Xander had so much fun last time at the pediatrician’s, we couldn’t wait to do it all again. The poor kid was hauled off yesterday morning for a checkup and round 2 of his oh-so-fun immunizations. Waiting for him this time were three pointy needles. We’ve got him pounding Baby Tylenol and we’re crossing our fingers he doesn’t get sick this time around.

We’ve got some updated stats on the lil’ porker: he’s hauling around 18 pounds and has stretched himself to 27 inches. Tam felt it appropriate to caveat the weight with the fact that he didn’t eat as much as he normally would because they were driving back from SoCal the day before. And there was a ginormous pooping episode prior to the checkup. But when does he not have a ginormous pooping episode? It’s par for the course.

Post-poking, grumpy baby was on display. I think he got over it much better this time.

When babies attack…

Oh, what a horrible, wretched soul you must be. Let’s be clear here: I’m a firm believer in karmic retribution. You will get what is coming to you. Be it tomorrow, next week, or years down the line, you will bear the full consequences of your actions. I am not a dispenser of retribution. Your own sorry, twisted life will serve as the means of delivery for that.

With that out of the way, you stole a piece of me today. I’ll get over you breaking into my garage with me upstairs, in broad daylight on a Saturday afternoon to take my bike. In Piedmont, no less. I’ll get over the Habanero road and mountain bikes that you also decided to take from me. My wife will get over her Giant Allegre, which you stole as well. I’ll probably get over the fact that you stalked me, followed me home from a ride, and then committed multiple felonies just out of earshot.

However I will never get over my Moots Compact SL that you took from me today. Cycling isn’t just something that I do for kicks. It’s a part of me. It’s my passion. It’s something that has brought me my closest of friends, sent me to the deepest of physical lows, rocketed me to the greatest of mental highs, and I’ve loved every minute of it. And as it turns out, the frameset was my wedding present from my wife. So heed my words when I say that this is fucking personal. I am not playing around here at all.

You must be seriously retarded because how do you think you will be able to sell my bike? This isn’t some mass produced Trek we’re talking about here. There aren’t that many of them out there and it will be found sooner or later. At that point, it had damn well better be in one piece.

And one more thing. Fuck you.

For everyone else out there, please be on the lookout for these four bikes:

1. Moots Compact SL 56cm with Shimano Dura-Ace 10
2. Habanero Team Issue 56cm with Shimano Dura-Ace 9
3. Habanero hardtail MTB 17″ with a Marzocchi X-Fly 80 fork and Shimano XT
4. Giant Allegre 48cm with Campy Veloce

Anyone spotted with these bikes should be severely beaten.

Yesterday marked Xander’s 4 month anniversary. It’s hard to believe it’s already been four whole months, but there you have it.

He still hasn’t figured out crawling, but has figured out contorting himself into painful looking positions.

He gets himself partially rolled over on his side but then can’t figure out how to get over his own arm. So he gets stuck. And feels the need to look around. Looks like a serious case of JNS coming on.

We’ve been working on getting him used to the Bumbo. He can only deal with it for short periods of time, but we’re hoping it grows on him. So here are two of his happier moments that Tammy captured.

Let’s be honest now. Aside from the vexing anomoly that was Game 1 of the 49ers preseason, there isn’t going to be too much to cheer for this coming season. But what an anomoly that was. Alex Smith playing all grown up, throwing precision strikes against a pretty good defense. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to make it into Candlestick Park (sorry, it ain’t Monster Park in my book) to witness the other 49ers preseason victory.

The Chargers were in town, but didn’t bother to play super-scary running back LaDainian Tomlinson or the rest of the major pieces of their first string offense. Can’t blame ‘em. There was nothing to gain from playing their guys. Only potential injuries waiting for them. The Niners on the other hand had everything to gain: namely experience. Or maybe respect. Or both. Or maybe they’d just settle for their jobs.

Anyway, this game only reinforced what the fans and every opponent already know: there is no pass rush present, the secondary is porous, and the offense is erratic. Number 6 had get himself ready for another busy year. Unless Nolan and Turner are playing things real close the the chest and are waiting to unleash all sorts of offensive nastiniess against the Cardinals in the season opener. Hey, I can wish, no?

While we wait for next Sunday, here are some photos from the sparsely attended game:

Niners waiting to take the field

Niners taking the field with fireworks announcing their entrance

Everyone getting set for the opening kickoff

Alex Smith under center