During a routine Google search of the terms “Wolverine” and “Morgan”, Ariella discovered that there’s something called the Wolverine Morgan Horse Association. And get this: it’s recognized by the American Morgan Horse Association and Registry! If it weren’t located in Kalkaska, Michigan, I would be ALL OVER their trail rides and open-breed horse shows. Regardless, you can rest assured that Pop Effect will expand its current coverage to include the WMHA. (So for those of you keeping track, we’ll be writing about the following: Hugh Jackman, Wolverine, Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, Morgan, and The Wolverine Morgan Horse Association.)

Missing the opening weekend of probably the greatest movie of all time was definitely worth it because it meant I got to see the baby above, in action. Morgan barely ate the Goldfish Cake Ariella and I made her, but as you can see from this photo, our painstaking attention to detail did not go overlooked by a certain birthday girl! Her appreciation for the craftsmanship was, frankly, unexpected—yet totally appreciated.

While conversing with Jackie about what sort of costume one wears to a movie like Wolverine (ie, the movie I’ve been talking about for almost a year), I noted that Morgan should really be appreciative of the sacrifice I’m making by waiting until next Friday to see it, so that I can attend her birthday. The sacrifice, people. And just as I was about to blog about this (since no one but the Internet cares about my irrelevent rant), I had an epiphany—my blog’s tagline should really be, “Pop Effect: A blog about Wolverine, a baby named Morgan, and the ways in which they affect my life—and each others’.” I think I can safely say that I’ve effectively cornered the market in mutant hero/baby relations. And, apparently, there’s more to say about the subject than anyone might logically assume.

A few days ago, I expressed legitimate concern for Morgan’s newfound love of terrorizing her parents with slobbery attacks (like a baby pirate would do, I assume). Ali took it upon herself to turn my concern into one big joke. A pirate joke that is! But don’t take my word for it.

“I think pirate jokes are the funniest of all jokes.  Why you ask?  Because they are inoffensive (unless you’re a pirate), and they are so terrible that they make everyone crack a smile—even if it’s just out of pity.

My favorite pirate joke ever is as follows:

A pirate walks into a bar with a patch on his eye, a hook on one of his hands and a peg leg.  The bartender says, “oh no!  What happened to your leg?” The pirate responds, “Argh, we were out at sea and we got into battle.  A cannon ball took me left leg right off.  The doc patched me up and I’m good as new! Argh!” The bartender took a look at his hand.  “What happened there?” he asked. “Shiver me timbers!  We were at battle and it got sliced right off with a sword.  Argh!  The doc, he set me up with this hook and I’m fine.” “And the patch?” the bartender asked. “Well, I was at sea – ARGH! – and I look up and a bird sheet in me eye,” the pirate explained. “Surely bird shit wouldn’t blind you,” the bartender said. The pirate, looking rather sheepish, responded, “Argh… I was new with the hook.”

Is this Morgan’s future??

When babies attack, it’s cuter than when animals do. It’s like a hug with lots of saliva, even though they mean to harm you. But the cutest is if a baby animal attacks. If that happened, my head would explode. But enough with the philosophical scenarios. All I know is this: judging from this picture, Morgan would make a great pirate for Halloween.

Amazing news! The Saucier’s blog has linked to POP Effect! This is a coup and a great honor, considering The Saucier’s is one of the most popular blogs among the Sakraida media network. Congrats to the staff (Jenny, occassionally; Ali, once; me, all the time).

Morgan has a nemesis! And she’s French, naturally. Capucine is an adorable little francaise (nicknamed Amelie Jr.) who spins magical stories about animals who lose their way (view her famed video here). Naturally Morgan is getting jealous, which means: It’s baby’s first rival!

So far the feud is thus: Capucine has been quoted as saying, “There was something going amiss because there was a crocodile who was sleeping in the grass and when you stepped on him, he would eat the babies.”

To which Morgan retorted: “Mamamamamamamamama.”

The fight may not progress very far until Morgan learns how to do more than wave at her toys and say Mama or Dada in a circuituous string.