Happy Birthday Papa.

It's Jeff's birthday today. I guess for me everyone is getting the gift of Banneker this year. Hey, it gets me off the hook easy for creative gift giving, and it is a great gift for anyone after all.

For Jeff's birthday my sister and I embarked on B's first art project. I could not have done it without her, we needed all the hands we could get. I wanted to make hand and foot prints. They no longer do this in the hospital, and I have always loved seeing the little hand and foot prints that are from babies. So we greased up B and went to town with some water soluble paints. The result was adorable and my favorite is this unprompted Vulcan greeting...and this is how we know he is his father's son.

Happy Birthday Papa.

the daddy blog

Jeff started a fatherhood blog.
He will be posting video there, go check it out.

Here is a link to the most recent activity. Good stuff!

http://jeffspoplife.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html

Value

We are broke. I know it’s true for many American’s right now. For us after an extra month off work for me with no FMLA or Disability and Jeff on unemployment for several months, it is catching up with us. Don’t get me wrong, we eat and pay the rent and a few bills, but for now that’s about it. Jeff hates it when I say anything in terms of lack or negative, it’s bad energy and he is right- it is, but I am just being honest.. We are broke- nothing extra being purchased here. The thing is I don’t miss much and if I just don’t go out or online, I don’t feel lack or negative. We have what we need and it makes what we have all the more valuable.

Of course what we value a lot right now is our time with Banneker. I only work part time and Jeff can be with B while I work and we do not take this time for granted. But we thought hey, why not put Banneker to work too?

First stop, diaper service 2010 calendar contest. “Green Babies Wear Cotton Diapers” theme. I told Jeff it would be silly if we didn’t come up with something to send in, so Jeff’s idea was to throw B in with a bunch of diapers and take some pics. So we did. The contest deadline was last Wednesday at midnight. B had taken a nap a little late (poor child was all mixed up with daylight time) and I kind of panicked because I thought he was confused and would sleep through the night and we’d miss the deadline. Sure enough, he woke up less than an hour later, his regular nap length and he was in a GREAT mood. We clicked away and not only got this shot but about 50 other priceless ones. Not to mention a few giggles from him. So off the image went at about 10 p.m. to the diaper service and the very next day, it was official, we won! He is a 2010 calendar boy. One month of free diapers, way to go B! Next stop…well any suggestions? Contests? Agents you know?

He has no idea what we have done, making him work for his diapers at such a young age. And he doesn’t care, he had a great time laying in all the soft cotton diapers and giggling and having both mom and dad smile and give him lots of attention. I value what we did together as a family to accomplish this silly little victory. That’s how I see it not negative, not lack, not broke. That’s what value is anyway, right? It’s not about a deal you got at Walmart. It’s about what is positive and abundant and full in your life. In that little evening photo shoot I was reminded how rich my life is with the cutest baby in the world, a skill set to help me capture and share that and knowing some how some way we are truly doing all right.

Not too scarey

Happy Halloween!
We met our neighbor Stefanie and her daughter Olive to walk around to a couple houses in the area. Mostly to show off our cute little babies. Olive was wearing a cow suit and Banneker had inherited a "trick or treat" shirt with glow in the dark stars, we also had a little green top (hat) for him so his costume was a "human bean" I think it was Stephanie who said it.

The girls who live next door go all out with the decorations and an adult after party. It's creepy scarey cool and draws lots of attention and shreeks. So we took a picture in their graveyard. Then down the street this other guy was all decked out and Jeff was more scared than B (see pic). It all just looked like lights, shapes and smoke to B so he wasn't startled or scared.

What I think was really interesting about Banneker's non-reaction to it all was, well his non reaction. He has no history that tells him a story about how he should be or feel in a situation so he just is seeing it for what it is, interesting lights, and sounds and colors and darkness. He only reacts when his needs are not met and that is his short history. The usual: hungry, tired, bored, wet. It's so great to witness that newness, untainted by stories and history. It seems real and true with a capital T! Sheesh we make up a lot of stories as we grow up- don't we? And we get attached to those stories and we think they are us, but really it's all just lights, and sounds and colors and darkness. And really it's not too scarey.