for joanna and katie

Two of my best friends from high school, Joanna and Katie, gave Sam cute outfits that he is now big enough to wear. Since both Joanna and Katie live far away (one lives a sixteen-hour drive away and one is a ten-hour flight away), I thought I would post pictures of Sam in his cute outfits for them to see. Thanks, friends, for being so thoughtful. It hasn't been cold enough for Sam to wear his hat or mittens yet, Katie, but I'll send you a picture when he starts to wear those.

"SMALL BUT INTELLIGENT"

up in arms

After posting this morning about The Inspector General, I was reminded of another great Danny Kaye movie, Up in Arms. This is a really entertaining film. Danny Kaye plays a hypochondriac who ends up getting drafted in the army. I remember watching this film a lot in high school. My mom thinks that my best friend Katie looks like co-star Dinah Shore. Maybe she does a little bit.

Before going into the army, Danny Kaye goes out on a double date with his friend. As the group stands in line, waiting to get into a movie theater, Danny Kaye sings a song about how all movie "pictures" are alike. I love the timbre of his voice when he mimics the chorus girls. (Sorry about the Spanish subtitles. This is the only clip I could find online).



One of the other scenes I love is when Danny is in the army. He is trying to listen to a recording that he made in a recording booth before getting enlisted - but he has to sneakily use the record player of another bunkmate. When the bunkmate walks in the room, Danny Kaye lip syncs to the record to he won't get caught. This scene starts at about 2:12 on the clip. I love when he forgets to lip sync one of the dog barks, and he just kinda shrugs it off.

the inspector general

Like Jerry Lewis, Danny Kaye is one of my favorite comedians from the early film era. I can't even count how many times I've seen The Court Jester. I think that Danny Kaye is so endearing - even though I agree with critics that he uses his hands too much when he sings. He is especially good at singing tongue-twisting lyrics. Quite impressive.

One of the first Danny Kaye films that my mom bought for our family was The Inspector General (1949). It is about an illiterate stooge who is mistaken by corrupt town officials for being an inspector general. In this clip, Danny Kaye has decided to pretend that he actually is the inspector general, in an attempt to help the town get back some of the money that was stolen by the corrupt administration. During this song, Kaye imagines different personality traits that an inspector general might possess. Although this isn't the most hilarious Danny Kaye clip, it's quite fun. I watched this film so many times growing up that I have this whole song memorized. Unfortunately, the end of the song (which is quite funny!) is cut off in the clip. You'll just have to watch the whole film to see it.



This second clip is also quite fun. Here, the corrupt town officials have placed poison in Danny Kaye's drink, and they are waiting during this whole "drinking song" for him to take a sip. I think it's so funny to see the man joining in with the ladies (in the group assigned to say "ha ha ha!"). I also love when Danny Kaye stands up on the piano and puts his hands out like a little ballerina before he jumps. He hee!



If you love other Danny Kaye movies like White Christmas or Hans Christian Andersen, I think you should see The Inspector General.

four months old

Just over the past week or so, Sam has developed the funny habit of pulling his clothes up to his face and examining the patterns and colors- but this only happens when I lie him down to change his diaper. He often will stare at his clothes during most of the diapering process. Perhaps looking at patterns and colors is the baby equivalent for reading material in the bathroom?

"mom bottom"

I can't tell how many times I've teased J that I need to start wearing "mom jeans" since I'm now a mother. For anyone else who's paranoid about getting a postpartum "mom bottom," you will especially appreciate this.

sam silliness

Sam insisted on wearing a matching outfit with J this morning. Can you tell them apart?

This is the first time Sam got to ride in his stroller facing forwards. He wasn't quite sure if he liked it...

...and then he decided that he did like it!

Sam the cowboy. Does this hat look familiar, Zillah?

Sam the bear. He's all ready for fall with his bear jacket.

Sam's political persuasions

Tummy time

cuzzin time

These pictures are too cute. We got to visit with N, SJ and Norah tonight. Here are two pictures of the cousins - it's crazy to see how much to two of them have grown since our trip to Seattle.

We have obviously taken too many pictures of Sam - he is quite apathetic towards the camera. Norah, on the other hand, seems to be wondering why I'm keeping her from her nap...