Week 219 – April 6 – 12

Still the same with coronavirus around the country. Although there is some good news – the social distancing measures are working because the number of new cases every day is way down compared to original projections.

In other good news, working from home has been great! I get to spend more time with you, mom, and Houston! I also built you a fort on the guest bed so you can hang out in there while I work at my desk. If the weather is nice, we get to go on long walks (mom picks the route now after I took us on a 6-mile walk last Saturday) and play outside. You finally are getting into riding your scooter and bike, but we need to get you a helmet and maybe some knee pads. You also love helping me with garden working and cleaning around the house. It’s about time I got some help with cleaning around the house 🙂

Happy Easter! The Easter Bunny made a stop at our house and hid eggs for you to find inside and outside. He also dropped off a nice Easter basket for you and Houston.

We also planted strawberry plants this week. I’m excited about this little project for us to do together. I sure hope we grow some strawberries! If not, I know you will be disappointed and that will make me sad!

Week 220 – April 13 – 19

Your little brother is going to drive your mom insane! The kid hates sleeping and it’s really taking a toll on your mom. He won’t nap for more than about 45 minutes and he has been waking up twice in the night for the last 30 days. We know it’s a phase he’s going through, but we hope it ends soon. I feel so bad for your mom – she needs sleep!

The weather was pretty crappy this week, so we didn’t get a chance to do much outside. The weather was so cold that we had to cover our strawberry plants overnight – I hope they survive!

Week 221 – April 20 – 26

Something is eating our strawberry plants and we think it’s a duck! Not sure how to stop it, but hopefully it doesn’t continue!

Mom had a really cool surprise for you on Tuesday. She scheduled the Kona Ice truck to make a stop at our ice. It was such a good surprise and you loved it!

Things I don’t want to forget:

• you saying “Oh my Geez”
• wearing your pants like a mermaid
• mom singing the bear hunt song and then you asking her to say more things to hunt
• you hit mom’s boob with your dinosaur toy and asked her if any milk leaked out 🙂
• you love tricking us when you change from your nighttime diaper into your big girl underwear. I will change you and then you will wait for mom to ask you to put underwear on. Then you get real excited and show her that you already did it!
• You steal food that mom’s cooking and pretend that Casper the ghost is taking it.
• You yelling or getting mad and saying that you “just have to get all your words out”

Week 222 – April 27 – May 3

One of the pluses of me working from home is that you get to help make my coffee every morning. I love it! You helped me put the new grill together so now we can start grilling season! You also put together your first 100 piece puzzle. You love doing puzzles!

Some of my thoughts right now:

• Work – things are interesting right now because of the uncertainty with Covid-19 and it’s impact on events. I’m struggling right now with my role and what I will be doing for the next 6-12 months. I’m trying to get creative and figure out how we move to virtual engagements, but it’s tough. Stay tuned!
• House –
• Finances –
• Happiness –

Week 223 – May 4 – May 10

It’s Mother’s Day Weekend!

We made signs for your mom, had breakfast at home, gave her her gifts, and ordered dinner at Chuy’s. Mom also tried getting a nice picture with you and Houston, but we all know how that ended up.

“Dad, you want to come and play with me?” “Ok, you can just sit there and watch me so you can learn how to play.” Then you gave me a huge eye roll.

Houston rode in the wagon for the first time this weekend. He loved it and you had a great time riding with him. Houston also loves when you help take off his patch.

Week 224 – May 11 – May 17

In some other big news: you are wearing shorts again! You had pretty much sworn off wearing shorts because it might show a scratch or you might get a bug bite. Now you want to wear them outside and even to sleep.

The weather has been nice, so we have been able to spend quite a bit of time outside. We brought out your water table and of course spent time on your scooter. Grandma Carol sent you some Doc McStuffins knee pads/elbow pads/gloves, so hopefully you will try riding your bike again soon. She also sent you some cool turtle shells that are similar to the game Twister. You love them!

Week 225 – May 18 – May 24

The weather has been crappy so far this week, but that didn’t stop us from having fun. We spent a good hour or so outside playing in the rain. Even your mom got wet! It reminded me about the simple, pure joy of just jumping in puddles and playing in the rain.

Our strawberries are still alive and actually started to show little baby strawberries. I keep hoping so much that these things produce fruit for you!

We found out today that little Houston will have his eye surgery next Wednesday.

Mom cut your hair today! She never she would be one to give you your first haircut. I was shocked at how well she did and how cute it looks. Side note – she saved some of the hair to give you at some point. It’s ok, you can make fun of her.

Your mom had the great idea of going on a car picnic and i suggested we go to the Hoover Reservoir area. We stopped for sandwiches at Jersey Mike’s, McDonald’s for drinks, and brought fruit and snacks from home. We drove around the reservoir and found a nice parking near the water and reversed in for a great view of the water. Mom had ordered a nice new chair for Houston that came with a table for him to eat on. It was perfect! We had so much fun.

Week 226 – May 25 – May 31

Houston had his eye surgery today while grandma Pattie stayed home with you. It was sad because I couldn’t go in the hospital with your mom because of the pandemic. I had to drop them off at the door and then I sat at a nearby park for about three hours and waited. In the end, he did great! His surgery lasted about one hour and the doctor said everything went “super great” and there were no issues. Other than being a little fussy and having red eyes, he’s back to his normal self.

We took Grandma Patti on our car picnic to Hoover Reservoir and she loved it! We picked up sandwiches at Jersey Mike’s and stopped at McDonald’s for drinks. What a fun day! This is one of my favorite things we do right now.

Week 227 – June 1 -June 7

As if the global pandemic wasn’t enough, we are now dealing with more social injustice as a black man was killed by a white police officer in Minnesota. This happens way too often! There are protests going on across the country, with many turning violent and into riots and looting.

My big struggle with this is how I learn from this and do my part to be part of the solution. I want to make sure I’m speaking up and making a difference. I also want to make sure I’m educating myself to help shape your view that everyone matters regardless of this skin color or beliefs, especially black people!

In brighter news, you all of sudden wanted to start riding your bike and now you love it! You like being on your own most of the time, but like me to hold the bike when you go over little cracks :), drain grates, and go “fast like the speed limit” down the hill. I love helping you with this! I also love our family walks when you now ride your bike.

You and mom went on your own car picnic so you could have a little girl time together.

We made homemade popcorn together this week. I had so much fun during this bonding moment you I think you loved it too. The kernels popping for the first time scared us both!

“Mom, I didn’t know you could run!” This was one of the funniest things you said after mom surprised us by running and trying to pop some bubbles.

“I love this popcorn sugar!” This is what you call the butter seasoning we put on popcorn.

Week 228 – June 8 -June 14

Grandma Carol is visiting this week!

We didn’t do too much because of Covid-19, but we had a great time with Grandma Carol.

Week 228 – June 15 -June 21

We celebrated a wonderful Father’s Day this week. This one was special because I now have two kids – you and Houston! Mom got me a really cool mug with pictures of both of you on it and some of my favorite vodka. Grandma Carol also got me an instant-read thermometer for the grill – it’s awesome! We picked up Hot Chicken Takeover and took it to the Hoover Reservoir for a car picnic.

We also had a fun garage picnic this week! You wanted to be able to “take the meat right from the grill, put it on a plate, and sit down and eat.” So that’s what we did and it was great!

Week 229 – June 22 – June 28

We continue to try and get creative with fun stuff to do while I’m working from home and not being able to go out because of Covid-19. I love working outside when I can and usually like start my day sitting outside on the porch with my computer. This week I decided to set up my computer in the garage so I can watch you play with your water table or other things in the garage. It sucks not having a backyard, but we are trying to make the best of it!

You played Left, Right, Center and OhSnap! for the first time and you love it! I love so much that you like playing games. I have so many memories of growing up playing games and I look forward to creating those memories for you!

Week 230 – June 29 – July 5

You learned to snap your fingers and also learned to spin coins!

Kona Ice made another stop this week and this time you enjoyed your icee in your pool. You thought it was the coolest thing ever!

And happy 4th of July! Unfortunately we didn’t get to attend any parades this year because of the pandemic, but we made the best of it! We had our own BBQ, played with sparklers, pops, and even made our own s’mores. We had purchased a small disposable charcoal grill, but it ended up not working and we had to use the side-burner on the grill – it worked perfectly!