Sadie -
Today I got to talking to my friend Teresa at work. She has a daughter who is 12 and who is having trouble with her friends. It seems her little girl is insistent on spending time with kids who are mean and get into trouble, and as much as Teresa tries to warn her daughter about these issues, the daughter doesn't want to listen.
This conversation made me think about a couple of things:
1) I remember how concerned I was as a teenager about having cool friends. I think all teenagers go through this. I know that when I was younger, I sometimes I made stupid decisions just because I wanted to impress the wrong people.
2) I, of course, flash-forwarded in my mind to you as a young adolescent, and tried to imagine how I would convince you to stop hanging out with the wrong crowd. In a perfect world you would either never make a bad decision (because you are perfect, right?); or you would listen to my advice and stop yourself from making bad decisions, as tempting as they might be.
But it is not a perfect world. (And as hard as it is for me to admit this right now, you probably aren't perfect either!)
I realize that sometimes you'll have to make bad decisions about who your friends are, and all I can do is try to guide you and hope that you learn from the bad decisions and start to make good ones.
Right now I am going to try not to think about all of these complex "grown-up" issues and go make you some bottles!
- Dad
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Day 131 : Sing-Song
Sadie -
So this week I've started a new tradition: singing to you before I put you in your crib to go to sleep for the night.
The problem with this new situation is that I can't quite remember the words to some of the songs I try to sing you, so they end up like this:
"Hush Little Sadie, don't say a word.
Daddy is gonna buy you a mocking bird
And if that mocking bird don't sing
Daddy's gonna take it back to Wal-Mart
(Or probably have your Uncle Steve do it
because I hate confrontation...)"
OR...
"Hush Little Sadie, don't say a word
Daddy is never gonna buy you a mocking bird
Pets are overrated and pretty dumb
I'll buy you something else that doesn't shed and poop on the furniture..."
Maybe one day I'll learn the right words - or I might just start singing you Counting Crows songs as lullabies!
- Dad
So this week I've started a new tradition: singing to you before I put you in your crib to go to sleep for the night.
The problem with this new situation is that I can't quite remember the words to some of the songs I try to sing you, so they end up like this:
"Hush Little Sadie, don't say a word.
Daddy is gonna buy you a mocking bird
And if that mocking bird don't sing
Daddy's gonna take it back to Wal-Mart
(Or probably have your Uncle Steve do it
because I hate confrontation...)"
OR...
"Hush Little Sadie, don't say a word
Daddy is never gonna buy you a mocking bird
Pets are overrated and pretty dumb
I'll buy you something else that doesn't shed and poop on the furniture..."
Maybe one day I'll learn the right words - or I might just start singing you Counting Crows songs as lullabies!
- Dad
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Day 130 : Milestones
Sades –
You’ll often hear about baby developmental “milestones” – the acquisition of skills and concepts that help a baby turn into a toddler, who turns into a child, etc. But today brought relationship “milestones” between you and I.
First, you pulled what I call “puppy dog eyes” on me for the first time. I sat you down after playing with you for awhile, and as I turned to walk away, you made the most heart-breaking facial expression – pouty lip and all – to let me know you thought I should spend some more time with you. This didn’t involve crying or tantrum. It was just a very sad look that made me immediately pick you back up and smother you with kisses.
Secondly, you threw up in my face. Every dad has a story like this. It is a badge all father’s wear. I was playing with you after dinner, swinging you around, pushing you up into the air on my feet, when, suddenly with zero warning, you dropped a warm pile of goo from your mouth and down all over my shirt and part of my face. Your mom wasn’t paying attention when it happened, but she looked up when she noticed you and I weren’t making noise anymore. You seemed to feel much better. I was covered in goo.
- Dad
You’ll often hear about baby developmental “milestones” – the acquisition of skills and concepts that help a baby turn into a toddler, who turns into a child, etc. But today brought relationship “milestones” between you and I.
First, you pulled what I call “puppy dog eyes” on me for the first time. I sat you down after playing with you for awhile, and as I turned to walk away, you made the most heart-breaking facial expression – pouty lip and all – to let me know you thought I should spend some more time with you. This didn’t involve crying or tantrum. It was just a very sad look that made me immediately pick you back up and smother you with kisses.
Secondly, you threw up in my face. Every dad has a story like this. It is a badge all father’s wear. I was playing with you after dinner, swinging you around, pushing you up into the air on my feet, when, suddenly with zero warning, you dropped a warm pile of goo from your mouth and down all over my shirt and part of my face. Your mom wasn’t paying attention when it happened, but she looked up when she noticed you and I weren’t making noise anymore. You seemed to feel much better. I was covered in goo.
- Dad
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Day 129 : Hams
Sadie –
You are learning about your hands (or as I call them when we clean them in the bathtub: your “hams”) and your choices.
I was alternating between rice cereal and squash while feeding you today. You used to like rice cereal, but since you’ve started on real solids, you have learned there are much tastier treats in the universe than the bland white stuff I’ve been feeding you.
This morning whenever I’d slip you a spoon of squash, you’d open wide and enjoy. But if you realized I had given you rice instead of squash – your hands came into the picture to push my hand away.
I had mom take video of you doing this. It is exciting – not because you are refusing to eat cereal, but because it shows your hand-eye coordination is getting quite good and your mental connection between your mind and your hands (and the effect the combination of the two can have) is even better!
- Dad
You are learning about your hands (or as I call them when we clean them in the bathtub: your “hams”) and your choices.
I was alternating between rice cereal and squash while feeding you today. You used to like rice cereal, but since you’ve started on real solids, you have learned there are much tastier treats in the universe than the bland white stuff I’ve been feeding you.
This morning whenever I’d slip you a spoon of squash, you’d open wide and enjoy. But if you realized I had given you rice instead of squash – your hands came into the picture to push my hand away.
I had mom take video of you doing this. It is exciting – not because you are refusing to eat cereal, but because it shows your hand-eye coordination is getting quite good and your mental connection between your mind and your hands (and the effect the combination of the two can have) is even better!
- Dad
Monday, February 25, 2008
Day 128 : Big News and Changes
Sadie -
Today we got some big news. Your mom has been offered a job with a great organization that helps people called the American Heart Association. Of course, the fact that she will soon be starting a job means that you will soon get the opportunity to spend your weekdays with new friends.
This is exciting in some ways. It means you'll most likely get to meet kids your own age and you can learn about new places and things. But it also makes your mom and I really sad. We'd love to stay home with you all the time. But as I wrote yesterday, as much as it is in my instinct to keep you away from everybody else, that is not reality - and it is not really healthy.
I am sure you will like this new situation on most days. You are normally so relaxed and easy-going, that I anticipate that the transition won't even be that hard on you. But if you notice your mom or me with wet faces over the next week, just ignore us.
On to lighter subjects...
To celebrate this new job, you, your mom, and I went out to dinner with our friends Michael and Maren. You are no stranger to Michael, but for some reason, you couldn't take your eyes off of him tonight. Even as I fed you, you kept your eyes in a dead-locked stare at Michael across the table. We joked that you like him because he has your haircut (you are both pretty bald...).
- Dad
Today we got some big news. Your mom has been offered a job with a great organization that helps people called the American Heart Association. Of course, the fact that she will soon be starting a job means that you will soon get the opportunity to spend your weekdays with new friends.
This is exciting in some ways. It means you'll most likely get to meet kids your own age and you can learn about new places and things. But it also makes your mom and I really sad. We'd love to stay home with you all the time. But as I wrote yesterday, as much as it is in my instinct to keep you away from everybody else, that is not reality - and it is not really healthy.
I am sure you will like this new situation on most days. You are normally so relaxed and easy-going, that I anticipate that the transition won't even be that hard on you. But if you notice your mom or me with wet faces over the next week, just ignore us.
On to lighter subjects...
To celebrate this new job, you, your mom, and I went out to dinner with our friends Michael and Maren. You are no stranger to Michael, but for some reason, you couldn't take your eyes off of him tonight. Even as I fed you, you kept your eyes in a dead-locked stare at Michael across the table. We joked that you like him because he has your haircut (you are both pretty bald...).
- Dad
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Day 127 : Cleaning This Gun
Sadie -
I heard the end of another country song that made me think of you. It was about a dad threatening the boy his daughter is about to go out on a date with. I have a hard time imagining myself trusting anyone to take you anywhere without me - ever! Of course, I'll get past this. It would be very unhelathy for me to shelter you like that. But I am starting to realize why some parents are a little guilty of over-protection. I'll try not to be that way, but I don't know if I can make any garrauntees. You will never understand how precious you are to me. No one can jeopardize that and expect me not to take action!
I love you!
- Dad
I heard the end of another country song that made me think of you. It was about a dad threatening the boy his daughter is about to go out on a date with. I have a hard time imagining myself trusting anyone to take you anywhere without me - ever! Of course, I'll get past this. It would be very unhelathy for me to shelter you like that. But I am starting to realize why some parents are a little guilty of over-protection. I'll try not to be that way, but I don't know if I can make any garrauntees. You will never understand how precious you are to me. No one can jeopardize that and expect me not to take action!
I love you!
- Dad
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Day 126 - Sweet Potato
Sadie -
You have been such a big eater recently, we made sure to discuss moving you to solid foods with the doctor yesterday. He said it would be fine for you to start trying new stuff, so last night mom went to the store and bought a collection of small jars, all full of different fruit and vegetable concoctions ground up for baby consumption.
This morning we started with sweet potatos. We were really excited to see your reaction. Mom pulled out the camera and we waited with intensity to see what you would do when the orange goo hit your pallette.
The result was... well, not that exciting. You are so laid-back that you didn't really react. You just kicked your feet to signal you wanted to eat more.
I love having such a go-with-the-flow daughter!
- Dad
You have been such a big eater recently, we made sure to discuss moving you to solid foods with the doctor yesterday. He said it would be fine for you to start trying new stuff, so last night mom went to the store and bought a collection of small jars, all full of different fruit and vegetable concoctions ground up for baby consumption.
This morning we started with sweet potatos. We were really excited to see your reaction. Mom pulled out the camera and we waited with intensity to see what you would do when the orange goo hit your pallette.
The result was... well, not that exciting. You are so laid-back that you didn't really react. You just kicked your feet to signal you wanted to eat more.
I love having such a go-with-the-flow daughter!
- Dad
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