Me-chelle.

My first lady is black...like me.

For some reason this brings me immense joy. 

3.

I've got a 3 year old. I've got a 3 year old. I've got a 3 year old. Hey, hey, hey, hey. She turned the big 0-3 on December 13.

The birthday girl.

Sparkly red birthday shoes.

Strawberry frosted birthday donut.

The birthday festivities somehow led to the loss of her pants. Crazy kid.

AB's First Christmas Program.

She's next to the kid in the Italia t-shirt who once told me that I couldn't call AB "Buddy" because her name was "Annabelle".

There's that crazy possessed determined look of recognition I love.

She refused to wear the cute snowman headband anymore, but agreed to pose for a picture.

And then Dr. Destructo broke the ornament off the tree. Dearlord, I love her.

She is indeed my lighthouse in the dense fog of finals.

So She Thinks She Can Dance.

Moments ago, in the middle of her gazillionth viewing of Funny Face with Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire, Annabelle got got up from her chair walked over to me in the next room and said very seriously, "I want to go bye-bye and dance."

"You want to dance?" I asked. 

She nodded, shook her little hips, did a spin and pointed toward the door. "Outside."

"I'll think about it."

"'Kay." Then she calmly walked back to her chair. This from the kid who is ready to drop a tantrum at the drop of a hat if she sees your lips forming the word "no".

Um, does this mean she wants dance lessons?

Barry and Bill.

I woke up at 12:30 am thinking about the election.

So much is at stake. I have always been a political junkie and I haven't felt this sure about a candidate since Clinton in 1992. (Bush I just seemed so dishonest...if only I knew what was in store with W.).

Bill was exciting, fun and insanely smart. He was the spark to my political awakening. I called it in Mrs. Hope's 4th grade class when I wrote down on the wide-ruled paper in my childish script "Bill Clinton will win." The man had me with the word "Hope", while Bush bounced me out with "Read my lips." Did I care about taxes? No, but I cared about liars.

Now Barry comes along when I have become more sophisticated, jaded, and cynical thanks to my spiffy political science degree and eight years of W. We were so excited when he spoke at the DNC in 2004. He was exciting, fun and insanely smart. Whodathunk. But my heart still lay with the Clintons, so I was Hillary all the way, when the primary season rolled around. (I'm not bitter though as I have a feeling that she'll hold an important place in his administration because yes...he is going to win.) So instead of Hillary, I am getting Michelle.  Dearlord, I loves me some Michelle. They are my JFK and Jackie O ('cause let's face it, Hillary was no Jackie).

Then there is the other factors. I believe him more because he has kids and I believe him more because he is of mixed heritage like AB. And oh, I cannot forget his astute judgement in picking a candidate who actually adds substantively to his ticket. (Joe's got love for the single parents - that moment in the VP debate was awesome).

Plain and simple, I believe him.

While the Clintons still hold a place in my heart, I have made room for the Obamas as well.

The city's gonna be crazy tonight and while I am going to avoid Grant Park like the plague, I am going to try and have AB stay up to watch the results. My budding politico chants "Obama for President" and actually sat through a substantial portion of "The War Room". I am so proud.

Exciting, fun and insanely smart, folks. That is what I want and that is what I'm gonna get. Hoorah.