Tag Archives: weekend

How Do Kids Learn to Dance?

My dance skills can be likened to what you’d see if you filled a burlap sack full of angry cats. Like this one, times ten….

Do it, see what happens.
Do it, see what happens.

How Do Kids Learn to Dance?

It’s ugly.

Actually, I found an old college photo of me “dancing” with a friend.

Dancing with Jesse

Yes, I had a goatee. No, there is nothing sexual about this picture. Yes, drinking was involved (see beer in hand).

Anyway, I’m sure I made my point; I suck at dancing. Sorry, Kelley. I was getting worried that Avery would fall down the same rabbit hole and be stuck with Daddy’s lack of moves, but she’s already better than me. Even a few months ago when she got down with Jay-Z.

Don’t worry, I was dancing like in the previous photo.

That little stand in one spot and squat move is about all I’ve showed her for dancing, and really it was meant more for the actually squatting exercise. But hey, no matter if you’re good or not, dancing is a great form of exercise!

Lately, Avery has branched from just standing in one spot. I’m not sure if it’s just the “pecking” order of getting older, but both Kelley and I have never showed how to dance like a chicken.

Sadly, that’s better than what I could do. And she even adds a little twist to her dancing. Again, no clue where it came from, but always fun to watch.

Not kidding, she’ll press the buttons on that cat to make it play music over and over…….and over again all day just so she can dance. She takes it seriously too, there’s no messing around when it’s dance time! Unless it’s to bust a move, that is.

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All I know is that seeing her dance every day is a huge help to keep things light around here. I try not to talk about it too much, even though I have, but this whole staph infection thing is seriously limiting things I normally do. Just sitting down to read books to Avery is a pain in the ass…..not kidding.

I still exercise and go on several walks daily because, stubborn, but I know I’m not performing my best. That and I can tell it affects my mood if I’m not mindful enough. Do you ever get that way about something? Whether it’s physical or mental, you let it show through in your attitude?

We’re probably all guilty of it, but hopefully I can come to terms and better manage this since I still have a while for everything to heal. That said, I’ll end the post here today. Hoping for an enjoyable Memorial Day weekend with Going Mom and Avery. We don’t have a lot planned, just hopefully catching up on some Walking Dead episodes and then going over to Kelley’s parents to have her dad take pictures of Avery.

He has a nice studio setup and always enjoys having such a lovely subject to photograph. The subject, on the other hand, isn’t always the most cooperative…..

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Have a great weekend and Memorial Day!

Any plans for the long weekend?

Ever let your mood get the best of you at the expense of those around you?

2 Celebrations and I Ran Anyway

I know what you’re thinking. After my butt issue just a few days ago, why in the world did I run?! I’ll tell you, but first let’s talk about the two celebrations on Saturday.

This past weekend, one of our neighbors had a birthday party for their one year old girl, Seneca. Avery and Seneca are exactly 6 months apart, and I expect they’ll become good friends as they grow up together. I never got any pictures of the two together, or the birthday girl at all, but Avery had a great time with Mommy in the bounce house at the party.

Bounce House with Mommy_Seneca's B-Day

Two beauties smiling bright! Avery was a little shy at first, but she warmed up quickly and even played with her peers. From the looks of it, she’s really good at sharing with one of the neighborhood boys, Connor.

Playing at Seneca's B-Day

“Sharing”, it’s a loosely defined term, right? But “Cuddles”, now that’s fairly straight-forward, and she’s happy to give them when Mommy or Daddy (and sometimes strangers, yikes!) asks.

Hugging Daddy_Seneca's B-Day

We had a great time at the party and made it back home for a family walk and then nap time before heading back out again. We were meeting Kelley’s family as well as my mom and her boyfriend at a restaurant for a belated Mother’s Day celebration and it was great to see everyone.

When we meet up with family, Avery just makes her rounds being held and we get a little “freedom” for half an hour as others get their cute kid fix. It’s a win-win for everyone! We all had a good time talking with each other and Avery was very well-behaved……almost too well.

Before we knew it, we were on our way back home to get Avery to bed and wind down the night with 3 Walking Dead Season 5 episodes. Thank you, internet!

The half-marathon I talked so much about that was cancelled from severe weather last weekend (so I rowed 13.1 instead), was rescheduled for yesterday, the 17th. The venue changed twice from the original location and we had already checked out of even considering trying to go after my ER visit.

“Butt” (ha ha, get it?), I found myself having trouble sleeping and woke up earlier than usual on Sunday morning. This usually means I make my grocery shopping rounds early and be done with it, but this time, I had another perfect idea instead. Go to the race and then to the store!

True, I was specifically told not to run, and I’m still hurting a little down there, but when I pay for something it gets under my skin when I just give it up. That something would be the nice technical shirts and finisher’s medal you get, as well as a surprise Mother’s Day gift the event organizer mentioned. So I told Kelley, as she went to nurse Avery back asleep, I was leaving for the store and would be back soon.

I didn’t officially decide to drive to the race until I got in my car, then I figured why not, and thought it would be cool to bring back the Mother’s Day surprise gift for Kelley. Husband bonus points for me! I arrived right after the race started, so I gave the coordinators my spiel and they happily gave me a shirt for both my wife and I and agreed to give a Mother’s Day gift if I finished the race.

So I raced. But not the half-marathon, just the 5k, and I walked most of it, which was very muddy from the never-ending rain.

Muddy 5k Path

The nice thing about walking is you get to see more and take in the nice scenery. For example this really long worm along with dozens of his friends were on the entire course.

Big Worm at 5k

Yeah, so it wasn’t that great of scenery. I ended up running the last mile, but I was sorry for that later….stupid butt. At least it looked like I saw some action with a little mud splashed up my leg.

Muddy Leg

I didn’t wait around for my first place trophy (joke), just took a banana, which happened to be attached to several bananas…

Bananas at 5k

…got my finisher’s medal….

Mother's Day Run Medal…and Kelley’s Mother’s Day gift.

Mother's Day Run Fuel BeltA freakin Fuel Belt. They are nice, but I was thinking something more motherly. But what could I expect from a runners club? I actually think it will be great when out all day with Avery since it has a hydration pack and some storage.

Overall great weekend and I’m happy to say my ass is hurting less! I go in for check-up (no jokes) on Tuesday, so hopefully I have more good news to report then!

Do you feel like you have to get your money’s worth at events you sign up for?

Ever walk a race before? That was a first for me and it felt weird, but not that bad.
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When Do Kids Remember the Doctor’s Office?

Getting older isn’t always all fun and games. At least, not when you have a visit to the doctor’s office on the agenda, no thanks to Mom and Dad. Our unsuspecting Avery found this out firsthand when we met Going Mom at the doctor’s for her 18 month checkup.

As I was driving, I wondered if Avery would remember the place where shots are given and have a change in her mood. I think I got my answer soon after walking in with my wife…

18 Month Check Up Waiting with Mommy

Yeah, she wasn’t getting the “good vibes” and I could almost see the wheels turning in her head as she flashed back to previous visits.

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That was her 5 month vaccination trip. As you can tell, we had a grand ol’ time! She definitely remembers that platform. Before there were even shots in sight, Avery freaked as we set her down just to get measurements. 21.6 pounds and 32 inches of pure terror love.

18 Month Check Up Crying Before Shot

What looks like a needle is just the nurse’s pen, if you were wondering. She seemed to calm down after realizing it was just a routine head circumference and length measurement that the nurse wanted and no shots…..yet. We let her roam around the room to explore as we both pulled out our phones to take pictures.

18 Month Check Up in Room Walking

Pictures in the doctor’s office are always a must. So many emotions to capture! We even took turns holding our sweet girl having the other take pictures.

18 Month Check Up With Daddy

I had to tickle her for that priceless smile. Then it was time for the shot. Only one, but it may as well of been fifty; she was irate. With the pitch of an opera singer, Avery let out screams of disapproval as she was held down on the soft and foamy platform torture bed.

18 Month Check Up Preparing for Shot

It really must feel like torture when you’re being held down against your will, huh? What kind of people are we?! Oh yeah, just the typical parents. Actually, there would be more shots if we followed the typical vaccination schedule, but since we’re not bombarding her all at once with shots, she should thank us. Maybe right after this stick….

18 Month Check Up Getting Shot

If you can’t tell, this is the exact moment the needle entered her upper quad region. Poor thing, that opera singer would be envious if she heard the screams emanating from the tiny room in the doctor’s office. There’s nothing like the comfort of Mom to make things better though.

18 Month Check Up Crying with Mommy
At least pull my pants back up!!

Well, that and a Cookie Monster sticker from the receptionist.

18 Month Check Up With Mommy

Just to make sure all is well in the world again, Kelley came back to the car to nurse Avery before she had to go back to work. Nursing right after getting shots is something she has done each time, and it is the perfect way to comfort your upset child.

I love how adamant Going Mom is about making sure Avery is calm and happy; such a wonderful Mommy! And wife! Today we are off to celebrate a neighbor’s 1 year old birthday party and then a belated Mother’s Day with our families. Looking forward to a good day and hopefully more ass healing!

At what age did your kids start to recognize the doctor’s office?

Any big plans for the weekend or just keeping it low key?