We made a music video in Brooklyn this weekend and we had the baby with us.

 

 

She was really amazing;  she didn't take any real naps but didn't complain either.

The only obstacle that we faced was how to feed her once I was trapped in a plexiglass cubicle.

 

 

We loved the idea of having us both playing in these enclosed boxes while balls filled up around us. Only, once we were in them, we couldn't get out for hours.

Breastpump to the rescue! I literally looked like an art installation on modern day maternity.  I had to stop the shoot and have my pump handed to me through the roof of the box.  Then, I sat in there pumping away until I had a whole bottle of milk to pass back over the box so my sister could give it to June.

 

 I think I introduced a bunch of guys/indie-filmakers to the art of human breast milk expressing. And, I'm pretty sure that has never happened while filming a music video before.

(Also, the shoot was filmed at space occupied by a great team of fashion creators who call themselves The Love Brigade.  We got to wear their stylings. They might have seen my breasts 10 times that day and they didn't even flinch. )

 

 As we gear up for another cycle, this time with two kids instead of one, I'm finally uploading all the old videos. There are some from almost 2 years ago on tour with Magnolia. Watching all of these, for me, is a reminder that touring can be boring unless you have your child along to video.  And, it also reminds me that pretty soon our lives will be consumed with snipets simlar to these:

Touring with band and child 06, memories...

 

On a long drive to Coachella our sound guy pulled out a Rapmaster, a fine 80's rap-along machine, and gave it to Magnolia when we had all reached our limit of ideas to occupy a toddler.

 

 

 

Mags, whom I do not deprive of dolls, discovers a new "baby" otherwise known as a sweet potato doggie named Ryan. She slept with it for a few days.  It does kind of look like a baby-of a manitee maybe. 

 

 

 

Our daughter had a buddy when we toured with Starlight Mints and  "How to Tour with Kids"  was created (and so were a few hundred nonsense songs).

 

 

 

 
'm really looking forward to the most in this upcomming year of touring...soundchecks. 

    For the first time today, Magnolia cried for her dad all evening.  He went out to dinner with a friend and she just missed him.  In the past she has cried when I'm away from her even if I've just gone to the gym for an hour.  We even have a little routine of signing "I love you" to each other through the car window as I drive away. But this is a first, crying to me because Dad was not home.

While crying for Jason, she said, "He just does fun things that I can't tell you about." hmmmm  When I pried into what that might be she confessed that he gives her candy and also lets her set up pillows and slide down them.  I guess I got a couple cool points for saying, "Well, I think I can make a pillow slide too." And let me tell you, it ignited an hour of pillow sliding.  And when I asked what exactly she missed about Dad.  She said, "Well, his whole entire body."  I told her I missed his whole body too.

It's a little bitter-sweet when your kid starts weeding out mom as the go-to person.  But he's a pretty good dad so I totally understand.  

 

 

On a side, non-jealous-of-Dad note,  has anyone ever noticed how the lyrics for "The Wheels on the Bus" could lead child into thinking dads are cooler than moms?

The mommies on the bus say "SHH SHH SHH"

The daddies on the bus (who will take over as favorite parent soon) say "I LOVE YOU!" 

 But, seriously, I'm happy for the two of them.

 

June joined us for a weekend of shows.

 

 

 

 We played at Newbury Comics and Middlebury, VT  (Brett, thanks for the photos)

 

 The show went well, everyone was nice.  Jason met a New Kid on The Block (his little brother was at the store to watch the show and he introduced the NKOTB guy to Jason.) 

 

While eating lunch after the show June had 2 major blow outs-if you are a parent of a baby, you know what I mean when I say blow out.

 

 One of the messes had to be changed in the record store bathroom.  The other, in a McDonalds bathroom.   June has these blow outs all the time-only now we've realized tour blow outs are harder to manage..where do you put the clothes?  BTW, Are we using the wrong size diaper or something?

Anyway, my reality is one that involves sound-checking and then figuring out where to change a diaper. 

 

On to other new things..our video is out now...new song...I'm the huge pregnant fox.  Magnolia makes an appearance.   Here it is: 

 We took the family into NYC for a kid rock show (not "Kid Rock," I mean a rock show in the afternoon for kids).

  

 (Mags with Zach from Rogue Wave, June with Dad)

 

Our friends Rogue Wave played a special set for youngsters.  Mags leapt out of her chair when they asked if anyone wanted to play tamborine with the band.  

 

Zack's wife makes cool kids clothes also.  Mags bought a rocket shirt.

 

 

 The dicussion I had with Magnolia while the band played:

 

Magnolia:  "Mom, they are making weird faces when they sing. I don't think those faces are cool."

              (She's never used the word cool like that before. But at a rock show, I guess there is a first time for everything)

Me:     "Actually, when people are really into their music, they make faces while they play.  They don't even mean to. They are just into it.  I think   it IS cool."

Mags:  "Oh, so they are INTO the song?"

Me: "Yes."

Mags: "Than I guess it's cool, mom. It just looks kind of funny."

Me: "Yes, but do you think you might make faces like that when you play?"

Mags;  "Maybe when I'm INTO it." 

 

I told my friend Gram (in the band) that story but it might have come off as offensive, sorry. And for the record, I like weird faces.  She really just was observing the facial changes that came with the music.  Plus, does anyone care if a 3 year old thinks something isn't cool?  I hope not.

Anyway, the show was excellent.  Really, it's "kidrockers" is for moms who don't get to go to enough rock shows anymore too, not just the kids.

 

We're playing at Newbury Comics (record store) in Boston tomorrow for National Record Store Day. It starts at noon. Come. We will try to make weird faces.

  

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                       

Our record will be out on May 20 and it's called "Re-Arrange Us" 

And then, we will be on tour. 

Our children will be traveling with us for most of the tours.  

I don't know how it's going to be with 2 kids on the road (June hasn't been on tour yet).  It's all new again, especially because there will be parts of the tour on a bus.  I really wish we could borrow the Dixie Chicks bus-I heard it's fitted for a family.  The only bus I've ever been on tour with had giant airbrushed pictures of a sumo wrestler surfing on the outside, and as you might have guessed, no cribs for babies on the inside.

 

 

The only thing my daughter really wanted to do at the zoo?  Race and beat everyone, everywhere.  If she lost the race (that, by the way, only SHE knew was going on) she'd drop to the ground and cry.  We have a new "no racing mom and dad" rule in the house because she hasn't learned how to lose or even call it a tie yet.

 

Oh, she did like the sculptures and the french fries and the carousel and the candy that I bribed her with...

 Not a ton of interest in the real animals though.

  

Last time we went on tour, we stopped at 3 or 4 zoos around the country.  The penguin exhibit at the Omaha zoo was supreme.  

But, zoos with stone tigers to sit on and peacocks murals to stick your head through are still Mags' favorite. 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

After talking to a few other parent friends of mine, we found out that "1,2,3,4" is not only a hit but, basically a wonderful children's song (only, she doesn't count right when she's singing, as Mags has noted) 

 

 Magnolia once told me to tell Leslie Feist that she should name her guitar "Singy" after Feist announced from the stage that her guitar is nameless.  Mags was so into the concert that she's been singing her songs ever since that show (last summer, pre-ipod commercial).   

 

PS: Since Jason and I both went to KU, I watched a basketball game last night and it was so good I wanted to move back to Lawrence.   

After watching Annie, Magnolia has been working some shit out.

She acts out the part where the mom gives the baby away even though she "still loves the baby"

Oh wait, this didn't even happen in the actual movie, but she actually cries while pretending.

 

Also, she told me yesterday (again with the real tears) that she wants new parents.  We are apparently mean to her and well, she's had us long enough so she's gonna get some new parents. (Meanwhile, I had just finished being a human vaccuum again, sucking up pieces of her snack that dropped onto the floor-bet her new parents won't do that!)

 

 It's a hard, knock life? 

 

So, when you think Annie would be a great movie to show your almost 4 year old, remember that she or he might actually try to understand the concepts and that you will be having talks about why mean people like Mrs. Hannigan would be in charge of all sweet little girls anyway.

 

 On a side, band note we are almost at tour time.  One more month.  And, I think we're going to finally get on one of those late night TV shows! Goodbye Annie, hello Conan.

At about 6am the other day I was greeted by my waking three year old excitedly shouting, "Mommy, I can sing through my nose!"

 

 

 Along with working on new talents, she loves getting into the crib with June, picking out all of her own clothes (see below), asking me to only talk in Spanish (fake Spanish of course) and playing a game she likes to call "mean Daddy." (he's not)

 

 While June is getting big fast (check out those feet), Mags has obviously been going through some changes lately.  This is due to the approaching "ferocious fours" and also because she's realizing that the little sister is here to stay (goodbye center of attention 24/7)

 

Anyway, after playing "name that tune" for a while with my snout-singing daughter, I called my sister and passed on the news of my kid's new talent. 

A few days after that, my sister said to Magnolia, "I heard you can sing out of your nose."

Mags obliged her and did her nose puffing to the rhythm of "Twinkle Twinkle"

Then my sister said, "Can you sing out of your butt?"  I think this was a rhetorical question of some sort but here's what happened next...

 

Magnolia paused, made a funny face, and blew so much loud gas out of her rear that I thought someone was playing a whoopee cushion joke on me.

Then she ended this improv session by saying "Now THAT'S music!"

 

Unrehearsed, honestly.  And, she brought the house down. 

 

 Our little comedian, Magnolia (Seen here discovering photobooth)

 

 

 

A friend of mine recently met her boyfriend's family for the first time.  Before she got there, he warned her of this weird tradition that his family did growing up (and still does).  They get out instruments and sing songs every night after dinner, as a family. Amazing.  Hence, after dinner family music at our house has begun.

Only, now that we've implemented family music into our after-dinner time, Magnolia is in charge.  We have to pretend we are Elizabeth Mitchell and her daughter instead of being ourselves.   And after seeing Liz and family play, she wants to (understandably) be them. So, we are pretending to be a different family, but a talented one none-the-less.

Sometimes famliy music turns into a full-on noise band jam session.  I can't imagine how awesome it will be when Mags is a teenager and she brings a love interest over for the first time and we continue to do family music. he he

 

 

 After a few press photos for Spin, Magnolia and I went on a hunt for the girl scout cookies Jason hid, yes, hid!

 He bought 15 boxes and hid them all.  Does anyone else live with someone who hides cookies?  He confessed to eating a box for lunch the other day, a whole box.  Share the thin mints man. 

 

 

And June, happiest baby ever (even when I forget to cut her fingernails and she scratches her face all night)

As fashionista #1:

 

 Hollywood windblown look...

 

 

 And as a strawberry diva in the making.

 I've mentioned before that Maggie wants to be a make-up artist (or as a close second-a garbage girl) when she grows up.  I think we've just encouraged the stylist career with this home-based photo session. 

At one point I thought she looked just like one of those toddler pageant girls, scary.  Don't worry, she was just doing this for fun.  At her request, she tried on every wig and got her make-up done too.  Then she went to the park and ate peanut butter and jelly for lunch like all other normal kids.

 

 Finally, my favorite, Magnolia as the totally stoked 70's icon.  She told me later that the really big frizzy wig was the best one. Gotta love that she chose this over the generic long pretty blonde hair.

 

 So, we've spent the past two weeks totally sick.  We had to admit little baby June, into the hospital due to RSV and bronchialitis.  Hospitals, especially the childrens' ward are depressing places even though you are getting help. Amidst all the sickness and germs and millions of nurses (your best friends in the hospital) and nursing students and a few doctors, there are parents.  Parents with little glimmers of hope in their eyes.  You can't help but wonder, what's wrong with each one of their kids.  At least June only stayed 4 days.  It could have gotten so much worse and it didnt.  

I decided, however, after staring at a small cubicle of grey, sitting next to a jail cell type crib,  listening to beeping heart monitors and such hooked up to my month old child, I never, ever want to have to come back if we can help it.  I will do everything in my power to prevent it. 

 

 

 

 

 She was a champ though, didn't even cry when they ripped off the tape from the tubes on the day we left.

 

Nursing, the other kind, the feeding kind, really helped June.  In fact they say breastfeeding was the best thing going for her while she was so sick.   Which leads me to what I last left off with: public nursing.  I'll be doing it as long as it works for the two of us.  And if anyone scowls at me for doing it in front of them while I'm miles away from home, on tour, I  will remember that it possibly can help save my kid's life.   

 

 

 

 Next time, happy moments...and the photo shoot from our next album's artwork.

We are officially finished with the new record (It'll come out in May).

 

 Coincidentally, today was June's first recording session. Magnolia went to Gramma's to play dress-up instead of joining us.  On a side note, she's been telling everyone she wants to be a garbage girl when she grows up or make-up artist.  Awesome. We need both.

 

 Peter Katis rules and Georgio kicks ass too.  They did an amazing job on the record, treated us to food almost daily and they didn't even mind us changing a poopy diaper on the couch in front of them.

 Smell ya later Tarquin Studio 

 

PS:

Next time, I think it's time to talk about breastfeeding on tour.  I'm already gearing up for weeks of the pre-feed warning (ie "Get ready people, you are about to see my boobs, hope that's ok")  I remember last time I got really pissed in certain states with some folks who were unfriendly to the naked breast. 

So, Get ready people, we are about to talk about boobs on tour (and not the groupie kind of boobs on tour)

 

June Elizabeth Hammel was born 1/4/08 (weighing in at 9 pounds)

She is named (partially) after my grandmother, Elizabeth, who passed away earlier this year 

Magnolia calls the baby "Junebug"

 

 "The big sister loves the little sister,"  Magnolia says (she is sitting on my lap as I type)

 

 Our life right now.

 

Look, "Another plastic mermaid toy!"

 

  

After opening hunks of plastic (toys) and a new kid-size couch with princesses all over it (slight gag), Magnolia is pumped for next year's holiday season already. 

She's also gotten really into gum (Rudoplh left her some in her stocking) which came in handy when Jason got stuck in 8 hours of traffic driving our nanny to the airport (a new piece every 10 minutes).  At least we have a new tour trick for the van.

 

 

 We're still mixing the record, in between group vocal overdubs and arm wrestling tournaments.  Peter (engineer/producer) says Jason is his toughest competition yet.  I didn't compete because no one wants to be beaten by a short pregnant girl.   For the record, I'm pretty sure I'm tougher than all three of the dudes here. 

 

 Speaking of tough, labor will be starting in less than 24 hours.  I'm being induced tomorrow due to the potential size of my soon to be newborn.  

 

 Magnolia and I hugging for the last time before we're a 4 person family. 

Baby will be here tomorrow or Friday.

I get to meet my new daughter within 48 hours.  That's pretty incredible. Goodbye big belly. Hello little (big) baby.

 

 

We are wrapping up overdubs and mixing the record this week at Tarquin Studio.  In between sessions yesterday, we hit Babies R Us for a few must-have items.  Reality check-baby will be here any day and we don't have diapers or breast pads.  

 

 

I got into a discussion with another pregnant mom at the super store.  Our consensus:  Babies R Us=headache.  I told her to start following my rule of thumb, only stay for 30 minutes maximum and then get out before the migraine starts.  With so many items, you start to feel like you are neglecting to remember crucial baby items like a safety foam pad for the bath tub so your child won't slip and drown or a pacifier thermometer so you don't have to stick it you know where every time the baby feels hot.  We left with a couple essentials and the woman I talked to was checking out at the same time, both us us rubbing our foreheads.  

Then we ventured over to Baby Depot for a changing table.  Baby Depot is a more basement, discount style store with the same things as Babies R Us but with a gross bathroom (which Magnolia and I visited 3 times while shopping).  I had to sit down on a display table at one point because I had a belly stretching moment.  Immediately Magnolia came over to me and said, "Mom, let's go, I have to poop and this time I probably can't hold it if we wait."  And I realized, I missed Babies R Us, at least the bathroom there smells nice.

 

 We did manage to buy Magnolia her first sled.  Turns out the sled was a way more important purchase for this family than onesies and changing pads-at least for now. 

And, this morning, at the doctor, I found out that I'm still not in labor yet.  Although, I am beginning to dilate. 

 

 

 

Jason (porcupine) and I (fox) adjusting our masks pre-shoot

 I pretty much look like the staypuff marshmallow fox.  But, we had to shoot it pre-baby so, being that I'm so close to delivery, I'm enormous.  In fact the doctor doesn't want me to go full term because the baby is already large and I hemoraged the first time I had a big baby.   The baby might come early either by intervention or on her own.  This doesn't change the fact that we are working until she arrives.

 Steve Choo (left) a friend of ours, is an amazing person for making this video happen for us. His contributions included handmade animal masks  from someone in Germany, brand new technology filmed with a RED camera and beautiful ideas all around.  

 

 

 The roughs we've seen are absolutely beautiful and... Magnolia makes a cameo.  Trust me, we didn't force her, I've learned the difference between MAKING your child take part in your projects and LETTING them take part in what you love to do.  She wanted to wear a mask and put makeup on like us.  So, we inserted her in place of me in the end scene.  And, the video story immediatly became more poignant.  After all, she hands a flower to a giant terrorist bear. 

 

  We can't wait to see the explosion into the dancing animal sequence...and of course, Magnolia making her debut.

Magnolia threw up all over her bed.  Then she threw up for two straight days. 

So, I sat with her on the couch, pedialite in hand, and watched The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan and many episodes of her new favoirte show The Big Comfy Couch.

Um...Does this make anyone else laugh to the point of crying? Watch it with the sound off while he dances.

 

 

And, Do any other parents feel selfish when their kids get the stomach flu?  Because all I kept thinking aside from "please make my baby better" was, "I can not get the stomach flu."  

I must have washed my hands and face everytime they touched her.  Everyone at Thanksgiving came down with the dreaded virus within a week either side of visiting family.  I still haven't puked.  I think I somehow avoided it.  Maybe it's because I already had it twice this year.  Maybe it's the pregnancy protecting me.  But, Jason had it and so did my dad and my little nephew.  The stomach flu sucks perhaps worse than any other kind of cold or flu. 

 

 

 The little pukers, hours before the first night of hell.

 

So along with the video of the big comfy couch which should at least get a chuckle out of you, here are some things that are cheering us up now that the vomit stopped. 

 

Frances England's children CD "Fascinating Creatures"

Magnolia's Christmas list (including a globe and a robe)

Magnolia telling us that she really doesn't need to go see Santa because he reads her mind.

Peter Tarquin's chili (they guy recording our record actually makes us dinner almost every night)  

Our live-in nanny while we record, Erin Abbott. 

 

 

She takes pictures, writes childrens books, has toured with a million bands, put out an early 7" of one of my favorite bands, IDA, has good LA celebrity gossip, watches crappy TV like me, and most importantly, makes Mags happy. 

 

 

We finished tracking all the songs for the new record and now we're mixing. 

And yes, I actually tracked some good shit while sitting on Peter's green couch.  

 

 

 

 

 
The leaves are covering the ground-blanket style as we start to finish this record.  We are recording the bulk of it at Tarquin studios in Bridgeport, CT with Peter Katis (Interpol, The National, The Grates).   As always, because we are totally doting parents and we think that our daughter is already a musical prodigy even if her songs make no sense, we decided to bring her in for an hour in hopes to catch her cute, helium singing on the mic.

When Magnolia got to the studio, she was obviously tired (red eyes, cranky, etc).  It was getting close to bedtime (first red flag).  I asked her to hold a mic and sing.  She of course, wanted a more expensive, silver mirophone which I refused to let her use and therefore frustrated her and immediately spawned heavy whining (second red flag).  Then, when I finally got her to put the headphones on and sing into the right microphone, she wouldn't sing anything. Silence.  After more adult prompting.... more silence. 

 This whole time, she had a pen in her hand and at this point, all she wanted to do was draw on a small piece of paper she found.   I ignored this fact because it was time to record!  (third red flag). I started singing "twinkle twinkle" with her to prompt her (once more) into song.   No reaction.  She stared at me while I started up on "twinkle, twinkle" again and then, out of nowhere (well not really out of nowhere) SHE STABBED ME IN THE MOUTH WITH HER PEN.   

I was dumbfounded for a brief second and then immediately embarrassed.  I totally deserved it.  She got in trouble for stabbing me ( I asked her why she did it, and I was stern, etc) and then she launched into full crying session.  I told her I was sorry for making her sing when she didn't want to sing.  I had just tried to exploit her and therefore eased her right into preschool tantrum mode.  Never again will I force my child into singing or doing anything she doesn't want to do for the sake of our artistic endeavors.

She was calm and happy again once my mom gave her some gummies for the ride home.  But, I suffered a harsh awakening.  How could I act like such a stage mom? I had a bloody lip to show for my ignorance.  We got it all on tape but I haven't heard it yet.  For the record, I've never been stabbed or even hit by my child before or after this incident.  That's reeeeeally out of character for her.   

Attention artist and musician parents, don't exploit your children.  We all say we won't do it ever, we'd never stoop that low and then before you know it there we are forcing them to lay some blood on our tracks.

 

  She's making her own record now. She tells us when to hit record and we give her absolutely no direction.  

 And it's snowing.

We love Austin, it ain't no secret.  Sometimes we pretend we are moving there, but we do that with Portland, Chicago and of course San Francisco as well.  We went down to play the Fun, Fun, Fun festival and another show.  We also did some recording with one of our favorite people, Jim Eno.  

 

 Magnolia got play with Drew, Jim's daughter. They are the same age.  Our nanny overhead the following conversation between the 3 year olds.

 Mags: "Does your mommy play music too?"

Drew:  "No, my mommy takes care of babies at the hospital." 

Mags:  "My mommy and daddy both play music."

Drew:  "My daddy works in the studio to pay the bills."

Mags (while nodding her head and speaking with a little 'tude)  "Uh-huh, I know."

They totally have it figured out. 

 

It was hot and I couldn't quite reach the harpsichord.  Doctor says big baby, again.  Or maybe eating those watermelon seeds finally worked. 

 

 Magnolia loved mixing the song for us.  She had a total tantrum minutes after this shot.  Typical producer.

Our nanny ruled.  She brought all sorts of surprises for Magnolia and she took her swimming every day a the hotel. 

 Our hotel also hosted a little person's conference while we stayed there. When we first walked in, there were at least 50 little people hangin in the lobby.  This directly led to a conversation of why a large group of "short people" (whom she assumed were kids) didn't have a mom or a dad with them.  I was just thankful she didn't say anything about Santa since we had just seen a Chirstmas movie where the elves were played by little people.  It could have been really embarassing but it just turned into a conversation about how everyone's bodies are different.  And from then on we just agreed to say hi to people when we stare.

 

This is the last show we'll do pregnant.  I'm proud to say I stood for almost the whole set in the heat.  I think we still brought it.

 

 

 

 

Now we're off to Minnesota to see family since we won't be traveling during the winter holiday (baby time).

Show reveiw and live pic 

 

 

Last year we toured for ten months with our then 2 year old.  This year we've changed it up a bit, played sporadic shows, we've taken our time writing songs and we have been quickly learning how different a 3 year old is than a 2 year old. And since I love making lists,  here's what we've been up to in a list I like to call "What's up with the Band on the Diaper Run:"

1. Acoustic Shows (grand piano style)
   
2. Festivals (like the recent Fun, Fun, Fun fest)
   
3. Writing songs and recording them (various places around the country)
   
4. Starting Mags at preschool (she hasn't cried once)
   
5. Renovating our new house (annoying and messy but will be cool)
   
6. Filming a commercial (separate trailers on set, and we're not selling out, just saving up)
7. Playing benefit shows (Darfur relief, green earth, afterschool writing programs, we're good people)
   
8. Singing backup on Letterman (Feist is nice) and playing a New Pornographer's wedding (cover band with Neko Case, anyone?)
9. Gestating (a new full length record AND a new baby)

 ACOUSTIC TOUR 

 

 

 We added members for the acoustic tour and played at small, intimate venues (Joe's Pub, top) and also at the Museum of FIne Arts in Boston (above). Linnea Weiss rocked on cello and Christian Owens shredded on bass and vocals. They both rule.