How to enjoy a Sunday afternoon watching movies and reading the newspaper

1. Block off entry to kitchen with baby gate.2. Block off stairs with baby gate. 3. Fill Kong toys with delicious human food that will keep dogs from demanding walks with high-pitched whines and sad eyes. 4. Change into sweatpants. 5. Place array of (new! thanks everybody!) TOYS on the floor. Express delight! ("Nora, look at all your toys! You can't wait to play with them, can you?! ALL AFTERNOON!!!) 6. Place necessary remotes on ottoman at arms' length. 7. Place phone at arms' length. 8. Retrieve cozy blanket. 9. Pour large ice water, or drink of choice. 10. Commence with admitted laziness.

The party life

In the grand tradition of the McDonoughs and the Rotondaros, Nora is really partying it up for her first birthday. We're celebrating September birthdays with family today and last weekend, on her actual birthday, we played outside with friends and had some cake.

And when I say had some cake, I mean we seriously had some cake.

This has been one of J's biggest fears for all his life, I think. The first birthday party, where the baby gets birthday cake - in this case a delicious Elmo birthday cake - all over his or her face. He hates it, just like he hates it when his ice cream gets melty, and he starts to have a panic attack and has to run and wash his hands.

So during this memorable event, this hallmark of a child's life, as we all stood around and laughed at one-year-old Nora eating her cake like there was no tomorrow, I heard, on my left, a continual refrain oh so quietly muttered as he snapped photos, a grimace on his face: "That's disgusting. That's disgusting. That's disgusting. That's disgusting."