Photo Thursday

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I am so glad my partner in parenting can run and play with the kids. This was taken the other day in my backyard. Mike walked Riley down the zipline. If it were up to me we wouldn't have a zipline. I am certainly in no shape to climb a ladder and jump off sailing through the backyard. The kids, however, are. It is very much appreciated and stirct rules are observed so they can keep it. Hurray, for athletically able, child-at-heart Daddies.

Little Miss Fix It

Last Summer she "fixed" a memory card with a screwdriver







Don't worry Daddy, I'll help fix it (Fall 2010)





Yup, that's a ratchet (and a hedgehog next to her head)



Riley the Ratcheter

Bare Naked Babies (Butts)

So we have a little seat that fits over the toilet so that Riley can use it. She picked it out herself. It has Sesame Street characters on it. She sits on it before every bath and makes the sound effects of peeing even if she hasn't actually done it yet.

That's all well and good, but toddlers and bathrooms are a dangerous combination. Unless you want your tile covered with unspooled toilet paper, the rubber ducky flushed down the toilet and your little one staggering around drunk on mouthwash. They're a bit like frat boys that way everywhere is a potential "party" locale and you can always measure the fun that was had by the size of the mess left in their wake. This is way our bathroom door is closed to Riley until bath time.

We decided she needed a potty chair in the living room to further potty training efforts. I took her to pick out her potty, all the while talking up what a big girl she was. I put 3 choices down on the floor for her inspection. She babbled for a moment and then sat on the one that looked like a frog. When I encouraged her to "try" the other ones she shook her head. She remained seated and smiling on the frog making peeing noises. When she did stand up she picked up the frog potty and started leading the way out of the store.

We put the potty in the living room and she sat on it a handful of times, but hasn't christened it yet. She did, however, take the bowl part out, put it on her head and march around making pee pee noises. At least the potty is fun and not scary. She inspires alot of confidence despite the fact that she hasn't gone on either potty yet.

The other day Daddy gave her oatmeal for breakfast sans bib. After her well earned bath Daddy took her into her room to get dressed. Later that day as we cruised the aisles at Target I noticed Riley's bare butt was visible over the waistband of her pants. This should not be possible. I assumed we had some diaper slippage, but when I felt the back of her pants there was nothing but baby butt.

Daddy have forgotten a diaper!! He just pulled her pants over her bare butt. So there we were in the toy aisle with a baby going commando. She had been diaperless for what I'm guessing was about 45min. Daddy of course thought this was hilarious and that we should let it ride and see how long she stayed dry. I'm not a big gambler so I plopped the baby down on my lap and wheeled off to the ladies room before he knew what was happening.

We're getting closer to potty training by inches. Her bladder muscles are mature enough to "hold it" and the other day she walked over to me grabbed her diaper and said "Ma, ma peeeeeezzzzz." Onward and toilet-ward we go!

What's the Rush?!?

Mike wanted Riley to start solids at 2mo old so this kind of thing is nothing new. He insisted at 9mo she "needed" her own Legos. I went with it and got her the baby version. He's been pushing to give her a computer, but I keep saying it's too early (and a space issue, but isn't everything in this house). This weekend he insisted she was ready for a bed. He was ready to disasemble the crib and throw a mattress on the floor for her.

I must stop typing and breathe deeply.

I explained all the reasons why with her sleep issues right now it's a terrible plan. As I suspected it's what he did the first time around. I told him that made sense as Isaac never slept with him. He slept well in the crib and probably transitioned easily to a bed. I know if I were a single parent with a good sleeper I'd probably opt for the plan that bought me a little more sleep in the morning. Riley however is another story she would never sleep if she had the choice right now. Plus Mommy is not ready for her only baby to have a big girl bed.

So, reigh in those horses, Daddy. We'll get there soon enough.

Still Holding...

I'm just so complicated that the rep looked and my films and said he perfered to overnight them to his company in Indiana and let them approximate how long building my hip will take. We're back to waiting. The surgery scheduling lady says "Monday we hope." I hate not knowing I want to plan my life. On the plus side I ordered this and it came today:

That's What Daddies Are For

Insert your favorite joke here.

Seriously, in my opinion we've taken huge leaps and bounds as far as "co-parenting" goes. Pretty well gone are the days when people are limited by their gender roles as far as parents. No more sperm donor and sole breadwinner with no parental responsibilities. Even if one parent is working and the other stays with the kids they share the parenting job these days. But I'm not about to get off on a college woman's studies class inspired rant about equally in the nuclear family, no just wanted to make this particular observation...

I was feeling jealous that when Riley's with me we spend a lot of time getting down to business (eating, bathing, changing, etc) and less playing. Daddy's first priority is always to make her laugh first then change the diaper. He's more relaxed about a lot of things.

Specifically, he pushes my boundaries. If I'm frantically trying to keep one hand on Riley and do 20 other things he'll say "she's ok, let go." That's the moment I look around and think it over. He's right most of the time if she falls back on her nice soft carpet she'll be fine, if I let her sit in the tub while I'm right there (and keep her away from the faucet) she's fine...You're getting the picture. In general it's ok for me to back off a little. It's good for me to test and re-test my comfort level and her independence.

So thanks to Daddies everywhere.

Funny Daddy

After a particularly gruesome diaper change: "That's what we call a 4wipe 2dipe situation."

When Riley sat up to look at my computer and stuck her thumb in her mouth: "See when she sticks her thumb in her mouth that's like her bowl of popcorn she wants to watch a movie."

He's not the only one either I caught my self singing during her bath the other day: "wash, wash wash. Wash, wash, wash. Wash your booty."

Riley Roasting Marshmellows

Funny Omission

We've been having ongoing budget talks because we want to move soon. Mike made up an excel spreadsheet and outlined all the expenses. He listed adult and children's expenses like medical and clothing separately. Great, only one problem he neglected to add a line for diapers!

I don't know about you but that makes me think he hasn't been changing enough of them. There certainly is no diaper fairy magically restocking the diaper supply.

So, sorry Riley but potty training begins immediately as diapers are no longer in the budget (:

Not Just the Boys...

I babysat a ton growing up so I came to parenthood with a diaper changing strategy. I always put the new unfolded daiper under the butt before I unfasten the old one, just in case. Even when you get prepared, sometimes ninja like reflexes are required.

On one occasion while Riley was still in the hospital we had back to back diaper changes where daddy got peed on one day and a poop fountain the next! You heard me, poop fountain. It was amazing, it went over the side of the crib and hit the chair several inches away as well as the floor (and poor daddy). The NICU nurses who see this kind of thing all the time were still talking (and laughing) about it the next day. Too bad we didn't video that!

Tired Daddy=Comedy

One night I asked Mike at the 4am feeding if he would put the dirty diaper in the Diaper Genie and the dirty onesie in the hamper. When I got up at 7am to feed the baby I discovered the onesie in the Diaper Genie! Oops.

That's What She Laughs At!?!?