44 Weeks Old!

Arrrggghh.... Life.  Moving.  Too fast!... (Insert Bill Shatner impression here.)

The holidays are fast approaching.  But not as quickly as VB is learning new things.  Work is finally slowing down a bit, though I still have one more big push this weekend where I will be out of town.  But then I'll have a whole week off!  

   Trying not to be an ass by saying how tired I am knowing that my wife is getting less sleep than me.  Doesn't make me any less tired, though.

   This reminds me of all that advice I got before VB was born (a little more than 10 months ago!) telling me to get as much sleep as possible.  And I defiantly said something like "It's not like I can bank the hours and catch up on it later!"  (paraphrasing)  And I still pretty much feel that way.  No matter how much I slept before, I'd STILL be tired now.  If I could offer any advice, I'd say to spend more time fixing up the house and doing all those projects you want because once the baby is here, there is NO time for any of that.  In fact, I might encourage you to sleep LESS in order to get those projects done!  (Make the raised bed in the back yard.  Paint any rooms that need to get painted.  Fix the gate to the backyard.  Power wash the driveway.  etc.)  And yes, those are all real things that desperately need attention and haven't been done yet.  And you know what, they don't seem that important when you watch your baby make her first steps.

   When she escapes out the broken gate or slips on the driveway will be when I feel like an ass for not doing those things sooner.  

41 weeks old?

I think I missed week 40 in there somewhere.
   VB is seriously close to walking.  Seen here she is using her high chair as a walker.

My work is about to get really busy so I'm not sure how often I'll be able to post videos and/or pictures.  Not that I'm posting all that often anyway.  I guess I'm too busy trying not to be an ass.  Unlike THIS guy.    
    Dan Pearce from the blog "Single Dad Laughing" posted this entry talking about all they ways he screwed up his marriage(s).  Not sure I could list all the things I've done wrong in my relationship for all the world to see... Who are we kidding?!  I've never done ANYTHING wrong, right hon?........  hon? (Chirp Chirp)
   Okay, so I'm not perfect.  Nobody is.  But after reading this list, I feel pretty good about how I'm doing.  Married over 12 years to a wonderful woman.  We have an incredible daughter.  And I have a job that I love but not so much that I wouldn't rather be home rocking VB to sleep at night.  Yes, I might be bragging a bit.  Life is good.

33 Weeks Old

Von Bebe is really starting to get the hang of this walking thing. (with help)  Crawling not so much.

   Here you can see her having fun at the dog's expense.  We have had no worries about him with VB.  Totally harmless.  Unless you include making us deaf with his barking as being harmful.
   How not to be an ass this week?  Don't bring your child into a home with a dog that you haven't trained to shut up!  (Which will probably be her first real words)
   Only 7 and a half months old and we have already had discussions on conforming to gender roles and whether a grocery cart is going to box her into a stereotype later in life.
   Which usually ends up resolving us into thinking that we're doing the best we can just like everybody else.  But that doesn't stop me from being judgy about other people's parenting.  Which means either everybody does it... or I'm 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.

3 months old!

Yep, 3 months!  And she’s always changing it up on us.  I used to be able to walk her around the house in a cradle hold until she fell asleep.  Well now that’s not good enough.

   I have to change the way I’m holding her in order to placate the generally dissatisfied demeanor that is Von Bebe.  Here is a hold that got her talking.

How not to be an ass?  Don’t give up.  When she likes something one day, but doesn’t like it the next, try something different.

16 Days Old

We have a fussy baby.  I know.  All babies are fussy.  It's just one more thing we're trying to figure out along with all the other parents throughout history.
  One of the most effective things I can do is to walk with her.  Fortunately we have a round round house so I can walk in a big circle.  Pacing one room would likely drive me more crazy than I am now.  
   Both of our dogs have been great so far.  We're being sure to pay attention to them so they don't feel kicked out of the pack.  We'd like to think they have fully embraced the new member of the family.  It seems like they are more protective when someone comes to the door.  Although the big one does appear to have some jealousy issues.  But that's always been the case between me and my wife.
   Here he is being really sweet.  

When calming our daughter by walking around in circles I am being closely monitored by the big dog.  We don't hesitate to anthropomorphize the dog by telling ourselves he's just looking out for his little sis.  But the truth probably is he just likes the way she tastes and would lick her nonstop if we let him.  Even the dog is an ass. But we still love him.