and Peter continues to surprise us by his amicability despite the fact that he hasn't had a semblance of a routine since mid-October. We have also been greatly helped by Grandpa and Grandma's unfailing love and patience, Uncle James's guitar lessons, Tia Juliana's energy (and her strong back) and Uncle JP's sense of humor, which helps us all relax.

Below are some recent pictures - and at the bottom is a video of Petey bird!

Hiking to the Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles

Peter Jr. loves Peter Sr.

A Christmas gift: Grandma and Grandpa are setting the bar pretty high here

The Poppleton wives

Juliana and Pete

Grandma and Peter

Nothing says Happy Advent like a good beard - you know what I mean? After all, it is a penitential season and if you've ever been privileged enough to have a husband with facial hair as thick and bristly as Robert's you'll understand.

But honestly I love it. It's so manly.

Last Friday I hosted a little birthday party for Robert and our good friend Joe together with Jill, Joe's girlfriend. Joe and Robert's birthdays are back to back and they are both growing out their beards until Christmas, so "historically awesome facial hair" seemed like an appropriate theme. We posted pictures of notable facial hair around the apartment and Jill made fake mustaches for everyone.

Fact: Chuck Norris was born with a beard. When the doctors tried to shave it he roundhouse kicked them with his precociously strong baby legs, knocking them all unconscious.