Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Preliminary Halloween Pictures
Judy took these today. I'll follow up with some pictures from the party this past weekend and pictures of her trick or treating tonight.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
New digs, a year later
So this past week marked a couple of anniversaries. The first was my one year mark at my new job. Even though it can be stressful at times, I feel a lot better knowing that when I say something it will be listened to and that I have a big role in the decisions being made for our district. Even though the job title is the same as my last job, the responsibility is much greater, and I think that fact, in and of itself, alleviates the pain of having the drive over 60 miles every day.
The second is our one year anniversary of being in our new house. It's funny how quickly it went by. In our first house, I completed a bunch of renovation projects in just two years: replacing the back fence, making a garden (of sorts), creating flower beds along the edge of the house, remodeling a bathroom, redoing Rachel's room, taking down and rebuilding an entire wall, replacing the lighting in the living room and dining room, and replacing the kitchen floor.
In our new house, I've laid sod in the side yard and replaced the flooring, and even that isn't completely finished since I've never gotten around to replacing the baseboards, and we still have crap for carpet in the bedrooms.
But we are raising a child, which is a remodeling project all on it's own, every day. Now I know why people hire other people to do that kind of work for them.
The second is our one year anniversary of being in our new house. It's funny how quickly it went by. In our first house, I completed a bunch of renovation projects in just two years: replacing the back fence, making a garden (of sorts), creating flower beds along the edge of the house, remodeling a bathroom, redoing Rachel's room, taking down and rebuilding an entire wall, replacing the lighting in the living room and dining room, and replacing the kitchen floor.
In our new house, I've laid sod in the side yard and replaced the flooring, and even that isn't completely finished since I've never gotten around to replacing the baseboards, and we still have crap for carpet in the bedrooms.
But we are raising a child, which is a remodeling project all on it's own, every day. Now I know why people hire other people to do that kind of work for them.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Life's a beach...
Except for the part where you have to drive almost 3 hours there and 3 hours back with a screaming child that won't go to sleep. Other than that, it was a wonderful day!
You can see more of the pictures from our "relaxing" day at the beach here
You can see more of the pictures from our "relaxing" day at the beach here
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Fall!
Fall has finally arrived in San Antonio.
We've spent the last 36+ hours with the windows open on the house, and despite the fact that it made it into the upper 80's yesterday, the humidity has been so low, that by the time the inside of the house warms to being uncomfortable, it's already cooling off outside. And next week, we're only supposed to have highs in the 70's!
Rachel has been sick again this week with a bacterial infection, so Monica took the day off work yesterday to take her to the doctor. She dressed her warmly for her 8 AM appointment, as it was in the upper 50's yesterday morning, and when they got home around 8:30 (yes, I said 8:30 from an 8 o'clock doctor's appointment! I love our doctor...I've never had to wait more than 20 minutes) she took pictures. Lots of pictures, some of which are posted here, but some of which I'm holding onto until the 17 month post.
We've spent the last 36+ hours with the windows open on the house, and despite the fact that it made it into the upper 80's yesterday, the humidity has been so low, that by the time the inside of the house warms to being uncomfortable, it's already cooling off outside. And next week, we're only supposed to have highs in the 70's!
Rachel has been sick again this week with a bacterial infection, so Monica took the day off work yesterday to take her to the doctor. She dressed her warmly for her 8 AM appointment, as it was in the upper 50's yesterday morning, and when they got home around 8:30 (yes, I said 8:30 from an 8 o'clock doctor's appointment! I love our doctor...I've never had to wait more than 20 minutes) she took pictures. Lots of pictures, some of which are posted here, but some of which I'm holding onto until the 17 month post.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Comfort Food
Tuesday evening, there was a chill in the air.
OK, maybe mid 70's isn't a chill, but around here, it's a break from the usual.
Anyway, it felt a bit more like fall. Overcast all day, cool(er) damp, air. The kind of weather that made me feel like cooking something. Not something on the grill, but something in the kitchen that would (ack!) warm my soul.
Monica was at class, so Rachel and I went to the store, we bought veggies and egg noodles. Monica had already defrosted the chicken, and when I got home, we started on dinner. I made us steamed broccoli, zucchini and carrots, chicken with a cream of mushroom sauce and noodles. The kind of meal I used to love having in the dead of winter. The kind of food that made me gain 20 pounds when we lived in Chicago.
But it was good, and it did warm the soul.
Then on Wednesday, it was over. Sunny, humid and 90.
So goes October in South Texas.
OK, maybe mid 70's isn't a chill, but around here, it's a break from the usual.
Anyway, it felt a bit more like fall. Overcast all day, cool(er) damp, air. The kind of weather that made me feel like cooking something. Not something on the grill, but something in the kitchen that would (ack!) warm my soul.
Monica was at class, so Rachel and I went to the store, we bought veggies and egg noodles. Monica had already defrosted the chicken, and when I got home, we started on dinner. I made us steamed broccoli, zucchini and carrots, chicken with a cream of mushroom sauce and noodles. The kind of meal I used to love having in the dead of winter. The kind of food that made me gain 20 pounds when we lived in Chicago.
But it was good, and it did warm the soul.
Then on Wednesday, it was over. Sunny, humid and 90.
So goes October in South Texas.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Sixteen Months
Dear Rachel,
Today, you turn 16 months old. As I was laying on our bed watching you and mommy play and tickle each other, I thought to myself, life couldn't be more perfect.
You are really starting to understand a lot. I'm sure you've been understanding things for a while now, but we're just starting to notice. Of course, that means we really have to watch what we do around you because this is the time when you start becoming a tape recorder of all of our bad habits.
Your favorite thing to do this past month is to GO! You are on the move nonstop, and I don't know how you do it. You love taking walks, and just like the dog, the second one of us puts our shoes on, you're at the door, grabbing the door handle, trying to go outside. I'm glad that this phase of your life is starting now, because it's finally starting to get cooler outside. I don't think we would have been able to handle going outside so much in the middle of the summer.
Part of this walking all the time is practicing going up and down steps. Any time you have the opportunity to go up or down, you'll do it, over and over and over again. It's fun to watch you learn this new skill, and it's scary to see you try it on your own. At least you're smart enough to know when you need help because you'll stop what you're doing and put out your hand to one of us.
You went to another wedding this month, and you tore it up on the dance floor. You were all over the place and loved the light show. You dance whenever there is music available, but you've never had the opportunity to strut your stuff on the floor like you did at Andy and Cindy's wedding.
Along with walking comes this sense of independence and throwing fits when you don't get what you want. There were times this month when I swore that the "terrible twos" were coming on early. We were a bit worried early in the month when you started hitting yourself when you would get in trouble. Miss Judy helped us to correct that behavior by showing you how to be gentle with yourself. Thankfully, we haven't seen you hit yourself for a couple of weeks now. The fits? Yeah, they're getting more frequent. Of course, it's all related to the fact that you're a very curious little girl, and you're headstrong and independent, too. I wonder where you get that from? Just this morning, you threw a fit because I made you walk to Judy's door instead of letting you play with the emblem on the grille of my car like you wanted to.
Grandma Connie and Grandpa Rick visited you this month. I say that because your mother and I could have gone on a cruise and I don't think they would have noticed. They spoiled your rotten, of course, and they also told us that they're going to come down for Christmas again this year, and Grandpa is planning on coming down in February for an extended stay as well. I guess our master plan worked! Bwah ha ha ha ha! While they were here, we went to the Jazz festival downtown, and you ran all over the park, always with a grandparent in tow. I think you were almost more popular than the artists who were performing. Everyone enjoyed watching what a good time you were having.
The other part of our master plan is starting to come to fruition as well...you've started helping us put dishes away. When one of us is washing the dishes, you want to be in the kitchen with us. Last month, you started pulling dishes out of the dishwasher and handing them to us. This month, I started telling you where to put them. Even though you just kind of throw them in the cupboard, at least you're helping. Of course, once you're done putting them away, you want to get them back out and play with them, then put them away again.
You are no longer satisfied to stay in your room and play with your toys. You figured out that your play tables will move if you push them, and you've started pushing them out into the living room to play with them while we're trying to watch TV. It's funny to hear you grunt and pant like an old man, trying to haul your table out of your room and down the hall. Now if we could just get you to take it back to your room when you're done with it.
You have also started to take some social cues this month. Whenever you hear people cheering or clapping, you will stop whatever it is you're doing and clap, too. You'll look at one of us as if to tell us, "See, I get it!" Even if you just hear cheering on the radio, you'll clap then too. You understand a lot of words now, too, and the other day you actually signed "more please" to me without being prompted. I was very excited.
This past weekend, you figured out that putting your fingers in your ears makes things sound different. We were out to dinner with some friends and you put your fingers in your ears, then out, in, out, in. It was funny to watch you figure out that the sounds changes when you do that. You even started talking while your fingers were in your ears, then continued talking when you took them out. The look on your face was precious.
In addition to the nonverbal things, your words are becoming much more pronounced. We still don't understand most of what you're saying, but you are most definitely having conversations with us. You'll also point to things as you talk about them, so we're at least getting an idea of the object you're talking about. I can't wait until we can understand even more of what you're saying.
Oh yeah, and after 15 months, you finally said "Mama." Your mother is so happy.
Love
Daddy
Today, you turn 16 months old. As I was laying on our bed watching you and mommy play and tickle each other, I thought to myself, life couldn't be more perfect.
You are really starting to understand a lot. I'm sure you've been understanding things for a while now, but we're just starting to notice. Of course, that means we really have to watch what we do around you because this is the time when you start becoming a tape recorder of all of our bad habits.
Your favorite thing to do this past month is to GO! You are on the move nonstop, and I don't know how you do it. You love taking walks, and just like the dog, the second one of us puts our shoes on, you're at the door, grabbing the door handle, trying to go outside. I'm glad that this phase of your life is starting now, because it's finally starting to get cooler outside. I don't think we would have been able to handle going outside so much in the middle of the summer.
Part of this walking all the time is practicing going up and down steps. Any time you have the opportunity to go up or down, you'll do it, over and over and over again. It's fun to watch you learn this new skill, and it's scary to see you try it on your own. At least you're smart enough to know when you need help because you'll stop what you're doing and put out your hand to one of us.
You went to another wedding this month, and you tore it up on the dance floor. You were all over the place and loved the light show. You dance whenever there is music available, but you've never had the opportunity to strut your stuff on the floor like you did at Andy and Cindy's wedding.
Along with walking comes this sense of independence and throwing fits when you don't get what you want. There were times this month when I swore that the "terrible twos" were coming on early. We were a bit worried early in the month when you started hitting yourself when you would get in trouble. Miss Judy helped us to correct that behavior by showing you how to be gentle with yourself. Thankfully, we haven't seen you hit yourself for a couple of weeks now. The fits? Yeah, they're getting more frequent. Of course, it's all related to the fact that you're a very curious little girl, and you're headstrong and independent, too. I wonder where you get that from? Just this morning, you threw a fit because I made you walk to Judy's door instead of letting you play with the emblem on the grille of my car like you wanted to.
Grandma Connie and Grandpa Rick visited you this month. I say that because your mother and I could have gone on a cruise and I don't think they would have noticed. They spoiled your rotten, of course, and they also told us that they're going to come down for Christmas again this year, and Grandpa is planning on coming down in February for an extended stay as well. I guess our master plan worked! Bwah ha ha ha ha! While they were here, we went to the Jazz festival downtown, and you ran all over the park, always with a grandparent in tow. I think you were almost more popular than the artists who were performing. Everyone enjoyed watching what a good time you were having.
The other part of our master plan is starting to come to fruition as well...you've started helping us put dishes away. When one of us is washing the dishes, you want to be in the kitchen with us. Last month, you started pulling dishes out of the dishwasher and handing them to us. This month, I started telling you where to put them. Even though you just kind of throw them in the cupboard, at least you're helping. Of course, once you're done putting them away, you want to get them back out and play with them, then put them away again.
You are no longer satisfied to stay in your room and play with your toys. You figured out that your play tables will move if you push them, and you've started pushing them out into the living room to play with them while we're trying to watch TV. It's funny to hear you grunt and pant like an old man, trying to haul your table out of your room and down the hall. Now if we could just get you to take it back to your room when you're done with it.
You have also started to take some social cues this month. Whenever you hear people cheering or clapping, you will stop whatever it is you're doing and clap, too. You'll look at one of us as if to tell us, "See, I get it!" Even if you just hear cheering on the radio, you'll clap then too. You understand a lot of words now, too, and the other day you actually signed "more please" to me without being prompted. I was very excited.
This past weekend, you figured out that putting your fingers in your ears makes things sound different. We were out to dinner with some friends and you put your fingers in your ears, then out, in, out, in. It was funny to watch you figure out that the sounds changes when you do that. You even started talking while your fingers were in your ears, then continued talking when you took them out. The look on your face was precious.
In addition to the nonverbal things, your words are becoming much more pronounced. We still don't understand most of what you're saying, but you are most definitely having conversations with us. You'll also point to things as you talk about them, so we're at least getting an idea of the object you're talking about. I can't wait until we can understand even more of what you're saying.
Oh yeah, and after 15 months, you finally said "Mama." Your mother is so happy.
Love
Daddy
Saturday, October 06, 2007
You can't tell me you didn't see it coming...
So the Cubs got swept out of the playoffs. Yet another disappointing end to what I think was a mediocre season. If the Cubs had been in any other division, they would have never made it this far. They dropped three in a row in Florida when they needed to tie up the division. They backed into the playoffs on a Milwaukee loss, after battling against themselves the entire second half of the season.
The fact is no team really seemed to want to win the central...the Cubs just didn't want it less than Milwaukee and St. Louis.
I mean, let's be serious here...this isn't the team from 2003 that had everything going for them. In fact, let's talk about that for a minute, shall we? A team that was just 5 outs away from the World Series, and where are all of those players? The only position player left from that team is Aramis Ramirez. The only other players left are Kerry Wood, who, let's face it, is pretty much worthless to the Cubs now, and Mark Prior, who hasn't thrown a single pitch in a major league game this year. This was a team where the middle of the order was as strong, if not stronger than the top of the order, they won a ton of games, won the first postseason series since 1945, and they dismantled the team.
Yeah, the Cubs front office sure knows what it's doing when it makes those trades, doesn't it?
Since these guys made the playoffs this year, I'm sure they'll trade Soto next year, probably keep Kendall as their everyday catcher, and they'll trade Lee and Soriano for sure.
The fact is no team really seemed to want to win the central...the Cubs just didn't want it less than Milwaukee and St. Louis.
I mean, let's be serious here...this isn't the team from 2003 that had everything going for them. In fact, let's talk about that for a minute, shall we? A team that was just 5 outs away from the World Series, and where are all of those players? The only position player left from that team is Aramis Ramirez. The only other players left are Kerry Wood, who, let's face it, is pretty much worthless to the Cubs now, and Mark Prior, who hasn't thrown a single pitch in a major league game this year. This was a team where the middle of the order was as strong, if not stronger than the top of the order, they won a ton of games, won the first postseason series since 1945, and they dismantled the team.
Yeah, the Cubs front office sure knows what it's doing when it makes those trades, doesn't it?
Since these guys made the playoffs this year, I'm sure they'll trade Soto next year, probably keep Kendall as their everyday catcher, and they'll trade Lee and Soriano for sure.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Because I'm a realist...
I'm very excited that the Cubs clinched the central division last night. I stayed up to watch the Brewers lose, allowing (in my opinion) the Cubs to back into the division series. If the Cubs had showed up in Florida at all, they would have clinched earlier in the week.
No way am I this excited:
Tribune Photo
The Cubs have been at this point four time during my life, and every time they've failed to deliver. They choked earlier this week in Florida, and have been inconsistent the whole year. I'm just waiting to see which Cubs team shows up for the playoffs.
If they make it to the World Series, I'll be excited. If.
No way am I this excited:
Tribune PhotoThe Cubs have been at this point four time during my life, and every time they've failed to deliver. They choked earlier this week in Florida, and have been inconsistent the whole year. I'm just waiting to see which Cubs team shows up for the playoffs.
If they make it to the World Series, I'll be excited. If.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
A new toy...
I found a new online video tool last week through an ed tech blog that I read. Animoto is so easy to use...just upload your pictures, pick the music you want, and it does the rest! It will cut and add effects to your photos to match the music. You can do as many 30 second videos as you want for free, or you can pay $3 for a "full length" video, or pay $30 for an annual pass and create as many full length videos as you want!
Here's my first creation:
Here's my first creation:
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Fifteen Months
Dear Rachel,
Today you turn fifteen months old. This has been quite a month for you, so let's get started.
I'll mention the worst first. You have starting throwing huge, two-year-old-style temper tantrums. You are becoming very opinionated about what you want and don't want, and by God if you don't want something, you're going to let everyone within a 1/2 mile know about it. You'll start flailing your hands and arms, kicking your feet, and the other day, you even threw a toy at Miss Judy. She wasn't about to take any of that, and you got put in your first time out, ever, during which your promptly fell asleep. Your fits, we think, are still tied to being tired, hungry, poopy, etc. and aren't just because you're being a defiant little stinker...we hope.
The walking is getting better by the day. You're all over the place all by yourself now, and in fact there are times when you prefer walking to being carried, if only that would last forever...but I know it won't. Since you started standing up on your own, the progress has been amazing. You still look like a little drunkard every now and then, but you're not falling down quite as much, and you're not holding your hands over your head for balance as much anymore. You even looked like you wanted to run the other day, and I had to slow you down for fear you'd crack your chin. Again.
Your chatter is incredible, and I know there are words in there just dying to come out, but we still don't understand 95% of what you say. Every morning when I go into your room, you say the same thing to me, and I have yet to figure out what it is you're trying to tell me. You and I do play this little game, where I'll say "Rachel" and you'll respond with "Da-Da" or "Papa." It drives you mother crazy that you still won't say Mama, despite her spending 9 months hosting you in her womb.
You've also started saying your own name, we think, but it comes out sounding like "WEE shull" most of the time. There are times where you'll say it two or three times in a row before I realize what you're saying, and then when I say it back to you, so stop and say "Da-Da."
In addition to talking, you are signing things to us. You understand when we ask you to say more, please, and finished, what to sign so that you'll get what you want. It's really cool, and I don't quite understand why it is that you can say certain words, and imitate how some of our words sound (albeit without saying the actual word) but "more" and "please" are still just signs in your vocabulary. At least you know what they mean. I'm sure you understand a lot more than you actually let on, and some day soon, we're going to hear our own voices coming out of your mouth, and we're probably not going to like what we hear.
Love
Daddy
Today you turn fifteen months old. This has been quite a month for you, so let's get started.
I'll mention the worst first. You have starting throwing huge, two-year-old-style temper tantrums. You are becoming very opinionated about what you want and don't want, and by God if you don't want something, you're going to let everyone within a 1/2 mile know about it. You'll start flailing your hands and arms, kicking your feet, and the other day, you even threw a toy at Miss Judy. She wasn't about to take any of that, and you got put in your first time out, ever, during which your promptly fell asleep. Your fits, we think, are still tied to being tired, hungry, poopy, etc. and aren't just because you're being a defiant little stinker...we hope.
The walking is getting better by the day. You're all over the place all by yourself now, and in fact there are times when you prefer walking to being carried, if only that would last forever...but I know it won't. Since you started standing up on your own, the progress has been amazing. You still look like a little drunkard every now and then, but you're not falling down quite as much, and you're not holding your hands over your head for balance as much anymore. You even looked like you wanted to run the other day, and I had to slow you down for fear you'd crack your chin. Again.
Your chatter is incredible, and I know there are words in there just dying to come out, but we still don't understand 95% of what you say. Every morning when I go into your room, you say the same thing to me, and I have yet to figure out what it is you're trying to tell me. You and I do play this little game, where I'll say "Rachel" and you'll respond with "Da-Da" or "Papa." It drives you mother crazy that you still won't say Mama, despite her spending 9 months hosting you in her womb.
You've also started saying your own name, we think, but it comes out sounding like "WEE shull" most of the time. There are times where you'll say it two or three times in a row before I realize what you're saying, and then when I say it back to you, so stop and say "Da-Da."
In addition to talking, you are signing things to us. You understand when we ask you to say more, please, and finished, what to sign so that you'll get what you want. It's really cool, and I don't quite understand why it is that you can say certain words, and imitate how some of our words sound (albeit without saying the actual word) but "more" and "please" are still just signs in your vocabulary. At least you know what they mean. I'm sure you understand a lot more than you actually let on, and some day soon, we're going to hear our own voices coming out of your mouth, and we're probably not going to like what we hear.
Love
Daddy
Friday, September 07, 2007
Three Decades
Today, Monica turned 30 years old. She asked me a few years back, after another friend's 30th birthday, what I thought we'd be doing on her 30th birthday. I told her we'd probably have a quiet dinner with the kids and go home early. It wasn't quite like that, but we were home before midnight.
Monica's birthday is almost over, but she still doesn't have a gift from her husband. Why, you ask? Because it's been that kind of day. The flowers I ordered for her (albeit same day) never made it to her, I left work late, and because I'm an eternal procrastinator didn't get her anything yet. We did get to have dinner together, sans child, and we did get to spend a few hot, sweaty hours...at First Friday.
What did you think I was going to say?
Happy 30th, Moni!
Monica's birthday is almost over, but she still doesn't have a gift from her husband. Why, you ask? Because it's been that kind of day. The flowers I ordered for her (albeit same day) never made it to her, I left work late, and because I'm an eternal procrastinator didn't get her anything yet. We did get to have dinner together, sans child, and we did get to spend a few hot, sweaty hours...at First Friday.
What did you think I was going to say?
Happy 30th, Moni!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Another "too funny to pass up..."
This video was taken over the past couple of weeks. It's just too cute to leave on my hard drive. I had to share it with the world.
Oh yeah, and in the second part of the video, that's stray pieces of dog food she's playing with, just in case you couldn't tell.
Oh yeah, and in the second part of the video, that's stray pieces of dog food she's playing with, just in case you couldn't tell.
Erin
Just in case ya'll were wondering, yes, we did get slammed with Tropical Storm Erin today. Since the center of the storm came on shore south of San Antonio, we got the rainy side. It started raining today around 6 AM and didn't stop until late in the afternoon.
Luckily, I had taken a half day off since Monica and Rachel are both not feeling well, and I came home from work at noon. The worst of the rain hit early in the afternoon. Overall, we got somewhere between 8-10 inches of rain. Other parts of the area got well over a foot.
It's funny, actually, because I'm not used to warm rain, but the rain today was warm, like a lukewarm shower. Usually, when it rains around here it's because a cold front is moving through and the rain is chilly.
These pictures are from Culebra Creek, which runs close to our house (but not too close). Normally during the summer, it's a dry creek bed. Maybe a trickle of water running through. Today, it was way out of it's banks. The houses in the background are about 15-20 feet above the lowest point in the creek bed. The trees in the middle are fully grown.
And this road has been flooded out so many times this summer, I can't even count them all anymore. This is the first time I've ever seen the water this close to the barricades, though.
Everyone here is OK...our house sits about 100 feet above the creek (and almost a mile away). Just a lot of water, but the winds had died down by the time the storm had made it this far inland. We had some gusts, but nothing too big.
Luckily, I had taken a half day off since Monica and Rachel are both not feeling well, and I came home from work at noon. The worst of the rain hit early in the afternoon. Overall, we got somewhere between 8-10 inches of rain. Other parts of the area got well over a foot.
It's funny, actually, because I'm not used to warm rain, but the rain today was warm, like a lukewarm shower. Usually, when it rains around here it's because a cold front is moving through and the rain is chilly.
These pictures are from Culebra Creek, which runs close to our house (but not too close). Normally during the summer, it's a dry creek bed. Maybe a trickle of water running through. Today, it was way out of it's banks. The houses in the background are about 15-20 feet above the lowest point in the creek bed. The trees in the middle are fully grown.
And this road has been flooded out so many times this summer, I can't even count them all anymore. This is the first time I've ever seen the water this close to the barricades, though.
Everyone here is OK...our house sits about 100 feet above the creek (and almost a mile away). Just a lot of water, but the winds had died down by the time the storm had made it this far inland. We had some gusts, but nothing too big.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Fourteen Months
Dear Rachel,
I am perfectly aware that it is two days past your fourteenth month. I've been very busy. Cut me a break.
So the big news of the month, as the whole world has already seen, is that you started walking. Except you haven't taken to it quite as quickly as we thought you would. We figured you'd be running around the house within a week of that video, but you've just kind of stalled. You'll still take a few steps here and there, but you really prefer to hold onto someone's hand, and if no one is around, you'll crawl. Maybe the two face-plants you took have deterred you from walking on your own. We'll keep trying, though.
Your talking has started to sound more and more like actual conversations rather than random babbling, and we're starting to be able to make out more words. About a week ago, you picked up a piece of Mama's power cord for her laptop, a small black box that's about the same size as our phone, put it to your ear and said, "Hello?" and proceeded to talk into the box in a tone similar to the one we use when we're on the phone.
You imitate us a lot now. Every sound we make, you try to make, too. When I sneeze, you make a little cough that sounds like my sneeze. You have stared helping us put away dishes, and you want to help us put our shoes on, even when we're not going anywhere. You'll hold the dog's leash when we go for a walk, and you've learned to burp just like me!
Bathtime has become an adventure, as you like to put your face in, and you've started drinking your bath water out of a cup we use to wet your hair. You are also learning how to wash yourself, and I can't wait until you're completely self-sufficient in the bath.
I probably should have let your mother write this month's letter, since she's been with you the whole month. I started back to work a few weeks ago, and I've been working really long days. Thankfully, I go back to normal hours next week, and you start going to Miss Judy's full time again next week. I'm looking forward to spending more time with you after I get home, and I'm sure Mama is looking forward to a week of being able to get things done.
We love you very much.
Love
Daddy
I am perfectly aware that it is two days past your fourteenth month. I've been very busy. Cut me a break.
So the big news of the month, as the whole world has already seen, is that you started walking. Except you haven't taken to it quite as quickly as we thought you would. We figured you'd be running around the house within a week of that video, but you've just kind of stalled. You'll still take a few steps here and there, but you really prefer to hold onto someone's hand, and if no one is around, you'll crawl. Maybe the two face-plants you took have deterred you from walking on your own. We'll keep trying, though.
Your talking has started to sound more and more like actual conversations rather than random babbling, and we're starting to be able to make out more words. About a week ago, you picked up a piece of Mama's power cord for her laptop, a small black box that's about the same size as our phone, put it to your ear and said, "Hello?" and proceeded to talk into the box in a tone similar to the one we use when we're on the phone.
You imitate us a lot now. Every sound we make, you try to make, too. When I sneeze, you make a little cough that sounds like my sneeze. You have stared helping us put away dishes, and you want to help us put our shoes on, even when we're not going anywhere. You'll hold the dog's leash when we go for a walk, and you've learned to burp just like me!
Bathtime has become an adventure, as you like to put your face in, and you've started drinking your bath water out of a cup we use to wet your hair. You are also learning how to wash yourself, and I can't wait until you're completely self-sufficient in the bath.
I probably should have let your mother write this month's letter, since she's been with you the whole month. I started back to work a few weeks ago, and I've been working really long days. Thankfully, I go back to normal hours next week, and you start going to Miss Judy's full time again next week. I'm looking forward to spending more time with you after I get home, and I'm sure Mama is looking forward to a week of being able to get things done.
We love you very much.
Love
Daddy
Friday, July 27, 2007
Like a drunken sailor...
Yep, it's happened. Check out the video below. WHAT?! VIDEO?! Yes, yes, I know, I've been slacking on posting videos.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Of Thunderstorm and Sniffles
In case you haven't been paying attention, it's been raining in San Antonio for, oh, about 3 months now.
Oh wait. In New York or Los Angeles that's a news story. Because we're flooding like crazy, we only get a quicky 30 second mention every two weeks or so.
"And coming up after the break, we're going to do an in-depth story about steam tunnels. What they are, who maintains them, how New York is kept alive by them, and why they break. By the way, all of south Texas just slipped into the Gulf of Mexico. We'll get back to the steam tunnels right after this."
So, yes, it continues to rain here. We've almost received our total average rainfall for the year, and this morning, we had some particularly nasty thunderstorms come through. Lightning, thunder, the whole nine yards.
Rachel, as usual, slept through the entire thing.
But God forbid, I actually got up to go to the bathroom, and getting back into bed, I sniffled, which evidently was enough to wake up my daughter.
No matter that I'd been up for two hours already listening to the thunder and rain, which woke me up, a freakin' freight train could probably hit our house and she'd be fine, but if she hears someone moving around that's all she wrote.
Where does she get that from?
Oh wait. In New York or Los Angeles that's a news story. Because we're flooding like crazy, we only get a quicky 30 second mention every two weeks or so.
"And coming up after the break, we're going to do an in-depth story about steam tunnels. What they are, who maintains them, how New York is kept alive by them, and why they break. By the way, all of south Texas just slipped into the Gulf of Mexico. We'll get back to the steam tunnels right after this."
So, yes, it continues to rain here. We've almost received our total average rainfall for the year, and this morning, we had some particularly nasty thunderstorms come through. Lightning, thunder, the whole nine yards.
Rachel, as usual, slept through the entire thing.
But God forbid, I actually got up to go to the bathroom, and getting back into bed, I sniffled, which evidently was enough to wake up my daughter.
No matter that I'd been up for two hours already listening to the thunder and rain, which woke me up, a freakin' freight train could probably hit our house and she'd be fine, but if she hears someone moving around that's all she wrote.
Where does she get that from?
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Tell everyone you know!
There are 15 days left to vote for photos for the newest issue of JPG Magazine. One of the categories is "family" and I submitted this photo for the magazine:
If it gets enough votes, it will appear in the magazine. You can vote for it here. Thanks for your support!
If it gets enough votes, it will appear in the magazine. You can vote for it here. Thanks for your support!
Monday, July 09, 2007
Seven Hundrend Thirty Days
Sorry, Rachel, but your thirteen month newsletter isn't getting top billing today.
Two years ago today, Monica and I were married.
As Moni likes to tell me, "I'm the winner!"
I cannot believe how much things have changed in two years. I'm sure I'll probably say that every year until I meet my maker, but really, how much more could things change?
In two years, we've bought a new house, had a child, both gotten new cars, and I got a new job.
I can't wait to see what the next year will bring. Maybe more fish?
Two years ago today, Monica and I were married.
As Moni likes to tell me, "I'm the winner!"
I cannot believe how much things have changed in two years. I'm sure I'll probably say that every year until I meet my maker, but really, how much more could things change?
In two years, we've bought a new house, had a child, both gotten new cars, and I got a new job.
I can't wait to see what the next year will bring. Maybe more fish?
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