A Cool Summer Picture From the Past!

Try to guess where this was taken!

Daddy and Isaac Day in Petoskey

Today we ventured out of the cabin in search of a day out and a few possible gifts. We departed shortly before noon; the sun was shining off the snow. Roads were clear and empty and we cruised into Indian River and noticed the car began to stall. Instantly I knew what to do. I pulled off at a roadside fruit stand, currently out of season. I popped the hood, and noticed a loose plug wire. I fidgeted and commented about it, quite negatively, but then rigged it up and we were back on the road again.

Soon we were rolling into Petoskey. I couldn’t find an auto parts store to save my life, and Kmart (yes there are still a few left!) had every type of auto part except sparks and plugs. Typical Sunday, anything having to do with cars is closed. Great changing station in the bathroom!

Soon we pulled into downtown. It was desolate compared to a summer Sunday, which was nice. The warm weather offerered no wind, snow, or ice. We popped into a few shops; I was looking for something for Karrie since telling her that I would bring her something home. We found nothing so we popped into the Roast and Toast which is a cool and funky coffee shop that also serves great sandwiches. Isaac was geeked, and I got him some soup and a vanilla steamer. He loved it, but soon was only interested in the toothpicks in my veggie sandwich. I was tempted to have a nice big Italian, but my heath has been marginal so I pushed toward the healthier option. Isaac, in the meantime, was waving and making friends with everyone from little girls to big ones.

Leaving there, we popped into a few more shops, notably a bookstore where I bought them an all ages card game. This later turned out to be a real show stopper. At the time, Isaac was also more interested in the Choo-Choo trains at Grandpa Shorters, and he was being so good in the store that I should probably take him back soon to get one.

We headed onward down the sidewalk, with him cruising along next to me. We had lots of fun, every place had great people, there was a local artists market where I think Karrie could sell some of her photos, and a consignment shop where they had a small play area that was just in time, if you know what I mean.

We had a nice time out, and it was an extremely notable day since I usually have both kids out, and it was also great since it reminded me of the early days before Isaac, where I would typically take Mead out and go just about anywhere.

Here We Go Again

Well after a great week at work Button, I-man, and myself jumped in the car with some help from mom and we went up north for a little vacation. It was not without some challenge, the I-man went on a 50 mile tirade where I thought he would simply fall asleep, but didn't. I was just trying to get there, but finally we stopped and that made all the difference. With two adults in the car it is usually easier to tell, but with just one, as I was, then you lack the benefit of shared decision making.

Well, here we are, and we are having a great time. It was a beautiful day on the lake and we walked on in under blue skies and warm weather, for up here! Here's to a week off!

Isaacs First Shower

Imagine this... I am traveling at over 70 miles an hour as I write this! An amazing experience to write while watching trees and snow zoom by!

This morning, we were up north and the girls went to church, which left dad and I at home with Isaac. We were watching Sunday Morning on CBS which is a great program, and it is very interesting that both of my dads like it. I especially like the moment of silence where they show a picture of a beautiful place and it is like a small TV meditation. Isaac spent a bit of time with the small wind up Choo-Choo. It has been around long before me, and it is a an elaboratively made music box, that has a small three car train that circles around a shack and under a bridge as the inner music box rings out the tune I've Been Working on the Railroad. Both kids could watch it go round and round for all time. I found it a good moment for me to get our stuff organized. Every two minutes or so I would have to walk over the the train shack and wind it up so he could watch it go around again, which was a nice punctuation for my activities.

After a while, I thought it would be nice to have and activity that he would be crazy about, and an easy one is to put him in the bath. So we got the water running, got a few cups, and got him in. He was having a great time pouring and Phoebe the dog even visited to sniff what was going on. I know it was risky to have him in the bath early in the morning, because he is known to have a movement in the morning. Well it wasn't too long before he did.

I'll spare you the details, but the upshot is that he got the opportunity for his first shower. He never wants to take a shower, buy after an accident in the bathtub it really is the best way. I got the hand held shower head and put it to low pressure, and asked him if he wanted to get his hands wet first. He did, and stuck them right out into the lazy streams of water. Next we got his toes and feet, and in seconds he was all the way in. When it was time to get out, after many minutes, he sat down and protested. Great!

New Year, New Business

What a great start to a new year! I have had lots of time with the kids ever since our new business has been picking up. We have started Wings and Roots Photography and we have been very busy doing family photography and also planning for some weddings. It is incredibly exciting, with everything else that is going on.

So what do I do with the kids? Any museum, coffee shop, or place to get out and walk or play is it. Our favorites are the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum, and then just about any other big place that you can get inside and walk around in the cold winter months.

Usually, we try to cut costs as much as possible by having a picnic. Since we bought a membership at the DIA we typically pack our lunch and head to the place that we call the castle. This is really funny because we talk about it quite a bit as we walk around, and get all kinds of funny looks from people who are wondering where the castle is. It really only exists to us, because we are the ones who named it that.

Check out Parent Hacks!

This is a way cool site that I check out in Google Reader. It has amazingly good ideas. Who ever thought of putting a hole in the bottom of a pumpkin?

Dad is now a professional

Yes, it is true. I just completed an entire weekend with both kids and only lost one night of sleep. I now have the secret to getting Isaac to sleep, and I think I might copy write it before I share it! The weekend was full of great adventures, such as a night in Plymouth, Cobblestone farm in Ann Arbor, and the farmers market. Very fun!

Today at home

We are finally at home. The summer has been a whirlwind of activity, from East Lansing, Mullet Lake, and Washington DC. We have finally settled down at home with a new car! A new school year is on its way, amazing!

First Day Home with the Kids!

I woke about 6 a.m. today. It’s now automatic. Sometimes I don’t sleep through the night anymore but I think that it is the caffeine.

Mead said this morning, “ I want one little grape.”

We had quite a nice morning-so early to get up, but so much can be done at that time, no distractions.

Today is my first day home with both kids. It’s great! Isaac just had the first bottle and it is 11:58. He is on my chest in the Baby Bjorn. I am trying to take video snapshots of the day as I move around and do activities with the kids-and generally get the house clean.

The day went very well, walking, listening to my iPod, going to the library, music store, bookstore, then home. I learned that it’s really difficult to have two infants in the library at times, but it’s always better than staying home.

Mead Is Two

Hello world! It has been some time since I have written an entry about Mead! Probably been since I have had two. With Isaac, we don't have a free hand quite as much, but we are never bored. Mead's birthday lasted more than half a week. She has more toys than we know what to do with, and five boxes are in the basement because our house is just too small for them. What can you do...hopefully donate more to the college fund!

Isaac is five months old! He has gone through many changes. He can now spend tons of time on his stomach, although he sometimes likes to play with toys on his back. Uh-oh, there are some little people sounds, gotta go!

Big Girl Bed

It's 5:30 am. My eyes open. It is dark. I can't believe it. I am alone.

This is incredible. In the middle of the night, Mead decided to sleep the rest of the night in her big girl bed. I vaguely remember waking at night and she was there, but she must have crawled away and laid comfortably down just like a big kid. It's great! I hope it continues.

To give some background, we co-sleep. Mead began by sharing our bed with us. Slowly, we have been 'weaning' her from this as she becomes comfortable. She has her own bed

This is dad's weekend, and my dad (Mitch) was here for all of Saturday and some of Friday. The motto was "no appointments, no disappointments!" coined by him, and the only things we scheduled were meals, when we wanted to. The funniest thing happened when we went to B's Rustic tavern for a meal, got all ready, and strolled there. We were about 20 minutes into the meal when I decided it was a good time to start Mead 'coloring.' This would have been great except for the fact that I forgot to stick the diaper bag in the stroller! Oops.

We did go to the "Thomas" restaurant. This is definitely Mead's favorite because there is a train that continuously circles the dining room. In a few minutes we are leaving on a great adventure, but without Mitch since he left at 5:00 a.m. to catch his flight

Bless You!

Mead and I are sitting here looking at pictures. I sneezed. She took a slight pause from drinking, and without even taking the bottle from her mouth she said a slurred, "Bless you." Wow!

S'potty on Dudes!

The Button had two good experiences on the potty, so we got her one of her own. She is still quite young for this, but she expressed an interest in giving it a try. She seems to understand what the real potty is for, but the kiddie one seems to be confusing her because all she wants to do is stand on it, or in it.

Stop It!

We were having shrimp dinner, and the cat kept clawing Karrie to get some. After this happened three times, with her becoming more agitated with each instance, I pushed him away with my foot and said "Stop it!" loudly. There was a short pause followed by Mead yelling "STOP IT!" and pounding on the high chair table.

March Is Reading Month

After a really cool and free Saturday Concert at Elderly Instruments (Seth Bernard and Daisy Mae), we decided to continue our great adventure by reading for an hour at the local bookstore! We left with a duck, a Dora Book, and even some books for DAD!

A Great Snow Day, then Blamo!

I was waiting at the light at National Street when I heard that school was closed! What a suprise I missed the call. Mead still spent most of the day at Nano's house, so I could get some things done, Karrie however had to go. I got called names for that. I am running 3-0 on snowdays, so I'm feeling pretty good about that.

We had a great adventure at the library. We read books, played on computers, walked, and witnessed many interesting parenting strategies. We all note that one. No comment there, I'm not perfect, but at least I try to be positive.

The Button's day ended with a bang. She tumbled face first into the cube, shown in the close-up above. This was the first real face smash! Believe me, it left a mark, and it didn't sound good either. It happened fast. The silent cry. The ear shattering cry. Bloody nose! Ahh. Tell no more you say...but don't worry, she is fast asleep upstairs. Really no problem vor her.

The Button is Still Well

Here we are...Saturday, the day that the working world gets sick. Greatfully, Mead is doing fine. Karrie has had the cold for weeks, and I am noticing the first signs of it this morning.

Good News-The shower is fixed! The culprit-a rock in the pipe.

No great adventures this weekend...yet.

Always the Comedian, Mead Hams It Up!

Visiting is a great adventure for the Button. She always provides great entertainment! She had tons of fun at our friends house last night, who have a baby younger than her. She had some great practice as a big sister.

Dad's Home for Lunch!

Wow, how cool is it to live two minutes from work. That means that I can come home to visit for lunch, and have leftover suprise! Mead just figured out how to get into the stroller by herself. Here we are

Create A Space Weekend!

Karrie and I are both at our respective posts at the moment. She is sewing and I am typing. The button is fast asleep upstairs so we can hear the drone of the monitor over the grassy hill radio broadcast.

On inspiration from a mothering magazine article, we have decided to create some of our own space, for creative reasons. We are already extrememly enjoying this great adult only time. This has been something we have really dreamed about for years, but have only had moments of in the past. My band space was my own creative center, but Karrie has really not had one, outside of the gardens around the yard.

Although wonderful in many unbelievable ways, the Button does take a toll on creative outlets. Anything you do needs to have minimal setup and breakdown time, or it doesn't happen. Thus, the creative space can be left a mess, and you can get to it any time you want to, even if for a few minutes.

The really cool thing is that she is more independent everyday. She sits and plays for longer periods, and seems quite engaged in her activities. This could really pan out for many creative 'minutes.' Some of the things she does well on her own is drawing. She uses a more tactile version of the etch a sketch, but it comes with a magnetic pencil that lets her draw right on the surface! She does some great scribbles, you should see for yourself. Washable crayons are no longer out of the question either, but that activity needs more supervision.

She is still reading quite a bit, although sometimes I catch her with the book upside down. I help her with this, but she really doesn't mind either way. Her favorite books for this are Have You Seen Dogs and Everyone Poops.



Well its way past bedtime and the eyes are getting blurry.