The Littlest Bop

Colorado and Random Summer Pics

2010-08-06T10:45:00.000-05:00

Sophia 1 Year Birthday

2010-08-04T20:27:00.001-05:00

A Glimps of What's To Come?

2010-07-21T21:10:00.003-05:00

As Sophia has become more mobile it seems that Harrison's dislike has grown more intense. It used to be an attitude of indifference, a recognized inconvenience that took up our time but was generally no real threat. Then the crawling happened and then the walking. With each step and each grab the threat grew. Like a national security advisement, his threat levels changing colors from yellow to orange and now finally red. Each step met with a shriek, a cry, and a usually a swat. Every missed nap another long afternoon of "stay away from your sister" "STOP putting your sister in a headlock" "DO NOT put the child lock around your sister's head" and so on.

But tonight I caught a glimpse of what could be. It was truly just a moment, a flash more than anything real substantial, yet it was still there. Sophia in her high chair, Harrison eating his dinner. He was acting crazy, like usual. Shrieking and acting like a dopey three year old. Sophia, as if she saw an opening in his good-natured antics starting shrieking along with him. Then the damnedest thing happened. She started laughing and swaying in her chair, shrieking and he started doing the same. They were playing together, albeit from across the table and both safely secured in their proper chairs. But they were playing off one another. Her shaking her head and laughing, he shaking and dancing while shrieking...and as I started tell them to stop yelling I stopped. I couldn't help but laugh and smile and wonder if this was the first step in them becoming brother and sister, friends, protector and protectee, siblings...a family?

Sophia Walking

2010-06-27T20:43:00.001-05:00

The Love List

2010-01-18T22:59:00.006-05:00

Life gets busy, our schedules cloud what's important. But as I sat feeding you your bottle a few nights I saw what is really important, it was twinkling in your eyes and in the soft fingers that slowly reached for my cheeks. As I sat there watching you it made me think about all the things that make you special. So here is a list of the things that I love about you:

I love how you screech, making a high pitch squeal, when you get excited

I love walking in your room in the morning and turning on the lights, your eyes still closed, adjusting to the light, but a smile spread wide across your face

I love that you light up and smile each time I walk in the door from work

I love that you give me baby kisses with a wide open mouth and make a little "ahh-umm" noise

I love that you laugh at your brother when is acting goofy

I love that you reach for your mamma when you see her walk in a room

I love that you have better hockey hair than Barry Melrose

I love when you get tired and you rest your head on my shoulder and take a deep sigh

I love when I get you out of your crib and you are still tired you just wrap your arms around me and sit there for a minute or two

I love that you get excited on your changing table, kicking your feet like a fish trying to get out of its bowl

I love that you laugh right after you sneeze

I love that you have a little "Buddha" belly

I love when you spend minutes looking at your hand, rotating it, examining it ever so closely

But most importantly, I really just love you...all chubby, wonderful, you.

Catching Up

2009-11-09T20:44:00.004-05:00

We have been MIA for many reasons but mainly because, well, two kids is a lot of work. So what have you missed?

We had a wedding in California. It was beautiful. Crossing three times zones with a two year old and a 3 month old is a nightmare at times. Having a wife who holds it all together is a blessing. Harrison would not concede that we were in California if asked, we were "AT CARLY'S WEDDING!" and that was the final answer. He misses his cousins.

Sophia now giggles. She is a powerful little child who has thighs like tree trunks, a belly like a mini Buddha, and a gummy smile that makes you laugh and melt at the same time.

We can't wait to feed her real cereal because then maybe she won't want to eat all the time. She actually licked an apple the other day and cried when Liz took it away. The girl likes her food, I think that is a good thing.

She is four months old. It is unbelievable that is has gone by this quickly, yet, as she gets older I get more excited for her to grow into a little girl. I think she will be a special one :)

We went trick or treating. H wanted to open each piece of candy after every house. He loved it. Towards the end of the night and with each house we passed he would say "juuuuust one, one more house daddy?" He then had as much fun, if not more, passing out candy to all the tweens and teens who came by later in the evening. He also enjoyed running back and forth between the neighbors house and ours to make sure he didn't miss a trick or treat-er.

We are in the midst of the two's. I won't call them terrible, because let's face it, when a little guy looks up at you at night and says "hold me daddy, hold me" it can never be too terrible.

H has a fierce streak of independence and fierce streak of neediness. They often collide. It often isn't fun.

H also has a very active imagination. We often spend a lot of time sitting on the floor of his room AKA the airplane, waiting to land, only to have to drive a mini John Deere AKA a bus to the Zoo, where he finds animals for us to feed and pet. It is exhausting and not to mention a wee bit painful when the bucket of the John Deere mini tractor wedges in your bottom. It's worth it most of the time.

I like to think of it as controlled insanity. Liz would argue the controlled part.

Magic Tricks

2009-10-15T22:15:00.002-05:00

Grandma Lis sent H a magic wand and he quickly learned some "magic words"

September Pictures

2009-10-06T20:41:00.001-05:00

No we did not fall of the face of the earth! Here are some very overdo pictures of the wee ones!

Parenting

2009-10-06T19:35:00.003-05:00

Parenting is:

* Catching an already eaten breakfast in your hands and on your lap as you try to force medicine down

* Doing seven loads of laundry in one day

* Being used as a trampoline and enjoying it

* Sleeping in a twin bed pinned against the wall with 37 stuffed animals a cell phone, a toy hammer, a pair of mittens, and a copy of Cat in the Hat lodged in your back

* Playing with all the Legos and toy trains you could imagine

* Reading the same book night after night and trying to find ways to make it interesting

* Being able to see where Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is on the TiVo at 5:45 in the morning without your contacts

* Grazing from your child's unfinished plate as a your meal

* Melting as soon as your baby coo's at you

* Wondering how long he will ask for "huggers" and "kissers" when you drop him off

* Sleeping with an elbow across your throat

* Wondering if you are a good parent, hoping that you are, and knowing that you are doing your best.

The Parenting Manual

2009-10-06T19:31:00.003-05:00

Every parenting manual should have an "In Case of Emergency, Break Glass" component. In that glass should be a bottle of Whiskey and a one way ticket to Fiji. Wait, they don't make manuals? Crap...

Big Blue Eyes

2009-09-23T22:25:00.006-05:00

As a dad it is harder to form a bond with your newborn, especially if they are breastfeeding. And I think, it is especially hard when you have another child because most of the time you are running interference as mom tries to feed or bathe or soothe the new one.

But as I was rocking Miss Sophia the other night I had one of those moments. One that as a new dad you cherish. Sophia is starting to become very aware of her surroundings and is very much aware when I come by - or at least that is what I tell myself because she always seems to smile when I poke my head in to her swing or her bouncy seat. So, anyway, as I was sitting there rocking her and realizing how fast she was changing, she started cooing and batting her hands in the air. She was moving them at a frantic pace but all the while her big blue eyes were locked in on mine...and at that moment I made a connection I hadn't made in the first few weeks of her life.

She was staring through me, into me, like she knew that I was her daddy, and that I was the one who was going to be there for her, no matter what. That I was the one that would console and congratulate her as she moved through the years. That I was the one that would be completely wrapped around her little finger now and forever. And, yes it sounds crazy that I saw all of those things in a few moments of a stare but that is what happens with kids.

One minute you are crazy from exhaustion and the next you are overwhelmed with pride, and joy, and disbelief, that something so small, so beautiful is yours to protect and to nurture, and you get overwhelmed so you read too much into an innocent stare, but it is ok. Because at the end of the day those things, they are what they will look at you for. Maybe not at that precise moment but in the future. Those stares in a rocking chair are harbingers of things to come, of hurts and pains that you will have to sooth and of joys that you will share.

So, maybe it was exhaustion or maybe it was real, but thanks baby for that moment. For the deep blue stare. For giving me something to grab on to and something to look forward to.

Marching, State Fair, and Tiny Appendages

2009-08-26T20:34:00.000-05:00

Sophia One Month

2009-08-06T22:11:00.003-05:00

Oh,Miss Sophia, you my little princess are one month old. The last few weeks have been a blur. Being a second child I often feel guilty that I don't lavish you with enough attention that I might have with Harrison, or that somehow this time around things are less special because I actually don't feel as lost as I did the first time around. But the fact of the matter is that every time I see your chubby (we'll get to that in a minute) face, I am so very proud.

You are a beautiful little thing. I can see, as the days pass, the little glimmer in your eyes. I notice the adorable little features, like your downy-soft hair, and your chinless-chin, that you have.

You are a special little thing, and each time I hold you against my chest I am reminded that I have a little girl to protect, and that is a very big job for a daddy.

Yes, we are still very much surviving. Every day is an adventure and your mother is doing such a wonderful job keeping this house together, that I sometimes forget how crazy things actually are.

You are a sweet, yet very noisy little thing. You grunt a lot and you seem to know exactly when we need to get something done, because that is the exact time that you wail and want to be held.

My favorite part of the day so far has been early in the morning after mommy feeds you. You seem to always be a little bit uncomfortable so I end up holding you on my chest as I dose in and out of sleep for the last hour or so before it is time for me to go to work. I love hearing your little sounds and your breath as you slowly get comfortable and eventually fall asleep against me.

You are starting to coo and I even think I saw you smile! Your a hungry little thing that eats her way through the day and have had no problems putting on weight. You are our little princess, but you are our chunky little princess :)! In fact, you are in the 99th percentile for height and weight, weighing in at 11 lbs, 10 ounces, 23 inches long at your one month appointment.

Your brother still likes holding you and gets very nervous when you cry. He attempts to share his toys with you and for the life of him cannot understand why you don't like to hold his saw and hammer!

You are a beautiful little girl and we are so thrilled to to watch you grow up.

Living with Light

2009-07-23T20:09:00.003-05:00

Last night my Aunt Lannie passed away. She lost her battle with cancer after a long and grueling fight. My aunt and I weren't close in the sense that we kept in touch and saw each other often, but she was one of those people that whether you saw her eight minutes or eight years ago, the moment you saw her it was like you hadn't missed a beat.

She had a special way about her. She was the type of person who laughed with her whole soul, and let her love for life show through. She absolutely adored her family and, I think, passed on her zest for life to all of her children.

Lannie called me a few weeks ago, and when I answered the call I could tell her voice was tired, like she was reeling from a difficult fight. But as we talked more and more that spirit that I knew kept coming out. And even though I could sense she was worn out a bit, I got off the phone amazed at how even though she was in this battle, that sparkle, that joy, was still in her voice.

The unfortunate thing about death is that it doesn't spare the good ones. It doesn't spare the lives of the people who mean so much to their families and the ones who have so much more to give.

It is trite to say to live your life to the fullest, especially right after someone passes away, but I do think that the thing that my aunt Lannie taught me is to live with light.

Live your life with joy. Take company in your family and your loved ones. Take time to laugh with your soul because really, at the end of the day, that is what matters. Did you laugh and did you make the people around you warm with love and life?

My aunt had an uncanny way of doing that. No matter what when you walked away from time with Lannie you felt warmer, you felt that sense of love. Liz and I were talking and even though Liz had only met her a handful of times she made the comment that she always was so kind, so loving, like she had known her for years...and that was Lannie, the Lannie that I knew, to the core.

Little Chunk

2009-07-22T21:08:00.002-05:00

We used to joke before Sophia was born that she would be a little tank and would run over Harrison, who we call "mini mite" because of his lack of size. Today Liz took Sophia for a weigh in and she was 9 pounds 12 ounces...she has gained a pound and 10 ounces since she came home two weeks ago!

Some updated photos below:

Things I Have Forgotten About Newborns

2009-07-15T21:43:00.003-05:00

* They are small. I mean small enough to curl up on your chest and lay there for hours :)

* They really do just poop, eat and sleep

* They manage to sleep 18 hours but you only manage 6 hours, seriously, how does that happen?

* When you want to give them a goodnight kiss they will inevitably throw up on your cheek, chest, and chin. (happened last night)

* It takes but two minutes of them being on this earth for you to fall in absolute love with them

* Their cry could act as a tornado siren and save entire communities

* When they are hungry they will attack any open skin they can find and try to suck on it

* They rule the world for the next few months...and you are ok with that

Sophia!

2009-07-04T15:59:00.000-05:00

Here are some quick pics from day 1. More to come!!

Dear Sophia

2009-06-23T20:33:00.007-05:00

Hi baby girl,

I know I haven't written about you a lot, and trust me it's not because we aren't excited about you, we are. We are more than excited, it's just that we have this little ball of craziness here with us and well, you know, sometimes after he goes to bed I just want to sit and do nothing because quite frankly the kid wears us out.

I did want to take a moment and write you a letter. We are ready for you to come. We are ready to see our little doodle bug. Yes, we have a nickname picked out for you already...actually your mom has had that picked out for a while.

We talk about you all the time. We wonder what you will look like. Will you look like a little Colombino or will you have more fair features like your brother? We really don't care as long as you are healthy, and whatever you look like, I know you will be beautiful.

I also wanted to give you some tips before you come into this crazy family.

Your Brother

Harrison, as you will soon learn is a two year old. He is smart, he is wonderful, but he is crazy. He has been the center of our universe for two years so forgive him if he is a little slow to accept you. He talks about you all the time though, and already has a nickname for you - "Phia"! He talks about holding you and changing your diaper --- don't worry, we won't let him till you are much older, just kidding, we will handle all of that. He is also very concerned that you will cry, which you probably will, but that is OK too. For as crazy as he is, he also has a tender heart. A little guy that loves to give "huggers" and "big kisses" he will, I am sure of it, grow fond of you very quickly. I am sure he will be your protector and I know that he will love you as much as we do.

Riley

Your dog is a whole different story. See, before Harrison was born, he was the center of our world. He was your mommy's baby before we had a baby. When Harrison came he wasn't too sure about the whole deal. With you coming along he may just run away. Harrison and Riley have a love hate relationship...I am sure you and H will make a dynamic duo against Riley. He may want your food, he is an incredible beggar, and he may want a toy or two, but once he gets to know you he will love you, and probably really love you once you start dropping some Cheerios his way.

Your Mother

I am not sure what I can say about your mom. When your mom found out that you were a girl she was ecstatic. She set out, I think, to find every pink thing she could find. It finally got to a point where I asked her about it...she came back with a bag of clothes and announced that she got something other than a pink outfit...it was purple!

Your mom already loves you more than you will know. She would give you the world tomorrow if she had it and the universe the next day. She will make you wonderful birthday cakes and Halloween costumes, and paintings...but most of all she will make a wonderful home for you and your brother. There is one thing I am certain; you and your brother will never want for love. The only thing she has ever wanted, and has asked me for, is a family, and now, with you and Harrison, we have it.

Your Dad

I will keep this brief. I am a big sap. I always knew I wanted kids, but your brother opened my eyes, and my heart, and has truly made me understand just how powerful children are. I will do my best to always be there for you, no matter what. I promise that we will have fun, that you will be loved, and that I will protect you from as much pain as I possibly can, though, you will probably face some bumps along the road.

I also want you to know that no matter what, you can do, and be, whatever you want to be. Whether you want to be the girliest of girls or the biggest tomboy, I want you to know that you I will love you and support you in all that you do and all that you become.

We are all excited for you to get here...so anytime you want to arrive we are ready for you!

Love your family!

2 Year Pics

2009-06-23T20:20:00.000-05:00

Freaking Out

2009-06-23T19:14:00.003-05:00

Children, especially 2 year old children pick up on some of the damnedest things. Case in point; As I was lathering Harrison up with sunscreen the other day in preparation for the pool he had a typical two year old meltdown. For no apparent reason he was screaming like someone had just stolen his favorite doggy.

Liz yells in the room, asking if I had gotten the sunscreen in his eyes. I yelled back "NO, he is just freaking out!"

Fast forward about 10 minutes as I am getting my suit on in our room I hear Liz ask Harrison in the living room, "What's wrong, why are you crying?"

His reply: "I crying...I freaking out"

2 Years, a Few Tears, and Many Laughs.

2009-06-15T21:49:00.005-05:00

2 years. I try to let that sink in but it still doesn't seem real. It doesn't seem like it was two years ago today that mommy woke me in the middle of the night with a worried yet very cheery "I think my water broke...or I peed the bed". It doesn't seem like it was two years ago when my life, our life, changed forever.

Two years is really just a blip on the screen of your life. A blip but somehow it is more significant. Two years means you are no longer our baby. No longer our little baby boy that slept curled up on our chest with his little butt in the air. No longer the the little baby turning into a little guy.

You are NOW that little guy. A little guy that can mimic how mommy says "Honey" "Hah-KNEE" or who likes to walk up to us and announce just exactly what you are doing "I, I, I Fixing!"

You have brought us so many laughs, I could write a book about these last two years, but really, I can say what I feel in just a few words.

You are the best thing that has happened to us. You are a bright, smart, beautiful little boy that makes us laugh each day. Thank you for your wonderful spirit, your tender heart, and the sweetness that is you. We love you forever!

Time Bombs and Watermelon Kisses

2009-06-09T18:58:00.005-05:00

There are some moments as a parent when you know that the next hour or so of your life is going to be less than ideal. Those moments usually begin with the sitter saying "He didn't really take a nap today". Sure he is cute and funny as he's running around but you know that much like a time bomb this little guy is about to go off...and you do not want to be in the blast zone when he does.

So sure enough the moment your foot hits the doorway...tick, tick, BOOM! Tears, "I want Mommy" "I want drink" "I want..." you get the picture. And just when you think you can't take it and you are swearing off any more children for the rest of your life (though one is due to arrive on your doorstep any day), the little angel sticks a piece of watermelon in his grimy paws, sticks it in your mouth and grabs both your cheeks, plants a sticky, wet watermelon kiss on your lips and wraps his arms around your neck like you're the last life ring on the Titanic.

Then you forget the last 59 minutes and 40 seconds, remember those sweet 10 seconds and realize that life isn't so bad.

Augusta Here We Come!

2009-06-02T21:24:00.001-05:00

May Pictures

2009-06-02T21:12:00.001-05:00

Sophia's Room. Harrison "Reading", and much more!

Time to Potty?

2009-05-29T21:44:00.005-05:00

I am quickly learning as a parent that one of the hardest things is the little momentous occasions that signify that your little baby is growing up. The walking and talking are things that you look forward to but the other things, like when they start saying "I do it" or "MINE" are the moments when as a parent you stop and realize that yes, they do grow up, and yes, it is faster than you thought it would happen.

Today was one of those moments. I was in the midst of crafting a request for proposal from our creative agency when my cell phone rang. Being in the groove I ignored it but as I wrapped up the proposal and sent it out I grabbed my phone and listened to the voicemail. It was Liz calling to tell me that H had just gone potty in the "big potty".

We just bought one of those seats that sits on a normal toilet seat this past weekend because H had started wanting to sit on the potty and "pretend". We have decided that we aren't going to push him, well, because when Sophia comes we expect that he might not be so willing to grow up.

So listening to that voicemail put a little shock to my system as I realized that this thing, this parenting thing, goes fast. Yes, he is still a little guy and of course it's not like he is asking me for the car keys, but it's just another one of those steps.

Maybe it wouldn't have hit me as hard if when we were getting him ready for bed tonight and he again wanted to go to the potty, as he sat there insisting "I pooping", he wouldn't have looked me square in the eye and said "I need book"

Say What?

2009-05-26T21:32:00.003-05:00

"I really hope you don't go into labor in the middle of the night"

"Yeah, because you were really on your A game last time around"

Out of the Mouth of Babes

2009-05-21T21:24:00.002-05:00

Waiting in line for breakfast on Mother's Day, see a man with a beard - pointing furiously "Santa, Santa"

Sitting in the car seat "SIGH...Mommy do that"

As pajama shirt comes off "I'M NAKED BABY"

"I see Phia's Room"

"I fix Drywall" during week of home renovation

"I need big Hugger"

"Yeah, Uh Hum"

"Riley..GET OUT"

The Harrison Dictionary

2009-05-05T20:43:00.002-05:00

Hold You = Hold me

Hugger = I want a hug

Under = Thunder

Ding Dong - Ring the doorbell followed by "Woof Woof" = What Riley does when the doorbell rings

Squirter = Anything that sprays water

Candle = Holding the handles in his car seat

Driver, beep beep = Wheels on the bus song

Puff, Dragon = Puff the Magic Dragon

Digger = Truck/Backhoe digger

Timber = Fall on daddy/mommy/pillows

This I Believe

2009-04-20T22:28:00.005-05:00

NPR recently ended their "This I Believe" series so in honor of that I thought I would do my own little family edition.

I believe in the power of kids. I believe that they are here to teach us adults to laugh at ourselves. That the beauty of this crazy mess is in the simple moments.

I believe that a child's love is the purest love you will ever see. They don't want your money they simply want your time and your hugs...and in Harrison's case your phone :)

I believe that when a child is learning to talk you best watch your words as carefully as if your grandmother were in the room...even more so!

I believe that after 5 hours of airline delays the airlines should be forced to sit in a 3x3 seat with your child for the remainder of the ride. I also believe that when your child stands up as people are waiting to get off the plane and says
"PEOPLE OFF - PLANE" he is only saying what we are all thinking.

I believe that when you promise your child blueberry pancakes you will find him waiting in his chair trying to buckle himself in while you are getting ready.

I believe that when a I see H sitting pretending to read a book a little piece of my heart melts...and a little piece of me wishes he would stay this way forever.

I believe that a second child scares the hell out of me...and excites me at the same time.

I believe that if I had the money I would have 6 of these little crazy creatures...and probably drive us all crazy!

Random Photos

2009-04-01T22:11:00.001-05:00

Updated: Some random shots of our really cool fort and H trying on some of his new summer duds!

Inside All of Us There is Adventure...

2009-03-25T14:36:00.007-05:00

Not sure why this made me emotional when I watched it today, maybe because I've always wanted to be in some make-believe land, running with the Wild Things, sailing on ships, and living an adventure? I only wish H was a little older so we could watch it together.

Parental Moments

2009-03-17T22:33:00.003-05:00

You know it's time to get toilet locks when you hear your son saying, "cup, water, fill", and hear a "ker - plunk"

What is the proper reaction when you are taking a family stroll and the dog stops to lift his leg and your son follows him and tries to lift his leg over the very same rock? We just laughed

How many times can a child answer "no" to "do you want something to eat?" And truly not be hungry?

If your child is "squirting" you with a bathrobe strap because he pretends it's a hose, is it wrong to move after 5 minutes of being "sprayed" so as if not to get anymore "water on you"?

After how many weeks do you break it to your son that the "lotion" is deodorant, and it goes on your armpits and not on your legs?

Princesses, Butterflies and Roses

2009-03-10T20:43:00.000-05:00

As a a father to a little boy who at the ripe age of 21 months is requesting to watch "gemes" and often wakes up by saying "hockey, hockey, hockey" or "Per-Doo" (Purdue), it is hard for me to imagine that life will not always evolve around trucks, sports, and games.

It is exciting and scary at the same time knowing that we are going to be having a little girl. That my world, our world, will now include pink, princesses, ponies, butterflies, and flowers.

I am not scared because I don't think that I can raise a girl, I am scared because, well, girls are different. They bring to the house a different aura,a different way of shaping the mood and the flow of the home, I know I lived with four of them!

But it is exciting. It has some similarities as it did with Harrison. Similar in that we have been down this path before, we know what to expect. But it is also alarmingly different. Different because well, I am not sure how yet, but I know it is.

I am a romantic, we both are really. Just as I had envisioned a life of having a catch with Harrison, teaching him the intricacy of a good snapshot, or how to throw a tight spiral, I have the same romantic ideas of having a little girl.

Watching her grow up in cute little dresses, teaching her how to fend off those "creepy boys". Having her brother be her protector, seeing her first prom, and yes, walking her down the aisle someday.

I can't help it, that is the stuff a father thinks about when he hears the news that it is going to be a girl. All of this may never come true, just as Harrison may never want to pick up a stick and skates, but it is the things that run through my head each time I think that we are having a girl!

It is exciting. It is scary. It is different. But we are ready. Ready to be blessed with another beautiful child who will be loved, and who will bring joy to our home, just as H did just a short 21 months ago.

A Grounding of the Ungrounded

2009-03-03T21:28:00.004-05:00

So it's a Sunday afternoon. The wind outside is whipping and the temperature is dropping, not what one wants as March approaches but it is what it is. I have just returned from playing the role of super-dad...grocery shopping with my toddler.

H has done his normal cuteness duty, drawing out smiles from fellow shoppers and "he's so cute" from the cashier as she tries to entertain him with the circling plastic bag holder. I am feeling like super dad, not because grocery shopping is particularly difficult, but in my mind I am conquering worlds and negotiating peace treaties.

I get home, feeling proud that I have life, and son, so under control. He and I are sharing witty banter, singing along to Wilco, all as I unpack the groceries. As I start to prepare lunch, I happen to glance at myself in the mirror, Boston backwards cap, faded gray t-shirt with white long sleeve shirt, chinos, perfect suburban dad apparel. I am feeling it.

Lunch consists of a chicken patty with ketchup and bbq sauce, a cheese stick, and strawberries, the perfect lunch for a perfect duo. Feeling pretty good about my lot in life, I serve up my carefully crafted delicacy to the little angel waiting like a baby bird, mouth agape ready for nutrition.

As I continue to jam to the music, I start preparing lunch for myself as I casually glance at H eating his meal.

Then I notice something that doesn't look right. I saunter over and look down. I see a spot of bbq sauce on H's head, then another, then as if I am watching a movie I start to see the big picture.

I shout "No, No, NO," H's little cherubic face looks up at me, a bulls eye of sauce on his forehead. His fingers covered in sauce and his clothes splattered with sugary brown sweetness. He hasn't been eating, he has been splashing.

The kitchen looks like a horror movie, like Sweet Baby Ray was murdered in my home. I have seen enough CSI to know that there is a decent enough splatter pattern to solve this mystery in minutes.

I quickly race to grab paper towels and forget to take away the ammunition, as I turn to grab the paper towel, I feel it. I've been hit. I scramble to take away the rest of the sauce and look at the carnage.

White cupboards and Sweet Baby Rays is just the start. The floors are smeared, H's chair is covered better than a slab of ribs and the table looks like a chemistry experiment of Hunts, Baby Ray's and squashed Tyson's Chicken. There is even a splatter of sauce on the Kleenex box. Oye! I am on my hands and knees scrubbing up sauce and I hear Bob Dylan playing, I think aloud, "I bet Dylan never had to scrub his kitchen floor with Downey"

Yup, that is me, Mr Cool dad...back to reality...

Write to Remember

2009-02-16T23:13:00.004-05:00

I have been bad about writing lately, I know, it's hard. Life seems to fly by and every time I think I want to post something, something new happens and I think - oh, I should write about that instead, then you go and do something cute and...it is just one long run-on sentence in my head. I can't stop life long enough to actually follow through and write everything I wish I could. So, let me make a list of the funny things that make us take pause everyday and thank god, or some higher being, that you are our son.

Things that make us laugh:

- You carry "lotion" around with you wherever you go. Unfortunately it is not lotion, it is a brand new stick of Right Guard deodorant, that has become "lotion"

- You pretend to rub the "lotion" on your legs and say "Lot-an" as you rub back and forth

- You sit in the back seat of the car and say "driver...beep, beep, beep" over and over because you are just figuring out to sing the Wheels on the Bus song

- You now have to have a collection of three monkeys, two doggies, one duck, one "phone", and one or two books, just to go to bed at night.

- And when we come to get you out of bed in the morning we find, three monkeys, two doggies...all on the floor, and you, with a look of disbelief on your face, that they are all out of your crib

- When I put you to bed you ask for me to sing - but if I don't sing the Birdy song the way mommy does, you say "No" and ask me to "Rock" instead of singing

- If you aren't carrying around your "lotion" you carry around a pocket calculator and pretend it's a phone. You sometimes have animated conversations and other times you insist that it be placed in your "pock - et" until, of course you need it out again to talk.

- You run to the TV after a nap or when I get home from work and yell "Geme" and want to watch Hockey or Basketball. Then you push me to the ground and yell "Timber" and want to jump on me

- You try to carry around mom's extra purses, but they are just as big as you are and you have to hold your arm above your head to have the loop stay on your arm

- You see a tennis ball and no matter what you say "Abbey" because that is what Pappa Roger and Grandma Lis's dog likes to play with

- You still can't hear the word Grandpa, and not say "Fire, Help" because you helped Grandpa K build fires over Christmas

The list could go on forever but these are some of the little things that make you who you are, and make your mom and dad fall into bed exhausted, but laughing each night.

An Evening with Rick

2009-02-11T21:23:00.004-05:00

The benefits of DirectTV? You get XM Radio. The downfall? Rick Springfield with no commercial interruptions! H thought it was pretty fun though.

Stolen Moments

2009-01-20T21:57:00.005-05:00

Lately I have started to find a pattern between your mother and me. It happens right after the chain is pulled and the fan starts whirling, the lights turn off and our "good nights" are said. I can hear us both punching pillows molding them to our preferred positions—our bodies searching for the familiar grooves in the mattress, which now that your mother is pregnant again, seem harder for her to find:). But as our bodies slowly melt into our familiar positions on our sides of the bed there is a moment of silence, each of us looking at sleep square in the eye wondering if it will come swiftly or if it will take its sweet time.

Then there is that moment—a huff or a roll, something alerting the other that it's not quite time yet. And then it happens. It usually starts with a funny moment in the day. Like how you demand that we "sit" when trying to get you out of bed. Or how now that you are in your hording stage, you "take" random things. Everything from the most inconspicuous item, a Nilla Wafer, to the most conspicuous, our dryer vent. It all ends up underneath your arm as you say "take." Usually moving from one point to another, gathering things and setting them down in what would appear to be arbitrary places. Moving to-and-fro with assembly line-like precision until your 19 month old curiosity kicks in and you find something else to distract you. Or we tell each other about the new word you learned that day and how we can't comprehend how much you are talking now. And by the way, "when did he start saying "watch" before he jumped on the pillows?"

We spend those last moments in the dark, talking about you. How special you are. How brilliant you are. Knowing that we have no other baseline for your brilliance, but knowing that you must be the most brilliant of all the children in the world. We know that you are special not because of any one thing but rather because of one important thing - you are ours.

We share these moments in the last moments of our day, and though I have never asked her, I know that she is smiling as we talk. Our moments to reflect on your perfectness, on our happiness. Our moments to share softly together in the darkest part of the night our most bright spots of the day.

And then as quickly as the conversation starts it ends. Usually with another non-verbal cue, a heavy breath, a prolonged silence, and we both know that sleep is creeping in. So we roll over and wait. Listening to your breaths over the monitor, us laying side by side and knowing that no matter what happened that day, that because of you we had a good day.

Xmas 2008

2009-01-16T22:19:00.003-05:00

Sorry for the delay in posting these, we have been anxiously waiting for our new computer to arrive so it no longer takes us 5 hours to upload 5 pictures! Now that we have a beautiful new Dell computer, I will resume my regular posting of what we are up to. We have a lot to share so stay tuned...and enjoy these pictures from the Holidays!

Decorating the Xmas Tree

2008-12-17T19:55:00.005-05:00

Harrison's first attempt at decorating the tree. It didn't last long nor turn out so well :)!

Enjoy!

The Sound of a Bell

2008-12-16T22:07:00.003-05:00

I remember last year about this time I read H "The Polar Express" for the first time. It was a night when Liz was working and I read it to him by the Christmas tree, just he and I. He was barely six months and he just kind of sat there on my lap, slapping at the pictures. For whatever reason I started getting choked up at certain parts.

Tonight we were getting ready for bed and he was very adamant about reading "The Polar Express" I am guessing because he and Liz have been reading it, as it was sitting on the dresser. Again I couldn't help but get choked up reading it, and I think it was for very much the same reason as last year.

The story is about having the child-like belief in something. And as H sat there on my lap, crazily pointing out the train and the reindeer and the wolves, I couldn't help but look at the back of his tiny little head - moving back and forth with every flip of the page - and think of how awesome it all was. How he is just starting to understand the world around him and how he will get to believe in all of these wonderful things - how his slate is clean and how much fun is in store for him. I also think that a part of me remembers what it was like to have that innocence, to believe in that bell.

I know sadly we all stop hearing the bell, it sucks. So I have a wish for you...If you get a chance this Christmas close your eyes and remember back to the days of when a shiny bell could capture your imagination. Close your eyes and see if you can hear the bell and let a little piece of that inner child - the one who still believes that if you wish hard enough anything can come true - let that child out, even if just for a few moments.

An Important Phone Call

2008-12-15T22:13:00.002-05:00

This is H playing with a set of "keys" from his first briefcase set. He was pretending that it was a phone and he seemed to be taking a very important phone call. Excuse the poor quality it was shot in a hurry with our point and shoot. Also, our house normally isn't that messy - I think "Hurricane H" blew in that day - see post below - enjoy!

November/December Pics

2008-12-09T13:49:00.001-05:00

Little Path of Destruction

2008-12-08T22:06:00.002-05:00

"It's like he just leaves a path of destruction behind him"

We have a little joke that when either one of comes home we can quickly take a look at the house and see what kind of day it has been with H. On days in which "Hurrican Harrison" has hit you can usually find Tupperware scattered about the kitchen, legos and books strewn throughout the living room, at least one golf ball rolling around the hardwood floors and usually Riley in a tizzy running around the room.

H has entered a stage in which everything and anything can suddenly be turned into a projectile. The little man has certainly discovered that he has quite the arm. Brett Favre he is not, but by the spirals in which his monkey and other animals can quickly be subjected to he is definitely working on his form.

The curious thing about his new found love of destruction is his complete opposite side that is often turned like a light switch. The side in which he suddenly wants to dance or be held and will sit for minutes with his head resting on your shoulders quietly mumbling as if he is whispering sweet nothings in your ear.

I am no child development expert, and I am guessing that this is normal and if we were to take him to a doctor the diagnosis would be "one and a half year old boy"! In many ways this double personality, the lovey little boy who cherishes his tickle times and hugs, and the one who likes to stare you down as he slowly raises a plastic golf ball over his head taking aim directly at the dog all while shaking his head "No" and smiling at you, is just the kind of son I want. One who isn't afraid to test the waters, discover and live life but has the compassion to understand when someone needs a hug.

Don't get me wrong, we discipline him, and I think that is one of the reason's why he will pick up all of his animal magnets off the kitchen floor two seconds after he walks by and sends them flying off the refrigerator with one swoop of his hand, or gives his dog a hug and kiss two seconds after attempting to swat him with stuffed monkey.

I love this age, and I am sure that we are in for more entertainment/struggles, but we welcome them, even if it means sending in a recovery team every night to pick up the pieces of a certain tropical storm!

NOT a Laughing Matter

2008-11-12T22:34:00.003-05:00

As a new parent, and a parent of a blooming toddler, one of the hardest things is drawing the line between what actions are cute and funny and what actions need to be stopped before they get to be bad behavior. Now at nearly 16 months you can't really "discipline" other than NO. But Saturday I found myself in one of those in between moments.

We were cleaning the house and H started copying mom and dad and started "dusting" with a coaster. I turned to do something else and just happen to glance back and saw that he had stopped dusting and had pulled himself over the arm of the couch and was on the coffee table. Like a scurrying monkey he was making a mad dash trying to grab the phone before I caught him.

I quickly ran across the room, told him NO and set him on the couch. He, as he has been doing lately, was talking, animatedly, pointing to the phone as if I had just interrupted a serious mission. I told him NO again. As I was about to turn away the little monkey stuck his tongue out and made the motor boat sound - you know the one - something like pffftttt.

I had to quickly stop from laughing out loud. I asked Liz if we were doing time outs yet and she asked "why"? As I told her SHE started laughing.

I was going to let it go, figuring that he wouldn't understand why he was going for a time out after the fact...well, the little turkey kept doing it, and laughing at me. So I put him in the corner and sat with him as mom set the timer for one minute.

He looked at me like I had just stolen his ball, threw away his stuffed monkey, and stolen his juice in one foul swoop. Of course he started crying as it was probably the longest minute of his very young life.

I think he has forgiven me, but now I know that phrase that parents always give and kids never believe -- "This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you". Because well, it did hurt, a little, especially having to be the one who issued that first bit of cruel and unusual punishment to such a sweet little guy...but something tells me that this was the first of many to come!

Taking Time to Say Thank You

2008-11-10T21:20:00.005-05:00

Tuesday is Veteran's Day, a day that is often overlooked by many as a day that simply means that the post office and banks are closed. Unfortunately growing up that was often my take, but as I've gotten older I've realized how much the military has affected Liz's and my life. We both have family who have served in different branches of the military, and their duty to country has ensured many of the freedoms we take for granted on a day to day basis.

So, Thank You, thank you to those who have put country above self, to those who have given so much to make sure that our way of life is preserved.

If you get a chance to personally say thank you to a veteran, please do so. It is the very least we can do for the many brave men and women who love our freedom so much they were willing to risk their lives for it.

Riding Trucks

2008-11-03T20:46:00.003-05:00

I have been playing around with Flickr's video feature and uploaded this video of H trying to ride his truck. This is a Tonka dump truck that in no way is meant to be ridden but Harrison is obsessed with trying to find ways to do so....enjoy!

16 Months - The Boo Edition

2008-10-29T20:35:00.002-05:00

These last few weeks have been pretty much awesome. I think this might be the most fun I've had as a parent, and there isn't a day that goes by that your mother and I don't talk about how "crazy" you are.

You have moved into your "collection" stage. It started with Gords, which you first started calling "ba's" You had to have one with you constantly. It has since evolved into grabbing whatever you see first. It starts the moment you get out of bed and carries on all throughout the day. Whether it is a gord, a monkey, a doggie, stacked cups, whatever, you get obsessed with "things" and have to have one in your hands at all times.

Your ability to remember things is uncanny. Long gone are the days where we could hide something or distract you to make you forget. Now you seem to lock in on something and won't forget it. You are/were obsessed with the hair dryer, constantly stroking your hair and saying "dra" "dra", even pointing to our heads. And again, the moment you wake up, you roll over, hop up in your little sleep sack, and say "dra, dra", before we even have a chance to get you out of bed.

You are constantly saying new things. Often times calling something one minute, then after we say the correct name, you catch on and start calling it by its correct one. It still amazes me and how quickly you catch on. In fact I've had to watch myself a few times. One day as we were watching a Purdue game I was a little upset, as I often am these days when I watch them, I stood up and threw my hands up and almost yelled. You jumped up threw your hands up and yelled right with me. A quick lesson in fatherhood of how much you watch us for your cues.

You have a bit of independence, and need to create your own spaces. You love to pick things up and take them to your little chair, set them in the chair, sit down, then reach behind you and hold them on your lap. It's as if the chair is yours and whatever you put on there is in your "safety" zone. You also love to climb up on the big couch and push off all of the pillows. And if mom or I are sitting on it, you try to push us off. Once we get off you sit there with a proud little smile on your face.

As crazy and independent as you are, you are still very much a cuddler. You love to sit on our laps, often times sitting on us, getting up, sitting on us, getting up....You have a crazy obsession with dancing. Apparently you and mom dance while I am at work, and now you want the CD player on and want to dance all the time. So much so that you grab our hands and stick them out straight as if we are ballroom dancing. If we don't dance with you right away you stand in the middle of the room and twhirl in circles. baby. Cuddling you at this age is almost as sweet as it was when you were just a little baby.

You are growing up more and more each day. Each day is filled with a new adventure, something new learned, and a little bit more of your baby-ness disappearing. As I've said this is the most fun I've had, and I think that we have had so far as parents. Your personality is overwhelming at times, but beautiful and I hope that you continue to have this beautiful spirit as you continue to grow up!

15 Months - The Special Place Edition

2008-10-01T19:36:00.007-05:00

There are very few places in my life - or should I say in my adult life that I really consider special places anymore. Yes there are a few places that I love going to or that bring back fond memories but very few special places.

We went back to one of those special places with you last week. It was a place that reminded me of growing up. Of spending summers as a kid with my brother, where we got to be real brothers. Getting admonished for "horse play" in the house. Where we used to throw lawn darts up in the air and run around like idiots trying to avoid getting hit by them. The place where I learned what work really was...and not because it was hard work, but because I saw the passion that my grandfather had for his land, the perfection in everything that he did.

It was a place where you fell under grandma and grandpas rules, where you got to eat cereal with honey, from a honey pot on the table with a cool little honeycomb. The place where you stayed up late watching the Last Shogun because it was on TV and your grandparents watched that sort of thing...and you loved it. A place where magic happened not because IT was magical, but because the love, the peacefulness, the beauty of the land around it was magical.

It was the place where you played games with your grandparents friends and had fun, even when you were a teenager who wouldn't be caught dead letting your mom drop you off at the movies let alone playing games with your grandparents and their friends. Where you learned how to play lawn croquet and still, to this very day, can picture you and your brother stepping on the balls and knocking them out of the way, wondering how you had never heard about this game before!

You got to experience this place. Granted it was different than the way I had experienced it, but it was still awesome to see you there.

You got to pick corn out of the garden and pick fresh apples off the tree. And then walk around eating it for the next hour!

You got to ride around on the riding lawn mower...which I might add, we never had in our day!

You raised the American flag, just like so many of the Lucas grand and great grand kids have.

Unfortunately you didn't get to experience great grandpa singing Reveille to wake you up, like he used to do to us...though you didn't need it waking up at 4:00 AM and 5:00 AM in the morning!

It was a trip that you will never remember but I will and your great grandparents will. It was something that I wanted to do with you since you were born and will never be able to do it again.

They are selling the magical place. Moving on to something smaller, something more manageable. It is the right thing to do, they have worked hard to maintain it and its now time for them to relax. It's sad, but it is O.K. because I know that even though the house might be gone...the magic it brought to me, to our family, and now to you, will always be there. It will be in our hearts and in our minds. It has been passed on to you through experiences you will never remember but through love that you will always know.

This might differ than some of your other monthly updates but it's something I thought you should know about. Another little piece of your mother and I that has been passed on to you. Little bits of our family history, our family love that we may forget to tell you someday but that you should know about.

You can see all our pictures by clicking here

Our Trip to Purdue

2008-09-09T20:24:00.003-05:00

Rain, Rain Come Again...

2008-09-05T14:06:00.005-05:00

So I have to preface this video. The day before we shot this it was raining out and the rain was hitting the Chimney. You could hear the rain hitting the metal outside through the fireplace and H was absolutely enthralled by it. We gave him his bath that night and as soon as he was out he raced back to the fireplace to hear THAT noise.

We shot this the next night. It had just begun raining and he was obsessing over hearing the sound and wanting more (that is the sign that he is making). It is a little long - three minutes - but we thought it was pretty cute at how intense he was about listening to the sound and how he wanted MORE!.

Parenting

2008-08-25T19:49:00.003-05:00

As a parent you can't really tell you if you are good, you hope that you are doing a good job, but you'll never really know for a a good twenty years or so...at least that's my theory. But as H has started becoming a little boy, and as we find ourselves trying to teach him and lay the groundwork for the years to come, I find myself learning new things everyday. So here a few of the things I have learned:

* It's OK to walk outside with your barefeet
* Sometimes it's ok to cut across the grass
* Letting out a shout, just because, is good for you
* Laughing at nothing at least once a day will make you smile...even if you are crying at that moment
* It's OK to fall down, it's even better when someone is there to pick you up
* Naps are good
* It's OK to cry
* If you can get applause for eating sweet potato's, standing up, signing, take it, and run with it!
* Your mom and dad will always be there for you...even when you don't think they are, they are probably three steps ahead of you

14 Months

2008-08-21T08:58:00.003-05:00

I swear that you are going to think that your birthday is a week or two later than it really is if you go by my blog posts, but I am trying to stay as caught up as I can. I am also hitting a small dilemma, I've always said that I wouldn't be one of those parents who rattles off their kids age in months after a certain point i.e. "Harrison is 22 months", so I am trying to figure out the best cutoff - I think a proper time is a 18 months because then I can just say a year and a half.

Anyway...14 months. You are at an a difficult age now. Not because you are difficult - anything but - but more so because you are at a stage now where you are mobile, mobile to the point that you are almost running. And you are so inquisitive that you are constantly on the move - trying to pull up on things or pull things down to your level. So its difficult because you are quickly becoming this little person but you can't tell us what you want. You can't verbalize all of these new things that you are seeing and touching so it is hard for you because you can get frustrated so easily when we don't know what you want.

It is a fun time to be a parent. I am seeing myself as less a caretaker and more Sherpa. Strange analogy, I know, but it works. I see us guiding you more often now. Trying to show you how to manage certain things, like getting off the couch or a chair. Trying to show you that maybe taking a header off the couch isn't such a good idea and that if you just slide off backwards on your tummy, your feet will hit the floor first and not your head. And to see you pull it off for the first time without help is so rewarding.

You are also figuring out how to just be by yourself. Not that we are leaving you alone often, but the other day as I was trying to get your breakfast ready I couldn't hear or see you. As usual I went to "Oh, Crap, what is he doing" mode. I quickly went to the last spot I left you - your room - and found you just flipping through your dog book. Content, talking to yourself like you were reading. It was so cute. I actually walked away quietly so as not to disturb you...only to slowly peak around the corner again just to watch you one more time.

Your mother and I can literally watch you for hours with smiles on our faces. One of the greatest joys, now that you are slowly (or quickly, depending who you ask) gaining more and more personality is watching how you play with Riley. You regularly wake up and reach out for him as he comes into your room. You actually walk up and pet him or throw your arms around his neck and lay your head on his back. It's amazing, at least to me, because it was just this sudden shift of acknowledgment on your part. Like, I have a dog, and I can pet him, and I LOVE him!

Watching how you play with mommy is also adorable. It is great to see her scoop you up and watch your face light up. Or seeing you run over to her with something in your hand, like, "LOOK, PAPER!" "It isn't it amazing!" It's like you have to share everything with us and it just makes us laugh and melt all at the same time.

You met your cousins in California and it was great to see you guys together. You weren't quite sure of what to make of them at first but you slowly warmed up to them and they to you.

Sharing was a new concept to you, especially with two year olds. Negotiating who got to play with what was like brokering a truce between waring countries at times, but it was a great experience and absolutely fun to watch you play with your cousins. We are already making plans for "California Camp" and "Indiana Camp" when you all get a little older.

This past month has gone by so quickly. They seem to be flying by faster and faster now. We are trying to expose you to many things now, even taking you to the State Fair! You loved the animals and every time the big John Deere tractor drove by you had to point.

We are excited to see the fun we will have as summer turns to fall and to continue to watch you continue to grow up to be a little man!

Soccer Mom

2008-08-01T17:00:00.001-05:00

"So Kiburz, you ready to be a soccer mom now?"

"Ah, Lucas, I'm a hockey mom, NOT a soccer mom!"

That a girl!

Sign of the Times

2008-07-31T21:00:00.005-05:00

There are moments in your life when you realize that you are entering a new phase. There are the obvious moments, like when you graduate from school, get married, have a child. These moments, while defining rarely sneak up on you. They are moments that despite their huge implications, are manageable because you have time to prepare, understand them, and accept them.

Then there are the other moments, the moments that sneak up on you subtly, like a summer cold. You're fine one minute, the next you're not quite sure what hit you.

I am not sure how it happened. One minute we were talking about gas prices and the next minute we were comparing fold down seats, automatic sliding doors, and DVD systems (we opted out of that trap).

Now, mind you, my experiences with minivans center mainly around those sweet old Dodge Caravans. The sticky sweet feel of vinyl trimmed seats, the long road trips spent on a cooler next to the door. Not because I wanted to, no, because I was the only one who wouldn't complain the whole way. So my view was either the back of the headrest or the flashing landscape out the sliding door window.

So, yeah, I guess this van is an upgrade to those vans and not because of any of the features. Rather because at least I know whatever happens, I'll be driving or sitting in the passenger seat and not "riding cooler" across the great American landscape.

13 Months

2008-07-29T20:16:00.002-05:00

This last month has been an fast paced month. It seems like you are catching on more quickly to things...and developing your curios and mischievous side.

You have started talking more. You have moved from saying "Da" for everything and have started forming more word like sounds. You now say "haaat" for Hot, "up" "hi" "Dadda" "Mamma". You are also learning how to use your signs. You are very proud of yourself when you use "more". The first time you really did it to signify that you wanted more of something you stopped after you did it with a huge smile on your face, like "Look what I just did". You still smile each time you do it, and sometimes you do it to signal that you want something, but either way it is pretty damn cute!

You are moving around much better. You still get off balance when you are tired but for the most part you are much more stable. So stable in fact that you have discovered a new game in which you stand in the middle of the family room and start turning in circles getting yourself dizzy. The whole time a huge smile is spread across your face as you discover a new sensation.

Your curiosity can sometimes create hailstorm of tears as you still need to touch and play with everything. Now that you can communicate a little bit you become more agitated when we don't respond with the proper item that you are pointing to. Like we should know what a point and DA means. You love to put lids on things and play with straws, more specifically, dip the straw in and out of the water. We love that you are curious, and it is awesome to watch you struggle with something for a few minutes and then see the joy on your face as you figure it out.

You've been sick the last two weeks so you have been a little run down, but you have been slowly getting back to your normal self. Tonight as I was putting you to bed you started attacking me with your sloppy wet kisses and wide open mouth, that's when I knew my little man was almost back!

You can see all pictures on our Flickr page

Sunday Morning Walk

2008-06-29T07:34:00.004-05:00

Heading outside before anyone is up. Little bare feet touching the cool concrete.

Tiny footprints trailing you as you walk through the puddle left from the early morning rain.

Ten steps one direction, stop, turn, twenty the other way and ten back. 1/2 a block. Stop. Turn. Turn around again. Going nowhere and everywhere.

Holding your hands up in the air, grabbing nothing, pointing to everything. The breeze picking up, hitting us in our face. Stopping, smiling. A huge smile now as your hair stands up from the cool gust of air. Might as well be a burst of life blowing right through you.

A Stick. Pick it up. Show it to me, like it is the best and only prize in the world.

Turn it in your little hand.

Move it towards your mouth. "NO, not in your mouth." A look like, "I wasn't really going to, dad." Again to the mouth - "NO."

Put it gently back in the grass, like your sending it back home. Pick it up again, because you aren't quite done yet.

Twenty more steps. Up the neighbors driveway, scoop you up.

Down the sidewalk again. A bird cackles. STOP. Turn, turn some more. Where is it? Point, point again.

A Stick!

Scoop you up...I think it's time for a bottle and a nap.

Dire Consequences

2008-06-28T12:24:00.004-05:00

"No, Harrison, you don't need another chocolate chip cookie"

"*Whispers* Here you go, just a little bite"

"Honey, I said NO"

"He's not, daddy's having a cookie"

"That's why he has chocolate all over his face? You can't start undermining me already, you start now, next thing you know he has a pregnant 15 year old girlfriend"

"Wait, I gave him a bite of a cookie and now he has a pregnant girlfriend? H, stay away from cookies...and girls"

One Year Old

2008-06-18T22:25:00.008-05:00

So it's official, you are a whole year old. We still can't believe it, and sometimes mommy still makes comments about how you aren't her little baby anymore.

You have a very distinct personality and it is becoming more and more apparent each day that you might be a little strong headed. You have started to point to everything you see and want to touch it all. You also love to be outside playing and sometimes get a little upset if we come inside before you are ready.

You LOVE to stand up in the bathtub and no matter how much we say no you will try to stand up at least a half dozen times before you start with the big old crocodile tears. You like to test us on other things - like opening the entertainment center cabinets - you are going to be mischievous but we are as prepared as we can be I guess!

We had a great birthday party for you at our house. Your mother worked very hard to make it a great event. The theme was "Sailboats" complete with a mini cake for you and a larger cake for your guests.

Speaking of guests, you were able to meet your great grandparents, GG and Grandpa Lucas, my dad's parents. It was the first time they met you, you were a little leery at first but warmed up to great grandpa after he taught you how to "pat the cake, roll it, and THROW IT IN THE PAN" which you absolutely loved. You also took a liking to your great aunt and uncle - my Aunt Lannie and Uncle Dick.

You have started taking anything, a play phone, a shovel, a dog, anything and pretending that it is a phone. You walk around holding the object to your ear and your other hand to your other ear, like you are trying to hear. I am not sure what that says about your mother and I's phone habbits, but you have picked it up somewhere. This has reminded of the Harry Chapin song, "Flowers are Red" because I hope that you continue to use that imagination, that ability to grab whatever and make it a phone - and I hope that as parents we let you foster that imagination without killing your curiosity.

You absolutely love animals. You have learned to make a panting sign when you see a dog and if you see Riley or your stuffed dogs you start making the panting noises. If you see a dog when we are taking walks you have to stop and point and pant. It is amazing really , you can hear a dog bark from seemingly miles away and you have to stop and find it before you can move along. Your mom and grandma K took you to the zoo on your actual birthday to pet the elephants and feed the giraffes, which you apparently loved.

You are still a little mini mite - as I like to call you. You were in the 5th percentile for weight tipping the scales at 18 pounds, 13 ounces. 50th percentile for height at 30 inches. You might be small but you are healthy and you sure are an active little man, so we really aren't that concerned...though the likely hood you are going to become a middle linebacker for the Boilers and the Packers seems to be a little further off than I had wished :).

Your mother and I can't wait for you to start talking and to see how you progress each day. Your going to be a crazy little man and we get glimpses of that each day. One year down and we couldn't be happier at how much fun we have had with you. Sure we have had some rough days, but we have been blessed with such a happy, healthy, beautiful boy. We know we are lucky and we are thankful each day that we have you!

You can see ALL our Birthday pictures here!

Things I've Learned in One Year of Fatherhood

2008-06-09T21:09:00.004-05:00

- That it's not about the lack of sleep it's about the interrupted sleep

- Even though you just changed an incredibly wet diaper, there is still more and it will get you the second you take the old one off

- The time spent washing bottles and baby clothes will roughly be the same amount of time you used to spend exercising, reading, watching t.v. etc.

- For the first six - nine months you will wonder when he will start moving, after that you will wonder why he won't stop moving

- That you ABSOLUTELY. MUST. TOUCH. EVERYTHING. YOU. SEE.

- That saying NO for the first time will break your heart and it barely gets easier the 2nd and 3rd time

- You realize that NO is good for both you and he

- That mommy is a saint for being a milk vendor for the first 8 months

- Somehow no matter what mom and I are talking about it will eventually come back to you and how cute you are

- That what you didn't know today is only temporary because you seem to learn something new everyday

- That coming to get you out of the crib and seeing you peek through the crib slats is one of the only reasons I don't mind getting out of bed at 6:00 AM on a Saturday

- That toys seem to reproduce nightly

- Riley really cherished being the only "child" and now resents your mother and I

- He doesn't resent you so much, especially now that you feed him from the high chair

- That I can't think of how you looked when you were first born, and that makes me a little sad

- That I know now, no matter what I do in life that it will never compare to being a father

- That I am scared everyday that I will screw this up

- I am comforted everyday knowing that your mother will be there to save me (and you) if I do

- That I can't wait to teach you to do so many things - and I am not sure where to start

- The best way to end a day is putting you to bed and kissing your sleepy little head good night

- Picking you up from the sitters is absolutely fantastic because you walk over and grab me around the neck

- That you have brought your mother and I closer than I could have ever imagined

- That I am thankful everyday for your sweet little soul, and I can't wait to see what lies ahead for our family

11 Month Pictures

2008-06-03T21:53:00.004-05:00

This is the first month I haven't written an update - I feel terrible. But I am putting up pictures and will have a 12 month post before his birthday.

Enjoy all the pictures by visiting our Flickr page.

11 Months

At The Zoo With Pappa Roger and Grandma Lis

So Excited!

Attack of the Naked Baby!

Goof Ball

Walking and Talking

Quack!

Laughing so as not to Cry

2008-05-08T20:38:00.003-05:00

I have waited to write this because I haven't really known what to say. But one of the reasons - as I've stated before - that I started this was to give you context of your life, the events that make you, well, you.

Someday when you are older your mom and I will tell you about a very rough stretch in our lives. When mommy lost her grandmother and we lost a baby, all in the matter of two months.

When we found out about the baby it was very difficult. You were actually with us - I'll never forget trying to keep you amused with your squishy turtle book while looking at the ultra sound monitor looking, hoping, for a heartbeat. I remember being glad that I had you in my arms because I could focus on you and not really on what was going on.

It was an odd feeling driving home. I was still in shock and had so many different feelings, but the biggest was being hollow - not empty - just hollow.

I was trying to figure out how I could be angry and sad and hollow all at the same time. But I was also trying to figure out how I could have these feelings knowing that I had such a wonderful little boy sitting in the back seat. And that is what brings me to you.

The only way that I can figure why this happened - and what I keep telling mommy - is because you needed your own angel to watch over you.

You will never know how much of a role you have played in our ability to get through this tough stretch. I have often looked at you with tears in my eyes thinking about your little brother or sister and have been quickly moved from tears to laughter.

Your wonderful little soul. Your ability to look at us and make us laugh or smile with a little noise or a dance or a "Da, Da", has been a blessing that your little heart will never know.

So, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for being you and for being such a wonderful boy. Because through all the times when we could have cried you have been able to bring us laughter and joy. It isn't always easy, but without you this would have been a million times harder...so, in those moments when what we really want to do is cry, we can laugh. Laugh at the beauty that is you, and that is our wonderful family.

Thanks,
Mom and Dad

10 Months 2 Week Pictures

2008-04-29T21:01:00.002-05:00

Uhm, Wasn't Me!

Double Trouble

Spring Time

Workout Anyone?

Buddies!

See more pictures by clicking here

10 Months

2008-04-24T20:49:00.003-05:00

This last month has been like no other. You are not only mobile but you are figuring everything out, it seems, like every day.

The amount that you have progressed is pretty amazing. It really does seem like every day you are figuring out just how mobile you can really be. It started off with crawling, one robotic hand and leg movement at a time...it has since progressed to you pulling yourself up on everything, including the dog!

You have quickly figured out how to walk between furniture and are even getting so brave as to reach further than you probably should...sometimes grabbing what you reach for other times falling a little short, usually leading to a tumble and some tears.

You love standing up on your own and seem to celebrate it each time you push yourself up. It is funny to watch each time because it is like a hundred new experiences each day. Your curiosity is amazing and it seems like you have to touch and feel everything. You wave your arms around every time you see something that fascinates you.

This past weekend you participated in your first swimming class at the YMCA. You seemed to really like it towards the end as you slowly got the hang of it. You even went under water without crying...you were stunned and we both thought you were going to let out a big scream but you held it in like a super star!

You're personality seems to come through more and more each day. The funny little things you do are countless, but the best seems to be when you try to mimic mom or I when we stick our tongues out like frogs. Sometimes you just open your mouth moving your tongue inside, other times you manage to stick your tongue out every 3rd or 4th attempt.

You also have started to learn how to dance. It is actually quite cute. When mom was out of town we started listening to the iPod when you were eating. You started doing a little move, almost a shimmy in your high chair. You like to bounce up and down when you are standing up playing and almost clapped your hands just a few days ago.

We can officially count 7 teeth now! It seemed to take forever to get just one and now it seems like they have come in bunches. It is pretty funny to look at you because it looks like you have little chicklets stuck in your gums, but soon you will have a mouth full of teeth.

The thing that most amazes me is the amount of words that you seem to understand. You definitely know what doggie means, and you know when you see one. When we are outside and you see one you stop and wave your arms and say "Da" "Da". You also know your name and look when we call you. You keep saying dada and we are trying to get you to associate that with me. Just in the last few days you have started making mama sounds so now the race is on to see which one you associate first!

This is all an awesome experience and the last few weeks have seemed like a blur. It is truly fun, even if it is exhausting being your mommy and daddy.

Spring, On the Move, and Silly Hats!

2008-04-10T22:21:00.003-05:00

Springtime at the Park

Swing Time

Wheee!

Mail Time!

Speedy Delivery

Uncle Rob Will Never Let Me On the Boat With This Hat!

Rubber Ducky

On The Move

2008-04-05T08:47:00.003-05:00

It's official, on Friday I got a call from Bets that went something like this:
Me: "Hello"
Liz: "Ah, your son is crawling towards the dog's bone"
Me: "You mean he's crawling?"
Liz: "Uh, yeah, I think we are going to be baby proofing this weekend."

So as many of you have told us, our lives are about to change for good. Here is a video I shot this morning (Saturday) of the little man on the move...just to make sure I have proof that this is actually happening, enjoy!

Oh, watch Riley towards the 1:35 mark

9 Months

2008-03-25T19:50:00.003-05:00

Every day you seem to be more and more like a little boy. I love coming home to you every night because I feel like I am seeing a new child each day.

This past month has finally brought about some new teeth! It seemed like they would never come but finally one broke quickly followed by a second tooth. You were quite a slobbery little one when they were breaking and you had a few rough nights, but when they finally broke and you were able to sleep through the night you were like a whole new child.

You are close to crawling though you still hate to be on your tummy. You have the rocking motion down and will raise a hand or knee, but you just don't seem to want to put it all together.

The same thing for walking. You still love to walk around the house and at times that is ALL you want to do. We bought you a new toy that looks like a mail cart to help you walk around the room but you had one fall on it and you are gun shy ever since. You are learning how to walk just holding one hand, but you are still very hesitant to go too far.

Your voice seems to come in stages. You really find it when you are cruising around the house. It's like you are concentrating really hard and you have to talk yourself through your walks. Sometimes though, you just seem to go on "rants" when you squeak and squawk for long stretches of times.

One of the greatest things is that you are starting to waive goodbye. It started first with just a little wave of the arm that we guessed to be a waving motion. It has since turned into a stiff arm movement up and down and a big smile whenever mom or I leave.

One of your favorite activities is to look out the window. Whether it is the bay window in the kitchen or the front or back door you like to stand and look outside. You like to lick the cold glass and mumble as the cars pass. You could probably stand there for hours on end if we let you. It certainly is a blessing on those occasions when you want to fuss late in the day.

We are excited and nervous to have you moving about. We have invested in our baby-proofing gear and have already started installing some of it.

You can see more pictures like this one by clicking here!

8 Months Three Weeks

2008-03-12T21:09:00.004-05:00

On The Move

Love at First Site

Beep Beep

Who Needs Toys When You Have Socks and Tupperware?

See all new pictures by visiting my Flickr page

A Promise

2008-03-02T07:50:00.003-05:00

I know we are heading down a new path, a path that leads to your crawling, walking and talking, a path where you start to experience the world in a new way, and I am excited for that journey to start. But one of the most beautiful things so far has been to see you experience the little things that the day brings. The way you smile when your mom or I get you up in the morning, the way that your eyes light up at the painting in the kitchen, even though you have seen it a thousand times you get excited with each new look at it; like you are experiencing those vibrant colors in a new way each time. Seeing the way that you touch a cold door or window as we watch the goings on outside makes me smile and make me realize that one of the best things about being a parent is watching you experience your world. Seeing the beauty in all the little things in life as you learn them one by one.

So, I want to make you a promise. I want to promise you that I will let you have those experiences. I will try my best to not ruin the little things in life, to you let you have those experiences as untarnished as I can. I will make that promise to you if you can promise me one thing; to keep your child like amazement forever. Keep looking at the world as a new experience each day, and simply take in each new moment with those wide baby blue eyes twinkling at the beauty of it all.

If we can promise each other that, I can't wait to see you experience life.

The Best Half Hour

2008-02-28T19:59:00.003-05:00

It's not the longest part of my day but it is by far the best part. That moment when I walk in the house and a little head peaks over the couch or over his exersaucer and that big toothless grin appears. The time when mom, dad and Harrison, all get to play on the living room floor. When Harrison giggles as he shows me how he can "walk" or as I tickle his tummy and and "toss" him in the air. That half hour between being home and bed time when we can laugh and giggle like there isn't another care in the world and if there is, I really don't want to know about it!

8 Months

2008-02-20T21:21:00.004-05:00

I can't believe that four weeks have passed already. I feel like the time is going faster each week, faster than we can really keep track of. These last four weeks have brought out more of your personality, your ability to move, your ability to learn and pick things up and your coordination.

You are truly our child as you seem to have a stubborn streak that only your mother and I could bring about. The best example of this stubbornness was trying to get you to drink out of your sippy cup. When we first gave it to you you made us hold it for you which was fine. But when we would make you hold it you would put your arms straight out like a bird and open your mouth with the cup sitting right in front of you. You would start to whine or just keep flapping your arms until one of picks up the cup and puts it in your mouth for you. You have since gotten better about this but every once in a while when you are crabby you refuse to hold the cup.

Your stubbornness is offset by your incredibly sweet moments. Even though you love to see everything that is going on, when you get tired or get unsure of what is going on and you need a hug, you just throw your little hands up in the air in our direction waiting to be picked up and loved. The best moments are putting you to bed, when you are so tired you just cross your arms and lay your head on our shoulders as you stand on our laps after drinking your milk, giving us stories to relay to each other each night.

You are quickly becoming closer to being mobile. You love to have us walk you around the room and your coordination is getting better and better by the day. You are also starting to get up on your hands and knees and rock your little bottom back and forth. We first noticed this when we would get you up in the mornings. We call you our little dinosaur because we'd find you in your crib on your hands and knees and your little back and neck arched looking around like a brontosaurus looking for leaves.

You are very enthusiastic about banging your blocks on other blocks and banging things on your high chair, this seems to be your new thing as you quickly discovered that two things clanging on each other make cool noises. You also like to play with balls and watch them being thrown up in the air or rolled across the floor. You find great amusement in them and laugh and squeal with delight as we toss them your way.

Your personality is starting to shine through bit by bit everyday and we love to watch you grow and progress. Your laughing and squealing brings us such happiness and the best moments are when we all sit in the living room play together.

Your mommy and I can't wait to see what other adventures await as you start to crawl and walk, and as your personality really starts to shine through. You are a rock star, even if only in our hearts. We love you baby boy and cherish each incredible moment with you.

One of those Days

2008-02-16T12:54:00.003-05:00

You ever have one of those days where it's barely noon and you feel like it's five o'clock? A day where no matter what you do your child won't stop fussing, not really crying but just a constant hum of malcontent? A day where you want to ship your child to Mexico but you know your wife and the authorities would probably frown upon that decision? Where right when you get to your very wits end your child looks at you smiles and puts his arms around you like he just needs a hug to make it better, and you melt and feel bad for having that thought about sending him to Mexico? You could say I am having one of those days.

Official Diagnosis

2008-02-01T13:27:00.000-05:00

Harrison had been a little stuffy and congested the last few weeks. We were afraid that he might be getting another ear infection since the last time he had one he was acting the same way.We took him in about a week ago but everything came back fine. The Doctor told us to watch for sleepless nights, continued runny nose etc. and to bring him back in if any of those things persisted.

Well this week has been all out hell. Harrison has been waking up at least three times a night usually between 2:00 and 5:00 AM crying and screaming. He has been congested in the morning and he hasn't been eating well. He has progressed with his vegetables and cereal but he is still only eating a couple of spoonfuls each time, so when he wakes up at night we have been reluctantly feeding him because he acts like he is a starv'in marvin.

After the fifth straight night of this we decided to take him back in to the doctors just to make sure nothing was wrong.

I took him in today, list of questions and issues from Liz in hand. I sat there explaining to the doctor what was going, reading from my list, trying to answer her questions as best as I could trying to get to the bottom of his "issues".

Me: He wants to eat in the middle of the night when he wakes up
Dr: You should give him more cereal during the day and that will fill him up more.
Me: Yeah, he won't eat more than a couple of spoonfuls
Dr: You might try mixing in some Applesauce
Me: Yeah we tried that and it didn't seem to help much
Dr: OK...hmmm, how is he sleeping during the day
Me: OK, sometimes
Dr: You might try putting him on a routine for naps
Me: Yeah, we have been trying but when he wakes up at night his routine is thrown off
Dr: OK, you can also start pushing back his bedtime to later in the evening and try feeding him before he goes to bed.
Me: Ok, we started doing that a little bit each night
Dr: And he is still waking up?
Me: Yeah
Dr: OK, well his ears are clear and everything else looks good...official diagnosis...Stink Pot!

Great!

Weekend Pictures

2008-01-28T20:46:00.000-05:00

Splish Splash

Waking Up

Goofy

Internet Genius in Training

See more pictures

Seven Months

2008-01-22T19:24:00.000-05:00

Oh Mr. Harrison, every time we think that things are getting smoother you find ways to keep your mother and I on our toes. It seems like month 7 has been one filled with peaks and valleys.
You are still struggling with your sleep. This month though it was because you decided that you would tumble around your bed like a sleeper in the dryer. We have been awakened at all hours of the night with jolting shrieks. One would think with your shrieks that the crib had fallen down upon you or something crazy, but no, it is because you have woken up and found yourself on your stomach. When we enter your room you look like a baby dinosaur on your hands and knees with your little neck stretched out, looking around trying to figure out what is going on.

The peaks however have been tremendous to watch. You are sitting up now on your own. It only took a few tries for you not to topple over and we were so excited when you got it. You now just like to hang out and play with your toys, though when you do fall over it is pretty cute. Most of the time you fall over, get a look of shock on your face and then just lay there, resigned to your fate.

You are reaching for everything. The sweetest thing is when we hand you off to someone (even between mom and I) and you reach back for one of us with a goofy little grin on your face. You are amazed by anything that moves or shines. You love to look at the pictures that are hanging on the bulletin board or on the fridge. You still like to see where your doggy is, almost to the point where you stop eating just to see where he is.

You are also taking baths in the big boy bath tub and love it just as much as you liked the baby tub. You had one little spill in the tub and caught a mouthful of water. At the time you screamed like crazy but it seems to have had little effect on your bath time fun.

We are keeping our fingers crossed that you will start eating soon and that you will straighten out your sleep schedule. Other than that you continue to warm our hearts with every little smile and every step forward in your development.

Old Time Hockey

2008-01-14T22:29:00.001-05:00

I posted this on my other site but figured it might be appropriate for this site as well. If you are interested in reading it just click here.

Watch out below

2008-01-08T19:08:00.001-05:00

I have to write about this, mostly because I can't stop laughing about it. I like to think that I am getting this whole parenting thing down but every now and again I get sent back to reality and usually rather quickly.

So I picked Harrison up the other day from the sitter's and headed home, trying to get him bathed and fed as quickly as possible because he was cranky and tired. I rushed home and threw everything in the house and quickly ran to get the bath ready. Because he is now getting his baths in the big bath tub, I have yet to get the water temperature down on the first try. So thinking I had the right mix of hot and cold I went in to get Harrison undressed. As I was undressing him, because he has a tendency to pee on me, I kept singing a little song called, "Don't pee on daddy" an ominous song looking back on it now.

We got into the bathroom to get in the bath and I realized the bath water was a little cool, so I turned the heat up and I started stirring the water to mix up the cooler water. So there I was, sitting on the edge of the tub contorted with one arm in the water trying to mix the hot with the cold and one arm holding Harrison, as he was leaning over trying to play with the curtain. All of a sudden I heard a sound like water hitting my jeans, I started laughing and asked Harrison if he had just peed on daddy. Well, as I looked down I realized it wasn't pee. He barely got my jeans but it was all over the floor and bath mat. So I quickly held him high up in the air, like if I do that it will all go away, anyway, there I am holding him up like Simba in the Lion King over Pride Rock, looking at the floor, not really sure what to.

So I quickly set him in the water, afraid that there was more to come, and started trying to figure out how I could clean it up without letting Harrison drown. I thought about running to get paper towel but the whole time I am thinking, two inches, thirty seconds, two inches, thirty seconds a baby can drown in two inches of water in thirty seconds, so I knew I didn't have time to run to the kitchen. Meanwhile the stench was killing me, so I started trying to get my jeans off. Because our bathroom basically opens up to our laundry closet I quickly grabed some old rags and wiped up the floor. I started the washer and threw the mats in, mind you, I am hedging between the washer and the tub making sure that Harrison is still sitting up afraid to get too far away. I started kicking my shoes off and tearing off my jeans to get undressed and get them in the washer as well. The whole time H is looking at me with his fist in his mouth like I am some kind of crazy man.

I finally got everything in the washer and got Harrison washed, as I am walking out of the bathroom I looked at myself in the mirror, I have a wet baby still looking at me like I am crazy, no pants on, my t-shirt and a blue tooth in my ear flickering a soft blue light, just another modern dad, giving his kid a bath.

Harrison Showing Off

2008-01-06T20:05:00.000-05:00

Harrison helping with the laundry

Just playing

The Showdown

Ol' Blue Eyes

A Reprieve

2008-01-03T23:13:00.000-05:00

I know most of you come to this site to see updates about Harrison and not to read my rumblings about other things. So, I have launched a new site where I can explore other topics, mostly about how life and sports come together. If you would like, head over to Hockey Skates and follow along. I will still continue to post here about Harrison and his life and of course post all of his wonderful pictures!

Like A Drug

2008-01-03T20:29:00.000-05:00

It had been a few weeks since the first time we introduced Harrison to Baby Einstein, the popular baby video series that up until a few months ago was thought to make your kid a genius. We needed to do some major cleaning since the holiday had effectively made our house a disaster area, so we strapped H into his seat and threw on the video, saying a little prayer we would be able to get a few things done before he absolutely went crazy.

Well, it was like drug to the little guy. He started screeching the minute the video kicked on and was leaning so far out of his chair that we thought he might tumble completely out of it. We were shocked and thrilled. We would each stop every once in a while from what we were doing to just stand and laugh as he got more and more excited. We even started it over once and were able to get more done.

The funny thing is that these things look like they were shot in someones basement with a hand-held camera, a slinky, a wire hoop, hand puppets and a bunch of flashing lights. But at least he likes it. Granted we won't be sitting him in front of these very often, but at least we know what keeps him entertained in a pinch.

New Year

2008-01-01T22:17:00.000-05:00

A new year, a time for new hopes, goals, and resolutions, but also a good time for reflection and thanks.

Looking back at where we were a year ago it just amazes me. A different job, a new child, a greater marriage, and hopefully a better person. Of course the most amazing thing is Harrison and the laughter and smiles he has brought us, but this year has been pretty awesome and we are very fortunate with all that we have.

I also want to say thank you to everyone; friends and family, co-workers and colleagues. Everyone who is in our lives is special and we appreciate everything that you do for us.

I am excited for 2008, the challenges, the victories, the losses, and the ties. Especially the losses and ties, because after all it is the losses and ties that bring about the greatest lessons, right?

So be great in 2008 and I look forward to sharing more with you here.

Monumental Moments

2008-01-01T18:22:00.000-05:00

So on Sunday (December 30th) Harrison discovered that he could sit up by himself! I would like to think that it had to do with me teaching him the intricacies of having a wide base, which I explained will help him in hockey, but I think it had more to do with Harrison having a superior set of Abs, either way he is now upright.

This of course makes mom a little sad because he is quickly growing up and isn't her "little" baby, but we were both very excited when this happened. You can see more pictures of the great moment and other new pictures here.

New Xmas Pictures

2007-12-27T23:24:00.000-05:00

You can see more here

Six Months

2007-12-27T22:58:00.000-05:00

So I am a little behind on this post but here it goes.

Mom and I were sick for nearly three weeks after Thanksgiving so our Holiday season seemed to be very fragmented. We couldn't believe that it has been (over) four weeks already, this month has flown by. I know I have said that your development has been unbelievable before, but this month it is like none other. You are an entirely new baby.

You got a double ear infection, but after we figured out what it was and the antibiotics kicked in, you have been like a new baby. You are talking like crazy and you still just want to stand up all the time. You are starting to reach for everything, EVERYTHING, especially when mom and I are eating. Which is rather funny because you still won't eat the food that your mother has been making, not even the apple sauce!

We have started giving you water out of a "big boy" glass and you love it. Watching your face is priceless, you get really excited and your arms flutter and if the glass has ice in it, your face gets a shocked look on it once the ice hits your mouth.

We had Christmas at Great Grandma and Grandpa's and you held center stage. You were all about talking and showing of your new found drinking skills. We had a ton of fun, despite your sleep patterns nearly giving mom an ulcer.

You are fascinated by anything and everything that moves. You literally get excited by everything from the dog and his collar to the ceiling fan. I wish that I had your sense of wonder, it is such fun watching your arms flutter and your eyes get huge every time you see something that moves or shines.

I could probably go on and on, but I just want to say that if you are this much fun now, I cannot wait to see what the next few months hold...now, only if you would eat your food so we could cut back on these feedings, but hey, your still so damn cute that we can't help but laugh.

Yummy Foot

2007-12-16T15:15:00.001-05:00

A Sure Sign of Trouble

2007-12-15T08:28:00.000-05:00

"So when do you want to have our next baby"

"Uh, why don't we get through this whole teething thing first, then we can talk about it...in like 16 months"

"But we make such cute babies"

"We made A cute baby, what if he got all the good genes? The next one is screwed"

A Digression

2007-12-14T19:52:00.000-05:00

When I started this, I wanted to of course keep everyone updated on Harrison, his development, his life, and of course our life as a family. However, I also wanted to be able to provide context for his life. Provide snapshots of the times in which he was raised and what was important, defining etc. All that to say that this is one of those context posts, one in which has little to do with Harrison but rather the "news" of the day. A little rant/digression to get my writing fix in, so indulge me a little if you a will.

The Mitchell Report, a report detailing the extent of steroid use in baseball, came out yesterday and it has been greeted with great surprise, evaluation, summarization, explanation, etc. The Mitchell Report, as the former Commissioner of Baseball Fay Vincent has noted, may be the biggest "scandal" since the Black Sox scandal of 1919. I use the word "scandal" in quotes, because for a scandal this sure has taken its sweet time to develop. The report has been 20 months in the making and probably a decade or longer in actual development.

The big news has been the names of players implicated in the steroids probe, most notably Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte. Clemens being one of the premier pitchers of his or any other time. A multiple Cy Young winner and one the game's highest profile players is one of the named players who stands to lose the most.

The report, in my humble opinion will have little effect on the way die hard or casual fans view the game. I say this because I think in many ways fans are apathetic to this type of news. We have seen grown men continue to grow when all of science says that they should have stopped. We have seen middle age men hit their peaks when many before them were contemplating retirement. Fans have been suspicious but we have watched because as fans, that's what we do. Momentary suspension of belief is critical as a fan, the opportunity to see seemingly ordinary men accomplish un-ordinary feats is part of being a fan, the specialness of sports. So as fans we have turned an eye, knowing that something wasn't quite right, but knowing that we were loving what we were seeing.

The owners, the Commissioner, the players, the union, everyone is complicit in this scandal. Everyone knew that money, and big money was to be made by closing their eyes and pretending that everything was normal, that drugs in baseball didn't exist. And that is why this report as a revelation is hard to swallow. Everyone knew about the problems, but everyone pretended not to know. Nobody wanted to know, nobody, not owners who were selling seats, not players who were making huge contracts, not fans who were witnessing history, and not the Commissioner, who was expanding the game nationally and internationally, wanted to know the truth.

The Mitchell report will serve a purpose. It will force everyone from underneath their eyelids and make them see the world as it really is. It will make fans suspect everything, it will make the parties involved implement policies to help "rid" the sport of illegal drugs, but it will be done in a false light. A light that should have been forced many years ago when the problem was at its peak.

As a parent and as a fan my views of baseball will change little. I will still extol the virtues of America's pastime, explain to Harrison that baseball, in its purest form is a great game, a game that is splendid because of its simplicity. A man with a bat, facing another man with a ball. Nine men playing a game for pay, that you or I would play for free. And yeah, something rotten once happened to the game and many players took advantage of a don't ask don't tell policy, but the game - THE GAME, is still a great game, and one that will continue to grow and prosper, despite what these men tried to do to it.

Santa Baby

2007-12-11T19:35:00.000-05:00

Ever wonder what would happen if you left a new mother home alone with a six month old baby and a Santa costume? Here are the results

No Mas!

2007-12-10T22:02:00.000-05:00

We have been trying to get Harrison to eat rice cereal, then we moved on to oatmeal, and now we are trying real food. We wanted to try and make our own baby food mainly because we thought it would be good for him to eat "real" food and not the processed baby food, but also we thought the real textures of the foods would maybe help him develop a less choosy palate. Unfortunately the little man likes his new foods as much as a stick to the eye. We first tried squash and now pears.

The little monster ( I use the term lovingly) will actually close his mouth and shake his head and scream until we give up. Sunday mom was at work and got a piece of advice from a coworker to let him try and eat it himself. So I tried it...and as the video below will show you, it didn't quite work out. But what you can't see, because of my sweet camera skills, is that that he actually makes himself gag, not because he actually tried it, no, but because he just looked at it. If it weren't so funny it would be maddening.

Oh Christmas Tree

2007-12-09T19:04:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we went and picked out our Christmas Tree with Harrison. It was a cold and rainy day, fortunately the rain held off until we we were done. Harrison wasn't a huge fan of being in his snow suit and more importantly being in his snow suit and his car seat at the same time. Santa happened to be making an appearance at the nursery so we were able to take a photo with Harrison sitting on Santa's lap. It was actually pretty cute we weren't sure how he would react, especially since he had been fussy the whole time we were there, but he just sat there, almost in a daze, I am not sure if he was scared or confused at the big man holding him. Either way we got a pretty good picture of his first Santa visit.

I have put up some pictures here with shots from getting the tree and decorating it.

Quotes

2007-12-05T21:45:00.000-05:00

I won't name names but I received this in an email after posting pictures of Harrison:

"Not because I'm his favorite aunt or anything, but I think he's a really beautiful baby."

On our way to do our Christmas Shopping:

Liz: "This is like a date" Me: "I hardly call going to the grocery/Target a date" Liz: Considering our social life the last 5 months I would call this a date!"

Getting Ready for Christmas

2007-12-03T23:16:00.000-05:00

More Pictures Here

I Only Hope

2007-12-02T12:46:00.000-05:00

This week is Jimmy V week on all ESPN outlets. Liz and I were talking about Jimmy V yesterday as we were watching college football and she asked me who he was. Most people know him as the coach of the NC State team that made a run in the NCAA's and won a National Championship in 1983. So, as I told her about this, I googled his speech at the ESPY's and found it on YouTube. As we watched and I laughed and cried, we got to the end and simply said, That is Jim Valvano.

I kept thinking about the video throughout the day and just thought that I can only hope that Harrison is able to live his life this way. To be able to live with passion and how to live with love. If he can find a way to live this way, then no matter what, his life will be a success.

Take a moment and watch the video, watch all the way to end, and visit the V foundation...and if we can live our lives to Laugh, Think and Cry everyday, we will have full life.

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-11-28T20:22:00.000-05:00

Five Months

2007-11-20T22:29:00.000-05:00

Five months, your mother and I were talking on our first date since you were born tonight, and she told me that she looked at you today in the rear view mirror and saw a little boy, not a baby, and that made her sad. I must admit I am sad too, but also very excited to see you grow into a little man.

You are becoming more aware of touch now. You like your Fuzzy Fuzzy Fuzzy book and others that allow you to touch and feel things. You love petting Riley and grabbing his fur, which being the good dog that he is, he just sits there and lets you tug at him. You and he seem to be getting along much better now. You are completely aware of where he is, and trying to feed you as he walks around your room is just one of our new challenges as you are starting to become more active. Riley still thinks you are a big lollipop that he can lick at will and still seems to think you are a big toy, especially when you are on the floor kicking. Along with your new found love of petting your dog, you like to grab our faces. It is one of the best things when you stand up after eating and look at us and just pet or grab our cheeks like they exist only for your amusement.

Another interesting thing about month five is that you are starting to figure out to scream. You just sit in your crib and talk and then let out piercing screams, when we walk in you just look at us and giggle like you were testing us.

One of the strangest things is that you love to stand up, but you still don't like to be on your stomach. You seem to have forgotten how to roll over on your own and you are more interested in sucking on your hands than you are pushing yourself over.

Finally, we have started you on Rice cereal, and it is good to see that you inherited your mother's and my stubbornness. For the first few times you loved the stuff, now you purse your lips and won't open them until you finally scream and we are able to sneak a spoonful into your mouth, between breaths and screams. We keep trying and you keep resisting, it's pretty much how I imagine you being a teenager will be like.

We are excited more and more as we see your skills coming along, I still think I can get you on skates by 18 months, but your mom thinks I may be a little crazy! Either way we are having a wonderful time watching you develop and even though you are slowly becoming a little boy with each day, you will always be our little baby.

Who are You

2007-11-15T22:26:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite TV shows is Scrubs, and the episode tonight was talking about knowing who you are and knowing your heritage. One of the characters is a Latina women who has had a child and is worried about passing along her heritage to her daughter.

This is something that has been an issue for me personally for a while. If anyone who is reading this isn't family (there might be a few right :) I was adopted from South America when I was a young child. Unfortunately, mostly due to my own neglect, I haven't done a good job of keeping a firm understanding of my heritage and background. For many reasons I was fine with that when I was growing up, but now that I have a child I feel like I have failed. Not that I am failing, or will fail, Harrison, though I feel that I am, but mostly that I have failed my birth parents. I don't remember anything about them, and that hurts, but the fact that I don't know anything them, about where I come from, and can't share that with my son so he can pass it on, hurts the most.

The answer is probably easy, study, learn, speak Spanish, but for some reason reading Este No Es Mi Dinosaurio, doesn't seem to cut it. So how do we pass along our heritage to our kids. How do we learn to appreciate who we are, while letting our kids learn and appreciate it on their own so they take pride and at least know where they come from?

Team Work

2007-11-09T18:55:00.000-05:00

It is kind of funny that I am writing this post tonight, because when Liz gets home tonight, I am going to hear about how I might have done Harrison irreparable harm because I failed to follow the schedule that she has painstakingly got him on over the last week. But anyhow, one of the coolest things that I have seen as we have become parents is that we are becoming a better team. We still have our "moments" but being a parent has brought us closer.

It is fun coming home from work and playing on the floor and getting set up for bed and bath time. It is fun heading to lunch, one carrying the baby, the other the diaper bag, or going for a walk, one with a stroller and one with a leash. Liz still does the lion's share of the work, but when we click, we click, and that is what has made this whole experience fun. Our ability to enjoy each other more as we enjoy watching Harrison grow up.

Now, talk to me tomorrow after our "discussion" tonight! :)

Trick or Treat

2007-10-31T20:38:00.000-05:00

This Kid is Going to be Just Fine

2007-10-26T18:13:00.000-05:00

When I picked up H from his sitters he was giggling and laughing when I first put him in his seat, but once I started driving he started crying and screaming. So, I did what I normally do, I sang to him, tried talking to him, even blew bubble sounds, and got nothing. Well, going down a wet highway with a screaming baby is about the last thing on my fun list, so I finally dipped into the iPod. I threw the first thing on which happened to be Wilco. He stopped crying right away. I thought he was asleep but when we got home little man was just hanging out in the backseat, listening to music.

First Jack Johnson and Ben Harper, now Wilco. Yup, little man will be just fine!

Milk Breath Moments

2007-10-23T17:56:00.000-05:00

On the days that Liz works H and I are usually in survival mode. In the mornings it is a race to get out the door, backpack, computer bag, and milk cooler in tow. In the evening it is a race against traffic and time to get home so we can have a few minutes before bath and bedtime to hang out. Usually it is a hurried ten minutes as I get everything out and ready, as we talk and tell each other about our respective days. For some reason his always sound better than mine! Usually, I feed him and spend a quite minute or two as he falls asleep, rocking in the chair, then I put him down and go play a little NCAA Football, check email, or catch up on news and PTI, trying to get a few quite moments before Liz gets home.

I don't know if it was the cold, damp, Indiana fall day, the lack of sleep from last night, or what, but tonight we just sat and rocked away for much longer than usual. I couldn't put him down. I just sat there holding him, his arm splayed across my chest, his deep baby breaths, Mozart playing softly in the room, and we just sat there. The quite house, dark, heating up as the furnace kicked in for one of the first times this fall, and his sweet milk breath, warming my neck.

Milk breath moments

Possibly The Cutest Kid at the Pumpkin Patch

2007-10-22T21:21:00.000-05:00

See all the pictures here