Nola has started to repeat everything I say, which includes a few things that sound like things I need to stop saying before they stick in her ever-expanding vocabulary. She’s also really into playing games. This game, in which I’ve taught her to run away, bring back her cup, hand it to me, and to [...]

Filed under: Daddy Things, Nola Eleanor, Thar She Grows | 3 Comments »

Nola wears short shorts now that the mercury has threatened to rise to 80 degrees on the first day of April - my beloved mother’s birthday (Happy Birthday, Mom!). After two full days of snotting and wheezing and fevering, Nola seems to be back to normal and ready to show some leg, dairy be damned.

And [...]

Filed under: Daddy Style, Firsts, Nola Eleanor | 4 Comments »

Nola now has 5-1/2 teeth. Every single one was a hard fought victory for the both of us. My back is excited for that 1/2 tooth to drive our tally up to a nice, even 6 (Nola demands an inordinate amount of arm time when cutting teeth).
On Saturday, I celebrated my own toothy victory. After [...]

Filed under: Daddy Things, Nola Eleanor, Reinvention | 6 Comments »

One of my favorite bloggers, Pamela Jeanne at A Fresh Start, needs your assistance.
Her powerful book, Silent Sorority, is up for a very cool honor. I received this message from PJ and wanted to pass it along to you all:
Your kind support encouraged me to move forward and write Silent Sorority.
I’ve learn today that [...]

Filed under: Daddy Things, News from the Parent Front, Nola Eleanor, Other People Are Cool | 1 Comment »

After writing Friday’s post, I hit publish, poured myself a glass of water splashed with grape juice, and then Nola walked from me to the refrigerator in five successive, successful steps. Apparently, I just needed to put her near-misses out into the electronic ether in order to give her the motivation to finally start walking.
Moments [...]

Filed under: Daddy Things, Firsts, News from the Parent Front, Nola Eleanor | 5 Comments »

Nola is sitting in a patch of sunlight next to our bookcase in the living room. She has maneuvered one leg out of her sleeper and is bent over at the waist, sucking on her toes.
I’m copy editing garden and home-buying stories and my daughter is sucking the lint from between her toes.

Somebody, please, make [...]

Filed under: Daddy Things, Diversions, Nola Eleanor | 5 Comments »

Food is going to be a constant source of consternation.
Actually, allow me to rephrase.
Food is going to be a constant source of nutrition (trying to keep it positive!) even if Nola signs an exclusivity contract with one type of cuisine at a time. For the last month it has been nothing but Cheerios [...]

Filed under: News from the Parent Front, Nola Eleanor, Thar She Grows | 7 Comments »

Now that the holidays are at an end, I’m finding myself even more exhausted than during the big lead up. Nola’s first Christmas was quiet and sweet. We didn’t go crazy on gifts for anyone because, well, what’s the point. Saving money now, while Nola has no clear method to differentiate between Christmas and Arbor [...]

Filed under: Husband & Wife, Nola Eleanor | 5 Comments »

The snow was relentless, but Nola and I had places to go and people to see. Yesterday my office was holding a holiday lunch at a bar and grill about a mile from our condo and attendance was not going to be excused by bad weather. So we bundled ourselves up to the hilt and [...]

Filed under: Daddy Things, Firsts, Nola Eleanor | 2 Comments »

My childhood best friend, Sarah, sent us an amazing care package over the weekend that included a birthday present for me (Clinique for Men!) as well as Christmas gifts for the three of us. The morning of my birthday started off in a not-so-fun fashion, so by the time I got home from work and [...]

Filed under: Firsts, Husband & Wife, Nola Eleanor | 2 Comments »