Future Linebacker

To the left is an image of Baby Boy's favorite activity. He loves pushing things around. Doesn't really matter what it is: a box of diapers, a foot stool, walkers, toy cars, kitchen chairs, or his box of building blocks if he can push it he will.

Baby Boy has logged in many laps around the main floor of our house. Lately, our home has been filled with the sound of him pushing a turned-over foot stool around. A subtle scrape of vinyl rubbing acroos tile is followed by a tiny gasp of air as the cushion collides with a floor divider and then the high pitched squeal of Baby Boy echoes through the house. Why the squeal you ask? The foot stool is momentarily stuck. Baby Boy is frustrated and lets the world know. But, then he readjusts his direction and the stool makes it's way over the divider and once again the house is soothed by the sounds of scraping vinyl.

Mom and I are making predictions that Baby Boy will be a linebacker based upon his love for pushing things about. It ought to carry well into a position that requires you to move lineman out of your way. We get a big kick out of imagining hearing a high pitched squeal coming from the field each and everytime a lineman doesn't quite move as he Baby Boy wants. We will proudly turn to the other spectators in the stand and say, "That's my boy."

On Eating Sand

The last two days I had the opportunity to stay at home with Baby Boy while Mom went on a working interview. I loved the opportunity to hangout with him. Baby Boy road around the backyard in his new car, a sporty red coupe. We also toured some new blocks in the neighbored. He enjoyed his enlarged view from his wagon. His stroller was nice, but it'd didn't offer the full 360 degree view of the Radio Flyer. We also got to dig around in the sandbox.

Yesterday was Baby Boy's second adventure into the sandbox. He didn't much care for the feel of the sand the first time. He put his hands down into the sand once and then left them hanging in the air the rest of the time. Yesterday, he really dug in. His favorite game involved destroying the sand sculptures I made. When he finally got bored of destroying, what I believe to be, really great art work, he turned to eating the sand. Having experienced a mouthful or two of sand I feel confident in saying that it is no delicacy and felt it was my place to save him from a rather unpleasant sensation. So, Baby Boy heard, "No, it's yucky" several times and the various instruments he used to bring the sand to his mouth were diverted by a well intentioned hand.

Baby Boy continued to try to eat it. I figured, "No, it's yucky" held little meaning to him. So, being the wise Dad that I am, I gave him another, "No, it's yucky" and let him put the sand to his mouth. Certainly "yucky" was going to move from an abstract concept to something more concrete. Certainly, Baby Boy's face reflected the rather distasteful treat, but did it stop him? No, he tried and tried again. He had to try the sand that was on his red shovel and then again on his yellow shovel and the yellow rake and finally on his hands before he was certain that sand wasn't about to taste any better.

Did he learn what yucky means? That is yet to be determined. If he is anything like me, he will be stubborn and try again. When the weather once again turns warm, we will see. The real importance of eating sand was the lesson Dad learned. Had Mom been out there with Baby Boy she would have saved him from a mouthful of sand and with enough persistence he would most likely begin to learn "no", but he never would have an learned "yucky." That is what Dad is for, Dad sets back and lets the sand get eaten and is there to say, "That is what 'yucky' means, my son."

Ten Things Baby Boy Taught Me This Year

Saturday Baby Boy turned one year old. Mom and I spent hours preparing. I did the cooking and Mom did most of the cleaning. Big Sis stayed out of the way. Baby Boy got lots of presents and has spent the last two days exploring the new ones and comparing all toys that have potential to terrorize Dog. He now has a popcorn popper than makes a great noise when he chases Dog. He also has a big red car that Dog can't get around if Baby Boy gets him cornered in the hallway. He also found some surpising new ways to show Dog love. He found that plastic rakes and shovels work well at spooking Dog if banged against the proper surface.

I too have been enjoying the new toys. Baby Boy and I are going for a stroll in a few minutes and we're taking his new Radio Flyer. I have also been looking back at life this first year with the new addition to the family and came up with ten things that Baby Boy taught me.

1. Cute will get you anything.
2. A smile and a hug when someone walks in the door lets them know their loved.
3. The best jokes are funny no matter how many times they are told.
4. It's not a good book unless there is a picture of a cow or a pig so Dad can do the sound effects.
5. Mom's have supernatural hearing.
6. If you aren't splashing in the bath you might as well not be taking one.
7. If you enjoy saying something, say it and the world will say it with you.
8. Chewing up a good book is fun, but it is even better to do so curled up next to someone you love.
9. Babies inspire even the most self-conscious people to sing impromptu, nonsensical songs.
10. Go outside and play.

Introduction to the Family

Welcome to the first posting of "Growing Up With The Kids." The decision to start this blog was a quick one. I have been taking a closer look at parenting the last few days as I have been experiencing some tension with my daughter and was seeking advice via the Internet. I found some great advice, learned much, and then I stumbled upon http://www.beagooddad.com/. I loved the concept of sharing parenting ideas with the chronicling of the lives of our children. This wasn't the first website I found like this, but it was an engaging website and the thought to create my own occurred while reading through the posts. I thought, "Here is a guy that really appreciates his kids and being a father." It occurred to me that he is probably learning infinitely more about parenting and enjoying parenting more simply by taking the time to reflect on the life lessons his children are teaching him.

I want that too. I love parenting. I love learning. I love writing. I love teaching. So, why not write about parenting? It will force me to learn more and reflect on those lessons my children can teach me. And so,"Growing Up With The Kids" was born. Let me then introduce everyone to the main stars of this blog.

In order from the youngest to the oldest they are (Names have been changed to protect the innocent):

Baby Boy
He turns 1 year this Saturday. He is my first biological child. He is quick to laugh. He loves his new ability to walk and exploits it to its full potential and the dismay of our dog who now must sleep with one eye open unless he wants to be run over by a neon walker/chaser. Baby Boy's favorite pass times are eating anything smaller and slower than Dog, liberating objects from storage containers and cupboards, banging pots, pans, cans or anything of a high enough decibel to cause the dog to wet himself, and finally he loves flushing anything smaller and slower than Dog in the toilet. Baby Boy 's amusement at even the most mundane things and his ability to laugh freely reminds us all to enjoy life and is always happy to see you walk in the door. He makes a long commute worthwhile.

Dog
A stubby legged, long bodied mix of basset hound and something else we have yet been able to determine. He is remarkably tolerant and suffers well the occasional pulled ear or tail like a champ. Dog is Baby Boys best friend despite the constant threat of getting run over, getting eaten or getting flushed down the toilet. He too is always happy to see you walk in the door.

Big Sis
She is 13 years old and my daughter by marriage. She is strong-willed, outgoing, emotional, and a sweet-heart when no one is looking. Her pass times are shopping for designer labels, discussing people that wear or don't wear designer labels, styling her hair, watching horror movies. Her main goal in life seems to be to teach us all about what is really important in life-designer labels. She may not always be happy to see you walk in the door, but she never fails to laugh if you walk into the door.

Dad
That's right, from youngest to oldest I'm next in line. Mom is the most senior (ha,ha!) and the most beautiful. I define myself first as a father and husband and then as a student for life. My biggest mentors are C.S. Lewis, J.R.R Tolkien, G.K. Chesterton, and Sheldon VanAuken. I teach by day and come home at night to spend time with the baby while Mom heads off to work.

Mom
She is the easiest person in the world to get along with and the hardest person in the world to get a gift for. She isn't in to jewelry or flowers or any of the typical gifts men know they should get a women. She has stayed at home with Baby Boy for this first year of his life and has been wonderful. I must say I chose well. She too is happy to see me walk in the door.

Those are the main players of the household. I'm sure we will have some visitors from time to time. Please feel free to share insights, observations, and words of encouragement.

Sincerely,

Dad