Breakfast at Fiddler's Bistro

As a family, we had a lovely outing to the party store. We picked up some supplies for JD's birthday next month. On the way home, we decided to stop in and eat at Fiddler's Bistro on 3rd. We hadn't eaten there in some time, so it seemed like a good idea. Grammy Brady turned down our invitation since she'd just eaten a large meal (SHAME ON YOU, GRAMMY!!! SHAME!!!)

So, John didn't much feel like sitting in his high chair. He seems to think he's a very big boy these days. As you can see from the smirk on his face, he knows that he wears that pants in this household. How can anyone say no to him? I defy you to do it. We had a lovely breakfast/lunch, but it was abbreviated because Our John started acting up and we just had to get out of there.

On a side note, he really looked like he wanted to eat the food. I can't wait until his birthday when we can give him ice cream and cupcakes!!

Like at the Barber Shop

Before

After

He's ready to tackle the world of modeling. He has that quality that Tyra likes to call FIERCE!! He needs another hair cut. If we could just bottle up his interior chemistry, we could have a cure for baldness.

Go Away For A Few Days and The Boy Does A New Trick

I go to Houston for three days and John does something new. He decides that it's time to stand up in the crib. Maureen was kind enough to video it. Soon, he'll be climbing out out of crib. That's not something we look forward to.

As he has become more active, he's gained quite a few little "hurt spots". He has a bunch of scrapes on his nose from where he tends to do face plants or where he falls out of chairs. He takes after his mother that way. We like to call her Tumbellina. God willing, he won't fall down the stairs like his mother did, TWICE.

Happy Father's Day

John has the distinct pleasure and privilage to see his grand parents almost every day of the week during the school year. That being said, he likes to spend a lot of time with my father since Grandpa lets JD "work" on the computer with him. If we're smart, we'll push John toward a future in computer sciences. Everyone knows, that computers will one day rule the world...just watch the Terminator movies.

As I look back on this first Father's Day, I remind myself of very important lessons that I learned from great TV dads like Heathcliff Huxtable, Hank Hill, Randy Marsh, and Jim Walsh, but none of those lessons can compare to the lessons I learned from my father. It's not often that I say thank you, but I take this opportunity to do so. Never once has he turned his back to any of his children (believe me when I say that we have all screwed up in many ways), but my mother and he have always been there when we needed them. They never asked for anything in return. That is the love of a parent for a child and I truly appreciate it.

Also, when I was younger, I'd watch Popeye and the Little Rascals on KTLA on Sunday mornings. My father would always mention how he used to watch the same things at the movies on Saturdays when he was a young boy. Back then, it went in one ear and out the other. Now, I understand that he was trying to relate to me through this shared experience. I have dvds of the same Popeye cartoons and Little Rascals and hope to one day enjoy them with John. If he doesn't react, I'll be ok. I was there. I'm sorry that I didn't appreciate my dad's efforts, but I do now.

Thanks Pop! You've helped make me who I am.

John Loves The Fan

John's new thing is to sit in front of the fan and enjoy the breeze. You can kind of see his hair moving, but you'd really be able to see it if he had the long, feathered locks of a young Leif Garrett. Since he's not a hippie, he'll never have long flowing locks. Enjoy the video.

Happy Belated Birthday to Charlie

John would like to wish his friend, Charla, a very happy first birthday. Being a guy, he's doing it a day late, but better late than never.

Three Little Boys

John got to play with the big boys yesterday. He was hanging out with his buddy Matteo "Shaggy Doo" Lopez and Jake "Lil Fresh" Wiseman. They were playing with Jake's Weeblesville play set. Weebles do wobble, but they don't fall down.

Are You Ready for the Summer

John gets to spend a glorious summer with Maureen as today was her last day of school. No more pencils. No more books. No more students dirty looks...and all that jazz.

They have quite a summer planned. They'll spend a few days in Newport at the Wiseman house. They'll go to the Farmer's Market for fresh fruit. They may even run into Seal, Heidi, and the rest of their clan at The Grove. Of course, John's first birthday is next month and he's looking ever so forward to eating his first Sprinkles cupcake.

On top of all that, he gets his own room in about a month. All in all, it looks like Maureen and he have a fun filled summer. For me, it's not as fun filled. As someone once said, "No vacation for me." It's my own fault. I choose to work for the man.

Ooops, We Did It Again

In case you don't know what an Irish/Vatican Twin is, the ultrasound photo that John is looking at should give you an idea. John is happy to announce that he is going to have a little brother the second week of December. He'll give more details as time passes.

In case you want to learn about the Rhythm Method, don't ask us. Obviously, we do not know how to implement it properly.

PS: Kool Moe Dee Gonzalez is not an option for a name.

More Crawling Video

As you can see, he's getting much better. He can even work his way up to his knees. He isn't quite up to pulling himself up and standing up (unlike his little building girlfriend, Annabelle, who's 1-month younger), but as you are all aware, my boy has style, grace, and charm...three traits he gets from his mother. She was a debutante, you know.

Woo Hoo!!!

John is going to have his own room and bathroom. We just signed on for a new apartment. It's a 2 bedroom. The good thing is that it is in our same building, so moving will be pretty easy. Come July, Maureen, John, and I will be moving up to the deluxe apartment in the sky (well, it's on the 6th floor), but that's higher than the 2nd floor.

Quick Update

This afternoon, John and I went to visit Dr. K as a follow-up to his ear infection from February. Fortunately, Dr. K said that we can discontinue the Amoxicilin; however, I fear JD will miss his morning treat (It tases like bubble gum. At least, that's what I'm told). He enjoys holding the bottle as we squirt the liquid into his mouth.

His ears were a little too thick with ear wax, so Dr. K asked his nurse, Juanita, to give him an ear lavage. Oh dear God, that was a nightmare. John did not like it one bit. He cried and cried. He didn't even give five to Dr. K. Oh well, Dr. K took it in stride and looks forward to their next visit together on July 13.

He's 19-lbs. 14.2 oz. If you look at him, he's really lanky and lean. He sure doesn't take after Maureen or me. He takes after all the other males in both of our families.

His Name Should Be Crawly McCrawlster

From the minute he wakes up until the minute he goes to sleep, he just wants to crawl around. We may have to give him some Passiflorine (long story for the uninitiated) to slow him down a bit. Soon, he'll be running around. God help us.

John Enjoys Feist

He seems to enjoy Sesame Street performances with pop and opera singers. Me, I preferred The Electric Company.

Johnny Likes Techno

Johnny has been hanging out with me as I listen to music on youtube and he finds techno to be quite agreeable to his taste. We listened to some Sash, the Sailor Moon Theme in German (techno remix), Faithless, and Robert Miles. He seemed to enjoy himself.

So, he'll like the classical styles of Beethoven and he'll like techno. That works for me. He'll truly be a renaissance man and be able to entertain people with bon mots and anecdotes about how gin got it's name. In case you are wondering, most people think that gin got its name from Geneva, but those of us in the know are privy to the fact that it got it's name from the French name for the juniper berry which flavors that delightful libation.

John Learns About Gravity

Our super baby genius known as John learned a new skill this week. He learned how to get himself up on his knees in his crib. As if that weren't enough, he learned a very important lesson about gravity. He, unlike Elphaba in Wicked and Peter Pan, cannot defy gravity.

Whilst enjoying the day with his grandmere and grandpere, he was doing his normal crawling when he came up to a step. He studied it for a while before attempting to climb up the step. He made it up the step and sat himself down...at the edge. Sure enough, he lost his balance and took a bit of a tumble. If you look closely at his forehead, you'll see a bit of a mark. What can I say? Experience is the best teacher. He learned the important lesson that gravity is your friend as long as you do not attempt to defy it.