April 28, 2009 at 6:42 am (John Daniel)
John is now pushing up on his hands and knees and trying to crawl. Mom and dad arrived yesterday and are hoping to see him actually do it. Rob has gone to Colorado Springs for a week for work, so he’s hoping not to miss it. I have the camcorder ready!
April 21, 2009 at 2:10 pm (John Daniel)
We found John’s missing pacifiers! Jackpot! Four of them, all huddled behind his crib…Rob moved John’s crib Sunday night while lowering it to a more appropriate level (John is almost able to pull himself up on the edge). Suddenly I heard Rob cry out: Jackpot! and found him triumphantly carrying all four paci’s. I had been wondering where they went…John has apparently been chucking them up and over his crib (maybe in protest?)…recently he’s not been liking taking his naps.
I’ve also just removed the top shelf from John’s Pack n Play, so that now he attempts to sit upright in the bottom. Not quite ready yet, but he’s close: maybe in a week or so he’ll be sitting by himself.
A few minutes ago I also raised his exersaucer to the higher notch – another indicator of his babyness departing and being replaced by a little boy. His hair is getting fuller, his sounds getting more pronounced (no mama yet – but soon), and his awareness of his surroundings more acute. He now can grab my glasses off my head with his left hand and then after I detatch his little fingers, he grabs the glasses with his right hand. Persisitent little bugger!
April 18, 2009 at 10:17 pm (John Daniel)
Is this true? Oprah is talking to the two gentlemen who created this YouTube video. Amazing, isn’t it? I thought it would end differently!
I was sure the video was doctored. Or at the very least, the story’s timeline had been exaggerated. But neither is the case. How did they walk into Harrods and buy the lion? Well this was in the 60’s and is, of course, illegal now. They even have a book out. Buy it here at the Animal Planet store.
April 18, 2009 at 9:59 pm (John Daniel)
As I type, Kona is out in the backyard trying to work out why so many dogs are barking this time of night? There must be five simultaneous tones; maybe a lab, terrier, beagle, great dane, and a mutt – all together forming a quartet. The noises have admittedly decreased as my neighbors are moving out in droves, but there are still enough dogs to form a symphony.
This morning during my run, I started to hear sounds similar to doggies howling. Now they are starting at 8am? But, these were not dogs, and they were not barking indiscriminately – they were coyotes howling at the sirens. Suddenly, I saw an ambulance, police car, and a couple more official-looking vehicles speed by. In turn, I then realized that the “fog” I thought had come again to VAFB may have actually been smoke. A fire? Where? Hopefully not close. The dogs and I decided to turn the opposite way that the red, flashing lights were going.
To top off the surreal-ness of the morning, a pair of headlights bearing down on us turned out to be a conservation van patrolling the trail where we were running. As it happens, I had the girls off the leash and was glad the vehicle driver didn’t stop us and ticket us. He was probably in a hurry to get away from the fire, too. I have to admit that I was jealous of him being in the van, and us being outside with the coyotes!
Just another regular Saturday morning…
April 18, 2009 at 9:42 pm (John Daniel)
John’s first Easter was spent with friends, food, and lots of attention – we had a very casual backyard BBQ. Rob grilled and everyone brought food…lots of desserts and candy! We had an Easter egg hunt during which John played in his exersaucer (he’s not quite old enough for egg-searching).
Here are the photos from that fun day.
April 8, 2009 at 7:35 pm (John Daniel)
Today John and I walked to the park with a neighbor and her nephew to decorate Easter eggs. Will is the little boy’s name. He is a character and kept asking “why does John like riding in the stroller with his hat sideways”? I told Will I didn’t know, but to ask John. Will said he doesn’t speak baby-talk language. We all had a laugh over that one.
Will decided he’d call John ‘Gansta John’ because of the hat sideways…and that John must be rich because “all Gansta’s are rich”…
April 7, 2009 at 11:48 pm (John Daniel)
This is my favorite expression from one of my favorite funnymen…and his kids are just as funny. His eldest daughter is already picking up his personality, and even looks a hint like him. She was over the other night and acted just as funnily acidic as her father. She has a dry sense of humor all right. I can just hope John is so endearing. She has a trick with her pupils that allows her to ‘vibrate’ them…I swear…they move so fast back and forth it should be in Ripley’s. And she does it on command. I think she’s just trying to freak people out.
His other daughter is so quirky and earnest that it’s impossible not to laugh. She is proud to proclaim that she can burp as many times as anyone else, and maybe more. Then proceeds to show us. She has a password: Peanut. A password to what? we ask…just a password and it’s Peanut.
The eldest daughter walked in our house, promply gave Rob a big hug, stared at him with her big green baleful eyes and said “I don’t know you”, then turned, and walked away. Her sister, the youngest girl, just brightly announced to everyone as she bounced through the door: I don’t know you people! Then went on her merry way. They must plan this beforehand. They must.
They do have a little brother. Poor little man was sick all night, clinging to his mom and looking very pale. He’s so shy; I’m assuming he hasn’t yet found the middle ground between his sisters…but when he does, watch out!
And the kids mom…she is a saint out of Heaven for raising such optomistic kids. Always happy, always curious. She and her funnyman are perfect together and it’s really a joy to hang with them.
Except when we start talking about boys and TDY’s and short-named men…but that’s another story for another time:)
April 7, 2009 at 11:27 pm (John Daniel)
Rob said this morning that John is “high-centered”…perfect description of the begining stages of crawling. Right now, he’s kicking and swinging his legs and arms for all he’s worth but not getting anywhere. Soon, he’ll be cruising around the living room. We’ll have to keep an even closer eye on him…already every single thing goes into his mouth. Or onto the floor. Or flips over. At the post office today, I was trying to tape the bottom shut on my package while little JD was trying to help me by grabbing every single item around him and flipping it over. The patron next to me had the misfortune of being next to the large, heavy card-holder that John should not be able to lift to flip over – but did. Sorry! I’m always saying Sorry!
Just to verify that he is reaching the age of using his hands skillfully and like a little boy…the other day he unbuckled himself in the carseat. Great. What am I supposed to do? Drive while constantly looking backward at him rear-facing in the back seat? (some people would say I drive as if I’m doing that anyway…)
The other day I saw something on the trail ahead of us…is it…what?….ooooohh…it’s his teething ring from our walk the day before. He must have chucked it overboard while I wasn’t looking and it lay there for 24 hours before it’s owner came the next day rolling along in his carseat to claim it.
Sometimes I wonder if Rob wonders what we do all day?? This is a question that truly does not upset me because for 8 years I had been on the working outside-the-home end of life. Now that I’m on the working inside-the-home end, I can relate to each Dilbert out there who lives in a cube all day. Here’s a breakdown of a recent day:
In-between all of these naptimes and feedings, waketime is the meat of the day. Sometimes we volunteer at the Thrift Shop. Sometimes we go to the park, or take a run with a friend and her stroller. Other times we walk with the dogs (his sisters, Kona and Zoe). Often I need to run to Wal-Mart or Costco, or now Trader Joe’s! Which, by the way, is a bit disappointing as Trader Joe’s go, but it’s better than Nada. We cook together, we fold laundry together, and we do crafts. He helps mommy grocery shop and decide which bills to pay (ideally we pay all of them)…we read and listen to music. Mommy dances JD around the room and he smiles and squeaks in delight. We have neighbors visit, we go visit neighbors. Daddy needs his glasses fixed, mommy needs to make a return, John needs a copy of his birth certificate, our bedroom needs an additional hole in the wall (for our cable modem) and the cable company won’t touch the house unless the Balfour Beatty gods approve the work…all of these things are in different directions. An emergency power-outage; the mailman won’t deliver the mail because Kona barks at him; Mommy’s pants don’t fit and she’s sure it’s because they shrank in the dryer (right!); Mommy’s new shoes which she got at a great deal at the BX hurt her feet; grabbing the knob to open John’s dresser only to have it come off in my hand; the oops paint bought at Home Depot looks great on the wall, but there’s not enough of it; the half-finished, half-sanded and varnished dresser obstructing every path to anything out in the garage…and on and on with the issues. Seems that there’s always something happening…I’m never idle for long.
Rob is watching John on Tuesday and Thursday nights while I play on a Volleyball team at the base gym. It’s so much fun and everyone seems to like to be there – we have a couple good hitters, I am not one of them:) But I can serve and return pretty well. My blocking needs work, but I suspect until I grow several inches I won’t improve.
Some new photos of our superstar…
April 5, 2009 at 9:25 pm (John Daniel)
I’m sitting here watching a family search for a house near Tampa on the HGTV show House Hunters. The great thing about HH is that I can sit on my couch while John is sleeping and Rob is studying and travel all over the U.S. (and beyond with HH International)…
This couple wants to find an alligator-free zone in which to raise thier kids. Surprisingly, no one has mentioned to them that they live in Florida.
All of the homes have pools and moderate-sized yards which all back up to easements/wetlands. Each time the family asks the realtor about alligators and the realtor points to the 4-foot chain link fence saying “oh, don’t worry, gators won’t bother you with that fence”…because we all know alligators can’t climb fences or really even have sharp teeth used for getting through obstacles…this is why on a weekly basis Rob and I saw terrified homeowners on the news crying about losing a pet, or having an alligator entering through their dog-door and into their kitchen.
When we moved to Florida I didn’t realize how commonplace alligators are; booming housing markets and encroaching shopping malls have destroyed much of the alligators’ natural habitat. Which means: hello! There could be a nice surprise waiting for you around the 5th fairway water hazard!
Here are some tips if you are considering moving to Florida (or if you’re already there):
This is a common misconception. First, it is rare for an alligator to pursue a human because humans are too large to be suitable prey. However, if an alligator does make an aggressive charge, run fast and straight (away from the alligator, of course). They usually do not run very far. But remember they are most likely to charge at you if you are near their nest.
Alligators actually have very good eyesight, which is an important adaptation for hunting. They are especially adapted to see and sense movement of potential prey animals. The position of their eyes on their head (almost on the side) gives them a wide sight range. The only place they cannot see is right behind them.
Alligators have sharp claws and powerful tails to help them push their bodies up. Young alligators are agile climbers and adults have been known to climb fences to get to water or escape captivity. Low fences, therefore, may not be sufficient protection for pets in areas where alligators are present. Fences should be more than 4.5 feet tall if you are attempting to keep alligators out of your yard.
This is entirely untrue. Alligators make terrible pets. Although baby alligators may seem like a cool pet, it is illegal to possess or take an alligator without the proper licenses and permits from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Alligators are purely instinctual hunters and do not show affection. Unlike cats and dogs, alligators will never love the hand that feeds them.
