Author: Josh

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Long weekend and real Winter weather

On Friday Elise, Maly and I went out for fried catfish at the Manchaca Fire Hall Kitchen. The atmosphere was a lot of fun and Maly was able to watch a live Bluegrass band. The food: good but not as good as the catfish at Crossroads in Cat Spring, but still a fun family place we might find ourselves at on Friday nights in the future.

On Saturday Elise went to our neighbors house to work on Maly’s baby book. Maly and I we able to spend some quality time together. One of those quality moments involved her falling and whacking her cheek on the corner of my filing cabinet. That rendered a lot of tears and a nice purple bruise on her cheek. Later in the day she decided to try a backflip off of my office chair. That rendered me pacing about the house while clutching my daughter in my arms and repeating, “I’m sorry, baby. Daddy didn’t meant to drop you on your head.” Luckily both incidents were very minor.

On Sunday we finally bought chairs for our kitchen table. For three years we had been using Elise’s old director chairs from her college days and two lawn chairs. It was one of my goals after I found gainful employment to buy chairs for our kitchen table as sort of a way to honor my Dad. Our kitchen table was my Dad’s before he and Mom met. So the table is going on 40 years old and I obviously wanted to keep it and hopefully pass it down.

Monday was MLK Day and we did just what the late Reverend would have wanted us to do: we went to Home Depot. The weather started getting bad outside. Many roads and bridges were iced over and the temperature was dropping. While at the HoPot we picked out tile for Maly’s bathroom and shopped light fixtures for the breakfast nook. We drove across the street to World Market for wine, kitchen seat cushions and those really friggin’ good rosemary, olive oil and sea salt potato chips.

This morning we woke up to freezing temperatures outside, frozen roads and sleet. And then there was a thud. And then there was crying. I learned something very interesting this morning. My wife can run REALLY fast.

Maly fell out of her crib. It was a heartbreaking moment. The silver lining: she was sitting up on the floor when Elise ran in to pick her up. Proportionately speaking, I would venture to guess that Maly falling out of her crib would be like me toppling from 12 feet. We don’t know how or on what she landed, but she was sitting when we got to her room. She cried a very distinct “I’m really hurt” cry – one that we’d never heard before. We were really scared but, again, she was okay.

So we all watched to news to see what was happening with the weather and if I could go to work. The weather became worse as they day progress. Freezing temperatures, rain, freezing rain, sleet and snow!

I’m really thankful to have had the extra time to spend with Maly.  We’ve had a lot of fun (sans all of the head injuries).

The weather is still nasty outside so we’ll just stay in and play.

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Monthly Maly Letter: Month nine

Dear Maly,

You turned nine-months-old today. Nine months is a huge number in my mind. Nine months is how long you lived inside of your Mom. Nine months of pure bliss in learning about pregnancy, labor and delivery and your Mom and me bonding even closer than than the day that we swore among family and friends that we would be together forever. Prior to that, the concept of “my daughter” and who you’ve actually turned out to be is beyond comprehension. If someone where to ask me, “Explain what it’s like to be a Dad.” I would answer that question with a question and ask, “Have you met my baby?” And you would do the rest of the talking. You would point and give a huge smile with your toothless grin which would fill the room happiness and immediately make everyone realize that life really is good. You’re just that kind of person.

Our favorite thing to do now is play after I’ve given you a bath. I set you down on the bed with your towel still wrapped around you and our game begins. After you’re mostly dry, I throw whatever part of the towel that isn’t wrapped around your body over your head and then I sneak my head up behind yours and whisper, “Where’s Maly? Where’s Maly?” And you start giggling and try to start crawling away with the towel still covering your face. I keep my head next to yours and keep whispering into your ear, “Where’s Maly?” You always give in and lie on your stomach and pull your face under your arm and giggle, all the while knowing that I’ll always be there, right behind you.

We’ve also created a new game this month that I like to call the “Suicide Game”. After you’ve dried off, I take towel off and let your crawl around the bed. It’s then that I start saying, “I’m gonna get you!!” You start laughing and crawling to the opposite side of the bed. I crawl on the floor beside the bed in the direction in which you’re heading. You laugh uncontrollably as you crawl while watch my head traveling to the same side of the bed as you. The bad habit we’ve established is that you don’t stop when you get to the edge of the bed. Well, you do stop for a moment, but I think you wait until I get there before you take your “leap of faith”. You took your first leap on accident and luckily I was there to catch one of your legs and keep you from landing head-first onto the bedroom floor. Now you always assume that I’m going to catch your legs and swing you upside down and make you giggle. It’s a bad habit that we’ve gotten ourselves into but it’s A LOT of fun. Just don’t tell your Mom. I hope that when I’m really old and you have to take care of me that you’ll swing me around by the ankles and make fart noises on my stomach when I go to launch myself off of your bed!

Speaking of habits. It’s been a few months since you grew out of your baby bathtub that I used to bathe you in. When I first starting bathing you in the big tub, I was trying to find the way in which it was most convenient for me to bathe you. I decided to kick off my flip flops and sit on the edge of the tub with my feet in the water with you. Now that the weather is getting colder, I have to take off my shoes, socks and roll up my jeans in order to partially get in the tub with you. I don’t know what age you’ll be when you can take baths by yourself but if you find yourself at 13-years-old and I’m walking to the bathroom with you while wearing capri pants and no shoes, you might want to say, “Hey Dad, I’ve got it figured out now. And you really shouldn’t be wearing my capri pants.”

Your Grandpa B. gave me a set of iPod speakers for Christmas this year. I decided to put them in your bathroom so we could listen to music while I give you a bath. We always listen 70’s country music because it reminds me of my Dad. We like to listen to Tom T. Hall, Crystal Gayle, Waylon Jennings, Freddie Fender, Charlie Pride, Willy Nelson and the rest. I try to sing to you and I think I do a pretty good job considering the bathroom’s acoustics. You don’t complain so I guess we have a pretty good time. I look forward to bath days because you and I have time to play and you really like the water. When you’re old enough, I’m thinking that I’ll buy a boat, just like my Dad did and you can learn to water ski and fish.

You had your first Christmas this year. Again you played the role of my little angel. I don’t know if I could’ve made it through the day without an emotional breakdown had you not been there with me. You sat in my lap the entire time while we all opened presents. I gave your Grandma a card that told her how thankful I was to have had the Dad that I had. I also told her that I was proud and thankful for her and my Dad. I watched her open the card and read it as I was clutching you in my lap. Your Grandma and I made eye contact long enough to share a heartfelt thought of missing your Grandpa. I was really sad at that point and wished that your Grandpa could have been there to kiss you and say, “Merry Christmas, Sugar!”

I gave your Mom a card that I wrote by hand. On it was a poem from the card that Grandpa gave to Grandma the year before he died. It was an emotional day for me but I’m glad that I had you there with me to help me through it. I think you really helped your Grandma too.

You thoroughly enjoyed your first Christmas. You got all kind of fun presents and even better, wrapping paper and bows! I’m glad you were able to spend your first Christmas in Des Moines with your family. I’m also glad that you were born into a family that loves each other so much.

Other parents have told me that they can’t imagine life without their children. You’ve made me realize how true that is. There are no words to describe the joy that you’ve brought to me. If I’ve had a bad day, you make all of the bad disappear the moment I hold you in my arms. For being such a little person, you sure have a lot of power.

You never cease to amaze me. You’ve taught yourself to crawl almost fast enough to keep up with me as I walk about the house. You pull yourself up onto your feet by using my legs, pat the back of my knees and say, “Huuuuh!! Huuuuhhh!!” when you want me to pick you up. You point and smile at strangers. You love to giggle as you look at yourself in the mirror.

You’re very outgoing but very bashful at the same time. You smile and point at me and then turn your head ever so slightly while pulling your shoulders up to your ears while you watch me out of the corner of your eye and giggle and snort.

Sometimes we’ll look at each other from across the room and we’ll both just start laughing. We have an amazing bond that means the world to me.

It’s true: I can’t imagine life without you. You make me smile and laugh in ways that I never knew were possible. I love and cherish every moment that I have with you. And every moment that I have with you is the best moment of my life.

I love you, Sugar!

Love,

Daddy

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Marketing that chaps my ass

  1. Credit protection from Citi: I received a letter from Citi, who we have our credit cards through. It was a very official, important and urgent letter. Apparently there was some activity in my account that seemed fraudulent. I obviously wanted to follow up with this because 1) I don’t want unauthorized transactions on my account and 2) I don’t want to be out and about and have my card declined. I called the toll free number and was able to speak to a customer service agent fairly quickly. He inquired about the charge at a restaurant at which we ate the previous night. He inquired about the gas purchase I made that morning. He inquired about the charge I made at lunch that afternoon. Everything was legit – no fraudulent charges. He then went on to try to sell me on a credit protection program for only $9.95 per month. This would allow me to check my credit rating monthly. I didn’t bother asking if this service would help customers fix their credit scores because I don’t need it, and I told the agent as much.So I was kind of pissed that I was tricked into making a phone call about my account only to be sold to. Smart ploy and I’m sure it’ll work for some people who don’t use credit wisely. Kudos to Citi for getting an extra $120 a year from some customers but now I’ll be leary before calling Citi regarding account specific information on my account.
  2. Funeral Home Direct Mailings: The funeral home where we held Dad’s memorial service sends me 9″ x 11″ packets nearly once a month now. The first package was some information on grieving as well as a condolence letter, which was nice, but still a stinging reminder. The next packet they sent me was a survey, which I thought was a good idea because they are a business that renders a service and feedback is always very valuable for the company. I dutifully filled out the survey and sent it back to them in the SASE that they provided. Tonight I had another packet in the mailbox from the funeral home. This was a form that we could fill out to make it easier on my family should Elise or I die. This form asked for information about standard life experiences like where we were born, went to school, military and work experience; things that could be put into a funeral program or announcement. I’d like to think that I’m done with that funeral home. I don’t really want correspondences from a funeral home because I don’t want to think of Elise or me dying and I’m still dealing with losing my Dad in my own way. I don’t want a business contacting me monthly reminding me of that and the logistics involved.  Great funeral home but believe me, I’ll remember everything about when Dad died. I don’t need a business card to remind me that my family was cheated.
  3. Steve Jobs: I’m looking around the house, trying to find things to sell and attempting to convince my wife that we need an iPhone.
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New Year Roundup

Instead of watching bowl games on TV New Years Eve, Elise and I were in the master bathroom, pulling wallpaper. There’s only one thing more fun than pulling wallpaper and that’s getting two root canals simultaneously.  By Monday night we had all of the wallpaper removed and surprisingly, my teeth felt fine.

The week flew by and Friday was quickly upon us.  Friday night started with meeting for drinks and dinner at Brentwood Tavern.  Saturday morning Elise and Christine went to our neighbor’s house for scrapbooking which, in my book, is right up there with root canals and pulling wallpaper.  Maly and I spent the better part of the day together playing and getting my iBook set to send to Elise’s parents.

Perhaps I did the Zombie Eater wrong in a previous life because while Elise was away, Maly thought it would be cool to poop every half hour or so.  In case you don’t know me, I DO NOT deal well with miniature human feces.  Or any other feces for that matter.  The advice rendered while Elise was pregnant was, “Oh, if it’s your own kid, you won’t mind poopie diapers.”  To that I say bolshy yarblockos!

Late Saturday afternoon we went to the ol’ HoPot and ordered tile for our two bathrooms.  That night I went to the Apple Bar to meet my friend David and bid him farewell as he’s moving to DC later this month.

This morning we woke up and spent the better part of the day taking down Christmas lights and decorations.  We went for lunch at Madam Mam’s and then home to finish closing out the Christmas season.

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Christmas 2006

Friday, December 22: Mom drove in early in the afternoon. I drove around Austin amongst holiday traffic and last-minute shoppers to find Maly the perfect gift for her first Christmas. We showed Mom where I work and then went out for barbecue at Green Mesquite on Barton Springs Rd. and then walked the Trail of Lights and to the Christmas Tree at Zilker Park.

Saturday, December 23: We left around 12:30 p.m. and headed to the airport in San Antonio to start our trip to Des Moines. Mom, Elise, Maly and I had a combined nine bags we were carrying with us. Our flight left at 3:15. We arrived at DFW where our connecting flights was four hours delayed. We ate Sbarro pizza on the floor and watched people as we waited on our flight. We arrived in Des Moines at 10:30 p.m.; Steve and Joanne picked us up at the airport and we all piled into the minivan and headed to the house.

Sunday, December 24: Grandma came over with cinnamon rolls. Steve and I went to HyVee for groceries. Later that afternoon we went to church where Steve and Joanne sang in the choir during mass. After church we went to friends of the Boeckmans townhome for a Christmas party. We all went back to the house and Steve and I drove to pick up Elise’s brother, Eric.

Monday, December 25: Maly’s first Christmas! We woke up early and took Maly downstairs and let her play with some of the toys that Santa had brought her. Eric and Grandma came over to the house around 10:30 and then we all opened our presents. Everyone pitched in early in the afternoon for a great prime rib dinner.

Tuesday, December 26: Elise went to brunch at Heather’s house with Lindsey, Traci and Kari. Steve and Joanne’s friends, Chuck and Sharyl came over for dinner. Yours truly smoked southwest rubbed salmon filets over pecan shells and mesquite finished with dijon, clarified butter, smoked Penzey’s green peppercorns and brown mustard seeds.  Mom made a spinach souffle and Joanne made a salad. After dinner that evening Elise and I went over to Eric’s house to hang out.

Wednesday, December 27: Elise’s friend, Ingrid and her mom, Susan stopped by to visit in the morning.  Steve and I went to the ol’ HoPot to get base shoes for the kitchen, front hallway and downstairs bathroom. That afternoon we cut and installed most of the base shoes. That night, Steve stayed home with Maly while Mom, Joanne, Elise and I saw Triple Espresso at The Temple for Performing Arts in downtown Des Moines. Excellent show to say the least. All four of us laughed the whole time. After the show, Joanne drove us around greater Des Moines to see all of the new developments around the city.

Thursday, December 28: We woke up, had breakfast and played with Maly. After Maly’s nap the three of us drove out to Ankeny to spend the afternoon with Elise’s long-time friends, James and Louise and their kids, Alexis and Avin. We had a blast at James and Louise’s house. Before we left, James introduced me to the sport of paintball. We went out on the back patio and took turns laying waste to random inanimate objects. I’m soooo getting a paintball gun for my birthday this month! While Elise, Maly and I were out, Steve, Joanne, Grandma and Mom went to the botanical garden. After we all made it back home, all 7 of us piled into the van to check out the Christmas lights at Waterworks Park. After the tour of lights, Elise and I drove over to Eric’s for a nice, home cooked meal of grilled asparagus and red peppers and filet mignon with a very rich creole sauce. With full bellies Elise and I drove back home to conk out for the evening.

Friday, December 29: We all hung around the house until early afternoon when the girls went to the Salisbury House for a grand tour. While the girls were away, Steve and I played with Maly, put her down for a nap and once she woke up, we all three went to CompUSA. Friday night was a shuffle as Steve and I tried to configure two webcams to work among his 700 MHz Windows PC and my iBook, all the while trying to download photos taken throughout the week to each others’ computers. I finally determined that their computer couldn’t cut the mustard and decided to sell them my iBook so they would be able to see their granddaughter live via video conference from 1000+ miles away.

Steve left to pick up Eric that evening. Grandma came over as well and we all ate pizza that Joanne made. Heather and her boyfriend, TJ stopped by with Heather’s daughter, Juliet.  They left the same time Grandma left and the rest of us played Scene It before taking Eric home for the night.

Saturday, December 30: The morning came early and it was time for Mom, Elise, Maly and me to head back home. Steve and Joanne took us to the airport and we all had to say our goodbyes.

We made it to DFW on time but had to wait at the gate for our connecting flight because of a delay in the flight out before us that was heading to Guadalajara. We landed in San Antonio around 3 p.m. and Elise and I had a helluva time (along with all of the other passengers who’d flown in from other delayed flights out of DFW ) finding our 5 checked bags. We finally got home in time for Burger Tex burgers and to watch Texas beat Iowa in the Alamo Bowl.

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Could everyone agree that no one should be left alone?

I had a dream about my Dad this morning. It was the first dream of my Dad that I remember since he died.

Dad, Mom, Elise, Maly and I were on vacation and having fun on the deck of some unbeknownst-to-me beach house off the Gulf of Mexico; somewhere where Dad had lived before or some place he wished he’d lived in the past.

We all knew that it was our last vacation before Dad was to leave us. We were all having fun despite the eminent. We were all wearing white. It was all too surreal.

I knew these were my last days with Dad. I wanted to take pictures of him so I could capture still images of the man who means the world to me.

My camera wouldn’t take pictures. I would press the shutter button and nothing would happen. I couldn’t take a photo.

I couldn’t take a photo. I wasn’t supposed to take a photo.

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Monthly Maly Letter: Month eight

Dear Maly,

You turned eight-months-old today. What happened to seven-months-old?… It seems like just yesterday! You’re such a fun kid and now that I’m back in the working world I’m so jealous of your Mom who gets to be with you all day. I think about you constantly during those hours of the week when I’m not with you. I imagine you absorbing the world around you and smile with such pride when I think about you and your infectious laughter.

This month you’ve become very fascinated with cat food. We set you on the floor to see if there’s any new baby land speed records you can break and, for whatever reasons, you always make a B-line for the cat dish. To the best of my knowledge you have not yet sampled cat food, but you really like hunting it. I can tell you it doesn’t taste very good, but I guess you’ll figure that out on your own soon enough.
Speaking of mobility: you stand up frequently on your own now. You crawl to wherever it is you think you need to be and then you pull yourself up and stand. You’re starting to “walk” with help from whatever inanimate object, cat or my leg hair you use to brace yourself.

This month you figured out how to make “D” sounds. You say, “Dadadada da da daaaaaa da daaaa”. For my own reasons I know you’re saying “Dad” and it makes my heart swell like you can’t imagine.

Since you’re so mobile now you have a tendency to fall. However, when you fall you have a tendency to hit your head on things. This is the course of nature. Thankfully you haven’t had too terrible of a spill, but you keep your Mom and me on pins and needles. I’ve thought about either adorning you or the entire house with Nerf technology.

You had your first Thanksgiving last month. We went to your Grandma’s house and for our Thanksgiving dinner we ate the dove that your Grandpa shot before he left us. A few days prior you came down with a stomach virus that you passed on to your Mom and me during Thanksgiving. That meant we weren’t able to make our trip to Okeene, Oklahoma for the annual Boeckman Thanksgiving weekend. Your Mom and I were both pretty upset because 1) we were fighting over the bathroom and 2) because we weren’t able to show you off to your aunts, uncles, cousins and your Great Grandma B.

I’ve been having a hard time getting into the holiday spirit this year. 2006 has been a very hard year for me. I’ve had my extreme ups, downs and down furthers to the point where I’ve questioned my own sanity. I am so happy to have you to help me maintain that inkling of sanity. Your Mom and I have such a close bond that is so amazing to me and the bond that you and I have is so amazing as well in that you’re a living representation of us. It’s like you’re here to somehow protect and guide us.

You’re really starting to establish your sense of humor. You love to laugh, but now you like to do things to make your Mom and me laugh, which makes you laugh even more. I’m so glad you’re a happy baby. You can be a little moody at times and I’m not going to name names, but you get that trait from someone with a name similar to Dadadada da da daaaaaa da daaaa.

You’re such an amazing and fun child who is a joy to be around. This isn’t the calm before some hellride of a storm, is it? Even if we are in for some screams and tantrums during teething or fits while fighting sleep, I can’t help but love you more and more and press my kisses harder onto your cheeks.

I love you, Maly.

Love,

Daddy

P.S. You can have WHATEVER you want for Christmas.

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I be illin’

The Friday before last I came down with a stomach virus. The following Thursday I came down with a head and chest cold/infection. Last Monday and Tuesday I was in St. Louis where the temperatures were in the 20’s and I still haven’t recovered. I’m sick of being sick. Elise, sick herself, is feeling better than me and surprisingly Maly is doing just fine.

This past weekend has pretty much consisted of me falling asleep on the couch at 8 or 9, Elise waking me up to go to bed at midnight and then me waking up at 4 a.m. and sleeping like shit for the rest of the morning because of a hacking cough and headache.

On Saturday we got the majority of our Christmas shopping done. It doesn’t take me much more than a minute after stepping foot into a big box before I’m reminded of how figgy pudding fun it is to be among the Christmas shopping masses.

We took our sleep deprived daughter to “Luminations” at the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center to see all of the luminarias on display for the Christmas season.  It was cold outside and Maly was really tired because she didn’t get her afternoon nap so she was really fussy.  She cried as we scurried through the wildflower center long enough to where we could no longer convince ourselves that we were having a fun family outing.

Today we woke up, played with Maly and went for an early lunch at Nuevo Leon at Escarpment Village. So far I’m not impressed with any of the restaurants at Escarpment Village – too plain, cookie cutter and in serious lack of any form of character. Nuevo Leon looks like it was designed by someone who has never been outside of New York and was told to design a “Tex-Mex” restaurant. Mangieri’s Pizza has the same lack of charm. The newest Waterloo Icehouse, an Austin landmark opened its doors in Escarpment Village this weekend. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that when patronize that joint, we don’t feel like we’re in IKEA.

We went to the nursery this afternoon and picked out our Christmas tree. This is Maly’s first Christmas and I want it to be special for her. I know she won’t remember her first Christmas, but I want this time of year to mean something – I want her to have fond memories of being with the people she loves.

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It dawned on me tonight that we’re old

It’s 8:06 p.m. as I write this.  We’re both exhausted and almost too tired to eat dinner.

We’re watching the Planning Commission meeting on zoning and city noise ordinances on Austin’s public access television.

And for some reason TiVo is recording this meeting.

I need some fiber.

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OK No Go

The week started out on Sunday night while Elise and I were playing with Maly on our bed after giving her a bath and getting her ready for bed. We were playing as usual when all of the sudden she sat up and in full and and eery Regan MacNeil style, projectile vomited the mashed peas she’d eaten for dinner.

Elise and I were dumbfounded. At first we non-verbally exchanged a golden Beavis and Butthead moment.

“Uhhh. Huh huh. She just, like, spewed all over the bed.”

“Heh. Uhhhhhh. Yeah, yeah. That was cool. Or something.”

And before we could engage in the actual parental exchange that would ordinarily express concern, she vomited again.

This time we took things a little more seriously.

Maly had come down with a stomach virus.

Monday was my first day at my new job and I was tired from the night before and kept thinking about my daughter all day. Thankfully Elise took good care of Maly over the two days following.

My second day at my new job started out with waking up, still worried about Maly’s intestinal well-being shortly followed by leaving for the office to find that someone had stolen the face plate from the stereo in my truck at some point the night prior.

Wednesday was a short-timers’ day as everyone anxiously awaited the start of a holiday weekend. I left work around 2 p.m. and headed home so Elise, Maly and I could head out to Mom’s for Thanksgiving.

We got to Mom’s around 8:30 p.m. and Elise and I ate a late dinner after putting Maly to bed. We stayed up and talked with Mom for a while before going to bed.

I woke up at 5 a.m. Thursday morning to hunt the buck I’ve been hunting all season. As usual, no dice. Still too warm outside.

For Thanksgiving Mom, Elise and I decided that instead of the usual fare, we would stew the doves that Dad shot 3 days prior to his death. That was a great way to honor him and feel that he was with us in a way.

Elise and I stayed up until midnight, watching TV. The following morning would make for our first road trip to Oklahoma for Thanksgiving with Elise’s Dad’s family for the first time with Maly.

The following morning, two hours after having gone to bed, would make for the first time your humble narrator came down with his daughter’s stomach virus.

I was up from 2:17 a.m. until somewhere near 10 a.m. on Friday, visiting the bathroom every 20 minutes. That was a blast, let me tell you. Pun intended.

Elise got sick from either 1) nerves or 2) a very minor version of my West Nile Virus and found herself in the restroom later that morning as well. Needless to say, we didn’t leave Friday morning to make it to Oklahoma for the annual Saturday Thanksgiving with the Boeckmans.

So my Mom took care of Maly most of the day on Friday while Elise and I lay in our respective death beds in the living room. We woke ourselves up to watch a gruelingly boring UT vs. A&M game and then a good Colorado vs. Nebraska game. We watched The Family Man after that and finally went to bed — more like passed out from exhaustion. Elise had ran a steady fever all day and I was physically exhausted and dehydrated. It wasn’t until almost noon on Friday until I could hold down even an ounce of water.

We were able to get a decent nights sleep last night. We spent the better part of today pulling wallpaper from Mom’s bathroom — I’m debating if I’d rather stay up all night puking or strip bathroom wallpaper. Jury’s still out on that one.

We’re all well now, thankfully.

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Time to go back and win some bread

Other than the two full weeks when I worked for that start up dot com, I’ve been unemployed since September 8th. I’ve had 10 weeks to spend with friends and family.

I accepted a new job offer this past Tuesday. The last two weeks I made it a point to hang out with my two girls and do some fun things around Austin.

Last Wednesday we went for a late lunch at Sholtz’s Beer Garden. It was a gorgeous day outside at the restaurant where, just the night before, Kinky Friedman had his post-election party. We had grilled bratwurst, jagerschnitzel and bocktoberfest beer.

On Friday my Mom came to our house as her last stop on her west coast trip. For dinner I bought us all muffalettas from Cypress Grill. On Saturday we all drove out to Johnson City for Cyndi’s Mom’s birthday party. On Sunday we went to Fry’s and then back home to hang around the house for the day. Mom left late that afternoon and then Elise and I went clothes shopping at Kohl’s.

On Tuesday of this week we went to the local park and let Maly play in the gravel. She also ate chicken for the first time on Tuesday.

On Wednesday we went to Doc’s Motorworks for tampiquena steak and South Congress eggrolls on the patio.
On Thursday we went out for crab bisque at the Nordstrom Cafe Bistro and then clothing shopping for Maly.

On Friday we had lunch with Christine at Ranch 616. The girls had fancy salads and I had the quail. We went back to the mall to have Maly’s photo taken with Santa.
Yesterday we went for kolaches at the Big Kolache for breakfast then to Target, WalMart and the grocery store. Last night we went over to Marc & Cyndi’s house were I grilled coriander and chipotle dusted pork loin stuffed with garlic, rosemary, mustard seeds and green peppercorns and ancho bock mashed potatoes. The girls made a great salad with feta, almonds, purple onions and Elise made a balsamic vinaigrette.

Today we went to Zilker Park to fly a kite. Just like the last time we went to Zilker Park to fly a kite, there wasn’t enough wind. We went to Zen north of campus for a late (and horrible) lunch.

Tonight I’m just going to hang out with my girls. I start my new job tomorrow and sure am going to miss all the time I’ve had with Elise and Maly recently.

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Monthly Maly Letter: Month seven

Dear Maly,

You turned seven months old today. You’re over half a year old now and you’re more amazing than I’d ever fathomed.

This month has been nothing short of spectacular and I couldn’t be more enthused about being jobless because I’ve gotten to witness all of your new and exciting accomplishments.

For your first milestone this month: you sat up on your own. Your Mom was by the vanity in our bathroom and I was in the bedroom when I turned, looked down and saw you just sitting there. I asked your Mom, “Did you sit her up?” to which she replied no. We both missed you sitting up on your own for the first time but after that first time, you’ve become a master.

Earlier this month you started crawling. You used to do your low crawl/belly flop but now you’ve got your full-on crawl down. You’re mobile and that much more independent now. I now see how I could once find comfort in setting you down at a particular spot, turn around and find you still at that same spot moments later. This is no longer the case. It’s scary because you’re able to crawl away and get into things that might hurt or scare you, but it’s beautiful when you see me, smile and rush-crawl to my feet and anxiously wait for me to pick you up and give you kisses and make you giggle.

Not but a few days after you figured out how to crawl, you figured out how to pull yourself up onto your feet. Your Mom went to get you from your crib after you had awaken from a nap and there your were, standing up on your own two feet with your hands on the crib rail for support.

You experienced your first Halloween this year. Well, there wasn’t really much for you to experience — Instead your Mom and I experienced immense laughter after dressing you up as a purple dragon. We spent Halloween with John, Christine, Jack and Grayson. Jack trick-or-treated while you sat in the little red wagon and sucked on your fingers. Next year we’ll really take you trick-or-treating. I’m thinking about dressing you up as Reagan from The Exorcist.

Speaking of demonic possession — you started growling this month. You and I play a lot throughout the course of the day and on one occasion I growled and you growled back. Since then you growl whenever you feel like… uh, growling. You’re so hilarious when you do it, though.

You’re turning into such an unbelievable and amazing person. Every day you do something new that makes me so happy and proud – they’re always small victories but those are the ones that count. Just this past Sunday you looked at your Mom and me and pointed to the overhead lights at Fry’s. It wasn’t that big of a deal to you, but for me, it showed that you’re really interacting with the world around you.

I look forward to and embrace all of your daily discoveries. I love being next to you when you take on new challenges and experience your environment. But what I love the most is when you stop for that fleeting moment and turn and look up at me sitting next to you and smile that heart-melting smile. If I could bottle and sell that sensation I would be the richest man in the world — but I would never do that because that is something meant for only me — and I love you so much for giving that to me.

I love you, Sugar.

Love,

Daddy