tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54077893751239860942024-03-05T21:38:01.978-08:00Dad Solo**Not anymore. But the kid's too fascinating to shut this thing down. So ... yeah.Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.comBlogger215125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407789375123986094.post-23852313764366340292014-09-18T09:15:00.001-07:002014-09-18T09:15:36.206-07:00HST<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5IJauLjTQpMRMY66HH1Y36hlityL-QwWVP_VoGmR5RLv1kzWpLWJSv0UDBXrAAHGwF4nxt45WpB6sfU3iOb1jzanqksjF5JiGlzXZUaF3fzaJyTq2GZUYIC-TLTxUtWkeUSoEiYXNP8/s1600/hunter-thompson-our-kitchen-sink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5IJauLjTQpMRMY66HH1Y36hlityL-QwWVP_VoGmR5RLv1kzWpLWJSv0UDBXrAAHGwF4nxt45WpB6sfU3iOb1jzanqksjF5JiGlzXZUaF3fzaJyTq2GZUYIC-TLTxUtWkeUSoEiYXNP8/s1600/hunter-thompson-our-kitchen-sink.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407789375123986094.post-34531055551302462402012-08-24T15:09:00.000-07:002012-08-26T11:18:09.943-07:00One More Round Of Applause For The Kid<div class="tr_bq">
NJ turned 3 the other day, and a while back I decided that I'd write this blog's last post in honor of that occasion. Mainly for reasons outlined <a href="http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/24/11373268-does-tmi-apply-when-blogging-about-kids" target="_blank">here</a>. (This is probably no surprise if you've noticed the dearth of posts the past few months.) There is one more story I'd like to share, though, before I sign off. It's about NJ and Paul McCartney.</div>
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A few years ago, my wife and I had only been expecting a few days when I heard Macca's then-new single. '<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHpbd3zhWhA" target="_blank">Dance Tonight</a>' is the kind of song he's been writing for 40 years -- simple, sweet melody, nice beat, lyrics that get straight to the point, however slight that point may be. "Listen to this, it sounds like a children's song," I said. Then I read that he wrote the mandolin-heavy ditty, pretty much filler in the McCartney songbook, because his 3-year-old loved dancing when he played that instrument. As a prospective father-to-be, that warmed my heart. And since I can't play the mandolin, I vowed to play 'Dance Tonight' and dance around with my child when he or she was ready to dance.<br />
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A few weeks later we miscarried. I did the best I could to comfort my wife, and I held myself together pretty well (I thought). Until I was sitting at my desk the next day, sort of zoning out, when this song popped up on the iPod. I was so overcome that I kind of went numb for a few seconds before shutting off the music, getting up and storming out of the room. It was a bad night.<br />
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The thought of the song always took me back to that place, but I never got rid of it because I thought that would be cowardly, somehow; I skipped over it once, I think, but I have thousands and thousands of tracks and it certainly didn't come up often. It did come on again, though, about two years later when my wife was about four months along with NJ. I immediately felt a catch in my throat and a rush of bad feeling, very Pavlovian. But my wife was happy (as happy as a pregnant woman can be) and healthy, and NJ was, too. This was different. I skipped over the song that time, too, but it was more of a don't-jinx-anything move instead of despair. <br />
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Once NJ was here, bright and fresh and new, I never sought out 'Dance Tonight' on my iPod. The first time it came on NJ was more than a year old, not quite walking but otherwise up and about. She was in the room, too, and I'll tell you what: We danced. Since then I've dialed it up on the device a lot, sometimes with NJ and sometimes without her. It always makes me think of her. It usually makes me cry, too. Always has. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Oh, don't worry. He'll probably write stuff here once in a great while. He really can't help it.</i></span></h4>
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<br />Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407789375123986094.post-43038248235788365742012-08-03T22:54:00.001-07:002012-08-03T22:54:49.490-07:00I Must Be REALLY Good At Example-SettingA quote from the August newsletter at NJ's daycare, in the "Heard Around Preschool One Class" column (basically the school's answer to TMZ and Walter Winchell):<br />
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"When I grow up, I'm going to be a daddy!" -- NJ<br />
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Damn, I make it look <i>gooooooooooooooood</i>.Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407789375123986094.post-60124425362556101452012-07-12T16:26:00.001-07:002012-07-19T12:05:53.866-07:00A Definite Hair DoThe girl has developed a fondness for pigtails, and perhaps I'm biased, but ... I can't believe she found a way to be even <i>more </i>adorably cute. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62ItvBtCwn13Wa5wFLf1cdVepvcnVsa4wydevdJ9gdoqNZS9JCzSAajAsMhjLs4_zy9ypHbFPyn2O6CXsBcTSC4GV7B7tXzfVg7b5Y8zRU4BDUUKP2UxJN1y70phSQO9YxX2WXlVdXjY/s1600/IMG_0097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62ItvBtCwn13Wa5wFLf1cdVepvcnVsa4wydevdJ9gdoqNZS9JCzSAajAsMhjLs4_zy9ypHbFPyn2O6CXsBcTSC4GV7B7tXzfVg7b5Y8zRU4BDUUKP2UxJN1y70phSQO9YxX2WXlVdXjY/s320/IMG_0097.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> How's ya like my new do?</span></i></blockquote>
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For some reason I'm unaware of, she'd never sported pigtails until a few days ago, when her teacher did them up at school. She came home very proud of her <span class="query_h1" id="query_h1">coiffure</span><span id="pronsetspell" style="display: inline;"><span class="pronsetspell" style="display: inline;"><span class="prondelim"></span></span></span>. Sure, she looks darling, but she can also get a little wacky:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLs1lxesFvPxGWsGtpi3DuEyQzUv8HDSmtMbVeUOFFUT-tAbegglFLo9KUwp2gFR9DOHCBqNEfKl7Df6oQRGio7_kwgskHQgHellhyphenhyphenX_NalqKw6r7Adyalc7qxAiEKkT6I8l7tpBA_o8/s1600/IMG_0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLs1lxesFvPxGWsGtpi3DuEyQzUv8HDSmtMbVeUOFFUT-tAbegglFLo9KUwp2gFR9DOHCBqNEfKl7Df6oQRGio7_kwgskHQgHellhyphenhyphenX_NalqKw6r7Adyalc7qxAiEKkT6I8l7tpBA_o8/s320/IMG_0099.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Actual quote before this photo was snapped: 'I can do silly!'</span></i></blockquote>
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Only problem is, it can be a little tricky getting those rubber bands on and off without a little pain. I heard NJ wailing her bedroom from the front porch this morning as The Wife fixed her hair. And The Wife took off on an overnight business trip, so in a couple of hours it will be my task to remove them. RUH ROH.Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407789375123986094.post-63109501314118533942012-06-27T16:14:00.002-07:002012-06-27T16:14:33.075-07:00Blogrolling XXXIIII used to love <a href="http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/27/12425149-never-again-grace-elizabeth-the-things-dads-will-do-for-their-daughters?lite" target="_blank">rides like this</a>, and assume I still would. I guess I'll find out eventually.Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407789375123986094.post-4097604499700808292012-06-14T09:13:00.000-07:002012-06-14T09:13:03.402-07:00Blogrolling XXIIR-E-S-P-E-C-T, <a href="http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/14/12205524-dads-view-newsflash-fathers-have-feelings-too?lite" target="_blank">find out what it means to me</a>!Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407789375123986094.post-90699324067789491112012-06-12T18:24:00.002-07:002012-06-12T18:24:41.502-07:00Profile In CourageNJ had a nice little moment of bravery the other day. The notorious slide fanatic attempted her biggest solo slide EVER at the Golden Gardens playground. <br />
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Some things scare NJ -- as they do all kids her age -- and one of them was the drop she saw when she finally got to the top of the apparatus and sat down:<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">It's a long way to the top if you wanna rock and roll ...</span></i></blockquote>
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I could see the concern in NJ's eyes from the bottom of the slide, and after a few moments she hesitantly stood up and walked away. The Wife (pictured behind NJ) said something like "OK, let's see what else there is to do" and prepared to climb down. Another kid was on the way up, though -- NJ saw her and reevaluated her position. She came back to the top of the slide, sat down, and firmly grasped the side railings (above). Her eyes looked the same, but I swear I saw them slide from concern to resolve a second before she pulled herself forward, then pushed down and slid to the bottom. It was the fastest she's ever slid, and she loved it. She performed the stunt several more times, consecutively.<br />
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(Later on she let go while swinging in the Big Girl Swing, i.e. the built-in seat, and it did not end well. But that's another, even less-interesting story.)Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407789375123986094.post-23383291053090970712012-06-11T10:17:00.000-07:002012-06-11T10:17:21.358-07:00Blogrolling XXIThey felt I really went overboard voicing my opposition to the Wiggles and cut that part down in this <a href="http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/08/12110323-kiddie-music-terrific-tunes-or-torture?lite" target="_blank">piece</a>.Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407789375123986094.post-5372158542538950862012-05-15T11:20:00.000-07:002012-05-15T11:20:13.872-07:00Blogrolling XXIn which I ... <a href="http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/15/11703730-dads-view-its-not-a-competition-but-im-totally-the-better-parent?lite">pick a fight</a> with The Wife?<br />
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Yeah, I know. Probably not a good idea.Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407789375123986094.post-53344674848967933892012-05-09T09:35:00.000-07:002012-05-09T09:35:19.943-07:00Maurice Sendak, RIPSendak, who died this week at age 83, was one of NJ's favorite authors. <a href="http://youtu.be/oNkPDMREOxw">Here</a> is her dramatic reading of "In the Night Kitchen."<br />
<br />Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407789375123986094.post-32555800158386330472012-04-24T14:20:00.004-07:002012-04-24T14:20:39.981-07:00Blogrolling XIXIn which I <a href="http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/24/11373268-does-tmi-apply-when-blogging-about-kids">question</a> this whole freakin' endeavor.Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407789375123986094.post-89148423405830046822012-04-22T08:55:00.000-07:002012-04-22T08:55:20.990-07:00The Sands Of TimeYesterday was a milestone for NJ -- I took down her crib and assembled her new Big Girl Bed. She was probably ready for this a few months ago, but we decided there was no rush and she didn't seen to care. Yesterday, when I showed her the new headboard, though, NJ got very excited about the prospect.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Thanks for two-and-a-half years of stellar service, crib. You will be missed the first time NJ wakes up crying at 3 a.m. and comes upstairs.</i></span></blockquote>
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Her excitement quickly turned to worry, though, when naptime came yesterday afternoon. NJ called her mom into the room a couple of times with concerns about blankets and such. It took a good hour or so for her to calm down and go to sleep. Last night, though, she went to bed early (her call) and slept through the night like an angel.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Hooray for new furniture!</i></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIy0B2CqKbo21InXkfFHcwDBmLx5s7biXLz6KhfDqduVqkVMsbCX3l1lfIIPECE0sYZd7YTXgKlJ7VsxNv1JwqYB8P0PxhF2qd5r_p7HbWgVZwiVe59XY9x79exYb8BQ3mk5r3nZHeqg/s1600/IMG_1940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIy0B2CqKbo21InXkfFHcwDBmLx5s7biXLz6KhfDqduVqkVMsbCX3l1lfIIPECE0sYZd7YTXgKlJ7VsxNv1JwqYB8P0PxhF2qd5r_p7HbWgVZwiVe59XY9x79exYb8BQ3mk5r3nZHeqg/s320/IMG_1940.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>But, uh, I'm trying to catch a few winks here, as you can see. So, if you don't mind ...</i></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3q_9qfLf1NZFe19ZoJqyPfphNtDVueRts1vHW11bZIY2ty6AUTxP7Qca1Dldm2JdgUCkzaiDaEziIpDmhqh8Xlef_VrvQlfLsWK-ACdA9uPzjYe3qtfAhm9noO5438Ok-o8MG3HPga0s/s1600/IMG_1941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3q_9qfLf1NZFe19ZoJqyPfphNtDVueRts1vHW11bZIY2ty6AUTxP7Qca1Dldm2JdgUCkzaiDaEziIpDmhqh8Xlef_VrvQlfLsWK-ACdA9uPzjYe3qtfAhm9noO5438Ok-o8MG3HPga0s/s320/IMG_1941.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Seriously, Dad, get out of my face. OK?</i></span></blockquote>
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There's a gap between the bed and the wall -- the bed can't be completely flush because of a window sill -- but The Wife ingeniously stuffed NJ's five-foot-long stuffed caterpillar in it and all's well. As a sleepy NJ says, "Sweet dreams!"<br />
<br />Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407789375123986094.post-24771136729800422682012-03-15T11:57:00.001-07:002012-03-15T11:59:42.328-07:00Blogrolling XVIII<a href="http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/14/10672805-dads-arent-dummies-in-the-diaper-wars">Me versus the Mad Men.</a> Who ya got?<span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"></span></span>Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407789375123986094.post-36596256347372179392012-03-05T11:50:00.011-08:002012-03-05T12:15:34.775-08:00Blogrolling XVII -- Plus!A recap of our trip to Hawaii a couple of weeks ago is <a href="http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/05/10583850-dad-puts-experts-family-travel-advice-to-the-test">here</a>.<br /><br />The photo of NJ on the TODAY blog may be my favorite of her ever. Here are some more good shots.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2sZ8m1KJ6k5yAFEbz1aTODL6f67twjSmt4Lr0_6yMDmIn11EJZEW7Zx-JebSRjmJN-gvVyiCpPM6dfb7EIlUZaLjuItTC2bqCvzmrPu9ZhkuAGxfYX3LzG1iGBHZ_2mg2w9gyPynnqc/s1600/DSCN0394.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2sZ8m1KJ6k5yAFEbz1aTODL6f67twjSmt4Lr0_6yMDmIn11EJZEW7Zx-JebSRjmJN-gvVyiCpPM6dfb7EIlUZaLjuItTC2bqCvzmrPu9ZhkuAGxfYX3LzG1iGBHZ_2mg2w9gyPynnqc/s400/DSCN0394.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716503686636242034" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><blockquote><span style="font-size:85%;">Please tell me we aren't eating these fish later for dinner.</span></blockquote></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fGOqAx4FDyQL5GJp0QUul1dKqTemxL21g7ttijstqwIuKwyHvEeglfc_0-WPHPWmJH7dDjYCg7UEdgF08o5gUe4nXF_LxSKaSdvNM2YFLYqPO9JMUmGYrJ7GFMYHlzuoEgNjI86LDog/s1600/DSCN0397.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fGOqAx4FDyQL5GJp0QUul1dKqTemxL21g7ttijstqwIuKwyHvEeglfc_0-WPHPWmJH7dDjYCg7UEdgF08o5gUe4nXF_LxSKaSdvNM2YFLYqPO9JMUmGYrJ7GFMYHlzuoEgNjI86LDog/s400/DSCN0397.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716503897698908946" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><blockquote><span style="font-size:85%;">The kid did not want for opportunities to pick stuff up off the beach.</span></blockquote></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgem-nZudRX5R4v04Y6Q3vTcVKr5Gw9slNrpcSQMjOqXVO9Xnm9BZqsG6kxtkGLq_q7E6u-M0zeHCvovVtzzElgQGb7HdFprBLtF0Zb9lzSnb0Sbprr1DzsFVIV7z7PpETUyHVGcPsRZKM/s1600/IMG_1854.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgem-nZudRX5R4v04Y6Q3vTcVKr5Gw9slNrpcSQMjOqXVO9Xnm9BZqsG6kxtkGLq_q7E6u-M0zeHCvovVtzzElgQGb7HdFprBLtF0Zb9lzSnb0Sbprr1DzsFVIV7z7PpETUyHVGcPsRZKM/s400/IMG_1854.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716504155443518594" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><blockquote><span style="font-size:85%;">What's prettier, my girls or my legs? Wait, don't answer that -- I don't want you to offend NJ and The Wife.</span></blockquote></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13-vOGp_O0N54UWfILLGPQaxpdSXvqh_LBfEwvu2Q7jHV0QngtLEWAAMx8JFKTcrdBYbdOyOnQvTfjrSqNjI7V3pE6Nve16ti18ofrX1FHXql96wRvNEQHfR8V5b1JHPWWgP75SruI5Q/s1600/DSCN0409.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13-vOGp_O0N54UWfILLGPQaxpdSXvqh_LBfEwvu2Q7jHV0QngtLEWAAMx8JFKTcrdBYbdOyOnQvTfjrSqNjI7V3pE6Nve16ti18ofrX1FHXql96wRvNEQHfR8V5b1JHPWWgP75SruI5Q/s400/DSCN0409.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716504762683307794" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><blockquote><span style="font-size:85%;">Can't this clown see I'm trying to eat?</span></blockquote></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JZ2NuK8u14-i_NW9hzCww23X0BIjwKzS84oUrmlJ6mOOMnqwzt94VvZB_X0iHR2ZZthBlDTfG4MbcqYjNfRbL3en_Stp35fzxCKAwORj23nnNnpIhwMojHqpgTWwr0vIAhLVphqmtNs/s1600/DSCN0432.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JZ2NuK8u14-i_NW9hzCww23X0BIjwKzS84oUrmlJ6mOOMnqwzt94VvZB_X0iHR2ZZthBlDTfG4MbcqYjNfRbL3en_Stp35fzxCKAwORj23nnNnpIhwMojHqpgTWwr0vIAhLVphqmtNs/s400/DSCN0432.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716505208470894082" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><blockquote><span style="font-size:85%;">Mommy, I think the beached whale behind me just tooted!</span></blockquote></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tDpYwfmzuYhfKH9neH7dxndADzS9LrEZ53d3kzQFdZEFLnklDex89mmks02T-aHPne9M48fEmg0hY_UPPt10drnjRTLW447Zvn6xYD5A-r0wgYYXpgrHUK4Uqn7-JZG8sh9SaM1cevo/s1600/DSCN0458.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tDpYwfmzuYhfKH9neH7dxndADzS9LrEZ53d3kzQFdZEFLnklDex89mmks02T-aHPne9M48fEmg0hY_UPPt10drnjRTLW447Zvn6xYD5A-r0wgYYXpgrHUK4Uqn7-JZG8sh9SaM1cevo/s400/DSCN0458.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716505817662732546" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><blockquote><span style="font-size:85%;">Enjoying a sunset.</span></blockquote></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidb8GjBx4WkvK1aFJTQGSige0lGitlSLtqz2NsY0Bmw5W1gUEgWwOhHOB1ZAbEsMlOYzj_mPNqjNTm1KViIcA1FaYJ3zhLVQ58XT6ntpF65rZXDESdM1hB60-c3p7WyyK3WB-0V5s0D2s/s1600/DSCN0469.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidb8GjBx4WkvK1aFJTQGSige0lGitlSLtqz2NsY0Bmw5W1gUEgWwOhHOB1ZAbEsMlOYzj_mPNqjNTm1KViIcA1FaYJ3zhLVQ58XT6ntpF65rZXDESdM1hB60-c3p7WyyK3WB-0V5s0D2s/s400/DSCN0469.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716506196985566258" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><blockquote><span style="font-size:85%;">I need some cucumber slices for my eyes.</span></blockquote></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinad7MufJenTuJ5Or6guLBo3lydvBX0pnbozSIw1q3GX3mdpN_sIJqbesUWzFPzPe-8-kBtJolKRUdAPXHlEx7Si8SIqX79f8xjaFhAAruWReS5O_yF5W71bF_lQaDnPTSwELxwu4JH60/s1600/DSCN0482.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinad7MufJenTuJ5Or6guLBo3lydvBX0pnbozSIw1q3GX3mdpN_sIJqbesUWzFPzPe-8-kBtJolKRUdAPXHlEx7Si8SIqX79f8xjaFhAAruWReS5O_yF5W71bF_lQaDnPTSwELxwu4JH60/s400/DSCN0482.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716506493499046978" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><blockquote><span style="font-size:85%;">We thought about burying NJ up to her neck and sneaking off for a while, but a plan never materialized.</span></blockquote></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibe7MkKPtlL0dPQFUqdCNhb-uSVyh2wkxcPjjvMfZ2AbL-RfsL_F5i7EgKY3_Nwm0k8zQM7kJt5mJx7CuSVEt2FuOTbrPq7kaNPZHYhZXzu__6zUNo7ftnEg6DomeueKWHBq7vhJ5Ys6k/s1600/DSCN0541.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibe7MkKPtlL0dPQFUqdCNhb-uSVyh2wkxcPjjvMfZ2AbL-RfsL_F5i7EgKY3_Nwm0k8zQM7kJt5mJx7CuSVEt2FuOTbrPq7kaNPZHYhZXzu__6zUNo7ftnEg6DomeueKWHBq7vhJ5Ys6k/s400/DSCN0541.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716507048648197282" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><blockquote><span style="font-size:85%;">I heard Dad muttering that he could really get used to this, and I gotta say ... I agree.</span></blockquote></div><br /><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(168, 236, 255) ! important; font-family: Arial ! important; font-size: 12px ! important; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) ! important; line-height: normal ! important; font-weight: normal ! important; vertical-align: middle ! important; left: 17px ! important; top: 23px ! important; visibility: visible ! important; display: inline ! important; border: 1px solid black ! important; width: auto; height: auto ! important; position: absolute ! important; border-radius: 5px 5px 5px 5px ! important; text-align: left ! important; z-index: 1410065406 ! important; padding: 2px ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" id="gmBFtt"><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(168, 236, 255) ! important; font-family: Arial ! important; font-size: 12px ! important; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) ! important; line-height: normal ! important; font-weight: normal ! important; vertical-align: middle ! important; border-bottom: 1px dotted black ! important; padding-bottom: 2px ! important; padding-top: 2px ! important;"><span id="bfconfigButton" title="Choose source- and target- languages" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(168, 236, 255) ! important; font-family: Arial ! important; font-size: 12px ! important; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) ! important; line-height: normal ! important; font-weight: normal ! important; vertical-align: middle ! important; cursor: pointer ! important; margin: 1px ! important; border: 1px dotted gray ! important; padding: 0px 2px ! important;">Languages</span><span id="bfdetectButton" title="Auto-detect language and translate!" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(168, 236, 255) ! important; font-family: Arial ! important; font-size: 12px ! important; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) ! important; line-height: normal ! important; font-weight: normal ! important; vertical-align: middle ! important; cursor: pointer; margin: 1px ! important; border: 1px dotted gray ! important; padding: 0px 2px ! important; display: none ! important;"></span><span title="From Spanish to Spanish (click to switch translation direction)" id="bflangsSpan" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(168, 236, 255) ! important; font-family: Arial ! important; font-size: 12px ! important; color: rgb(255, 0, 0) ! important; line-height: normal ! important; font-weight: normal ! important; vertical-align: middle ! important; margin: 1px ! important; border: 1px dotted gray ! important; padding: 0px 2px ! important; cursor: pointer ! important;">es>es </span><span title="Translation service: Yahoo (toggle service)" id="bfsvcSpan" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(168, 236, 255) ! important; font-family: Arial ! important; font-size: 12px ! important; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) ! important; line-height: normal ! important; font-weight: normal ! important; vertical-align: middle ! important; margin: 1px ! important; border: 1px dotted gray ! important; padding: 0px 2px ! important; cursor: pointer ! important;">Yahoo</span><span title="Copy result to clipboard" id="bfclipboardSpan" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(168, 236, 255) ! important; font-family: Arial ! important; font-size: 12px ! important; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) ! important; line-height: normal ! important; font-weight: normal ! important; vertical-align: middle ! important; margin: 1px ! important; border: 1px dotted gray ! important; padding: 0px 2px ! important; cursor: copy ! important;">C</span><span id="bfeditButton" title="Edit selection" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(168, 236, 255) ! important; font-family: Arial ! important; font-size: 12px ! important; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) ! important; line-height: normal ! important; font-weight: normal ! important; vertical-align: middle ! important; cursor: pointer; margin: 1px ! important; border: 1px dotted gray ! important; padding: 0px 2px ! important;">E</span><span title="Service error code bfe001 Empty answer; In case of repeated problems a service definitions update is necessary" id="bferrorSpan" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(168, 236, 255) ! important; font-family: Arial ! important; font-size: 12px ! important; color: rgb(255, 0, 0) ! important; line-height: normal ! important; font-weight: normal ! important; vertical-align: middle ! important; margin: 1px ! important; border: 1px dotted gray ! important; padding: 0px 2px ! important; cursor: pointer ! important; display: inline ! important; visibility: visible ! important;">error</span><img id="bffishImg" style="border: medium none ! important; float: none ! important; vertical-align: top ! important; margin: 0px ! important; cursor: pointer ! important; display: inline ! important;" title="Auto-detect language and translate!" src="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABwAAAAOCAYAAAA8E3wEAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAAAB3RJTUUH1QUUDyoqJjAqRwAAAN1JREFUOMu1lMkVwyAMBYe0JGpCNUFNVk3k4AUwxPGS+ILxkzX8jyTH/Sfu9nrmJ3cXlnMASyWRPwd2d5XlHCBZn1BthcbRAdxTZQDI8k3mQzg11rhF+QZ9jdNOcQib6GFQYJYgCFucSRf6GsLU6wEY5yubTFqF2yq1vRwr3INXdQUWG+je1pELX4ED1wDyRAR0WfuAA9gloITyvsFMIMgYInYRqF6rO9Sqz9qkO5ilyo0o3YBwJ+6vrdQonxWUQllhXeHcb/wabMPkP2n81ocAIoLZrMqn/4y2RwP8DcQ+d6rT9ATiAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC" /></div><div style="display: none ! important; border-bottom: 1px dotted black ! important;"><input id="bfeditField" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(168, 236, 255) ! important; font-family: Arial ! important; font-size: 12px ! important; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) ! important; line-height: normal ! important; font-weight: normal ! important; vertical-align: middle ! important; border: 0pt none ! important; margin: 1px ! important;"></div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(168, 236, 255) ! important; font-family: Arial ! important; font-size: 12px ! important; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) ! important; line-height: normal ! important; font-weight: normal ! important; vertical-align: middle ! important; width: auto;">nice</div></div>Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407789375123986094.post-89965282906878838172012-02-29T07:35:00.001-08:002012-02-29T07:36:51.491-08:00Blogrolling XVIFeeding fathers, <a href="http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/28/10520642-sweet-photo-of-dad-feeding-baby-turns-controversial#.T0z7_6GImJo.facebook">unite</a>!Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407789375123986094.post-45282844727756596762012-02-04T22:23:00.001-08:002012-02-05T13:31:25.373-08:00SwingerNJ's first solo spin on the big-girl swing wasn't the most exciting thing ever, but dang if she don't look good in them shades, huh? (Be sure to watch through the end, the shadow in the lower left has a special hand sign for you.)<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dykL43XKbPk3mnOLYUeR5BbJsLASAVStqH9tfDkALB7fTXKTLMOaJd3SOJXOyU3WQXqYl0OO1j0yQc9J1Fzdg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">This looks like a lot more fun when other kids are doing it, Daddy.</span></div>Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407789375123986094.post-22981037789171539282012-02-01T17:13:00.000-08:002012-02-01T17:37:57.466-08:00Blogrolling XVIn which Dad Solo <a href="http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/01/10282352-dads-view-tips-on-running-the-show-when-moms-not-around">offers some dad-soloing tips</a> to another dad who recently went solo.Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407789375123986094.post-57639379895229720332012-01-25T15:07:00.000-08:002012-01-25T15:14:56.975-08:00Blogrolling XIVI hope <a href="http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/25/10218955-dads-view-jay-z-missed-his-chance-to-dad-up">this</a> doesn't escalate into another East Coast-West Coast war.Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407789375123986094.post-2384784533162512382012-01-20T11:28:00.000-08:002012-01-20T12:11:34.146-08:00Case ClosedEver since NJ and I opened the <a href="http://dadsolo.blogspot.com/2011/07/curious-case-of-jimi-hendrixs-flying.html">Curious Case of the Jimi Hendrix Flying Honeybee Eyeball</a>, I've been careful to wear the offending t-shirt under other clothes so's not to alarm her. If you're too lazy or obstinate to click on that link -- the kid was afraid my t-shirt with this on it:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoWi2p2cjb4ZuTqEVPQH4zM60GII3vEkuh9pV7EcH3UBARePNw_Xc512ajBw9ACiT6cJzvEIdttb5KbHG21IyUMz197hZXnWAlXS6XUWqYkqGh15RFM7ywjh4uyI0DN_mQGge7xKDImc/s1600/poster.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 262px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoWi2p2cjb4ZuTqEVPQH4zM60GII3vEkuh9pV7EcH3UBARePNw_Xc512ajBw9ACiT6cJzvEIdttb5KbHG21IyUMz197hZXnWAlXS6XUWqYkqGh15RFM7ywjh4uyI0DN_mQGge7xKDImc/s400/poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699808147251157746" border="0" /></a>Yesterday I pulled off a sweater, forgetting that I was wearing the Hendrix eyeball T underneath. But instead of getting frightened, NJ looked at it curiously, with a hint of a grin, and said "What's that?" I explained it, she studied it a few moments longer, then went back to her Play-Do. It appears that, at long last, the house is once again safe for flying eyeballs.<br /><br />Don't know if this exchange had anything to do with NJ saying later on that she wanted to eat her mommy's eyeballs.Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407789375123986094.post-22118883399452018812012-01-16T14:05:00.000-08:002012-01-16T14:07:56.107-08:00Blogrolling XIIIQ: What's in a name?<br /><br />A: In this case, just dusting off that hoary old cliche so I can link to <a href="http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/15/10151658-dads-view-second-place-is-still-good-in-the-baby-naming-game">this</a> for your reading pleasure.Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407789375123986094.post-64171226753971074552012-01-06T09:35:00.000-08:002012-01-06T09:48:23.869-08:00Blogrolling XIINew year's resolutions are <a href="http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/06/9983249-dads-view-my-2012-parenting-role-model-is-ron-burgundy">here</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Pt0N07nEJv7KzZ89N2cVnpDmtqjLpX-9gKmSMsLKXKT_egXa8zR2QH6kWf2uI-eqYQ_vNwp_pqoyBq6R2yilZiKy8Dg_P8TAcqFJBtUrBrt4AXLcNEeFoR9Qx0cuK2fjTuG8t3pN9xo/s1600/image002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 221px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Pt0N07nEJv7KzZ89N2cVnpDmtqjLpX-9gKmSMsLKXKT_egXa8zR2QH6kWf2uI-eqYQ_vNwp_pqoyBq6R2yilZiKy8Dg_P8TAcqFJBtUrBrt4AXLcNEeFoR9Qx0cuK2fjTuG8t3pN9xo/s400/image002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694577014303001586" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><blockquote><span style="font-size:78%;">You stay classy, fans of NJ.</span></blockquote></div><br /><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);" class=" down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link"></span></span>Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407789375123986094.post-3442663161572763552012-01-01T14:15:00.000-08:002012-01-02T11:10:12.952-08:00Beware The Ghost Of Christmas Just Very Recently PassedWhen NJ and The Wife wake up from their respective naps, the Christmas tree will come down and the holidays will officially be over (don't tell my boss, though, because I have tomorrow off). The season didn't flash by quickly for me, as it has the past few years, but I'm always a little surprised when Jan. 1 and 2 roll around and I look back and say "Well, it's over" to myself. We just relegated the dead Christmas tree out to the side of the house, so it's all official and stuff: 2012 has started.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWTVfpYO9di9diomCOqJz6Q93dKPpENYoToyv4TfRmOICqAVtNqNcHoBz3lDk6bKCw-N05C3APm4qALEYbbJK8feJ6x76kAcWapbOJrWfij3_MRFtw2cQx_GHVHF3sWuk0qoslz1hKoA/s1600/DSCN0279.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWTVfpYO9di9diomCOqJz6Q93dKPpENYoToyv4TfRmOICqAVtNqNcHoBz3lDk6bKCw-N05C3APm4qALEYbbJK8feJ6x76kAcWapbOJrWfij3_MRFtw2cQx_GHVHF3sWuk0qoslz1hKoA/s200/DSCN0279.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693108666944266818" border="0" /></a>The best part of the h0liday season was NJ's complete and total warming up to my parents -- she got over her <a href="http://dadsolo.blogspot.com/2011/04/nj-has-two-grandmas.html">well-documented</a> <a href="http://dadsolo.blogspot.com/2011/06/bashful-show-off.html">shyness</a> in a big way. I knew things would go well when NJ, unprompted, crawled into my father's lap, spun around, sat down and put her thumb in her mouth. She'd glance over at him occasionally, and they'd smile at each other and she'd return to contently sit and suck her thumb. That set the tone for the week, right through to the morning they left for Houston and we got NJ up at a very early hour to say goodbye. It's been a little tough for her to get to know Grandma and Dad-Dad since they live so far away, but finally the shyness levee broke and the valleys of their hearts were flooded with deadly, raging love and affection.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuzbc-c0S-hzPSSsTyo8DJvVGjmMzUIbGshyphenhyphenQ_U0Fkl6k96gvq4l7WdiW9xTaSnOGgNd0BdoQF4T7y168xTmKL9sQXB0w36alLNlpjrrPR2_R3jQGqGh1uvHPcAH0MRr1GpHDWIZuK4Q/s1600/HNE.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 149px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuzbc-c0S-hzPSSsTyo8DJvVGjmMzUIbGshyphenhyphenQ_U0Fkl6k96gvq4l7WdiW9xTaSnOGgNd0BdoQF4T7y168xTmKL9sQXB0w36alLNlpjrrPR2_R3jQGqGh1uvHPcAH0MRr1GpHDWIZuK4Q/s320/HNE.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693112634697520898" border="0" /></a>The Wife and I managed to slip out a couple of nights for dinner, which was nice, too. NJ really raked it in, gift-wise -- a couple of days before Christmas I looked around and realized that yes, she was getting way too much stuff. Again.<br /><br />The new year kicked off with The Wife laid low with some kind of 24-hour stomach bug and me limited by a sore back, but NJ was a pretty good kid on Jan. 1. She and I played and watched TV (thanks to a concert we saw, she now knows how to say "The Rolling Stones," and she can "whoo-whoo" like a pro during "Sympathy for the Devil") while her mom recovered (she's fine today). The only real glitch for NJ came today, Jan. 2, when her mom broke out the vacuum to clean up after we chucked the tree out of the house. The kid does not care for the noise that comes from the vacuum cleaner. At. All. I was able to successfully distract her with videos of Bert and Ernie on the YouTubes.<br /><br />So from us to you, whoever the heck you are, Happy New Year!Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407789375123986094.post-78272407017965503862011-12-16T16:47:00.001-08:002011-12-17T21:45:49.292-08:00Blogrolling XI<a href="http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/16/9477618-dads-view-why-ive-got-a-celeb-crush-on-louis-ck">This post</a> has been up since yesterday morning, but Louis C.K. still hasn't called.<span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);" class="" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link"><img src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" alt="Link" class="gl_link" border="0" /></span></span>Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407789375123986094.post-1729619399816868582011-12-11T09:24:00.000-08:002011-12-11T09:32:58.473-08:00NJ Takes A MeetingNJ was looking forward to meeting Santa Claus at a Christmas party last night -- we talked about it on the drive over to our friends' house. Once we got there, though, Bashful and Shy took over and the kid wouldn't leave her mother.<br /><br />We went on with our party business, and at one point NJ and I were in our hosts' son's room with some other kids, playing with his train set, when I said "Hey NJ, are you ready to tell Santa what you want for Christmas now?" "Yeah," she replied, and she walked out of the bedroom and around the corner to Santa's area. When I caught up she was standing in front of him, then she climbed up. She didn't say anything to him (and she didn't have any requests for him anyway), but she spent a few minutes with him and managed to smile some, too (not pictured).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7J7abuZm9kekiyagrTsN2TehrbKQC7JbOjbX_njgS_DVWHVo2LZgH-QkjFF80xGkQM4vMkEtp45dA4THoh-1PsPp5vO9kyjPK07HRqW91ytuZLQUZKi2HjJZaBOhMXyaAPXy0J37ikB4/s1600/IMG_1810.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7J7abuZm9kekiyagrTsN2TehrbKQC7JbOjbX_njgS_DVWHVo2LZgH-QkjFF80xGkQM4vMkEtp45dA4THoh-1PsPp5vO9kyjPK07HRqW91ytuZLQUZKi2HjJZaBOhMXyaAPXy0J37ikB4/s400/IMG_1810.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684924713943912034" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><blockquote><span style="font-size:85%;">This guy ain't fitting down our chimney, Daddy ...</span></blockquote></div>Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407789375123986094.post-54056836950480998782011-12-11T08:53:00.000-08:002011-12-11T08:55:29.912-08:00Blogrolling XOf course, as soon as I <a href="http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/09/9305124-dads-view-dont-judge-me-for-hating-the-terrible-twos">complain about tantrums</a>, NJ suddenly turns all lovey-dovey and excruciatingly cute. She hasn't tantrumed since this was written.Dad Solohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421527540037417787noreply@blogger.com0