13 March 2008
Switcheroo?
Ok, the joke's over. Very funny people. Now will someone please return my child and retrieve this substitute that's been left in her place? I mean really . . is this the best you could do? Seriously, if you're going to switch kids with me and expect me to fall for it, you could at least have found a sub that didn't sleep until 8:30 in the freakin' morning! You don't really expect me to believe that this is my child, do you? It was believable at first . . we just thought she'd turned snuggly all of a sudden. We remember when Avery used to come ask us to "holda me" when she was about this age, so we fell for the Lily substitute that wanted to snuggle after 30 months of being the least snuggly child ever created. However, the one thing about Lily that no doppelganger could ever replicate was her propensity to wake up at 5:50 every morning. And with this one, it finally caught up with her. She acted the part for a few days, and we wrote off yesterday's sleeping-in as recovery from her illness the night before, but two days in a row and I'm calling out this bluff. So come get this vomiting android you've left me and bring back my child. Tell her I got her some PopTarts if you need a bribe.
12 March 2008
In The Know
You want to be the "involved dad". You want to know what's going on, what to expect from your pregnant wife. You want to know what your developing baby is doing, how big it is, and all of the other stuff. That's just what guys do. They seek to understand. There are some things, however, that just don't need to be explained in vivid and exhaustive detail.
Today, during Lily's nap, I sat down to read a few of the pregnancy books. At the risk of mis-quoting someone (quite unlike mis-remembering, I'll add), it's one of those "What To Expect When You're Expecting" books, although I can't be bothered to figure out if indeed that's the title. As a quiet moment to read is few and far between for me, I got a little caught up and was reading ahead to the "Week 8" chapter. The first 3 or 4 pages were as expected, full of fetus and uterus dimensions (conveniently in both standard and metric measurements), as well as some anecdotes and a few diagrams. It was neat to see the progression of the drawing from week 7 to week 8, with the little elbows forming and the eyelids gaining definition. What was not neat, however, was what came next: 3 pages dedicated to every possible type and variation of miscarriage known to the medical world. I mean this list was exhaustive. And the thing is, every single one of the paragraphs ended with something generally resembling "there's nothing you can do about it, most of the time it just happens, blah blah yada yada." What's worse, the ones that weren't dismissive (READ: why are they here in the first place), were things like "Miscarriage due to toxoplasmosis", in which they explain that not only is it a bad idea to clean your cat's litter box while pregnant, but that you should also avoid touching the cats and any meat products they may have come in contact with. Just in case you feed your housecats raw meat.
I guess it's just bizarre to me that the authors of this book didn't see how this "miscarriage section" would not be a good idea. In the "Pregnant Dad" book I'm reading at the same time (that's not the title of that one either, but it's written by a guy from a guy's perspective), it's made abundantly clear that a pregnant woman's predisposition is bound to be one of excessive worrying and "what if"ing regarding every action she takes while pregnant. Stuff like this, in my opinion, just fuels the fire. "Go ahead and lump all the possible things that have ever and could ever cause miscarriage into a tidy little section at the end of the 8-week chapter . . that won't cause any more anxiety, will it?" Seriously people, let's get a grip on our audience when we're writing these "guides" and try not to make the problem any worse than it has to be.
Today, during Lily's nap, I sat down to read a few of the pregnancy books. At the risk of mis-quoting someone (quite unlike mis-remembering, I'll add), it's one of those "What To Expect When You're Expecting" books, although I can't be bothered to figure out if indeed that's the title. As a quiet moment to read is few and far between for me, I got a little caught up and was reading ahead to the "Week 8" chapter. The first 3 or 4 pages were as expected, full of fetus and uterus dimensions (conveniently in both standard and metric measurements), as well as some anecdotes and a few diagrams. It was neat to see the progression of the drawing from week 7 to week 8, with the little elbows forming and the eyelids gaining definition. What was not neat, however, was what came next: 3 pages dedicated to every possible type and variation of miscarriage known to the medical world. I mean this list was exhaustive. And the thing is, every single one of the paragraphs ended with something generally resembling "there's nothing you can do about it, most of the time it just happens, blah blah yada yada." What's worse, the ones that weren't dismissive (READ: why are they here in the first place), were things like "Miscarriage due to toxoplasmosis", in which they explain that not only is it a bad idea to clean your cat's litter box while pregnant, but that you should also avoid touching the cats and any meat products they may have come in contact with. Just in case you feed your housecats raw meat.
I guess it's just bizarre to me that the authors of this book didn't see how this "miscarriage section" would not be a good idea. In the "Pregnant Dad" book I'm reading at the same time (that's not the title of that one either, but it's written by a guy from a guy's perspective), it's made abundantly clear that a pregnant woman's predisposition is bound to be one of excessive worrying and "what if"ing regarding every action she takes while pregnant. Stuff like this, in my opinion, just fuels the fire. "Go ahead and lump all the possible things that have ever and could ever cause miscarriage into a tidy little section at the end of the 8-week chapter . . that won't cause any more anxiety, will it?" Seriously people, let's get a grip on our audience when we're writing these "guides" and try not to make the problem any worse than it has to be.
10 March 2008
Been Busy . . And Sick
I'm disheartened to report that I have nothing of interest to report. Things have been happening so fast and furiously lately that I hardly have the time to spin them into words. There are updates to come on potty training, birding, pregnancy, and sleepovers. I've just got to get my mind around the details and weave them into prose as I so often do. Sunday, the day I really expected to be getting caught up on my posting, was spent battling a mild case of the stomach flu. It was about 18 hours worth of wretched misery that I am hoping to not relive any time soon. My dear wife surprised me by coming to my rescue early from work, which sped up my recovery substantially.
So no, I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth . . I'll be back in the swing of things soon.
So no, I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth . . I'll be back in the swing of things soon.
05 March 2008
Migration and Molt
One of the inevitabilities of Spring is the departure of our wintering bird species. With March in full swing I've seen the first signs of the migration right here at home, and it's given me renewed hope that our summer residents will be here before I know it. Monday morning, as I was getting dressed upstairs I heard a familiar bird call from the back yard. Although I recognized it, it took seeing the bird on the feeder for me to put two and two together . . It was a male Red-winged Blackbird, and he was soon joined by one more before the two flew off together. I distinctly remember the first one of them from last Spring as well, and if the pattern holds the Brown-headed Cowbirds will be back soon as well. I plan to get my hummingbird feeders hung up this weekend too, as the first migrating Ruby-throats should be passing through very soon.
Then, later in the day Monday I was outside playing with the kids when I saw what looked at first like a really big gull soaring overhead. As it came literally directly over our house I realized that it was not a gull, but rather an Osprey. There was at least one pair of Osprey that nested along the South end of the Coddle Creek Reservoir last summer, and I hope to see them set up shop there again this year. This picture of an Osprey is one that I took in Ft. Myers, Florida last December. They were so abundant there that the sight of them almost became mundane. Here, however, they are a bit of a rarity, so the first sighting of an early migrator was quite exciting.
I've also started to see the first signs of the pre-alternate molt (also known as the Spring molt) in my winter American Goldfinches. Their bright yellow mating plumage is starting to peek through in small spots, and I imagine very soon they'll disappear, only to be replaced in the coming months by our summer population. I think I'll actually miss the almost military-looking white stripes on their otherwise drab winter wing feathers. They've been my most reliable feeder visitors this winter, almost like an adopted part of the family.
Then, later in the day Monday I was outside playing with the kids when I saw what looked at first like a really big gull soaring overhead. As it came literally directly over our house I realized that it was not a gull, but rather an Osprey. There was at least one pair of Osprey that nested along the South end of the Coddle Creek Reservoir last summer, and I hope to see them set up shop there again this year. This picture of an Osprey is one that I took in Ft. Myers, Florida last December. They were so abundant there that the sight of them almost became mundane. Here, however, they are a bit of a rarity, so the first sighting of an early migrator was quite exciting.
I've also started to see the first signs of the pre-alternate molt (also known as the Spring molt) in my winter American Goldfinches. Their bright yellow mating plumage is starting to peek through in small spots, and I imagine very soon they'll disappear, only to be replaced in the coming months by our summer population. I think I'll actually miss the almost military-looking white stripes on their otherwise drab winter wing feathers. They've been my most reliable feeder visitors this winter, almost like an adopted part of the family.
04 March 2008
The Potty Saga Continues
This potty training thing has turned into a bad recurring dream. Like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, except in that case he figured out how to improve his situation each time he woke up and it was the same day again. In my case, I wake up each day completely perplexed by Lily's inability to make it through a day without an accident. Some will start poorly, with a pee in the pull-up less than five minutes after she wakes up. Others, like yesterday, have seen her wear big-girl panties for long stretches without an accident. But it always seems like complacency sets in (either with her or with me), and we fall short of a full day's success.
Over the weekend, we tried the "party" technique I've read about . . have a freakin' party for the kid when she uses the bathroom so it creates positive reinforcement. Obviously, as is evidenced by my need to make this post, that has only been mildly effective as a means of encouragement. She enjoys the parties, but she's just fine without them.
The part that makes it even more frustrating is her increasing ability to communicate what she needs, at least biologically. Yesterday, after her friend Matt left at around noon, Lily marched directly upstairs and climbed in to her crib. She got under the covers, and before I even realized where she'd gone, she was calling for me to come put her to bed. Similarly, last night at around 7:30 Mandi and I were relaxing on the couch when Lily came in from the playroom and matter of factly exclaimed, "Daddy, I'm ready for bed now!" If you are aware enough to tell me that, surely you're aware of the fact that just an hour earlier you were standing in front of the TV pooping in your big-girl panties . . right? Apparently the TV show that was on while she was pooping was more interesting than the one at bedtime. So the potty training saga continues thusly, and alas, I have yet to discover the magic bullet that will put us over the top.
Over the weekend, we tried the "party" technique I've read about . . have a freakin' party for the kid when she uses the bathroom so it creates positive reinforcement. Obviously, as is evidenced by my need to make this post, that has only been mildly effective as a means of encouragement. She enjoys the parties, but she's just fine without them.
The part that makes it even more frustrating is her increasing ability to communicate what she needs, at least biologically. Yesterday, after her friend Matt left at around noon, Lily marched directly upstairs and climbed in to her crib. She got under the covers, and before I even realized where she'd gone, she was calling for me to come put her to bed. Similarly, last night at around 7:30 Mandi and I were relaxing on the couch when Lily came in from the playroom and matter of factly exclaimed, "Daddy, I'm ready for bed now!" If you are aware enough to tell me that, surely you're aware of the fact that just an hour earlier you were standing in front of the TV pooping in your big-girl panties . . right? Apparently the TV show that was on while she was pooping was more interesting than the one at bedtime. So the potty training saga continues thusly, and alas, I have yet to discover the magic bullet that will put us over the top.
29 February 2008
The Decaf Conspiracy
Last week, Mandi and I switched our morning coffee from the strongest possible Columbian blend to a 50/50 mix of decaf and regular. It was an attempt to minimize her caffeine intake, which of course I will suffer through with her. As the mix ran out, we switched again, this time to straight unleaded. In a lot of ways I've often thought of our morning coffee more as a routine than a dietetic need. I consider myself relatively energetic, so I mentally downplayed my dependence on caffeine. Well it's officially day 2 of straight decaf, and I'm calling foul. Yesterday, after 3 cups of the faux-java I arrived at the gym lethargic and uninspired. I worked out about as listlessly as I have ever exercised in my life, and realized after my shower that I was in serious need of caffeine. So before I picked up Lily from the childwatch, I stopped to get a cup of the YMCA's complimentary coffee. They offer 1 carafe of decaf and 2 of regular every day, so when I approached the service cart I could actually feel the lethargy begin to escape from my muscles. I pumped the first carafe of regular coffee and it spit hot air at me, but I was not dismayed. As I tried the second, my first pump produced marvelously steaming coffee, and I think the sun broke from behind the clouds at that exact moment. The second pump, however, came up empty. I would have to settle for half a cup of caffeinated joy, but it was better than nothing.
Today, after only 2 cups of the pointless home brew, my intention was to grab a complimentary cup before my workout. Friday, after all, is my last workout before taking the weekend off, so I generally go pretty hard. You can imagine my dismay when I discovered both of the regular carafes absent, with only the single orange-handled decaf one available. At that point I decided that it must be some wide-reaching decaf coffee conspiracy that I'd fallen prey to, and it was absolutely not funny. Had their not been two fresh pots ready for me at the end of my workout, there's a good possibility I would have knocked over a convenience store out of sheer desperation for some caffeine. But alas, all is right with the world. Now I will rely on a steady supply of iced tea over the weekend and get back to YMCA coffee on Monday.
Today, after only 2 cups of the pointless home brew, my intention was to grab a complimentary cup before my workout. Friday, after all, is my last workout before taking the weekend off, so I generally go pretty hard. You can imagine my dismay when I discovered both of the regular carafes absent, with only the single orange-handled decaf one available. At that point I decided that it must be some wide-reaching decaf coffee conspiracy that I'd fallen prey to, and it was absolutely not funny. Had their not been two fresh pots ready for me at the end of my workout, there's a good possibility I would have knocked over a convenience store out of sheer desperation for some caffeine. But alas, all is right with the world. Now I will rely on a steady supply of iced tea over the weekend and get back to YMCA coffee on Monday.
Better Than NASCAR
Not at building racetracks, obviously, or even at turning left. But I've been watching NASCAR events as a casual fan for about 3 years now, and the one thing I have to say they're really awful about is cross-promotions. I think they know it, too, but it doesn't stop them from trying it over and over again. Every time they have a race of high importance that they expect will draw a large TV audience, they make it a point to team up with a bad movie to do a hokey cross-promotion during the pre-race coverage. Without exception, they are cheesy and forgettable, and you can actually see the broadcasters cringe when that part of the show is approaching. "Speaking of Jeff Gordon, make sure you go to the theater this weekend and see his ex-wife's new Movie "The Life of a Wealthy Divorcee"." I don't know if that's actually a real movie . . but it may as well be. I cringe when one of these meatball cross-pros is being set-up in their broadcasts, and I'd like to think that, in general, I can do a much better job of it than the NASCAR boys. So here goes . . let me know what you think.
WE'RE PREGNANT!!!
And while that isn't exactly a promotion so to speak, it's my attempt to cross-promote our latest online creation, Blogging For A Healthy & Happy 9 Months . It is Mandi's brainchild, even though so far I'm out-posting her at a 3:1 clip. She's determined (at least while she's still not showing) to do weekly belly pictures, which we'll display side-by-side with the previous week's, to show the week by week progression. There's a poll about when you think she'll start showing, and I'll be adding new elements as the urge hits her.
So I'll do my best to separate my posts between the two blogs, reserving this one for what it's been up until this point, namely funny stories about our current kids and my birding. I'll be walking a very thin line on the other blog, wanting to be candid and funny but without upsetting the prego. I'll let you know how that goes. I've added a link to the pregnancy blog on the left of the page, as well as a pregnancy ticker at the bottom of the new one. So check it out and let us know what you think.
WE'RE PREGNANT!!!
And while that isn't exactly a promotion so to speak, it's my attempt to cross-promote our latest online creation, Blogging For A Healthy & Happy 9 Months . It is Mandi's brainchild, even though so far I'm out-posting her at a 3:1 clip. She's determined (at least while she's still not showing) to do weekly belly pictures, which we'll display side-by-side with the previous week's, to show the week by week progression. There's a poll about when you think she'll start showing, and I'll be adding new elements as the urge hits her.
So I'll do my best to separate my posts between the two blogs, reserving this one for what it's been up until this point, namely funny stories about our current kids and my birding. I'll be walking a very thin line on the other blog, wanting to be candid and funny but without upsetting the prego. I'll let you know how that goes. I've added a link to the pregnancy blog on the left of the page, as well as a pregnancy ticker at the bottom of the new one. So check it out and let us know what you think.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
