Since I’ve been thinking of something to help me with stress, I’ve considered revisiting this picture I drew of Bug back in 2009. The one I’m showing I' played with very little in Photoshop, mostly just adding the white highlights. Haven’t decided yet. Feel free to critique in the comments below if you like.
Showing posts with label Fatherhood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fatherhood. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Worth 1,000 Words
This basically wraps up around 2-3 separate posts that I’ve never gotten around to writing. This picture captures some of Bugs latest obsessions and interests.
Lets see what we have here in this one picture. Wearing 2 separate boots/shoes (she had been stomping around in my flip flops about 5 minutes before I grabbed this picture.) She’s wearing hair bands and my Power Balance band on her wrist. Not sure what has gotten her started on this, but anything she can find to wear on her wrists, she puts it on. Silly bandz, hair bands, rubber bands, my Power Balance bands; we even bought her some jelly bands hoping she’d stick to just them, but she has just incorporated them into her collection. In no exaggeration, if we let her go wild, she could have 10-15 on each wrist. She’s even starting putting them on her ankles too!
Finally we have her talking on the phone too. Now admittedly I have fun with this one, if I catch her playing on the house phone or a cell phone, I’ll call it for her to answer and hear me on the other end. If she brings me the phone, I’ll even act like I’m her stock broker or something, asking if she wants to buy or sell and relaying her responses until she grabs the phone and starts yelling into it as if she’s bossing someone around. I realize I won’t find it as funny if I get a bill and she’s called Australia or something and left he phone off the hook without me realizing it, but until then, I do have fun with it.
This is definitely one of those pictures to save and show her when she’s older, as it captures her at this age in a perfect way. In a time where she wants to play with everything and her imagination is racing, I grabbed her doing 3 of her favorite things right now. A perfect example of a picture worth a 1,000 words, and one I couldn’t save until the next Wordless Wednesday.
Lets see what we have here in this one picture. Wearing 2 separate boots/shoes (she had been stomping around in my flip flops about 5 minutes before I grabbed this picture.) She’s wearing hair bands and my Power Balance band on her wrist. Not sure what has gotten her started on this, but anything she can find to wear on her wrists, she puts it on. Silly bandz, hair bands, rubber bands, my Power Balance bands; we even bought her some jelly bands hoping she’d stick to just them, but she has just incorporated them into her collection. In no exaggeration, if we let her go wild, she could have 10-15 on each wrist. She’s even starting putting them on her ankles too!
Finally we have her talking on the phone too. Now admittedly I have fun with this one, if I catch her playing on the house phone or a cell phone, I’ll call it for her to answer and hear me on the other end. If she brings me the phone, I’ll even act like I’m her stock broker or something, asking if she wants to buy or sell and relaying her responses until she grabs the phone and starts yelling into it as if she’s bossing someone around. I realize I won’t find it as funny if I get a bill and she’s called Australia or something and left he phone off the hook without me realizing it, but until then, I do have fun with it.
This is definitely one of those pictures to save and show her when she’s older, as it captures her at this age in a perfect way. In a time where she wants to play with everything and her imagination is racing, I grabbed her doing 3 of her favorite things right now. A perfect example of a picture worth a 1,000 words, and one I couldn’t save until the next Wordless Wednesday.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Managing Children's Screen time: There's An App For That!
In an increasing digital age, our children are becoming digitally dependent. Something that can easily slip our minds, but shouldn’t be ignored is the amount of time our children spend watching TV or playing computer games. That’s where “Screen Time” comes in and saves the day! More
Saturday, January 15, 2011
My 2 year old Picasso - Bug colors the wall
Well, it's happened. Something I thought had the chance of occurring but I was hoping I might be able to avoid. Bug has now drawn and colored on the wall. It happened the other night in just a blink of an eye, but none the less it occurred, in all it's black ink pen and green crayon colored glory! (I swear, back turned 15 second, 20 tops!)I've had a hard time deciding how I wanted to handle it. Of course, initially I rushed over to her, told her no, grabbed the crayon (pen was on the ground already) and proceeded to point to the wall where the offense had occurred and tell her no, she doesn't color on the wall. My initial internal reaction was to be harsher but I quickly realized it's not her fault. Before this moment she didn't know she shouldn't draw on the wall. She just knows Daddy praises her when she draws and colors on paper. So naturally, why wouldn’t she want to do it on something bigger? Fortunately since the other night there has been no repeats, and she has had chances, but has opted to come sit in Daddy's lap and help highlight his notes, or write down her own opinions.
My biggest debate on this is how do I react or handle it when it happens again? Yes I said when, not if. If she's anything like her Daddy it'll happen again. There is still a drawing I did when I was around 3 on the inside of one of my Granny's doors that she still talks about to this day. So what do I do? I want to be sure she knows she's doing wrong and I want to discourage the behavior, but not to the extent that I risk taking away any enjoyment she has in drawing or coloring (self admitted selfishness on my part here too). Its something as a parent I knew I'd eventually face, and had yet until now. And now that I'm faced with it, I'm at a bit of a loss as the course of action I want to take. I guess I have until next time to sit and stew on it, between now and then though, hopefully I can keep my mini Picasso to work solely in the paper medium, and avoid drywall.
Below: The aforementioned artwork of yours truly at a much younger and more innocent age.
For this post and other posts more related to fatherhood then tech, checkout the new blog: ID Link
Monday, January 3, 2011
Early success or just a tease?
Bug officially used her potty for the first time tonight! She came into the bathroom while I was in there shaving. Typically she laughs at me because I have shaving cream on my face, but this time was different. She had her laptop with her and went straight to her potty and lifted the lid. I sat and watched her, even offering to hold her laptop as I watched her negotiate how to sit down on this seat with a hole in it. Eventually she had both feet in it, so Daddy decided to intervene. I picked her up and thinking that while she showed interest in sitting on it, I’d take her diaper off while I was in there just to give her the whole concept. So, I took her diaper off, sat her down, put her laptop in her lap, and watched as she sat there like she knew what she was doing and looking happy as a lark.
A few minutes later, she stood up and handed me her laptop. I at first just brushed it off as she was already bored, and was ready to go back out from the bathroom. Daddy wasn’t entertaining anymore. When to my surprise, I saw that she had in fact used her potty! I was so excited and overjoyed I started cheering and clapping, and I believe the initially reaction actually startled her. After a few moments, she realized I was in fact cheering for her, so she proceeded to start clapping and giving her typical “yay!” in excitement.
She teased me with acting like she was interested in using her potty on my birthday, and now 3 weeks later, she’s used it for the first time! Now do I expect a sudden change in behavior? A daily use of the potty? No, I’m not near that optimistic! I am however excited by the possibilities! Maybe potty training won’t be so bad? One can hope!
A few minutes later, she stood up and handed me her laptop. I at first just brushed it off as she was already bored, and was ready to go back out from the bathroom. Daddy wasn’t entertaining anymore. When to my surprise, I saw that she had in fact used her potty! I was so excited and overjoyed I started cheering and clapping, and I believe the initially reaction actually startled her. After a few moments, she realized I was in fact cheering for her, so she proceeded to start clapping and giving her typical “yay!” in excitement.
She teased me with acting like she was interested in using her potty on my birthday, and now 3 weeks later, she’s used it for the first time! Now do I expect a sudden change in behavior? A daily use of the potty? No, I’m not near that optimistic! I am however excited by the possibilities! Maybe potty training won’t be so bad? One can hope!
Monday, December 6, 2010
That’s all that matters
Okay, so this is something that I have written and rewritten a few times, but have decided today to finally post. Almost a month ago, Bug had surgery. Nothing major mind you. Something kids everywhere have done nearly every day. She had tubes put in her ears and ended up having her adenoids removed. Today she had her checkup and the doctor said she’s healed quicker than expected, and just being around her now, you can tell a major difference in her speech, walking, and overall behavior, but the experience up to this was, well somewhat rattling for ole Dad.
Up front, you have to understand, it seems like for one reason or another, we’ve been taking Bug to see a doctor, or she needed to see one since she was born. Fortunately, its never been anything major, but it’s been enough to keep me on edge, and every time something else comes up, it puts me right back there again.
To start it all off, Bug was 3 weeks, almost a month early. What felt like the entire pregnancy there seemed to always be something going on, to the point where there were a few times I was nervous going to the doctor because I was worried we wouldn’t get good news (and I’m proud to say, I only missed 1 doctors appointment the entire pregnancy!) Part of this is where she gets her nickname from me. When she was born, she was 6lbs 6oz. When we left the hospital she was down to 6lbs, 3oz. She wasn’t tiny tiny, but to me she was still little, she was my little Bug.
The next event came the same week as her four month check up. She woke up with a
Since that scare, we’ve fought high fevers, and it seemed like we could never shake some type of ear infection. Finally about 2 months ago we took her to the doctor. She’d been having a little temperature and you could just tell something was wrong. Turned out both ears were infected. So they sent us to an Ears, Nose, and Throat specialist, who after looking at her rather quickly, decided she did in fact need tubes put in her ears.
My initial reaction was a bit of a stomach drop, simply because I didn’t want any type of procedure done on my little girl. I wasn’t really worried about the tubes, because my wife’s nephew had them before, and I had heard of other children having them without problems. The worried feeling was somewhat lifted as the doctor proceeded to explain the procedure to us, she would just be put to sleep with gas. She’d be out of our hands 10 minutes. Once asleep they would look at her adenoids and if they were enlarged, they’d go ahead and remove them. The more he talked, explained the procedure and what was going on with her, the more I felt relieved and realized that this would be very beneficial to Bug, not only health wise, but possibly development wise, and with the constant ear infections, she probably wasn’t hearing as well as as she could.
Then the day came. We had to arrive and the surgery center just after 6am, with a little
Finally, once our name was called to come back, we were able to talk to the doctor, who said everything went fine, tubes were in, and that they did take her adenoid out as they were blocking 70% of her passageway. At this point, my thought patterns changed. I just thought “70%?! My baby had to have been miserable!”
Now a month later, she’s checked out with flying colors! The doctor said she’s healed much quicker than expected, everything looks good, plus my skinny minny has gained a pound and an inch since she went in for surgery! Ultimately as long as she’s happy and healthy all the torture and stress Daddy has to endure for her is fine, and bottom line, her being happy and healthy is all that matters.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
A night away
Tonight is the first night I’ve spent away from home since Bug’s surgery, and well, its not be completely smooth for me. Ever since her surgery, she’s been a happier baby overall; livelier, more talkative and interactive. It was hard enough for me to leave her this evening the way she was playing and trying to keep my attention, and it broke my heart leaving, but just a bit ago, I couldn’t keep my heart from breaking.
Basically, Bug is refusing to go to sleep without my there. Every noise she hears, she looks at the door and starts saying my name like she expects me to come through the door. I tried talking to her on the phone, and the excitement her had in hearing my voice brought me to tears, because as happy as she was to hear me, and even though she wasn’t going to truly understand, I had to tell her that Daddy wouldn’t be there tonight. Tried telling her goodnight and she told me “No” in her precious fashion. I’d tell her that I love her, and she’d mumble something back, not quit “I love you” but it’s getting closer now that she has the tubes in her ears.
So basically in the upcoming years, I’m screwed when it comes to travel. I’ve managed to deal with her playing with me extra, or doing what she can to keep me at home and from leaving, even chasing me to the door. Once she starts getting out “I love you” or the first time she says “Daddy come home” I’m not sure I’ll be able to stay away. I’m man enough to admit that part of tonight brought me to tears, hearing her on the other side of the phone, knowing she was looking for me and waiting for me to come back, but travelling occasionally is part of it, parents everywhere do it every day. It’s just the difficulty involved, now that’s she’s starting to communicate, was not something I had prepared myself to deal with.
Basically, Bug is refusing to go to sleep without my there. Every noise she hears, she looks at the door and starts saying my name like she expects me to come through the door. I tried talking to her on the phone, and the excitement her had in hearing my voice brought me to tears, because as happy as she was to hear me, and even though she wasn’t going to truly understand, I had to tell her that Daddy wouldn’t be there tonight. Tried telling her goodnight and she told me “No” in her precious fashion. I’d tell her that I love her, and she’d mumble something back, not quit “I love you” but it’s getting closer now that she has the tubes in her ears.
So basically in the upcoming years, I’m screwed when it comes to travel. I’ve managed to deal with her playing with me extra, or doing what she can to keep me at home and from leaving, even chasing me to the door. Once she starts getting out “I love you” or the first time she says “Daddy come home” I’m not sure I’ll be able to stay away. I’m man enough to admit that part of tonight brought me to tears, hearing her on the other side of the phone, knowing she was looking for me and waiting for me to come back, but travelling occasionally is part of it, parents everywhere do it every day. It’s just the difficulty involved, now that’s she’s starting to communicate, was not something I had prepared myself to deal with.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Random Leg Licking!!
No idea why she started this, but in the car yesterday I looked back, and Bug was licking her leg!! Absolutely no idea why she started this or why she was doing it and fortunately she hasn't repeated it. She did however have no problem posing and repeating the action so I could snap a few pictures of the said behavior. She has been absolutely fascinated with her tongue lately, so I pass it off as that more then anything else. Can’t help but smile at it though….
Monday, September 27, 2010
Canaan turns 4
Today is my son’s birthday. I don’t get to see him or give him a birthday hug, for
another three days, I’m hoping to get a phone call with him late, but he’s sick and its up to his mother and how he’s feeling if I get to.
He is my first and only son. He’s my pride and who makes me strive to be a better man, a better father, because as little as we get to spend time with each other, he deserves the best he can get for every window of opportunity we have. I cannot imagine many things being much greater of a challenge then what I have gone through these first 4 years of his life, but no matter how upset I get, or jealous of other fathers with their sons, when I sit back and hear “Daddy, I love you” or sit and watch him draw a picture of us together, all the emotion gets ripped away, leaving the love and
pride I have in my son.
Unless you have to share custody of a child, you really don’t know the daily personal trials you deal with, including of all things, guilt. However, the highlight of every other week is the day I know I’ll be going down and getting him. It always seems like the work day goes faster. It hurts to see how quickly he grows where I see him in spurts rather then on a daily basis. In what feels like a flash of light he can go from barely talking, to singing his ABCs, to asking me to read every single road sign between the drop off and home. Its a strange sensation, having such joy and personal hurt out of the same thing, but that the reality of it. I won’t be there to play tooth fairy when he loses a tooth. I’m not
able to take a day off work and stay home with him when he’s sick. I’ve not been able to be who I wanted to be for him. Am I better? I try to be, but its hard to truly tell, when most of our one-on-one time is spent traveling on the road because once he’s home, everyone wants to see him. I hate having to share when I have such a small amount of time, but I hate him not being around his family worse, so I do my best to swallow my selfishness for him.
I realize I won’t get to do some of the things with him like other fathers will, my time is limited right now, but it was my decision to be his father, to stand up and take responsibility, and no matter how hard the road is to travel sometimes, I’d never go back and change the path I chose, because he is my son, and I love him with all my heart. Happy Birthday son.
another three days, I’m hoping to get a phone call with him late, but he’s sick and its up to his mother and how he’s feeling if I get to.He is my first and only son. He’s my pride and who makes me strive to be a better man, a better father, because as little as we get to spend time with each other, he deserves the best he can get for every window of opportunity we have. I cannot imagine many things being much greater of a challenge then what I have gone through these first 4 years of his life, but no matter how upset I get, or jealous of other fathers with their sons, when I sit back and hear “Daddy, I love you” or sit and watch him draw a picture of us together, all the emotion gets ripped away, leaving the love and
pride I have in my son.Unless you have to share custody of a child, you really don’t know the daily personal trials you deal with, including of all things, guilt. However, the highlight of every other week is the day I know I’ll be going down and getting him. It always seems like the work day goes faster. It hurts to see how quickly he grows where I see him in spurts rather then on a daily basis. In what feels like a flash of light he can go from barely talking, to singing his ABCs, to asking me to read every single road sign between the drop off and home. Its a strange sensation, having such joy and personal hurt out of the same thing, but that the reality of it. I won’t be there to play tooth fairy when he loses a tooth. I’m not
able to take a day off work and stay home with him when he’s sick. I’ve not been able to be who I wanted to be for him. Am I better? I try to be, but its hard to truly tell, when most of our one-on-one time is spent traveling on the road because once he’s home, everyone wants to see him. I hate having to share when I have such a small amount of time, but I hate him not being around his family worse, so I do my best to swallow my selfishness for him.I realize I won’t get to do some of the things with him like other fathers will, my time is limited right now, but it was my decision to be his father, to stand up and take responsibility, and no matter how hard the road is to travel sometimes, I’d never go back and change the path I chose, because he is my son, and I love him with all my heart. Happy Birthday son.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Drawing with Bug
One of my favorite things right now is watching Bug draw. Something about how serious and intense her look is as she concentrates on the page, I just love it!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Selfish Self Promotion
I accidentally poked a hole in Abby's float last time we went to the pool, hope she doesn't mind me using the chance to selfishly self promote!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
@#%&*!
Aww....whats better then hearing your child first saying one of those magic four letter words they've heard you say? Not knowing that what they're doing is actually wrong, and saying it in the most embarrassing moment? Fortunately that hasn't happened to me, and knock on wood it wont, but I've seen it happen to people before, and really, its one of those small hurdles to get over when your child's brain is like a sponge on crack, absorbing everything it can and spitting it right back out.
Actually, saying I've not had to deal with the cussing issue yet is something of a misleading statement. I've had to deal with a wide array of circumstances when it comes to young children cussing. I have my nephew, while helping my father, his Pappy, run cattle, yell a colorful profanity filled statement, something he has heard my father yell, and was repeating it, simply thinking he was helping, not knowing it was wrong. It's one of those nice, innocent circumstance that people enjoy telling the story of and laughing about, while also enforcing on him, that he shouldn't say "those words". Something you can make fun of in later years, nothing something you feel you should go hide your head over.
Then we have my son, who lives with his mother mostly 12 out of a 14 day span, with small hits and misses of an extra day for myself here and there. He's heard me cuss, he's heard me cuss under my breath about his mother, I won't sit and lie or act like he hasn't, but he's not around it a lot, or any familiar situations. He's never once repeated me, never once caught me and told me I was saying bad words, to him, he's oblivious that they are anything but words, something I'm grateful of, unsure of its just him or the raising he has with his mother, but hoping it stays that way for a few more years.
Then, we have my step daughter, 8 going on 20, and a masters degree in all things. She hears me cuss, admittedly, she hears me cuss more then she should, and is aware that select words are "bad words" either by being told by us or the school system. She is so knowledgeable that they're "bad" that she nearly had a breakdown over saying the word "piss" and being told she shouldn't say that, that it was a bad word. Well, last night a curious event. She asked what the bad words were. Not metaphorically or in any other sense, but just that, asked what they were. So I told her, listed out the 4 lettered kings of cussing, emphasizing the mother of all words, and said hey, these are the worst, don't say them. I mean how else are you going to learn, right?
I explained to her that they are not good to say and she shouldn't, that even my mom will still get on my case if I get into a good cussing rant, which has been known to happen on occasions, something my step daughter found comical, but also seems to hit home the fact that they're bad, regardless of age or circumstances.
So I mark it off as having 2 out of the 3 taken care of in the cussing department. No worries of a child embarrassing me by throwing an F-bomb in the middle of Walmart or anything like that. One of those small hurdles jumped and small victories celebrated. Hell yeah!
Actually, saying I've not had to deal with the cussing issue yet is something of a misleading statement. I've had to deal with a wide array of circumstances when it comes to young children cussing. I have my nephew, while helping my father, his Pappy, run cattle, yell a colorful profanity filled statement, something he has heard my father yell, and was repeating it, simply thinking he was helping, not knowing it was wrong. It's one of those nice, innocent circumstance that people enjoy telling the story of and laughing about, while also enforcing on him, that he shouldn't say "those words". Something you can make fun of in later years, nothing something you feel you should go hide your head over.
Then we have my son, who lives with his mother mostly 12 out of a 14 day span, with small hits and misses of an extra day for myself here and there. He's heard me cuss, he's heard me cuss under my breath about his mother, I won't sit and lie or act like he hasn't, but he's not around it a lot, or any familiar situations. He's never once repeated me, never once caught me and told me I was saying bad words, to him, he's oblivious that they are anything but words, something I'm grateful of, unsure of its just him or the raising he has with his mother, but hoping it stays that way for a few more years.
Then, we have my step daughter, 8 going on 20, and a masters degree in all things. She hears me cuss, admittedly, she hears me cuss more then she should, and is aware that select words are "bad words" either by being told by us or the school system. She is so knowledgeable that they're "bad" that she nearly had a breakdown over saying the word "piss" and being told she shouldn't say that, that it was a bad word. Well, last night a curious event. She asked what the bad words were. Not metaphorically or in any other sense, but just that, asked what they were. So I told her, listed out the 4 lettered kings of cussing, emphasizing the mother of all words, and said hey, these are the worst, don't say them. I mean how else are you going to learn, right?
I explained to her that they are not good to say and she shouldn't, that even my mom will still get on my case if I get into a good cussing rant, which has been known to happen on occasions, something my step daughter found comical, but also seems to hit home the fact that they're bad, regardless of age or circumstances.
So I mark it off as having 2 out of the 3 taken care of in the cussing department. No worries of a child embarrassing me by throwing an F-bomb in the middle of Walmart or anything like that. One of those small hurdles jumped and small victories celebrated. Hell yeah!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Spaghetti Hair
Okay, this just might be with my kids in my home, but I have a feeling this isn’t isolated, so I throw this question out to you: Why do kids want to put spaghetti in their hair and on top of their heads?! At least for me, this seems to be the only food that gets the privilege of being carefully and purposefully placed on the top of ones cranium. Sure, others will be thrown, smashed, played with and anything else those little minds can come up with, but spaghetti, with or without sauce, is thought out, calmly placed. A calculated action by one so small.
I realize the argument could be made that food manages to make its way into kids hair all the time, and I don’t disagree. I was just having to clean cookie out from behind Bug’s ear just the other day and wondering how she managed to get it there. I’m not arguing or questioning that, because that can happen with a simple arm movement or having to scratch ones head. That is a common occurrence.
No, I’m asking, why is it spaghetti that gets the special treatment of intentionally, not accidently or randomly place, but intentionally place on top of the head? I cannot being to question one’s motives when it comes to such, but all I can do is submit the follow picture as evidence…
I rest my case your honor. The Spaghetti Hair Monster is alive and well at the Geekasm household. (Until the bathwater is ran, of course)
Friday, July 23, 2010
The heat…..
I sit and look at the thermostat at 3am, it looks back at me, telling me that it is 80 degrees in my house. The air conditioner unit is out, something completely and totally out of my control and it still has the ability to make me feel like the biggest loser and failure as a father and provider for my family.
Why? Why something, so completely out of my control have such a hold on me? Simple: Pride. This is my family, my complete family as this is my weekend to have my son. So I have an 8, 3, and 1 year old, in a house, with no air conditioning except for two window units I was able to borrow. Yes, the repair man has already been called and yes I left a message, but still, doesn’t help resolve my self loathing.
See, what you don’t know yet, is that this makes #3 for the air conditioning to not function as advertised during this summer alone! We started with being out of freon/coolant, which is fine, we purchase this house as half finished and knew ahead of time that there would be unknown problems the first few years, as we’re unaware of the comings and goings of the property before we moved in. Problem is, after dropping a few hundred to recharge the unit, it failed again within the week, due to what was described as a crack in the coil. So, after checking on warranties and such, and being patient for nearly a month, AND dropping over 5 on getting the new unit in, we were set, good to go! New unit in that works great, electric bill going down with a more efficient unit, everything seems to be going up, then BAM, the new unit shows signs of running low on coolant. Well that can’t be right can it? It just froze over for some other reason, right? Sure! So, as I left work, being the last one out, I turned the unit off, giving it a rest. Its been in the low 90s, with rain everyday, so my plan was to come home that evening, after letting the unit rest and defrost, kick it on again and in about an hour or so, be sitting in my nice cool house again.
Well that was nearly 8 hours ago, and we sit at 80. Obviously the coolant has found another area to leak its way out, or we have other problems, I will not know until later on in the day, but regardless, I sit here, knowing my family is hot, and it frustrates me beyond understanding. Something, completely out of my control, has made me feel like I’ve let everyone down and disappointed them all.
Oh well, just chalk it up to another day as the irredeemable dad I suppose
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Corruption of the young...with Wonder Woman #600
So my 8 year old has currently been asking questions regarding collecting. She wants to collect something, she’s wanting to make something her own. Basically she’s trying to find who she is and develop her own identity, but currently has trouble letting go of the desire to make everyone around her happy with her. Well the other day, she just randomly starting sorting through some of my old comic books I have up stairs. Now first off, you have to understand I used to be a HUGE comic geek back in the day, I mean huge! Was a heavy collector of all things Spider-man, well before the movies, and I had a great collection too, unfortunately I really don’t have any of it left, through circumstances I’m not proud of at all. Anyway, she started asking question, like how long did I buy them, where did I buy them, etc. and actually sat down and started reading an issue of JLA.
Well today, I did something that gave me a small spark of pride, and a large chunk of questioning motives. Fortunately my job takes me many places throughout the state, and when coming home, I was able to pass what used to be my main stop for all things comics back in the day in Somerset, Ky. The store is Collector’s Comics, and fortunately for myself, the place was still there. Well I walked in with the determination to find 2-3 comics that would give a good range of what my 8 year old might or might not enjoy reading and/or collecting. A task that I found was not as smooth and easy as I had hoped, as I found out, and explained to the man working the store, its not that easy to shop for comics for someone else!!
So after much browsing and fighting the urge to buy a large group of books for myself,
I came away with 3, those being Tiny Titans, the current Supergirl (#54 I believe) and the recently released Wonder Woman #600. I had already read WW through a different means, so I knew the issue, not only being a starting point for a story for her, but also gave her a few separate stories she could read and get a feel for how comics are.
Where this will lead, I have no clue as she hasn’t sat down to read any yet, but already has one of my unused bags and boards to place her WW #600 in once she’s completed with it, and she already plans on going through my books and pulling ones she’d like to look at. So either I will soon have what will be an avid comic fan (and my new excuse for running to the local store on Weds) or this will be a phase that burns out as quickly as it was ignited. Only time will tell, so we can only sit back and wait (and read the news headlines coming in from SDCC)
Well today, I did something that gave me a small spark of pride, and a large chunk of questioning motives. Fortunately my job takes me many places throughout the state, and when coming home, I was able to pass what used to be my main stop for all things comics back in the day in Somerset, Ky. The store is Collector’s Comics, and fortunately for myself, the place was still there. Well I walked in with the determination to find 2-3 comics that would give a good range of what my 8 year old might or might not enjoy reading and/or collecting. A task that I found was not as smooth and easy as I had hoped, as I found out, and explained to the man working the store, its not that easy to shop for comics for someone else!!
So after much browsing and fighting the urge to buy a large group of books for myself,
I came away with 3, those being Tiny Titans, the current Supergirl (#54 I believe) and the recently released Wonder Woman #600. I had already read WW through a different means, so I knew the issue, not only being a starting point for a story for her, but also gave her a few separate stories she could read and get a feel for how comics are.Where this will lead, I have no clue as she hasn’t sat down to read any yet, but already has one of my unused bags and boards to place her WW #600 in once she’s completed with it, and she already plans on going through my books and pulling ones she’d like to look at. So either I will soon have what will be an avid comic fan (and my new excuse for running to the local store on Weds) or this will be a phase that burns out as quickly as it was ignited. Only time will tell, so we can only sit back and wait (and read the news headlines coming in from SDCC)
Related Articles
- Comic Book Legends Revealed #277 (goodcomics.comicbookresources.com)
- Wonder Woman gets new outfit in 600th issue of comic book series - BBC News (news.google.com)
Monday, July 12, 2010
Evolution of the diaper change
I was changing my daughter’s diaper this evening, just like any parent with a young infant would be doing, when it dawned on me. A process, which should be evolving towards eventual potty training and the disappearance of the diaper, has become something similar to a dance or a wrestling match between myself and the ever elusive Bug!
You may laugh, but think back to when you first get your brand new baby, fresh out of the package. They’re so fragile, so tiny, you’re almost afraid to touch them, or if you’re holding them, to lay them down, afraid they’ll bruise like a soft peach. Any action is a delicate processes, including the diaper change. Especially those first few days, it’s a process all its own. Your baby is swaddle in their blanket keeping them warm, you have to slowly unwrap them, which eventually just pisses them off, but then you have to take off the small diaper and clean them of their small mess, apply baby powder and a fresh diaper. A processes, especially while still in the hospital, seems to be enjoyed by grandmothers for whatever reason. (You might find it strange, but I have stood back and watched a number of different grandmothers all but jump at the chance to change those tiny diapers while at the hospital. Possibly because they know of the nightmares to come? Hmmmm….).
Eventually after you get home, your baby grows and you become more comfortable around them, and the diaper changing process, to where your hand/eye coordination is top notch! You can get your baby’s butt clean and dry before anyone even realizes what you’re doing. During this time, your baby is still content with simply lying there, possibly fussing, but you feel confident in your diaper changing abilities. You can wipe a small butt with the best of them, and you zoom through the processes like nothing. You can change a diaper from nearly any position or situation and still have it looking perfect. You’re a master of your diaper domain, and you’re not ashamed to stand tall and say it!
Then suddenly, at some point, things change. So far you have been making forward progress, getting more efficient, knowing your baby’s patterns, and when you finally have it down to where you can effortlessly change a diaper in the dark, BAM!! They turn into the Ric Flair of the infant world! Turning, squirming, screaming, grabbing, slinging, throwing, absolutely anything and everything they can do to try and prevent you from either removing the diaper, or cleaning them. What used to be a simple process for just you, now requires 3 Navy Seals, a tranquilizer gun and a spot light! And if they have a diaper rash and you have to put on any cream….oh boy! All I can say is “God speed brave soul.”
What I don’t get is, why?! They’re getting older, the messes are getting bigger and well you’d think they’d want it off them. Only it seems like the opposite. You can have your baby girl in your arms, loving on you, being happy and smiling, until she realizes what you plan on doing to do, at that point, the horns come out, the bell rings to start the match, and ITS ON!! Don’t get me wrong, sometimes she’s still my perfect little girl, but typically….shew! And I realize some might be laughing, saying its just a normal thing, and I’m not saying its not. Its just, even though I have 3 kids, this is the first one I’ve really been around where I’m having to change diapers everyday, and well….the behavior just seems backwards to me.
US8YNS9Y5N2D
You may laugh, but think back to when you first get your brand new baby, fresh out of the package. They’re so fragile, so tiny, you’re almost afraid to touch them, or if you’re holding them, to lay them down, afraid they’ll bruise like a soft peach. Any action is a delicate processes, including the diaper change. Especially those first few days, it’s a process all its own. Your baby is swaddle in their blanket keeping them warm, you have to slowly unwrap them, which eventually just pisses them off, but then you have to take off the small diaper and clean them of their small mess, apply baby powder and a fresh diaper. A processes, especially while still in the hospital, seems to be enjoyed by grandmothers for whatever reason. (You might find it strange, but I have stood back and watched a number of different grandmothers all but jump at the chance to change those tiny diapers while at the hospital. Possibly because they know of the nightmares to come? Hmmmm….).
Eventually after you get home, your baby grows and you become more comfortable around them, and the diaper changing process, to where your hand/eye coordination is top notch! You can get your baby’s butt clean and dry before anyone even realizes what you’re doing. During this time, your baby is still content with simply lying there, possibly fussing, but you feel confident in your diaper changing abilities. You can wipe a small butt with the best of them, and you zoom through the processes like nothing. You can change a diaper from nearly any position or situation and still have it looking perfect. You’re a master of your diaper domain, and you’re not ashamed to stand tall and say it!
Then suddenly, at some point, things change. So far you have been making forward progress, getting more efficient, knowing your baby’s patterns, and when you finally have it down to where you can effortlessly change a diaper in the dark, BAM!! They turn into the Ric Flair of the infant world! Turning, squirming, screaming, grabbing, slinging, throwing, absolutely anything and everything they can do to try and prevent you from either removing the diaper, or cleaning them. What used to be a simple process for just you, now requires 3 Navy Seals, a tranquilizer gun and a spot light! And if they have a diaper rash and you have to put on any cream….oh boy! All I can say is “God speed brave soul.”
What I don’t get is, why?! They’re getting older, the messes are getting bigger and well you’d think they’d want it off them. Only it seems like the opposite. You can have your baby girl in your arms, loving on you, being happy and smiling, until she realizes what you plan on doing to do, at that point, the horns come out, the bell rings to start the match, and ITS ON!! Don’t get me wrong, sometimes she’s still my perfect little girl, but typically….shew! And I realize some might be laughing, saying its just a normal thing, and I’m not saying its not. Its just, even though I have 3 kids, this is the first one I’ve really been around where I’m having to change diapers everyday, and well….the behavior just seems backwards to me.
US8YNS9Y5N2D
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
iPhone Baby
I have had the Wordpress App on my iPhone forever now and have never attempted to create a post from it, never had come upon a reason I couldn't wait until I got to my laptop. Well partially out of boredom and curiosity I found an excuse to create a post.
I've posted about my baby girl playing with my phone, and as her geeky father, trying to find new ways to entertain her. I've even posted reviews on some of the apps I've had the most success with. Well as proof of concept, I snapped this picture of Abby playing Peekaboo Barn on my wife's iPhone while stopping at a red light. I just find it entertaining how a 1 year old can be more aware of how to use a technical device then many adults (example: my parents).
Although I'm still up in the air on how much technology is too much technology when it comes to young children, I couldn't help but share this snap shot of my bug. Father's pride I guess.
I've posted about my baby girl playing with my phone, and as her geeky father, trying to find new ways to entertain her. I've even posted reviews on some of the apps I've had the most success with. Well as proof of concept, I snapped this picture of Abby playing Peekaboo Barn on my wife's iPhone while stopping at a red light. I just find it entertaining how a 1 year old can be more aware of how to use a technical device then many adults (example: my parents).
Although I'm still up in the air on how much technology is too much technology when it comes to young children, I couldn't help but share this snap shot of my bug. Father's pride I guess.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
iPhones and infants
I've realized that there is a growing demand for information for apps for what I'm calling iPhone Babies. I'm in the process of testing other apps with my baby girl (but Peekaboo Barn is still the take all home run). What I'm looking for are suggestions for apps. What does your baby enjoy, what gets their attention? Paid or free, doesn't matter, I'm curious to see what other magic apps are out there for us tech savvy parents. Feel free to comment below on what apps you feel fall under the category of "Must Have".
Friday, April 30, 2010
The little things….
Last night, a Lexington Police officer was killed in the line of duty by a hit and run while he was investigating a call. He was 27 and a father. Its a sad and tragic story that has been on the news all morning. [news article] Even though I had already processed the story, thought about how selfless those men and women are, swallowed the distaste for the coward of a man who did this, nothing struck me more profoundly and brought me to such soul searching until I saw this on facebook posted by Kristen Pflum, a reporter for LEX 18.
Reading this caused my heart to sink, something I even acknowledged with a comment on this status saying as much. Its hard to believe that sometimes I do forget how much I wanted to be a Dad. Its one of the reasons I never fought to save my first marriage, something I’ve never admitted to until now, on this rarely read blog. We were in two different places in life, and maybe it was selfish of me, but I wanted kids, I knew I did, I wanted to be a Dad so bad, to be able to feel that love, and when she said she didn’t, it changed my whole perspective, it changed everything for me in regards to her.
Then when Canaan came around, so many grey clouds and questions with that, its hard to imagine it could have been any more of a mess. I don’t hide the fact that I regret not having the chance to be involved more when he was first born, even more so as I have watched Abby grow, but I don’t regret fighting and being determined to be a part of my son’s life. All the times I cried and was upset, fighting and struggling with his mom, thinking that it would be easier to not be involved. My heart would never let me do that, I might have thought it at my lowest points, but I don’t regret ever making the decisions I’ve made, I question them sure. What little I am able to be involved in his life right now, of course I question if the little he gets to see me is actually a good thing for him or if it just confuses him and makes some things worse. Why wouldn’t I? He’s my son, I want the best for him, and even though it might hurt me, I want him happy, and I seriously question if I’m selfish sometimes when it comes to wanting to be his father more then I am now. He has grown every time I’ve picked him up, he breaks my heart every time he asks when he gets to go back to his mom, or not telling me he loves me, or cries when I come to pick him up, but I would never change the fact that I’m his father. I never for even a moment not want to be his Daddy.
And even though he’s my first, and I have Katlyn, who for someone that doesn’t share an ounce of blood with me will end up being like me more then my two biological kids, and challenges me as a parent and a person everyday, and I love her with everything in me, my heart is with my Bug. I have 3 kids, and I’ve only got to be around 1 during their first year, to watch them grow, get teeth, try to walk to say Daddy, to yell DaDa, to just mumble it, partially because that’s all she can say. To hear them cry and laugh to watch her struggle with something new, and see the determination in her beautiful blue eyes. She has been everything I wanted and looked forward to in regards to being a parent. And if anyone that reads this, thinks I’m putting Canaan and Katlyn down, or saying they’re less of anything, I’m not. I’d do anything for any of my kids. My kids are my heart and my life. I would probably surprise people how many times a week I sit and wonder if I’m doing the right thing, if I’m a good or a bad parent. I have a lot of alone time, a lot of driving, and they’re always a constant thought. Wondering how I can connect more with Katlyn as she gets older and I more and more become “Dad”. How I can connect more with Canaan in terms of father and son, something I feel I fail at because of what little time I have. They’re both a challenge and heartbreak for me because I do feel I let them down. Abby is just the better reminder of why I wanted to be a parent, why I looked forward to it and what makes me so determined to be a good parent, a good man and roll model for all three. I’d do anything for them, and even though I have to get onto them, and their behavior drives me insane at times, I cherish ever single second and already wish I would rewind time, or free time in a single moment. I feel guilty losing sight of that. With all the stress and rushing that life gives me I could say its easy for me to forget the little things, but that’s shameful to when its the little things that drive me. That get me to strive to be a better man. To be someone they would be proud to call Dad. The little things that are the most important in life are the same that are so easily taken for granted. Little moments in their life as they grow, the joy in just one of their cheese tooth filled or joyful 3 tooth smiles, the satisfaction of accomplishing one of your life goals…and like being able to come home to the love of your children…
If you can’t tell by the rambling, my children are my life and soul. Everything I’ve ever done and will ever do, is and will forever be for and about them. I hate that such a horrible tragedy brought to light how selfish and unappreciative I’ve been of the little things lately. I hate that a son will now grow up without his Dad because his Dad had it in him to be a great man. I hate that a father won’t be able to throw a ball to his boy, or to be in the stand for his son to see as he stands out in a ball field. To carry him on his shoulders, or to be there as a “man” the first time a girl breaks his heart.
In all the politics, stress, debt and struggle we go through as adults in everyday life, its scary we forget to cherish the little things that keep us going. Something Brayden will never have to struggle with.
God Bless Bryan Durman.
2 of my “little things” after dropping off their big sister at school. 4/30/10
The little things….
Last night, a Lexington Police officer was killed in the line of duty by a hit and run while he was investigating a call. He was 27 and a father. Its a sad and tragic story that has been on the news all morning. [news article] Even though I had already processed the story, thought about how selfless those men and women are, swallowed the distaste for the coward of a man who did this, nothing struck me more profoundly and brought me to such soul searching until I saw this on facebook posted by Kristen Pflum, a reporter for LEX 18.
Reading this caused my heart to sink, something I even acknowledged with a comment on this status saying as much. Its hard to believe that sometimes I do forget how much I wanted to be a Dad. Its one of the reasons I never fought to save my first marriage, something I’ve never admitted to until now, on this rarely read blog. We were in two different places in life, and maybe it was selfish of me, but I wanted kids, I knew I did, I wanted to be a Dad so bad, to be able to feel that love, and when she said she didn’t, it changed my whole perspective, it changed everything for me in regards to her.
Then when Canaan came around, so many grey clouds and questions with that, its hard to imagine it could have been any more of a mess. I don’t hide the fact that I regret not having the chance to be involved more when he was first born, even more so as I have watched Abby grow, but I don’t regret fighting and being determined to be a part of my son’s life. All the times I cried and was upset, fighting and struggling with his mom, thinking that it would be easier to not be involved. My heart would never let me do that, I might have thought it at my lowest points, but I don’t regret ever making the decisions I’ve made, I question them sure. What little I am able to be involved in his life right now, of course I question if the little he gets to see me is actually a good thing for him or if it just confuses him and makes some things worse. Why wouldn’t I? He’s my son, I want the best for him, and even though it might hurt me, I want him happy, and I seriously question if I’m selfish sometimes when it comes to wanting to be his father more then I am now. He has grown every time I’ve picked him up, he breaks my heart every time he asks when he gets to go back to his mom, or not telling me he loves me, or cries when I come to pick him up, but I would never change the fact that I’m his father. I never for even a moment not want to be his Daddy.
And even though he’s my first, and I have Katlyn, who for someone that doesn’t share an ounce of blood with me will end up being like me more then my two biological kids, and challenges me as a parent and a person everyday, and I love her with everything in me, my heart is with my Bug. I have 3 kids, and I’ve only got to be around 1 during their first year, to watch them grow, get teeth, try to walk to say Daddy, to yell DaDa, to just mumble it, partially because that’s all she can say. To hear them cry and laugh to watch her struggle with something new, and see the determination in her beautiful blue eyes. She has been everything I wanted and looked forward to in regards to being a parent. And if anyone that reads this, thinks I’m putting Canaan and Katlyn down, or saying they’re less of anything, I’m not. I’d do anything for any of my kids. My kids are my heart and my life. I would probably surprise people how many times a week I sit and wonder if I’m doing the right thing, if I’m a good or a bad parent. I have a lot of alone time, a lot of driving, and they’re always a constant thought. Wondering how I can connect more with Katlyn as she gets older and I more and more become “Dad”. How I can connect more with Canaan in terms of father and son, something I feel I fail at because of what little time I have. They’re both a challenge and heartbreak for me because I do feel I let them down. Abby is just the better reminder of why I wanted to be a parent, why I looked forward to it and what makes me so determined to be a good parent, a good man and roll model for all three. I’d do anything for them, and even though I have to get onto them, and their behavior drives me insane at times, I cherish ever single second and already wish I would rewind time, or free time in a single moment. I feel guilty losing sight of that. With all the stress and rushing that life gives me I could say its easy for me to forget the little things, but that’s shameful to when its the little things that drive me. That get me to strive to be a better man. To be someone they would be proud to call Dad. The little things that are the most important in life are the same that are so easily taken for granted. Little moments in their life as they grow, the joy in just one of their cheese tooth filled or joyful 3 tooth smiles, the satisfaction of accomplishing one of your life goals…and like being able to come home to the love of your children…
If you can’t tell by the rambling, my children are my life and soul. Everything I’ve ever done and will ever do, is and will forever be for and about them. I hate that such a horrible tragedy brought to light how selfish and unappreciative I’ve been of the little things lately. I hate that a son will now grow up without his Dad because his Dad had it in him to be a great man. I hate that a father won’t be able to throw a ball to his boy, or to be in the stand for his son to see as he stands out in a ball field. To carry him on his shoulders, or to be there as a “man” the first time a girl breaks his heart.
In all the politics, stress, debt and struggle we go through as adults in everyday life, its scary we forget to cherish the little things that keep us going. Something Brayden will never have to struggle with.
God Bless Bryan Durman.
2 of my “little things” after dropping off their big sister at school. 4/30/10
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