Mom vs Dad: The Favorites Phase

09/11/2015 R.C. Liley 6 Comments

Is anyone else annoyed with how things that toddlers do are quickly labeled as a phase? Saying “Oh, little Susie took off her diaper and is peeing on the floor? Yeah, that’s a phase, it’ll end soon.” or “Tommy keeps hitting is dad in the privates. It’s just a phase, hopefully he’ll stop.”

Whatever the action, calling it a “phase” just seems like the easy way out. Hey, maybe it is a phase, but c’mon, maybe our kids are acting out for some other reason, maybe we’re not doing something right.

That’s how I feel when Avery acts appalled when I simply acknowledge her presence and ask her a question or just say “Hi”.

WTF?! What do you want, Dad, I’m busy clinging to Mom!

This usually occurs in the morning when Going Mom is home and all Avery cares about is being stuck to her side. I swear, she’s like lint on a fleece blanket right out of the dryer. I may or may not of just finished removing lint from said fleece blanket…..

Kelley reassures me it’s just a phase, as we’ve used to explained many things Avery has done and is doing, but it still hurts regardless. When you crouch down with arms open wide and ask for a hug from your kid and all they do is run the other way crying (seriously), it’s hard not to feel like scum.

It comes and goes in waves, but each time is no less severe than the last, I take it like a hard punch to the gut, only in my heart. I know, I know, not trying to be all “woe is me”, but I don’t get it. I’m on Cloud 9 when we’re playing like the best of buds and she’s giving high-fives like a pro.

Followed by a fun flipping session and you’d think we’re always inseparable.

But then there are times when I can’t even walk up to her without her building up to let out a scream of objection from me getting too close.

Thankfully, it’s not an all day phase. Usually in the mornings and early evenings, when Mommy’s home, is when she’s in her Daddy Dislike mode. The rest of the time things are cool, with or without my dear wife there. Really, who can blame her? I love being around my wife too, maybe she just has a gift I lack. Besides the obvious boobs, people!

It could be that she lets Avery play with her phone, and, if you look to the top left, you’ll see she comes “bearing” gifts.

Now I’m just trying to rationalize. Phase or no phase, I just want our sweet girl to remain sweet to the both of us and not be repulsed at one of us at a given time. Usually that’s me, very rarely is it Mommy.

Anyone else deal with or dealt with this from their kids? If so, do you have any advice or just want to tell me to shut it and deal with it because it really is just a phase and everything will be fine? Was that a semi-loaded question? Okay, I’m done………for now.

Have a great Friday and weekend! We’re just hoping to stay away from staph and hospitals!

Going Reviews, Parenting, Promo

Pictli: Gift Your Memories With This Photo App + Discount Code

09/10/2015 R.C. Liley 4 Comments

How many pictures do you have posted on Facebook and/or Instagram that you wish you could print and frame to place in your home or give as a gift? If you’re like me, the parent taking pictures of every little move your kid makes, then most likely the answer is “A lot.”

Well, lucky for you (and me), there’s an app for that! Did you see it coming? 🙂

Pictli is a photo printing/framing app for the iPhone or service for Android/PC users (such as myself) that allows you to easily upload a picture from Facebook, Instagram, or your computer, select one of many beautiful frame options they have, and have your framed photo sent to you or someone else as a gift.

Thanks to Frank, founder / Chief Memory Maker of Pictli, I was given the opportunity to try their service myself. I was hesitant at first because I’ve messed with other online photo printing services that work okay, but end up taking longer than I’d like. Plus, the frame choices were never that impressive to me.

Because of this, I started the process not expecting much, but just five minutes later and I was searching for more pictures to print and frame! Guys, forget flowers for the lady in your life, Pictli delivers something they’ll cherish for years (it won’t die the next day) and is easily the same price as the basic flower arrangement. And jewlery? Most (yes, some simply just want the bling) ladies would absolutely love a moment captured and framed over something flashy that can seriously lighten the load on your wallet.

The fact that you can do it all from your phone (if you download on iTunes) or computer and choose from all of your amazing photos on Facebook, Instagram, or saved on your computer makes it even better. The process is quick, simple, and even a little fun.

Once you pic from the thousands of photos we all have (I’m not the only one, right?) selecting a frame to compliment your memory and design taste is made easy as you scroll through seeing what your pic will look like in each frame. You can even adjust the size, rotate, and zoom in/out to your liking.

Not my picture…or phone, but this is the app on an iPhone

Before I began, I knew the picture I wanted to frame. It’s my background on Facebook, and one I recently shared on a #MySundayPhoto post. Picking a frame took the longest, but mainly because I just liked looking at each one and messing with the settings. Then I selected the recipient which was just me because I’m selfish I guess, and presto, my framed memory was on its way!

And talk about customer service, Pictli is outstanding with their friendly responses and order update to let you know when to expect your treasured gift. It quickly arrived securely packed in bubble wrap, safe from any delivery drivers’ lack of handling care.

I loved the neatly tied string with personalized note you can add.

Since it was just for our home, I only put the date the picture was taken. Avery’s growing so fast, I figured having a date will prove quite handy years down the road. And the finished product was an absolute masterpiece!

I went with The Rawls wood frame and think it matches the picture wonderfully. I never told my wife, Kelley, about the service or the picture until it arrived, and she was in love with the quality and detail. We now have the frame setup above the kitchen sink, where I spend a lot of time, so we can see our beautiful girl staring back at us with that cute smirk that never grows old.

I have zero complaints about the whole process and am scrolling through my pictures to find what I’ll frame next. Anyone looking for a great gift or just a simple way to frame a cherished memory, Pictli has what you’re looking for. Download their app on iTunes or access their site on your Android/computer to get started now!

But wait! Before you check out, you can save 20% off their already super awesome prices by using discount code RC1509. The code is good through the end of September and can be used for as many framed memories as you’d like.

So skip the flowers next time you need to get a gift, and give something with true, lasting meaning, a framed memory you can have on its way in 5 minutes by just using your phone. Remember, tell them R.C. sent you, but in the form of a 20% off discount code RC1509, they probably won’t care about the former. 😉

Disclosure: I received a gift code to purchase a Pictli print. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

Life, Parenting

Staph: The Worst Labor Day of Her Life

09/09/2015 R.C. Liley 6 Comments

It was only her second Labor Day since birth, so a simple sneeze would technically make it the worst one of her life, but instead, it had to be staph. Apparently, Going Mom and I couldn’t save her from our own misfortunes with the infection.

My wife recently had an issue with her eye. Luckily nothing severe, and it was quickly treated and healed. And as any reader on here knows, I had that whole staph butt issue around Mother’s Day. Well, it returned once again to put our sweet little Avery in a miserable bout of pain.

What started out as a tiny bite around the lining of her diaper last Wednesday (so we think), took form into hard lump of staph. Stupid me kept playing it off as just a bite and saying it would heal soon, but my concerned wife was a little more wary. Note to self: listen to wife more!!

Avery started getting extremely protective of the area a couple days ago, and finally, once the screams of pain were unbearable (when I was saying she’d heal….dummy), we drove to a nearby Urgent Care clinic for kids.

I absolutely despise these places as feel like you’re more likely to get sick just sitting around the room waiting to be seen. We sat long enough to see Scar betray Mufasa and Simba lose his dad in The Lion King, but at least Timon and Pumbaa made for comic relief before we were brought back to a room. We’ll have to watch that movie all the way through when she’s a bit older….

In the room, we confirmed it was staph and that I’m an idiot (I bow to my wife yet again), and the nurse presented two options. She could numb it with a topical agent right there to drain the infection or we could go to an ER where they have better equipment and (she said) sedate her to make it easier and less painful to drain.

The nurse obviously didn’t want to do it herself just from the tone she used when giving us the options. I still opted for having it done right there just to get it over with and avoid another long wait. Kelley thought otherwise, and since I was in no position to argue my thoughts, we were off to the ER.

The waiting room there was filled with more sick people and I cringed as I watched parents feed their kids from the vending machines. Seriously, why do places affiliated with health care, have nothing but junk for food and drink options? Oh yeah, MONEY! Obviously, this is something I’m deeply passionate about, and was infuriated to watch it happening before us.

Pretty sure Avery was upset too, but maybe for different reasons. She went into crazy defense mode just from the nurse taking her temp, so we knew when it came time to inspect the infection, things would only get worse. Luckily, Mommy was there to help….

After watching How to Train Your Dragon 2 almost 2 times through, Avery’s 10 minute procedure was underway. Oh, by the way, they said they almost would never sedate a kid Avery’s age for something like this, so we’re positive that nurse was just weaseling her way out of draining the puss from a poor child’s inner thigh area. Hmmm, after writing that, guess I can’t blame her that much. Oh wait, yes I can; it’s her job!!

They applied the topical numbing agent which had to sit for 30 minutes and we were to keep Avery as still as possible. HA!

Mommy to the rescue again; she laid beside Avery and unleashed the secret weapon…….her phone!

The phone works in mysterious ways to keep kids’ attention. As great as it is, Smartphones (and all technology really), actually have mind-numbing (i.e. dumbing) effects on our brains. Good for when you have to keep a kid still, not good for every day use.

Finally, after waiting more than just 30 minutes, the doc came in, poked and drained the wound and cleaned it up. It took 3 adults to hold that girl down during the procedure, but it was done. Wow, that was a lot of puss! For some sick reason, it makes me feel better to watch that crap ooze out.

Despite her attitude when anyone got near her infection, Avery handled the day-long event much better than I would’ve guessed. So, Avery, if you’re reading this years from now, way to go dear, you were ~~great~~ pretty good.

Now she’s on freakin antibiotics (not a fan but know it’s necessary) and we’re cleaning and bandaging like we’ve done this before. Wait a sec, we have, on my butt! Sorry for bringing it up again, but I’ve been having flashbacks after this event, so figured I’d pass it on to my fellow readers. You’re welcome. 🙂

While it was far from a good Labor Day this year, at least we got rid of something that could’ve become much worse, and even better, we were together as a family all day! Of course, I’m stubborn and have this OCD thing about not eating until I workout, so I basically fasted all day until we go home. I rushed into a heavy squat weightlifting session followed by a lot of eating the remainder of the day.

Yeah, I need to work on that, but luckily I had coffee that got me through the day. I’m just glad our baby girl is on the path to recovery and already playing like normal again.

Do you have anything that’s affected your whole family?

Do you like watching the puss get squeezed out or does it make you queasy?