Let me start this off by giving a little advice, never... ever... ever... plan a vacation with your toddler and your 100lb dog if you plan on camping and rain is anywhere in the forecast. Two days stuck in a tent with you, your spouse, your toddler and your wet smelly, wet, bored dog will drive you and every thing else in the tent crazy.
On second thought it doesn't matter where you are going (unless you are staying with family or friends and they have a yard for your dog) don't plan a vacation with your 100lb dog and toddler. One of them has to stay home, period.
We were camping a beautiful spot in the White Mnts. of New Hampshire right on a mountain lake. The camping idea was great for the first afternoon and then the rains came, and stayed for the rest of our stay, until of course we were leaving. The weather was great while we were packing up.
While in the tent we played games, took naps, changed diapers, had arguments, yelled at the dog, etc. All the while we managed to keep the inside of the tent dry along with all of the stuff in the tent until Oliver found Norman's full water bowl and thought it was funny to dump it out in the tent, while walking from one side of the tent to the other.
More of our vacation experience to come...
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
What Oliver has eaten since turning the Big One.
Oliver turned one recently. At his 12 month check the Dr encouraged us to expand his food including anything we wanted except for nuts. So, over the past month Oliver has enjoyed the following new foods:
Sockeye Salmon: loves it
Dill pickles: his favorite
Blue Cheese: loves it
Pancetta: loves it
Prosciutto: loves it
Lobster: loves it
Crab: loves it
Shrimp: loves it
Scallops: loves them
Hummus: loves it (Oliver has even eaten Jalapeno hummus with a spoon, he can already eat hotter food than his Nonnie and he is pushing his mommy out of her #2 spot in the household hierarchy of ability to handle spicy foods in the house.)
9/2/11
Pot roast and carrots: LOVED IT, his favorite so far.
9/3/11
Raw Tuna: loved it
Pickled Ginger: Loved it
Wasabi: Did not love it... at all.
Imitation Crab: not a fan
Super spicy chicken satay: loved it, ate it with out flinching. It made Alissa sweat.
Yes we ate sushi.
I'll list more as I think of them and as he continues to expand his pallet.
Sockeye Salmon: loves it
Dill pickles: his favorite
Blue Cheese: loves it
Pancetta: loves it
Prosciutto: loves it
Lobster: loves it
Crab: loves it
Shrimp: loves it
Scallops: loves them
Hummus: loves it (Oliver has even eaten Jalapeno hummus with a spoon, he can already eat hotter food than his Nonnie and he is pushing his mommy out of her #2 spot in the household hierarchy of ability to handle spicy foods in the house.)
9/2/11
Pot roast and carrots: LOVED IT, his favorite so far.
9/3/11
Raw Tuna: loved it
Pickled Ginger: Loved it
Wasabi: Did not love it... at all.
Imitation Crab: not a fan
Super spicy chicken satay: loved it, ate it with out flinching. It made Alissa sweat.
Yes we ate sushi.
I'll list more as I think of them and as he continues to expand his pallet.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Of dogs and babies...
This is the day Oliver saved Norman's life...
It had been a particularly tough day with Oliver. He was teething badly and would not go down for his morning nap. Nothing would make Oliver happy and he needed to be held non-stop. Norman picked this day to transform from a 100lb respectable dog to a 5lb yappy, annoying, needy tea cup poodle.
Finally at 4pm Oliver started showing signs of wanting to go down. I took him upstairs and went thru the routine, pulling the drapes, turning on the fan and his music box then sitting down with him in the rocking chair and reading him his nap book. He wasn't having it. Oliver was up and down in my lap, putting his paci in my mouth, back in his mouth, back in my mouth, throw it on the floor, wash it off, back in his mouth, etc.
After about 40 minutes of rocking he finally starts to shut his eyes when Norman barged thru the shut door, (waking up Oliver) just to see what he was missing. He made a lap of the room then left. I got up, shut the door again and went back to rocking Oliver. Norman then started pacing outside the door creating enough noise with his nails on the hardwood and his dog collar to not allow Oliver to focus on sleeping. Norman finally laid down outside the door and Oliver started to fall asleep again. Then Norman started hacking up some of his lunch! Oliver was now wide awake and I was starting to run thru options on how to kill Norman.
I got up and forced Norman downstairs. 30 minutes later Oliver was finally in bed and ready to nap when the postman showed up (5 hours later than normal.) As always the postman's arrival set Norman into a barking frenzy. Oliver was up again, and my plot to murder my dog thickened. By this time I was to the point in my plan that I was trying to figure out how to dispose of Norman's body, his death was already an afterthought.
15 minutes later Oliver is down, I'm walking out of the door when Norman sees another dog outside, or a squirrel, or a rabbit, or cat, etc and he gives his deep growl and a lone loud bark. I start heading for my shotgun when I hear Oliver (how is still asleep) utter, 'dog'. Norman barks again, I hear another muffled, 'dog'. This went on four times. This broke my murderous thoughts towards Norman and by the forth 'dog' I was laughing to myself hysterically.
Little ones are great for getting your head straight again. Sorry Norman for wanting to kill you. I love you but sometimes I wish you were a fish.
It had been a particularly tough day with Oliver. He was teething badly and would not go down for his morning nap. Nothing would make Oliver happy and he needed to be held non-stop. Norman picked this day to transform from a 100lb respectable dog to a 5lb yappy, annoying, needy tea cup poodle.
Finally at 4pm Oliver started showing signs of wanting to go down. I took him upstairs and went thru the routine, pulling the drapes, turning on the fan and his music box then sitting down with him in the rocking chair and reading him his nap book. He wasn't having it. Oliver was up and down in my lap, putting his paci in my mouth, back in his mouth, back in my mouth, throw it on the floor, wash it off, back in his mouth, etc.
After about 40 minutes of rocking he finally starts to shut his eyes when Norman barged thru the shut door, (waking up Oliver) just to see what he was missing. He made a lap of the room then left. I got up, shut the door again and went back to rocking Oliver. Norman then started pacing outside the door creating enough noise with his nails on the hardwood and his dog collar to not allow Oliver to focus on sleeping. Norman finally laid down outside the door and Oliver started to fall asleep again. Then Norman started hacking up some of his lunch! Oliver was now wide awake and I was starting to run thru options on how to kill Norman.
I got up and forced Norman downstairs. 30 minutes later Oliver was finally in bed and ready to nap when the postman showed up (5 hours later than normal.) As always the postman's arrival set Norman into a barking frenzy. Oliver was up again, and my plot to murder my dog thickened. By this time I was to the point in my plan that I was trying to figure out how to dispose of Norman's body, his death was already an afterthought.
15 minutes later Oliver is down, I'm walking out of the door when Norman sees another dog outside, or a squirrel, or a rabbit, or cat, etc and he gives his deep growl and a lone loud bark. I start heading for my shotgun when I hear Oliver (how is still asleep) utter, 'dog'. Norman barks again, I hear another muffled, 'dog'. This went on four times. This broke my murderous thoughts towards Norman and by the forth 'dog' I was laughing to myself hysterically.
Little ones are great for getting your head straight again. Sorry Norman for wanting to kill you. I love you but sometimes I wish you were a fish.
Change of pace...
Up and showered by 6am... (probably 7am but felt like 6am)
Check on animals and get them fed... (Oliver, Norman, finches with baby chicks nesting in my flower basket on porch, they feed themselves.)
Cooking coffee on stove while frying up bacon and eggs...
Happy with all the rain we've had this week-end due to the positive effect it has on my crops... (new grass in front yard and two tomato plants on back porch)
Taking some medicine to help my aching back but thinking 'All the pain of work is worth the results.'
Looking over my land thinking, 'It's good to own land'... (quote stolen from Family Guy and by 'land' I am referring to my 40' by 60' back yard.)
Thinking to myself, when the hell did I turn into a farmer.
Check on animals and get them fed... (Oliver, Norman, finches with baby chicks nesting in my flower basket on porch, they feed themselves.)
Cooking coffee on stove while frying up bacon and eggs...
Happy with all the rain we've had this week-end due to the positive effect it has on my crops... (new grass in front yard and two tomato plants on back porch)
Taking some medicine to help my aching back but thinking 'All the pain of work is worth the results.'
Looking over my land thinking, 'It's good to own land'... (quote stolen from Family Guy and by 'land' I am referring to my 40' by 60' back yard.)
Thinking to myself, when the hell did I turn into a farmer.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Catching Up... (with a bit of rambling)
It has been a long while since my last post. Sorry for the long delay, Alissa tells me I'm not a good 'blogger' due to my lack of consistency, I've been called worse.
Oliver has been moving around like crazy and he's into EVERYTHING. This is nothing new for parents of children older than 9 months but it has been life changing for me. I have to admit, life is much more fun now that he is moving. I like being on my toes, all the time. Plus spring is finally here in Boston, so that helps too.
I really feel sorry for parents that are naturally 'Type A' and try and take that approach to parenting. Kids are the most unpredictable creatures I have ever been around. I can't imagine trying to keep a tight schedule and live life pre-planned once a kid arrives.
For myself, I subconsciously set a few vague long term and short term goals (I actually write a 'to-do' list for daily goals) and then I try and keep the ten-thousand daily distractions (that run thru my head) from derailing me completely. Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I don't but tomorrow is another day.
Here is my approach to raising Oliver, (if it doesn't work there are always second and third kids, HA.) I know the type of man I want him to be and I know the type of person I want him to be in society. I want him to be a confident person, that treats others with respect. I want him to be a person that works hard and sticks with something even when things get real hard. I also want him to never take himself too seriously (confidence) and I want him to keep a good sense of humor about everything (sanity). The rest of what he becomes is up to him.
So, on a daily basis we work on; making each other laugh, making silly faces and sounds, exploring new things, taking chances (him more than me), and trying new things. The only planned activities are naps (which may or may not happen as planned) reading time, play time, meals (when he's hungry), and spending time outside. And, most importantly, I focus on enjoying every minute I spend with him. Oliver is a special person and I want him to know I love him no matter what.
Sometimes all this stuff happens, sometimes it doesn't, but tomorrow is another day and we can try it again.
Having only one kid I have had nothing to base my parenting style on. I haven't known if I was doing a good job or if Oliver was behind other kid's his own age. This was until Oliver and I started his Jelly Jams class. (It's a class for infants and parents to go and learn songs, dances, rhythm, sign language, etc.) Oliver is the best kid in the whole class (biased opinion) top two with out question or bias. I feel much better about my parenting thus far after comparing him to a small group of other 9 month olds. And, if my little man keeps his outgoing personality and current good looks (eyes, smile and hair) the little guy is going places. (If he wants to go places)
Talk to you again in a couple of months.
Oliver has been moving around like crazy and he's into EVERYTHING. This is nothing new for parents of children older than 9 months but it has been life changing for me. I have to admit, life is much more fun now that he is moving. I like being on my toes, all the time. Plus spring is finally here in Boston, so that helps too.
I really feel sorry for parents that are naturally 'Type A' and try and take that approach to parenting. Kids are the most unpredictable creatures I have ever been around. I can't imagine trying to keep a tight schedule and live life pre-planned once a kid arrives.
For myself, I subconsciously set a few vague long term and short term goals (I actually write a 'to-do' list for daily goals) and then I try and keep the ten-thousand daily distractions (that run thru my head) from derailing me completely. Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I don't but tomorrow is another day.
Here is my approach to raising Oliver, (if it doesn't work there are always second and third kids, HA.) I know the type of man I want him to be and I know the type of person I want him to be in society. I want him to be a confident person, that treats others with respect. I want him to be a person that works hard and sticks with something even when things get real hard. I also want him to never take himself too seriously (confidence) and I want him to keep a good sense of humor about everything (sanity). The rest of what he becomes is up to him.
So, on a daily basis we work on; making each other laugh, making silly faces and sounds, exploring new things, taking chances (him more than me), and trying new things. The only planned activities are naps (which may or may not happen as planned) reading time, play time, meals (when he's hungry), and spending time outside. And, most importantly, I focus on enjoying every minute I spend with him. Oliver is a special person and I want him to know I love him no matter what.
Sometimes all this stuff happens, sometimes it doesn't, but tomorrow is another day and we can try it again.
Having only one kid I have had nothing to base my parenting style on. I haven't known if I was doing a good job or if Oliver was behind other kid's his own age. This was until Oliver and I started his Jelly Jams class. (It's a class for infants and parents to go and learn songs, dances, rhythm, sign language, etc.) Oliver is the best kid in the whole class (biased opinion) top two with out question or bias. I feel much better about my parenting thus far after comparing him to a small group of other 9 month olds. And, if my little man keeps his outgoing personality and current good looks (eyes, smile and hair) the little guy is going places. (If he wants to go places)
Talk to you again in a couple of months.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Conversation I just had with my wife...
Alissa and I were sitting on the couch talking about how we would like to spend the rest of our day and then discussing what time Oliver should be waking from his nap. Then Alissa starts the following conversation. I'm not hard of hearing I was just really, really confused through out this entire conversation.
ALissa: 'Did you know that Knut just died?"
Me: "What?"
Alissa: "Knut, he just died."
Me: "What?"
Alissa: "Knut, K.N.U.T, Knut, he just died."
Me: "Thank you for spelling that for me, but I still have no idea who or what Knut is."
Alissa: "Knut, the panda and the San Diego zoo. He just died. Isn't that sad and really scary?"
Me: "Oh...That sucks but why is a panda dying scary?"
Alissa: "Because, he was just walking around in circles and then fell over in his water bowl and drowned. Isn't that scary?"
Me: "I guess if you were standing between him and the water bowl."
Alissa: "He was the only living male panda and he just died, and he had been around all the female pandas. That's why it's so scary."
Me: "What?"
ALissa: 'Did you know that Knut just died?"
Me: "What?"
Alissa: "Knut, he just died."
Me: "What?"
Alissa: "Knut, K.N.U.T, Knut, he just died."
Me: "Thank you for spelling that for me, but I still have no idea who or what Knut is."
Alissa: "Knut, the panda and the San Diego zoo. He just died. Isn't that sad and really scary?"
Me: "Oh...That sucks but why is a panda dying scary?"
Alissa: "Because, he was just walking around in circles and then fell over in his water bowl and drowned. Isn't that scary?"
Me: "I guess if you were standing between him and the water bowl."
Alissa: "He was the only living male panda and he just died, and he had been around all the female pandas. That's why it's so scary."
Me: "What?"
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
My Little Unhappy Snot Monkey...
Oliver has started teething on the big front teeth. I have heard from others that their little ones were unaffected when their teeth came in. Oliver is not so lucky and neither are we. Alissa didn't get much sleep last night due to her inability to sleep thru a baby's cries, lucky for Oliver. He'd have to attach a police siren to his crib to wake me up.
Oliver has a cold to go along with his teething woes, thank you Children's museum. I wonder if it was him drinking from the kiddie pool or licking the play mats in the 'crawlers only' section? But, I hear he needs the exposure, yahee.
His cold doesn't stop him from wanting to pound on the computer from my lap... stop it... I have had to correct five of Oliver's spelling errors so far. Ahh, my shoulder looks like it has been molested by a tree slug, snot everywhere.
So far today the only thing that makes him happy is dancing with me to 'The Talking Heads'. I know this brings up two immediate questions; "Brek, you know how to dance?" and "How do you dance to 'The Talking Heads?".
No, I don't know how to dance, but Oliver seems to think I am really good at it. And, since I don't know how to dance, dancing to the Talking Heads is actually really easy. And, again, Oliver thinks I am awesome at it and it makes him happy. As long as no one else sees me doing it then everything is fine.
I think Oliver is trying to get my attention. He is on all fours and repeatedly banging the top of his head against my leg but he's not crying... maybe this is a new game for him, now of course I have snot on my pants leg, my cute little snot monkey.
Oliver has a cold to go along with his teething woes, thank you Children's museum. I wonder if it was him drinking from the kiddie pool or licking the play mats in the 'crawlers only' section? But, I hear he needs the exposure, yahee.
His cold doesn't stop him from wanting to pound on the computer from my lap... stop it... I have had to correct five of Oliver's spelling errors so far. Ahh, my shoulder looks like it has been molested by a tree slug, snot everywhere.
So far today the only thing that makes him happy is dancing with me to 'The Talking Heads'. I know this brings up two immediate questions; "Brek, you know how to dance?" and "How do you dance to 'The Talking Heads?".
No, I don't know how to dance, but Oliver seems to think I am really good at it. And, since I don't know how to dance, dancing to the Talking Heads is actually really easy. And, again, Oliver thinks I am awesome at it and it makes him happy. As long as no one else sees me doing it then everything is fine.
I think Oliver is trying to get my attention. He is on all fours and repeatedly banging the top of his head against my leg but he's not crying... maybe this is a new game for him, now of course I have snot on my pants leg, my cute little snot monkey.
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