You've read about Will's commercial work, done only days after birth. Now you, too, can see the video here.
It's amazing to me how much he's changed since he was born.
So we're casually looking for a larger car to replace Christina's Toyota Corolla. Nothing wrong with the little sedan, it's just, uh, little. Once we get a stroller in the trunk, it's done. There ain't nothing else going in there.
We're not totally sure we'll buy any time soon, just doing some early shopping to weed out the cars that won't fit in our family. We're open to suggestions, anecdotes, experiences, etc.
Here are some of the cars that have fallen by the wayside early in the shopping game...
Christina and I loved this car for its loads of horsepower and plenty of room. I didn't like its very thirsty engine and higher-than-we-like cost. Christina had trouble seeing out of its tiny little back windows.
Stylish wagonesque hatchbacks with lots of personality. We probably won't even drive them since they look way too small on the inside.
Christina drove the Focus sedan when shopping for the Corolla. She just plain didn't like the car. I wasn't a big fan despite most car magazines going nuts over it. Plus, it's a Ford.
Cars still in the running:
Honda Fit - I've driven it, Christina hasn't but likes the looks of it.
Volvo V70 and V50 - Looked in one, but that's it. Should be able to get a used one affordably.
Volkswagen Passat wagon - ditto the Volvo.
Mazda 6 Sportwagon - A contender, but no test drives yet.
Subaru Outback/Forrester/etc. etc wagons - Still confused about which one's which.
Chrysler PT Cruiser - Sure we already have one. But it fits us great. Why not two?
Honda Odyssey - a longshot, but still a possibility
Married in Jackson, Miss. May 27, 2006. Congrats, Bakers!
Some of the 240 photos I took here.
In my profile (over there on the right and badly in need of updating) I say I covet a 1956 Chevy Nomad. Still true, I assure you. But Christina and I are both big fans of 1960s era wagons too.
I still want a 1956 Chevy Nomad. Oh, how I do. But outfitting one with seatbelts and airbags and power windows, etc. costs LOTS of money (we're talking in the $100,000s.).
So imagine my joy when I find these concepts of a 2007 Dodge Charger and Plymouth Fury station wagons. OMG. OMG.
Where do I sign?
Unfortunately, these are not concepts from Dodge. They're from Andre Schaefer in Germany. Apparently he's just some guy who is a real whiz with Photoshop and an eye for hot auto design.
Sean and I used to do this very thing back in the day. Wish I still had that slammed Camaro I did or that 6-wheeled SUV Sean made.
BTW, these concept cars were totally stolen from CCW Automotive Design. That guy rocks! Someone should hire him quickly.
And, uh, please don't sue me.
We had two reasons for going to Mississippi last weekend. One was to show off Will, of course. The second was to see my cousin, Blake Cruse, graduate from Ole Miss. Just like his father did. Just like his cousin Mike Campbell did and just like I did.
Blake graduated after only four (yes, we did beg him to at least make it five if not six) years with a degree in insurance risk management.
Will Will do the same thing? I'm torn. While I'd love to see him at least follow my college choice, like every other father before me, I want to see him do better than I. So I'm pulling for MIT. Now accepting donations.
May 12, 2006, we took Will across state lines to visit his extended family in Mississippi. It was his first trip outside the city limits of Birmingham. We put him in his car seat here in Crestwood and he fell asleep. He didn't wake up until we were driving down my parents' driveway in Pontotoc, Miss.
Will met lots of folks he'd never seen before but who already were in love with him.
Click on any photo to see a much larger size.
My grandmother, Mary Frances Jackson, gets to meet Will for the first time. I have to say I've waited all my life for this moment. To present our son to my grandmother was a joyous occasion.
My niece Carson, far left, says hi to Will for the first time. She missed a couple of other opportunities to meet him and almost missed this one. She got back from Disney World the day after we got to Pontotoc. Next to Carson is my youngest sister Rebecca and my sister Beth.
Uncle Joey Rogers meets Will for the first time.
Jody Thompson and her daughter Laura came over for a visit while we were in Pontotoc.
Caroline Miller, my niece and Will's first cousin, holds Will.
Will and his grandfather.
I came in from work very early Thursday morning to find these two snoozing on the couch. Peaceful.
Grandmother Annette came down from Memphis May 6, 2006, to visit and we went to Aldridge Gardens. A very nice day for a garden stroll.
We sure think so. And now he proves it. For more than 1 minute and 45 seconds, Will rocks. But don't overdose on the cute. More is sure to come.
Video was shot Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Gina Redmond on NBC13 in Birmingham today narrated a piece on the Bugatti Veyron, unfortunately and horribly mangling the pronunciation of Bugatti.
Is that a Cajun car company?
And why was the TV station even doing the story? The car was introduced several years ago and first sold to the public last year sometime. Slow news day, I guess.
Randy and Betty Moore and Susanna and James Torres visited us from Huntsville Sunday and we went for a picnic. Will slept through most of it, but didn't complain too much...
In a post here a few months ago, I drooled all over the million-dollar Bugatti Veyron. Still drooling, actually.
Now you too can virtually drool over the stunningly gorgeous supercar at the Bugatti website. There you can choose the colors of your dream car inside and out. And unlike most car manufacturers, there are few limits on color choices.
Go wild and give yourself something to dream about tonight.
Here's the color combo I chose. Yeah, a bit understated, but elegant...
And here is the interior I chose. Sweet.
I'd love to see how you guys choose to paint a $1 million supercar.
You believe in maximum performance and minimum baggage. You like to travel light and fast, hit the corners hard, and dance like there's no tomorrow.
"Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.
So, what kind of car are you?
As stated in the previous post, we visited Birmingham's beautiful gardens Easter Sunday. I'm always in awe of their Japanese maples at the entrance to their Japanese gardens.
As requested, new Will photography.
Mommy T and Daddy T took Baby T to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens Sunday to enjoy the nice Easter sunshine. Uncle K took our picture...
Tonight (April 20), Mommy T and Baby T curled up with Kitty S...
More to come.
Anyone with parenting skills have suggestions on what baby monitor we should buy/not buy? I'm leaning toward the 27-channel Sony Baby Call.
Suggestions? Comments?
Will is generally a happy baby. Until you take his clothes off. Then he gets, uh, unhappy. Then if you add warm, soapy water to the equation, ooh momma! Things get nasty.
Will's first week has been filled with friends and family coming by for visits.
Will's friends Maggie and Chris Baker visited Monday.
Will's first cousin Caroline and his aunt Beth came to Birmingham Thursday from Pontotoc, Miss.
Brooks Brown visited Wednesday.
Will's parents, Chris and Christina, joined his grandparents, Q.T. and Mary Tutor, on the front steps of his home Thursday for a photo.
Thanks for everyone who stopped by and/or called to wish us well. Will's getting settled in now and we welcome more visitors. We just ask you give us a ring first to make sure little Will is dressed, fed and awake before dropping by. Don't worry about the phone waking anyone. All phones are on vibrate.
Go to www.lincoln.com and sign up to get a brochure about their Lincoln Zephyr. If they ask when you plan to purchase your next car, answer sometime in the next 6 months or so.
Within a few weeks, you should get an invitation to test drive a new Zephyr. If you take Lincoln up on the offer, they'll pay you $50.
We just got our invitation and will be making $50 in diaper money shortly.
Oh, btw, we've done this several times with about five other dealers and so far the only catch is you have to spend some time with a car salesman. Just tell them the car was crap, you have no intention of buying it and get him to sign the certificate you brought along. cha-ching.
Thursday morning, as we all sat around admiring our beautiful baby, we were visited by one of the hospital administrators.
She wanted our permission to use William in a new commercial for the hospital. We of course demanded a percentage of all revenue generated by the new commercial as well as half of the merchandising rights.
No, actually, we instantly said yes without thinking about such things.
As soon as we get a copy, I'll post it. Until then, here's a photo of the shoot. It's a little blurry, but it was snapped between takes.
