Four-Month Check-Up

We just returned from Ryne's four-month check-up at the doctor's office, and things are going great! Here is a little update on his well being...

Ryne's head is 46.5 cm around, which is in the 97th percentile for head size(meaning, out of 100 four-month old babies he would have a head bigger than 97 of them). He weighs 16.6 lbs, putting himself in the 75th percentile for weight. And he is 25.5" tall (2'1"), which is in the 60th percentile for height. The doctor said that these were all excellent numbers! He is a big, and rapidly growing young boy.

We lucked-out with our near-last-minute babysitter find! The sitter loves Ryne. The other kids that go there love playing with Ryne. And Ryne seems to be happy every morning that I take him there. I can't imagine us being happier with our service from Sharon.

Prior to the little stomach bug that he recently had, he is eating quite a bit. He usually eats seven ounces every three to four hours. I put his high chair together over the weekend, and it may make its debut tonight. The doctor just told us that we could start feeding him rice cereal, and in a couple of weeks Ryne can advance to level one baby vegetables (yum!).

Mom and Dad had their first weekend away from Ryne, and it went well. We missed Ryne, terribly, but we had a lot of fun. It was, however, unfortunate that Ryne was suffering his stomach bug the weekend that we were gone.

On top of the stomach bug that I speak of, Ryne had a little cold previously. In his four months alive those are the only two times that he has ever been sick. He is lucky; Mom and Dad are lucky. Even when he is sick, though, he doesn't get terribly fussy. Aside from his diarrhea and loss of appetite you would have never known anything was wrong with him. He is always such a happy baby.

Ryne is learning some new tricks that he enjoys quite a bit. Rolling over from his stomach to his back is done fairly consistently. He can roll from his back to his stomach, although he always ends up getting one arm stuck underneath him. But his favorite new trick seems to be wiggling his way (much like a clock) around on the floor. We will put him down with his head facing north (for example) and before we know it he will have turned 180 degrees. Ryne thinks that this is quite an accomplishment, as he is usually laughing and smiling all the while. Mom and Dad think it is terribly cute (because it is).

Four-months isn't that long, but I don't remember what life was like prior to Ryne. Life is great with our little family of Ryne, Amy, and me.

A Lucky Little Guy

For those of you who don't know, I work at a Title One school. A Title One school is a school with a large low-income student population. The school where I work has approximately 90% of the students receiving free and/or reduced lunches (and breakfast). Grooming and hygiene is a big issue for a lot of the students that I work with, and the clothes that some of these students come to school in is often depressing.

I digress...Amy and I each have too many clothes. We like clothes, and we like shopping for clothes; it is somewhat of an addiction. Because of this, we are often cleaning out our closets and donating a lot of the second hand clothes to students at my school. I often end up seeing students wearing clothes that once belonged to Amy and myself for days on end. It is sad. Our worst things that we are willing to depart with become these students' best things.

Ryne is lucky. He is loved. He has two educated parents. His parents each have jobs that allow them to go without want. He has parents that are advocates for him. He has an extended family that loves him. He has plenty of clothing. He has a stockroom of diapers. He always has formula to keep him fed. He has plenty of space for himself and his things in his home. He has a ton of toys to keep him entertained. I could go on. He has everything that he needs; furthermore, he has parents that are able to provide him with the things that he may need, but doesn't have yet.

I see a lot children on a daily basis that are not this lucky. They aren't ever exhibited love from family members. They don't all of their family members involved in their lives. Their parents are distracted by the negativity that occupy their lives. These children come to school hungry. They come to school early and stay at school late because school is a much better place than wherever they call home. They never want snow days because that means they don't get to come to school; school is guaranteed to have the heat turned-on. They are crammed into small living quarters with brothers, sisters, cousins, and others.

The disparities are depressing. I thank my parents for raising me to work hard, and be able to work for what I need. However, more than the ability to work hard is needed in most instances. Too many children are born into situations that lack the resources that will allow them to prosper. And for that I thank God. I was blessed to be born into a great situation, and I am blessed to bring my son into a great situation.

Weekend Away

This coming weekend is going to be both fun and sad at the same time.

It will be a lot of fun because Amy and I are taking a two-day trip to Chicago, our favorite city. We have not been to Chicago since August, which is a very long hiatus for us. While in Chicago we don't plan on doing very much at all. We will stay right downtown where we will do some shopping, try-out a wine bar on Michigan Avenue that we held-off of going to while Amy was pregnant, dine at Sunda (where we will probably run into more than a few of Chicago's "A-listers"), eat brunch at a trendy spot that Amy read about in one of her magazines, watch the Blackhawks game and Derrick Rose play in the All-Star game from our favorite Chicago sports bar, and probably get some deep-dish pizza. We can't wait to get away and spend the time relaxing, just the two of us. Very excited...

You might have noticed, in the previous paragraph I mentioned that, "we can't wait to get away...just the two of us." That is correct. Ryne will be staying behind. We are not going to be introducing him to the greatest city in the world until the weather gets warmer (we have a mini-trip planned for June to take Ryne to the Lincoln Park Zoo and his first Cubs game!). It will be the first time that we are away from Ryne overnight. I am sure that it will be difficult for both Mom and Dad. However, we are very lucky to have very good babysitters (grandmas) volunteer (beg) to watch Ryne overnight; thanks.

Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is less than a week away. I'll admit it, previously this holiday has never been terribly high on my favorite holiday list. Actually, I'd probably categorize it with New Year's Eve and Halloween (ever since 2005 when I did not win the costume contest while dressed as an in-prisoned Pierre Pierce, I've been bitter) as my least favorite holidays. My question was always, what makes Valentine's Day so special? Shouldn't you show your loved ones love all 365 days of the year?

Anyways, I have a new respect for February 14th.

Last year, Amy and I decided not to get each other any Valentine's Day gifts; we were just going to take a little weekend trip to Galena, Illinois and fore go gifts. I, however, thought I was being: a) sneaky and b) a great husband by getting her a gift anyways. It was nothing major, just a lunch bag and matching water bottle that she'd mentioned at Von Maur. I was going to give her the gift while we were in Galena.

When Valentine's Day came, prior to going to Galena, Amy told me that she'd gotten me a gift! I was shocked (although not nearly as shocked as I was about to become). She brought me out a small little package that was very nicely wrapped. Inside was a book titled, The Expectant Father. I'm no dummy, I knew what this meant. I'd always wanted children, but we hadn't planned this. I was a little scared and trying to hide that as best as I could while exhibiting pure excitement as well. It isn't that I didn't want a child, I did, it is just that I don't always deal overly well with things that aren't routine. I had NO IDEA what to expect for the coming months.

As time went by, nerves turned to excitement and excitement turned to happiness once Ryne was born. Now, nearly one year after Amy informed me that she was pregnant, I look back at that moment as a great memory. How can she/we top that Valentine's Day? That gift? It is not possible. Finding out that Ryne was on the way is the best gift that I've ever received. I will always associate that memory with Valentine's Day, which puts Valentine's Day in pretty good graces with me. Therefore, Valentine's Day will forever be a day of ecstasy as that was the day that I first discovered that I was going to become a Dad.

Play List for Ryne

It has been a little while since I've last blogged. There is no reason for the hiatus other than the fact that I've just been keeping busy with three of my favorite things: family, sports, and work. Not a lot is new; Ryne is now over three months old, he keeps growing and growing, he consistently sleeps through the night, he seems to like his babysitter a lot (as do his Mom and Dad), sometimes he will roll from his stomach to his back, he had his little heart broken when his Bears lost in the NFC Championship, everyone seems to think that he is getting teeth, he is able to grip one of his little balls, he is talking (although the language sounds foreign)...maybe a lot is new!

Recently Ryne was given an iPod full of "baby" songs. We've been listening to it with him, and he seems to love it! This blog entry is going to be about one of my other favorite things (sarcasm), music.








I've never played an instrument, and I've never enjoyed singing. I used to listen to a lot of music, but that has recently been replaced by a preference of sports talk radio. I do, however, love making play lists that have a central theme. Earlier today I made a play list re. fatherhood/parenthood that I'd like to tell you about...


Just the Two of Us - Will Smith

• It's not just the two of us (we have three), but the rest of the song sums up a lot of the feelings I have towards Ryne. And Will Smith, however corny his songs are, is awesome.
  

I've Been Watching You - Rodney Atkins

• Because I hope that the chorus of this song is something is something that Ryne eventually does/says (minus the cowboy boots and camo pants!).
  

Anything Like Me - Brad Paisley

• While the lyrics of this song don't particularly describe me; I do wonder if Ryne will be anything like me.

It Won't Be Like this for Long - Darius Rucker

• I know this song is about a daughter, but it is my FAVORITE! Makes me appreciate soothing a crying baby, drinking cold coffee, running out of the house late for work most mornings, waking up in the middle of the night, etc. I'm sure there will come a time all to soon where Amy and me wish for these things/times to return.

The Best Day - George Strait

• Probably won't happen re. me taking him camping, but maybe he will say this about going to Kinnick Stadium, Wrigley Field, or some other place like that (fingers crossed!).

With Arms Wide Open - Creed

• Statement of clarification - I don't like Creed. However, the lyrics fit what I was looking for pretty well.

Forever Young - Bob Dylan

• The theme music from my favorite TV show, Parenthood.

Sweet Child O Mine - Guns N Roses

• It is about a girl so it isn't a perfect match, but GNR is one of my first favorite bands and I've always liked this song.

I Don't Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith

• The theme song from a great movie, Armageddon, I always thought it was about the love between a man and a woman; maybe it is, but the lyrics seem to fit the relationship of a parent and a child as well.

There Goes My Life - Kenny Chesney

• My third daughter song (sorry), and the first half of the song doesn't really describe the situation that Amy and me were in when we found out that Ryne was coming. However, the second half of the song is a better fit (although hopefully Ryne won't be going off to live in California anytime soon!).

Then They Do - Trace Adkins

• See "It Won't Be Like this for Long" and "There Goes My Life"

Tough Little Boys - Garry Allan

• I am fairly tough in re. to keeping my emotions in check, but I'm gonna bet that Ryne brings them out of me frequently.

Simple Man - Lynard Skynard

• One of my favorite songs period. As the song says, "All I want for you my son, is to be satisfied."

Beautiful Boy - John Lennon

• The title of the song pretty much describes Ryne to a tee. I wonder if John Lennon made a mistake by using the name Sean in his lyrics.

Original of the Species - U2

• Because there has never been another quite like Ryne.
  

Cats in the Cradle - Ugly Kid Joe

• This song is a reminder of how/what not to be (although it is a great song). I will always make time for Ryne regardless of what my career/job calls for.

December 27th – January 2nd – Best Week Ever/2010 – Best Year Ever

Last week was the best week of my life. Prior to today, I’d spent the last 12 days at home with Amy and Ryne. That is the longest that I’ve ever been able to stay at home with Ryne (I got five days at home after he was born before I had to go back to work).

Here are some of the things that we were able to do with Ryne over the break:

Celebrate our first Christmas together
Watching him smile with frequency
Mimicking me and sticking out his tongue
Learning to blow spit bubbles
Sit, listen, and focus for stretches were I would read him multiple (sometimes up to five) books at a time
Celebrate our first New Year’s Eve together – a nice little family dinner at Governor’s, and watching TV shows on DVD before falling asleep prior to midnight – it was the best New Year’s Eve I’ve had in a long time
Celebrate our first New Year’s Day together
Watch Ryne roll over for the first time

To someone without kids, this list probably looks lame. But it isn’t/wasn’t.

I knew that I would enjoy Ryne and love Ryne, but I never imagined enjoying him so much and loving him so much.

The joy of having a child and watching that child are indescribable. I never understood it until Ryne was actually here on Earth. You can not find joy like this anywhere else, from anything else.

I love the life that I have. I am blessed with a great family, good friends, a good job, and good health. I could not think of any single way that my life could be made any better. I am so blessed, and so thankful for that.

2010 was a great year, probably the best year ever. I told Amy that recently, and she asked me why. I told her, “Ryne.” Ryne is the sole reason as to why my 2010 was so incredible. 2011 looks promising, though, too. Just imagine all of the change and growth Ryne will go through. I will get my first Father’s Day to celebrate. We will take our first family vacation together. Ryne will celebrate his first birthday. And I’m sure that there will be countless other things that will make 2011 unbelievable.

I’ll finish by recounting my version of dropping Ryne off for his first morning of daycare (which was today), which officially concluded my best week ever. Ryne woke up early, which was good because we were not rushed getting out the door, and because Amy and me got to play with him a tiny bit. I didn’t think that taking him to the sitters would be difficult, I really didn’t. However, as it got closer and closer to the time that I needed to leave the house, I started to move a little bit slower. I didn’t want to put him in the car seat. Unfortunately, I did because I had to (he needs diapers and formula – those things cost money – mom and dad have to work to get money). While at the sitters things went fine. He wasn’t fussy and he didn’t cry (he dealt with this much better than his mom and dad did). After talking with his sitter for a couple of minutes I had to tell him goodbye and that I loved him, and kissed him on the cheek. As I turned to leave I watched him watch me out the door with his big, wide-open eyes; it looked to me like he looked a little sad and a little scared, which made me A LOT sad. And while I didn’t cry, I did get choked up and was forced to fight back the tears. I never saw this coming. It was much harder than I’d expected. I can not think to imagine how much harder these things will get as he gets older…I don’t want to imagine them; I’d kind of like for time to just stand still.

Hawkeye Memories

The 500 word essay that I submited to Hawkeyesports.com regarding Hawkeye memories in an attempt to win tickets to Iowa football and/or basketball games...if I win, I'll let you know!

I love sports. Football is my favorite. The Iowa Hawkeyes are my favorite team. This has been the case for as long as I can remember. I grew up east of Iowa City, in the same hometown of former Hawkeye great Marv Cook. My parents are both University of Iowa alums. I would usually get to go to one Hawkeyes game each season as a child, but I always watched them on TV. Nick Bell was the first player that I recall being my favorite, but other favorite Hawkeyes from my childhood included: Vernon Rollins, Damien Robinson, Sedrick Shaw, Tavian Banks, Bashir Yamini, Jerry Montgomery, and Fred Barr before my age equaled that of the players on the roster.

I was fortunate to be an undergraduate at the University of Iowa while Kirk Ferentz was re-establishing Iowa as a regular Big Ten contender. I had season tickets and I never missed a home game. Actually, my fondest memories of college took place while attending Iowa football games on the road in places like Minneapolis, Madison, Champaign, Miami, and Orlando, but those memories are longer than 500 words would allow. After graduation I moved to Davenport and gave up my season tickets as I became a graduate student taking Saturday class. Nonetheless, I still followed the Hawkeyes. My wife and I would travel to Iowa City for a handful of games each fall, and I would watch the rest on TV. Even when occupied by class, during games I would receive play-by-play text messages keeping me updated.

This year, however, I was done with graduate school. My wife and I purchased season tickets. Expectations for the season were the highest they’d been in my adulthood. Not only was 2010 going to be great because Iowa was going to contend for the Rose Bowl, but it was going to be great because my wife and I were expecting our first child on October 13th! The pregnancy was going well; my wife was a trooper going to the Iowa State, Ball State (staying through the rain), and Penn State games with me. After the Penn State game, I thought that I was in the clear! There were 20 days until Iowa’s next home game, and surely our son would be born prior to that. My son, knowing how much his Dad loved the Hawks was timing his entrance perfectly! Then the due date passed. The Michigan game came and went. My attendance at the Iowa/Wisconsin game was questionable. My wife agreed that if we were out of the hospital before Saturday, I could go to the game. We had Ryne on Thursday, the 21st. We were in the hospital on the 22nd, and we left around 10am on the 23rd. I decided to skip the game; I would be watching the Iowa/Wisconsin game with my family in our home. Unfortunately Iowa lost, but I’d never been in such a good mood after a loss due to the presence of my newly born son!

I'm not sure if I will win, but I'm pretty sure that I should win.