Friday, November 30, 2012

Thank God for Disney movies

We honestly don't allow our daughter to watch long stretches of television.  When she was approximately a year old we started watching DVDs from the Baby Einstein collection.  If you haven't seen these, they are a collaboration of short sequences that last from 6-12 seconds each in order to hold a childs attention.  They are a great series as they review shapes, sounds, animals, colours, numbers and letters.  

The problem is, our dear daughter fell in love with the series, to the point that if I whistled the opening tune to her favourite episode, she would dash to the tv awaiting me to start the movie.  Even worse, was by 15 months, she figured out what buttons to use on my Harmony remote to restart the episode.  Again, we don't watch that much television with her - so it was rather surprising that she figured this out. 

Here is the issue - there is only so much sock puppets, toys, flash scenes of animals and whatever that I can take.  I began to relive my teenage years when my brother would only watch Barney and Thomas the Engine.  But I learned from that experience by convincing my 2-3 year old brother at the time that Star Wars was much better, to the point that among his first words were "Han Solo."  (Yeah baby, how do you like that!).  My daughter is not yet old enough to appreciate StarWars.  I suspect she needs another 6 months and so I turned to our Disney collection that my wife (a big kid) has been collecting for years.

So why only Disney?  Have you seen the stuff on TV.  One show is about a Rat with a strange growth on it's posterior with some wierd looking friend, or Cats in a submarine under the sea.  Another is 3 people painted in a colour pretending to play instruments (come on, make an effort.  Sharon, Lois and Bram actually could perform). 

And so I Thank God now for those Disney cartoons rescuing me from the endless replays of Baby Einstein and here is hoping to avoid Thomas, Barney or whatever weird kids shows are on the network stations.

Cheers

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

The face plant

Perhaps it was the missing "uh oh" usually uttered after my daughter tumbles over her own feet that was the first sign this was more then her common spill.  Usually the comical nature of these wipeouts solicits a laugh - though in this case the unusual sound of a crack as she splatted against the floor was more concerning then amusing.  Though I'm not really sure what to say to her at 16 months after she decides to break her fall, not with her hands, but with her forehead.
Because she was behind the island in the kitchen when it happened, we at first we're not sure what she has hurt, her hands, knees, head... pride.  Generally our daughter is fairly tame and doesn't cry often, even temper tantrums are filled more with yelling and writhing on the floor then actual tears.  At first her Mom holds her, but since she can't magically make the pain go away she'll try Dad.  Nope - Dad as such is no good either, something still hurts.  It's then we notice the big round bump emerging right in the middle of her forehead.  A little pinkish - but developing into a nice Chicken egg swelling.  Hey, go big or go home. 

So bump forming is good - but now, how the heck do you get the kid to sit still while you try to ice it.   Bribery of course - and in this case, freezies.   Distract her with one cold object while the bag of peas goes on the forehead.  It's amzing how quickly the sniffles and gulps disappear when enticed with a freezie.

But to add insult to the injury - the next day as we drop her off at the private daycare, even with her bangs down, the first thing the provider notices is the big goose egg on her forehead.  Thankfully she knows of my daughter's clumsiness ahead of time, so no glances accusing of neglect (by the way, we really do like her daycare provider).

But ah ha - not to be beaten or let it go, still 5 days later there is a lovely brown-blue bruise right in the middle of her head that actaully extends to the bridge of her nose.  And wouldnt' you know it, my daughter still manages to bump something right on that spot.   Well, at least there are no family pictures coming up to immortalize her clumsiness.

I'm starting to realize how my parents felt through the various trips to the hospital for me.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Possible nonsense musings of a new Dad

Robert Martignani | Musings of a newish Dad

Robert Martignani

Musings of a Dad 16 months into the job
Before becoming a parent I used to stay up until 2am, watching TV, movies, talking with my beautiful wife.  I would sleep in the next day, sometimes until 12pm like a teenager.  Breakfast was a foreign concept because I would sleep through it.  My day, started with lunch. 

But all that changes with a child.  I find myself waking up at 8am and cannot fall back to sleep.  That is of course unless my daughter decides her day will start today at 7:30am, or 6am... I find myself going to be earlier and earlier, like the people I used to openly mock when I was younger. 

A common comment from parents alike before my time in this role was "it's the great experience in the world, I would never go back" trying so hard to sell the concept of being a parent as if they are trying more to convince themselves then anything of their decision in life.  But I'm not trying to judge - but rather, work through my own throughts

Here is the truth in my mind (key words "my mind").  Do I miss the old days?  Absolutely, staying up late without worrying about getting up at 8am to make breakfast for my daughter.  Being able to go to a movie, or restaurant with ease.  I still like to tell folks of when my wife and I made an on-the-spot decision and left our condo at 11:30 at night to buy a much needed couch we saw advertised on tv for a midnight sale at the Brick.  There are definite advantages that I certainly miss and muse about.  Given the option would I go back?  Of course not.  My daughter has been a wonderful gift from God, she really has brought a new life to our home (and new things to argue about haha).  I have to admit, it's kind of endearing when they are attached to you, sitting in your lap, wanting your attention, coming to you for help, even if all they are saying at the time is "ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah."  I do admit though the Dr. Suess hair alone has made it all the while.

Cheers
     Robert Martignani