What do you do for fun?

When you're 5 1/2 months old and your Mom and Dad put you in the pack-n-play for some downtime what do you do?

Read, of course.

It is not surprising for us to check to see if Julia has fallen asleep, b/c its really quiet, and we see that she's thumbing through this wonderful soft book, Little Panda. Julia has done this for a couple of months, since she was first able to actually hold one of her soft flip books.

She does this of her own free will. She has bear she can play with and, of course, her feet but she mostly opts for the book.

Its a wonderful thing.

Meeting the Grandparents

Today I was feeling kind of melancholy as I returned from the doctor's office. Julia and I were driving down Gallatin Rd and I had this headache but got the urge to stop into the National Cemetery asking Julia if she wanted to meet her grandparents. (It sounds so morbid when I write it.) Anyway, we pull in and I have a pretty good memory of where my Mom and Dad are buried but its been a long time and as I drove in the place has changed. They have built some buildings and I wandered a little. I ended up at the "cemetery marker kiosk". I found the markers pretty quickly, I didn't remember the tree they are buried under but its nice to see them under a tree.

Julia wasn't so much into it, she is only 5 months old besides she was tired - she hadn't napped well since 7am. I was more overcome than I expected. I'm always surprised when I get emotional about my parents. I don't think about them often so I guess when I saw the two of them lying there - well, the grave markers - it made realize how much I really do miss them. In Sept it will be 25 years since my mom died and in June it will have been 13 since my dad died.

I am sad that Julia won't have the chance to meet them nor they her but she will have the stories about my parents and the knowledge that although they weren't terribly happy with each other toward the end of my mother's life they had, at some point, been happy enough to bring me into the world and nurture me enough so that I, along with Tara, can now nurture her.

One day we will talk about my parents but for some odd reason I thought no better time than today as the moment of introduction.

Office Crushes

I've had a job every year of my life since I was 15. I have had at least one crush on a coworker at everyone of those jobs, although I don't remember much about the object of affection on my first job (Friedman's Army Surplus). Most of these were purely physical attraction, most of the objects were attached to somebody else and I wouldn't have had the nerve to ask any of them out anyway. Part personality, shyness, and part ethics, I always thought it would be difficult - if not, wrong - to date someone at the same time you worked with them.

As I got older these crushes became more mature ranging from attraction to brother-sister to "work spouse" and sometimes a combo. It brightens my day to see these people (almost exclusively women - I don't think I would call my guy friends crushes, although I have had a man-crush or two). Working with them makes the day go by faster and makes me feel like some burden has been lifted a little.

Having become a part-time stay-at-home dad I have developed my biggest crush ever. Julia has me smitten. She wakes up and it takes a split second for her to realize where she is or who I am but she gives me a big gummy smile that melts me. I hear her talk or screech wherever I am and I have to smile. I walk in the room when she is sleeping and I can just stare at her for an eternity. Time flies when we are playing or reading or eating...the things you have to do when your work is to care for a child. But it might be a case of too much of a good thing isn't so good.

I don't get near as much work done when I am around her. The slightest things she doesn't keep me hanging on for more. I can't seem to get the laundry or cleaning done but I have made pretty good use of my time. Anyway, I thought it was approipriate (possibly the first time an office crush is appropriate!!) to share my newest office crush.

5 months and rolling

5 months and rolling
Originally uploaded by bmitd67

It's hard to believe she's been around for 5 months. Changes are happening at rapid-fire pace...

She rolls over, sleeps on her stomach, sleeps all night and stares intently at our food.

Here she is with her favorite book.

Mother's Day 2009

Today is Tara's first Mother's Day and she definitely deserves special recognition.

We all have a favorite Mother's Day stories and our favorite Mothers but I find it hard to say Mother's Day was special for me. I LOOOOVVVVEDDD my mother and therefore everyday was Mother's Day.

Mother's Day was actually stressful...what can I get my mother to make her happy, what can I do for my mother to show her I care. Oh shit! Its 3 days before Mother's Day and I need to get her a gift.

My mom died while I was in high school I have an aunt who seemed more needy of the mother's day recognition after my Mom died, or maybe it was my awareness. As a young adult most holidays became relatively unimportant and Mother's Day was no exception. Now I have a wife who has already proven to be a strong and loving mother (if you go back through this blog you will see what I mean). She worked hard to make her womb the safest and healthiest place on the planet. When Julia decided to change things (flipping into breech) Tara pulled through the C-section like a champ. When Julia struggled with weight gain issues Tara devised an ever evolving plan that has created a smart, engaged, appropriately weighted baby. On a daily basis Tara works with Julia lovingly and confidently. She brings order to the house and helps me become more confident in everything I do.

Happy Mother's Day to Tara!
From your loving husband and daughter, Jai & Julia
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Now playing: Bruce Cockburn - If I Had a Rocket Launcher
via FoxyTunes

Friday Fun

sdfkj jb aoo awrea asdgo ldfadl'aweltjawe
pgjip erioparg hdflkadfhkl'adf ioe ]-0 osdih'as'sdaweio' wehl' fh sdjl/hdfguhuh; jolsdhif

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Sorry for the crazy post but Julia insisted on typing it herself.

Jai's translation: I had fun at Grandma Bonnie's today!

Sprawled

Sprawled
Originally uploaded by bmitd67

She started the night wrapped tight inside of the swaddle. As you can see the swaddle is still in one piece but Julia wiggled both arms out in an effort to grab her puppy.

Photo by Lisa Connor