A Good Day

Henry had a good day last week.  He got his haircut at the best salon in town: Style Up Hair Studio.  Then his Abuelo stopped by with a blueberry muffin!

Cheese please

Tonight's dinner menu: made from scratch fluffy pancakes, real maple syrup, scrambled eggs, bacon, and ice cold milk! The only thing Henry wants: the stick of butter that he keeps calling cheese! 

Won't be the last dinner he or Evelyn doesn't want to eat. 

I can still fit in that bathtub

As soon a Evelyn was done with her bath tonight, Henry just had to have her bathtub in with him; and, climb into it. He thought he was so cool!

Writing this post from bed. We will both be asleep before 9:30. Can you say parent of two. 

How great it feels in Heaven

The sun is shining-it is literally the perfect day out! I'm cleaning my bike and getting it ready for my race this weekend! My two girls are relaxing on the porch! This would have to be pretty close to how great it feels in Heaven!

What? Did I do something wrong?

Someone wasn't suppose to climb over the bench that was blocking the stairs. I guess nobody told him...

Everything and everyone for your pleasure

While at Manhattan Park, Henry met some new friends. While on top of the jungle gym, a 17 month old girl walked up next to him. Without any hesitation, Henry leaned right in and planted a big kiss on her! A little later on, he grabbed a bottle that another girl dropped and put it right in his mouth. Yeah, that's right Henry, everything and everyone is here for your pleasure!!

If it's too loud, you're too old

He figured this out in about a second. He would repeatedly turn the radio on and off.  Every time he turned it on he would turn the volume up all the way and dance!

His uncontrollable passion for the Detoit Lions comes from me

Annie told me this story after I got downstairs from changing Evelyn's diaper.

Henry was crying and clearly wanted something. Annie had Henry show her what he wanted: it was Evelyn's pink headband. Once he got the headband on his head he was ok, until he saw the Lion's clip that Evelyn had in her hair earlier, so, he lost it again. Annie clipped the Lion's clip in his hair. He was happy as could be!

I like to think his uncontrollable passion for the Detroit Lions comes from me!!

Honolulu Blue

Last week Henry and I didn't wear lion's shirts and they lost. This week we both had our lion's gear on and they won. I wonder what will happen next week if the whole family is decked out in Honolulu Blue!?!? Oh the possibilities...

Sunday morning style

Henry put up a fuss an wouldn't stop until he had his shoes on his feet (over his sleeper footies) and his sox on his hands!

Oh how blessed we are

Life is full of moments. Today was full of moments from God showing me how blessed I am.

Had my dad, mom, and Annie up at 6am to come out to South Haven to cheer me on in a triathlon in CRAZY wind and cold.  Have the physical ability just to simply compete in triathlons.  Finished well, without injury.  Was able to spend some time with my cousins Amie and James, Unlce Mike and Aunt Terri, and Pastor Todd Dykstra of Maranatha Bible Church. On the drive home, I got to enjoy seeing Annie get a much deserved nap, and watch Henry and Evelyn sleep almost the entire ride back - which is 100% innocence personified and incredibly addictive to watch even though nothing is happening.  Once home, I enjoyed a long, hot shower, but not before having Evelyn sleep on my chest and Henry demanding to cuddle with us.  Finished the day with pizza, playing with Henry, and watching football!!

Another heal poke

Off to the doctors again for another heel poke and blood draw. Have to represent!

Life is good

Annie gets up this morning and takes Henry to get some treats at the store, which allows me to put Evelyn on my chest and sleep in! 

Awesome wife and mom! Life is good!!

Someone wants all the attention

After lunch today Henry started to walk toward the other room (where all the toys are) but kept whining and coming back into the kitchen. Annie said, "what do you want? Show mommy."  Henry grabbed her hand and started to walk into the toy room, but then stopped and walked over to me with his hand up. Whatever he wanted to do, he wanted both mommy and daddy. So, holding both our hands, he led us into the toy room. In the room is a blanket draped over a baby play pad, so it kind of makes a mini tent. Once we reached this he let good our hands and dove under the blanket with a big laugh! I think someone misses having all of mommy and daddy's attention!

What ensued was a good, long play time of wrestling, hiding, climbing, and throwing balls. Now, it's nap time!

Neck massage

While out and about today (had Henry in a back pack), Henry all of a sudden decided to give me a neck massage. I thought, "oh, that's nice. Maybe this can become an on demand thing?" So after he stopped, I tested it out and said, "thank you Henry, can you give me a neck massage?" Right away, he proceeded to rub my neck. His "rub" was more of a tickle, but I don't care, it felt good either way.

I definitely will be dragging this out and making it seem really cool to give your dad a neck massage! Unless he get too old and it just gets creepy...how old is too old?

Off to South Haven

Off to South Haven for a little relaxation and to check out daddy's tri course on Saturday!

Evelyn seems less than enthused...

Henry couldn't even last half way to South Haven.

Typical

Changed and rocked Henry around 1:00 because he soaked through his diaper. Woke up to soothe Evelyn a couple times. Been up since about 3:30 due to an Evelyn wardrobe change that took both mommy and daddy. Now holding Evelyn on my chest while she's glowing neon green from the billy-rueben (spell check) blanket and I'm trying to stay awake on my phone - yeah - pretty typical night. Love the smell of Evelyn's hair. Hoping to put her down soon and get some sleep before Henry wakes up. 

Is there a changing table in that bathroom?

One of the things that I already knew going into this adventure of being a stay at home dad was that I would be of the minority in this profession. Yes, I very much look at this as a profession. This is my job and I take it very seriously...well...not too seriously, you have to have some fun!

When I am out running errands or off on a daddy adventure, there are two very specific looks I get: 

1) 'That is awesome, he must be a stay at home dad. Good for him! What a great dad!' I appreciate the praise and acknowledgement, but being a stay at home dad doesn't automatically make me a great dad, it makes me a dad; period. How I raise my kids, the lessons and morals I teach them, and being able to show them the love God shows us - this will determine if I'm a great dad. 

2) 'Oh, isn't that cute, the dad is trying to go out in public with his kids.' Getting this look is interesting. The pride and competitiveness in me thinks, "I'll show you, I'm going to be the best parent in the world and prove you wrong!"  Then I kind of feel guilty that it isn't teaching Henry and Evelyn a good lesson by thinking that - but not too guilty.

There are two other things that take place that still surprise me. I can't believe how many places I go into that don't have a changing table in the men's bathroom! Luckily the only times I've come across these are when I'm with Annie. I read a story about a dad who got so frustrated by this that he changed his kid's diaper right on a store's customer service desk - I don't know if I'll ever do that, but we did have to change Henry's diaper in the middle of Central Park once!

The second thing, which I think is clearly sexist is at our church, and from what I've learned, at many daycares. This summer we volunteered in the nursery. If a baby needed a diaper change I was not allowed to change it. I had to find a woman who was 18 or older. You mean to tell me an 18 year old high school student is more suited to change a baby's diaper than me!?

I'm not really too terribly upset by any of these, but it does give me more of an understanding of what it is to be discriminated against. As with everything that happens to me, hopefully I can use these experiences as a teaching moment with Henry and Evelyn.

Bright Beginnings

Henry and I were at the library this morning for our weekly story time, but when we got there we found that they weren't having it. Instead there was Bright Beginnings - which I will happily promote - It was a pleasant thing to stumble upon as it is a free program put on by the public school system! They have one of these every day throughout the various school districts. Henry and I showed up after they were already 30 minuetes in. Normally, they spend about 40 minutes just having free time for the kids to play, then they have a snack and read a story. In total it last about an hour, but you are free to come and go whenever. I think we will be adding this to our normal routine of fun stuff to do! If you have pre-kindergarten kids I encourage you to check this out at www.kentisd.org. They have a schedule under Bright Beginnings.

You have nice veins

The goal for Henry this morning: pick my leg up and try to grab the veins in my foot. He is bound and determined!