This tambourine, which used to belong to Daddy and Aunt Sibling, is one of my favorite things to play with. Unfortunately, it doesn't work so well for peek-a-boo!

Happy Anniversary, Honey. I love you!!!

Super Isabel!

We stopped at this natural amphitheatre on the way to Colorado. When Daddy yelled "Hello, Isabel" into it, it sounded like a hundred Daddies yelled right back! I didn't know what to think, so was very quiet. What would I do if there were a hundred Isabels? Would there be enough milkshake to go around?

Today was a very strange day. When I woke up, Daddy put me in a new dress and brought me downstairs. Underneath the big tree with blinking lights (which, by the way, is very fun to watch) were a bunch of boxes covered with PAPER! I was so excited. Mommy even let me pull the paper off myself, but I got very upset when she took it away. I got so many new toys, and Mommy said they were from someone named "Santa." I didn't really understand, but playing with the toys was fun. I got a set of Weebles, a walker/rider, books, clothes, sippee cups, and some wooden spoons (these were my favorite).

I really like playing in this bouncer. I can bounce and spin all around!

Happy birthday, Daddy!

On Tuesday, Mommy and Daddy and Maura McTague and I went to Washington, DC. Apparently some important people live there or something, but we weren't interested in that. We went to some very big buildings and stared and stared at pictures on the wall and big toys in glass cases. I had a fun time watching from my kangaroo pouch or my stroller. These funny plants were everywhere, and some of the trees had lights. Mommy said it was for Christmas. What is Christmas?

Daddy's in the news!

This appeared in the Baltimore Sun last Friday. I almost didn't even realize that it was about an event to which I had actually been, because I was trying to stuff it into my mouth as quickly as possible (before Mommy could get it away from me). Imagine my surprise to see a quote from a guy I know pretty darn well!!


News : health & science
Robotic art: Is it talent or technology?
Johns Hopkins contest paints an intriguing picture

By Michael Stroh
Sun Staff
Originally published December 10, 2004

The art show in the Johns Hopkins Mattin Center was winding down. The submissions - 24 original works on paper - had been carefully laid out on the floor of the judging chamber. Now it was time to pick a winner. One judge nodded approvingly at a paint-splattered study in red and
orange a la Jackson Pollock. Another eyed three boldly drawn diamonds in red, yellow and blue. "I love the primary-color concept," he said. But, in the end, it was a wispy Japanese-style sumi-e of an orchid that captured the blue ribbon. Not bad for a bunch of robots. In this unusual marriage of art and technology, more than 50 Hopkins University student engineers built
machines capable of spraying and splattering, dripping and scribbling, sketching and dribbling on paper. The robots showed off their artistic prowess - and occasional design flaws - at a one-of-a-kind public art show Monday on the Homewood campus.

Allison Okamura, an instructor in Hopkins' mechanical engineering department, devised the project to help teach her students the fundamentals of robot design. But the effort also touched on a question that a small but growing number of professional artists and engineers are debating: Is it possible for a machine to create art?

"The robot itself may be art, or the thing that the robots create may be the art," Okamura says. "The definition of art is so open ended."

......edited out for not being about Daddy's school at all.......

This week the Johns Hopkins engineering students found out just how difficult it can be to create an artistic machine. Many of the works of art could have graced kindergarten portfolios. Which raises the question: What is art, anyway?

"The aesthetic is so much in the eye of the beholder," says James Rouvelle, an artist who teaches at the Maryland Institute College of Art and served as a judge at the show.

Graduate students Kiju Lee and Wooram Park, who created the first-place robot, said it took weeks to build and program a machine capable of sketching a sumi-e style orchid. Sumi-e are deceptively simple Japanese drawings created with black ink and a brush.

Despite its popularity with the judges and crowd, Lee says she wasn't convinced that the machine (dubbed "Naan," Korean for orchid) actually created art. Especially because Naan's renderings changed little from one drawing to the next. "To create the leaf, that's not art," says Lee, 25. "The software we designed - that's the art."

But John Dickinson, a 22-year-old senior who developed two mouse-sized robots that scribble randomly on paper, said he wasn't so sure.

"There are people who take a blank canvas and put a dot on it and call it art," he says. Watching as his bots inked intricate patterns onto the paper, he continued talking. "I feel like I've walked into a gallery and seen things like this."

Repetto, the ArtBot organizer, said new technologies always push artists and scholars to rethink their definition of art. "If something touches you or compels you to think," he says, "do you really care if it's 'art' or not?"

By that definition, then you might also consider "Canada" to be a work of art. That's what Hopkins seniors Jimmy Ballew and Phil Nigon called their robot, which drew crowds eager to peek inside the machine's protective microwave-sized Plexiglas box. When Ballew pushed a button, the robot sprayed a patch of green paint onto a sheet of paper lying at the bottom of the box. A toy fire hydrant, connected to a motorized spool of string, then dropped down onto this patch of "grass." Finally, a toy dog at the end of the robotic arm trotted out and deposited a pool of yellow paint where the hydrant sat. The crowds always applauded. If this isn't art, Ballew said, what is? "Even when they're disgusted, they eventually laugh."

Hi everyone!

Even though I still HATE anything Mommy gives me on a spoon (I purse my lips together tightly so she can't get anything in), I am still eager to put lots of things in my mouth. And I LOVE eating crackers all by myself! Sometimes I get a little bit messy, though, so I usually end up getting a bath right away.

Look, Nanaw. I'm getting very dextrous with my toesies.

I'm picking out our new house in San Antonio. I think that my suite should have a public audience room as well as a private chamber. I'm still considering the size of my personal pool. And where should I stable my pony?

Daddy sure has big shoes to fill.

My top right tooth came in over the course of Thanksgiving weekend. I'm having fun with the full set of chompers. However, I'm left with one problem. NOW what will I request for Christmas?

Hi Nikki!

Mommy, Daddy, Dan, Nikki and I drove up to Connecticut to visit Dan's family for Thanksgiving. Aunt Maria came in from Vermont to visit too. Yay!

My newest hobby and talent: eating my toes. Don't YOU think they look tasty?

Sitting tall on Daddy's shoulders.

I'm inspecting my hair clippies to see if I approve of Daddy's selection for the day.

Just rolling around on Mommy and Daddy's bed, playing with my toys. I can get around very well now, and even pull up as far as my knees from sitting. Sometimes I get things in my mouth that Mommy had no idea were within my reach!

Jake and Yoda, in their favorite sleeping spots next to the front door.

They just keep coming!

My top left tooth has made its grand entrance. These things just don't get any easier, do they? When I'm eating, Mommy keeps yelling really loud. She says "No, Isabel, No!" Then I get put down by myself for a long time. I just don't understand why.

My Godparents went to Oregon and all I got was this (super) snuggly sweatshirt. Note how the cuteness of the otters enhances my own cuteness.

Apparently, the only way I can get Kephas to look at me is to steal his toys. I've got him now!

This weekend we went to Pennsylvania to visit some friends. Daddy spent, in my opinion, entirely too much time holding this other baby. Back off, Rebecca! He's MY DADDY!!

There were so many little girls!

I was just sitting on the bed playing with my toys while Mommy looked at papers, and I got SO sleepy. Before I knew it, I had just slid over sideways and was having what turned out to be a very long nap.

I have a new tooth!

It's the bottom right, next to the first one. I'm kind of surprised at this new development: I thought I had completed my task when I cut the LAST one. But no, apparently there are more. This one was pretty painful for the last two days, but I'm starting to calm down. Mommy has something fruity that she puts on my gums that I HATE, but it always seems to make things feel better. Mom says that's lucky because she can see two more teeth about to make their entrances.

I promised pictures of the house we live in. Here it is!

The side porch of our house. I like to sit on the swing with Mommy and watch the trees.

Is anybody goin' to San Anton?

I am, Charley Pride, I am!

Mommy and Daddy *finally* decided where they're going to put my new bedroom next year. Daddy got a new job in San Antonio, Texas. I'm excited because I will get to see a lot of my adopted aunties much more often. Granddad and Grandmama are excited because they want to go to Sea World. Daddy is excited because he gets his own office and to go to something called "Schlitterbahn." And Mommy is excited because she can eat at Chuy's. And we're ALL excited to know what we're doing at last!

My Mommy sometimes takes me to a big room with lots of people in it. Usually one or just a few people are standing in front of everyone talking or singing or jumping around. When they finish, everyone in the room slaps their hands together. Mommy grabs my hands and puts them together, saying "Yaaaaaaay!" I usually smile, because it's really kind of fun. Last night I realized that I could put my hands together all by myself and have quite a good time doing it. Now whenever Mommy or Daddy say "Yay!" to me, I get excited and start clapping.

The *small* puppy dog

This is Yoda, the other doggie we live with. I love to watch her playing with her toys. Sometimes she swishes her tail and it brushes my face, and sometimes she licks my toes! I laugh because it tickles.

Joan

This is Joan, another one of our housemates.

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Thanks to my Aunt Sibling for my ladybug costume.

I see a light....

Bugs like to eat leaves, right?

Things I like to do

1. Go out for a ride in my stroller! I get very bored sitting in the house with Mommy all day, and sometimes I just can't be calmed down any way but a nice long walk. I like to smile at people and doggies on the street, look at the trees, and reach out for things that pass by.
2. Try to throw toys out of the stroller. Mommy usually thwarts my plans by attaching them with Linkadoos.
3. Touch Mommy's face. It's interesting to see what she does--- I pull her cheeks, poke her eyes, shove my fingers up her nose, put my whole hand in her mouth, or yank her hair. These activities are all good during playtime, while Mommy is trying to dress me, or while I'm nursing.
4. Take off my diaper. As soon as Mommy gets it fastened and starts trying to put on my clothes, I pull back the tabs. When she tries to put THEM back on, I pull the clothes back off. I like to pull any of these items up to my mouth, as well. Socks and my hairbrush are especially tasty. If I reach down and pull my toes up to my mouth, Mom can't get anything at all on me!
5. Take a bath. I laugh and bounce most of the time, but cry when my ears get washed. I try to get the washcloth away from Mommy so I can suck on it. I LOVE when she squirts me with my tub toys and I stick out my tongue to try to catch the water. I cry when Mommy lifts me out of the tub.
6. Watch the kitties play. I smile and twist around to watch whatever they are doing. When they get close enough, I reach out my hands to stroke them. Mommy helps me hold my hands flat so I can feel their soft fur without pinching them. Sometimes I try to talk to them, and they will meow back at me. Once I managed to meow too, but I can't seem to do it again.
7. Play with Daddy. Sometimes I'm just bored or grumpy and don't know what to do with myself, but when Daddy comes in I get so excited and happy! I squeal with delight and reach my arms up to him. He tickles me, throws me around, and plays silly games. He can almost always make me smile.

I have a tooth! I want to brush it!

Something isn't right about this....

Ah, yes.

Me sitting with Michelle, our landlady, and being sniffed by Jake, the big puppy dog that lives with us.

I promised some pictures of where we live now....

Here is Mommy with Andrew, one of our funny housemates. He makes faces and says silly things to me that make me smile.

Trying on my new snowsuit. It's getting cold here!

Saying my nighttime prayers with Mom

The National Aquarium

My parents took me to a very bizarre place tonight (they do that a lot). I was asleep during the whole trip there, so when I woke up I was very confused about where I was, since it didn't look like anything I'd seen before. All around me children and grownups were crowding up against brightly lit windows. I thought at first that maybe these were like the glowing boxes that Mommy and Daddy won't let me watch, but I remembered seeing those inside people's houses, and no one ever got so close to them. I was intrigued nonetheless. Mommy carried me right up to one of the windows. Inside were all sorts of bright and shiny things that darted quickly back and forth. I tried my best to follow them, but there were so many that I'd get distracted and look back and forth from one to another. Some of them were shiny, some looked kind of sqiushy-- but they seemed to move so easily across the window... There were bubbles like I had seen in my bath, and some of the shiny things reminded me a little of my tub toys, but the window didn't feel wet at all when I reached out to try to touch it. I turned around and looked inquiringly at Mommy, Daddy, and some people standing nearby, hoping for some explanation. They LAUGHED at me (I hate when that happens when I am trying to be serious) and said "See the fishies, Baby Isabel?" So I guess that's what they were: fishes. But there were so many kinds of them!

Today

I am seven months old and I weigh eighteen pounds! I'm amazed at how quickly I am growing. I keep wanting to wear one of my favorite outfits, but then Mommy says that it is too small and brings me something new! These are different types of outfits than I have worn before... they have long pants and sleeves. It's actually kind of nice, because it's getting kind of chilly outside.

I don't feel very good today. My nose is all stuffy and drippy, which makes it very hard to nurse, and I seem to have a bit of a cough. I just don't know what to do with myself, so I am crying and crying. Mommy can't seem to make it all better, either. :(

(The less furry friends). Some dear faces were still missing, though. Sniff.

Just playing with a few of my favorite toys.

I spent some time catching up with old friends in Texas. Some were furrier than others.

I'm sound asleep in my stroller, sporting a cozy hat that Grandma Helen made me.

Another trip down memory lane. This picture is from May. It is amazing to see my little girl grow so quickly. She has really doubled in size and gained so much chubbly. I'm so proud of her!!!

Reclining with Big Bird.

I see you hiding behind mommy. Wow, look at those eyes!!!

Everyone but me is in Texas visiting friends, but I am stuck here doing school work. I thought I would take the opportunity to post some incriminating pictures of Ms. Belly since she is not here hogging the keyboard as usual:).

Okay, there is no such thing as an incriminating picture of her. She's just always TOO CUTE!!!

People have been saying lately...

that I look a lot like my Aunt Sibling ("Maria" to some of you). Do you think this is true?

I'm a CITY baby, now.

When we first moved to this place, I was very skeptical about it. Everything was so loud and fast and busy! Mommy and Daddy were always taking me out places, and there were so many strange things to watch that I could never fall asleep, no matter how tired I was. Now I'm getting used to things: today I watched a fire truck and an ambulance go by without getting upset! I really like being out and about in my stroller. Lots of people usually stop to smile and talk to me, and that's much more fun than staying home all day. I'm very happy to talk with them as long as they aren't trying to hold me. It's all very exciting. It's too bad I can't manage to reach any of the pretty things on the shelves in stores--I'd really like to give them a taste.

Today our landlady came home from a month-long trip to Europe. I was surprised to hear her remark how much Isabel had changed while she was gone... and I realized just how big she's gotten. So, ladies and gentlemen, it's time for a "Baby Isabel flashback." This picture was taken in the hospital on March 22 when she was just a day old. So tiny!