Twitter Tuesdays - Michael "Pun King" Northrop

For the folks reading this blog who know me personally and/or spent much time around my dad, you know that we Whitakers aren't afraid of a good pun or a corny joke. You know that with conversation, as well as movies or television, the cheesier the better. And you know that the show Leave It To Beaver was a dead-on foreshadowing of my actual childhood.

That said, this is 2011 and it's tough to find a person in my generation who not only appreciates a good pun, but responds with a hearty pat on the back versus rolling of the eyes. It's even harder to find someone who can fashion a remarkable pun ingeniously within the strict 140 character limit imposed on us all by Twitter. That's why when you come across such a soul, you tell the world about him and neither of you pardon anything, especially the use of a mighty pun.

Michael Northrop is a young adult author living here in NYC who I get to see from time to time at book events in the city. His two novels Gentlemen and Trapped are anything but corny or cheesy, (in fact, I'd use dark, suspenseful, or gripping instead); yet I've found his own personality to be charming and funny, both in person and online. Here are a few tweets that have made me COL (chuckle out loud):

mdnorthrop Michael Northrop 

Dreamt I was driving a pickup w/ my left hand while firing a shotgun at some ducks w/ my right. Not sure what it means but it's pretty fowl.

mdnorthrop Michael Northrop 

You must be Djoking. Surely that's Nadal there is. #USOpen #greatmatch

mdnorthrop Michael Northrop 

My new place is about a mile from the Prospect Park Zoo. Perhaps I will gopher a walk... #ireallyotter

Michael started the day at 999 followers and is itching to break into 4-digits. Head on over to Twitter and help him out. Also, and this should go without saying, follow me! 

Momma Mondays - Pull up!

My mother-in-law visited this weekend and not only spoiled her grandson, but also her daughter-in-law. I could really get used to having someone with her energy around, doing our laundry, fixing home cooked meals, and cleaning my kitchen. Also, I got to get a mani/pedi with my good friend Becky because Knox's Grannie stayed home and offered free babysitting!

But the best thing that happened this weekend was that she got to see a milestone: Knox pulled up for the first time! He stood all by himself, looked at us with a huge smile, and then plopped back down on his bottom. But it was a fabulous moment and one I'm glad she got to experience. Just like I wrote recently, it kills me that he doesn't get to spend more time with his grandparents, so when moments like this happen live - right before their eyes - it really brings me joy.

Here's a little video for those who, like me, doubted it would ever happen:

Kimpossible (Grannie) hollered, "Can he do this?" from the living room as I was doing the dishes, so I ran in wondering what he was eating/playing with/destroying. What I actually saw was his fascination with Excedrine and to just what lengths he'd go to get a bottle. 

Tuesday Tweeps - The Fuggirls

So y'all know that I am now pretty obsessed with Twitter. It's so fast and easy and I love scrolling through people's updates on my phone ap. And I think I've mentioned before about the book SPOILED by fellow Poppy gals Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan. (We share the same editor, Elizabeth Bewley, and she told me about them a while ago and sent me an advanced copy of their book.)

Well, since reading Spoiled (which you should also read) I've started following their blog www.gofugyourself.com. It's a fashion blog that keeps me up to date with what celebs are wearing these days and whether or not they're wearing it well. The girls are hilarious and their posts are super fun. And now that I follow their blog, I also follow them on Twitter.

Go to Twitter and search fuggirls. Their updates will keep you in the loop and make you chuckle. For instance, if it weren't for these girls, how would I have known that Brody Jenner chewed gum while he drank white wine at a fashion show this week? How would I have known that just a mere glance from Gerard Butler could impregnate an unsuspecting onlooker? And how would I know that Lindsay Lohan is best friends with a real life pirate? I'm telling you folks. If you don't keep up with fashion or celebs yourself, let these girls do it for you. Follow them on Twitter.

Oh, and buy their book!

PS To the Fuggirls, in the event that you read this blog post, I just slicked back my son's hair with gel for the first time because it was getting in his eyes. Then I realized, my 1 year old looked like Kourtney Kardashian's boyfriend, Scott Disick! Oh Lordy.

Justin Bieber

Scott Disick

Fug or Fab? Which hairstyle is better on 13 month old Knox?

Momma Mondays - Only Grandparents

Over Labor Day weekend, my husband and I joined my sister and my parents for a short visit in New Hampshire. My retired parents are trying to document time spent at every capital in the US and the New England states are especially enticing to these road trippers now that their only grandson is a Yankee. We drove the 5 hours up to their time share and I have to say that there is nothing more gratifying that seeing my folks love on my baby like I do.

My husband suggested that we go apple picking so we Googled an orchard and made our way over. Knox even got to go on a tractor pulled wagon ride! (We're pumpin' him with as much country style as we can). It was a gorgeous day and beautiful time spent with family.

As my dad, sister, husband, and I walked through the grass and used long "pickers" or poles to grab the finest looking apples and pears from the trees, my mom held a sleepy Knox and got some rare lovey dovey time with the boy. This picture says it all.

We also went swimming and boy does Knox love the water! He always has. He loves bath time and he loves swimming pools, whether kiddie or Olympic sized. My dad has a blast helping him kick and splash. And Jerrod held Knox near the stairs where he (finally) put his weight on his legs. I think it was easier to finally attempt standing with the water making him so bouyant.

And that brings me to the highlight of our trip. On the last morning of our trip, my dad helped Knox to stand on his own in the living room. While Knox usually kicks his legs or lifts them up when we try to work with him on standing, that day, he let Granddad help him pull all the way up on the couch. They both grinned from ear to ear, and I have to admit, it made me super homesick. I'm not homesick for a place, because I truly believe that Home is where you make it, but homesick for my grandparents. I got to spend time with mine every day after school and I am already sad that my own children won't get that same quality time. I need to just treasure the time we do get, but seeing my dad help my son stand really made it even harder to say our goodbyes that afternoon.

But thank goodness for the 2000s and the Information Age. We've got Skype and we've got Facetime. And of course, we've got Skymiles.