16 almost 17 months

So since my work is based around the typical school year, that might explain the previous 2 month hiatus.  And now I'm back... or I will try to be at least for the next couple of months.
   A lot can happen in a couple of months.  Here is just one video showing what you've been missing.

You're going to have to follow this link since blogspot doesn't seem to recognize my youtube channel.

I know; father of the year award, right?  Hopefully CPS doesn't come knocking on my door after posting this.  But my wife tells me that she has read numerous articles on how important it is to roughhouse with your child.  And after a quick google search, this is just one article that I've found.  Lots of good reasons to roughhouse here and it makes sense to me.  I'm only too happy to oblige!
   I just had a thought.  After missing a couple of months of VB, I was about to post a whole bunch of different things all at once.  Rather than do that, how about I don't take up too much of your time right now.  If I can get my act together, I'll break it up into smaller posts so as not to take up too much of your precious time.
   Until next time... (hopefully sooner than 2 months)

14 1/2 months

So I've been a little out of it lately.  Put in almost 80 hours last week.  'Course, that's not excuse for the several before that.
   First of all, there's THIS.  I love Star Wars almost as much as I love being a father.  That explains why I love all the crossover Star Wars and parenthood memes.
   And because it's been so long, here is what VB has been up to recently.

"No!  Socks first, THEN shoes!"

Whoever invented easter grass never had kids.

I like the tutu with blue jeans look.

This look of awe is how I must look every time I think of her.

My Jedi ballerina

Figured out this party favor pretty quick.

Yum... dirt!

Sad VB

Maybe it's a phase.  Maybe VB is teething.  Maybe she's getting bored of us.  Maybe she woke up this morning and we weren't there.  I don't know, but she was really sad this morning and it was really difficult to console her.  She was pretty much fussing/crying right up until she was strapped into her car seat on her way to day care.  Once there, she was fine so maybe she likes it better there than at home.
   Who knows.  It's difficult now, but at least I don't have to buy her underwear... yet.  THIS article from the Good Men Project has shown me what is in store for my future in undergarment acquisition. (or more accurately... what is NOT being sold in the stores that my daughter will probably want)  Thanks, underwear makers, for being an ass!
   Despite having a serious case of the sads this morning, VB is such a delight.  Looking through some video footage this morning, I found this which instantly cheered me up and made me smile.

And this one:

Had to post this

Saw this today and I thought this is the perfect place to share it.  While not something I would do, I wonder if this thought would ever have crossed my mind on my own.

Losing myself

The days, weeks and months since VB's arrival are all blending together.  And it's only been one year!  I can't imagine what it will be like in another 6, 16 or 60! (I hope I can be that lucky)   Here she is enjoying her birthday gift.  And I'm not trying to make any stereotypes about women working in the kitchen or anything.  It seems like every choice we make is loaded.  

Fortunately, I've got friends to pass along information like THIS and THIS which set down some pretty good rules on what to do with your daughter.  Some very good ideas here.  

   Letting her gorge herself on birthday churros is probably not a very good idea.  She was kind enough to share them with us.

   And here is that proverbial dishwasher shot that I think will end up in every parent's photo album.  I just can't get over how quickly she's changing.

   

One year old today.

Well, we've made it!  One year ago today, VB, my wife and I spent the first of many days in bed.  It's amazing to think of how our lives have changed since that day.  I write this as she spends her first birthday in daycare and both her mother and I are a little tearful that we're not all together celebrating it like we did a year ago.  Fortunately, we have Youtube and all those uploaded videos to while away the time.
   Here she is seeing her first E-card from her grandma.

And because I couldn't be more proud, here's my little Jedi becoming intimately acquainted with the sounds of a light saber.

Almost One Year Old

Hello 2013!
   The last year has gone amazingly fast and it has been won-der-ful.  VB has changed so much in the past two weeks I can't begin to explain everything new.  I'm one proud papa.
   She doesn't crawl any more.  Only walking for my dd.  She's starting to use all the sign language we've been trying to teach.  So far she's got the sign for milk, potty, and all done.  But who needs sign language when she can just point and grunt to tell us exactly what she wants.  
   Also, she has confronted stairs, wiping her own hands, drinking from a straw and discovering door stops.  A-mazing.  Can't believe how much I love her.  I took way too much video footage but here's the short reel of all the greatest moments:

    So the holidays are over... yeah... we got through it. 
Now I can concentrate on not being an ass again.  
   But now that VB is almost one year old, maybe times are changing and I need to reboot this blog and call is something else.  A friend sent me this article about how dads are made to look like big oafs in TV and advertising.  Perhaps I am just as susceptible to said advertising.  Maybe I'm not part of a minority after all.  Maybe I've spent all year whining and moaning about how the world thinks all men are morons when it comes to parenting but things aren't actually quite so bad.  
   So what should I call the next year of fatherhood if I can't gripe about not being an ass any more?