Mark of Fridays: I-L-L I-N-I N-I-T

Ok, so, it's not the NCAA Tourney. Bummer.
And they didn't win it. Oh, well.


But I'm still the Illini's No. 1 fan!

Oskee wow wow!

The six-month Mark

Mark Hanley, at six months
The measurements: 18 pounds, 12 ounces (that's more than double my birth weight!); 29 inches. For those of you keeping score at home, I'm in the 75th percentile for height and weight. And, um, ahem, the 91st percentile for head size. Thanks a lot, Dad.
Best friends: I have so many new friends! For a while it seemed like there were only Giants around here. But then a lot of Mommy and Daddy's friends suddenly found Little People, like me. Finally, someone cool to hang out with. (And I hear there might be more on the way...)
Enemies: Whoever put my soothing teething ring in the fridge next to an onion. That thing does not smell right anymore.
Just found out about: Sitting. OK, I am going to tell you this, but you have to keep it in strictest confidence because Mom and Dad are so excited. They're going on and on about how I can pretty much sit up now by myself. Here's what they don't know: I was able to sit before! I just didn't want to. Because every time I sit up, guess what I see? My feet. And when I see my feet, I can't wait to grab them! So I just fold myself in half - face to the floor - and stick those piggies in my mouth. What? That's weird? You're weird if you don't stick toes in your mouth.
I'm not so sure about: These doctors. I went for my regular check up the other day and they listed off all the things a 9-month-old baby should be able to do. Move objects from hand to hand? Check. Recognize people from across the room? Done. Eat baby food? C'mon challenge me. Roll over? Are you serious? Rolling over? Lady, I'm almost standing on my own. I have a dog. I can take off my own socks and throw them on the ground. Bring on walking!
Favorite activities: I've got this new one - babbling. Sometimes I babble such funny things I make myself laugh. Then Mom and Dad laugh. Then I laugh again. Just the other day I was telling them about the time when geegge blammulah bleebla bin! bin! nuuuuuuuu. Good times.
I have a crush on: Life! Every single day I learn so much more about what is out there, what I can do and what will make Big People smile. In just half a year, I've gone from a squishy, scarred baby who only had eyes for my bottle to a little boy who can hold things and smiles every time those babysitters come over. Mom and Dad say that if they love me this much after six months, a year is inconceivable.
Major accomplishments: The aforementioned sitting. Helped draft a significant amendment to the health care legislation. Petted the dog once.

Mark of Fridays: Whadyasay?

Here's another video update. Do you get the feeling there's going to be more and more of these?

Mark of Fridays: A look back

Just before Mark was born, Matt's boss said: "When the baby's born you're going to look at it and think, 'This is the most beautiful baby in the world.' It won't be until a few months later that you realize how weird and squishy he looked."

And when Mark was born, Matt thought: "Ha! My boss didn't know what he was talking about. My boss may have had a weird, squishy baby, but Mark actually looks normal right out of the gate!"

Well...it's not that Mark was ugly. He was the best looking newborn in the history of the world. Obviously. However, he has gotten much better looking. And less squishy.

Oscarama: Because not every post can star Mark

Stolen from the pages of the Beacon, here's Matt's annual list of Top 10 movies. For Matt, 2009 was a wonderful year in so many ways. But it was not a wonderful year for going to the movies. It was actually a better year for being in the movies than attending them. It was worth it.
So, if you want some likely dead-on predictions, check out Tripp's thoughts here.
No predictions from Matt, but if you want to see who Matt thought was slighted by the Osar nominations (yes, even with 10 best picture nominees), you can read the story here.
And, no, Matt did not list himself as best supporting supporting actor.

10. Food Inc.
I’m tempted to put the Baby Mozart DVD here, since it can hold my 5-month-old son’s attention for 15 minutes, providing cover while I eat dinner. That makes it one of my favorite movies this year. Sadly Mozart was released in 2000. Instead, I’ll choose this year’s best documentary. This movie made me take a second look at everything I eat — and gave me ideas on how to affect change.
9. Bruno
Bruno is far less accessible and far more biting than Sacha Baron Cohen’s previous character, Borat. It was easy to laugh at bystanders in Borat, but audiences seem hesitant to laugh at the homophobia in Bruno. But that’s the movie’s uncomfortable brilliance, right?
8. The Hurt Locker
There’s a lot to like in “Hurt Locker,” the best fictional movie made about the Iraqi War. The movie was tense, challenging and had a point of view. Jeremy Renner was spectacular.
7. The Invention of Lying
OK, this wasn’t the perfect movie. But it was the most ambitious piece of writing this year. Ricky Gervais takes the funny, inventive idea implied by his title and uses it to challenges viewers. This is not the movie portrayed in trailers: I’m surprised there weren’t protests.
6. Where the Wild Things Are
How this didn’t get an adapted screenplay nomination for turning a nine-sentence book into a 101-minute movie is beyond me. Writer Dave Eggers and director Spike Jonez found a way to film the wonders of childhood imagination and the terror of impending adulthood. A deeply symbolic movie that kids and adults can appreciate.
5. Sugar
In a down year for documentaries, “Sugar” was a fictional film that felt very real. I’ve been a huge baseball fan for years but I’ll view the International Pastime differently after this movie about young Dominicans trying to make it to the big leagues. This isn’t a sports movie. It’s about outsiders trying to find their home.
4. Goodbye Solo
The third movie from the director of “Man Push Cart” and “Chop Shop” returns to similar themes: immigrants living on the fringe of society. This time it’s a joyous taxi driver (who wants to be a flight attendant) that picks up a fare with few prospects. This is a touching film about what it means to be a friend and what we owe strangers.
3. The Hangover
This was the funniest movie I’ve seen in years. Unlike a lot of “dumb comedies”, it had great writing and a real plot. Zach Galifianakis created one of the all-time great characters.
2. Away We Go
I’m glad to see this on Andre’s list. I was afraid I was too biased seeing a movie about a pregnant couple trying to figure out their life while I was a dad-to-be trying to figure out his life. But this beautiful movie was funny, poignant and perfect.
1. In The Loop
Here’s a brilliant little dark comedy about the U.S. and Britain misusing assumptions and half facts while on the verge of war in Iraq. That would never happen, right? Outstanding performances and pitch-perfect writing.

The Elevens: A Serious Man; Up; I Love You, Man; Invictus
Some worthy movies I didn't see: Avatar, Up In the Air, Crazy Heart, The Messenger, Precious (Yes, that’s some big misses. I blame the baby. He only wants to see independent films.)

Mark of Fridays: Picture puzzle

What do you see in this picture? How many of the following can you find?

- A goofball in orange.
- A Peanuts character.

- A green hare.

- An international terrorist.

- An illegal drug.

Mark of Fridays: Lucky rabbit's foot