Why did it take me until today to put crunchy peanut butter on a chocolate chip bagel?
Add in a glass of whole milk, and you'll know what my dinner was today. Score!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Monday, May 28, 2012
Baby Laundry
Laundry isn't my favorite chore. It's not the worst, but it doesn't rank anywhere near grocery shopping.
The worst kind of laundry: baby clothes.
They're one-fifth the size of normal close, so a single load has four to five times the number of clothes. When you're pulling the clothes out to fold, it feels like you keep taking clothes out, but the basket never empties.
Then, you have to be able to put the clothes away. Normally, I can only have time to fold laundry when Shane is sleeping. Since baby clothes belong in his room I have to stash them in piles and wait until he wakes up. The goal is to move the piles into the right place, before Shane finds them and dives in.
On the bright side, it takes a while to stash up enough baby clothes for a load.
The worst kind of laundry: baby clothes.
They're one-fifth the size of normal close, so a single load has four to five times the number of clothes. When you're pulling the clothes out to fold, it feels like you keep taking clothes out, but the basket never empties.
Then, you have to be able to put the clothes away. Normally, I can only have time to fold laundry when Shane is sleeping. Since baby clothes belong in his room I have to stash them in piles and wait until he wakes up. The goal is to move the piles into the right place, before Shane finds them and dives in.
On the bright side, it takes a while to stash up enough baby clothes for a load.
True to his routine...
Shane is true to his new routine. He pooped under the slide at the tot lot yesterday, and underneath the monkey bars at the closer playground this morning.
Total time spent playing before pooping: < 4 minutes.
Total time spent playing before pooping: < 4 minutes.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Shane's Playground Routine
Shane has one playground routine I could live without.
Saturday morning, Shane and I went out garage-saleing as usual. There weren't any good sales in our immediate vicinity, so I ended up carting him half a mile before calling it quits. However, I knew there was a playground up ahead that Shane had visited yet, so I slogged on another quarter of a mile to give him a thrill.
We arrived at the playground, and my son took of running. He made a loop around looking at all the gear. Once he was done surveying the landscape, he sprinted over to the slides. Shane flew up a flight of stairs, a baby blur, and then he stopped. He got really quiet. That's when the grunting started.
Shane likes to poop when he gets to a new playground. He will climb up somewhere, or he will hide under something and gets down to business.
Maybe it's Shane's attempt to mark his baby territory, but you're doing something wrong, son! The poop stays in your pants! It's called a diaper. The playground remains unmarked and you get to carry your business on with you.
Unfortunately, this means I can't let Shane run around as long as he would want. He always complains about leaving, but if his heinie stays in the baby marinade too long he'd be complaining louder for longer the rest of the day.
One day, he'll use a toilet or at least go behind a bush.
Saturday morning, Shane and I went out garage-saleing as usual. There weren't any good sales in our immediate vicinity, so I ended up carting him half a mile before calling it quits. However, I knew there was a playground up ahead that Shane had visited yet, so I slogged on another quarter of a mile to give him a thrill.
We arrived at the playground, and my son took of running. He made a loop around looking at all the gear. Once he was done surveying the landscape, he sprinted over to the slides. Shane flew up a flight of stairs, a baby blur, and then he stopped. He got really quiet. That's when the grunting started.
Shane likes to poop when he gets to a new playground. He will climb up somewhere, or he will hide under something and gets down to business.
Maybe it's Shane's attempt to mark his baby territory, but you're doing something wrong, son! The poop stays in your pants! It's called a diaper. The playground remains unmarked and you get to carry your business on with you.
Unfortunately, this means I can't let Shane run around as long as he would want. He always complains about leaving, but if his heinie stays in the baby marinade too long he'd be complaining louder for longer the rest of the day.
One day, he'll use a toilet or at least go behind a bush.
Hospital Hospitality
Baby Cole is here!
Both mother and son are doing very well. Kathleen is already walking all over. She even told me she's not taking some of her pain pills, because "a little pain now will help me heal faster later" [by not pushing herself too hard when the pain is masked]. I think she's being very wise. My sister is a tough customer.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Congratulations to Stu and Kathleen!
Congratulations to Stu and Kathleen! Shane has a new cousin, Cole. My sister's son was born yesterday near noon. He had been content to sit in there cooking, but I guess even he figured it was time to move things along. Shane and I are going to go visit the hospital tomorrow and hopefully say "hello."
Tonight, my Jama is also flying in from Beaumont to stay with my parents. They converted the first level office into a bedroom for her so that she can avoid the stairs. Unfortunately, there's no bathtub or shower on the first level, so she'll still have to tackle the steps from time to time. Nana and Jama are thinking about driving up to the hospital tomorrow to see Baby Cole, as well. It'll be nice to see Jama again.
It's a good thing this is a three day weekend, because there's a lot going on! I need to go get my measurements taken for my brother's wedding. All the groomsmen are renting something specific, and Matt wanted measurements in by the 27th, I believe. Carrie's working Saturday and going to a horse vetting afterwards, but we've got to get packing and cleaning. Eleven days to go. I have a big box of old Palladium RPG books I'm gifting to my friend, Mike D. I have a bunch of old TMNT, Robotech, Heroes Unlimited, and Rifts books. I even have a severely beat-up Ninjas and Superspies. Ah, the good old days. Mike must be doing something right as a father, because he still finds time to dabble in Rifts and goes to their open house each year.
I've been thinning down my book collection a lot. It's painful.
Tonight, my Jama is also flying in from Beaumont to stay with my parents. They converted the first level office into a bedroom for her so that she can avoid the stairs. Unfortunately, there's no bathtub or shower on the first level, so she'll still have to tackle the steps from time to time. Nana and Jama are thinking about driving up to the hospital tomorrow to see Baby Cole, as well. It'll be nice to see Jama again.
It's a good thing this is a three day weekend, because there's a lot going on! I need to go get my measurements taken for my brother's wedding. All the groomsmen are renting something specific, and Matt wanted measurements in by the 27th, I believe. Carrie's working Saturday and going to a horse vetting afterwards, but we've got to get packing and cleaning. Eleven days to go. I have a big box of old Palladium RPG books I'm gifting to my friend, Mike D. I have a bunch of old TMNT, Robotech, Heroes Unlimited, and Rifts books. I even have a severely beat-up Ninjas and Superspies. Ah, the good old days. Mike must be doing something right as a father, because he still finds time to dabble in Rifts and goes to their open house each year.
I've been thinning down my book collection a lot. It's painful.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Change is the only constant
The hours are slow, the weeks fast, and the growth of my son seems to happen every time I turn around. The only constant is to expect change.
Nothing is safe anymore.
Shane can reach up on kitchen counters, undo baby clasps on several drawers, and wreck havoc on the computer desk. There's no computer there anymore, but it used to be a safe storage place for junk we didn't want Shane to get his hands on. The little stink is smart enough to step on items to vault himself up places we don't want him.
Not that he needs any stepping stools to get on couches, chairs, or dressers nowadays.
The move to a new house is coming at a good time, in the sense we need to rethink many of our childproofing strategies. Shane's developed past our meager attempts to thwart his will. We'll have a fresh start in the house, and Shane will have to develop new solutions to unwravel our work.
Sabatoging Mom and Dad's safety precautions develops a baby's brain, right?
Nothing is safe anymore.
Shane can reach up on kitchen counters, undo baby clasps on several drawers, and wreck havoc on the computer desk. There's no computer there anymore, but it used to be a safe storage place for junk we didn't want Shane to get his hands on. The little stink is smart enough to step on items to vault himself up places we don't want him.
Not that he needs any stepping stools to get on couches, chairs, or dressers nowadays.
The move to a new house is coming at a good time, in the sense we need to rethink many of our childproofing strategies. Shane's developed past our meager attempts to thwart his will. We'll have a fresh start in the house, and Shane will have to develop new solutions to unwravel our work.
Sabatoging Mom and Dad's safety precautions develops a baby's brain, right?
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Shane's Baby Tricks
Shane's learned a few baby tricks lately. At first, he would only do them when there were no cameras or witnesses.
Now, he thinks they're fun!
He's come a long way from only being able to wave.
Shane's still in love with himself. He loves to see himself in the iPad and he tries to talk back and imitate whatever he says on screen.
Now, he thinks they're fun!
He's come a long way from only being able to wave.
Shane's still in love with himself. He loves to see himself in the iPad and he tries to talk back and imitate whatever he says on screen.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
The POD has arrived
The first thing I noticed upon arriving home was an eight foot tall giant pod filling my parking space. Carrie had already broken down the bed frame and moved some large items into it.
This is getting more and more real.
When you sign a contract months in advance, there's a surreal feeling to it. It takes only a little bit of effort to scribble down your name and initials(on 30+ pages)and then nothing happens. It becomes "hurry up and wait." Then the big day comes and it feels like it's over in a flash. Last time it felt like there should be some sort of graduated progression leading up to a culminating moment where Carrie and I fully realized the impact of what we just did. Large amounts of money are being exchanged! Show me the briefcases handcuffed to couriers!
Instead it was almost a letdown. We signed some papers, shook an agent's hand, and walked out the door. Very anticlimactic for legally binding my family to an agreement for the next 30 years. I wonder if people signing their souls away would feel just as mundane. They walk in, scribble out a signature, and walk away feeling unchanged until waaaay too late.
Really, I wanted to take pictures of the POD, but it's too dark outside now. The typing is probably a poor replacement, but it's all I've got for now.
Update: I tapped a few pics out when I got home today. Click if you want to see them.
This is getting more and more real.
When you sign a contract months in advance, there's a surreal feeling to it. It takes only a little bit of effort to scribble down your name and initials(on 30+ pages)and then nothing happens. It becomes "hurry up and wait." Then the big day comes and it feels like it's over in a flash. Last time it felt like there should be some sort of graduated progression leading up to a culminating moment where Carrie and I fully realized the impact of what we just did. Large amounts of money are being exchanged! Show me the briefcases handcuffed to couriers!
Instead it was almost a letdown. We signed some papers, shook an agent's hand, and walked out the door. Very anticlimactic for legally binding my family to an agreement for the next 30 years. I wonder if people signing their souls away would feel just as mundane. They walk in, scribble out a signature, and walk away feeling unchanged until waaaay too late.
Really, I wanted to take pictures of the POD, but it's too dark outside now. The typing is probably a poor replacement, but it's all I've got for now.
Update: I tapped a few pics out when I got home today. Click if you want to see them.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Short on time! Short on time!
The clock is ticking down on many things in my life right now. 18 work days with students left; 15 calendar days until I move out of my home for the past two years; 18 calendar days until I move into my new home; 2 day left of standardized tests, and 3 days left until Shane's allergy tests.
Tick, tick, tick, the clock keeps on moving.
Tick, tick, tick, the clock keeps on moving.
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