And in Other News...

Our friend Asher turned 40 last night, and we made our way to West Hills for a party.

While there, I ended up in the playroom with Danny playing drums. I have to say, watching him play - with rhythm - back and forth with two snare drums - using actual drumsticks - that all of that time with Levon during my pregnancy might have had an impact. It was pretty trippy. (Martha, don't donate that drum set!!)

So we were sharing the playroom with three girls learning a Hannah Montana routine and three boys literally beating on each other for hours. At one point, the ruckus reaches a fever pitch with one kid pinned under a wrestling mat and elbows being thrown. I panic a little, and yell at the boys to "Take it easy! You're going to really hurt each other!" thinking they need a break and will be grateful.

The middle boy, about 8, appears from underneath the wrestling mat, sweating and dishevled, as he's being pummeled to within inches of his life, and beams, literally BEAMS...

"But we're having fun!"

OH GOD...this is our future!

Happy Birthday Asher!

Danny, Jorie and Raiss at the Long Beach Aquarium

These are little dudes we've known since Danny was four months old. We've watched them learn to crawl, walk, and now the inevitable scrapes. Little Raiss here (the blondie) just fell and bit through his lip, requiring 4 stitches. But this amazing little trooper has spent a weekend in the hospital for an inflamed esophagus (!) that was making him just NOT want to eat...for an entire year - can you imagine? -...but he's finally on the mend. And after IVs and feeding tubes, 4 stitches was nothing.

Apparently when Raiss and his mom left the ER, the docs said, "See you soon!" Hey, that's what they said to us...

Danny and Jorie at the Getty

Few weeks ago...

Notice how he just follows her around like a little puppy...

Back to the Danny Channel, For a Few More Months...

Hats!

Oh, Boise

Danny is getting a little brother!

Everything looks good. We have a healthy baby in Mary's belly.

Three in the Chair

Umjo

or, Uncle John. Sorry it's so dark.

...cause a West Coast party don't stop

My mom's group has a babysitting co-op, where we watch each other's babies every other week, and every other week you get a day off. Yesterday we hosted, and I realized nothing - I mean nothing - makes Danny happier than having babies over at his house. First he wanted everybody in the crib...

then everybody in the rocking chair, then everybody outside at the table.

I mean - look at his face!

And then he cried when they all went home.

This morning he woke up saying "Babies?" and "Cooper" (the little guy in the striped shirt here - and which he says like a Frenchman). I told him, "they're not here, but in 5 months you're going to have a playmate EVERY SINGLE DAY...whether you like it or not!"

This Entire Outfit Was Danny's Idea

Welcome Hailey Mira Rulnick!

She was born this morning at approximately 4:30am, to a very tired but healthy mommy.

Check out the expression on her face. Man, have I been there (Mooooom, just five more minutes!!).

6lbs, 14oz

20 1/2 in (I think)

Mazel Tov, Bunny, Jason and big brother Maxim! She's beautiful!

Shoes, Shoes, How I Love Shoes

Project

This weekend we braved the madness that is IKEA to get Dan a little table and chairs. As my friend Matt said to me this morning, "never underestimate the power of a little table and chairs." True, true.

Dan and I tackled it yesterday and today...he got right up in there.

And, voila!

Forgot the Woody Pumpkin

Rockin' Out - updated

Before we went trick-or-treating, we carved a few pumpkins and Dan jammed out.






After said jammin', we took a few shots on the porch with the hat that soon came off...














Then we hit the mean streets for some candy.




















Within one minute of this picture being taken, Danny tripped on the sidewalk and got pretty upset.

On our first stop, I recognized a classmate of mine from Brown. Small world. They're expecting in April too. His wife is the managing director of Shabby Chic. Of course I wanted to go inside and see their place, but Danny was on the move.

We're not sure if it was the fat lip developing, or the fact that Venice was insanely crowded, and with Danny walking, he was the little guy in the big crowd, but this year, Danny seemed a bit overwhelmed. Typically the big talker, he was pretty quiet and did a lot of staring. We went up and down Rialto and saw all of the great haunted houses, but he just really wanted to be held.

On the way home, we saw this pair, and consider it the greatest costume pair ever.



















Once we got home, in the light we could see what a fat lip was developing, poor guy. We treated it with a popsicle and checked out our booty.














Pretty lame, actually. Uncle John can attest. Next year we're going to join the Gilmores in Toluca Lake, where apparently Miley Cyrus was handing out huge bubble blowers and Jenny Garth from 90210 was giving out $13 stuffed animals. That's what I'm talking about!

Babu

(pronounced "bay-boo", otherwise known as "Baby Beluga") as sung by Danny and Dad.