Dear Babies,
I love you very much.
Staying at home with you has been the best 5 weeks of my life and I am forever grateful for that. Thank you. I couldn’t have done it without you.
I’ve enjoyed getting to know you better, and I look forward to our future conversations.
I’ve enjoyed watching you grow and learn, and I look forward to your future. Things are getting better all the time.
I hope that I will be a good papa to you in the coming years.
Please don’t forget what I look like while I’m at work.
Please be nice to your day care provider.
Play nice with the other childrens.
Watch out for each other, and keep each other safe.
Today, we visited their mommy at her work. Miss S was a fuzzy pink strawberry-Sno-Cone Leopard, Mr. Grunty was a cow. I promised him he’d never have to wear that costume again, because he was too big for it two weeks ago.
Well…looks like Miss Squeaky is fussing. And I should be getting ready for bed so I can be awake at work tomorrow.
I told the childrens they need to take care of each other at the daycare.
I do feel good that they have each other at daycare. I also feel good about having a much lighter trash-can, with less dirty diapers*. Those are about the only plusses right now. (Well, money from the work-place, I guess).
I have hopes that they will be friends and teammates, helping each other through life. I guess children will follow an example, somewhat, and I’m glad that MyBetterHalf & her sister are good friends and talk regularly. I’m trying to get better…too bad two of my siblings are far away.
Speaking of, did I tell y’all that my sister in Arkansas is pregnant? Why is she in Arkansas? because that’s where the Navy stationed her husband.
I am happy now that they will talk to each other when I hold one over the other. It is so awesome. Miss Squeaky is still more of a talker, but now Mr. Grunty will respond to her.
Yup, today we took another walk in the park. I feel sorry for people that live in NYC or Mexico City. Too much population density.
*yes, I know disposable diapers are bad for the environment…but so is bleaching the cloth diapers clean. So I asked myself, what is easier? And what would I prefer, a land fill in Oregon, or polluting Puget Sound? Disposables won on both counts. I hear that price wise they are comparable. I hear the Australians are working on biodegradable disposable diapers, but those are still pricey
So, I hear that Oprah set up a Leadership Academy in South Africa.
“The $46 million Leadership Academy, which aims to provide impoverished South African girls with a high quality education…. The school promises a "safe and structured" environment of learning and sports a 28-building campus that includes classrooms, state-of-the-art computer and science labs, a theater, wellness center, yoga center and beauty salon. Winfrey personally interviewed all applicants to the school.”
Evidently there has been a case of abuse of the girls at the school.
What did Oprah do?
She flew there (twice in two weeks), she apologized profusely, she vowed punishment for those who did wrong, she suspend the person in charge of the school, she's working with investigators, and she gave her phone number to the girls so they can call her anytime.
Thanks, Oprah, for demonstrating what leadership is.
Oprah for President, 2008.
I’m no good at this game. The “what does the future hold” game. Too many uncontrollable variables. Give me something simple, like chess.
There’s this pop country song from a few years back, talking about how you should live life like you’re dieing. Yeah, it’s a rather nice sentiment for carpe diem, but not practical. For the first thing, we are all dieing. We just don’t know when*. And, if you did know, you could base your decisions on that, and could justify the rationality.
For instance, if you were dieing in 7 days, well, there’s no real sense in going to work, or mowing the lawn. But if you knew you would die in 7 years, then you would want it to set things up best for your family, maybe maximize profit. If you knew you would die in 7 hours, well, might as well take up smoking. (Which is one reason I suspect soldiers smoke, on the battle lines, they hope that they can live long enough to get cancer.)
Right now, I don’t feel that we have the luxury of me being able to take the job that I really want. A job I’ve been doing it for 27 days, and realize is the best job in the world. I would love to be a “Stay-at-Home-Dad”. Too bad it doesn’t pay financially, or have health benefits, or a retirement plan. I know, that on my deathbed, I’ll wish that I spent more time with my children. Here’s the thing though, before I get to my death-bed, will I have to be a crippled old man working in a dead end job so that I can afford the bare necessities for medicine to keep me alive? I’ve seen people with out-of-date work skills, working past the retirement age, not able to keep up, and their working conditions are complete frustration for them, they go home tired, and never seem to have the chance to enjoy the twilight of their lives – such as spending days with their grandchildren. One might say, “keep your skills up to date”. I think that is more difficult as you get older, you know, young kids – like we used to be, come along with lots of energy, lots of drive, and who can learn things faster & easier, and they will be trying to out compete us. (I’m not even going to go into the global market place right now. Except to say, I can’t wait until we start out-sourcing our CEOs to India, I hear they’ll work for 10%, and really, for most companies, would it make any difference?)
*Here’s a sci-fi story idea for someone about to NaNoWriMo. You know exactly how and when you will die in 50 years…so you do crazy stuff, thinking you won’t die. To bad after a parachute accident you are paralyzed and have to live the last 49 years of your life confined to a hospital bed.
Happy Monday evening Sportsfans
Hats off to Boston...wow, haven't seen a sweep like that since Spurs-Cleveland in NBA finals last spring.
Today, right before MyBetterHalf left, Miss Squeaky gave her a HUGE smile.
Today, Mr. Grunty & Miss S spent some time smiling and talking to each other, that made my day.
Found out today that Mr. G can scoot a bit.
Tonight we were worried about developmental milestones, like they can't roll over yet. Well, we looked at a book, and the childrens seem to be on track for most things, so we won't worry to much.
Oh yeah, finally Mr. G has been sleeping the whole night for two nights in a row. Evidently the silence bothers Miss S so she's been waking up around 4AM to bring us in to check on her brother. And then she wants to be held, and not returned to her bed.
Hey...did y'all notice that I responded to a comment from last week?
(Day 24)
Last week, was lots of fun taking photos of babies at the park. I should upload them.
Last Friday night I got together with my old Dungeons & Dragons buddies for a bit of play. I really had a good time...which might have been due to too much sugar and not enuff sleep.
Saturday, while MyBetterHalf took Mr. G to football game (with an impressive display of offense by the home team...more than 400 yards! But they still lost.), Miss S & I went for a walk in the woods with the dogs Kaylee & Maddie and their pet humans. The humans were well trained in picking up poo.
Sunday, went to the TikiLodge to clean some gutters and Pablo came here to help clean ours. Wow, it is so much nicer to do gutters with A) a safe ladder that reaches all the way, B) someone holding the ladder in place.
Sunday we went to the 15th annual Ritual Pumpkin Sacrifice. The childrens were very adorable in their costumes.
I got scared today, I come up from the dungeon, and see MyBetterHalf, crouched on the corner of the couch, covering up her face. Oh, no! what’s wrong? She was watching a Survivor eating competition. Evidently it was gross. I took her word for it and didn’t look at the TV. I am just happy that she wasn’t having an emotional reaction to something reality based.
Speaking of the TV. I try to not have it on when I’m alone with the childrens. I hear that TV is too fast paced for kids, and so they can’t learn to concentrate on something, and thus they all get ADD. Or something along those lines. I do believe “Television, the drug of a nation”. I think children are better served playing with a parent than watching educational TV. Even Sesame Street.
Today, it was beautiful. We went to the park, I took lots of photos. I figured if the stroller is going uphill, and I park it on the incline, then the carseats are in more of a riser formation, and I can get both babies & some background in the photo.
One thing about going off road, and into the woods at the park. It is more difficult to see, and thus avoid dog poo. Hey dog owners SCOOP YOUR POOP. Seriously. And cat owners, keep your cats inside, I don’t want them in my yard either.
To wrap up the day. The good Lord sent us a beautiful moon tonight.
Speaking of TV…well, tonight in dungeon while pumping iron – because lifting babies just isn’t making me strong enough. I watched a documentary on WWII. There was a letter a soldier wrote to his sons, just in case he died at war. (He did.) I am so sad. Currently, there are soldiers dieing, and leaving behind their babies. I am reminded of this when I see the McNeal NewsHour, and they do a silent roll-call of the fallen at the end of the news hour.
So, scared, sad, happy, angry…lots of feelings today.
I have got to start going to bed at a reasonable hour!
What the heck am I still doing awake?
You know, most of the time I love this town for the wild swings in weather. But darn it, I wanted to go to the park today! But, it rained. Lots. All day.
I do look forward to playing in mud puddles with the childrens later, they will be so very cute in yellow rain-coats and red rubber boots.
(You know, when I picture them in my mind in the future, they just look bigger, but have the same faces as now. So, it’s kinda weird, having future children, with their baby faces, standing 5 feet in my immagination, asking for the keys to the car.)
So…today I cleaned house whilst my mom was here.
Y’all remember those great philosophers, they of great insight into the human condition, never afraid to approach any topic of importance, with enough humility to face their failures with a smile in hindsight, ready to try again? Yes, the irreplaceable Calvin & Hobbes. Y’all remember the one where Hobbes is telling Calvin that Mozart wrote his first symphony at six, and Calvin replies, “I think I was potty trained by six.”
With two babies, I am always concerned with their spiritual, intellectual, emotional and physical development. And, as kids are, they are on the same schedule for milestones. I worry at one minute about Mr. Grunty’s apparent disregard for grabbing anything (he’s too busy either staring at his mighty, mighty fist, or kicking something), and the next minute I’ll be worried about Miss Squeaky’s fondness for spitting up, lots, and where does it all come from? does she even got anything left in her tummy?
For some reason, we tend to put Mr. G in the Kick-n-Play recliner, which he really enjoys…maybe that’s why he’s so good at kicking. Have we doomed the poor boy to playing soccer? (Oh, no!!) And Miss S we tend to put in the recliner that has stuff to grab, which she attempts to grab, and then pull into her mouth. (Is she hungry?) Have we already determined the course our children's lives will go, simply by where we put them to sit? Ack! so much to worry about!
Today we went to the park, it was BEAUTIFUL once again. I took lots of photos, trying to get the babies with a nice fall foliage backdrop. It would be easier if they weren’t in their car seats on the stroller. Oh, maybe I can take a blanket tomorrow!
This morning, as Miss S was about to take a SqueakieNap, I got to witness her discover how to take the pacifier out of her mouth, and play with it for a few minutes before dropping it. And using her charms to smile at me so I would put it back in her mouth.
The babies are good at TummyTime, getting better all the time. When we do TummyTime I have discovered a way to keep Mr. G interested, because after a bit he will rest his head, is to crinkle the blue crinkley Kirkland Signature baby wipe package. He’ll pick up his head, and turn to follow the moving blue crinkley thing.
Post-script
That was 384 words in 12 minutes. Let’s see…woo-hoo, 31 words a minute. That means that my typing won’t be holding me back from succeeding in NaNoWriMo2007. I was nervous that I wouldn’t be able to type fast enough to do the 24 words a minute for 70 minutes each day.
We are trying to break Mr. Grunty of the need to sleep in the bed with us after his 2 a.m. wake up call. So last night, I snuggled with him on the couch, eventually I fell asleep until MyBetterHalf got up to get ready for work. I don’t really know if in the mind of an infant if there is a difference between cuddling with papa on the couch or sleeping between mommy & papa in their bed. I tell you what, my neck knows the difference.
Miss Squeaky has no problem sleeping through the night in her bed. Pro’lly ‘cuz she takes tiny little MissS naps (less than 10 minutes) during the day, while Mr. G will crash for 90 minutes for a decent nap.
We went to a Twins Group Halloween party, and there a parent of two year old twins warned us about letting them stay sleeping in the bed. Another couple trained their 9 month-old twins earlier this summer into sleeping in their own room. Funny, when you walk into a room with infants, people will start up conversations, “Are they sleeping through the night? How are you holding up?” It does make the awkwardness of social gathering with strangers almost bearable. Man, I’m terrible at small talk.
It was beautiful today, and we took a little walk to the store to get supplies for dinner & cookies to surprise mommy. Unfortunately, I did not understand Miss Squeaky when she said, “don’t forget to get butter for the cookies”. Drat.
Mr. G is camera shy. When he’s doing something cute, giggling, talking, kicking on the Kick-n-Play if I get out the camera to take a video, he’ll stop what he’s doing and look at the camera with a bored look on his face.
Today, Mr. G pro’lly bruised his heels. He was entertaining himself on a play mat by kicking the hoop that holds the toys above the mat to shake them all around. He did that for like 25 minutes before he got bored. A couple of times he spooked Miss S because he inadvertently kicked the floor loud.
I don’t know why, but today, Miss S was trying to see how much curdled milk she could fit under her chin. And it was solely from today, because I cleaned it real good last night during BathNight. I think the girl needs a new hobby.
Oh wait, she has one. In a bouncy chair, she spent a good chunk of the morning grabbing the toys that are in the bar above it. Finally she got frustrated that she could not hang on to a cube.
Tonight, just in time for mommy to witness, Mr. G kicked his feet up in the air, and swung them to the left, rolling onto his side. He did this for about half an hour, never rolling over all the way, but, somehow turning his head-foot orientation 180 degrees.
I made chili for dinner, and some cornbread, (because I called my woman, and told her we need butter.) I made it out of mesa mix…because once, I foolishly attempted to make corn tortillas (FAILED)…the cornbread was a bit dry, and reminded me of tamale, but I liked it.
HEY, Sports Fans, what are your favorite cornbread recipes?
And don’t give me any fancy-shmancy, need 28 ingredients, … cornbread is food for poor people, so I don’t think it has many ingredients…flour, cornmeal, eggs, leavening-agent…maybe milk/buttermilk…maybe some salt/pepper/sugar.
(And for the love of God, do not give me a recipe with whole corn kernels in it. That’s gross.)
So, we watched the Simpson’s tonight. The one where Homer becomes a tow-truck driver and Marge is trained into leaving Maggie alone. OMG, the Maggie scenes are a lot funnier now that I’m a parent. Marge was trying to put Maggie to bed, and Maggie was fighting, tugging, climbing, crawling….And then, the parental-trainer was EVIL, by not letting Marge go running to Maggie when Maggie was crying.
Stayed up way too late last night, trying to figure out how to play a Green Day song. Yeah, that’s how good I am at guitar; it takes me hours to figure out a pop-punk song.
NaNoWriMo in only 9 days!!
And did I mention how beautiful it was today? Wow, it was nice outside, sunshine, fall colors on the trees, cool.
“The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe
I remember trying to read this in 5th grade, but it didn’t make much of an impression on me. I think I was too young to get it.
It begins, in first person, passive tense:
“During the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens, I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of country; and at length found myself, as the shades of the evening drew no, within view of the melancholy House of Usher.”
Poe then describes the feeling, looking on the House, and realizes that it is not one thing that creates the feelings of dread, but with a psychological insight, says that combinations that can get under our skin. I think this is a key to good horror writing, the correct combination of several small things.
“I was forced to fall back upon the unsatisfactory conclusion, that while, beyond doubt, there are combinations of very simple natural objects which have the power of thus affecting us, still the analysis of this power lies among considerations beyond our depth.”
I really don’t know how to go about commenting on this classic by a master. The two sentences above are beautiful. And this my dear Sports Fans is why I could never be an english major, because if I read something good that I found enjoyable all I can do is say, “I liked it.”
(You’ll note, that I can babble on for pages on the merits of an Avril Lavine song.)
The story set out slowly, after we first see the house, and are described the feelings of dread associated with it. It builds slowly, moves slowly like a deep river, and the last two pages crescendo to a finish.
I ain’t spoiling this one. You’ll have to read it yourself.
Dichotomy & perceptual distortions in absolute pitch ability from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (and it's open access, so anyone can read it!)
Back in the day, in the youth symphony, I knew this dude who had perfect pitch. You could play a note, and he could tell you what the note was. Blindfolded. Without reference. Just as most people can tell you what color something is. He went off to Caltech to get a PhD in math.
Recently researchers have published some findings on Perfect Pitch in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Here’s what they did
They recruited volunteers via the interweb to take an online audio test to see how well they could identify the pitch. The test had 40 pure tones (computer generated sine-waves without over tones – think a boring “beep”) and 40 piano tones. Now remember that the piano has overtones, overtones give musical instruments their flavor, for example why a trumpet and a violin sound different even when playing the exact same notes.
First I was wondering if a cheater could take the test and use a computer to identify the sounds*. I also wondered how much information is lost on piano tones being digital and not analog**. Finally, is this dependent upon the quality of the user’s speakers?***
Their findings
There was not a smooth line or a bell curve for results. Instead there were two clusters, those that did very well, and those that did poorly. If there were several genes involved, then there would be more variance in the results. Also, unsurprisingly, all of those with Perfect Pitch had some musical training.
The tone of G# was often an error, much more often than any other note. The authors believe this is because of the preponderance of the note of A for tuning, (they do point out that currently professionals define A as 415 - 446 Hz). This “perceptual magnet” seems to focus the mind on the note of A, the authors suggest, and thus G# is thought of as A. “The perceptual magnet effect is a consequence of exposure to a specific language during infancy, when babies learn to bin ranges of vowel sounds into categories delineated by their native language.” I wonder how often the note A shows up in music, even if we all tune to it for the first 30 seconds before a symphony performance. Also, interesting, pianist don’t tune their pianos, so it would seem they have less incentive to learn A…unless of course you are only playing on the white keys, then you are likely to be only playing in C-major or a-minor.
* They addressed cheating, “the nature of the pitch errors uncovered herein vigorously upends the possibility that subjects are prone to employ pitch-naming aids”…unless of course the aids all fail to recognize G#.
** and *** Pure – vs. – piano – “roughly correspondent among individuals” but people were slightly more accurate on piano tones, implying that overtones help out. This also shows that digitization and poor speakers didn’t interfere, because even poor speakers can play a digitized sine wave.
Also, found that ability of Perfect Pitch decreases with age.
Why it matters:
Show that the interweb can be used to test subjects. Cheap and efficient.
Can use this as a model for nature for nurture in pitch acquisition.
“Attempts to shed more detailed insight into the nature of the perceptual ability itself and to reflect on the implications of the findings for understanding the neurodevelopmental aspects of pitch acquisition.”
Further study – different cultures
We in the west, we only split up our octave into 12 pieces, how about India where they can split it up 30 or 40 pieces? How about other cultures where A doesn’t matter for tuning? How would you go about finding subjects? Go to a music teacher, try to explain perfect pitch…for instance, say, can you tell me what note I am playing without looking. Are there people that can? Use the example of being able to name notes, as people can name colors.
Sadness…it’s almost over.
Tonight, I was teaching Mr. Grunty how to do a drum-roll, and he found it hilarious. Unfortunately either he’s camera shy, or it wasn’t funny by the time we were ready to take a video.
Mr. G is a lot like his papa when waking up. At first, looking around confused, then grumpy, then needing food.
Today I was reading a gothic short story to Miss Squeaky. She quickly got bored with it and wanted to go outside. It was very interesting out there with the rain & the wind.
Last night Mr. G slept for two 6 hour blocks. Miss S again had about eleven hours straight.
Well, I should be getting to bed…have to get ready for going back to work, which I suspect will mean going to bed by 9pm so I can function the entire workday.
Hey everyone!
Last night, Miss Squeaky woke up and needed some reassuring. As you know, she usually sleeps through the night. So then, when Mr. Grunty woke up fussy/hungry MyBetterHalf was surprised to find Miss S already in the bed with us.
Well, I did the dishes…and there is only a dirty coffee cup & saucer left out. Just not enough room…well, I didn’t feel like doing a Tetris load scheme. And, hopefully the dishes will be clean before the windstorm hits.
I encourage them to be on the same schedule. I know that might be a bit mean, but there is only one of me, and two of them, I have got to be efficient about it. So today when Miss S wanted lunch (every three hours, like clockwork), I gently woke up Mr. G and got him on the feed train. I sit them in recliner bouncy chairs, and I sit on the floor so I can hold a bottle with each hand.
Just a few minutes ago, I accidently woke Mr. G up. He was peacefully sleeping, and I made a sudden noise with the dishwasher, and he woke up.
Well, the wind is here…can you hear? (hehe)
Well, if we lose power, maybe tonight I can actually get to bed at a decent hour. I know, I’m silly for staying up late. But I found this cool article on Perfect Pitch.
Oh yeah…I have this song I made up that that seems to make them smile.
There, there _____(insert child’s name, or “babies” if singing to both)
Wonderful ____
Intelligent, strong, ______
You are a good ____(boy or girl), and we love you
We’re so proud of you _____
Maybe I should get brave and put it on YouTube.
Hey Sports Fans…ARE YOU READY TO WRITE A NOVEL?!?!?
Yes, once again, it’s that most wonderful time of the year. NaNoWriMo!!!
I think I can do it by writing on bus to and from work and on lunch break…that should give me about 70 minutes each work day, only need to write 24 words a minute during the work week, and somehow get another 70 minutes a day on the weekends.
I don’t know my first words…I might go with “It was a dark and stormy night,” because it seems to work decently for Snoopy. Wait…that means I’ve already written those words, and that would be cheating to write on my novel before November. Humpf…looks like I need a new beginning.
I do know how it will end.
It is legal to think about the story and make notes…so here’s basically what I got.
It will be a fantasy love story. Yeah…I know. It’s silly. The basic premise, is where normal people find themselves transported and transformed into a different realm. This is done in L.E. Modesitt’s The Soprano Sorceress. What are other books where people wake up in a different world with other powers?
Trying not to do stereotypical characters…yeah, I know, y’all can pro’lly find plenty of examples of the below…
Chaotic Rogue dwarf
Lawful Paladin elf
Lawful Good Half-Orc monk
Sorcerer who doesn’t believe in magic
Human ranger who broods…OK, I’m sure that’s been done.
On the first day, I will hopefully come up with 15 – 20 chapter titles. (I’m very happy that I have learned to use the Table of Contents function.) And then each day I can either go on to the next chapter, or skip ahead if I need to. I have learned that if stuck on a chapter during NaNoWriMo, then just jump ahead to a different chapter. If something is bogging you down, write “fill in details later” and move to something you can write about. And when I need filler, toss in back story for one of the characters, sometimes that even comes in handy later in the story. (A friend of mine said she writes smutty stuff when she gets writer’s block.)
I hope this time to stay caught up (1667 words a day), so that I won’t have to do lots of words on the last day.I am also hoping that our friends at IndecisiveRamblings will make charts on my progress.
I hope you can join me! It’s crazy fun!
It was a very fun, and productive day.
My mom came up to visit and help. I was actually able to get some stuff done.
I put in the shed all the stuff on the deck…chairs, rakes, …we have an impending windstorm, and I’d really hate to have to say to my neighbors “hi, sorry I don’t know your names, even though I’ve lived beside you for like three years, but you wouldn’t mind if I got my BBQ grill from out of your den would you? Quiet a storm, huh? Wow, that broken glass and ashes really makes quiet a mess.”
I finally caught up on dishes…for like 30 minutes, there was not a dirty dish in the house!
I took some cute videos of babies.
We bundled up nice and warm and during a sun break went for a walk in the park.
And I made dinner.
The highlight of the day…both babies were being fussy. I passed Mr. Grunty off to sit next to my mom, who was holding Miss Squeaky. I think my mom was wondering what was so important that I had to leave her with two grumpy babies. I got the guitar. Returned and played for my children. It was like magic. They hushed up right away and gave me their undivided attention. It was my best audience ever*. Mr. G spent most of the time switching between watching either of my hands. Miss S was trying to make eye contact and smiling big.
*My Previous Best Audience...
Picture this, on tour with a youth symphony in England around 1990. We were tired, it was near the end of the trip, it was a day of drizzle and we had just traveled for most of the day to get to our last gig. It was a medium size stone Church that was about 500 years old. When we got in we found out that there was no place for the symphony to set up. We started complaining and whining as kids do. Our conductor, bless him, gathered us together, spoke quietly to us, and explained that we not only were making ourselves, and our country look bad, we were also making all young people look bad. He told us we needed to rise to the challenge and do what he knew we were capable of. So, we moved around these big, solid oak pews, and somehow made enough room for a symphony. As we were warming up, I saw the audience filter in. The average age was at least sixty years old.
We played. And then we had the Weber Clarinet concerto. Right as our clarinetist started her solo, God opened up the curtains of gray clouds and the sun shined through the stained glass onto our soloist. The good Lord was in charge of the light show. I looked into the audience, and saw this woman who must have been a WWI pensioner, and her face was filled with such joy. And I knew that was why we played.
We thought we would have a chance on sleeping in…but no. But it turned out for the best, because MyBetterHalf got to spend some time talking, laughing, making faces with Mr. Grunty & Miss Squeaky.
They were both very sleepy today. Pro’lly from the shots yesterday. Miss S took long naps. (Usually she'll take 10 minute mini-cat-naps). Around dinner time she was rested enough to yell at us for yesterday. So we went for a walk in the windy chilly evening at the park. Hey, on the way back, we met a neighbor. Nope, I don't know the people in my neighborhood.
You know, I am actually getting a bit better about cleaning the house with the childrens about. Not that our place is that great in the cleanliness dept, but I am doing it more often and more consistently. I suppose that I have to or the childrens won’t have clothes or bottles the next day.
Sophie kitty has found a new place to sleep. On the towel that’s on the changing table pad. After having both children pee on the bed in one day, I decided to use the pad. Oh, by the way, Mr. Grunty finally peed on me. And it’s my fault for not reminding him to hold his fire, and for trying to stop the urination with my hand. What was I thinking? That was a failed Reflex Saving Throw.
Last Friday I took the childrens to my work place. Everyone was amazed how much they’ve grown. I’m not amazed…I can feel it in my back. Man, I wish I had worked out more when we were expecting.
Saturday we were very lucky to have a beautiful day and our family enjoyed a little stroll through the park.
Sunday was icky chores under the house for me, all by my lonesome. OK, that’s not true, I had plenty of spiders to keep me company.
Today we went to the doctor for the children’s 4-month check up.
They are doing good, look beautiful (duh!), and are healthy (YAY!!).
Below are measurements and what percentile they fall in. Wow, they both went up in percentile for both categories.
Miss Squeaky
24" - 45%
13 lbs, 2.4 oz - 45%
Mr. Grunty
26.5" - 90%
16 lbs, 7.2 oz - 85%
They got shots today. And just so you know, the loudest screaming was from Miss S, when we put her in the car seat – before she was injected. She does not like being put in the car seat. Their little cries while being jabbed are different than the usual cries, kinda like “OWWW what did you do OWWWWW again with the OOOOOOOWWWW – STOP IT!!!” They were both troopers, and very brave, and were done crying in a minute.
When we got home, they were both very sleepy. Miss S would occasionally wake up to yell “STILL HURTS” at me, and then return to Sleepyville.
When they woke up…they were pissed. And hungry.
Mr. G refused to go to sleep, and would only be happy if a parent was holding him and rocking him or walking around.
Oh man…wouldn’t ya just know it. I skipped day 13!
Sorry Sports Fans. I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t ruin your day, or have you worried.
Yesterday, something new. Miss Squeaky was fighting sleep…yes, it is an actual physical struggle, she tosses, turns, screams, kicks, punches. I was holding her, she had her pacifier in her mouth and was very close to sleep. I was talking with Mr. Grunty, asking about his day. Suddenly, Miss S yells! It shocked Mr. G and the poor boy was about to start crying. Usually they ignore each other.
Today, we learned from MyBetterHalf’s co-workers that our babies are very precious, cute and adorable. Oh wait. We knew that. So I guess all we did was visit mommy on her lunch break.
(I hate driving. And I bet there’s a taxi driver that hates me for cutting him off.)
OK. How about this? Today we learned that the childrens are too strong, uncoordinated and unpredictable to be held with one arm anymore. Both of them today were held and tried to without warning escape the hold of the parent. No harm, no foul, parental reflexes saved the day. But, looks like we won’t be able to use the nail gun anymore while carrying the babies.
Well, I best post this, so my mom can get some sleep. She is helping two days this week, so I could visit MyBetterHalf today, and my work tomorrow.
Thanks Mom!!
oh yeah...thanks to the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, I learned what subtext is.
I really hope, for the next presidential election, we have two articulate candidate. I don't care if it Oprah & Leno, as long as they can speak in public and sound intelligent.
Dude.
Mr. Grunty did not let me get a decent night’s sleep last night.
I did catch an On Demand ™ documentary about the Dream Team.
Miss Squeaky held her own bottle a couple of times.
We got some good tummy time in.
They smiled when I was dancing & singing Avril’s “Girlfriend”.
I got a couple of chances to spend some quality playtime with the kitties.
Today, MyBetterHalf stayed late, so the childrens got to have hangout time with mommy after breakfast.
Miss Squeaky was so excited that she was holding her own bottle all by herself. (Mr. Grunty did that for a few moments a few days ago, but I think it was by accident that he clapped his hands together to find a bottle in the way.) I see our lives getting a little tiny bit easier.
You know how Miss S speaks Dolphin? Well, she has now added German to her baby talk.
Mr. G loves his Kick-n-Play toy. Sometimes he’s just content to sit and talk to the toys that are hanging from the bar, the other times he’s very excited to kick and watch the lights. It’s so funny that there is no perfect toy for all children. That makes it difficult for first time parents, they don’t know what to get, and everybody has advice. Luckily, we got most of our toys given to us. But there are some we have, that came highly recommended, that the childrens just don’t care for.
The babies favorite song is “Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes” which, I mix up a bit by singing “Head, shoulders, elbows, nose” to the second verse. They smile when I start singing it, and tapping them on the correct body part. They always grin real big and blink when I tap their noses.
Oh yeah, FYI, since the freak-out I had last week when I thought Miss Squeaky fell off the bed and was kidnapped by Sophie-kitty, I do not leave them on the bed alone anymore. They still can’t move to get off of it, but best to start good habits now. (Hey, shouldn’t they be rolling over by now?) If I have to feed them both concurrently, they get strapped into their vibrating recliners.
That reminds me, it seems every piece of child stuff comes with scary warnings, “if not used properly this could injure, maim, kill or condemn to eternal damnation”. And I know the warnings there to limit liability of the company, and to encourage proper use of equipment. But, I got to say; I am getting a bit warned out.
Another bit of advice to new parents. Use only one brand of bottle. So much simpler at 2AM when the lids, bottles and nipples just simply work.
Today we were listening to Bartok string quartets while I read Edgar Allen Poe to them.
We went for a walk. Which, I must admit, makes me nervous, I always thing about crazy people driving on sidewalks. (But I’ve been told that only happens in public markets, so I’m safe.) We didn’t do enough tummy time. Today Miss S was like clock-work wanting food every 180 minutes.
I want y’all to know, that me & MyBetterHalf know how lucky we are with our two little gifts from God. There are others that can’t have children. There are others who have their children taken from them. Children with major medical issues (a work friend’s great-nephew had to have skull surgery at 5 months because the babies fontanels had prematurely fused.) Even “simple” things like colic we haven’t had to deal with. I hope if challenges arise, that I can still be upbeat. As my preacher brother says, “It’s easy for me to have faith, my life is great.”
More from Oxford book of Gothic Tales (Chris Baldick, ed.)
Today my creepy little Sports Fans, we will discuss infidelity and it’s revenge within the gothic story.
“Andreas Vesalius the Anatomist” (1833) Petrus Borel
Opens with At that peaceful hour of night when a city comes to resemble a graveyard, a single crooked little sidestreet – one of Madrid’s minor arteries – still throbbed with a violent feverish pulse.” We have the innocent scientist who is persecuted by the stupid rabble who do not understand science. “I live in peaceful seclusion, unassumingly passing my time with dull anatomical research for the good of humanity, the advancement of science, and the greater glory of God….The common people will always be gross and stupid – the ungrateful brutes!”
However on his wedding night, we see that the scientist has a little bit of a problem, “Oh, don’t you go thinking this is weakness, Maria! It’s the violence of my love that leaves me shattered. Your beauty paralyses me with shame… you mustn’t imagine that this is impotence. In the morning I’ll show you, in twenty authors…it’s potency and excessive love.” Nice, without Viagra, the good anatomist has to go to respected reference materials to prove that it’s not what the young bride thinks.
In this 174 year old story we have, the scientist who isn’t trusted by the common folk, but he is only doing work for knowledge, we have impotency….
“Lady Eltringham or The Castle of Ratcliffe Cross” (1836) J. Wadham
“Lady Eltringham was wandering alone through the mysterious and gloomy passages of a wing of the castle of Ratcliffe Cross , one evening, in the last summer that ever the golden sun flashed upon the blood-stained banner of chivalry…” The lady finds her way into the prison wing of the castle for the first time, she finds some poor bastard who has been tortured along time, who is almost crazy, who is about to executed…
The twists:
(Spoilers follow)
The Anatomist - …and we have revenge. Since, her older husband had issues, or was too bbusy in the lab, young Maria took lovers. Eventually she confessed to her husband. At which point he confesses that he knew, and he killed them and dissected them for the greater good of science.
Lady E - …who was a former pledged lover of the Lady. She dies from fright when she sees his ghost and she remembers/realizes who was in the prison.
A contender was “Ain’t Nothing Wrong With That” by Robert Randolph
But GBAtT’s favorite song of the now is “Girlfriend” by Avril Lavigne. It follows in the great tradition of cheer-songs, such as “Holla-back Girl” by Gwen Stefani and “Mickey” by Toni Basil. Heavy bass drum in the mix, call and response chorus, attitude lyrics, many times of only vocals & drums, not much high-hat, snare coupled with claps in chorus. Best played loud. I like the subtle stuff going on with back up vocals, sometimes a doubling of main line, sometimes a chorus-call-and-response, sometimes just harmony “ah”.
I don’t know if it’s a good song. I don’t know if it was plagiarized as some have accused. I know the production is perfect. AND I can’t get it out of my head. I don’t really know if I like the message, and the video is just mean. But, it’s the favorite song of the now.
Things I like
0:25 the guitar has a tiny bit of space alone to go “du-nu-nuh, du-nu-nuh”
0:33 – 0:35 I like the “feel alright” repeat to fade
0:38 “and hell yeah I’m the mother fuckin’ princess” makes me laugh
0:47 nice drum fill
0:48 “she like, so ‘what-ever’” (double up of vox!)…references the movie “Heathers”
0:48 – 0:58 the bridge has a nice half-time feel
1:00 chorus again, this time with bass & power chord guitar
1:23 – 1:26 a subtle bit of (guitar?) feedback
1:34 this time background vox foreshadows main vocal track (like Beatles “Help” verse)
1:40 this time background vox doubles & shouts “disappear”
1:45 now background vox “again” repeat to fade out
1:47 finally the background is singing harmony “ahhs”
(Yes folks, that is four different things the background singers have to do in a single verse.)
1:48…hey there is cymbals on the drum kit
2:23 chorus, just drums….sounds like she at least double up the vocal line, so sounds like a few friends are singing along with each other, only they sound exactly the same
2:45 “no way” super-processed adding harmony
3:12 in the fade out, a few new vocal fills are added, just so the listener doesn’t get bored in the last 30 seconds of the song
Mr. Grunty has learned a new skill. Lip smacking. And he doesn’t fall for that “num-num” nonsense of parents trying to tickle his tummy. Mr. G only laughs at funny jokes. Where can I find some funny jokes so I can hear his angelic little laugh?
We captured Miss Squeaky on video today giggling.
So, I’ve picked up some bad habits, sloppy skills on playing guitar. For instance, my fingers on my left hand are way far off the strings when not fretting. This means they have further to travel to hit the strings again, hence loss of speed and efficiency and more prone to errors. How do I correct this? Practice. And not the type of practice that reinforces bad habits, but instead, slow, deliberate, methodical, concentrated learning practice. Wow, that sounds like work.
Seahawks were shut out by the Steelers today. That wasn’t fun to watch.
Oh yeah sports’ fans! Why didn’t some one remind me?? Would have been nice if this got picked up by a network, or even a basic cable station.
Congrats to Team USA Women’s Team for dominating the FIBA America’s tournament just as much as the Men’s Team did. They out did their opponents by
40 points a game
6 rebounds a game
three times as many assists
10 fewer turnovers
I may have criticized Sue Bird, but she did average an assist per minute of play. Not too shabby.
Today, the family went with Kelita to see a Lego convention. We were planning on going to a local library’s expanded parking celebration. (Yeah, that’s how my town parties, mow down some trees, tear up some grass, lay some asphalt and bring out the hotdogs & clowns.) I was impressed with a 15 foot long replica of the Titanic. I really liked the 3’ x 3’ x 4’ castle. I hope that Miss Squeaky and Mr. Grunty play with Legos. Rumor has, my high school biology teacher approached a group of smart kids, and asked what their parents did so they turned out smart. (I was not approached by my teacher to ask how I was raised.) Turns out the only thing their childhoods had in common was they all played with Legos.
Speaking of clowns, just got my voter guide. What the heck, I am very disturbed that some people are running unopposed. I don’t think democracy is served by coronations. The incumbent was that awesome? Makes me so mad that I contemplate a write in campaign & knocking doors for me as a candidate. Well…until I realize how lazy I am and how unqualified for the position.
Speaking of coronations, once again Senator Clinton is giving me another reason not to vote for her. I hear that she suggests setting aside $5000 for every child born that they can later use for college or home. This is because of the rising costs of education and home ownership. I never really took economics, but if things are pricey, isn’t it because there is a limited supply? And if there is a limited supply, and all of the sudden consumers have more money, won’t that make the price go even higher? One bad reason for this, it will put children not born in the USA under this program at a disadvantage. Another bad reason, we are creating a government program (hence paying people to run it) that sole purpose is to raise the cost of college and home ownership.
Tonight while MyBetterHalf was at a b-day party, I stayed home and played guitar for the childrens. Mr. G kept watching my left hand. Miss S kept smiling at me. They both liked “Big Rock Candy Mountain”.
I knew since I have been bragging, eventually I would get peed on. And every time I change the boy, I tell him, “we’re a team, I need you to do your part my son, hold your fire.” Evidently Miss Squeaky was a bit jealous about not being told she was on a team, and decided to show me that she too needs to be told to “hold your fire.”
Wow, two weeks have gone.
We went for a walk to the store today. It was a bit cold out. But I wrapped them and covered them with layers of blankets.
They're getting better at TummyTime.
I guess becoming a parent is all about doing things you vowed you would never do.
I always thought it cruel when parent would put their mouths on the baby’s tummy and blow raspberry.
Well, I did that tonight to Miss Squeaky.
I did get to hear her little angelic laugh.
So, even though I’m ashamed of myself for breaking a vow, it was worth it.
So, are y’all getting all bored ‘n stuff of my “it’s been great, it’s been fun” posts? Because I realize that without conflict, a story is kinda boring.
So…my rants. Who the heck designs baby clothes? M.C. Escher? A.F. Mobius? Every manufacturer seems to have a different idea on where the snaps should go…and I sometimes wonder if the designer has ever seen a real baby. Any one who can master dressing a baby should have no problem contemplating a Klein bottle. I’m starting a new campaign…MAGMU. Mother’s Advanced Geometry Mathematics University.
And speaking of fashion. What the bleep? It now seems OK to mix pastels and earth-tones? I swear I tried that in Jr. High and was laughed at. Poor me, ahead of my times.
I took a video of each of the childrens today, their mommy was very pleased. And speaking of pleasing their mommy, I mopped, made dinner & cookies today. It did help that my mom was here to help out and free me up for a bit.
For dinner I was inspired by Blub to make Hutspot. I tossed carrots, potatoes, onions, & sausage in my crock-pot. It was OK. Kinda bland. Evidently the Dutch didn’t use many spices while breaching their dikes to expel the Spanish.
The routine furnace check up got me scolded. Evidently I should be replacing my furnace filters every 2 – 3 months…since we have the fluff ball Sophie, maybe every two. Sheesh, and this on top of flossing my teeth daily.
So.
Many.
Chores.
Yes, I realize how completely lucky I am that I get to stay home with my babies for a month, and it’s been great. It is a luxury that most men do not have, but I would recommend it for new fathers. Home alone with the babies for at least a week. My advice though, is to approach it the way one might approach the rookie season football training camp. It will be emotionally trying, someone will always be yelling at you, you have to do demeaning things, you will be sore, you don’t know what to expect, it will be stressful, and you will be exhausted…but consider yourself lucky to be there. And don’t forget to stay hydrated!
Naps are good. I was lucky enough today.
Already we can see the differences. Miss Squeaky is more likely to spit up after a meal, and sometimes I wonder where she got all that she’s spitting up. I know, young parents are always worried about spit up, and a few milliliters of liquid can soak up a lot of burp towel. Mr. Grunty is more likely to get foot or hand in a messy diaper. Now about half the time he tries to be helpful and lifts his legs up. And so far, at least with me, he’s been “holding his fire” when I take the diaper off (knock on wood).
I missed out on a cute photo opportunity today. Mr. G was sitting in my lap, we were hanging out, watching the bedroom window. Oliver-kitty came by us, he needed some affection. I scratched under his chin, behind his ears and started rubbing behind his shoulder blades. He was enjoying this so much he just flopped down so he wouldn’t need to concentrate on standing. And he flopped right on Mr. G’s feet.
Our lives got a tiny bit easier…Miss S will take a cold bottle. Mr. G was not happy with it, I wonder if he will ever appreciate Gazpacho?
We took a short walk when there was a break in the raining.
Mr G has gotten better at Tummy Time. The childrens like the inclined tummy time better, where a parent is lounging, and a baby is on their chest doing tummy time. Usually it is around a 15% incline. So, still working the muscles.
I admit it I’m a terrible father.
This morning little Miss Squeaky was crying for like I think 30 minutes before I got out of bed to rescue her from the swaddle & hunger. When I saw her, she looked at me as if I had betrayed her. Great. I couldn’t even make it four months before my daughter lost her faith in me.
I am doing a bit of work from home, because I’m a control freak & don’t like to give up projects, because I fear that if they are without me 100% they might not need me back, and (the official reason) because I don’t have enough vacation time to cover all my time off. There was this project that I was supposed to do today. I suspect if I had computer skillz I could either do it quickly, or tell the person why it was so difficult to accomplish. Great. I can’t even do simple projects from home.
I other news today…the cats are freaked out by the automatic bread machine. Yes, I did have dinner w/ fresh baked bread ready when MyBetterHalf got home.
