Bringing Up Buxton

Father Christmas

2010-11-29T13:21:00.000-08:00

So in the few minutes I have on a computer that will upload pictures to this blog, enjoy:

Anna, Buxton and I went out Sunday to get our Christmas tree, and while there met Father Christmas. Buxton wasn't so sure about him at first, but he warmed up. By the end of the afternoon, the boy was telling everyone about seeing Santa Claus.

I found out about this particular tree sale when I started working in Lake Wylie. The River Hills Lions Club has been holding it for years and years. The prices are reasonable to quite good, and all the money goes toward Lions charities. Anna and I get our tree here every year.

The Lions even help cut and load the tree, and would deliver it free in Lake Wylie. It's an all-around great group. And we got a big, full tree that I'm sure Buxton will try and form tackle countless times this holiday season.

It took Buxton a little while, but...

And, yes, for whoever might here this story later, I did randomly lie to my son right before bed and tell him there was a boogie monster living in the tree who would jump out at him. I know, I'm a terrible person. I cleared up the matter with Buxton this morning.

Horses and Pumpkins

2010-10-21T20:52:00.000-07:00

So this time last year Buxton wanted absolutely nothing to do with riding a horse. This year he won't shut up about it. We see several horses on our ways too and fro each day, and he loves them. He was pumped about getting to ride horses at the greenway during their fall events.

And when he couldn't ride (he rode three times), the boy just wanted to watch the horses. Until his grandmother told him the horses were going to chomp his head off like an apple. Not really. He still watched them even after she said that.

They also had several hay bales made into mazes. This boy is a human GPS. He certainly didn't get that trait from me.

If you didn't know they were cousins...

Afterwards we stopped by a pumpkin patch. Buxton added the word "orange" to his repertoire. Usually he says pretty much everything is either red or blue.

And, just to prove the "blessing of the pumpkin" shot last year wasn't a fluke...

I Suppose It's Official

2010-10-12T18:47:00.000-07:00

Handy Buxton

2010-08-30T20:09:00.000-07:00

In honor of my favorite cartoon, Handy Manny, I thought I'd clue everyone in on how to be a world class handyman. First, you have to get dressed for the part. Remember, safety first.

You can't be too careful with the eyes. Thanks Uncle Ian for the big boy gear.

There, that ought to do it.

Oh, I almost forgot the old cabeza. Hey, is it getting foggy in here?

Now that you're all practiced up, it's best to go and find a real handyman to help you tackle that next big project. Since I don't have one at my house, we took a trip to Florence to see Papi.

Boy do I love hammers!

I got this Papi.

Don't forget, it's always good to take a break every now and then to go clean the yard. It's not going to clean itself!

Did I mention I sure do love me some hammers?

Fine, Papi! You can help too.

Time to inspect the handiwork. This time, a birdhouse. Here's one that I prepared earlier.

Pretty cool, huh? You'd have thought I'd done this before!

Finally, time to show off the goods. Thanks Papi and Gaga! I had a blast visiting! See you again this weekend!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONKEY!!!

2010-08-04T20:31:00.000-07:00

The undoubtedly best two years of all our lives, with so much more to come!

We love you Buxton!!!

How To Make The Hospital Fun

2010-07-26T20:33:00.000-07:00

So hopefully there'll be many more pics from our England trip, but something that happened before our trip was just too good not to share. It was just a couple of days before we boarded the plane, and Buxton had his second ear tube surgery.

Buxton loved the gown.

Anna loved holding Buxton, even if it now takes anesthesia to to recreate that "baby boy feeling."

But the best part had to be the before and after video. Try and tell at what point he received the good stuff:

Our Visit to England

2010-07-20T12:17:00.000-07:00

We had a great time visiting family and friends in England a few weeks ago. We took almost 4,000 pictures. Here are some of my favorites from the trip that I have access to right now.

Buxton had tons of fun running around and playing in the fields at Auntie Joan's house on our first day there.

The first few days of our trip we stayed in Chester. Here we are outside Chester Cathedral. Buxton is sitting on an elephant statue (not sure why it was there).

And here are Buxton and I at Chester Zoo on our last day where we found another elephant statue for him to sit on.

We then went up to the Northeast of England. Here are my parents with my brother and his daughter Brooke, along with Buxton and I.

We went to Crimdon Dene and Seaton Carew beaches (the temperature was a lot cooler than at the beach over here in the summer).

The last week of our trip, we stayed in Buxton (the town I was born in and named Buxton after). The house that we stayed in was on the same road as the building where I was born. Here are Buxton and I outside of Corbar Hall.

Buxton enjoyed drinking out of a natural water well.

We had a great trip! There were lots of people we saw and other things that we did. I promise we'll post again as soon as we can.

The Children Shall Lead Them

2010-06-14T08:06:00.001-07:00

So I'm a sports nut, and to make the World Cup more fun I got some family involved in a pick 'em style game I thought would be fun. Basically you pick every game in the group stage win, lose or draw for one point each, with one game as your Golden Goal Game of the Day (worth two points for a win, minus two for a loss). Then the top eight scores will advance to the knock out stage, where based on points each person will take turns picking who they think will win the whole shebang. Whoever picks the winning team wins.

Yes, I made it up entirely.

In any case, the reason I share this information here is an interesting peculiarity I noticed in tallying the scores yesterday. Through the first weekend of play (8 of 48 group play contests), the editorialized standings are as follows:

+4 Eve (at less than three years old, 2-for-2 in Golden Goal games)
+3 Buxton (less than two years old, picked his games by pointing)
+3 Carol (I won't say how old my mom is)
+1 Kayne (flip flopped with me in points every day)
0 Anna (only cares about England; wasn't happy)
0 John (the only person who truly cares)
0 Harrison (rebounded nicely with +3 Sunday)
0 Lindley (+3 on Sunday)
0 Dewayne (+4 Sunday, only he and Eve did so)
-1 David (on a +2 streak)
-1 Steve (also a +2 streak)
-2 Connie (tied for first before the Sunday games)
-3 Matt (picked all ties)
-4 Baba (golden goal games hurting the cause)
-5 Holden (tough start)

So as you can see, the clearest path to victory appears to be pointing and saying the second name in a series. Good luck to all. A special, international soccer prize awaits the winner.

A Day At Work With Daddy

2010-05-24T10:40:00.000-07:00

Way too many pictures for words. Enjoy.

Strawberry Kisses

2010-05-15T18:22:00.000-07:00

A lesson on strawberry picking:

First, find a huge field full of strawberry plants.

Next, hunker down beside one with some bright red strawberries attached.

They should look like this:

It helps to taste a strawberry here and there to make sure you're on the right track.

If they taste the way they should, just keep on pulling the plants.

Don't forget to clean your mouth every once in a while.

Did I mention you need to taste a strawberry every now and then?

You can't be too careful when it comes to taste.

Then you'll want to fill up the carton, calculating of course for the sample berries from the field.

Make sure never to leave a fat red one behind.

Last of all, show off all the fruits of your labor.

That's about it when it comes to strawberry picking. Stay tuned for how to spend a day at the local amusement park, with pictures.

Shamed By A 1-Year-Old

2010-04-29T12:48:00.000-07:00

One of Buxton's newest interests seems to be causing some moral questioning in our household. The boy flat out loves his Bible--loves it. Won't go to bed without at least two Bible stories, then a perusal of basically every other page in the book. He runs into his room and picks this picture Bible up off the shelf, returns to the living room and lets go only when the Spirit leads.

Which brings up a peculiar problem. Do I take his Bible away from him? How do I tell him, bedtime or no bedtime, to stop reading the Word of God? That feels about as wrong as anything can, yet he'll stay up into morning flipping through his Bible pages if we let him, looking for and pointing to "Gigi," the blessed Son of God. We've been through Noah, Ester, Job, Nicodemus--the whole lot of them.

Then this morning, just when I thought I knew the worst (best?) of it, the boy shamed his daddy. Buxton decided to wake up at 5 a.m., Anna decided she would sleep and so I got baby duty. I coaxed him into the guest bed with me for a few minutes sleep, only to find me wake a minute or two later to him sitting up in bed reading a book called, I jest you not, Six Secrets to a Powerful Quiet Time: Discovering Radical Intimacy with God. Didn't know we had that book. You couldn't pay me any amount of money to tell you where he got it. Suffice it to say I slept no longer this morning.

In all seriousness, I couldn't be happier for my son. Anything else, at least on this topic, is a me problem.

Ball Ball?

2010-03-15T12:04:00.000-07:00

So this past Friday we had the opportunity to mesh together two of Buxton's favorite pastimes. For one, the boy absolutely loves basketball.

See?

Anyway, a family that we've known for a while now through church (the wife of said family also keeps Buxton most days) offered us tickets to go see the Bobcats play the Clippers. Not a couple of days later, dad and Kayne scored some tickets through work. That left myself, Anna, Buxton, dad and Kayne all set to see our first ever Bobcats game.

Before the game we went out to dinner at a Charlotte eatery dad frequents for lunch.

We were pretty pumped to score the tickets, as evidenced by our free time out in front of the arena and the ample seating when we arrived more than a half hour before tip-off.

Buxton had a blast. That other interest of his? If you've ever seen the boy when music plays, let alone the crowd-pumping rhythms of a pro basketball game, you know what else he enjoyed.

Ok, so maybe you noticed I got Buxton's new jersey (day of) on sale. I went through every reasonable store in an entire Charlotte mall to find him that outfit. You'd have thought I was in outer Botswana looking for Bobcats gear. Anyway, he didn't seem to mind. And nobody tried to draw a mustache on him.

All told we all had a blast, and the Bobcats won. Buxton got a new ball ball, and he got to flirt with a few of the team dancers (he's not too big into all that, much like his daddy). The seats were great, and we definitely owe the folks in this next picture. Thanks Gales!

KidScience

2010-02-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

It's been a while now, but dad and I recently went to a new exhibit for kids at Discovery Place. For anyone living near/visiting the Charlotte area with kids, I would definitely recommend it. Here is the write-up I did for the newspaper, followed by several more pictures.

Snowy Footsteps

2010-02-03T19:18:00.000-08:00

Sorry again about all the words, so here are more pictures to reward anyone still visiting the site. And sorry about being perhaps the last people in the southern United States to post pictures of the recent snow.

As you can see, Buxton was pumped.

But before we could go out, in what can only be described as foreshadowing, Buxton had to play with what later that same day came to be knows as "the measuring cup of doom." For anyone yet to see me since, we'll call my lip Exhibit A.

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. One note: the blue snow suit Buxton is wearing was given to Anna by my Aunt Jane only days before the snow. Her boys got it from my cousin David once he outgrew it, evidently, and he got it from me. How about that? These pictures I call "A Walk to Remember," "An Irish Snow Jig," "I've Fallen and I Can't Warm," "Are You Still Taking My Picture" and, lastly, "See, Grandpa, Bring On the Rain, Sleet, Hail and Dead of Night."

More Junk

2010-02-01T20:18:00.001-08:00

So I promise I'm not looking to make a habit of this, and my feelings will be far from hurt if you just skip these pictureless posts altogether. It's just that this past year in writing began and ended with Buxton, hardly ever veering at all. So two more that missed the cut, each reminding me of some emotion this little boy shared with his family.

First, the big boy pants of parenting:

7-8-09

Tantrums are not new in this house. Even the baby has them now. Not often, mind you. Not often enough to get used to just yet. Usually some remote control he wants or some other grown-up thing. Some place he wants to be without permission.

Not tonight, though. Tonight the tantrum stared straight at me. It cried harder than any tantrum before it. Inconsolable, this tantrum. It wanted no part of me and little of anything else, save only the controller I too sternly denied my son from having.

He sat two feet from me sobbing and staring as if I welcomed all evil to the world, slapping puppy dogs and elderly homeless women on my wicked way. I sat there stone-faced as a mountain in winter, dying some on the inside. As if all eternity would not linger long enough for him to stop crying or me to stop wanting to.

All because of some control that apparently neither of us ever had. Part of me wants that strong will for my son, that independence, that spirit. Most of me, in fact. Perhaps those parts were the ones melting away from the inside as he wailed. I hope not. Thankful as I am to be the thankful one, blessed to be the blessed one--so too does that precious boy need me to be strong enough to be the strong one. Especially now, when presumably I know so much better what he needs than he does.

Which does me a whale of good on a night like tonight. Hopefully, more than I realize.

Then, the wonder of a child:

7-12-09

A man learns too much on his hands and knees. Today the lesson came in a crawl-in closet, head resting atop the lap of the woman I love. She glanced up, as did I. An unforeseen world came to focus, incandescent light atop a ribboned wave of cardigans and blue jeans, tank tops and pullovers. We stared up the long sleeves of sweaters, up the cuffs of trousers. Linens, wools, denims, mixed fabrics--all looming like a symphony of textures just within reach.

Anna realized if first, then shared it with me. No wonder our precocious little son so enjoys crawling into the closet. Often he does it while our attention wanders. More often he shuts the door behind him, as if in his solitude and his sanctuary amid the garments. He adores that place, and perhaps now I begin to understand why.

So much to learn on hands and knees. What other places must he venture, what adventures must he breathe in from a perspective not prohibited but otherwise hidden from a busied world? The thought alone makes me want to crawl room to room pulling up on love seats and sticking my head in the dishwasher. Yet somehow I refrain. Too much to take in for one day, at least for someone so unaccustomed to the wonder of it all. And then what hope would there be for tomorrow?

I Apologize In Advance

2010-01-29T19:19:00.000-08:00

As some may know, every night I write down a thought or two before bed. Have for a little more than six years now. Being the narcissist that I am, I go back at the end of the year and rank my favorite ones. The general pattern is to pick the three best writings from each month and come up with an overall top 25.

All that to say about this time each year, I run into problems. Some months I barely find three. Then there are months like last October. Following are numbers four and five, in no particular order, from that month. Both come from a family vacation to the mountains where we took Buxton's cousin, Eve. I imagine few people will be interested to read them, far fewer than if they were pictures, but I just hate the idea that anything not making the top list is generally lost to time. So, if for no one else but myself, here goes:

10-14-09

In the time it takes to record a sitcom, tomorrow comes. As it does tomorrow brings a day well waited for and marked along several calendars for some time. A fall trip to the mountains, just family bundled together in search of adventure and solitude. Buxton returns for the first time, a year older now and a thousand miles past that delicate infant more resembling and angel than this toddling torpedo of a boy. Eve arrives for the first time ever, buckled there into the back seat beside the cousin she loves so much.

Eve never came along with our little family before, at least not overnight nor so far from home. Yet as I booked the room months ago I had her in mind. Because I thought she might enjoy it, because maybe her parents might appreciate the break. Most of all because it seemed the way things ought to be done. Just the same way my aunts and uncles and parents always did with us cousins when I was a kid.

So in a way I suppose taking this beautiful little girl along for a memory hunt is my way of living up to the family name. My heroes never were rich, or famous, or made too much of by anyone outside their own hometowns. They were ordinary people who loved folks around them in extraordinary ways. The way they loved me. The way I always hope I love them back, and just might find some way of paying forward.

And...

10-16-09

Countless thoughts pour as I look upon a waterfall, but they all lead the same place. Where does all this water come from to pound so mightily without ever running dry?

In a mountainside lodge tonight, lamp lit on a living room sofa between sleeping angels to either side, I happen upon my paradigm. The joy coursing through my veins, pumped forcefully by a heart pacing to keep up, makes every bit the river running through my window. Natural as a songbird basking in sunlight. Born in the highest imaginable places and stronger than steel for it. Timeless as timeless can be, so long as the man nearest it shows sense enough not to divert it.

When I look upon my joy for days at a time only to swear it could not keep coming, it does. When I dip my hands into its cool, refreshing flow, it sustains me. My joy is mighty enough to sear through sand and stone, vital enough to breathe life and prosperity through entire populations of people. Not just because of a kissy-faced girl with short orange curls, a beautiful baby boy who hugs on request or the woman resting in the bathtub after another long day of loving the people nearest to her. Not just because of them, just like the river who is there whether the steps leading to him are or not. They just remind me that he is, that he always will be, that more thoughts on more nights like this one come the closer I draw.

Pictures to Share

2010-01-24T18:26:00.000-08:00

We haven't posted in a while but we have lots of pictures to share what Buxton has been up to:

First off, the family flag football game daddy played on New Year's Day, with Buxton outfitted in official team Blood Monger gear. Daddy, Paw Paw, Harrison and David took down the Bone Crusher quartet of Kayne, Holden, Uncle Hank and Uncle Matt.

Not coincidentally, after all the exercise lately daddy and I needed a quick nap on the couch. Mommy snuck a new picture with the fancy camera we all got for Christmas.

Did I mention I got a new soccer goal?

One thing I didn't get: daddy's interest when it comes to reading.

You'd be surprised how good a nursery room shutter tastes when watching Paw Paw fix mommy's car.

Or how good I look with or without a fancy camera.

Whoa! It's tiring pretending to be an England soccer fan! Somebody get me the real red, white and blue. And while you're at it, find daddy a couch to sleep on for whenever mommy reads this!

Check out the special filter on the new camera. I call it, superstar mode!

Alright, it's tunnel time. Hopefully it won't be as long until next time. Until then, I'm out!

Buxton's First Haircut

2009-12-31T10:28:00.001-08:00

A couple of weeks ago we took Buxton for his first haircut. It was something we wanted done before Christmas, so time was ticking away. Of course he only got a slight trim because we didn't want his curls to be gone forever and him really be a "big boy."

He sat as still as can be in his police car chair.

All done :)

The Search for a Christmas Tree

2009-11-29T17:55:00.000-08:00

On a Sunday afternoon most rational people set aside for football, we decided to up and find a Christmas tree. Didn't think we'd find the time between now and Christmas otherwise. Buxton tried to sabotage our plans with a well-timed nap, but once he woke we dressed up and headed to see dad. If I'm right about this, dad volunteered time as our unofficial Christmas photographer every year of Anna and my relationship that I can remember save one. Here are some shots outside mom and dad's house.

Clearly Buxton had a whale of a time taking pictures. Afterward, dad rode with us up to Camp Thunderbird (right beside where I work) to get a tree from the River Hills Lions Club sale. My first year at the paper I wrote a story on the tree sale and what the money went toward (underprivileged children, the deaf, local emergency services, etc.), and Anna and I decided to get our tree there each year since. Buxton enjoyed all the trees.

Some folks there helped us with our tree.

Then we found the one we wanted, taller than wide to fit perfectly in our living room.

You can almost hear the wheels turning in Buxton's head. He has no idea what to make of a tree in the house. We just wonder how long before he tries climbing it and brings the whole house of cards down. So far so good. Anna just finished decorating as I finish these words, so maybe a picture or two to come later.

Fall Trip to Furman

2009-11-23T18:32:00.000-08:00

Homecoming

2009-11-03T06:14:00.000-08:00

So this is almost too dark to see, but it was impromptu so what can I say? You still get the idea. This was my afternoon yesterday.

Day Three On The Mountain

2009-10-21T09:38:00.000-07:00

The third and final day at the mountains meant packing up for one last trip before heading home. But before we did, it was goodbye to the room and the river and the boardwalk overlook view we called home for a weekend. Of course we needed a few pictures.

And because I couldn't decide which one was cuter: exhibits A and B.

As you can see we kept most of the pictures a little ways away from the water, what with us holding two small children and a camera all at once. It's there in the background, though. Up next, proof that you can either get two babies to look at a camera or smile, but seldom both at once.

As promised, after checking out we headed to Hillside Orchard Farm, a place with more jellies, jams, spreads and locally made food items than a Wal-Mart warehouse. They also have animals, tons of pumpkins and gourds in all sizes, shapes and colors - pretty much everything you might expect from a large, commercial family farm. Even old farm equipment, a performance stage and small gem mine. I just hope to go one year when Buxton is old enough to race through the corn maze, or maybe even try out the haunted maze they have at night in late October.

Those rabbits were everywhere, which was fun to explain. We also saw baby goats, hens, turkeys and this mule, which Buxton not only tried to touch but out-"hee haw."

I'll admit I'm as prone to hyperbole as the next person, like when someone says that this or that is so big it's as big as just something incomparably bigger. But this place honest to goodness had mountain apples as big as a person's face. Don't believe me?

So many pumpkins. Where to begin?

We let each of the little ones pick out their own pumpkin, which Aunt Anna may still need a little getting used to. Especially when a little girl becomes enthralled with a green pumpkin with a scratch mark.

We even found out that both pumpkins bounce, a fact perhaps not lost on Buxton who by all appearances felt this pumpkin needed prayer and the laying on of hands.

And just as our trip came to an end, something even more remarkable than all our adventures and two babies who never once cried for home, arrived. Well look at that. Maybe you can get a baby to smile for a camera.

Day Two On The Mountain

2009-10-20T09:27:00.001-07:00

So not nearly as many pictures from day two as days one or three, but not for a lack of fun things to do. Part of the fun in vacations is that first morning waking up in a new place, at least if the beds are comfortable. It also was something we put a little thought into in advance, with Eve's parents warning us that she doesn't always venture off to Sleepytown easily. Luckily we wore both babies out pretty well on day one with the activities, so hitting the sack the first night was a breeze. Both babies slept about 12 straight hours, and I had to wake them up for breakfast.

Check out Buxton enjoying the pack and play, while Eve got her own bedroom. Because Anna will read this post, I dare not mention it might be Buxton's last year in the pack and play, but compare and contrast here.

Once we did wake the babies up, they were ready for breakfast. One of the thoughts we had upon getting a griddle for Christmas was cooking pancakes, and at least I imagined doing it in the mountains. We woke up to eggs, pancakes, grits and sausage at the inn. We needed a big breakfast for a big day ahead.

When we found out about the Georgia mountains last year, and found out that one of the places featured on The Travel Channel that Anna and I wanted to go see for some time is less than an hour drive away, we knew when we came back we were going to the gem mine. The Sheffield Mine in Franklin, N.C. is known for native rubies and sapphires, along with special kid-friendly "rainbow buckets" enriched with easier to find, non-native stones. We spent several hours there, with Anna calling it something along the lines of a "redneck spa" or "hillbilly spa" or something because you get mud all over yourself and, after running your hand over rocks for several hours, become quite exfoliated. No, I probably didn't spell exfoliated right but I'm a man and I'd be more worried if I had, so let's move forward.

We took a fair amount of video, but only the one picture. It was pretty muddy and we didn't want to ruin the camera. The nice gentleman helping us scour for rubies did take the one, though. The irony is that Buxton spent more time feeding his lunch to the gem mine dog than panning for treasure, while Eve got her hands dirty and talked about "rocks" and looking for "honkers" (what they call large ruby finds) most of the time we were there. Then in the picture he looks like a mountain man and she like we drug her there with car battery cables. Oh well. You'd have to see the video I guess.

First Day On The Mountain

2009-10-19T12:41:00.000-07:00

Ok, so too darn much happened on our mountain getaway furcation (took a furlough day, made it a vacation) to put into one post or several, so like any good sports team we'll take it one day at a time. Anna, Buxton and I left just after work on Thursday and picked up Buxton's cousin Eve. We headed out toward the mountains and a funny thing happened.

On our way we ran into the most wonderful woman, who let us spend the first night at her house (at no charge!) and even baked us biscuits on our first morning. Geography sure handed us a gem with that one. For my money I'll take the Georgia mountains with a stop in Craytonville over mountains in just about any other direction.

After we left Baba's house, a short drive and we were in the Georgia mountains. We checked into Tiger Creek Falls Inn and made a quick trip out to the local Chick-fil-A. There's something both beautiful and exasperating about watching two children celebrate at a fast food play area like you drove all this way just to bring them there. We just took it as another good sign for a fun weekend.

After lunch, which included our only run-in with a cow housing a person inside, it was back to the inn overlooking several waterfalls. But before we arrived, we thought the kids might want to take in Goats on a Roof. It's a general store with goats living on the roof, grass and all. You can feed them, take pictures of them, walk beneath their overpass bridge at your own peril. We thought the kids might get a kick out of it.

Buxton keeping lookout for the goats:

Mommy keeping lookout for the apple pile:

Eve keeping lookout for the wild bunny rabbit we just saw, "in nature:"

There it is!

Of all the attractions at Goats on a Roof, the kids most enjoyed two wooden boxcars they could play in, which despite what the pictures might indicate we did not intentionally dress Buxton to match.

Here Eve shows us that she and her cousin, who she sometimes calls "Buton Thomas Choo Choo" are in fact inside a "choo choo."

I can explain neither why in this picture Buxton thinks he's Elvis nor why I'm leaning in closer to the metal bear than toward my own son.

Did I mention that, like most everywhere else on our trip, they had gynormous mountain pumpkins?

We spent the rest of our first day in the mountains shopping for supplies Oregon Trail style, and enjoying the peaceful calm of the inn (more pictures forthcoming). We cooked dinner in and enjoyed the company of a beautiful little boy and girl that most everyone in several Georgia counties wanted to stop and tell us about. A great start to a great trip, even if getting toddlers to stare straight and smile wasn't the easiest part of it.

At Home At The Zoo

2009-10-13T18:57:00.000-07:00

For Buxton's cousin Eve's birthday (today) we spent last Saturday at the Riverbanks Zoo in Coumbia. For anyone not familiar with the area, it's beside a river. Anyway, we got a few family shots with some of the wildlife.

Buxton did want a few shots of his own, which he rather enjoyed.

Buxton also loved the carousel (notice how few pictures there are with actual animals). He particulary wanted to ride the Kung Fu Panda, no doubt to celebrate the end of a surprisingly entertaining baseball season.

It was a great day, hopefully one of many to come with cousin Eve. Up next, a trip to the mountains this weekend. Check back soon.

How Much Do I Love My Boy?

2009-10-13T18:41:00.000-07:00

This much.

And this much.

These pictures came from a recent trip to Baba's house, where the livestock are plentiful. The view from the front yard:

And Buxton sharing his new favorite word, one that brings tears to daddy's eyes. Not only can he tell the difference between a basketball and football when asked, but now he can say football.

Infectious

2009-10-02T12:07:00.000-07:00

I could go my whole life without knowing the texture of it. At least I always hoped so, before fate and improper planning so viciously stole that possibility from me like an unattended laptop in a Silicon Valley ghetto. There I was, fishing it out of the bathtub with my bare hand. The size of a dinner portion chicken finger, complete with several smaller submarine gifts whose birth I witnessed from the most horrifically perfect angle only moments prior. Slick rubber. Rather like a sandblasted garden hose.

So naturally it happened this week. The week some unfeeling strain of flu - oddly enough not the swine variety, given her unique preference for the animal - imprisoned a husband and son to opposite ends of their home from an ailing woman. A week where that same beautiful boy refused any attempts at confinement from the germs, and where any fluids his mother succeeded in keeping down poured out like jungle rain in tears for a lad spending his first two nights apart from her - two full hours from home.

He is away now, leaving nothing more than questions between his parents as to who set the satellite to recording every episode of Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Of course it was the boy, but he is away now. I remain here, worse than alone. God help us all.

A Picture Book For Buxton

2009-09-14T20:33:00.001-07:00

I thought I'd share what Anna and I worked on recently for the few folks who we haven't dragged down to show it to already. I had to sign up for Shutterfly for work, and they started sending me all these deals of which one was a free photo book. Anna isn't the scrapbooking type, but wanted something for some time accounting Buxton's first year. We put two and two together and here it is. It looks quite nice in person. Just ask us to see the real deal if you like, but here is an online version.

Click here to view this photo book larger

No, Nothing To See Here

2009-08-30T18:23:00.000-07:00

So here are the pictures I planned to show everyone. Another day at Grandpa and Grammy's house, playing in the hammock with cousin Eve on Friday. Yes, daddy had to lay down on the dirty ground to get some of these shots, but it was Friday so everyone was happy.

First, the standard shot from above:

A little bit more creative now with the knelt, just below the twine shots:

Then the full on "tell Grandpa to help daddy wipe the leaves off his back" shots.

And just when I thought I had all the Buxton playing in netting shots I wanted, this little gem comes along and renders all my effort all but unnecessary. Do enjoy, and try to look past the obvious violation. He is, after all, only a year old. Plus, when mommy and daddy work this long with you on walking they're not about to blow a whistle and make you stop at this point. Special thanks to Anna's parents, the cheering section.

The Vortex

2009-08-21T18:22:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my life. Lately a few people began mentioning to me how happy I seem, how happy it seems I am with my little family. Watch this video and answer this question: Can you blame me?

I like to call this video The Vortex. Evidently our home rests squarely upon some until now unforeseen portal into another world, plugged tightly as you will soon see by our remote control. Just watch what happens when we pull that plug. Enjoy.

Effect and Cause

2009-08-20T18:27:00.000-07:00

So the other day Anna and I watched as our beautiful son bathed himself, one of many things along with feeding himself meals he no longer needs our help with, and we enjoyed him enjoying splashing so much we decided to take a picture. Isn't he lovely? Yet I know what you're asking. I do. Why would such a sweet little boy need so many baths?

Enter exhibits A through D. Maybe mommy overcooked the blueberries, which she admitted. But I'm pretty sure given to his own druthers he could perform pretty much the same feat with a bar of soap or an ice block.

Doesn't he look like he's having a blast. That face is pretty much permanent right now on all our faces--too happy to talk about it or explain why. Until the baby has enough. Then he gives us one of these, blueberry-fingered and all, peace outs.

Growing Pains

2009-08-17T17:01:00.000-07:00

The funniest part of last night came when Buxton answered to "Buckaroo" (just don't dare try it anywhere near his mother), but the most interesting part came a few moments earlier. Anna and I had a meeting for our Infant 2 class at church. Infant 2 basically runs from when a baby starts crawling to when he or she can walk and toddle well enough to move up to the next class. Being the reluctant parents we are, at least when it comes to admitting Buxton is older than he previously was, we had a difficult time even letting Buxton move up to our class. And that was with us as the leaders. It got me thinking what it would take for him to move up again, leaving us behind with all the little babies. Following are a few things that likely will happen before Anna lets Buxton move out of Infant 2 (feel free to share your own):

-Buxton will sprout facial hair
-The Cubs will succesfully defend their World Series championship
-Geico will stop running caveman commercials
-I will start using Facebook, Twitter and those text message thingies
-Some other set of parents will name their child Buxton
-ESPN will go an entire season without showing a Yankees/Red Sox game
-Anna, at a given time, will be completely happy with the length of my hair, toenails and fingernails
-Peyton Manning will stop trying to sell me things
-A presidential debate will include the line, from one of the candidates, "You know, you're probably right. My bad."
-An ASU(of Southern Conference fame) grad will read this post without grimacing, asking for a translator or inducing a confusion headache (because, you see, none of you can read...you're illiterate...how I can I explain this where you'll understand...you don't know words good)
-Winthrop will host a parade to celebrate its BCS National Championship

Surely there are others, but I have sports to watch now.

A Week to Remember

2009-08-11T17:05:00.000-07:00

What a whirlwind week it was. A week ago today, our little boy turned one year old. It would take more pages than even the internet allows to describe it all, so here are a few pictures. First up, a get together at our house Tuesday night with family (and Riley and EJ, who let's face it, are basically family at this point).

Then came a whole host of sleepless nights and more work by more family members and friends to get ready for Buxton's pool party on Saturday than ever we could thank them for. Sandy and Hank let us bring about 30 people to their house and pool. Scott and Jane made a great macaroni pie, Harrison and Holden helped landscape our yard (technically for the earlier party, but still a job) and mom outdid herself with these two cakes: Buxton's first and one big enough to feed everyone I ever knew.

At the pool party, Buxton showed off his new birthday boxers and even dove in for a little cake, which Anna gave me grief for saying it wasn't up to snuff. You try making an organic cake!

Buxton loved every one of his gifts, at least the ones he had time to play with so far. The first basketball goal, the trucks, the red wagon and a great many noisemaking wonders, just to name a few. Also, there were a few gifts he may not appreciate just yet, like the movie I made for him and the framed onesie he wore the day he was born, a gift more to his mother than him.

Again, I could go on for days on all the excitement. Don't believe me? Read my journals this week. I don't kid when I say I could go on for days. But the best part has to be how happy our incredible little son was amid it all. In fact, maybe the only part that mattered.

The best year we ever knew

2009-08-03T21:41:00.001-07:00

So it did come after all. Happy birthday monkey man! Our little boy is one year old today. It's unspeakable and incredible and sadder than Sunday night and happier than my own birthday and as exciting as anything we ever knew before about 42 minutes ago. In fact we would have a post here right at midnight, but mommy and daddy are beyond busy readying for the birthday tomorrow with dinner here and the big boy first birthday party Saturday. I hate to see the best year of my life now behind me, but want to cheer out loud knowing it's only the best year of my life so far. Boy can't I wait for that little boy to wake up!

First Family Vacation

2009-07-19T18:10:00.000-07:00

There are vacations, then there are vacations. We wanted our first as a family to be memorable, and a week in Charleston and Florence fit the bill tighter than I could possibly have dreamed. More to say than there are people wanting to hear it, but here are a few highlights.

First, the accommodations. We probably stayed at two of the finer hotels/beds and breakfasts in all of South Carolina. In Charleston it was the Francis Marion Hotel, because we found an online deal and everyone needs a little fancy in their lives every now and then. In Florence it was the "Taylorsonian," our longtime term of endearment for Anna's parents' house, because Anna has wonderful parents.

But back to Charleston, forever hence known as the land of a thousand vacations. Someone there truly should hire me to promote their tourism department. The first day brought Market Street and fine dining at the Swamp Fox restaurant (not named after Buxton, coincidentally). The following day brought one of our highest recommended stops from the trip, a place one would need be made of cold stone not to enjoy at any age.

Our trip to Whirlin' Waters Water Park:

Up next, Anna's college friends Riley and EJ and Riley's sister Jessica invited us to partake in their annual family vacation to somewhat nearby Edisto Island (quite nearby on the way back to the hotel, not so much with the GPS the way there). All their family loved having Buxton for an afternoon, and the baby boy sure loved his first warm weather trip to the ocean. Our apologies to the Edisto locals. Hopefully there is some sand remaining that the little monkey did not eat.

A Day at Edisto:

So if you haven't noticed yet, Anna learned some new tricks with the pictures. Feel free to tell her how nice a job she did. Anyway, the final day before heading to Florence we found a wonderful little spot for parents within walking distance of the hotel. The Children's Museum of the Lowcountry, well you just need to look it up and go. It's pretty neat, even for the infant set. Buxton played with toys, water, rolling golf balls, paint brushes and more.

Playtime at the Children's Museum:

Check out Buxton's debut masterpiece in that last shot. All in all it truly was a special week I fully intend to remember for years to come. And this account stops short of our Florence stay, which as always proved just as meaningful and enjoyable as time with family deserves to be. Hopefully not so long until we post again, or until we find our way back to the low country.

See all our Charleston Pictures on our Picasa website: http://picasaweb.google.com/narnievic/Charleston2009#

A Brave New World

2009-06-23T07:57:00.001-07:00

As promised, a bit about our adventures two Sundays ago in Infant II class at church. For those people who may not know, our church has an Infant I class and an Infant II class, followed by a great many other classes at varying age and developmental levels. Anyway, as one might expect, Infant I is the babiest of the babies, where each child has his own person pretty much holding him for two hours. Infant II is more the crawlers, pull uppers. Also, Anna and I stay with the Infant II class every Sunday.

There was some trepidation about moving Buxton up to our class, despite him being ready for it in pretty much every way. Just hard to admit the little fella's growing up. Anyway, two Sundays ago we bit the bullet and made the switch.

Buxton in our class for the first time

In my own little corner in my own little room...

Well the day just went swimingly, that is until we decided to try and get a picture of Buxton crawling through one of the two tunnels that he absolutely loved during class, but maybe not so much in front of the cameras.

La, la, la, la, la, la, la

Whittledee dee, dee dee, dee dee

Go ahead and help him a little bit mommy...

Not that much!!! Oh, son. We're sorry. No more crawling through tunnels...at least until next week.

Big Boy at the Park

2009-06-16T18:38:00.000-07:00

Anna, Buxton and I went out to the park, where we found out just how big our little boy is now. Last time we came all he could handle were the swings, but this time he was ready to try the seesaw. A quick lesson from daddy and mommy:

As you can see, he was enthused. May take a little more time to get that one down.

So on to the main attraction, the swing set. Buxton loves the swings, being pushed, laughing at us laughing at him, etc.

Now here is a little boy who loves his mommy. And for good reason. She loves him quite a bit, too.

Check back soon for pictures from Buxton's first Sunday in Infant II class at church, including the infamous "face plant" photo.

Happy Birthday Grammy!

2009-06-02T18:06:00.000-07:00

Friday was Carol's Birthday. We celebrated with a party at the Hilton. Here are a few pictures from the evening.

Best of Times, Worst of Times

2009-05-21T17:55:00.000-07:00

As if they haven't been already, things are about to get interesting. Check out what Buxton showed us he could do tonight. And yes, baby-proofing begins in the morning.

A Journey Begins

2009-05-19T07:50:00.000-07:00

So I once made reference to the cheapest wedding gift ever and, because I am somehow strangely attracted to the strangest of the sports world, the regift. Yet I may have outdone myself still.

In honor of an incredible wedding weekend and a party from which I may never fully recover, I promised the groom--my long-time friend Greg--that I would share with him something I wrote on my way to see him. For anyone who may not know, I keep a daily journal filled, generally, with random thoughts. The current journal is written more or less to Buxton, though not always about him.

This entry came from a layover stop just before noon on Saturday, only a few hours before the wedding. It may be the newly-crowned cheapest wedding gift ever (at least I framed the original), but I promised I would share anyway. Congratulations Greg, and expect a more appropriate gift soon.

May 16, 2009

Some day you'll do the same thing, and it'll make about as much sense then as it does now. The particulars may be a little different. You may have a window seat. But you'll do the same thing I'm doing today, and if you think long and hard enough about it beforehand you'll do it gladly.

Just like your daddy, half-squirming from that almost settled stomach and the taste of stillness on the back of your tongue, both from having dared the moon last night and beaten the sun to rise this morning. Walking slowly through darkened and fog-enclosed airport terminals in a seersucker jacket like you just won some Southern golf tournament. Listening closely with surprise as one of the better country songs playing softly fills a concourse in New Jersey.

Maybe you layover three hours in a place you only heard of before, spend less than a full day in a far-away city to save hotel money. Maybe you rent your first car. Exactly what your today looks like I have no idea, but I know you'll live it. Because a person only gets so many true, lifelong friends in this world and those friends only get so many days that completely and indescribably change their lives.

So you'll be there for them. If for nothing more than a pat on the shoulder amid the thousand other things and thoughts begging his time, you'll be there. Even if it means crying babies or middle-of-the-row seats, toll roads or foreign maps. Because it means so much more than these passing things, so long as you're there to notice it.

Evolution of a Mother's Day Gift

2009-05-13T17:00:00.000-07:00

First, take a picture of baby and mommy at the beach. A good one.

Next, send Aunt Stephanie and Uncle Matt to the sitter's house during the day, when mommy least expects it, to snap a few photos.

Then spend more time than you care to admit adding the sitter photos and the beach photo with some text, proving that most any idiot can use Photoshop.

Spend an obscenely long time at a local craft shop gluing mosaic tiles and grouting like you have any business being artistic...

Be sure and give Mr. Man all the credit...

And hope like heck the end result was worth all the trouble. Oh, and try not to look too surprised when it is.

Catching Up

2009-04-28T11:33:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, I know. It's been forever. Let's move on, people. There are about 13 million new pictures of Buxton, which no doubt everyone enjoys more than my oft incoherent rambling. So here goes, beginning with a picture mommy took just this weekend.

This next one came a week or so ago at David's birthday party. Notice the tongue sticking out despite the pacifier being there. He's good at that.

Enter the game section. First event, Pull Off Daddy's Face.

Up next, restaurant checkers.

Finally, a picture from a recent trip to the beach because, if Harrison and Holden want to put it on our camera when we aren't watching, they clearly want it published for an internet audience.

Hopefully more to come soon (not the last one), so stay tuned. Just don't hold you're breath.

Longing for the Beach

2009-03-29T11:01:00.000-07:00

Ok, so it's been quite a while since we updated anything. Probably best, given the past week here. Buxton's been sick. I don't remember the last day I showered. He's taken more baths than a clown in a dunking booth. Hasn't been a lot of fun.

So to lighten things up a bit, a video from two weeks ago and Buxton's first trip to the beach. I think it fair to say he enjoyed himself.

Buzzmaster B

2009-03-03T12:49:00.000-08:00

So in the few months we've known our precious child, I've heard or uttered more than a few ideas as to what he might be when he grows up. Let the debate end here. Buxton's new talent makes it clear that he was born to be a hardcore rapper. So, without further delay from me, a sample of the first single laid down by your favorite powder-white rapper and mine, Buzzmaster B!!!

(You may have to turn the volume up for all its worth)

Tummy Time

2009-02-21T18:14:00.000-08:00

Buxton has been spending a lot of time on his tummy since he is still learning to roll. Here are a few pictures from his tummy time today.

Dinnertime

2009-02-05T14:47:00.000-08:00

Buxton had broccoli for the first time tonight. You can tell by the video that he did not like it. It's the first food he hasn't liked so far.

Picture Time

2009-02-04T09:56:00.000-08:00

I hadn't downloaded any of our pictures since Christmas, so since today was a "Snow Day" I decided that it was time. Here are a few of my favorites.

Buxton eating oatmeal for the first time.

Buxton's Spikey Hair Do

Sweet Buxton

I want Daddy's hotdogs

John and I could not stop laughing when the next several pictures took place.

Check back later for pictures from Buxton's 6 month Birthday!

Crazy Talk

2009-01-23T22:36:00.001-08:00

Yes, it's 1:36 in the morning and, yes, I'm awake. But on to more important matters.

As some of you may know, my sister got me into the nasty little habit of journaling five years ago. The entries--one for each day since--have little to do with the particulars of each inscribed date and more to do with thoughts of those days. At the end of each year, I go back and read every one, ranking the ones I like most. Why, you ask, do I bring up the topic at a time better left for sleep?

Because this past year, as one might rightfully imagine, my entire world became a tale of Buxton. My writing succumbed accordingly, and most every day has some thought bent toward the little wonder. Which would be all well and good, were it not for said ranking--an effort currently ongoing.

I will not say picking one entry instead of another is like choosing between children, because I know better now. It is, however, like choosing which of my own teeth I might leave alone and which ones I might set on fire. Either way someone gets hurt, and someone is me.

Tonight I eliminated the night we went into labor, a writing of readiness for our son that ended mid-sentence with news that changed our lives forever. Tonight I eliminated a depiction of my wife singing sweetly to our unborn child only a month after we knew to expect him. How can such things happen? How can there be no space for such miracles?

When this list finds daylight, it promises to be spectacular. But, if you see me in the meantime, be little surprised if a handful or two of hair is missing.

Buxton's First Snow Day!

2009-01-20T07:30:00.000-08:00

Since Mommy is off work today and it's a Tuesday (not much work time) for Daddy, we had to go out and play in the snow.

We got Buxton all ready to go out and "play," and he decided to take a nap.

Once we got outside, Daddy drew Buxton's name in the snow.

Big Boy Food

2009-01-19T08:54:00.000-08:00

Ok, so we've been a little slack about blogging lately. Certainly not for a lack of excitement around here. Just last week, Buxton started his first big boy eating with some baby oatmeal. As you can see from the video, the jury is still out on whether he likes it. He seems to eat it pretty regularly now. Surprisingly, perhaps, he still drinks the same amount of milk regardless of how many oatmeal bowls he has in a day.

We have ourselves a big boy.

Jon and Kate Plus Ten Minutes of My Life I Want Back

2009-01-05T14:38:00.000-08:00

Spoiler Alert: This post has nothing to do with Buxton but will, most likely, alienate and/or upset quite a few people who may read it.

A well known anecdote offers Sir Winston Churchill responding to some woman stating she would, were she his husband, poison his tea. Churchill purportedly responded that if he were her husband, he would drink it.

A somewhat lesser-known note following that story is that said woman was, in fact, the (firm adjective withheld) mother of Jon and Kate Plus 8.

The greatest travesty of our new satellite made its hideous descent upon us this afternoon and continues to this moment. Like a filthy cloud of depravity, this show lingers beyond its bounds.

During the introduction sequence my mind made itself that this show does not belong on television, just about the time that stomach-turning pregnancy footage reeled. Little did I know the mother on this show would soon have me longing for said footage when, well, at least she was quiet.

Several more paragraphs could further describe my feelings on the matter, but in avoidance of anyone taking them too seriously I will decline. Suffice it to say I have a suggestion for Jon in dealing with a 10-person family. Drop the one who (clever, yet somewhat questionable play on words withheld) causes the most problems.

This should not happen. We get NFL Network now.

#1 No Time Like the First Time

2008-12-24T12:30:00.000-08:00

In an instant our camera shuttered, and not a moment since left any doubt as to my favorite picture of Buxton. Fancier cameras may take sharper images. Skilled photographers surely come away with better shots. But I have a hard time believing there ever will be a photograph I love more than this one.

When this picture snapped, only Anna and I knew Buxton by name. When this picture snapped, only a midwife and a handful of helpers even joined us in knowing he was born. When this picture snapped, Buxton had no idea what in the world was happening except that he--somehow--rested in the arms of his mother.

I see every bit of that picture when I look at it. I see how scared and uncertain we were, too. I see how much changed between that time and this one. Maybe for that reason, most of all, I treasure this image. On this Christmas Eve, a time already set aside for gifts unlike any other, I continue to treasure it--and, in the truest sense of Christmas, share it with others.

#2 Close to You

2008-12-23T18:48:00.000-08:00

While a parent is never far from a newborn child, he is never close enough, either. Every night I hold Buxton and kiss him, pulling him to myself as if the distance between a hug were a hundred miles. Anna feels the same way. She tells me at least once a day that she could just eat him up, despite my advising against it.

This picture tells a story of closeness. If anyone held my face in the way I hold his here, there is no telling what I might do. Suffice it to say only a handful of people, if any at all, should attempt it. Yet here I hold Buxton not for any particular reason other than thinking up no better way in that moment to be nearest him.

He looks at the camera as if he knows something. I hold his face as if fixing his stare. Yet knowing neither to be true in that moment makes this image all the more memorable. This image shines light on a closeness no idea could capture, no hand could craft.

It is the closeness of a father and his son in a moment once lived and forever left where it was found, discarded for ten thousand more just like it.

#3 Purple People

2008-12-22T19:52:00.000-08:00

A father brings his boy to a football game. Players struggle, the crowd roars and the home team sends everyone out of the stadium happy. Just a day, but a day that begins more than most.

The father thinks of contests to come, of Saturday afternoons in favorite restaurants, of campus walks through halls and hills meant for memory making. Perhaps, even, that father allows himself to consider the possibility that his son finds some way back to that place on his own, maybe even marching in that same band his father did.

Instead that boy grows up to play atop that field, donning the colors his father first showed him. As true with each generation as the last, they never fade. In fact the treasures taken from that antiquated stadium only grow with time, from playing catch with daddy just after the final horn sounds to catching passes between the whistles.

So imagine the surprise that little boy finds when--long after his days as a child or even a young man atop that field are spent--he finds his finest hour in that place waited until he could bring his own son back and be father himself.

#4 Splish Splash

2008-12-21T16:44:00.000-08:00

Thankfully camera lenses only capture so much, leaving the rest to the imagination. In this shot Buxton and daddy take their first bath together in the big boy tub. Like any first, this bath left a little figuring out to do.

Daddy did what daddies do, playing with the water as much as cleaning with it. Buxton did what little boys do, half cringing in that squinted, wrinkled look that almost asks aloud what in the world his daddy is doing. We both did what came naturally.

And if nature speaks for much, that first bath will not be the last time. Daddy plays with Buxton every day, and will just as long as he can. Buxton will wonder what daddy is doing, what he is thinking, maybe even what mommy would think of it all.

And when he does, daddy will have this picture to show Buxton--if nothing else--that such a time coming is not the first.

#5 Thanksgiving

2008-12-20T17:22:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving. His outfit alludes to it. His expression sears it like a hot iron to my soul. Not that he seems particularly thankful, but that his being in our lives surpasses any thankful moment we could otherwise endure.

So often the things in life most warranting thanksgiving go without it. Stop breathing for two minutes. Go a week without water. Spend a weekend away from a spouse. What matters most often slips through the common cracks of appreciation.

Then comes along a picture like this one. Taken in a hasty moment never to be repeated again, Buxton reveals yet another face to answered prayers, another example why his mere presence humbles two lucky parents in quiet, unexpected moments every day of his life.

Thanksgiving. Two dozen times experienced yet not once truly lived--until now.

#6 Baba and Buxton

2008-12-19T17:52:00.000-08:00

Some pictures need no words. Yet having little else to do, I might as well offer the few I have.

This picture shows, perhaps, the person I respect most in this entire world. She is the one holding the person I treasure unlike any other. Even for someone who makes his living describing things, I find myself at a loss.

If you know Baba, you have no need of my superlatives. Otherwise, you likely would not believe them. She is honest, kind, compassionate. She demonstrates the heart of a servant without ever saying so. She is remarkable beyond my ability to say so.

So the closeness beaming from this image humbles me. Three generations separate these two. A hundred miles separate them. So much else in this world probably should, yet in this solitary moment nothing seems to matter except an embrace savored by one in an instant and the other, hopefully, forever.

This picture gladdens me because I know I could never fully describe Baba to someone who never met her. Thankfully for Buxton, he never needs worry about that.

#7 Daddy See, Daddy Do

2008-12-18T18:01:00.000-08:00

There must be ten thousand reasons to take a baby seriously. So every now and then a reminder comes due that babies are about the most fun a person can have, that they are meant for playing, for laughing. Sometimes they even make laughter of us all.

Like this little picture of Buxton watching television. He loves it, especially during football games. No idea where he got that one. Buxton has a favorite news station, one he will watch for an entire telecast, crying only if the channel changes. So when Buxton began sitting up only a month or so in, it seems he already had an idea what he would do with his new found talent.

Look at the way he stares right through me and the camera as if we were not there, treating us both as any other obstruction separating him from his favorite program. Again, no idea where he got that one. There is no telling how many pictures might be taken of Buxton sitting on the couch watching television during his lifetime. I just doubt any one of them will match his first.

#8 The Arms of Love

2008-12-17T19:59:00.000-08:00

You never truly realize just how much a baby needs other people until you parent one. Everything about them requires constant attention. Fortunately this baby boy has two parents who could not make their way at raising him alone if they wanted to.

Among a hundred or so pictures of someone else looking after our son, I come across this one. Two looks on two faces speak beyond words. In a loved uncle I see someone I trust, someone I admire, someone in whose arms I willingly place my dearest treasure. In a resting son I see comfort suggesting that same trust, maybe someday even that same admiration.

What else I see wrapped up in this hammocked embrace is a man who would gladly do exactly what he is doing whether I asked him to or not. There are no expressions to convey what that means to me, that so many people in our lives not only tolerate or even accept Buxton, but love him dearly. This moment belongs to an uncle and a nephew. It is mine to see, but theirs to savor.

I feel somewhat like an intruder within it, happy to do both.

#9 When You're Smiling

2008-12-16T19:06:00.000-08:00

The old song never tolled truer. When Buxton smiles, my whole world smiles with him. Here he is before such expressions became daily occurrence. When this picture snapped, an entire day of changing diapers and wiping up second hand milk and general parenting earned its keep in a look just like this one. A day with this kind of smile was a good day.

His mother holds him here. You can see her hands lifting him, almost as if his joy comes from flying through the air. That part of the picture makes for its own smiles. He has no idea just how far we hope to lift him up, or what it would mean should we be able. He has no idea the joys we hope to help him find, the heights we hope to help him reach.

He only knows the touch of his mother, and the way it makes him feel in a moment. Look at him. Look at his face. Now tell me why he has need of knowing anything else.

#10 The Stare

2008-12-15T18:04:00.000-08:00

Anyone trying to photograph an infant knows there are easier things in life. Looking toward the camera is its own accomplishment, let alone making some face resembling anything other than gas or general disinterest. So something like this comes as a treasure.

This picture comes from Craytonville, a place with its own share of wonderful memories and home to Buxton's great grandmother, Baba. In the picture Baba's sister-in-law holds Buxton in two arms that likely would not hold him up any longer. Look how small he is at only a couple of months. Those clothes are packed away now, fitting only for some other child to come.

He is so much bigger now. His expressions so much truer, more vivid. This little baby pictured would barely recognize Buxton now. And for that reason, perhaps most of all, this picture resonates. In his stare I see a child from another time, another place. I see a child I loved as passionately as the little boy I hold now. In this picture, his stare seems to suggest he might just see the same thing.

Honorable Mention

2008-12-14T18:22:00.000-08:00

Here are a few last minute honorable mentions before the countdown begins tomorrow. Enjoy. The first is Buxton's first Panthers game, where he watched them beat the Chargers on the last play of the game. Daddy accidentally yelled into Buxton's ear.

This one daddy calls happy hat, sad face.

A day at the zoo is enough to wear a boy out.

Tell me it doesn't look like somebody just told a joke, and Buxton and Aunt Connie got the punch line at the same time.

A keeper. Buxton and daddy the day our boy arrived.

Tick Tick Tick

2008-12-06T20:59:00.001-08:00

So I have no idea what possessed me to think I would be able to choose just ten pictures. Who knew four months could include so many images? Well, I did choose my ten and they are coming beginning Dec. 15. Again, these are not all the pictures taken of Buxton between birth and Thanksgiving, just the ones I like the most from the ones I could readily find.

Anyway, there were so many good shots that I thought I would start off with a little honorable mention. So here is the first set of photos not quite up to the challenge, but worth sharing anyway. Enjoy.

First we have a few entries from Florence.

Next we have Buxton enjoying Daddy's favorite pastime.

Be sure to check back between now and Dec. 15 for more close-but-not-quites, as well as for the unveiling of number ten in only eight days.

Wonder Woman

2008-12-04T10:47:00.000-08:00

So this picture I found is not very big. There is not one large enough for this post.

My wife is Wonder Woman. I knew it before Buxton was born, but somehow I know it even more now. She is the superhero of the family. She's the rock star. Last night she proved it again.

Buxton has been sick the past few days. Not a cough and a cold sick. Not take a Tylenol and call me in the morning sick. This was "somebody has to do something daddy finds morally questionable to make Buxton feel better" sick. The mere thought of it sent me to another room.

But Anna did it. She made him feel better. This morning--his four-month birthday no less--he was as happy a little boy as I have ever seen. And I was just as happy, if not more so. After all, we have a superhero in the family.

Checking back in

2008-12-02T15:06:00.000-08:00

Ok, so it's been a while since we last posted. Thanksgiving was great, and we got plenty of last minute options for the upcoming countdown. We spent time with my mother's mother and her family in Craytonville, SC (of Marvel at the Night fame). We could post pictures for days, but here is one that we took and now serves as our most recent family photo. And for those out-of-towners, I'm playing Joseph in the Christmas cantata at church. They should preemptively answer what questions I know you want to ask.

Check back soon for some honorable mention photos, and then the top ten.

Let the Countdown Commence

2008-11-19T11:36:00.000-08:00

Ok, so if you know me at all you know I'm a nut for many things, not the least among them being rankings, tournaments, statistics and the like. Always have been. My family can tell stories.

In that spirit I decided to look through the pictures of Buxton taken since his birth--I suppose ultrasounds could be included, but I will stick with post-womb shots--and pick out a top ten list. The plan is to post a countdown on here so people can see a completely unofficial list of my favorites. I decided to cut it off after Thanksgiving to give me time for the countdown, tentatively scheduled for Dec. 15-24.

So, if you have a picture that includes Buxton and you think it should make the list, send it my way. If you want to take one, do it before Thanksgiving and let me know. Again, this list is by no means official and I reserve the right to change my mind. Anna reserves the right to have her own list if mine is not to her liking.

And, should you be otherwise occupied until then, check back Dec. 15 for the first shot.

Happy 3 Month Birthday Buxton!

2008-11-08T16:57:00.000-08:00

Buxton turned three months old last Tuesday. Here are a few pictures from his birthday. According to two family members who weighed him at different times, he weighs approximately 15 1/2 pounds.

Buxton's First Halloween

2008-11-01T18:43:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from Buxton's first Halloween. Buxton and Mommy went to Florence to spend the weekend with Ganny. Daddy had to work so he stayed at home. We only had two groups of trick-or-treaters, so we spent our night playing and taking photos.

Wedding Weekend

2008-10-26T19:05:00.000-07:00

So this weekend we went to the Georgia mountains (I know, who knew they had them?) for the wedding of the Heathman. It was Buxton's first wedding as something other than a bridesmaid. The place where we stayed Friday night was so nice, we decided to stay an extra night and invite my parents up, too. It was a mountain lodge overlooking a creek with a waterfall.

Here is Buxton when he woke up the morning of the wedding. He completely turned sideways in his bed without his positioner, then just looked at us wondering why we were laughing.

Here are a couple of shots from the wedding day his mom liked.

Here are the three of us on the deck overlooking the falls.

Finally, Buxton taking after his daddy and not wanting to leave the lodge. He seldom gets to stay in the big bed, so he was enjoying it for a few minutes while we packed.

Buxton Thomas Marks!

2008-10-22T19:03:00.000-07:00

So it finally happened. I knew it would. It took two months, two weeks and four days, but it happened. It happened slowly and deliberately, and with enough of what seemed like laughter to suggest better things. But it happened. The boy's mother used his full name.

Buxton...Thomas...Marks!

For the benefit of anyone without children or anyone so far removed from having them that certain parts of their memory are blocked out to protect the rest, I will spare the details of what our son did to get his entire name called out slowly by his mother. Suffice it to say only that there are few things a two-month-old baby can do wrong and I found a hue of green today that does not naturally occur in nature.

We each got a laugh out of it, and in a less-publicized context I would be happy to share more. And while I was the one taking care of the situation, the one calling from another room for others to come and see, I am glad to be part of what happened tonight. Because there will be worse times when his entire name is called. And I can only hope in those moments to remember this one, when the worst we had to deal with was the worst we had ever seen.

Happy Belated 2 mth Birthday Buxton!

2008-10-10T19:53:00.000-07:00

Buxton turned two months on Oct. 4th. He went for his two month doctor's appt. last week and weighed 13lbs 8oz and was 24 1/4 inches long. He is going to be a big boy. Here are some of his two month pictures.

Finally

2008-10-10T19:35:00.000-07:00

I've finally found some time tonight to upload most of the pictures we have taken of Buxton since he was born onto Picasa to share with family and friends. With people all over the world, this was going to be our way of sharing his growth with others. But it's hard to do when you don't have time to upload the pictures. It is now done! I hope I can keep up as time continues. I also hope I can finally get some pictures printed, John and I haven't had a single picture of Buxton printed, we have just been stealing from family. Snapfish has 1 cent pictures until tomorrow, so hopefully I can get those done too. Check out our pictures of Buxton on our Picasa webpage at http://picasaweb.google.com/narnievic.

~Anna

First Furman Football Game

2008-10-06T08:33:00.000-07:00

So I meant to post these pictures sooner, which would have been nice given Furman's less than stellar showing this past weekend. In any event, here they are. Mom and dad went with Anna, Eve (our niece), Buxton and me to the Furman/Chattannooga game a couple of weekends ago and took quite a few pictures. Here are a few of my favorites.

For plenty more, visit http://picasaweb.google.com/carol.marks1/FirstFurmanGameWeekend#

Championship

2008-09-30T19:23:00.000-07:00

"So this has what to do with Buxton?" you're thinking.

Fair question, so here goes. Tonight our softball team won the league championship after going undefeated for about two months. It was a big win after coming up just short the past couple of years. Buxton and Anna even came to the game, though they had to leave early because it rained and was getting late.

I told my mom after the game that the best part of winning it all had to be winning it with the unbelievable, encouraging group of guys on the team. But if there's a second best part, it may just be that not too many years from now Buxton will, no doubt, look upon me as the graying, balding, bent-boned, complaining about the price of bread and speeding drivers old man that I am sure to be. And when that time comes, he may have a hard time believing I was ever much of anything else before he knew better.

Now my sincerest hope is that church softball championships, impressive as they may be, are not my greatest contribution to my growing son as we move forward. In fact, I hope they matter little to him. But, in the event that they matter to him at all...

Visiting Strangers

2008-09-29T19:13:00.000-07:00

So my first day taking Buxton to the babysitter, and I take him to the wrong house. Right directions, wrong house. Anna and I had a slight discrepancy, I later learned, with the word "road." I nearly left the poor boy with Cleveland Browns fans.

At least they weren't home.

sorry for the long delay in posting. More to come, including pictures from an incredible, purple weekend.

Happy 1 Month Birthday Buxton!

2008-09-04T14:53:00.000-07:00

Here's Buxton on his 1 Month Birthday! Look how he has grown.

Our Little Boy

2008-09-02T07:14:00.000-07:00

These pictures are of Buxton when he wasn't even a week old. He was so tiny!

Later on today I'll post some more pictures to let you see how he has grown.
~Anna

2008-08-22T10:25:00.000-07:00

Since John hasn't updated in a while, I decided to add some pics from my Dad's computer while I'm in Florence.

Enjoy!

Oh What a Night!

2008-08-10T09:25:00.000-07:00

If there were any question as to who this little boy would take after personality wise, there shouldn't be anymore. Buxton slept straight through the night last night. The kid is not yet a week old! We woke him up to feed him a time or two, but he just slept like a champ. He did almost as well three nights ago, though the night before last we were not as fortunate.

Now I am not so presumptuous to think this will happen every night, but each day he shows a little more of his dad. Sleeping, eating and sleeping again. Living the dream.

We're home

2008-08-06T16:39:00.000-07:00

Thanks for all the thoughts, well wishes and replies. We came home this morning, and everything is "just about perfect" according to the doctors. He is starting to eat better, which was our only concern. He also had two (minor, so say the doctors) surgeries in the past two days. One of the male persuasion and another to clip his tongue leaving only his dad with a deformed licker. We are all doing well, and somehow Anna even figured out how to get a nap in. Thanks again.

Buxton Thomas Marks

2008-08-05T13:12:00.000-07:00

So I wasn't just being a jerk. Major network issues at the hospital kept me from posting any of the 8,000 pictures we took yesterday. But here are a few favorites. And, for anyone still wondering, the little fella is Buxton Thomas Marks. He was born at 7 pounds, 2 ounces and 19.5 inches. Both parents are doing fine, and we should be headed home some time tomorrow. We are in room 16 at CMC Pineville, with visiting hours ending at 8 p.m. We love you all.

He's Here!

2008-08-04T11:08:00.000-07:00

He arrived at 10:46 a.m. We dialated and we pushed and at 10:46 a.m, he arrived. All 7 pounds 2 ounces and 19.5 inches of him. He's here, and he's spectacular!

The Glory of Drugs

2008-08-04T02:12:00.001-07:00

The epidural went in at 4:50. I want an epidural. Anna went from quite a bit of sustained pain to loving life, cracking jokes and it looks like she may even get a bit of a nap in. The nurse said we will start the Pitocin at 6 a.m. Right now Anna measures about 2 or 3 centimeters, and with the Pitocin she should gain a centimeter every hour or so. The nurse said we should start pushing in 6 hours or so. Stay tuned.

It's Go Time People!

2008-08-03T21:54:00.000-07:00

We're at the hospital. Water broke just before 11 p.m. Sunday night. More on that in several months. Everything is fine, and the contractions are coming. Anna is just now beginning to feel them, slightly. We're utilizing the cable. Stay tuned.

Letter of the Day

2008-08-03T12:36:00.001-07:00

As promised, today brings the first letter of the day. Each day between today and the day the boy is born, you get one letter. And today's letter is...R.

D-Day

2008-08-02T15:33:00.001-07:00

Well, D-Day is here. Aug. 2. 40 weeks. The baby is now officially due.

In response, we will post one letter from the baby's name for each day that he is past due, beginning with tomorrow. Of course he still may come tonight, in which case the entire name would come sooner. Speaking of which, there are discussions of having a live blog from inside the maternity ward, so stay tuned. We'll be back with more later.

Pick a Birthday

2008-07-31T11:51:00.000-07:00

So news that the induction will come a week from today, barring the baby coming sooner, got me thinking. We do not have long to go. So, thanks to the good folks at Wikipedia, I made a little list of every remaining day from today to next Friday including famous events, births and holidays. Go ahead, pick a favorite birthday.

July 31

Events:

1961—The first ever All Star Game tie occurs at Fenway Park in Boston when rain stops the game after nine innings

Birthdays:

1143—Emperer Nijo (Japan)
1919—Curt Gowdy
1958—Mark Cuban
1962—Wesley Snipes

Holiday:

Hari Pahlawan, Malaysian Warriors’ Day

August 1

Events:

1774—Oxygen is discovered for the third and final time
1944—Anne Frank makes the final entry in her diary
1981—MTV begins broadcasting in the United States

Birthdays:

10 BC—Claudius (Roman Emperer)
1779—Francis Scott Key
1819—Herman Melville
1942—Jerry Garcia
1963—Coolio

Holiday:

Armed Forces Day, Angola

August 2

Events:

1980—The NFL Hall of Fame Game ended with 5:24 remaining in a 0-0 tie due to lightning

Birthdays:

1533—Theodor Zwinger (Swiss scholar)
1924—Carroll O’Conner
1950—Lance Ito
1966—Tim Wakefield

Holiday:

Day of Azerbaijani Cinema, Azerbaijan

August 3

Events:

1492—Christopher Columbus sets sail from Spain
1936—Jesse Owens wins the 100 meter dash at the Berlin Olympics
1949—National Basketball Association founded

Birthdays:

1509—Etienne Dolet (French scholar)
1925—Marv Levy
1926—Tony Bennett
1940—Martin Sheen
1968—Rod Beck

Holiday:

Independence Day, Niger

August 4

Events:

1977—President Jimmy Carter authorizes creation of the Department of Energy

Birthdays:

1222—Richard de Clare (English soldier)
1821—Louis Vuitton
1901—Louis Armstrong
1949—John Riggins
1955—Billy Bob Thorton
1961—Barack Obama
1971—Jeff Gordon

Holiday:

Saint Sithney, Patron Saint of Mad Dogs

August 5

Events:

1305—William Wallace captured by England
1620—The Mayflower departs England
1861—United States issues first income tax
1957—American Bandstand debuts

Birthdays:

1301—Edmund of Woodstock (English politician)
1930—Neil Armstrong
1937—Herb Brooks
1962—Patrick Ewing

Holiday:

Children’s Day, Chile

August 6

Events:

1923—Henry Sullivan swims the English Channel
1926—Harry Houdini escapes a sealed underwater tank after 91 minutes
1962—Jamaica becomes independent

Birthdays:

1180—Emperer Go-Toba (Japan)
1809—Alfred Lord Tennyson
1911—Lucille Ball
1928—Andy Warhol
1965—David Robinson

Holiday:

H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s Accession Day, United Arab Emirates

August 7

Events:

2007—Barry Bonds breaks Hank Aaron’s homerun record

Birthdays:

317—Constantius II (Roman emperer)
1876—Mata Hari
1929—Don Larson
1960—David Duchovny
1975—Edgar Renteria

Holiday:

Emancipation Day, Turks and Caicos Islands

August 8

Events:

1988—The lights are turned on at Wrigley Field, allowing the Cubs to play night games for the first time

Birthdays:

1079—Emperer Horikawa (Japan)
1937—Dustin Hoffman
1961—Bruce Matthews
1967—Marcelo Balboa
1981—Roger Federer

Holiday:

Father’s Day, Taiwan

Baby Update

2008-07-30T07:34:00.000-07:00

So Anna just called following her appointment with the doctor this morning. So much for the nonstop eggplant diet. Anna is still one centimeter, which she was at her last appointment on Friday.

She did say that they went ahead and scheduled an induction date for Thursday Aug. 7. Anna goes back to the doctor on Wednesday (assuming nothing happens prior to that) and then she needs to be at the hospital at 6:15 a.m. on Thursday. I just hope the baby isn't born before 10:30 when I get there (go ahead, comment on that one).

Otherwise everything seems to be fine, though. He is still moving quite a bit, so much in fact that Anna had a hard time sleeping last night. She feels like she is getting a little sick, but the midwife said today it should not be a problem. I hate that I have to keep a little distance between us right now, but with my luck Anna would get better and have the baby right about the time I would be getting sick, and I'm not missing out on holding and kissing him.

More to come soon.

Still Waiting

2008-07-27T16:02:00.000-07:00

Well, not too much happening just yet. We were hoping for a double birthday today(Anna had hers), but barring something surprising in the next few hours we will have to wait at least another day. Anna is ready to have this boy out and about, which brings me to a question:

Do any of these recommendations actually work? I've heard eggplant, walking, herbal tea, something I dare not say as to avoid offending certain readers. Does anything actually speed nature up, or does it simply take its own course?

Also, funny moment with the in-laws. For the benefit of anyone who may not know, they are British. Some of their English words are different from our English words. One such example is, spelled phonetically, "oh-b-ghene." Anna and her parents, on the back of a conversation pertaining to childbirth, labor and other generally feminine concerns, began talking about "oh-b-ghene" at the dinner table.

Turns out "aubergine" is the British variation of eggplant, the remedy proposed to Anna by her midwife at their meeting Friday. I thought, naturally, that they were saying "OB-GYN" in their own particular way. Needless to say, comedy ensued.

Good Morning Beautiful

2008-07-19T15:25:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentlemen, my wife.

I know some of you are still reeling from the initial shock of seeing this picture, wondering whether pregnancy is playing tricks on Anna's ordinarily reserved sense of judgement or whether I simply decided to take my life in my own hands and post it without her knowledge.

She is aware.

I just wanted the world to have a glimpse of what pregnancy already has done to our little family. This morning I woke, more or less, to this scene--Anna in my National Varisty Line Camp football shirt and my poker underwear. Without giving away too much of my underwear attire, let me say that other mornings look quite similar and include my sleeveless Texas shirt, my Aussie Hoops Furman intramural basketball jersey and pretty much anything else Anna can find. It really is something.

The site of Anna in clothes several times larger than her body is something each day, even if I have to stomach talk of the impending convenience of sleeveless shirts.

Baby Update

2008-07-15T07:20:00.001-07:00

So, there isn't a whole lot happening at present as we wait for the little guy. Just a lot of imagining--imagining how I'll detest stop signs and traffic lights between my house and Pineville, imagining how and when he might show up, imagining how little sleep we're going to get. And I imagine every day past the due date (Aug. 2) will be excruciating if he isn't here yet. Then again, maybe they'll be excruciating if he is.

In other news, we got the swivel/rocker/recliner chair to go in the boy's room yesterday, and I journaled in it last night. I'm going to like it. Anna and I had a discussion a few days ago about whether one should discipline a yet-unborn child. After being kicked in the ribs, as it was described to me, Anna manually moved the boy's leg from a particularly uncomfortable position and then rolled onto her side so he couldn't put it back.

We also had an incident of discussion relating to pain. My vote is that Anna keep it to herself, at least when applicable. The boy was hitting a nerve with his mommy the other night and she was in pain, which I was happy to help with as best I could. Then, though, the lights went out. Everything was fine again and I was in that beautiful place just between first sleep and a dream when, evidently, he touched the nerve again. Anna screamed, which I could have dealt with even given my low tolerance for being startled. It was the accompanying reach for and grasp of a certain part of my body that isn't in the top two or three least appropriate places to grab a person, but still isn't quite a place I'd type here. Laughter ensued, but not immediately.

That's about it for now. More to come soon, perhaps. Oh, and of course we're still keeping the name a secret.

Outrigger Island

2008-06-30T10:38:00.001-07:00

And then, alas, I was a Wiggle no more.

Vacation Bible School ended on Friday night after six nights of screaming, dancing and high-fiving kids learning about Jesus. Someone got the idea to ask me to be the announcement guy, which ultimately meant standing up on stage in a shirt I thankfully will never need wear again while exciting the children. It was amazing to see all those kids, and now I truly know what it must be to have been a Wiggle.

What impressed me most about the week, though, was the incredible talent in our church. I was mesmerized by the story Laura Bott told to 20 three-year-olds as much as I was the fact that anyone could contain said group of three-year-olds for an entire story time. I was amazed at the energy Amanda Scott put into, well, everything Amanda Scott does. Being the technical infant that I am, I was even impressed when Nikki Godfrey-Hill fashioned up the most popular Power Point slide at a moment's notice.

The whole week made me feel pretty good about that whole taking a village to raise a child thing. We sure have some kind of village going, even if the wardrobe still needs a little work.

Grand Names

2008-06-20T10:41:00.000-07:00

Question: What do you (or did you) call your grandparents?

With the wealth of baby blogs out there, I've seen more than my fair share of names for grandparents. When they were alive, I called my dad's parents Ma and Pa. I never knew my mom's dad, who died when she was but a girl herself, but I still call my mom's mom Baba. Legend has it, as best I recall, that Stephanie named all three of those grandparents as her prenatal right of passage, being the firstborn to both families.

Is that how it works? Do people generally find the first syllabic noise a baby is able to repeat and assume that name for grandparents? Seems strange to me. Strange that a woman can live four decades of her life named Hilda and all of a sudden she becomes Baba to both family and, basically, an entire community. Strange that a woman named Carol almost five decades starts calling herself Grammy like she's P Diddy or Prince (or the hardware on their mantles). But maybe grandparents like it that way.

What do you call your grandparents? Why?

Baby Shower

2008-06-19T19:54:00.001-07:00

Attention: Brief message due to Anna writing this blog, not John.
Family and Friends threw John and I a shower on Saturday June 8th, here are some pictures.

John and I at the shower.

Dad and I

John, myself and Riley

John opening "his gift" from his mom. A Wee Block to use on Baby Marks when changing his diaper.

Daddy packing up the car with lots and lots of gifts.

Baby Thoughts

2008-06-17T15:55:00.000-07:00

So we went by the baby store, and it got me thinking. Aren't we, and of course by we I mean the people who think up the pithy sayings for baby onesies, asking a bit too much of our still unborn fetuses?

Every shirt reads "Little All Star" or "Future Slugger." If I read the word princess on one more outfit I swear I'll think I'm orbiting Epcot. One shirt actually read, and I kid you not, "Someday I'll Demand a Pony."

Really? Tell me, what's wrong with being a utility infielder? What's wrong with a seat midway down the bench if on the bench at all? And is being a cottage maiden really so terrible? How many princesses do we need?

Seems like we put an awful lot of pressure on a person whose life goal for at least a year will be figuring out where to poop.

And another thought: Parents should get together and create a dictionary consisting only of baby words. My entry? Cheeriotee

Cheeriotee: The result of snacking on Cheerios, when undoubtedly one misguided grain morsel will forego the mouth entirely and adhere itself the the perfect center of a child's chin without any indication given to said child.

And another thought: For the past little while someone in the house has been reading a book devoted entirely to breastfeeding (hint, not me) and sharing the vital information with everyone else in the house (hint, only me). I can live with it, but it just makes you think. If a man spent that much time reading about and discussing breasts, be they for feeding purposes or otherwise, people would undoubtedly think much less of him. I'm just saying.

Sometimes When We Touch

2008-06-02T19:49:00.000-07:00

Poll question:

Can babies perceive the actions of their parents while within the womb?

I ask because, as I was holding Anna's tummy this afternoon to feel the baby, I squirmed away after a few kicks/headbuts/butt rubbs/whatever they are. Anna said I should stop doing that.

"Don't pull away every time he moves," she said. "He'll come out and have a complex."

And, for the bonus quote of the day, yet another reason men should not be allowed to partake in prebirth classes--expanded vocabulary:

"I just episiotomized my pants."

-me, after finding that a new button sewn onto my beloved gray pants by my wife did not properly fit the space meant for the original button, then finding the kitchen scissors, then, well, you know

Pumps and Circumcision

2008-05-29T11:40:00.003-07:00

So Anna punched me in the mouth during baby class last night. Claims it was an accident, but you know Anna.

Otherwise not much of note happened. We practiced swaddling and changing the diaper of a plastic child. I chose a black plastic boy named Diana. Turns out changing diapers is a piece of cake as long as there's not, well, a piece of cake in there once you open it.

Also learned that as long as you support the neck and butt of a baby, you won't drop it. Like father, like son I suppose. A few interesting quotes this time around:

"If you have people who want to offer to clean your house for you or cook your food or you—let them. Take them up on it. Let them do whatever they'll do."

-teacher, on post partum activities

"If she comes in and starts rubbing your fundus, that's normal."

-teacher, on something called "fundal massage"

And now, having officially graduated having a baby class, we'll venture (hopefully) into more pleasant subjects.

Laughing at Children

2008-05-23T20:25:00.000-07:00

Went shopping tonight and ended up laughing at kids--twice.

A little girl walking into the furniture store as Anna and I left, a little girl no taller than her dad's belt, writhed and wiggled her leg as only a person in such a predicament might. Just before we would be out of sight and mind, the little girl looked up at her daddy.

"I'm trying to get my panties unstuck from my...booty" she said.

Her dad, Anna and I being the only three people in the parking lot besides the child and a distant mother, began laughing.

"Not exactly the kind of thing you announce across a parking lot," said her dad.

A store or two later, a girl barely older nearly turned somersaults at the sight of a new, bright pink daybed she wanted her mother to buy.

"Now this is going to have to last you until college," the mom said.

Maybe you had to be there for that one. Anyway, bringing a child into this world is going to be some kind of fun. Seeing what he does once he gets here may be even better.

Wedding Bells

2008-05-18T17:34:00.000-07:00

So Anna and I went to a wedding this weekend in Hartsville. The couple--friends of Anna's from college who've become my friends in recent years also--had a wonderful weekend and once we get the technical stuff worked out, we'll post a picture or two.

Now it's probably not the manliest venture to admit what I'm about to, somewhere akin to saying you enjoy your feet rubbed or like to play with dolls, but weddings always get me thinking. As I listen to wedding vows these two years since Anna and I exchanged ours, I pay attention to the words and the often Biblical truth guiding them. Then I think--again, not the manliest part coming up here--about whether those words spoken would apply to my relationship with my wife. I think of our vows, and whether I'm living up to them.

So why am I typing these thoughts on a blog about the baby? Well, someone told me once that the best gift a father can give his child is to show the child his or her mother is loved. I hope to give that gift, to show this little boy's mommy I love her.

Ok, so a few funny moments from the wedding:

1) I made up a quotation that can't be repeated, either verbally or electronically.
2) Anna and I both learned a new term--perhaps my new favorite--for flatulence.
3) I considered how many years should pass before I make fun of my son for having been a bridesmaid/wearing a bridesmaid dress in a wedding. Holden and my dad being the world's oldest ring bearers doesn't seem so bad now.
4) The bride and groom un-pimped their ride big time somewhere during the reception. They showed up to the weddingfest in a stretch Hummer limo. They left in my Chrysler Seabring. Having listened to the essential Lionel Richie all the way from Florence, I had more than ample tunage for the occasion, but even Lionel can't turn a Seabring into a Hummer.

No Pain Like Labor Pain

2008-05-14T18:27:00.000-07:00

I've never tasted the first drop of alcohol. If I'm going back to class next Wednesday, I may need a drink.

Tonight's prebirth class was excruciating. Anna and I both were physically nauseous. We talked forceps, vacuums and malpresentations. And those were the bearable topics. I dare not discuss others.

The class lasts from 7 to 9. The minute from 7:50 to 7:51 was the land before time. At one point I swear I saw Littlefoot and Sarah walking through in search of the valley of the ancestors.

At 8:20 I threw up slightly in the back of my mouth. At 8:35, I was on the ropes Mike Tyson style. Remember when Mike Tyson endured such a beating from Evander Holyfield that all he could think to do was bite a chunk of Holyfield's ear off to make it stop? At 8:35, I would have bitten my own ear off for relief--Van Gogh style.

At 8:42 my water broke. The cup of water I was holding, amid a particularly gruesome description of mounting contractual pain, came too close to my shaking leg and nearly leapt out of my hand. Anna laughed at me.

I stop somewhere short of saying tonight changed everything I thought I knew about having a baby. All the good things, perhaps. I do have a new respect for mothers, though. They should have their own holiday or something. I hope our little boy knows exactly what his parents endured just at the thought of having him, but not for a very, very long time.

And now, the obligatory quotes of the evening, this time from our substitute nurse teacher:

"If you've never experienced hemorrhoids before, you're going to experience some fantastic ones during labor."
-pretty self-explanatory

"It's kind of unbelievable that you can do that at a traffic light."
-on Kegels exercises

"It's amazing where they make the incision now, so if you get your body back afterwards and you want to go and pose for Playboy, you could."
-on the location of C-section incisions, which I suppose would be the only reason not to pose for Playboy