4 posts tagged “birthday”

On Thursday I got a call at work that was really unnerving. Jennifer called and you could tell she was upset. Grace was in the background crying, so I knew something bad had happened. Jennifer told me Grace had burned three of her fingers on the stove and wouldn't stop crying. She told me Grace wouldn't let her do anything to her hand. She wouldn't let her put ice on it, clean it, or anything. She called me wondering what she should do, and I didn't have any idea. She had already called the doctor, and they had pretty much told her to put Grace's hand in some water, but there wasn't much more we could do for her. The burn wasn't too bad, so it was just the pain that was bothering Grace. Jennifer was finally able to get Grace to calm down by giving her a pacifier. It was the same thing we did months ago when she had a procedure to remove a cashew she had inhaled from her lung. Other then that time, she hasn't had a pacifier since she was 1. Occasionally she'll grab Logan's and put it in her mouth, but we always take it from her. She just chews on them anyway. Jennifer said once she got Grace calm and focused on something, she took the pacifier away.

I felt bad for Grace getting hurt, because we had snow on Thursday. Not a lot, but enough that she got excited about it. She saw lots of snow while we were in Michigan, but our schedule while we were there made it all but impossible for her to get to play in it much. Besides, the weather was just WAY to cold up there.

Thursday morning, I went in an picked Grace up and opened her Window to show her the snow. She started screaming, "Snow! Snow!". Then she noticed my car was covered and told me I needed to go clean it off. I went to finish getting ready for work, and when I came back out, Grace was missing. She had put her shoes on and was out on the deck (You see, we used to fuss at her for going outside and told her she had to come in because she didn't have any shoes on. Now she puts on her shoes before she goes outside without us knowing. She's clever, that one.). When I went out on the deck to get her, she looked at me, grinned really big, and started bouncing and giggling in the snow. "I like! I like!" she screamed as only a excited toddler can. It was adorable.

Yesterday was Logan's first birthday. It is hard to believe the kid was born a year ago, but then again it almost is since this year has gone by so quickly. Staying at the hospital with Logan is such a blur, because it went so quickly and smoothly. Grace had difficulty passing her hearing test, had difficulty nursing because of a lump of skin in her mouth that was removed while we were in the hospital, and Jennifer had a much harder recovery. Logan popped out, ate fine, pooped fine, and Jennifer was better overnight. We went home much sooner.

I also recall that Jennifer and I were much more relaxed with Logan. With Grace, Jennifer seemed to have this compulsive thing about keeping Grace in the room with us. With Logan, we didn't have a problem pushing him back to the nursery so we could enjoy our dinner in quiet or get a good nights sleep. We knew we'd get plenty of sleepless nights and screaming at home. Boy did we ever. A year in and he's just now starting to wake up once a night.

The party yesterday was hectic, but fun. We had 12 adults and 6 kids (including ours) in this trailer. It was a little cramped at times, but the kids stayed in other rooms playing for the most part so that helped out. We had this Italian dish that Logan really loves. It is chicken, marinara, and polenta. Most everyone seemed to like it. We knew it was a little bit of a different dish, but we figured that it was only weird in name. The taste is very nice. Basically, it is like eating marinara and chicken on top of a cheese sauce.

Logan got a lot of clothes, because that is what we asked for. With is birthday so close to Christmas, it didn't make much sense to get more toys.

Oh, we also managed to get some games of Wii bowling in during the party and I have big news...I went PRO in bowling!!! Finally. Yep, it only took me a year (good grief). Now if I can maintain it. I woke up early this morning and played a few games. I have my pro status up to about 1,049 for the time being. That should give me some wiggle room.

This was a crazy weekend, but crazy in a good way.  It all started on Friday, which was my birthday.  After work, my parents took me out to eat at a local Mexican restaurant that I had chosen to go to.  I love Mexican food.  

When we got to the restaurant, we told the host, who looked like he was no older than 12, that we had 7 people in the party and needed 2 highchairs.  I thought it was clear that we needed room for 9 people.  It was a big party and a wait was expected.  We had been to this restaurant with larger parties and had no difficulty.  That night was different.  We sat for 45 minutes as people came in and were seated almost immediately and we were forced to wait.  At one point, the guy took us to a table that only had six seats and certainly not enough room for highchairs.  Once again we explained we had 7 people and needed room for 2 highchairs and went back to waiting.  

Eventually, one other large dining party, that was sitting at several tables pushed together, left.  We felt for sure that we would get to sit down.  We were wrong.  They split up the tables that large party had been at and sat some smaller parties that had come in AFTER us.  That was the final straw.  We decided to leave and go somewhere else.  Maybe we should have complained some more, but we had already told the host several times that we were STILL waiting.  We just wanted to get something to eat and we were sick of trying to communicate with a 12-year-old host that didn't seem to understand English.  

We went to another Mexican restaurant and were seated almost immediately.  We had our food not long after that.  After I had finished eating, I noticed a circular piece of wood appear out of the corner of my eye.  This thing was directly next to my head.  Before I had time to turn and see what it was, someone started beating it with a stick and the sound of it clacking rang in my ear.  Suddenly, I realized 6 or 7 Hispanics had quietly surrounded me.  They placed a sombrero on my head and began to sing.  Occasionally, they would shake the sombrero, as if they needed a way to attract more attention to the situation.   Of course, every eye in the restaurant was on me.  Including those of Grace, my two-year-old daughter, who couldn't figure out if she should be delighted or terrified by what was happening.  She did get excited after they left, because they left a fried tortilla covered in cinnamon, sugar and chocolate sauce, which I shared with Grace.
 
While we were eating, I had a couple of cards handed to me which I knew contained money.  So, after we got to the car, I ask Jennifer if we could go to Wal-Mart and check to see if they had a Wii in stock.  It was almost 9-o'clock, and the idea didn't thrill her, but after some begging (otherwise known as whining), I convinced her to let us stop by.  When I got to the electronics section, they had about 10-15 Wii's in stock, plus one copy of Wii Play, which is a game that comes with a controller.  I realized there were several people standing in the aisle with us, but only one other person was waiting to buy a Wii.  I got the Wii, Wii Play, paid and was back out to the car in probably 15 minutes.  

Saturday was Grace's birthday, so we spent most of the day at my mom and dad's house.  Mom made Grace a special lunch of her favorites.  We had chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, and broccoli.  Yes, our daughter LOVES her broccoli.  We also ate cake and ice cream that day, but that was supposed to be for both of us.  We've decide that two full size cakes would be crazy, considering mine and my daughter's birthdays are back to back, so we'll either share a cake or have two mini cakes.  

Of course, I took my Wii over to my parent's house and I spent a good part of the day playing various games with my dad, wife, and brothers. Sunday was the only day that didn't feel busy, but my brother came over and we played the Wii most of the evening.

I think I definitely made the right decision with buying the Wii.  Just about everyone that has played it thinks it is a blast.  The only exception is my teenage brother, who seems to think it is un-cool to wave your arms around when you play the games.  This is the same brother that juggles, loves yo-yos and thinks DDR is awesome.  I'll never understand the minds of teenagers…

My birthday is just around the corner and I am getting money.  I am torn between two options of what I am going to buy.  Both cost around the same amount and I am not sure which direction I would rather go.  So, I thought I would turn to some Voxers for some advice.

Option 1: Nintendo Wii. 

I think the Wii sounds awesome and I believe it is something my wife and I would have a blast playing together.  I would probably get the Wii and Wii Play if I go this route.  I hear the games in Wii Play aren’t great, but it is supposed to be worth the $10 to have your controller come with a game.  I need a second controller so my wife and I can play tennis together.  After I sell my GameCube on eBay, I would use that money to go out and buy Zelda (I am a HUGE Zelda fan). 

Option 2: Recording Gear

I want to get in on the whole home recording phenomenon.  I am mostly interested in MIDI recording at this point, and I am thinking of getting the M-Audio Axiom 49 49-Key USB MIDI Controller.  It comes with Ableton Live and sounds like it has everything I need to get started.  Since I am new to this whole thing, I am not sure this is the right way to go. 

So, those are my two choices.  Love to get some feedback on both options and find out which one you would pick, if you were me.

Today is my wife’s birthday.  I am a lucky man on many levels.  There is so much I could say about her, because I appreciate so much about who she is and what she does.  

First, I appreciate that she is a good partner.  I’ve seen controlling woman and they frighten me.  I pity the men that live with them.  I am fair on this though, because I also pity the woman that have to live with controlling men.  I don’t think a marriage is a dictatorship.  Jennifer and I make decisions as a couple, and I am so thankful we are able to do that.  We get into arguments, but we’ve learned to make compromises and when it is best to just give the other one what they want.  I am thankful I am married to a woman that views marriage as a partnership, and doesn’t try to control me or change who I am.  

I also appreciate that she is a good mother.  She has to help me keep my patience in check.  My wife is generally an impatient person, but, by the grace of God, with our daughter, she has all the patience in the world.  I have to work at that, because my impatience does not discriminate.  I thank God my wife is around to remind me my daughter is only a being a kid.  It is very easy to lose patience with your child and get frustrated when they aren’t doing anything but simply being who they are: a child.

I appreciate that she is a good a housekeeper.  I’ve been to the houses where the first thing you think when you walk in the door is, “What's that smell?”  Unless Grace’s diaper has just been changed, you won’t have that experience in our home.  I don’t always show my wife how much I appreciate her taking care of our home, but I know that I do.  I think men don’t really have a problem appreciating what our wives do so much as we have a problem expressing it.  Groping and telling our woman how “hot” she is our idea of expressing gratitude, but I’ve found out that, apparently, isn’t enough.

Finally, I appreciate that she is a good person.  My wife has a huge heart and genuine compassion and concern for others.  She can’t be around those who have needs and not want to do something.  After all, one cannot be a good partner, a good mother, and a good wife if they aren’t at their core a good person.  Being good at all of these things requires that you often but yourself and your own desires on the back burner for the sake or your husband, family, and friends.  It is something my wife does all the time, and is something she never complains about.  I am thankful for that, and hope to make today as much about her as possible.

I love you honey, and happy birthday!