Grendel’s Kitchen

For some reason the ever-present camera’s opening and closing mechanisms don’t respond well to the inch of cookie crumbs, cheerios, and string cheese at the bottom of the diaper bag in which it rolled all day on Sunday. And the nicad battery is dead, so I’ve got to find a replacement. So, much as I know you want pictures, just pictures, and Dad is so thrilled not to have to read my perspective on the Iraq spending bill, the breakdown of talks in North Korea, and the Bush/Gonzalez prosecuter purge, there will be words for a bit!

Jolie recently commented positively on the power of Li-Li’s lovely ruffles. I’d like to elevate this comment right up front because 1. I’m so shocked and thrilled to get a comment on the site once in a blue moon and 2. Jolie was concerned that the mention of ruffles and pinkness in her recent comment approving of Li-Li’s sartorial choice in the post below would be upsetting given my own monochromatic range of clothing… OK, so I have 14 of the exact same outfit, all black. And, well, you’ve all seen what John wears, and in public, too.

That adorable ruffled shirt was a lovely gift from Li-Li’s wonderful and much-missed “Auntie” Suzette who splits her time between Charlottesville and Nantucket (heaven) and who just happens to be another Junior Leaguer (and highly skilled shopper ) like yourself, Jolie. I think she would adore your choice of clothing and accessories as well — being another fan of pink and green, and of pastel whales on belts and such! She was also the generous provider of 50 million Discovery toys, many of which have been and continue to be permanent attachments to our brilliant child for many hours on end. By the way, if anyone is interested, she’s got an amazing catalog of safe, educational, age-appropriate toys — I can hook you up with her!

Once the camera is in working order, I’ll be sure to post the frilly outfits along with the playclothes — and you’d be astounded by the incredible collection of shoes my daughter has — especially anyone who knows my own commitment to wearing my shoes down to their protracted deaths and then buying the exact same style and starting over. Right now I’m wearing a pair of rundown boots I purchased with Georg’s guidance in Munich in, what — 2002? — after I threw a heel during a presentation. That was right before we met the Bavarian soccer league team / firemen, by the way, Jolie. Anna-Li, though, has the most amazing Robeez boots from her “Auntie” Elizabeth, gorgeous squishy red Robeez shoes from her “Auntie” Bevin, thrilling “squeaky” shoes that are all the rage in Guangzhou (and drive the dog mad), and quite a few others — mostly pink, some silk.

I’ll admit that I’ve been dressing the wee one in overalls and hardier outfits during this early stage of belly-down crawling in the vain hope that she’ll clean all of our floors for us in the process of chasing down the pets. Swiffer pads on Grendel’s and Gryphon’s feet have done nothing for us in the past — yea, we had clean pathways from the doggie door to the foodbowls to the couch, but the really dangerous tumbling dustbeasts are in the corners and under furniture. Li-Li’s newly acquired green card states that according to Homeland Security she is eligible to work in the US, which I believe overturns child labor laws, so we think this is a good start.

On the development side: She’s now pulling herself into standing position in the crib: so sad! She looks like she’s in jail, holding the bars, with her little chin propped above the top railing, fake-crying when I ought to be napping! I mean, when she ought to be napping.