27 weeks 4 days old

We started using ASL (American Sign Language) with Von Bebe months ago.  This is because babies understand language much earlier than they are able to use it.  Nothing fancy, just words like: milk, up, done, sleep, mama, dada, etc. And THIS is a great site to learn these words and many many others. 

   We suspect that she has started attempting to reciprocate this week.  She holds her arms straight out but one of her hands is in a fist and the other is not.  We're not sure if she's trying to give the sign for "milk" or she just wants attention.  It might be a little too early, but being the parents we are it's hard not to read into every little thing she does.

   But IF she is able to understand and not communicate, I can certainly imagine how frustrating it could be.  Check this out:

Here, VB starts putting her arms up like I mentioned.  After a while of just holding her she makes this frustrated vibrating lips sound that is quite humorous.  And our laughing only serves to frustrate her further.  It's a horrible feedback loop.  She gets more frustrated making more motorboat noises with her lips and we laugh that much harder.

   I suspect that if she COULD talk, she might call me an ass...

27 Weeks 2 Days Old

As a new father of a daughter, things like this article on the sexualization of girls scares me in ways that I have never been scared before.  The article talks about why girls (age 6 and up!) may be more interested in wanting to look sexy.  It mostly blames media outlets, peer pressure and moms.
   Only in the very last paragraph is there any mention at all of fathers and this mostly just states that “more research” needs to be done on the influence of fathers on their children both boys and girls. 

   Really?!! I don’t need more research to know that men are the cause of this problem.  For thousands of years, men have made their expectations of what it means to be sexy known.  Last time I checked, men are still predominantly in positions of power when it comes to advertising, Hollywood and politics!  Moms are struggling against the same expectations that their daughters are.  How are they supposed to be able to make a difference when they’re fighting to feel better about themselves as well?

   I know that I will have a great deal of influence over my daughter in the years to come.  I hope to be able to say and do the right things so she will become an intelligent self-actualized person.  Men caused this mess, men need to accept responsibility for changing it.  “Do not read beauty magazines.  They will only make you feel ugly!” – Baz Luhrman

   On a lighter note, my daughter has been taking her first steps into this crazy world.  (with a little help from her parents)  Check this out from a few weeks ago.

   Already growing up too fast.


As my wife just pointed out, I have already posted this video in a previous entry.  This just goes to show that dads can get momnesia, too.  So here's another video.  Don't want you to get bored of Von Bebe.

27 Weeks Old

   
I dropped my daughter on her head about 3 times today!  Ok, not really 'dropped'.  More like she was sitting there and fell back, bonking her head on the floor.  But it was one of those slow-motion moments where I saw her start to go over and I began reaching out for her knowing I would not make it in time.  Then the distance between us actually increased as I lunged for her.  No really,  I think the space-time continuum actually tore apart increasing the distance between us just so the universe can make me feel like more of an ass.  

   On top of this, I may have pinched her stomach as I was trying to belt her into the high chair.  I was having a serious Monday and I’m glad it’s almost over.

   But check out what 27 weeks looks like!