25 Weeks 4 Days Old

Sorry for the lack of posts lately.  Things have been busy as usual and the weather turned nice so I haven't been spending as much time in front of the computer.  Not that I should be spending any time in front of the computer anyway.  A sure way to feel like an ass is to sit in front of my computer in the living room while Von Bebe is crying on her quilt not 3 feet away.  Yeah... I've done that.  Not proud of it.  But I think it's a part of learning to be a parent while trying to stay sane at the same time.
   So yeah... here's me not being an ass...

24 Weeks Old!

It's Bound to come up.  And it's been in the news a lot lately.  I'm talking about the V word.  No, not THAT V word!   
   I’m talking about vaccinations.  It is quite a touchy subject depending on who you talk to.  And up until a few months ago, I had no idea that the subject of vaccinations could be so controversial.  I used to assume that everyone just did it and they started right after they were born in the hospital. 

   Then my wife got pregnant.  And we decided on a home birth.  And I started reading and researching all the alternatives out there.  If ignorance is bliss, what is the opposite?  Yeah, that’s how I’m feeling.

   Assuming you are truly unbiased, there is good information on both sides of this topic.  Yes, vaccinations save lives.  Yes, they have side effects.  Yes, the chances of experiencing said side effects are very, very small.  So are the chances of winning the powerball, but people still manage to do that, too.  And many of the illnesses that vaccinations were created for are not as ‘deadly’ as they once were. (At least not in this country)

   Sooo….  Lots of information to sort through.  Everybody has the right answer and it’s never the same as the answer that anyone else comes up with. 

   It is completely impossible to avoid being an ass when it comes to vaccinations.  Like everything else about parenting, it’s time to trust myself to make the best decision for my family.  And when someone asks about it, I can politely misdirect them by showing them cute pictures of my daughter… like these.

23 Weeks Old

   Nap time is a chance for me to do all those things that I can't do as a stay-at-home-dad when Von Bebe is awake.  Things like paying the bills, painting the kitchen and refinancing the house.  
   She actually CAN entertain herself with her toys, hands and feet... for about 10 minutes at a time.  But generally speaking, if she is awake I am with her.  Entertaining her.  Changing her.  Feeding her.  Making her laugh.  You get the idea.
   So it is in my best interest to (quickly) get her to take a nap.  Swaddling, rocking and singing to her are all good options, but the thing that works best so far is pushing her around in a stroller.  The best part is when she gets real tired and starts moaning/whining/singing herself to sleep.  (Skip to 1:15 if you don't want to watch the whole thing)  Also, play Tom Petty's "Time to Move on" at the same time.  I tried to incorporate it but YouTube blocked it for copyright reasons. (As well they should)

5 Months 5 Days Old

Before Von Bebe was born, I remember writing about babies laughing and included a link to a video showing this.  Sadly, that link no longer works.  As a reminder, enjoy watching THIS and THIS.

  This is all well and good, but I now have a taste of what it may be like to hear my own child laugh.  Check this out:

I could watch this over and over again and never get bored.

   I'm really glad that I got this on video when I did because she hasn't laughed the same since.  This is also very lucky because her mom was at work when this happened and didn't get a chance to see it first hand.  We knew that we would miss things as we go back to work full time.  That sucks.  So something I can do while I'm home for the summer is to take as many photos and video as possible so mom can see some of those things we will otherwise be missing.  That is how I can not be an ass this week.

22 Weeks Old or... 5 Months and 2 days

 So my wife and I might be a little competitive without actually acknowledging it.  Or maybe we do.  Von Bebe now says maamaamaamaamaamaa…. (and on and on).  She’s not actually saying Mama.  But it’s really stinkin’ close.  And since I’m home all day I’m trying to get her to say daadaadaadaa instead.  It’s not working.  I don’t know why we bother because the first words out of her mouth will probably be “Ricky, shut up!” (Ricky’s the dog who won’t stop barking)

   And when my wife barely nicked Von Bebe’s thumb with the nail clippers, her response was, “I was hoping you’d be the first one to break the baby.”  (I’m paraphrasing a bit)

   Now that I’ve been home for a few weeks I’d like to think I’m getting the hang of nap schedules, feeding times and things like that.  But I think moms have an innate ability that guys just can’t compete with.  Example:

Wife: “She’ll probably wake up in the next 20 minutes”

Me:  “Wanna make a bet?”

Wife:  “No.  I don’t like to lose.  But I bet I’m right.”

And she was.

   I don’t mind being an ass about the competition because I think my wife is right there with me.

   But HERE is a very good guide on how I can avoid being an ass with my daughter as we grow up together.

   And now for an awesome picture.  (Love these eyes!)

21 weeks old!

   I’m in my 4^th week as a stay-at-home-dad for the summer.  Or SAHD for short.  I thought when I got to this point I would have so much more time to write blog entries.  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!  Silly me.

   I also imagined myself not being an ass by editing all these wonderful videos together since we’ve now taken several days worth of video footage.  Again, silly me.

   I did make THIS however.  

Real productive, I know.

   Honestly, it’s all I can do just to keep her clean, fed, burped and changed.  If I accomplish this by the end of the day, I consider it a success. 

   But if it’s not one thing, it’s another.  One minute, minor diaper rash flares up again and just when I get that under control my wife notices a sore on her neck where all her baby fat folds are bunched together.  Dad of the year I am not.

   Seriously, why can’t I be as cool as THIS guy?  

Only I later found out that the guy in the video isn’t even a dad.  What a poser.

20 Weeks Old

Happy Memorial Day, everybody!  And thanks to the many men and women in service of our country.

   I would also like to take this time to acknowledge another group of people:  Single parents.  After doing my best to not be an ass for the 20 weeks since becoming a father, I cannot fathom trying to do it alone.  This has been one of (if not THE) hardest thing I have ever done. 

   One of the things that has made it possible is having a partner that I can trust to have my back.  A wingman to take some of the heat when the going gets a little too rough.  When Von Bebe is squalling and has been for hours, I know that there is someone I can count on to give me a break if I need it.  While I am aware that being a parent is a 25 hour a day job, it is a little easier knowing someone else is in it as deep as I am.

   So (as I just pulled an assist with vomit cleanup on aisle one) I’d like to give a big shout out to all you single parents.  My proverbial hat is off to you.  I don’t know how you did/are doing it.