Category Archives: Parenting

10 Things Baby Wearing Dads Should Never Say in a Public Restroom

04/04/2014 R.C. Liley 73 Comments

Yesterday, Avery and I made our usual two store grocery trip to Sprouts and Costco in hopes that we won’t have to go this weekend. We live only a few miles from the Texas Motor Speedway, and since it’s race weekend, driving anywhere is worse than most days.

Since we don’t head out until after her morning nap, I some work in the kitchen to tend to. I try to make Kelley’s meals in bulk so I am prepared for a few days out, so I readied four ready-to-be-grilled bean and goat cheese sandwiches. Sometimes, I wonder why I don’t make one for myself…..

Oh yeah, because I’m more of a roasted beet, Brussels sprouts, and garlic kind of guy.

I could find something to do/cook in the kitchen all day, but Avery makes sure that never happens. She woke up from her morning nap with loud moans permeating the baby monitor. She was in an area the monitor couldn’t capture, so I went in her room to see what all the fuss was about.

How a sleeping baby is able to roll around and get their leg stuck in the slot of their crib, I haven’t a clue. Luckily, she didn’t hurt herself and seemed fine once Daddy was there with a camera in her face.

I liberated our daughter from her self-induced leg restraint and gathered everything to head out. Our first stop was Sprouts, as usual, and the urge to use the restroom suddenly hit me while perusing the aisles. Damn multiple cups of green tea and coffee!!

As I stood at the urinal, I looked down at Avery in the Onya Baby Outback carrier and tried to keep her from letting out any random cries as she generally does. Why she has to fuss as I hopelessly stand at a urinal, no clue. But, as I tried my best to offer soothing words, I paused and realized what I was saying might be taken the wrong way considering my location.

Then I thought back to the countless times before when I was wearing Avery and had to use a public restroom. “Crap” (not literally), I thought to myself, “Anyone in the restroom at the same time must really be questioning what they heard from me!” I know if I were in a stall and heard some guy talking in a soothing, coo-like voice, I wouldn’t come out until I knew he was gone.

So, I listed the top ten things a dad should never say while wearing their baby and using a public restroom. And if you’re wondering, yes, I have said all of these to Avery. It’s a surprise I’m still allowed in these stores!

To help you see things from my perspective.

Don’t worry, you’ll get bigger. (I said this to Avery when her head couldn’t see over the carrier.)
Well, hello there.
Uh oh, I need to get you a burp cloth.
Daddy won’t take long.
I’m so proud of you!
What do you see up there? (This is when Avery is looking up at the ceiling.)
Mommy is going to be so happy to see you!
Please stay still so I can finish.
Are you hungry?
If you’re good, we can play with that new toy at home.

Yeah, needless to say, I’m going to be more conscientious about how I word things when talking to Avery in a restroom.

Baby wearing dads, have you ever said anything to your baby while wearing them in a public restroom?

I don’t know how the baby wearing moms deal with this issue, but if you have any good stories, please share!

Parenting

White Noise for my Wife

04/02/2014 R.C. Liley 1 Comment

Its official, Avery is growing up. Duh, that’s what babies do, right? Sure, but as a first time parent, every single change is new. With her latest feat of rolling over both ways, she’s now sleeping on her stomach (like her mom) and no longer requires being swaddled.

Ahhh, the freedom to sleep however I want!!

We are proud of our girl, but as most parents know, it’s bittersweet. But still, I really want to play and do more with her, so I’m okay with a little more growing up!

Monday was nothing out of the ordinary, Going Mom went (to work) and Avery and I did the usual as of late. “The usual” is now her staying up longer and hanging out with me as I get my workout of the day in and then taking her morning nap. She used to be ready to go back to sleep after an hour and a half of being awake in the morning, but now it’s more like 3 hours.

Fine with me, she seems to enjoy watching Daddy work out, and really loves it when I have to get on the ground for pushups or bear crawl. She’ll just crack a big grin and let out a semi-laugh. Her laughs are still a work in progress.

The Manhattan Toy Company sent us one of their new toys, Skwish Stix, to review and we got right to it before bath time. Right out of the box and Avery was ready to grab at it and apparently eat it.

I’d say she’s going to enjoy this toy better when she can sit up on her own. In the meantime, Mom and Dad can give her a hand. I’ll be posting a review on the Skwish Stix after Avery logs some good play time, so be on the look out. They are currently out of stock, so that must say something.

After our usual nightly routine, Kelley and I will sit in the living room where Kelley eventually falls asleep and I eat for almost 2 hours. It’s the only time where I actually sit down for a meal, so not like I’m going over my daily energy intake; if you cared.

Since it has been warmer lately, Avery has some heat rash around her body, so we decided to move the fan in our living room to her room. The problem is, that fan provided noise to help drown out the noise from me constantly getting up and down for more food while Kelley slept.

Solution? I used a white noise app on my iPad to help Kelley go and stay asleep as I frequented the kitchen. As a side note, we have the most expensive white noise machine in Avery’s nursery; Kelley’s iPad. Yep, that’s all it’s used for, but if it helps a baby sleep, isn’t it worth it?

Speaking of sleep, Avery is doing better in her own crib than when she’s in our bed. Usually, around 3 to 5 in the morning, I’ll bring her to our bed to feed and then she falls back asleep. Not so on Tuesday morning!

That girl was just kicking and rolling around between us. She found a good position with her feet kicking my stomach and hands slapping Kelley and kept attacking us both. Being one to make the best of situations, I simply turned around for a nice semi-massage on my back compliments of her kicking feet. Kelley, on the other hand, continued to get slapped.

Avery eventually started to get fussy and refused to fall back asleep, so I brought her to her room thinking I’d just have to sit up with her and roll around or maybe play peek-a-boo pushups.

First, I went to change her diaper and Oops!, she was a little dirty. Well crap (pun intended, I like those), I thought, I’d kick my parents too! After changing her, I set her in her crib to wash my hands and start a load of laundry as she rolled around and cooed to herself.

With the washer started, it seemed a little quiet in the nursery, and when I walked in, I found this…

And I just laid her down to start some laundry!

Well okay then! And she slept for over an hour with no white noise or swaddle of any kind. What’s with this girl?! She even greeted us with smiles when we woke her up.

All day Tuesday, Avery was rather pleasant and didn’t fuss as much as usual. It helps that she wasn’t actually bitten by a snake! She did, however, turn into a grump as the day was coming to an end. Teething, heat rash, tired? Maybe all of the above, but one thing’s for sure, baby.

Our girl is getting older, as we all are, and we are proud of every new thing she accomplishes. Next up, crawling!

How did you find out your baby is able to sleep easier on their own?

Babies growing up; exciting, sad, or in between?

Parenting

Shopping Alone and Our First Reel Mow With Fiskars

03/31/2014 R.C. Liley 2 Comments

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up on Sunday morning? If you’re a baby named Avery who slept with her Mom and Dad all night, you wake up and kick whatever parent is in your way. And, if you are the lucky parent, as I was, you turn around so she can get that spot on your back that’s been bothering you. Thanks, Avery!

With my back feeling somewhat better, all of us finally got out of bed and headed to the kitchen for breakfast. It was the usual, Kelley had pumpkin teff porridge, I had steamed veggies with turkey and Beanitos black bean chips on the side, and Avery had, umm….boob.

And, no morning is a good morning without coffee, so I made a cup for Going Mom and myself. We took our mugs on the back porch to enjoy as we listened to the neighborhood kids tell “Your momma’s so fat” jokes; good times.

I had the best view to my right the entire time too!

Sooo, yep, I got to go grocery shopping alone this Sunday. Not wearing Avery must be nice, huh? Nope!

I missed having my little girl close to me with her wide eyes taking in the bright colored consumer goods and mass of people passing by. True, she can be difficult at times, but I felt naked without wearing her in the Onya. I know, I know, next time I go shopping with her I’ll probably complain, but I’d still rather have her with me.

But, I did make use of the free time while Avery was at home with her Nana. Three store trips and several bags plus a box of food later, and I was back home.

My least favorite part about grocery shopping is having to put it all up when you get home. Do you dread that part too? That’s also when Avery likes to start crying, just to make things really fun.

Avery was good for her Nana and instead of cleaning bathrooms with her free time, Going Mom made use of the nice weather and pulled weeds instead.

Before that she enjoyed a beautiful, albeit windy, run while Avery was having her morning nap. This is big for Going Mom since she hasn’t been able to run much since being pregnant, so I’m glad she had the chance. My wife always amazes me and makes me feel like one lucky husband and father!

After visiting a while longer, Nana had to head home, and it was time for me to try our new Fiskars StaySharp Max Reel Mower. Fiskars sent me the mower to review and Sunday was my first trial in the review process. I want to mow a few more times before posting anything, so stay tuned!

But, having missed wearing Avery in the Onya Outback while grocery shopping, I wanted to take her with me for our first mow. With my legs day from the Supreme 90 Day workout complete, why not torture them a little more by pushing a reel mower while wearing a baby? That’s normal, right?

Giving a pep talk before getting started.

I won’t get too detailed now since that’s for the actual review post, but I enjoyed the mow. The mower actually pushes fairly easy considering it’s only you powering it, and definitely not as noisy as its gas-powered brethren!

The wind coupled with dead grass is not the most ideal mowing scenario, but luckily the Onya’s integrated hood protected Avery from grass flying all over her. Me, not so much. Mowing didn’t take too long thanks to the 18 inch reel mower, which is bigger than most of its kind, and we went for a family walk right after.

Since it was late in the afternoon, I left the hood over Avery in hopes for a short nap, and like usual, she slept. It never takes long in the Onya before she’s out, if only nighttime would be that easy!

The neighborhood goose with multiple names happened to be enjoying the weather too, but he didn’t feel like talking to me..

An hour later and we were back home and ready to wind things down for the night.

We spent a lot of time in the Onya this week and I am growing more attached to it with each use. Although, like most things, there are a few minor issues I have. When using the chest clip, trying to attach it behind my back can be difficult at times if the strap isn’t straight and Avery gets fussy fast when both of my arms are up behind my head. I am sure this is uncomfortable for her, but maybe because she’s still on the small side for this carrier. All in all, these are just petty things that don’t really bother me a lot, but just wanted to mention them. Like the Fiskars Reel Mower, I will be posting a full review of the Onya Outback in the future as well.

Hope you’re having a great start to the week!

Do you have any Sunday morning (or any other morning) routines or is it always spur of the moment?

Would you mow while wearing your baby?