Dear Video Diary

Rory has started to record her inner thoughts in a "video diary" that you can view. Her first installment expounds upon her love for shiny knobs.

Nationals Vs. Mets

Rory's Uncle Allen took her to her second baseball game. As you can see, she is wearing "her first Mets tee", courtesy of Uncle Allen. The Mets took on the Nationals today, and Rory's allegiance to the Nationals was put to the test! But when the Mets hit a homerun that both clinched the game and woke Rory up from her nap, Rory made her peace with the Nationals ...


... and she donned her Nationals hat! Rory had a wonderful time at the ballpark. She flirted with all the fans, and she enjoyed all the people-watching.



Uncle Allen has a lot to teach Rory about the finer points of the game. But so far, she seems to enjoy baseball games over swimming lessons!

Spring Has Arrived

Spring has finally arrived for good here in DC, and Rory has enjoyed her newfound ability to bust out of the home and enjoy the great outdoors. We have discovered a lovely little park about a 15-minute walk from our home that has a wonderful view of the Potomac River. Rory enjoys the baby swing and see-saw!

Spring has also brought new hairstyles to the family (Sarah has a lovely new dew) and new smiles (Rory is now grinning with her mouth closed) and new playthings (Rory has just started tolerating a sippy cup with assistance).

Rory had her first swim lessons last weekend, but unfortunately she was a little overewhelmed by all of the new sights and sounds at the recreation center. She shed a few tears in the pool, but she looked fabulous in her new pink wet suit (and that's the important thing, right?). Given how much this kid enjoys her bath, we are confident that she'll take to the pool next time. Or the next time. Or the ne...

...Fortunately, Rory also enjoys her rugged treks in her hipster urban chariot. Of course, she insists on wearing her fancy pink shades.

Feed the Wookie!

For some reason, Rory displayed an unusual affinity for her food yesterday. Perhaps she was just relishing the taste of good food after having had an upset stomach for the last week. Maybe she was enjoying her first real taste of Gerber bananas, something her daddy bought especially for her at the store given his own love for this particular fruit. Or maybe, the wookie has returned! In any event, I hope you enjoy this video as much as I enjoyed feeding my little wookie.

UPDATE (April 28, 2007)

I sent a link of this video to the good folks at Gerber and received this response:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: parentsresource.gerber@gerber.com
Sent: Fri 4/27/2007 9:48 AM
To: O'Hara, Tim
Subject: Gerber

Timothy,

Thank you for contacting Gerber.

It was a pleasure viewing the video of Rory. She certainly is a beautiful baby who obviously receives an abundance of loving care and attention in addition to a nourishing diet of Gerber foods.

We have taken this opportunity to send you, via postal mail, some complimentary coupons and reading information we hope you will find useful.

Best wishes from your friends @ gerber.com.

009731166A
NET/csg

Aunt Sydney Visits Rory

This weekend, Rory's Aunt Sydney made a short visit to see Rory, escape Texas, and avoid homework for her graduate class on hip hop. Yes, she is taking a class that explores the meaning of gangsta rap and breakdancing on American culture. Why didn't I take more classes outside of the business school?

Rory enjoyed playing with her Aunt Sydney. After some introductory stares ...
...Rory took great delight in Aunt Sydney. Rory's Mommy also took great delight in Aunt Sydney, especially when she took Sarah to get their nails done, giving Daddy some quality time alone with Rory at the grocery store (which, by the way, made me a conversational target for every single woman -- old and young -- in the store).
Sydney and Blue Dog got Rory laughing hysterically!

Story Time Goes to the Dogs

On Saturday, Rory took her parents and Aunt Sydney to story time at the local children's bookstore.
This week, story time was all about dogs! So, of course, dogs were invited too.
Aunt Sydney is pursuing a graduate degree in performance studies, and so her interest had a decidedly more academic bent.
Daddy poses, while Rory watches two dogs get frisky with each other.

Urban Babies Wear Black

The resemblance is striking! We discovered this book during story time at the local bookstore.

Girl Meets Robot

Recently, our resident robot showed Rory his fancy moves (captured here on video), but she ain't takin' any of his smack!...
...because she has the remote control!

Easter 2007

Rory celebrated her first Easter at the Masterson household in Richmond. Her Grandma and Opa Paul came up for the weekend from Beaufort, and her aunts and uncles made the trip down from D.C. Rory enjoyed her first Easter egg hunt and all of the attention that she got, despite the stomach bug that was still squirming around in her tummy.
Rory's grandma showered her only grandchild with love and attention and gifts!
Rory still exhibits a little "stranger anxiety" now and again.
Rory's uncles, Allen and Mike, help Rory with her Easter egg hunt. Rory's egg has a lottery ticket inside!... that unfortunately didn't yield any additional booty.


Back at home, Rory watched a fairly nontraditional Easter video sent to us by a family member who will go unnamed.

My tummy hurts

"My tummy hurts. And I've thrown up five times."

"Hmmm, you say the medicine will make me feel better?"


"Ohhh, that tastes a little weird."

"If I've got to be sick, then I'd like to spend it with my daddy"






Rory has indeed been sick these last few days. On Thursday morning, she threw up a few times, but her rookie parents kept ascribing the barf to random things and packed her up anyway for daycare. Just as we were arriving, however, Rory up-chucked a third time, which convinced her parents that she was indeed sick. Sarah spent the day at home with Rory and followed advice from our pediatrician. She seemed fine the next day, but she threw up at daycare and was acting puny, so we took her to see the pediatrician who diagnosed the stomach bug as rotovirus and found an ear infection on top of that. Thankfully, Rory is sleeping fine and, as of this writing, she is showing signs of improvement (i.e., no up-chuck all day).

How is this night different..?

Rory was treated like a movie star this past week by all the family who were in town. The festivities culminated with a celebration of Passover on Tuesday evening, with Allen reading from the traditional Haggadah and everyone contributing to a delicious feast that included a dish from Allen's Persian Jewish heritage (rice tahdeeg), as well as many Katz classics (brisket and matzoh-ball soup).
Unfortunately, the Seder meal itself was to be served a little too late for Rory, but she helped her Mommy set the table.
Rory gets squeezed by her parents, when all she really wants is ...
... a sip of the Manischewitz wine!
Allen holds up a box of matzoh as the rest of the family digs into the feast.

Rory's First Opening Day Ballgame!

On Monday, Rory continued a long-standing tradition in her family by attending the Opening Day ballgame. Her great-grandfather attended decades of Opening Day games to watch his Cincinnati Reds, and now Rory has begun the tradition with her Washington Nationals. Pictured here, Rory is doing a little tailgating before her big game.
Here Rory is with most of the gang ... her grandma and her O'Hara aunts and uncles.
Rory engages her Aunt Chelle in a ferocious debate: who's cuter, Ryan Z or Ryan C?
Rory's mommy arrives a little late with Rory's Nonna and Pops. Rory and her mom enjoy the game together, until ...
...Rory lunges at Mommy when she made fun of the Nationals bullpen!
All that excitement can tire a little girl out!
Unfortunately, Rory awoke just in time to see her Nationals lose to the Marlins 9-2.

Blossoms & Kites

On Saturday, Rory took her parents to the opening ceremonies of the annual Cherry Blossoms Festival, which featured several kite competitions. Rory liked the view from the top of her daddy's shoulders, which gave her a great perch to delight in the hundreds of kites that filled the air.
It still gives us a thrill to have D.C. in our backyard (that's the Washington Monument in the background). This is just the start to a big weekend. Rory's Grandma, Nonna, and Pops are in town. On Monday, we are going to the National's Opening Day ballgame, and on Tuesday Rory is hosting everyone at her house for the Seder.
When Rory is in these public places, she tends to go back and forth between big smiles and long, serious stares...
...clearly, these blossoms brought out Rory's contemplative side. What is she thinking? ("Hmmm, how can I get me those pretty flowers for myself?")

My two pretty ladies pose under the cherry blossoms for their final shot.