World's Greatest Dad

I sometimes marvel at the fact that Scott is such a great father. When you marry someone, there's really no way to know what kind of parent they will be to your future children. All the qualities that attracted me to him (his kindness, generosity, intelligence, his wit, and his super funny humor) were not necessarily qualities I could apply to the "father Scott" image created when trying to imagine what kind of father he would be someday. I think one of the wonderful things about parenthood is that you get to know another side of your spouse that you couldn't possibly have known before having children (I guess it's only wonderful if you like that "other side"). And that is why I marvel at how lucky I am, as well as the girls, to have chosen someone who's a wonderful spouse, but also an amazing father. How did I get so lucky?

My sisters are constantly amazed at the interest Scott has in the kids, my nephews and neices included. In fact, I think Scott never knew he liked kids so much until we had our own. He is always getting down on the floor to play blocks with Parker, or "Sleep Party Over". When my nephews come over, many times, he'll turn the tv off and go find a ball to throw with the kids. After a long day of work, he'll come in the house and be available to play with Parker anything she has in mind.

I know it will be a while until Parker and Georgia fully appreciate how involved and attentive their father is. I see Parker taking it for granted everyday. But that is just fine for now. It makes me so happy for my children to not know any different right now.

Who Me??

Oh, the consistency of Georgia's expressions.

Everything seems to be all about Parker on this site. It's becoming more and more Parker-centric and that needs to cease.

I'd like to introduce Georgia...here's a little introduction:

Birthday: June 26, 2008
Shares Birthday With: Abner Doubleday, Derek Jeter, Pearl S. Buck, and Peter Lorre
Sign: Gemini
Notable Events on June 26: 1284-the legendary Pied Piper leads 130 kids out of Hamelin, Germany, 1948-Shirley Jackson releases the short story "The Lottery", 1963-JFK makes the infamouos statement "Ich Bin Ein Berliner" in Berlin thereby confusing the German citizens who don't understand why JFK considers himself a jelly-filled doughnut.
Favorite band: Its a three-way tie between Babes in Toyland, Babyface, and The Gerber Trio
Favorite album/cd: The Pretenders' "Learning to Crawl"
Favorite sport: Marathon crying and screaming around dinnertime
Turn-ons: non-constipated bowel movements, mother's milk, going to the store with mom in the baby bjorn, the sandbox, laughing with her older sister, being held in her mother's arms, smiles, and having the luxury of peeing in her pants without being looked down on by society.
Turn-offs: constipation, naps, being left to play by herself, running up the national debt, and ear infections

I mentioned the Shirley Jackson short story because I've been forever scarred by it. It was first made available to me in 5th grade at Elmhurst Elementary School when our teacher decided to show us the movie based on the short stoy leaving us scared and befuddled as to its meaning. I remember reading and writing about it in college which in turn opened up the psychological scar from viewing the movie in the 5th grade. I've forgotten about it since then...until now. As I recall my college paper started as an in-depth analysis of the story focusing on the notion that the story was written from a Marxist perspective inciting a critique of capitalism and scapegoating. By the end of my paper I was showing signs of deep emotional psychosis due to this story's impact on me in the 5th grade.

Perhaps I'm being a bit too dramatic.

Day at the Zoo

We went to the zoo last week with our friends, the Wicks. Parker and Katie are just a couple months apart in age. And now Becky and I have babies just a month apart. I loved seeing Georgia and Maddie together. Something about two adorable babies looking at each other, one trying to get the other's toy just tickles me pink.

The Credit Crisis Explained in 11 Easy Minutes

The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

This is the best synopsis I've seen. Even I understand it.

I always thought that beer was recession-proof but today's even bear-ier market is proving me wrong. I wonder if illegal drugs are recession proof...someone must've done a study on that.

Great Expectations

Someone very near and dear to our family has…hmmmm…..I guess the most interesting sounding euphemism to describe the news could be:

** The effervescent Hollywood director has rolled up the red carpet (for a while) and finalized her supporting cast for her autobiographical play about a young writer trying to get published called “Goncalo, A Development Deal with God”.

** Procured an “E” ticket to take part in the great genetic lottery from the State of Grace opting to be paid over the length of her life.

** Joined forces with ‘C’ Company and secured the north beachhead of the Uterine Sea… the “Surge” is successful!

** She has elected to move Baby 2.0 prototype into Development Stage 1 thereby causing a sharp increase in the Fertilized Eggs Index. However, the much anticipated sharp decrease in her Price/Earnings ratio should have a definite impact on her bottom line.

** Has accepted the role as the protagonist in the Oxygen channel’s production of the “Pink and Bloody Show” airing Sunday nights at 8 pm.

In all honesty, it’s real difficult for me to articulate how hopeful, satisfied, excited I am about her pregnificence. There are so many people that are ecstatic about their pregtastic news. Like me, they see how this couple are with children, they almost seemed destined for it.

And so they are now to be given nature’s ultimate test…parenthood. Sure, there’s innumberable amazing components to parenthood that I would never change and I’m still learning what they are everyday. HOWEVER, I am not one to dwell on the positive, that’s much too easy and uplifting for this misanthropic carbon-based being.

Just yesterday Laura called me at work with words something like “let’s put Parker up on Ebay”…ok, truthfully she uttered something like “Parker’s been whining all morning and Georgia only sleeps one hour during the daytime and demands that I hold her all the time and I can’t take it anymore!”. I just listen during times like that.

And now -- the most interesting and provocative part of the experience…naming the little wonder. Laura and I spent many an entertaining night with me torturing her with some of my name ideas (Calpurnia, Soledad, Charalynn, Tristesse, Clarabel, Clementine, etc…) - boys names aren’t that fun to me. It’s part of the ongoing journey of parenthood, it starts somewhat meagerly with minor impacts to your relationship then it grows like a weed, whether you like it or not it takes the relationship you have with your significant other and twists it into a pretzel. Much more flexibility and variability is now required; one more thing - much more understanding of your mate is necessary too. Good Lord, that’s so true.

Congratulations Humpty Bumpty!

An Addendum To The Previous Post

This what happens when three year olds dress themselves.

I think this is how the 80s look began. My guess is sometime around 1982 some fifteen year old girl thought it be funny to dress up like her three year old sister; thereby you have the entire cast of Square Pegs.

At least she matches.

Kick Out The "Pajams"

Why are pajamas so interesting to children? I don’t get it. Parker has quite the eclectic selection of pajamas to choose from-there’s your basic cotton pajamas, the cheaply-made Dora pajamas (which are falling apart…thank you China), two pairs of high quality pajamas homemade by mom(the blue ones in the picture and the red pair from the previous post), various pajama shorts, a sleeper that Parker reluctantly wears-she wanted a sleeper that had feet but mom couldn’t find on big enough to fit her growing body, and your basic collection of other cheaply made pajamas from Bangladesh, Guatemala, and other third world areas like Mississippi. I’d say she currently has about 10 different sets of pajamas and that doesn’t include the multiple combination options she creates as well as what she calls “combo shirts” which are a combination of a long-sleeved shirt with a short sleeved shirt over it. Is this where the women’s eye for fashion begins? Are boys this crazed about what they are wearing? No way.

So the question is…nature or nurture? I say BOTH. Not only are they wired for fashion and appearances and other sensory embellishments such as odor, skin care, and the all important task of accessorizing, they learn it as well. Parker may be an anomaly so my final proof won’t be made available for another couple of years when Georgia is old enough to fixate on what she’s wearing AT ALL TIMES. I think nurture has more to do with it than nature though; Laura is embedding this stuff in PJ’s psyche to such a degree that it’s already irreversible.

I can see it now, she develops a great throwing arm, smooth swing from both sides of the plate, quick as a fox, and she won’t play little league because there’s no team that has pink uniforms. Life can be so unfair.

Hurtin' Mom's Feelings

Okay, this is the first time Parker has actually hurt my feelings. Yesterday she told me that Dad was her favorite and that didn't hurt my feelings. But this? I just can't believe that she doesn't care about these pajamas I made for her. I know I shouldn't let it bother me but I can't help it. I spent at least 5-6 hours making those pajamas. And that doesn't include time spent trying to pick out cute patterned fabric that Parker would appreciate. This is flannel backed satin we're talking about. I did consider her warmth at night when she wears these beautiful silky but cozy pajamas. Tonight Parker got paint on her sleeper so I suggested that she go put on the pajamas I made for her. She came out wearing this ensemble.

I said that maybe we should pack up the pajamas I made and save them for Georgia and Parker quickly agreed. She went to her bedroom and brought the pajamas out for me. She then repeated what I had said (her first time using the word appreciate), "I don't appreciate them so maybe Georgia will appreciate them".

I hope Georgia likes them. I made a blanket for Georgia out of the same fabric. We'll see.

The Giggles

There’s only one person who can make Georgia laugh – Parker. She has this innate ability to send Georgia into a laughing spell. I can barely get her to make a giggle. I hope that’s a sign of things to come with those two.