Trixie now sees the world through butterfly eyes. :)

Here's hoping against all hope that this title doesn't signal the last photo.

Please, spare us, Ben! (and if you choose not to, then thanks for the great run)

Trixie - it has been fun, hasn't it?

Also hoping the title isn't trying to say something more.... AHHHHH :(

I have a feeling that's a "goodbye" kind of title. Very funky specs I must say.

It's like a friend moving away. Yes it's been lots o' fun.

She's definitely grown up, wearing glasses already. And it has been fun.

It has been the best time. I don't know what I'll do each morning instead of checking in on Trixie. My daughter is 3 and it's been fun seeing how similar they are! Ben, you've made this Minnesota Mom very happy and I'll miss seeing Trixie grow. Best wishes...

at least let us have one last B&W Thursday!

This site has been an inspiration to me since the day I found it one or two years ago. I'm chronicling my own newborn daughter's life online right now and I can imagine that, in three years time, when I am where you are now, I'll have to take into serious consideration whether or not to continue.

Thanks for everything you've given to all of us over the last few years. I completely understand your desires to be more protective and private at this point in your life and I wish you all the best.

i agree, it feels like the final farewell is just a step away.
i love trixie's clothing, very cute.
bye everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!
=) ;)

It has been a wonderful 3 years! :)

benmac, what are we all going to do?
you guys are already missed and haven't went anywhere...yet.
i don't know where else to get such great parenting ideas.....hmm i might have to start buying those parenting magazines! yikes!
:)

I see Trixie attended Bugfest! I was there with my daughter and kept an eye out for Trixie because I knew it would be an activity she would probably be attending. I have enjoyed going to this website everyday as I start my day. I will miss this site and the beautiful pictures.

It'd be really interesting if Ben posted pictures of Trixie like once a year. Just to see if anyone is still checking.

It does seem weird that we could get so attached to strangers, but TPOD's something pretty special. This may be the last pic, but I'm gonna check in once in a while in the hopes that Ben has mercy on us. Thanks for sharing the past 3 yrs with us!! I don't have kids, but I'd like to think that the 6th and 8th graders I teach were once like Trixie (especially during the more... crazier moments).

It sure has been fun. You will be missed Trixie.

Boohoo...sleep log is not being updated. My girls and I will miss seeing Trixie every day. Trixie was one of my 4 year old daughter's first words. We would look at her picture ont he cumputer every day! Thanks for 3 great years!

I spoke too soon! It wasn't a new day in the eastern time zone. Wishing you all the best!

Thanks Ben Jen and Trixie, you guys are awesome!

Adios Senorita Trixie!!!!!!!!!!

Oh sadness. But that is one adorable picture of one adorable girl. I'll miss Trixie and her antics a whole lot, but I'll still check in every once in a while.

Ben, you've done a wonderful job with your site and apparently an exceptionally wonderful job raising your daughter. I'm sure your parents are very proud of the wonderful father you have become. Your old friends are too! Best of luck in whatever comes next for you professionally and give til you can't give anymore to that little one. She is just a doll! Whenever I'm in your area, I'll surely keep an eye out for Trixie!
I occasionally make it up there!!!!

Just wanted to say I've been watching her grow and it's amazing. Thanks for sharing, and you've done a great job. I just hope the Trixie Tracker is available when I have my first!

I've been checking every day for about two years but rarely commented. Trixie, you've grown up into one gorgeous wee girl and you're very lucky to have such a great daddy. Lots of luck for the future!

If I did my own Trixie Tracker would it look just like this one? I'd probably have to get another kid because I don't think my 11 year old son would want me blogging about him.

Trixie - Someday you'll look back at this site with amazement as to how many people had held an interest in your life. Although we won't be able to see pictures of how you have grown, I’m pretty sure you will be an amazingly beautiful young lady. Best wishes to you and your family.

P.S.
Ben if the Stork pays you guys another visit are you going to be putting up another site about Jr. :)

Hi guys! I still been checking this site out, but no new updates.
I guess thats it.
Awwwwwwwwww :(

Awww. I'll miss you Trixie!!! You made me happy when I was sad. Plese come back in ten more years!!!

I must have missed something. Where are you going ? You can't leave. You are just joking around, right ?

am i the only one who keeps on checking back, with the hopes of new updates?
man oh man! all good things must come to an end i guess.
ciao.

Thank You! Ben, Jenn & a special Thanks to Trixie, You guy's are AWESOME! Thanks and have fun.

no update this morning!?! :(

It's over. We gotta deal.

yep. no updates for awhile. its definately over.

Thank you Ben for sharing a little of your life and Trixie's beginnings with the world. It has indeed been fun.

I try not to come back here, but it's just automatic! Really miss everyone.
Thank you Ben and Jenn for sharing your prised possesion. She is a beautiful and bright little girl.

Nope, you're not the only one. But did you notice that the sleep log is still going?

No sleep log today, so far. The site may now be officially stagnant, except for these comments.

yeah i think so too, our comments are just about it, i wonder if benmac even reads these anymore?
probably just to make sure their not spam or something.
how sad is that!
well i miss this site and all the comments that used to put a smile on my face.
parenting is hard, and this always lightened things up.
anyways, so long folks.

I haven't commented often, but I've checked the site a lot, and I just wanted to say thanks for sharing these pictures with the rest of us. Without the Trixie Update I would have never thought of starting a daily photoblog when our little girl was born this summer--but now we have tons of great pictures of her that I wouldn't have taken otherwise. Your inspiration to do that is a gift to our family forever.

Thanks.

I'm really gonna miss you guys.....especially Trixie. Take care and I wish you all the best.

today i was thinking about this site.
i'm surprised benmac hasn't shut off the comment link.
i wonder when sleep telementary and this will end?

Maybe he's waiting for us all to drift away first, and he'll shut off the sleep telemetry and such once the site logs show that nobody's looking at it any more anyway.

Or maybe he's still planning to make the occasional post every few months, just to surprise us.

Or maybe none of us have any idea *what* he's thinking, so it's rather pointless for us to speculate about it.... ;)

(Myself, I keep dropping by to check on Trixie's napless streak; 27 days now and counting!)

i know i keep checking back, but don't see nothing new.nada.
hmmmm, i think i might just have to stop checking cause its a lil depressing.
yeah its just a blog, but one i would always check out on breaks and things.
benmac, ya miss us? just kidding ;)
i started checking this blog out when i was living in japan, heard it over the internet.
time flies doesn't it.

O.M.G.
Ok now I'm thinking I need therapy.
I still keep checking a couple of times a day to see if there is any change.
No, of course.
I'ts over.
I have to come to terms w/that.
"Who do I see about that?"

I guess I'll check daily until Trixie takes over.
Hope I live that long!
Take care beautiful family........

Dito. I know I check out the site too.
I was checking out the Trixie Tracker.
I wonder if Benmac would have pursued the development of that product if he had known this site would be coming to an end.
But I miss this site. It was shut down for the safety of his family, (I respect that) but I wonder if rude comments were springing up that had to be removed. I don't know. But anyways.
I guess if I make a blog for my family I'll probably find out myself re: the maintainence of the whole thing & what not.

I also keep checking daily. One of us needs to make a new blog for all of us Trixie fans that we can all go over to in order to take care of this urge to unite with Trixie and her followers.

yeah i miss reading all the witty comments and picture titles and lovely pictures. any other blogs out there people find as decent?

Boy, I keep coming back too! It's really hard to break a habit that you enjoyed so much. I know in my head that Trixie must be kept safe. But my heart sure does miss her!!! Isn't it amazing what our brain can make us do?

There are a lot of great blogs by parents on the web, several with great photography. Why not explore and find other blogs to read?

I guess I would agree with John (Column's Dad); but, don't all of you wonder how people raised their children without all of this "blog business" and "tracking"? Folks, it's easy to raise a child without all of this nonsense. But, if you must choose a blog, I'm sure John wants you to choose his.

Well, if everyone will pardon my flagrant self promotion, there's my blog. It's no replacement for Trixie, but I post lots of pictures and deal in a lot of the same subject matter. You all are welcome there.

http://www.jmadigan.net

(I actually also read celebratingcolum.org periodically myself.)

sloopypottychunks,

1. I actually wasn't thinking about my blog at all. I'm a regular reader of at least a dozen parent blogs, and I was thinking of those. But this is Ben's space, and his recommendations are already available on the front page. I wasn't trying to push any blog in particular, though -- I was just pointing out that while TTU is/has been an awesome site, there is other awesome out there.

2. Spell my kid's name correctly. The correct spelling is only about an inch above your incorrect spelling. Sheesh.

3. You write Folks, it's easy to raise a child without all of this nonsense.
Certainly people raised children before the internet, but that doesn't mean that folks who find meaning/help/hope/joy/entertainment in parent/baby blogs have anything wrong with them. And, while I'm glad for you that you find parenting "easy", many folks don't find it "easy", at least not all the time, and Ben's advice, stories and charts have been helpful to a lot of us. I find that being a parent is both the most rewarding and most challenging thing I've ever done. It is a central part of my life, and as such, like most human beings, I seek out conversation with other humans about that which is important to me. I happen to be the kind of person who choose the internet as one of my venues for that conversation. If you find our choice of conversation venues to be distasteful, I would remind you that no one is requiring you to visit this website, and I suspect that if all your internet communication is marked by the sloppy reasoning and judgementalism of your last post here, then odds are the internet doesn't want you as much as you don't want it. Your computer has an "off" button.

everyone else:

Jamie's blog is quite good. I found it through the comments of TTU, and was immediately drawn to Jamie's writing and lovely photos.

Thanks, (john,colum's dad) You said that very well.
I'm pretty sure most of us agree with you!!

i know why i miss this blog being updated.
its because it was always such a positive & funny place to check out.
there were never any days after reading the trixie update, where i thought, oh i wish i didn't read that.
because every posting was pretty positive and put a smile on my face & how could you beat the TPOD?
miss you guys, happy halloween.

Oh, Oh, Oh!!! I just thought of what this reminds me of! (Yeah, yeah, I'm super slow - wish I'd thought of it a month ago!

From "The Sound of Music" when the children sing, "So Long, Farewell":

Children) So long, farewell, Auf Weidersehen, goodbye
(Kurt)I leave and heave A sigh and say goodbye
Goodbye

(Brigitta)
I'm glad to go, I cannot tell a lie
(Louisa)I flit, I float
I fleetly flee, I fly

(Gretel)The sun has gone To bed and so must I

(Children)So long, farewell, Auf Weidersehen, goodbye

Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye

(guests - or fans of Trixie) Goodbye...;)

hey ben - just a suggestion--
for all us pathetic trixe-aholics, it would be nice if the 'One Year Ago Today' changed daily with the actual date, and was not stuck (sadly) on September 17th, at least all us addcits could have something to look at...to remember the good old days...(sniff...sniff)!
hope all is well!

Well,yes, I keep checking. and no Trixie update.
Was there a warning I didn't see? Was it something we said ? We miss you. Now, I have a great idea !!!! How about a new baby ? Trixie can have a sister or a brother.

I like y's suggestion, but I guess ben probably can't be arsed updating it just for that. I think part of the reason TTU has ended is so that he can get on with spending time with his family, so it kind of defeats the object to start updating just to please us.
Still it was a nice idea.

I am so sorry to see you go. Perhaps you could post a birthday picture of Trixie, once a year. It would be nice to watch her grow up. Just a thought. I know I will miss her.

I miss Trixie.

I miss Trixie also.

Well... it's been a tad over a month now. Yep, still gone. But now I wonder how long he's going to keep comments enabled.

to jj: I didn't at all have the Sound of Music in my head for the end. Rather, I had the song "So Long and Thanks for All the Fish" from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy stuck in my head... just seemed more fitting.

~J

lol, This is like a bad break up! Blog style.
Were like the fans who just don't want to say our final farewell.
I still check out the site.
I miss the updates, I've been checking out a few other parenting blogs, definately not the same.
Parents really venting etc. on a few.

We miss you guys! Having a very stressed day, wish I could check this site to see a nice cheery post.
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww :(

I haven't been here in months and what a shock! I was hoping to hear about an upcoming halloween costume. Oh well.

I hope Trixie has a great halloween anyway.

Ditto what Nina says - I want to see the costume. But it's all up to you Ben, of course. Thanks for all the years of enjoyment. I started reading these when I was 13 and now I'm 16 - and it has been awesome. You're work with photography has been amazing and I look to it, sometimes, for fresh ideas on what I could work on. Yep. I'm going thorugh the Trixie-withdrawl. It's been over a month - and no new Trixie. It's kind of odd thinking of her growing up without us watching her every step and move. She's going to progress without us... and all of a sudden, if we were lucky, Ben may post a picture in a year - and it will be crazy as we're all like, "When did that all happen?" Yeah. So thanks Ben for all of these years of enjoyment - and I'll be back in 7 years to see if she's blogging yet... and sometimes sooner than that. It has really been a blessing to watch your little girl grow up.

I miss Trixie also also.

I wonder what she's going to be for Halloween. I'm going to be Pippi Longstocking while I hand out candy because now I'm all grown up and whatnot.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TRIXIE!!!!!

Yes, Happy Halloween Trixie =) Have fun & I am sure you have an awesome costume!

Happy Halloween Trixie!

Y'know, even though Trixie officially signed off in September, I still check the site almost daily. Over the years I developed a Pavlovian fixation. Every time I typed in "trixieupdate", I was sure to be rewarded! Now I sit and click and drool but never get fed.....My brain knows it's over, but the intermittant reinforcement was so effective over the years....

Miss you, benmac and Trixie. Thanks for letting us into your lives for a while!

I know this blog is over. I wish we could ask you guys some questions. Like hows Trixie? How is life without the demands of updating this blog? Did we, your fans drive you to shut this thing down? Well I hope all is well. I miss the updates. Ciao.

haha this is crazy - we're never gonna leave. I can just see it now, by the time Ben next checks this site it'll take him a month just to read all the comments that will have built up!

Sloopypottychuncks – How did you ever acquire that name? Why did you ever acquire that name? It’s disgusting. If you ever want to be taken seriously you should consider changing it. That’s just my opinion. Also it kinda makes me want to throw up

I admit I am still addicted to checking this site.. not it is just to read everyone eles's obsessive comments :) Habits are hard to break!

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one to check this blog with naive hopes :)

Yep, we're just a bunch of hard core fans lookin' for a Trixie fix.

I'm surprised there are no updates. I think, at least a posting about all of our comments. But nothing. And we still return. Talk about true fans of the site.

I would love just a little paragraph to read once a month or so about how Trixie is doing and what she is up to these days!

I really hope we get a Christmas update....just a wee itsy bitsy little update.

I miss Trixie. :'(

I miss Trixie, too.

Ditto, Lindsy, Nat, and Leslie. It's hard to teach old and young dogs new tricks!! I was on vacation for 3 wks and guess where the first place I went to when I turned on my computer!!!!

I come back to see what benmac means by cleaning up the site over the next few days. Its been 3 months. hah!

It's true -- it's been a while. Things have been pretty busy and the blog archive effort keeps getting pushed to the bottom of the list. One day...

maybe days last longer in ben's world now that he doesn't have to obsess over updating this site lol.

Wow benmac you're there! Well, well, well. So you guys do read the comments :)
Happy Thanksgiving guys!!! Cheers.

well at least I don't feel like I'm talking to myself now lol.
Happy Thanksgiving to all (apart from people like me from the UK ;) ).

ahhh ben youre still there!! that makes me happy. : ) hope trixie and the family are doing well!!

Happy holidays Ben, Jen & Trixie!!!
December 1, 2006 ;)

I miss Trixie SO much! You have no idea... or maybe you do. But I understand why. I'll check back, still, weekly though, hoping for one update!

I must say I check in here a fair bit myself lol.

I bet Trixie looks a lot older now. It's been almost three months!! That's like a 13th of her whole entire life!!

I understand why, too, but it's still sad. Such a cutie.

Hi Trixie...Happy Holidays.

Happy Holidays Ben, Jenn and Trixie! As you can see, we're still all out here. Hard to believe it's only been 3 months since you went away. Thanks for keeping comments enabled. It's like keeping the family together. :)

allllllllll i want for christmas is a trixeupdate :)

Can we all have one adorable cute lil pic? WE MISS it...

i used to go to trixie's site everyday...

We miss you as well, happy christmas and safe holidays Ben, Jen and Trxie from your New Zealand fans - way across the other side of the world :-)

To Ben, Jenn, and Trixie!!!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!! Still miss you!!!

Like the other die-hards I keep coming back!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TRIXIE!! (And Jen and Ben, of course) Hope you have a wonderful holiday and a great New Year!

Merry Christmas Trixie, Jen, & Ben! Hope you all have a magical holiday and a happy & healthy 2007!

why do I load this everyday? hope?

well hope all is well with Ben, Jenn and of course Trixie. Merry Christmas.

take care

shawn
(hehe..i get to be #100)

well it's now officially Christmas Eve here in the UK - so I think it's time to wish Trixie and family a very merry Christmas. Have a good one :)

Hope Santa was good to Trixie! Merry Christmas!

Congrats, Shawn!!
Maybe I can be 200!!!!

Like many of you ahead of me.....
I STILL check every day!!!!

Thought for sure there would be a holiday pic.
None.

So now I'm wishing for a New Years pic.
Will my wish come true?

Miss you Trixie and and family.

Happy New Year!!!

haha no wonder Ben wanted to stop doing this site - we're all like some crazed bunch of deranged stalkers!
*mumbles about getting myself a life*

Happy New Year Ben, Jenn & Miss Trixie.
Wishing you all the best for 2007.
HOOAH!

Happy New Year Ben, Jen, & Trixie! Hope 2007 is a great year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, Trixie and the family!!

Happy New Year from Scotland you guys! We still check the site regularly in anticipation of an update...This site must be amazing experience for you Ben, knowing just many people around the globe still check this site and think of Trixie. Best wishes and fingers crossed for a few little snippets of news, from the McNeil household throughout 2007.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to a sweet little girl and her family. Still miss you. Maybe one day I can stop coming to this site!! But until then I'll check in every week or so. Have a great year!!!

happy new year all

Looking back at the comments I have left one in Sept, Oct, and Dec 1st. Still checking back.
Anyways no updates, Happy New Years guys. Hope 2007 is a wonderful year. Ciao.

Just adding my two cents.... Love, love, loved this site and all the best to your beautiful family. I know you probably got this a lot during your run, and I am aware that this is a personal comment and none of my business, but isn't it time for Trixie to have a sibling to love and torture? Who else will understand how terribly frustrating you will be to darling Trixie when she is a teenager? The girl needs a comrade! Sorry! Couldn't help myself. I am German. If the thought enters your brain, it must exit through your mouth. Very German. Take care!

Hmm... Well, I'm very German, and I don'y often do that. And also, I'm a teenager and my sister has been away from me for many years, and I live through my teenage life alone. Lol, just had to say that. Please come back soon Trixie!!! We all miss you so much that we check your site every day!!!

Still missing you Trixie.

I check every morning to see if a new TPOD is there. I think maybe a support group for former TPOD fans is needed. ;)

Hope Trixie is happy, healthy and just as adorable.

Seeing a new picture would be WONDERFUL but I totally understand your decision, Ben. They are only little once.

Best wishes for the New Year!

I miss you guys!

suzi I nominate you to set up that support group ;)

When my wife was expecting I took to browsing various parent related blogs. The picture of the day feature here was something I had never seen before and I loved the idea of watching someone grow up. I hope to keep at it as long as you have! Good luck.