Cowboy Up

I need to do something about Ethan. He's getting to be a bit of a whiner and a wimp.

We went to the spray park today and Ethan didn't want to get in the water at all. There are a couple of different structures in the spray area, a big flower, a tunnel (open rings), a snake, and a bucket. Then, in the ground are some nozzles that shoot water up too.

After about 1 minute he started to cry and wanted to sit on one of the benches. Then he wanted to go home. I picked him up and carried him into the water under once or twice. He kept crying so we went over to the playground.

He did his normal climbing up the circles ladder and sliding down, until Maggie and Tyler came to the park. Then we tried doing the water again... similar results.

So, I'm trying to decide if I need to just keep taking him until he grows to love the water or just give him a bit of space and not push him too hard just because I think it's silly to be scared of the spray park.

Me = Geek

I'm not sure how many of my family and friends know this but I'm a computer gamer. And this last weekend I went to a gaming meet.

It was just outside of Albany, which is not that far from me. So, I drove out there and had a chance to meet some of the people that I play with. I had a great time, we played lots of games, went swimming and mountain biking, and I got to sleep in.

All in all, a very fun weekend. I'll have to do it again sometime.

Running

Another video! I know that it's been a bit of a long time. This is from last month and even since then Ethan has been changing. I'll have to get something new shot and posted. But, in the mean time you can watch my boy running around in circles. (He never gets tired of doing it.)

Trains

I took Ethan to the library yesterday. And, even though he has a James train and freight car at home (or perhaps because), those are always the two he wants at the library as well.

He also likes it when I get a train to play with him. The table is usually crowded with other little kids though and I have the major hindrance of not being able to stand up and walk while moving my train around the track. I'm just a little too tall.

Fortunately, he plays well with the other kids. He doesn't try to take their trains or push them out of the way. Yesterday, he even played so well with the other little 2 1/2 year old that his father and I exchanged numbers.

Ethan's growing up to be a fun boy.

Back in the Saddle

After a two week hiatus, I'm going to be riding my bike to work again. I had to replace both wheels. The front one I replaced immediately after the crash, but the back-wheel I didn't realize was also bent.
Then, after riding it to work the first time after the crash, I felt more resistance than I expected. Turns out, my back wheel was rubbing against my brakes the entire ride.

I just bought the new wheel on Saturday, replaced it on Sunday, and today used the tool from the kit Mia got me for my birthday to release a little tension from my back brakes.

Everything appears to be in working order now and I'm going to ride back in this morning and see if I'm still in shape enough to make the full trip. I have to admit, that since I haven't been biking, I've also let my diet slip a little. I'm still not drinking soda but I have been eating more junk. Well, that will have to change again.

So much to say

I have been gathering a number of stories about Ethan over the last week. He just does so much that is cute and worth writing about. I'm not sure if I'll get everything that I've been thinking of but I'll try.

He was trying to take his own shirt off and really wanted to do it himself.

"Show me how you do that trick," I said.
"I can do it," he said trying to get his arm out of one of his sleeves.
"show me how you do it, and I promise you, I promise that I'll run with you at the park," I said.

That's just a silly example of me listening to my iPod too much as well. :)

Ethan has also gotten very good at climbing up a set of metal (with rubber around them) circles that he can climb up to get on the playground. Then he slides down 'the big slide'. And, he'll keep making that circuit over and over. It's nice because we get a break from running around with him all the time.

Another thing that has been fun for me this week is that Ethan keeps wanting to go to work with me. It's probably because he's been waking up around 5:30-5:45 and then we fall back asleep on the couch until like 7AM (at least I do, sometimes Ethan stays awake and watches TV). So, after having that much time together in the mornings, he's always sad when I have to leave the house. So, this week, he's been asking to get dressed, put on his shoes, and drive in the car with me to work.

And, then, when I get home from work, he's been either sitting on the porch waiting for me (with Mia) or runs to the door when I get home, yelling about how excited he is that I'm home. That really makes my day.

And, one final note about the boy. Part of our bedtime routine now includes talking with him about his day. I wait until he's already in bed so that I have his attention. He can be pretty coherent about what he did during the day. I love hearing about his many adventures and what he thinks is worth talking about.

So, that's all that I have for now. I'll try to keep posting more frequently.

Politics

I am the anti-Stew

Your Political Profile:

Overall: 70% Conservative, 30% Liberal Social Issues: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal Personal Responsibility: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal Fiscal Issues: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal Ethics: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal Defense and Crime: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

How Liberal Or Conservative Are You?

Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!

Today when I drove up into the driveway, Ethan was standing on the porch with Mia waiting for me.

When he saw me, he started jumping up and down saying "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" and didn't stop until I was out of the car and came around and picked him up.

He gets so excited when I come home from work to play with him. It's a pretty great feeling.

Heat

The heat has arrived in Boston. We've had the AC in for a couple of weeks but haven't turned it on too much. Now, it's on.

Mia's not a big fan of the heat. And neither am I. We both get to a point of being so hot our rational thought processes are turned off. You don't want to see either of us when this happens.

We are also learning that Ethan doesn't much like it either. We went for a walk today, and he immediately wanted to climb in his stroller and just get a ride. But, he's so cute in his little hat and sunglasses.

The walk was to replace my phone. Which we did, I got a new Katana phone. We were looking at the Razr, but the salesguy told us the Katana has a better antenna. Since we know that is a problem in our house, we went for it.
And, because of the way Mia's last phone was handled, she was eligible to get a new phone too. So, we both got Katana's. $20 bucks each (plus tax). Phones are pretty cheap if you aren't buying them without a contract.

They should work out better than our last phones that fell apart just before our 2 year contract was up. We'll be with the same phone company for another 2 years. In case anyone needs to know which one, email me.

More bike woes

I got back on the horse (well, bike) yesterday and rode to work. Then, on the way home I felt that the riding was more difficult than normal. Looking behind me, I could see my back wheel was wobbling and the brakes were shaking back and forth.

Once I finally got home, I tried spinning my back tire. It went about two revolutions and stopped. I think I discovered what made riding home so hard.

I'll be spending some more time this weekend trying to fix the back tire. Looks like I might have to buy 2 new wheels :(

Have I mentioned that I'm frustrated about this crash?