Dadman

Sorry to all that have been checking in and seeing that nothing new has been posted.

First, I want to explain more about my situation and taking care of Emolyn. I don't feel like I fully explained the situation in the last post. The plan had always been for Nicole to go back to work but we weren't sure what it was going to look like as far as caring for Emolyn was concerned. Nicole and I decided that she would work only weekends so that I could take care of sweet Emolyn on weekends and Nicole would take care of her during the week while I worked. This all sounded amazing until I realized that I would be responsible for Emolyn's safety, food and entertainment for around 14 hours (Nicole does 12 hour shifts + travel time, etc.)

As you saw in the last post, I figured these times at home with Emolyn would be a great subject for blogging. But, as you can see with the lack of posting, Emolyn has become more desireful (oh, it's a word...) for my entertainment. The first time I took care of her, she was Mrs. Sleepyhead but these last few times have been long periods of awakeness (also a word) and small amounts of sleepocity (word).

Since her amounts of sleeping are few, I have taken those times to do actual things (I realize blogging is a thing, but try explaining that to my beautiful wife...) around the house. Last week I reorganized my office with a smattering of dishes and laundry. Yesterday I put a new door knob on our back door and put up weather stripping on the very same door.

Amongst all this productivity (too strong of a word) I must prepare myself. I have made a diagram of what a productive dad looks like.

1. Baby Monitor- We were given a cordless baby monitor for Emolyn's baby shower. This gives me the same level of communication that the Voskot 1 had when it pierced earth's atmosphere but it also has a visual indicator so if I am vacuuming, I can see that she is crying. Hazah!

2. Bluetooth Headset- I don't get a lot of phone calls, but when I do, it's nice to be able to speak with both hands free. The only problem is that I feel so weird just speaking into the air...the comfort of a bent elbow and an apparatus touching my ear is too familiar.

3. Shure Headphones- These headphones are amazing. These little beauties are connected to my iPod (not pictured) in my pocket. Not only do they convert digital files into audio bliss, they act like a ear plug and a headphone all in one sweet package. I only keep one in since my other ear is all business with it's phone headset. I am able to listen to many a podcast while keeping a keen ear out for Emolyn.

4. Hair- Unlike most people, if I'm home for the day, I still get dressed like I was going out. Me at my most comfortable state is fully clothed (shoes included) and ready for the day. Along with this is my hair. I like hats, but a lot of times I feel like I need to do something for me. A nice hairstyle makes me feel like I've accomplished something...I think I just heard my masculinity calling...

5. Tattoos- I had the tattoos before Emolyn, but I feel like the presence of a little girl in my life means more. A father with tattoos means my daughter being dropped off by her male friends earlier than agree and perhaps more respectful verbiage from said male friends. Examples of verbiage: yes sir, of course sir, guard her with my life, home in a half hour, change your oil why you wait governor. You get the picture.

Hope this gives a better sense of fun it is to take care of my sweet little girl.

First Full Day

[Listening to Sufjan Stevens on Random in iTunes]

Today marked my first full day of being home alone with little Emolyn.

Going into the day I was confident that I could do it, but I guess I just didn't know what it would entail. It is now 4:44p, and we started our day at about 7am. It has been a lot of fun. I don't think it has been a "regular" day for Emolyn because yesterday Emolyn made her "debut" at our friends Kali and Caleb's wedding up in Flagstaff. She did a great job but being paraded around can be tiring so today she has been doing a lot of sleeping. I know she is small, but Nicole can tell you many stories of Emolyn fighting the feeling she has yet to identify as "sleepy."

So far Emolyn and I have watched the first two discs of season 2 of The Office. Good stuff. We have (and by we I mean her) have eaten about four times now. Speaking of eating, I did what I thought I would never do. Emolyn eats out of Playtex bottles since I stopped lactating shortly before Nicole got pregnant. The bottles have these liners that are flexible and they drop in the bottlish holderish tube. Emolyn is screaming because she is hungry so I begin warming up her milk. Emolyn has now switched gears and is in a whole new octave of screaming so I grab the warmed up milk and pour it into the bottle system...but I hadn't put in the liner...I then watch the milk goes through the bottlish holderish tube and down the drain like a Paul Pierce three pointer after getting injured and coming back into the game. Emolyn can't comprehend what goes into getting the milk into her mouth but I think she sensed my mistake and began a whole new scream and levitating out of her bouncy seat. I was waiting for her head to start spinning and vomiting because of my idiotic move. She waited another 3 minutes, ate and then forgot about her anger and fell back to sleep.

Other than that debacle, I have been trying to get things done (blogging is a thing) between Emolyn's naps. She likes to sleep on me more than in her bouncy seat or her Pack 'N Play so my mobility has been stunted. I have taken trash out, put away laundry, unloaded and loaded the dish washer among other things.

On a totally different note. I have yet to see Indiana Jones so I'm not going to comment on what I think about the movie, but I will comment on the slew of edible goods that bares the same name.
Indiana Jones and Dr Pepper: Fine. No change in anything except packaging, which draws me in so much so that Nicole fears for movie releases being so close to me visiting the grocery store. I love Dr Pepper so this purchase was inevitable.
Indiana Jones and Snickers: I found out about the Snickers Adventure bar at the Family Dollar...bad sign. I should have realized that it's presence in a dollar store was telling me the reception it has already had. But, I purchased the candy bar not only because it was $.50, it was LIMITED EDITION. Again, that phrase will set off some alarm in my head that immediately receives a responds of, "This is only out for a limited time. We must buy multiples. Who knows how long it will be around?!" Sad. I know. But, it wasn't bad. Here is it's description on the package: Rich Chocolate. Crunchy Nuts. And a cliffhanger kick of exotic spice and a hint of sweet coconut flavor. I laughed. I cried. I ate the whole thing.
Indiana Jones and Kelloggs: Lame city. I love chocolate cereal and I love marshmallows but this cereal missed from all angles. This was another instance of LIMITED EDITION, but I really thought this one was a sure bet. I should have chosen more wisely.

Here are some pictures of Emolyn telling me she is tired/hungry.