Emma has been brushing her teeth by herself for quite a while now. It started out with her just eating the toothpaste because it tastes so good. It has evolved to where she really scrubs the bottom teeth–hasn’t perfected the top teeth yet. She has been encouraged by me stating that she needs to “get the germs off her teeth.” It seems that even though she doesn’t really know what germs are and hasn’t seen them she doesn’t want them on her. This works for her letting us wash her face and hands too. During the last month or so–after observing her cousins Chrissy & Megan– she has been standing on a stool by the sink so she …Read more […..]

Recently I came across some differing opinions/reactions to my status as a stay at home dad. As I have explained before, many men have funny, negative, or weird reactions when they hear that I stay at home with Emma. The older guys think it is pretty strange as they grew up in a different time. That is understandable but still a bit aggravating.The younger guys are a mixed bag. The majority of the ones that have children tell me that I am extremely lucky to stay home with her–I totally agree– and they wish that they could do the same.The younger guys without kids, in general, haven’t got a clue. They think that it is shameful, …Read more […..]

A week after getting back from Disney World we went to Los Angeles. It was something we could not pass up–at least I couldn’t. Since my days as a child model for Spiegel, Sears, and others I have had an itch to do something like that again. Last year both Melissa and I were in a Sleep Number Bed commercial. A few weeks ago they contacted us and said that everyone remembers us and that they would like to fly us to California to shoot an infomercial. Well, we jumped at the chance…To be treated like a celebrity for a day was quite the experience. When we got to the airport there was a guy with a sign with our names waiting …Read more […..]

Funny how Emma has changed regarding what she likes to watch on TV. Gone are the days when she would watch Wonderpets, The Wiggles, The Doodlebops, and Jay Jay the Jet Plane. In are the days of Monsters Inc., Cars, Shrek, Nemo, Ariel, and for the last week or so Peter Pan. Emma has had a fascination with Captain Hook(Hook) since she saw him at the Disney World live show last April. She was afraid to go by the statue that is at Navy Pier. She just started watching Peter Pan and I have to say that it brings back memories for me. I had forgotten what it was all about but watching it again brought back fond memories. Emma likes …Read more […..]

So, we just returned from our 2nd trip to Orlando and Disney World. We got to stay with Emma’s uncle Mark, aunt Tina, and her cousins Chrissy and Megan. It was a very fun time watching Emma with her 2 cousins. They played well together, in general. There were some pushing incidents throughout the trip with a sort of power struggle going on. Nothing serious but we got to see a “bully” side of Emma that I have never seen before. When we got home, Emma kept talking about them and how she wants to go back to “Mark’s house.”We had lots of fun at Disney World…again. Emma got to see “The Witch” again and although she was scared, …Read more […..]

Funny how many men react to me when I tell them I stay at home with Emma….. The older men are especially puzzled. I guess I would have felt the same way some years ago.It seems like the old way of thinking, that the man was the provider and the woman reared the children, is alive and well today. Over the last couple of years, when I have been introduced to someone new I have been greeted with mixed reactions. It seems that virtually every woman who I have met that was told that I stay at home with my daughter has reacted overwhelmingly in a positive manner. They all say that it is a great thing for my daughter to have me …Read more […..]

I have always worked out and exercised but the last couple years have brought a change to my workouts. Instead of lifting weights and playing basketball I find myself walking a lot, riding my bike with Emma on board, and generally chasing her around, etc….I recently brought her to the health club and had her stay in the child care area. The first time I stayed with her for a while then snuck out for 20 minutes as she played with all the new toys. The second time I brought her I left her while I worked out. I made the mistake of trying to peek in on her before taking a shower to make sure she was OK. She was kind of hiding …Read more […..]