Chip: May 2008 Archives

I really owe Will right here. He’s got a lot of news to post, but that’s the problem. I’m having a hard time getting my head around all of the elements and what I want to post first. (He’s got 4 different things to cover right now. Just to know what they are, they are swimming lessons, soccer games, school musical/play, and Field Day. More soon.)

But this one is easy to post. Sean and Daniel had their checkups today, and everything came out fine. They’re growing great, too. Only one shot each. They’re weights are sliding a little bit on the percentile scale, but they’re eating everything we put in front of them, so we’re not too concerned. Next check up is not for 6 more months. Yay!

Daniel
Height: 33.75”
Weight: 25 pounds 15 ounces
Head: 50.5 cm

Sean
Height: 33”
Weight: 21 pounds 6 ounces
Head: 48cm

Seems like someone knows how to enjoy Vienna Fingers.

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend, and that you remembered why we celebrate it.

Given the hubbub about normal holiday travel periods, it certainly appeared (at least down here) that traffic was definitely down this weekend. I was on the interstates yesterday afternoon, and I just didn’t see the volume I’m used to seeing. I was actually fearful of getting caught in a surprise backup on I-95 when returning home, but saw nothing of the sort.

As for the home front, everyone is doing fine. Daniel may have had a bug over the weekend, but by Monday, he was all better. Sean also enjoyed things. Neither of them got to visit the pool (particularly because of Daniel’s bug), but they will get there soon enough. If it’s anything like their bathtime, they will have a blast (and probably wear out Mommy and Daddy).

And being that it is a holiday, some people (one of whom shall remain nameless) took naps. Not that I begrudge that or anything. Just pointing out the obvious. (The picture to the left hides the identity of the guilty one, who was also feeling a bit under the weather yesterday.)

Will did go to the pool on Saturday and Sunday, but the pool water was quite cool. The poolwater thermometer read 72 degrees, but it sure felt a lot colder. The idea was to get in, get used to it, and then don’t poke the body back above the water. I think you know the drill.

Lastly, we held a yard sale on Saturday. We did quite well and unloaded several large items. There is a little extra room in the garage now. But still plenty of fodder for future yard sales (especially as the boys get older).

Will’s class play/musical is tonight, and Kellie is going. Hopefully, we’ll have some decent pictures. We’re counting down the days to school’s end — 12 more to go, then summer is “officially” here.

We have come upon a system that may allow us to get beyond Will’s very limited repertoire of desirable food options. Will is very fascinated with the menus that he gets from elementary school and after-school care. He’s very particular about identifying which meals he wants. So this week, Will and I sat down and wrote out his menu of lunches and dinners for the week.

But there was a catch — he also had to select 1 food that he hasn’t eaten before and has to eat it at least twice that week. We write it on the menu, and that is what we’ll eat that day.

Oh, when he finally heard and understood that was his real meal for that day (and we weren’t making a pretend menu), there was great wailing and gnashing of teeth. I don’t like spaghetti, he said. (That’s what he choose for this week.) But he wrote the menu on Monday, and his first spaghetti day wasn’t until Thursday. On Tuesday, he again let us know he wasn’t going to eat it. On Wednesday, he mentioned that fact a little less frequently.

Well, of course, we had a bribe at the end of it. If he ate the selected food at least twice that week, he’d get a treat. It would be his choice (within reason). So, Thursday came, and in the morning, he grudgingly agreed that he would try the spaghetti - just a little bit. But we’ve been down this road before — he says one thing, but when it comes time to follow through, no dice.

When it came time for dinner, he sat down and pleasantly consumed his spaghetti - one noodle at a time. And he essentially finished it off. He even declared that he wanted to eat it again on Friday night, so that he could go to Brusters (his choice of reward) that night. So tonight — no complaints, and he ate even more spaghetti. (No sauce either time, though meatballs on the side were dunked in ketchup.) So, that’s one food we can check off the list.

His menu sheet has a list of other foods we’re suggesting he might want to try. And when we make next week’s menu, he’ll pick something else out to try. I don’t want to jinx myself too much, but this just may work. And maybe (like with potty training), he’ll eventually start to forget to ask for the reward. Or maybe we’re just dreaming about that.

Hope everyone has a great Memorial Day weekend.

Saturday’s this spring should really just be called Will-Day. His schedule definitely keeps us busy. He’s been playing soccer in the mornings/early afternoon (depending on the scheduled game time) of 3-on-3 in a U5 (5 and under) coed league. Today’s game was at 12:15pm, which pretty much shoots much of the morning and early afternoon.

He also has swim lessons right before dinner. Today was the last Saturday session. Pools open next weekend (for Memorial Day weekend). He has definitely improved in his water skills, though he still doesn’t quite have down the crawl yet to use it. But we’ll definitely work on it this summer, because he really wants to be able to do it so that he isn’t in the first lane for lessons any more. More photos and video on that (as well as soccer) shortly.

His soccer games are played at Pole Green Park, which has a large playground on it (among other amenities). There’s some new equipment there that he’s been trying out, and it’s definitely different than what was available when I was a kid. Will’s still a bit cautious on the new stuff, as you can see from the photo sequence. He’s also getting into what I might call “aerial lillypads,” which can be seen on the video below. Ah, to be this young and carefree again.

I’m tired. These days tend to wear me out. Time to crash.

I think we all knew that they would grow up. Comes with the territory as you are in your teens (as measured in months). The boys are finally walking, including Daniel. So it is not so easy to keep track of them any more. They definitely move faster than crawling.

Sean gets to show off his inner sports star in this entry. He’s channeling MJ as he jams Pooh in the hoop. He’s got the droopy, baggy pants going, too. (No animals - stuffed or live - were injured or killed in the filming of this sequence.) He really got into it, whether with a ball, Pooh, or even a shoe. Kellie and I get the feeling that Sean may be the one of the three that might give sports a real try.

The video below is more of Sean and Daniel at home this past couple of weekends. Sean shows off his inner Tiger in the first half of it, then Daniel gets to show that he, too, finally enjoys walking around.

That’s right, you may be eligible for one or both of these refunds from class action lawsuits. (I qualify for both.) But note that the submission deadlines are coming up this month. Here are the quick details, as outlined further in this SmartMoney.com article.

• Diamond Purchases (such as for an engagement ring or other jewelry): due May 19 (less than 5 days!)

Eligibility: For those who bought at lease one piece of jewelry with a diamond in it between Jan. 1, 1994, and March 31, 2006. It’s not necessary that the jewelry be from DeBeers or one of its subsidiaries.

• Credit Card Fees on Foreign Transactions (i.e., when traveling overseas on vacation or work): due May 30

Eligibility: Payouts are for those who made at least one purchase abroad using a Visa, MasterCard or Diner’s Club credit or debit card issued by a major American bank between Feb. 1, 1996, and Nov. 8, 2006. (Firms handling the case mailed 30 million packets to likely claimants, but filing is not restricted to these consumers.) A separate suit is pending against American Express; those cards are not eligible.

You can file for both of these online.

[A] mother is one to whom you hurry when you are troubled. — Emily Dickinson

That’s right, it’s Mother’s Day. We’ve had a grand day today, hopefully letting our mothers know how special and important they are to us. Without them, there isn’t us. I just want to call out a couple of the mothers that are obviously so near and dear to my heart.

Kellie — you know how much you mean to me and the boys, and how things would just fall apart without out you. You are so kind and understanding to realize I just need to sleep in a few extra minutes some mornings. You support my attempts to play basketball, to run, and to exercise. You are there to help fix the boo-boos and mend the sad hearts.

Mom — you were my first mom. (OK, my only mom - thank you.) I grew up under your guidance and care, and if I’m somewhat successful in life, it surely would not have been possible without your love and patience. (I’m sure I tested the latter over the years.) I treasure your thoughts, your prayers, and your wisdom. Please know that as you were there for me, so I shall be there for you. If I don’t say it often enough, do know that I love you.

Faye — without you, I wouldn’t have a loving and caring wife and mother to my three sons. Thank you for being available as an emergency babysitter when our work schedules don’t allow us to stay with a sick child. We would not be the same family without your presence and support.

And to all of you, thank you for being such shining examples of kind, decent and caring women. God bless each and every one of you, and all you other mothers out there. You keep us men from going too crazy.

And next year, there will be a new addition to this honor roll. Stay tuned.

Yup, it’s tooth #2 (his lower right - tooth #1 was his lower left and is already half-replaced). It’s been loose for a while, so we were expecting something. It got a little help at the playground, after his soccer game. He was on a wobbly station (on springs) that got a little too much assistance in the wobble and his mouth hit the car he was in. A bit of blood, and one tooth out and on his tongue! (Luckily, he didn’t swallow it.)

He cleaned up fine and got over the shock of it, then went back to playing. And tonight, we wait to see if the tooth fairy shows up.

As for the rest of his day, he had swimming lessons tonight. He’s really made a lot of progress this year and is really starting to overcome some of his reluctance to try things. We’ve even got him pushing off from the steps and “swimming” to an instructor. Not much horizontal movement yet, but he’s pretty much over his fear of getting his head under the water and it even willing to let go. He kicks okay, if slowly, and needs to work on the arm motion, but at least he’s willing to try. And he looks forward to going each week now. Setting up perfectly, leading into swimming season starting in 2 weeks.

I hope to have some video of him swimming eventually (maybe before the end of the month).

“Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupery

That’s right, we’re now 9 years into this thing called marriage. Hard to believe where the time has gone. We’ve done a lot, and been through a lot. We’ve been very blessed.

So, to my wife, my confidant, my partner, my better half - I will love you always. It’s hard to believe that so much can be packed into 9 years together. I’m looking forward to many more by your side.

(…lying in bed, exhausted, from chasing the kids around. But they sure make it worth it.)

“The future is not a gift — it is an achievement.” — Harry Lauder

Well, Sean had to stay home today because of a fever he developed yesterday. His fever is actually gone by midday, but we’re one of those families that tries to honor school policies and keep him out to prevent the spread of germs. Too bad other families don’t follow those rules as well.

At least we can proudly show that Sean has finally decided that he’d rather walk almost anywhere. It took him a while, but this seems par for the course with our kids. Will lasted 16 months, and Daniel still believes it’s faster to crawl than walk unless he’s holding something. The funny thing is — he is faster crawling; he’s just a bullet. This video of Sean walking is from 2 weekends ago.

I guess you learn something new every day. I was mistaken in thinking that today was Mexican Independence Day. Looks like we've been fooled by the advertisers again - just given a cheap excuse to spend money on more stuff (in this case, beverages, tacos and fajitas).

Cinco de Mayo is actually a regional Mexican holiday. Their true Independence Day is not until September 16. But don't let that hold you back. The beer and tequila producers and importers are dependent on you not figuring out the truth.

But I do feel a bit wiser knowing this now.

Well, time to start up the blogging again. I think I've finally got this thing working so that it will show a YouTube video. So, for starters, we get Sean and Daniel showing off their dexterity with a spoon.




OK, nothing earth shattering here. But do you remember what you looked like when you first tried to learn how to eat with a spoon?