Confessions of a Rookie Dad #2

Confession #2 - My hands are dirty

For 27+ years of my life I put a low value on the importance of clean hands. What I mean by that is, well... I didn't wash my hands very often. OH COME ON! Don't sit there in your self-righteous hand-washyness as if you really follow the full FDA instructions. Oh and I'm sure that you say your full ABC's while scrubbing the soap from your ultra-hygenic appendages. I'm not saying that I didn't wash at all. I mean I'm not completely disgusting. But my confession is that, since Grady has come along, I have become acutely aware of the dirtyness of my hands. Whereas it never used to bother me to go directly from cleaning the bathroom to eating a nice juicy sub sandwich, now I am incapable of doing so. I have this unavoidable urge to wash my hands before and after every meal and even after working in the yard. I don't know from whence it hath cometh, yea but it hath cometh. I am truly a changed man with clean manos. I have even begun to enjoy something that I have missed out on all of these years: the joy of scented hand soaps. Two of my favorites are Mrs. Meyers Lavender and Bath and Body Works's's' Dancing Waters!

This is my confession. I feel so fresh and so clean clean.

~A

Confessions of a Rookie Dad #1

For quite a while now I've wanted to post about something that is near and dear to my heart, Dadhood. My knowledge on this subject pales in comparison to many other dads that have more/older/nutsier kids than I do, so I'm calling this "Confessions of a Rookie Dad". (btw I get so confused with quotational rules... period before or after the quote?) I don't claim to know a whole lot, but I figured that, before our next little one arrives and I'm up for promotion to the intermediate dad level, I should jot down a few things I've learned.

Confession #1 - I am not Mom

This may appear at first glance to be an obvious statement. That's due, in part, to the fact that it is. But for me the reality of this hit quickly after Grady came along. There is some glaring evidence which proves that I am indeed NOT mom:

I did not endure pregnancy and childbirth. - CHECK

I cannot produce milk. - CHECK

I absolutely do not have a motherly instinct. - i.e. Tossing Grady in the air while lifting him from his chair after eating - CHECK

I do not have a motherly touch. - i.e. diaper changes are strictly function over form... just remove most of the poop and slap a new one on while challenging myself to use the fewest wipes possible. None of this pamper the booty stuff - CHECK

I am not the preferred consoler - Tears instantly turn Grady into a Mama's boy - CHECK

There are so many other things I am not, but that's not to say that I am nothing. I mean come on, I'm the dad for pete's sake! Oh yeah, hooray for dads!!! But definitively, I must confess, as the evidence suggests, that I am NOT mom! And thank God for making moms the way they are. Grady has a rockin mama who has been perfectly fashioned for the job! In fact, knowing this only makes her that much more hotter! Who knows? Maybe there's some direct correlation between my extreme attraction to her "mom-ness" and her present precipitous pregnant state. Wise guys keep asking me if I know how this baby thing works. Hardy har har. Listen here.

Not the Mama!

~A

Grady's 1st Baseball game...

We were given tickets to the Roughriders game on Monday night (for you Nashville readers...that is our local AA team). Along w/ the tickets, which ended up being on the 3rd row, right behind home plate...we had a free parking pass and little pink bracelets that allowed us to eat free!!! Grady thought Deuce (the mascot) was hilarious and got to give him a high-five! He danced every time the music came on and of course got to know everyone around us!:-) We had such a fun time...thanks Evans family!!!

~jen

"look what I found, Mom!"

Grady was crawling around in our bedroom (which was, to my knowledge pretty well child-proofed!:) and I had run into my closet to grab some flip flops when I heard a loud "BOOM!" I ran into the room to find this... Take 2: the next day Grady crawled into my bedroom and straight to the guitar! We've decided it is definitely not off limits! Oh, and his new nickname is August Rush b/c he likes to play some harmonics action!:-)

I mean, seriously...have you ever seen a sweeter smile!?

My boys...my everything!!!

~jen

From the Video Vault

My oh my! It's been way too long, but after much public outcry, for your viewing pleasure, more videos of our son! You are bienvenidos!

Smack Talk from AUBREY MCGOWAN on Vimeo.

Praise The Lamb from AUBREY MCGOWAN on Vimeo.

Practicing his worship moves!

First Steps from AUBREY MCGOWAN on Vimeo.

I grabbed the camera right after Grady took his first steps! So sweet!

The Clapper from AUBREY MCGOWAN on Vimeo.

An early training session preparing Grady for his public clapping debut at his dedication at church! :)

Peas Out from AUBREY MCGOWAN on Vimeo.

He seems to be struggling with the peas.

There are also a few additional shorts on our vimeo page if you wish to tune in.

~A

9 month summary...

I haven't made a habit of doing monthly posts but this has been a very momentous 6 weeks!:-) I can't believe my Grady bug is 10 months old!

Okay, so I honestly thought the kid would never crawl! The only thing he seemed interested in was "assisted" walking...If you put him on his tummy, he would just grunt!:-) Well, after our trip home for Aunt Sasha's shower, he decided it was time! He's been pulling up & cruising around his musical table for awhile...so I thought maybe he'd just jump straight to walking!? I've been making a list of all the milestones the kid has hit recently for his baby book & thought I'd share some of them w/ you...

• March 16th - Grady started crawling...it wasn't pretty at first w/ lots of face plants into the carpet but he got the technique pretty quickly!:-)

• March 23rd - found Grady standing after his nap...he was screaming, of course b/c he had no idea how he got there or how to get back down; that same day he started saying Dada!!!

• March 26th - Grady drank out of a straw at McDonald's! He seemed so interested in my coke, so I figured I'd let him chew on the straw. Next thing we know, the coke is slowly rising to his mouth! I thought maybe it was a coincidence but he still does it every time! So, now I just order him a kid's water! What a stinker!

• April 6th - I realized that he could go from crawling to sitting!

• April 9th - GRADY TAKES HIS FIRST STEPS! Only 3 weeks after he finally started crawling!:-) My sister and nieces were in town and we were hangin' out in the play room. Grady pulled up on Kim, turned around and took 3-4 steps to me! We all got so excited but I assumed it was a one time thing. Aubrey got out the video camera and Grady proceeded to go back and forth from me to Kim about 50 times! It was so special to share that precious moment w/ Aubrey, Kim and the girls! He has continued to cruise the furniture and will let go and walk to the nearest thing...a toy, the table, my leg! We're glad that he now catches himself instead of face-planting...especially since he seems to have no fear or memory of bonking his head!:-)

• April 30th - Grady started clapping! And now he does it all the time! It is seriously the cutest thing and makes me smile every time!

Also, Grady just recently got 2 of his front teeth...no not the middle ones, the side ones!:-) He is one serious snaggle-tooth and matches his cousin, Hannah! I guess the little man decided that since he's going to be a big brother now, he needed to master some skills!:-) What a guy!

~jen

BABY DOS!!

That's right...baby number 2 is on the way!!! The picture above is the postcard that we sent out to let our family & close friends know. The main question we've gotten - "Was this planned?" The answer is no - but we are so very excited about the little life that is growing!!! What a gift! I am due on November 10th - so Grady and the little one will be about 16 1/2 months apart!:-) WOW!

Here's to maternity clothes and running shoes!:-)

~jen