1st Pool Party (not quite first swim)

Well, one week after the Fresno Zoo (Kim is apparently a big fan), Katie braved the luke warm waters of a pool in San Juan Capistrano. Her cousin Elijah turned 9, and had a pool party at his Grandpa Al's place. So, my wife is big into cute outfits for Katie and saw this bathing suit... and so here we were. Putting sun block on your 4 month old is nerve wracking. Obsessing over every lil' speck of their sensitive skin. As my daughter, she has a biological right to a healthy dose of melanin in her skin, but I'm not one to take chances where Katie is concerned.

It's been hot as hell out here lately. Last Saturday was 113 degrees. What are you supposed to do with that? So, the party was well enjoyed by all. That's me in the picture with Katie, so don't go calling George Noory telling him you saw yourself a Bigfoots or Sasquatch or something. Katie seemed pretty brave in that face of so much water. She's a natural. I've heard infants are natural swimmers. Again, not a therory I was going to go testing. She can learn like everyone else, when she's older.

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And now for a diaper change....

Brian
muse.platypionline.com

1st Road Trip

A couple weeks ago Katie took her first road trip. 4 hours in a car seat to stay in a crappy hotel in Fresno, CA. Grannie and Grandpa were in Fresno for a step-sibling's wedding (I barely know the girl and was not even a little bothered that I wasn't invited.). My folks live in Bremmerton, WA, so the idea of a simple 4 hour drive as opposed to the normal 25 hour drive was appealing.

Actually Katie did much better on the drive than Daddy did. It was... well, it hurt. And what's worse, it hurt like I went to the gym without the benefits of a trip to the gym.

Katie travels well, one more piece of proof that for some reason God charged me with the responsibility of raising the perfect child. Sadly, she will become less perfect the longer I have her. Hopefully I look enough like Him, that she will grow up to look like Him too.

So, on this trip Katie visited her very first zoo. I didn't even know Fresno had a zoo. It's not a world class zoo ala San Diego, but it's actually one of the better municiple zoo's I've been to. Not too crowded and resonably priced, I'd reccomend it to any one traveling to Fresno. Bad enogh you gotta be in Fresno, might as well see something nice. We saw the most adoreable baby ant eater, the most active giat tortise I ever saw, and were up close and personal with a Bengal Tiger.

Sure, most of the experience was lost on a four month sold. Still, I am hopeful that a steady diet of zooz and parks will giver her the deep respect for creatures and creation.

She slept prerty much the whole way up and the whole way back. It's hard for her Grannie to say goodbye. Hopefully the future holds less distance, one way or another.
Katie is a happy baby, and she was happy for the whole trip. I'm a lucky guy.



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And now for a diaper change....

Brian
muse.platypionline.com

Historic First, The Roll Over

Yesterday was a proud papa day. My little girl rolled from her tummy to her back, and I got it on video! It sounds like I'm at a sporting event when she finally succeeds. And Hey, why not? I'm never gonna be here again. She's my princess and I'm so very proud of her. One of the best things that ever happened to me.
Well, maybe I did go a bit overboard editing the video. I'll leave that up for you to decide. The crowd goes wild...


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And now for a diaper change....

Brian
muse.platypionline.com

Getting Things Done

We had a big adventure recently. We had to go pick up some prescriptions at Kaiser and then went shopping at a book store because Dad got a gift card for his birthday.
For the most part it went really well, but, I have a couple of complaints. Now I realize I live in the greatest time ever to be an American parent as far as convenience goes, still... Most of these complaints revolve around the car seat. I'm all in favor of rear facing car seats. Anything to keep my baby safe(er). And I love the convenience of the modular car seat/base/stroller system, but...

1) Getting a baby in and out of these seats is so complicated as to be stressful for parent and baby alike. At least mine is. 2 buckels and a clasp, not easily navigated around said baby, and a head rest pillow that moves around freely. A handle and hood that must be moved out of the way before this can even begin. And getting her back out again feels like I am folding her in half.

2) The stroller. Sure it folds up, but into what? Something too big to easily fit in the back seat or passenger seat. Or in the rather generous trunk of my Pontiac Grand Am. Not ever one can or will drive a suburban. Just 2 or 3 inches less of height and width would make this a perfect object. Designers, release the hounds.

3) For some reason I live in the desert. The government mandates that Katie must be facing the rear of the back seat for a long time to come. For some reason, the government does not madate that an Air Conditioning vent be placed in the back seat.
When it goes north of 100 degrees, I open at least 2 doors, start the car, fire up the A/C, and wait to hear the compressor kick in before I even START to put her in the car.

4) I know 3 or 4 resturaunts that have slings or bases for above said infant car seat. I love them. Not having them is almost a deal killer. Get with the program folks. It's a small investment for a happy customer.

5) The stroller wheels. They slide all over the place they are most likely to be, which is the linoleum floor of a store. This keeps the rotating wheels from rotating properly. A little more traction would be great.

No complaints about the girl? Yeah. She was quite at the pharmacy filled with screaming, unsupervised children, and got fussy in the quiet, peaceful bookstore.
Figures, don't it?

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And now for a diaper change....

Brian
muse.platypionline.com

Mr. Mom....

Actually I prefer Adam @ Home as a "stay at home dad" cultural reference, but it's less universal. I'm beginning my 3rd week on my own since my wife went back to work. I gotta tell ya, that June Cleaver is one intimidating woman. Personally, I gotta pick some priorities and let the rest fall to pieces.

Katie is pretty much sleeping through the night. This means she's pretty much awake all day. I tried really hard to not be naive and have false expectations, but I admit I thought I'd have a little more spare time. Between feeding and changing, I barely have time to clean up... which is a topic it's self. All my life I've been an unapologetic slob. And yet, now, I get really bothered by messes. Not bothered like my neat-freak wife, but bothered. So, today, she's unusually fussy and I'm not getting anything done. If this next bottle doesn't do it, she may have to cry through a quick vacuum. So, when am I supposed to do all this art I was going to work on? When she's six and goes to school?

She's (been) here!!!!

Well, it's been more than a month since my last post. Guess why. Just hours after my last post, my wife went into labor. After 12 hours, an epidural and several consults, we elected for a c-section. Thank god. Ten pounds and one ounce, 21.5 inches long. That's my girl!
Anyway, Katherine Marie. She's been my whole life for a month now. We call her Katie.
And she, and people responding to her, have renewed my faith in humanity. People have been so generous. She makes everyone smile who sees her.
I've been down deep in breasts and bottles, diapers and Desetin. It's a whirlwind experience, and it makes me so happy and so sad. 'Cause she's already growing up. How unfair is that? From the very first hour we spent together I knew she was already growing up. Which is what I want for her, right? Why then does it feel like it's going to fast already?
Anyhow, fast as it is, it's amazing. She has me wrapped around her little finger. I look forward to every day.
I figure I can get back to posting somewhat regular. And I've still a mind to do a podcast, when the time gets freed up. Too many people who love her are too far away. So, Katie is going to grow up on line. I don't know what that means yet, but I'll figure it out. But she's too wonderful, I have to share.

PAST DUE

Well, it's five days past the due date. We are way past ready for the walnut to come and hang out with us. She's just dragging her feet. She was due the 9th.

Personally the word "induce" terrifies me. But that's what they are talking about doing next Tuesday night. Somehow, messing with "the process" seems wrong to me. I know, medicine has come a long way, but how do they know that she was due the ninth? We don't know and we're the ones who made her!
Anyway, my wife is miserable and hasn't slept well any night this month. So, who am I to complain that when momma doesn't sleep, papa doesn't either. Frankly waking up every two hours will actually be more restful sleep for both of us.
What I don't want is a c-section. That is the last thing in the world that I want to happen. C'mon God, nice and easy and natural (Epidurals are natural, right? I mean, naturally I'd want one if it was me.).
I'm so ready to be the father of a baby girl! Well, maybe "ready" is the wrong word. Eager, maybe, or excited. Ready is the last thing I am. In my mind I'm still a stupid teenager who has no business being in charge of the development of another human being.
Well, she's coming whether I'm ready or not, so they say. She ain't coming yet.

As I close what's probably my last post before she's born, I just want to say thanks for all the support and encouragement you folks who read this thing have given me over the last 9 months. This is only the beginning. Both of the blog, and my journey. The best is still to come. Wish me luck.

Brian

Any day now.... (and a small book reveiw)

Well, we are well inside 2 weeks of our due date. So, I suppose any minute now it could happen. Personally, after about a wee...er, couple of weeks, this particular blog will get much more interesting.

I'm currently readingCrawling: A Father's First Year by a man with the odd name of Elisha Cooper. It seems very honest to me, a man exposing his flaws for all to see, and also how having a daughter helps him work through (or around) those flaws. The guy is a little to "New World Man" liberal for me, and doesn't appear to have any sort of a job, apart from visiting places to drink coffee and flying around the country (sure, that's jealousy talking). He also seems, to me, unusually preoccupied with sex (his, pidgeons, geese, goats... none of it seems to go unnoticed). It is, however, a rather beautiful if sometimes uncomfortable look at early fatherhood. He certainly can craft a sentence, and you get a nice look at Berkley, Ca (and Zoë) through his eyes. I'm enjoying it quite a bit, while also making note of how I don't want to raise my daughter. I think fathers, and any one who wants a look into fathers, will enjoy this easy read.

And now back to biting my nails.

Why hunt down a mobile?

Why, to match the "Starry Night" Noah's Ark themed bedding, of course.

Starry Night Mobile

In my never ending quest to spoil my wife rotten, we tracked this discontinued mobile from here to Canada, to the end of the Earth, and then to E-bay, which is were we found it. She loves it. She's happy. I'm happy. And I'm a sucker for Brahm's Lullaby, which it plays when wound.

That's enough for now,

Brian Norwood
muse.platypionline.com
brian@platypionline.com