This past weekend was my annual sojourn to Clearwater, Florida for Phillies Spring Training. My initial plan this year was to take my son down with me and stay for as long as I liked, but my wife wasn't too thrilled about not having me around for an extended period of time (it may have had a little to do with missing our son, as well, but who can really say?), so I settled on just a couple of days away. It was a great trip with great weather, but ultimately I missed my son more than I could have imagined. I saw a lot of families complete with toddlers and infants when I was there, but they didn't look like they were having all that much fun. I can't wait until my boys (!) are old enough to enjoy it (and we are able to afford it!) so we can all head down together. Some day...
We started the day with a nice little run, but it was all wind in our faces on the way back. That slowed me down considerably and didn't make my son too comfortable, so we ended up walking the last half-mile or so. My GPS tracing app didn't get the memo that we had stopped, and somehow kept timing us which killed my splits. Oh well.
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The time change has really done a number on my son, as I had to go upstairs and wake him up in order to make it to music class on time today. As I expected, he was back on his game today after an off week last time. He's getting good at walking with (but not necessarily in) the class circles and stopping when we stop, but he still doesn't have any interest in holding hands.
We made a short stop at home to make lunch before heading to Red Bridge, a nearby park, to eat and enjoy the weather. Because the trail is so close to the water in many spots, he stayed in the stroller until it was time to go. He started protesting as I tried to put him in the car, so I let him run around a little bit. That little bit turned into a roughly 30 minute tour of the recreational area.
His favorite spot seemed to be the stone foundation of an old log house. I am pretty sure I was also partial to playing in there anytime I got to go there as a kid, so I wasn't surprised. A woman sitting nearby told me there used to be play equipment inside, but I don't remember that. I remember wanting to playing the dirt.
We stopped at Gram and Pop Pop's house before band practice. Pop Pop was very excited to see his grandson, as he hadn't been able to hang out with him recently. We hung around for a few minutes- long enough for my son to make a nice pile of picture frames and wooden boxes.
This was our final band practice before our big gig on the weekend, so it was very important that we made it. We were working without a nap, so it was a big risk. He was his normal self for all of the songs in the first set, but started getting a little sleepy in the second. I knew it was time to go when he walked over to me and stood on my right foot so I couldn't play the bass drum. Smart, smart kid.
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Today's adventure was a trip to the grocery store. I had my coupons, my list, and the reusable shopping bags. We got to the store, and I grabbed a cart. I immediately realized that I had left the cart cover in the car, so I dragged the cart back to the car and strapped it on. An older gentleman pulled up next to me and struck up a conversation about our cars (he also drives a Prius) as well as the cars of just about every member of his family. Throughout all of this, my son didn't make a single noise or attempt to get out of the cart.
I was able to find a suitable moment to cut off our conversation and head inside. We made our way up each and every aisle, picking up the necessities and a little extra. Everything was going great. I was singing songs about all the different things we were picking up. My son was laughing and pointing at the babies and dogs on the packages. If heaven was a grocery store, well, I don't know how to end that sentence. Anyway, it was good. Then, about halfway through the store- I realized I forgot my Bonus Card.
I decided to finish shopping and worry about it later. Surely I wasn't the first person to forget his card, but I didn't want to miss out on the immediate savings OR the gas points I would accumulate. When I was done, I parked the cart near the entrance, picked up my son, and jogged out to my car. In the process, I had to take away the many items he was holding for me- including, but not limited to: peanut butter, puffed grain snacks, goldfish, and yogurt. I knew this was risky and gave me a short window before a complete breakdown. I gritted my teeth, supported his head, and made a break for it. Just as we approached fullon meltdown mode, I placed a container of goldfish (the snack, not the aquatic animal) in his hands and all was once again back to normal. Save for a half-dozen issues at checkout, the rest of the trip was uneventful. Can't wait to do it again next week!
My plan upon returning home was to put away the groceries. My son's plan was to take a walk around the block. As usual, his choice won. The great weather we've been having has really given him a chance to show off his wheels (read: feet). Unfortunately for him, he hasn't yet figured out how to fall gracefully. Just as his previous bump on the head had all but been forgotten, he tripped and was able to catch himself with his hands but was unable to control the velocity of his relatively gigantic head. Once again, in seemingly slow motion, he scraped his head on the sidewalk. This time there was no blood, but there was plenty of crying. I'm fairly certain the crying was more as a result of me picking him up and carrying him the rest of the way than any actual pain. Regardless, Daddy doesn't like to be the cause of his upsetedness.
Despite the morning's tribulations, he got a good nap before we had to get up and go to a meeting at my school. I am part of the technology committee in my district, and because of the subject that I teach, I like to be aware of what it is both in the pipeline and coming down the pike. Since I've been out all year, I feel so out of touch with not only my job but also the the new technology with which I'm expected to work. The meeting ended up going much longer than I anticipated, but my son, ever the good little soldier, made exactly one peep. The rest of the time he sat on my lap and flirted with other committee members or stood under the table and organized the diaper bag. I felt awful putting him through that, but I think the seemingly endless supply of snacks helped him forgive me.
Believe it or not, that was not the end of our day, oh no! I still had a drum lesson to give. Luckily my son still had some snacks left to keep him busy. When we got to my student's house, his mom gave my son a few toys to keep him busy during the lesson. He sat on the couch and played with them for approximately three minutes before grabbing his drumsticks and playing along. While this didn't help my student, it made me feel fantastic. I remember being so excited when he could simply hold the sticks. Now he's actually attempting to do something with them. It's not just random banging, ether. Something is definitely going on in his head. Watch this space...
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Pop Pop came over today to continue work on renovating our sun room. It's an interesting dynamic when we're working. My son more or less has free range of the lower level of the house and backyard. He's become quite fond of our side porch and adjacent step. At least four different times today, he moseyed over to that side of the house and waited for me to spot him. When I got near him, he let out an excited shriek and induced a toddler-speed chase around our patio furniture. It's a fun game, but I fear eventually it's going to end with another bump on the head.
We also had some swing time while we were in the backyard. I don't quite fit in his swing, so it was all him. When he's in a swing, he transforms into a character I like to call "Swing Bunny". He bends his hands downward (like any good anthropomorphic rabbit does) and sticks his upper teeth over his bottom lip. Swing Bunny. Anyway, it's cute. Really cute. He especially loves when I hold him for an extended moment in front of me at the apex of his swing and quickly let go. That causes Swing Bunny to let out a Swing Bunny Squeal. OK, I'm sickening myself with all this adorableness. Post over.
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Days 91, 92 and 93
I set the alarm today for a little after 8 so we could run some errands today. While I hit snooze enough times to wake up roughly 45 minutes later, I was still able to get most of my household chores done before my son finally woke up at 10:10.
The main thing I wanted to accomplish today was getting some jewelry cleaned. To my knowledge, my wedding ring has never been cleaned or polished in the ten and a half years (except while sleeping, in water, and at amusement parks) that I have been wearing it. In addition, my parents recently gave me one of my grandfather's prized rings that happens to be roughly 3 sizes too big for me and could also use a good cleaning. I figured those two factors were plenty of reason for a guy to go to a jewelry store.
We attempted to eat lunch at the food court and were relatively successful. This was much easier when he was a few months younger and wasn't feeding himself. By the time we were done, there was roughly as much soft taco on his stroller seat as there was in his belly. I may actually have to put a bib in my bag.
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Tomorrow is Gram's birthday, and once again I set the alarm so we would be able to get some shopping done before going over to see my parents later in the day. Again he woke up right around 10. We still managed a quick trip to Best Buy and Sublime Cupcakes before lunch.
We had our first band practice of 2012, so we headed to school as soon as we were able. Knowing that it would no longer hold him, I didn't bother to take his "cage" with me this time. He is certainly more interested in me playing the drums now, and he even came over and hit my snare drum with his own sticks a few times during practice. At one point he decided he needed the real thing, so he took away one of my sticks and I finished the song with just one. He hung nearby for most of our short rehearsal, and hardly put anything disgusting in his mouth.
I had dinner plans near school and my parents' house later that day, so it didn't make sense for me to drive all the way home only to come back shortly after. Thankfully, Gram and Pop Pop didn't mind spending the afternoon with us (him). I put him down for his nap shortly after we arrived, but I had to do it without his white noise machine. Luckily there's an app for that!
I must have made just a little too much noise as I attempted to retrieve my phone 20 minutes later because he woke up right as I opened the door. Even though he got over 13 hours of sleep the night before, this was still a little worrisome- especially since I would be leaving shortly. He seemed fine as soon as he got his afternoon bottle and snack, so I gave it a shot. According to my parents, he was normal and enjoyed his Chick-Fil-A dinner and cupcake frosting. Whew!
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The snow had started melting and the sun was out, so I decided it was time to get out again for another run. We all but skipped last week due to several factors, but I have no excuse when it's this nice outside. He spent most of it leaning his head up against the side of the stroller. I had to keep checking to make sure he was still awake because he was so still. Something weird happened with my GPS app because my first five minute interval added up to over a mile. Sometimes I'm fast, but I'm nowhere near that fast!
I also started the last class I ever have to take today. It's a weird feeling, but I know it won't actually be the last. Looking at the amount of work I will have to do each of the seven weeks of this one, I'm glad that I am only taking one. I managed to squeeze two classes into January, and that is going to make my life much easier over the next two months. Then I'll enjoy a little more "time off" before my life changes again... all over again.
He had his 18-month (it didn't really take that long; that would be tortuous) checkup today. Turns out he's doing pretty well. He's getting smaller against averages in just about everything but his head. The doctor says that's because he has such a big brain. I think he just wants to ruin more shirt necks, Costanza-style.
The main thing I wanted to accomplish today was getting some jewelry cleaned. To my knowledge, my wedding ring has never been cleaned or polished in the ten and a half years (except while sleeping, in water, and at amusement parks) that I have been wearing it. In addition, my parents recently gave me one of my grandfather's prized rings that happens to be roughly 3 sizes too big for me and could also use a good cleaning. I figured those two factors were plenty of reason for a guy to go to a jewelry store.
We attempted to eat lunch at the food court and were relatively successful. This was much easier when he was a few months younger and wasn't feeding himself. By the time we were done, there was roughly as much soft taco on his stroller seat as there was in his belly. I may actually have to put a bib in my bag.
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Tomorrow is Gram's birthday, and once again I set the alarm so we would be able to get some shopping done before going over to see my parents later in the day. Again he woke up right around 10. We still managed a quick trip to Best Buy and Sublime Cupcakes before lunch.
We had our first band practice of 2012, so we headed to school as soon as we were able. Knowing that it would no longer hold him, I didn't bother to take his "cage" with me this time. He is certainly more interested in me playing the drums now, and he even came over and hit my snare drum with his own sticks a few times during practice. At one point he decided he needed the real thing, so he took away one of my sticks and I finished the song with just one. He hung nearby for most of our short rehearsal, and hardly put anything disgusting in his mouth.
I had dinner plans near school and my parents' house later that day, so it didn't make sense for me to drive all the way home only to come back shortly after. Thankfully, Gram and Pop Pop didn't mind spending the afternoon with us (him). I put him down for his nap shortly after we arrived, but I had to do it without his white noise machine. Luckily there's an app for that!
I must have made just a little too much noise as I attempted to retrieve my phone 20 minutes later because he woke up right as I opened the door. Even though he got over 13 hours of sleep the night before, this was still a little worrisome- especially since I would be leaving shortly. He seemed fine as soon as he got his afternoon bottle and snack, so I gave it a shot. According to my parents, he was normal and enjoyed his Chick-Fil-A dinner and cupcake frosting. Whew!
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The snow had started melting and the sun was out, so I decided it was time to get out again for another run. We all but skipped last week due to several factors, but I have no excuse when it's this nice outside. He spent most of it leaning his head up against the side of the stroller. I had to keep checking to make sure he was still awake because he was so still. Something weird happened with my GPS app because my first five minute interval added up to over a mile. Sometimes I'm fast, but I'm nowhere near that fast!
I also started the last class I ever have to take today. It's a weird feeling, but I know it won't actually be the last. Looking at the amount of work I will have to do each of the seven weeks of this one, I'm glad that I am only taking one. I managed to squeeze two classes into January, and that is going to make my life much easier over the next two months. Then I'll enjoy a little more "time off" before my life changes again... all over again.
He had his 18-month (it didn't really take that long; that would be tortuous) checkup today. Turns out he's doing pretty well. He's getting smaller against averages in just about everything but his head. The doctor says that's because he has such a big brain. I think he just wants to ruin more shirt necks, Costanza-style.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Days 83, 84 and 85
He was sick all weekend, so we really had to limit our activities today. The only thing I absolutely had to do was go to the post office. I put my textbooks from last semester up on half.com and managed to sell most of them. Unfortunately they sold a few days apart from each other, so that meant I had to go to the post office a couple different times. It's one of those slightly inconvenient trips because I know I'm only going to be in there for a few minutes, but I still have to unstrap my son from his carseat, hold him while we wait, and then strap him right back in the seat. I feel bad for him because he probably thinks we're going to be doing something fun or exciting (which couldn't be more wrong).
Mommy finally got to see him point to his toes. With no hesitation at all he alternated between toes and belly. We were probably way more excited than we should be. Nose is still a problem. Will he ever figure it out? Who nose? Ahem.
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It was a really early morning for us today. It was almost like going to work. Now I'm sick, too, so I really could have used the extra sleep. Oh well. I really don't like when he gets up early because then he has to watch Mommy leave. I try to distract him so he doesn't notice, and sometimes he doesn't figure it out.
He managed to get back to sleep after breakfast, so the dogs and I went back to bed, too. Thankfully we got a couple of hours of sleep before it was time for lunch.
I started training for the Garden Spot (Half) Marathon today, so I had to bundle up my son in an effort to combat the mid 40 degree temperatures and wind. He did NOT want me to put his left mitten on, as evident by his ceaseless screaming. However, he was very helpful when it came time to put on the right one, even going so far as to stretch out his fingers and thumb. Before he knew it, I had his coat zippered up and his gloves were "locked in" by the elastic bands in his sleeves. He's not much of a fan of hats, so I was a little concerned about the next step. Much to my surprise, he didn't fight it at all. He also managed to keep all of his accessories on throughout our three mile trek. All in all- not too bad. Only 47 more times to go!
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Today was our last music class of this session. We'll be repeating the same class starting in a couple weeks- only this time he'll actually be within the correct age range. Surprisingly, he didn't miss a step from his great improvement last week. While there was a little bit more wandering around, I'm going to blame that on the multitude of other children who were setting the example. Today was like a "greatest hits" of all the songs and motions we'd learned throughout the class, and he was right on with most of them. He even managed to hold my hand for a some of our circle time (he generally only holds hands when he needs help with something)! We've got a week off, and then we'll see how he reacts to taking a class he's actually supposed to be in!
We stopped by the Humane Society to drop off our dog license applications (albeit a tad late) and take a quick walkthrough. He really liked the big fat bunnies that were hanging out in a couple of the small dog kennels. That was pretty much all he could see, as the kennels there have glass doors with translucent bottoms that keep him from being able to see the dogs clearly. On a positive note, there were several empty kennels today. We did see at least one unleashed dog wandering through the city on our way there, but I'm still going to think positively.
Soon after we left, my phone rang. It was someone from the Humane Society letting me know that my tags were ready! Oops. I didn't realize I was supposed to stick around for them. Oh well, that gives us an excuse to go back sometime soon.
Mommy finally got to see him point to his toes. With no hesitation at all he alternated between toes and belly. We were probably way more excited than we should be. Nose is still a problem. Will he ever figure it out? Who nose? Ahem.
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It was a really early morning for us today. It was almost like going to work. Now I'm sick, too, so I really could have used the extra sleep. Oh well. I really don't like when he gets up early because then he has to watch Mommy leave. I try to distract him so he doesn't notice, and sometimes he doesn't figure it out.
He managed to get back to sleep after breakfast, so the dogs and I went back to bed, too. Thankfully we got a couple of hours of sleep before it was time for lunch.
I started training for the Garden Spot (Half) Marathon today, so I had to bundle up my son in an effort to combat the mid 40 degree temperatures and wind. He did NOT want me to put his left mitten on, as evident by his ceaseless screaming. However, he was very helpful when it came time to put on the right one, even going so far as to stretch out his fingers and thumb. Before he knew it, I had his coat zippered up and his gloves were "locked in" by the elastic bands in his sleeves. He's not much of a fan of hats, so I was a little concerned about the next step. Much to my surprise, he didn't fight it at all. He also managed to keep all of his accessories on throughout our three mile trek. All in all- not too bad. Only 47 more times to go!
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Today was our last music class of this session. We'll be repeating the same class starting in a couple weeks- only this time he'll actually be within the correct age range. Surprisingly, he didn't miss a step from his great improvement last week. While there was a little bit more wandering around, I'm going to blame that on the multitude of other children who were setting the example. Today was like a "greatest hits" of all the songs and motions we'd learned throughout the class, and he was right on with most of them. He even managed to hold my hand for a some of our circle time (he generally only holds hands when he needs help with something)! We've got a week off, and then we'll see how he reacts to taking a class he's actually supposed to be in!
We stopped by the Humane Society to drop off our dog license applications (albeit a tad late) and take a quick walkthrough. He really liked the big fat bunnies that were hanging out in a couple of the small dog kennels. That was pretty much all he could see, as the kennels there have glass doors with translucent bottoms that keep him from being able to see the dogs clearly. On a positive note, there were several empty kennels today. We did see at least one unleashed dog wandering through the city on our way there, but I'm still going to think positively.
Soon after we left, my phone rang. It was someone from the Humane Society letting me know that my tags were ready! Oops. I didn't realize I was supposed to stick around for them. Oh well, that gives us an excuse to go back sometime soon.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Days 58, 59, and 60
This morning our students performed this year's musical, Into The Woods, for local senior citizens. Why am I mentioning this? Because I am in charge of the sound reinforcement for the show, and I couldn't find anyone to watch my son in the morning. This was one of our biggest adventures yet.
For the first time in a while, I woke up before my son. I had to be at school by 8 to help the cast with their microphones and perform a soundcheck. I decided to hold off on giving my son breakfast until we got to school, figuring it would buy me some silent time during the show. I brought along his milk, cereal bar, and lots of snacks.
We go to school a minute or two late, and I had to get to work right away. Unfortunately, I need two hands to do my job. My son wandered around my work area but never strayed farther than a few steps from me. When the kids are getting their mics, they form kind of a human wall; this was very helpful in keeping him nearby. I knew it wouldn't be so easy when the show started. A parent volunteered her daughter to watch him for me, but I told her I would try my luck on my own. I did ask the girl to sit near us- just in case.
Since the majority of my plan consisted of spreading his breakfast out over the course of the show, I brought along his Booster Seat. He was trying to climb into it while I was checking the mics, so I figured he wouldn't mind sitting in it for a time. He finished his bottle before the show started. This left me with his cereal bar and snacks to hold him over for the rest of the show (a little under 2 hours). He patiently ate his cereal bar during the first scene and allowed me to feed him small portions of his other snacks for the rest of the first act. The only time he made any noise happened to be during some applause! Things were going great. I held him for the entire intermission and he returned to his seat with no protest afterward.
As the second act got underway, I started to wonder how much longer his snacks would hold him over. Surely he had to be getting full (and tired). He didn't begin to show any signs of frustration until deep into the second act. He even applauded at a couple appropriate moments. I was thrilled that he was able to hold it together for this long. Even if he didn't, I knew my two student assistants would be able to step in for me in a pinch. However, I was determined to get through the show without any help. One of my goals for this experience has been to maintain as much of my "normal" life as possible. I've been relatively successful so far.
There's a moment right before the end of the show where the two main characters have a baby. That's where the crying sound effect that I recorded last week comes in. I'm not sure if it was hearing himself crying over the P.A. or his patience running out, but at that point my son began to lose it a little. Thankfully, there are only a few simple mic cues to hit before the entire cast sings until the end of the show. I pulled him out of his chair and sang the remaining songs to him as we bounced to the music. He was happy once again, and we survived the entire show without disturbing the cast or audience! I was so proud of him. I felt bad for putting him through that, but considering the circumstances, it needed to be done. Not that we would (because I've been on the other side of it far too many times), but I know now that we could probably take him to the movies. He's already been to a concert and live theater!
When we were collecting and putting away the mics after the show, the same parent from earlier volunteered to hold him and make my job easier. This time I obliged. We hurried out of there as soon as I was done. I gave him lunch at Gram and PopPop's house and put him down for his nap soon after. It was very important that he get a chance to nap because he had to get his hair cut later in the day. PopPop came home to supervise his grandson, and I had to rush back to school for the afternoon performance for the student body. Knowing that my son was resting, I could finally relax.
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Besides taking our our dogs to their hair dresser in the morning, I had no specific place to be today. Unfortunately, when I dropped off our older dog, I was told that he had fleas. Day ruined!
Our younger dog only gets her hair cut once a year, but we take her along when we pick up the other dog so she can get her nails clipped. As soon as I found out about the fleas, I drove back home and grabbed her so the hair dresser could give her a flea bath. While a dogless house would ensure an uninterrupted nap for my son, the circumstances also meant that I had to wash the sheets, towels, and vacuum all the floors!
Once again, I refused to let anything stand in the way of keeping amy day relatively normal. After we dropped off the dogs, I drove over to the local Kia dealer so I could test out the Sorento. As lunchtime loomed large, I explained to the salesman that we didn't have a lot of time. We've heard positive reviews from several people, and I simply wanted to get a look at the car to see if it was worth pursuing further. We headed back home after the testdrive, and my son fell asleep almost instantly. Ruined day: continued!
With my son sleeping in the car, I couldn't get inside to do any of the aforementioned and necessary housework. I still had to give him lunch, too. Couple all of this with the fact that I had to pick up the dogs before 3. And forget about P90X! I let him sleep for as long as I could, and then we went inside for lunch.
I tried unsuccessfully to get him to take a more complete nap after lunch, but he had little interest in complying. I needed him to stay in his crib so I could finish the cleaning. Thankfully the sound of the vacuum drowned out his disdainful cries until I could go up and retrieve him. I gave him his post-nap bottle and snack, and we returned to the hairdresser with just a little time to spare. Ruined day: survived!
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My wife accidentally took the car seat with her to work today, so once again our Sam Ash trip was delayed (along with any other plans to leave the house). The weather was pretty nice right before lunch, so I thought we should spend some time outside.
After his impressive showing on the trail several weeks ago, I had this crazy idea to let my son "run" in a local half-mile Fun Run. I'm no Biranchi Das, but he looks and sounds so happy when he is running around. We're going to see how it goes. Anyway, he was already dressed in sweatpants, so I put a sweatshirt on him and we stepped outside. He immediately got the idea- I initially walked a few feet in front of him and he would catch up. Eventually, I slowly jogged next to him and he did his best impression of a runner. You kind of have to see it to understand, but he flails his arms about wildly and sticks out his tongue and blows raspberries all the while. It's really something.
We made it almost all the way around our block before he had to stop and check out some leaves. I picked him up to cross the street, but he was distracted by a new neighbor's barking dogs. Fearing nothing and respecting few boundaries, he pointed at the window against which they jumped and approached it rapidly. One of the residents is apparently a boy roughly my son's age, and he peaked over the couch while his mom waved his arm for him and the miniature dogs continued to jump and bark. The entire scene was almost too cute for its own good. When it appeared that my son had his fill of the dogs, I picked him up and put him back on the sidewalk. He ran right back to the dog/ baby house.
Eventually we got back on track and on to the next block- that is until he randomly walked up another neighbor's steep (for a 16-month old) driveway. Then another's steps and front porch. And yet another's bow window (inhabited by two larger, barking dogs). This, coupled with his insanely fast climbing skills, makes me think it may soon be time to teach this kid about danger...
Finally after about 25 minutes (I wish I had been using RunKeeper), we had made it all the way around two blocks (roughly a half-mile) and back home. Not a single stumble, fall, or skinned knee! We hydrated, ate lunch, and he recovered with a nice long nap. I did some dishes, played Nintendo 64, and thought about how neat that was. Just like that guy told me (and I misheard) a couple of months ago on the trail- all I needed to do was put some sneakers on him and he would do the rest.
For the first time in a while, I woke up before my son. I had to be at school by 8 to help the cast with their microphones and perform a soundcheck. I decided to hold off on giving my son breakfast until we got to school, figuring it would buy me some silent time during the show. I brought along his milk, cereal bar, and lots of snacks.
We go to school a minute or two late, and I had to get to work right away. Unfortunately, I need two hands to do my job. My son wandered around my work area but never strayed farther than a few steps from me. When the kids are getting their mics, they form kind of a human wall; this was very helpful in keeping him nearby. I knew it wouldn't be so easy when the show started. A parent volunteered her daughter to watch him for me, but I told her I would try my luck on my own. I did ask the girl to sit near us- just in case.
Since the majority of my plan consisted of spreading his breakfast out over the course of the show, I brought along his Booster Seat. He was trying to climb into it while I was checking the mics, so I figured he wouldn't mind sitting in it for a time. He finished his bottle before the show started. This left me with his cereal bar and snacks to hold him over for the rest of the show (a little under 2 hours). He patiently ate his cereal bar during the first scene and allowed me to feed him small portions of his other snacks for the rest of the first act. The only time he made any noise happened to be during some applause! Things were going great. I held him for the entire intermission and he returned to his seat with no protest afterward.
As the second act got underway, I started to wonder how much longer his snacks would hold him over. Surely he had to be getting full (and tired). He didn't begin to show any signs of frustration until deep into the second act. He even applauded at a couple appropriate moments. I was thrilled that he was able to hold it together for this long. Even if he didn't, I knew my two student assistants would be able to step in for me in a pinch. However, I was determined to get through the show without any help. One of my goals for this experience has been to maintain as much of my "normal" life as possible. I've been relatively successful so far.
There's a moment right before the end of the show where the two main characters have a baby. That's where the crying sound effect that I recorded last week comes in. I'm not sure if it was hearing himself crying over the P.A. or his patience running out, but at that point my son began to lose it a little. Thankfully, there are only a few simple mic cues to hit before the entire cast sings until the end of the show. I pulled him out of his chair and sang the remaining songs to him as we bounced to the music. He was happy once again, and we survived the entire show without disturbing the cast or audience! I was so proud of him. I felt bad for putting him through that, but considering the circumstances, it needed to be done. Not that we would (because I've been on the other side of it far too many times), but I know now that we could probably take him to the movies. He's already been to a concert and live theater!
When we were collecting and putting away the mics after the show, the same parent from earlier volunteered to hold him and make my job easier. This time I obliged. We hurried out of there as soon as I was done. I gave him lunch at Gram and PopPop's house and put him down for his nap soon after. It was very important that he get a chance to nap because he had to get his hair cut later in the day. PopPop came home to supervise his grandson, and I had to rush back to school for the afternoon performance for the student body. Knowing that my son was resting, I could finally relax.
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Besides taking our our dogs to their hair dresser in the morning, I had no specific place to be today. Unfortunately, when I dropped off our older dog, I was told that he had fleas. Day ruined!
Our younger dog only gets her hair cut once a year, but we take her along when we pick up the other dog so she can get her nails clipped. As soon as I found out about the fleas, I drove back home and grabbed her so the hair dresser could give her a flea bath. While a dogless house would ensure an uninterrupted nap for my son, the circumstances also meant that I had to wash the sheets, towels, and vacuum all the floors!
Once again, I refused to let anything stand in the way of keeping amy day relatively normal. After we dropped off the dogs, I drove over to the local Kia dealer so I could test out the Sorento. As lunchtime loomed large, I explained to the salesman that we didn't have a lot of time. We've heard positive reviews from several people, and I simply wanted to get a look at the car to see if it was worth pursuing further. We headed back home after the testdrive, and my son fell asleep almost instantly. Ruined day: continued!
With my son sleeping in the car, I couldn't get inside to do any of the aforementioned and necessary housework. I still had to give him lunch, too. Couple all of this with the fact that I had to pick up the dogs before 3. And forget about P90X! I let him sleep for as long as I could, and then we went inside for lunch.
I tried unsuccessfully to get him to take a more complete nap after lunch, but he had little interest in complying. I needed him to stay in his crib so I could finish the cleaning. Thankfully the sound of the vacuum drowned out his disdainful cries until I could go up and retrieve him. I gave him his post-nap bottle and snack, and we returned to the hairdresser with just a little time to spare. Ruined day: survived!
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My wife accidentally took the car seat with her to work today, so once again our Sam Ash trip was delayed (along with any other plans to leave the house). The weather was pretty nice right before lunch, so I thought we should spend some time outside.
After his impressive showing on the trail several weeks ago, I had this crazy idea to let my son "run" in a local half-mile Fun Run. I'm no Biranchi Das, but he looks and sounds so happy when he is running around. We're going to see how it goes. Anyway, he was already dressed in sweatpants, so I put a sweatshirt on him and we stepped outside. He immediately got the idea- I initially walked a few feet in front of him and he would catch up. Eventually, I slowly jogged next to him and he did his best impression of a runner. You kind of have to see it to understand, but he flails his arms about wildly and sticks out his tongue and blows raspberries all the while. It's really something.
We made it almost all the way around our block before he had to stop and check out some leaves. I picked him up to cross the street, but he was distracted by a new neighbor's barking dogs. Fearing nothing and respecting few boundaries, he pointed at the window against which they jumped and approached it rapidly. One of the residents is apparently a boy roughly my son's age, and he peaked over the couch while his mom waved his arm for him and the miniature dogs continued to jump and bark. The entire scene was almost too cute for its own good. When it appeared that my son had his fill of the dogs, I picked him up and put him back on the sidewalk. He ran right back to the dog/ baby house.
Eventually we got back on track and on to the next block- that is until he randomly walked up another neighbor's steep (for a 16-month old) driveway. Then another's steps and front porch. And yet another's bow window (inhabited by two larger, barking dogs). This, coupled with his insanely fast climbing skills, makes me think it may soon be time to teach this kid about danger...
Finally after about 25 minutes (I wish I had been using RunKeeper), we had made it all the way around two blocks (roughly a half-mile) and back home. Not a single stumble, fall, or skinned knee! We hydrated, ate lunch, and he recovered with a nice long nap. I did some dishes, played Nintendo 64, and thought about how neat that was. Just like that guy told me (and I misheard) a couple of months ago on the trail- all I needed to do was put some sneakers on him and he would do the rest.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Days 21 and 22
After a busy week and weekend (including celebrating my parents' 40th wedding anniversary on Sunday), we took it easy on Monday. We did make a stop at the VF Outlet because they were having their big Majestic Tent Sale. I usually buy way more Phillies gear than I need (having already obtained way more Phillies gear than I need), but this time I only bought one item: a Phanatic puppet. I wouldn't even have bought that if my son hadn't picked it out himself. He already has a few Phanatics of varying size and material, but they aren't puppets. What's one more? (And surely more after that)
We also made a stop at the Toys Я Us outlet where my son found one of his favorite toys from home: an electronic activity table. There were several of them on display, so he had a great time getting them all talking at once. He wasn't happy to leave the store, but we had to at least make an attempt to take a nap. He didn't.
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Today started with a 4 mile run. I only have 6 more training runs before running my second marathon on October 9th. It's been a neat experience sharing my training with my son. Someday I'll tell him all about it, and maybe he'll feign interest, but it will always mean a lot to me. Two years ago I didn't believe I could run 26.2 miles, and this year I couldn't have done it without him. Seriously, I couldn't. I'd probably be in serious trouble with Child Protective Services if I let him home alone for hours at a time. I'm kidding of course. I'd check in on him every lap or so. Still kidding.
We ate lunch at Ciabatta today, a local soup and sandwich shop. My son and I enjoyed the Pescara sandwich and then headed off to band practice. We left very early, as I was hoping he would take a nap on the way. He did. I gave him a full hour of sleep before I collected the required materials from the car and took him inside. Again he was in a great mood during rehearsal. I let him roam free for the second straight time, and all he wanted to do was pick up drumsticks and mallets. I had no problem with this. He once again helped me play a few songs. He can do that whenever he wants.
We ran into a few of my coworkers on the way into the building. They asked me if I miss them. While I do miss many of my coworkers, I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. Except maybe early retirement with full pension and benefits. And a hot tub. Don't forget the hot tub.
We also made a stop at the Toys Я Us outlet where my son found one of his favorite toys from home: an electronic activity table. There were several of them on display, so he had a great time getting them all talking at once. He wasn't happy to leave the store, but we had to at least make an attempt to take a nap. He didn't.
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Today started with a 4 mile run. I only have 6 more training runs before running my second marathon on October 9th. It's been a neat experience sharing my training with my son. Someday I'll tell him all about it, and maybe he'll feign interest, but it will always mean a lot to me. Two years ago I didn't believe I could run 26.2 miles, and this year I couldn't have done it without him. Seriously, I couldn't. I'd probably be in serious trouble with Child Protective Services if I let him home alone for hours at a time. I'm kidding of course. I'd check in on him every lap or so. Still kidding.
We ate lunch at Ciabatta today, a local soup and sandwich shop. My son and I enjoyed the Pescara sandwich and then headed off to band practice. We left very early, as I was hoping he would take a nap on the way. He did. I gave him a full hour of sleep before I collected the required materials from the car and took him inside. Again he was in a great mood during rehearsal. I let him roam free for the second straight time, and all he wanted to do was pick up drumsticks and mallets. I had no problem with this. He once again helped me play a few songs. He can do that whenever he wants.
We ran into a few of my coworkers on the way into the building. They asked me if I miss them. While I do miss many of my coworkers, I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. Except maybe early retirement with full pension and benefits. And a hot tub. Don't forget the hot tub.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Days 18 and 19
Two music classes in one week turned out to be no problem at all for my son. He enjoyed meeting all of his classmates in the regular class. This one is far more full than the one we attended on Monday. Within a few minutes of the class starting, my son found a female admirer. And her daughter. One couldn't keep her hands off of him; the other couldn't stop telling him how adorable he is. It will be interesting to see how this plays out throughout the semester (?).
We sang the same songs today that we did on Monday. My son hasn't memorized them yet. He'll get there. Right now his focus seems to be walking around the room since there's no doorknob for him to attack. He did manage to pick up a few of the instruments and clap at the appropriate time once or twice.
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Our favorite trail reopened today, at least enough of it for us to get our 5 miles in. The trail is still very wet and bumpy, but I'm just thankful that its closing was the biggest inconvenience I experienced due to the recent extreme weather. The bumps give my son a chance to sing a sustained note and listen to his voice vibrate, and that's just adorable.
We later had band practice at school, and I left him out of his "cage" for most of it. He just wandered around near the drums, even grabbing a stick and playing the ride cymbal at mostly appropriate times. At one point I just used my left hand and let him take care of the right: our first duet. I'll mark that down in the baby book later.
Today's extreme embarrassment of the day- One of my bandmates asked me about our experience at the Phillies game, and I was describing the day while taking one of the rack toms off of the kit (so my son could play with it). As I went to sit down and place the drum on the floor next to me, I quickly realized there was nothing on which to sit. I fell on my butt in slow motion, narrowly avoiding my son who had apparently pushed over the throne. I'm told he was laughing, and that makes it A-OK.
I had to work at the final Phillies (regular season) home game tonight, and it was completely ridiculous to drive all the way home and drop him off with my wife before driving right back the same direction. Therefore, I enlisted the help of my mom; we'll call her "Gram". Gram was eagerly waiting outside for us when we arrived, but my son was more interested in walking up the street. She caught up with him and happily dealt with his many changes of direction as I drove away. I'll see him tomorrow morning.
We sang the same songs today that we did on Monday. My son hasn't memorized them yet. He'll get there. Right now his focus seems to be walking around the room since there's no doorknob for him to attack. He did manage to pick up a few of the instruments and clap at the appropriate time once or twice.
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Our favorite trail reopened today, at least enough of it for us to get our 5 miles in. The trail is still very wet and bumpy, but I'm just thankful that its closing was the biggest inconvenience I experienced due to the recent extreme weather. The bumps give my son a chance to sing a sustained note and listen to his voice vibrate, and that's just adorable.
We later had band practice at school, and I left him out of his "cage" for most of it. He just wandered around near the drums, even grabbing a stick and playing the ride cymbal at mostly appropriate times. At one point I just used my left hand and let him take care of the right: our first duet. I'll mark that down in the baby book later.
Today's extreme embarrassment of the day- One of my bandmates asked me about our experience at the Phillies game, and I was describing the day while taking one of the rack toms off of the kit (so my son could play with it). As I went to sit down and place the drum on the floor next to me, I quickly realized there was nothing on which to sit. I fell on my butt in slow motion, narrowly avoiding my son who had apparently pushed over the throne. I'm told he was laughing, and that makes it A-OK.
I had to work at the final Phillies (regular season) home game tonight, and it was completely ridiculous to drive all the way home and drop him off with my wife before driving right back the same direction. Therefore, I enlisted the help of my mom; we'll call her "Gram". Gram was eagerly waiting outside for us when we arrived, but my son was more interested in walking up the street. She caught up with him and happily dealt with his many changes of direction as I drove away. I'll see him tomorrow morning.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Day 12
Trail running with a 14 month old takes some preparation. Of course there's the preparing bottles for both of us, diapering, dressing, feeding, rediapering, harnessing, driving, unharnessing, removing, unfolding, and harnessing. Along the way my son tends to remove one or more socks, so there's also sometimes the added fun of locating and replacing said sock(s). Even with all of that done, I still have to stretch. That's what we did yesterday before our run at Gring's Mill. I was just beginning the stretching portion of my day when a helpful, albeit unwelcome, voice from the car parked next to me said, "You do know that trail is closed, right?" No, I did not know that, Mr. Voice. I told him that I knew that certain areas of the trail were closed, but I knew nothing about this one. He told me there was a sign proclaiming it so at the entrance, but I must have missed it. Regardless, we had come this far, so at the very least I was going to see this supposed "closed" trail for myself.
It's a short walk downhill from the parking lot to the entrance to the trail. It didn't take long to see why we were not going to be using this trail today (or any day soon, for that matter). The trail is usually next to the Tulpehocken Creek. On this day, it was under it. I'm not talking about a random puddle or two or a few overrun sections- the trail was the creek.
On our way out of the park (after unharnessing, folding, stowing, and reharnessing), I finally saw the sign proclaiming the trail out of order- all 8 and 1/2 by 11 inches of it. Thanks, Parks Department. We returned home and proceeded to run around our neighborhood. Dryly.
After lunch and a shower, we had an uneventful band practice at school. We surprised one of my son's fans who teaches in the building, possibly making her day, and continued on our way. It was time for a very late nap, but along the way we stopped in THE BIG CITY to pick up medicine for one of our dogs. I figured his nap would last long enough for me to study a little bit and then take him home before working the field hockey game that evening. He did not agree. Soon after pulling into the Chick-Fil-A parking lot, he awoke. I ordered a sandwich for me and a piece of chicken for him, and we left for the nearby high school.
He got a chance to run around on our artificial track and field for a while before the girls began hitting balls all over the place. He also made a few friends along the way. As much as he loves looking at girls, it was great seeing the look on his face as he discovered that this event consisted of nothing but girls. He walked up to many of them, pointed at them, and moved on to others. Good boy. I cut up his chicken and fed it to him while he wandered around. He met all of the people with which I work at the games, and work began. Though I held him for the duration, there were plenty of volunteers to take over for me.
Soon Mommy arrived to take him home. The game got a whole lot less exciting after he left but thankfully did not go into overtime. This was even more important because we still had to take his monthly picture before he went to bed. I got home just in time, and the day had come to a close.
It's a short walk downhill from the parking lot to the entrance to the trail. It didn't take long to see why we were not going to be using this trail today (or any day soon, for that matter). The trail is usually next to the Tulpehocken Creek. On this day, it was under it. I'm not talking about a random puddle or two or a few overrun sections- the trail was the creek.
On our way out of the park (after unharnessing, folding, stowing, and reharnessing), I finally saw the sign proclaiming the trail out of order- all 8 and 1/2 by 11 inches of it. Thanks, Parks Department. We returned home and proceeded to run around our neighborhood. Dryly.
After lunch and a shower, we had an uneventful band practice at school. We surprised one of my son's fans who teaches in the building, possibly making her day, and continued on our way. It was time for a very late nap, but along the way we stopped in THE BIG CITY to pick up medicine for one of our dogs. I figured his nap would last long enough for me to study a little bit and then take him home before working the field hockey game that evening. He did not agree. Soon after pulling into the Chick-Fil-A parking lot, he awoke. I ordered a sandwich for me and a piece of chicken for him, and we left for the nearby high school.
He got a chance to run around on our artificial track and field for a while before the girls began hitting balls all over the place. He also made a few friends along the way. As much as he loves looking at girls, it was great seeing the look on his face as he discovered that this event consisted of nothing but girls. He walked up to many of them, pointed at them, and moved on to others. Good boy. I cut up his chicken and fed it to him while he wandered around. He met all of the people with which I work at the games, and work began. Though I held him for the duration, there were plenty of volunteers to take over for me.
Soon Mommy arrived to take him home. The game got a whole lot less exciting after he left but thankfully did not go into overtime. This was even more important because we still had to take his monthly picture before he went to bed. I got home just in time, and the day had come to a close.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Day 6
My son didn't wake up until after 10 today. I'm not complaining, just saying. We had planned on going to a coworker's family member's viewing today, but there is no way we could have made it. Once he had his breakfast, I got dressed and ready for my morning (mostly afternoon) run.
We didn't leave until after 11, as my son made up for a poopless yesterday with his first of a few special stinky gifts today. Remember how I said he had a soft taco for lunch yesterday? Well apparently he wanted to let his diaper know all about it, too. I'll just leave it at that. After a quick cleanup, we were finally on our way.
The trail was very lonely, save for a few diehards and an ecology class from the most local of colleges. We encounterd several of students along our 8 mile route, and my son did his best to charm each and every one of them. He was very talkative for most of the run and never once complained. I guess 14 hours of sleep will have that effect on a guy.
Without getting into too much detail, I should mention that one of us may have had an emergency due to drinking some questionable fountain water, and the other one was kind enough to hold open the stall door with his stroller while the other took care of important business. Funny faces help pass the time. The ability to improvise is likely the most important aspect of effective parenting.
We got home in time to catch the final 7 innings of a Phillies win. Around the bottom of the sixth, my son began to show signs of being ready for nap time. I took him upstairs and gave him the assistance he normally needs to get to sleep. However, he wasn't biting, and I stunk like a guy who had just jogged 8 miles, so something had to give. I put him down in his crib and prepared for his wrath. It took 12 minutes, but he finally succumbed to his own sleepiness, and didn't wake up until the dogs felt it necessary to alert him about a UPS delivery. By that time, Mommy had returned from her first (abbreviated) week back at work, and Labor Day weekend had begun. Also, I finally showered.
See you Tuesday.
We didn't leave until after 11, as my son made up for a poopless yesterday with his first of a few special stinky gifts today. Remember how I said he had a soft taco for lunch yesterday? Well apparently he wanted to let his diaper know all about it, too. I'll just leave it at that. After a quick cleanup, we were finally on our way.
The trail was very lonely, save for a few diehards and an ecology class from the most local of colleges. We encounterd several of students along our 8 mile route, and my son did his best to charm each and every one of them. He was very talkative for most of the run and never once complained. I guess 14 hours of sleep will have that effect on a guy.
Without getting into too much detail, I should mention that one of us may have had an emergency due to drinking some questionable fountain water, and the other one was kind enough to hold open the stall door with his stroller while the other took care of important business. Funny faces help pass the time. The ability to improvise is likely the most important aspect of effective parenting.
We got home in time to catch the final 7 innings of a Phillies win. Around the bottom of the sixth, my son began to show signs of being ready for nap time. I took him upstairs and gave him the assistance he normally needs to get to sleep. However, he wasn't biting, and I stunk like a guy who had just jogged 8 miles, so something had to give. I put him down in his crib and prepared for his wrath. It took 12 minutes, but he finally succumbed to his own sleepiness, and didn't wake up until the dogs felt it necessary to alert him about a UPS delivery. By that time, Mommy had returned from her first (abbreviated) week back at work, and Labor Day weekend had begun. Also, I finally showered.
See you Tuesday.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Day 4
While on the trail today, a fellow runner called out to me as he ran towards us in the opposite lane. At first I was a little bothered by his words because I thought he said "Get rid if that, and get some speakers"- referring to my preference of listening to podcasts such as The Grizzly Bear Egg Cafe when I run. Many runners (mostly the serious, talented ones) have a disdain for those who run while using earbuds or headphones. In fact, many races forbid runners from using such devices; they say it's for safety reasons. I once shared an article with my students about a woman who won a marathon only to have her prize stripped from her because she was using an iPod during the race. Strangely, the second place winner was also disqualified because she consumed an unauthorized liquid provided to her by someone other than a race volunteer. While I understand the need to establish rules and consider everyone's safety, I have yet to encounter a runner who listens to his music at such a volume that he is unable to react to the customary "on your left" warning when he is about to be passed. Regardless, I wasn't happy with his comment. Then, a split second later, I realized what he actually said, and I felt bad for not acknowledging him. His advice- "Get rid of that (the stroller), and get him some sneakers". If I had heard him correctly through his panting, I'm still not sure what I would have said. I probably would have over-explained how good of a walker he has become in such a short time, and how he started on Father's day, and that we were lucky enough to catch his first steps on video, and that he likes to chase me around the couch, and countless other things I wouldn't have been able to fit in the second-and-a-half I had to respond. Instead I just nodded.
I noticed today how nice it is to talk to another adult once in a while. I'm only four days deep in this experience, and the one thing I truly miss about working is occasional interaction with my peers. I found myself rambling when on the phone with an old friend this evening. I caught myself and apologized. I imagine I'll be doing a lot of that over the next year. During a tough day at work, I could always count on a laugh while eating lunch with my fellow teachers. While my son and I certainly make each other laugh, his sense of humor is yet to develop past fart noises, pratfalls, and silly faces. Come to think of it, that's not all so different from lunch at school.
I noticed today how nice it is to talk to another adult once in a while. I'm only four days deep in this experience, and the one thing I truly miss about working is occasional interaction with my peers. I found myself rambling when on the phone with an old friend this evening. I caught myself and apologized. I imagine I'll be doing a lot of that over the next year. During a tough day at work, I could always count on a laugh while eating lunch with my fellow teachers. While my son and I certainly make each other laugh, his sense of humor is yet to develop past fart noises, pratfalls, and silly faces. Come to think of it, that's not all so different from lunch at school.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Day 1
Sure enough, my son woke up around 9:15. He managed to sleep through the night, surviving a scare when my wife left for work and the dogs opted to inform the entire neighborhood. I got him dressed right away [which is odd for me- I usually keep him in his pajamas until after his lunch (read: mess)] and took him downstairs for breakfast. (Note: I will spare you these details in the future, as most mornings will likely have little variation.)
Breakfast for my son consists of a bottle of whole milk and a breakfast bar. He is rather fond of the apple cinnamon cereal bar made by Gerber. That is to say, I think he likes them. He hasn't told me otherwise.
Wednesday is trash day. Having worked at the previous night's Phillies game, I didn't get a chance to take out the garbage cans in the evening. My son walked over to the front door and watched as I quickly rolled three containers-full of diapers and Land of Nod catalogs out to our rounded curb and returned just in time to find that he had squashed his breakfast beyond recognition. Our dogs, one a border collie/ cocker spaniel mix and the other a lab mix of some sort, were the benefactors of my son's destruction, as I split the remains of the bar into their respective breakfast bowls. They, too, didn't complain.
The day's schedule included an 8-mile training run and lunch with Mommy during the day and studio time in the evening. I had hoped to get the run in before lunch, but my son's reluctance to finish his bottle made that impossible. Instead we curled up on the carpet and watched the most recent episode of one of my favorite dumb shows of the moment, SyFy's Warehouse 13. The episode veered from the standard monster/ artifact of the week formula and actually provided some character development for a change. My son didn't want to talk about it, but I know he noticed.
Soon after the show ended, Mommy arrived home from her first day of work for lunch. She explained that she had "a moment" when she discovered some Cheerios our son placed in her school bag. We had always heard stories like this from our friends: how heartswelling/ breaking it is to find the little things their children leave for them in their briefcases, etc. He wasn't old enough during last school year for me to experience this, but I'm sure I'll know some day. Despite this grainy gift, she managed to make it through her first few hours of work without crying. We all left the house after lunch- my wife to work, my son and I to a nearby trail.
My son has been a great training partner. We use the Jeep Liberty stroller, which apparently is not intended for use as a jogger, but works great on both trails and sidewalks. We were the only father/ son team on the trail today; in fact, we are usually the only father/ son team on the trail. We are generally joined on the trail by retired couples, mommies and their babies, and the occasional cross country team. Today was no different. My son fell asleep roughly two miles into my run, but some bumps on the trail startled him, so I slowed down to a brisk walking pace in order to let him sleep. This was a bit of a blessing in disguise because I'm fairly certain I have a few broken bones (as well as diagnosed tendinosis) in my left foot, and I didn't want to push too hard today because I was not wearing my normal running shoes.
I have been wearing various varities of Vibram Five Fingers for the past couple of years. Last year I ran the Philadelphia Marathon in pair of Bikila, and this year I am running the Steamtown Marathon in a pair of Bikila LS (because just one would be far too painful). I injured my left foot last year on a rugged trail run, and I don't think it ever fully healed. The hundreds of miles I have put on my feet in concert with the lack of support these shoes offer have contributed to a fair amount of foot pain. However, before I started wearing Five Fingers, I had so much pain in my right knee, I was physically unable to run. A broken bone or two is a small tradeoff for actually being able to run!
He woke up around mile 4, and after a short sippy cup break, I (we?) ran the rest of the way. We returned home, and we each refreshed with a cool beverage. While I drank my red Gatorade and he drank his afternoon milk, he pointed over to my bottle to let me know that we were doing the same thing. It was easily one of the three most adorable things I had seen all day.
Before I knew it, my wife returned from work, and my first day home from work was complete. She wanted nothing more than to play with him, and I finally got to shower around 4 o'clock in the afternoon. 1 day down, 180+ to go!
Breakfast for my son consists of a bottle of whole milk and a breakfast bar. He is rather fond of the apple cinnamon cereal bar made by Gerber. That is to say, I think he likes them. He hasn't told me otherwise.
Wednesday is trash day. Having worked at the previous night's Phillies game, I didn't get a chance to take out the garbage cans in the evening. My son walked over to the front door and watched as I quickly rolled three containers-full of diapers and Land of Nod catalogs out to our rounded curb and returned just in time to find that he had squashed his breakfast beyond recognition. Our dogs, one a border collie/ cocker spaniel mix and the other a lab mix of some sort, were the benefactors of my son's destruction, as I split the remains of the bar into their respective breakfast bowls. They, too, didn't complain.
The day's schedule included an 8-mile training run and lunch with Mommy during the day and studio time in the evening. I had hoped to get the run in before lunch, but my son's reluctance to finish his bottle made that impossible. Instead we curled up on the carpet and watched the most recent episode of one of my favorite dumb shows of the moment, SyFy's Warehouse 13. The episode veered from the standard monster/ artifact of the week formula and actually provided some character development for a change. My son didn't want to talk about it, but I know he noticed.
Soon after the show ended, Mommy arrived home from her first day of work for lunch. She explained that she had "a moment" when she discovered some Cheerios our son placed in her school bag. We had always heard stories like this from our friends: how heartswelling/ breaking it is to find the little things their children leave for them in their briefcases, etc. He wasn't old enough during last school year for me to experience this, but I'm sure I'll know some day. Despite this grainy gift, she managed to make it through her first few hours of work without crying. We all left the house after lunch- my wife to work, my son and I to a nearby trail.
My son has been a great training partner. We use the Jeep Liberty stroller, which apparently is not intended for use as a jogger, but works great on both trails and sidewalks. We were the only father/ son team on the trail today; in fact, we are usually the only father/ son team on the trail. We are generally joined on the trail by retired couples, mommies and their babies, and the occasional cross country team. Today was no different. My son fell asleep roughly two miles into my run, but some bumps on the trail startled him, so I slowed down to a brisk walking pace in order to let him sleep. This was a bit of a blessing in disguise because I'm fairly certain I have a few broken bones (as well as diagnosed tendinosis) in my left foot, and I didn't want to push too hard today because I was not wearing my normal running shoes.
I have been wearing various varities of Vibram Five Fingers for the past couple of years. Last year I ran the Philadelphia Marathon in pair of Bikila, and this year I am running the Steamtown Marathon in a pair of Bikila LS (because just one would be far too painful). I injured my left foot last year on a rugged trail run, and I don't think it ever fully healed. The hundreds of miles I have put on my feet in concert with the lack of support these shoes offer have contributed to a fair amount of foot pain. However, before I started wearing Five Fingers, I had so much pain in my right knee, I was physically unable to run. A broken bone or two is a small tradeoff for actually being able to run!
He woke up around mile 4, and after a short sippy cup break, I (we?) ran the rest of the way. We returned home, and we each refreshed with a cool beverage. While I drank my red Gatorade and he drank his afternoon milk, he pointed over to my bottle to let me know that we were doing the same thing. It was easily one of the three most adorable things I had seen all day.
Before I knew it, my wife returned from work, and my first day home from work was complete. She wanted nothing more than to play with him, and I finally got to shower around 4 o'clock in the afternoon. 1 day down, 180+ to go!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
It Begins
Let me explain. No, it's too much. Let me sum up.
My name is Kevin. I am 33 and live in Sinking Spring, PA. For the past 11 years, I have worked as a junior high school teacher in the school district from which I graduated. For much of that time I have worked part-time for Philadelphia Phillies, played drums in several bands, and announced high school sports. My newest projects are finishing my third Master's degree, training for my second marathon, and teaching my first drum student.
On July 13th, 2010, my wife and I welcomed our son into the world. My wife, also a teacher, was able to spend the following school year at home completing graduate level classes online and taking care of the baby. Throughout the year we discussed our future plans: namely what we would do when she had to go back to work. If we had created a list on our options, day care would have been at the very bottom. Our parents are all very busy, so working out a schedule to find someone to watch him during the day would be quite difficult. Looking to work from home, my wife attempted to get a job with a cyber school. She was perhaps too honest about her motive during the interview process, and that likely disqualified her from consideration. If she chose to quit her job outright, we would have to pay back all of her compensation from the past year. There was no easy answer.
The school year went on, and we still had not reached a decision. All the while there was an option that neither of us were very excited about: I could stay home. She didn't like it because it would mean that she would have to go back to work. I didn't like it because it would mean that I would have to alter my "go-go-go!!!" lifestyle. However, it soon became the only practical choice. I decided to be an adult for a change and do the best thing for my family. I met with our district superintendent, explained my plans to finish my current graduate program, and it was settled. For the 2011-2012 school year, I would be on professional development leave and be a stay-at-home dad.
So that brings us to this evening. As I sit here and type this, my wife, coworkers, and other teacher friends are sleeping, having gone to bed anxiously anticipating their first day of work later today. It's 1 o'clock in the morning, and I am the most relaxed I have been in years. I know my son is going to wake up somewhere between 9 and 10 o'clock. I know I have to take him for an 8 mile run after that. I know my wife is coming home for lunch at 11:30. I know I have to lay down some drum tracks at 6. What I don't know is pretty much anything else about how this year is going to play out. And I couldn't be more excited.
Welcome to SabDadical.
My name is Kevin. I am 33 and live in Sinking Spring, PA. For the past 11 years, I have worked as a junior high school teacher in the school district from which I graduated. For much of that time I have worked part-time for Philadelphia Phillies, played drums in several bands, and announced high school sports. My newest projects are finishing my third Master's degree, training for my second marathon, and teaching my first drum student.
On July 13th, 2010, my wife and I welcomed our son into the world. My wife, also a teacher, was able to spend the following school year at home completing graduate level classes online and taking care of the baby. Throughout the year we discussed our future plans: namely what we would do when she had to go back to work. If we had created a list on our options, day care would have been at the very bottom. Our parents are all very busy, so working out a schedule to find someone to watch him during the day would be quite difficult. Looking to work from home, my wife attempted to get a job with a cyber school. She was perhaps too honest about her motive during the interview process, and that likely disqualified her from consideration. If she chose to quit her job outright, we would have to pay back all of her compensation from the past year. There was no easy answer.
The school year went on, and we still had not reached a decision. All the while there was an option that neither of us were very excited about: I could stay home. She didn't like it because it would mean that she would have to go back to work. I didn't like it because it would mean that I would have to alter my "go-go-go!!!" lifestyle. However, it soon became the only practical choice. I decided to be an adult for a change and do the best thing for my family. I met with our district superintendent, explained my plans to finish my current graduate program, and it was settled. For the 2011-2012 school year, I would be on professional development leave and be a stay-at-home dad.
So that brings us to this evening. As I sit here and type this, my wife, coworkers, and other teacher friends are sleeping, having gone to bed anxiously anticipating their first day of work later today. It's 1 o'clock in the morning, and I am the most relaxed I have been in years. I know my son is going to wake up somewhere between 9 and 10 o'clock. I know I have to take him for an 8 mile run after that. I know my wife is coming home for lunch at 11:30. I know I have to lay down some drum tracks at 6. What I don't know is pretty much anything else about how this year is going to play out. And I couldn't be more excited.
Welcome to SabDadical.
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