#SummerofDad Week 9: Food & Fun Games

IMG_20150721_081455We’re now wrapping up our last week at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, or as I’ve come to know it: our seaside mansion escape. Our stay has been wonderful and I’m somewhat concerned that Gabe will go into withdrawal, as the energetic, gregarious extrovert won’t have dozens of people to wave and smile at or have rolling lawns to frolic upon. But considering we—as in only Gabe and dad—are going up to visit the Grandparents in Maine, I’m sure we’ll get by. (I will now try to stop ending my sentences with prepositions.)

Next week we begin the next big travel phase, where Jenny flies to Chicago for a week and we go to Maine. This marks the first time ever that Gabe and Jenny will be apart for more than 24 hours. As I said before, it will be a learning experience for all of us. Gabe will learn to get by without Jenny, Jenny without Gabe, me without Jenny—lots of learning! But I think it will be overall beneficial. I’m glad she’s getting to go take advantage of her professional opportunities, but we will definitely miss her when she’s gone and we look forward to picking her up at the airport!

In any case, that’s for next week. This week, nothing “exciting” happened, unlike last week. (Update from last week: The dermabond has finally fallen off and the cut is healing well. I forgot how small the actual cut is.) Other than trying to keep his cut covered and out of the sun, there were some fun and interesting moments:

Continue reading “#SummerofDad Week 9: Food & Fun Games” »

What’s She Doing Wednesday: Some Big News & A Swift Recap

IMG_8969Yeah I know, I skipped a WSDW post and that usually doesn’t happen, because it doesn’t take much energy to write them. But, let me tell you – if you knew what kind of craziness we have been dealing with other the past 4 weeks, you would totally understand. So I’ll tell you –

WE ARE MOVING (BACK) TO LOS ANGELES!

By “(back)” I really mean “I” am moving back, because I’m the only one out of this nuclear family who’s actually lived in CA, and I did for four years. After college, I went to UCLA for my MPH and then went to get my Master’s in Nursing at the University of San Diego, so I lived down there for two years. Never had I ever planned on leaving CA  until I met Jeff. I actually daydreamed of moving back to the DC area, because I had been away from it for so long. But, after relocating back to DC, I wanted to be back.  Continue reading “What’s She Doing Wednesday: Some Big News & A Swift Recap” »

#SummerofDad Week 8: Gabe’s Summer Souvenir

IMG_20150709_191606One of the main American stereotypes about fathers it that we’re more lenient, allow kids-will-be-kids mischief, and generally have a “light touch” when we’re parenting. There are definitely times when this is true of me, but there are others where I’m less lenient and Jenny is more hands-off. So it depends on the activity or issues at hand. And I enjoy that this nuance is true of our relationship and our parenting styles—I find it complementary (though it can lead to friction and disagreements). So, one thing I hate is when something happens to make it appear that I’m playing to the barely-vigilant American father stereotype. And something did happen.

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#SummerofDad Week 7: Playgrounds, Perceptions, and Travel Updates

unnamedThis past week I’ve gained some perspective on parenting through our travels, but not because of the traveling per se, but because of the environments where I’ve taken Gabe. In the last week we’ve been in two places: on the lovely grounds of the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center and in inner-city Philadelphia. Continue reading “#SummerofDad Week 7: Playgrounds, Perceptions, and Travel Updates” »

What’s She Doing Wednesday: It IS Wednesday, Right?

IMG_8962OK so the title doesn’t even have anything to really do with Jia, but it has to everything to do with what we’re going through at the moment. We have some huge huge news but it’s coming Friday at earliest an next Tuesday at latest.

Anyway what Jia’s been up to: Continue reading “What’s She Doing Wednesday: It IS Wednesday, Right?” »

#SummerofDad Week 6: 5 Ways This Dad Keeps His Dad Bod

IMG_20150623_090024Suddenly being thrust into the world of primary parenting for a 1-year-old means that I haven’t been as physically active as I like to be. In the old days (read: before Gabe), I liked to workout 3-4 times a week. More recently, I’ve been aiming for a workout 2-3 times a week.

But as I’ve taken over many more hours of parenting and we’ve started our epic, nomadic summer, I haven’t “worked out” once in the past week (ed note: Ha, once in the past week? That’s probably what we moms aim for much of the time!). This seems like it would be a disaster for maintaining my dad-ly physique. But, as I’ve found, it’s not. I’ve been able to keep my sort-of-in-shape bod with five major toddler-based exercises:

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What’s She Doing Wednesday: Father’s Day Art and More!

Blog Post WSDW 6.24.15Thanks for bearing with me while the blog was down last week. It was up and running yesterday so I’m catching up a little bit. Lots has been going on the past week. But, certain “other” details will follow in another post, for particular reasons…

Anyway so this week has been pretty fun with Jia. Things we’ve noticed: Continue reading “What’s She Doing Wednesday: Father’s Day Art and More!” »