avablog

Last night was the first night Emmmett didn’t sleep in a pull-up. Really, he probably could’ve done away with them a couple weeks ago, but last night’s milestone represents his parents’ willingness to strip his bed in the middle of the night and clean his sheets as often as they need to rather than buy […]

[Read more →]

Our little AGP was all dolled up and eager this morning as she headed off to her doomed elementary school for another year of the Three Rs. She got the teacher she wanted (he disciplines through niceness, apparently), and she even has a couple friends in her class of 24 students. I’m hoping her enthusiasm […]

[Read more →]

Leah recently took the kids to the pool for the first time this year. It’s still early enough that the water is a tad on the chilly side, but even a chilly day at the pool is better than a warm day sitting at home on the sofa. Amiright? Photo by LMK.

[Read more →]

We headed up north to Decorah last month for a rainy, yet fun, visit. G.G. and Poom Poom even turned on the AC for us! Thought I’d take a moment to share some select photos from the weekend, for your viewing pleasure.

[Read more →]

The other day we received a fairly large box that contained some items to adorn Emmett’s room, now that it’s been painted, and his new bed has been installed. As usual, the space in the box not containing our adornments was filled with rolls and rolls of bubble wrap. If there’s one thing I hate […]

[Read more →]

The big news at the house this week is that ECP is moving from his little Big Boy bed to his big Big Boy bed (with robots!). I spent most of the week patching some water damage in one corner of Emmett’s room and re-painting the entire thing in preparation for the arrival of his […]

[Read more →]

Spring is springing, at last. It’s been awesome to be able to get outside and work in the yard and even just sit and enjoy an ice cream cone. This past weekend we helped Tristan celebrate his second birthday. I think it’s safe to say a good time was had by all. And especially Tristan. […]

[Read more →]

Over spring break this year, we took a couple days and traveled to Minneapolis with Leah’s mom. Rachel, Kevin, and Tristan came, too. The trip was, ostensibly, to help celebrate G.G.’s birthday, but we spent the bulk of the time carting the kids around to various kid-friendly venues for their entertainment. One such venue was […]

[Read more →]

Leah likes to say that she was never sure whether she could love a boy child like she loves Ava. As a boy, I understand. There is something sugar and spice and all that’s nice about Ava, as difficult as she can be sometimes. And Emmett’s different. Of course, he has the advantage of being […]

[Read more →]

I sort of halfway resolved at the beginning of the year to take more pictures of the kids. So far, this has meant taking more pictures of Emmett. Here’s a shot of him from this morning, when he wanted to show off the contraption he’d made out of Tinkertoys (well, OK, he was *encouraged* to […]

[Read more →]

Emmett recently got what I’m calling his first real haircut. Prior to this, Leah had taken him in for a series of “trims” that required him to visit the salon every other week. Untenable. I requested that his next visit result in a more substantial cut, and so we got what we now have, which […]

[Read more →]

Emmett this morning just as he sat down to a breakfast of pancakes and bacon: “Actually, bacon is the best food in the world.” Out of the mouths of babes.

[Read more →]

Tonight’s our last night on Isla Mujeres. We went to an Italian place for dinner, and at one point I pulled Emmett into my lap to read him a book. Emmett cuddled in and said, “Daddy, you smell like bread and butter.” So I have that going for me. Which is nice.

[Read more →]

I tend not to be as maudlin as Leah often is about our children’s fleeting youth. I will say, though, that this morning I realized (as always, like a bolt from the blue), that I’m really, really going to miss that happy little wiggle Emmett does upon popping the first bite of a long-awaited breakfast […]

[Read more →]

I wouldn’t say I went into having kids wearing rose-colored glasses, but it’d be fair to say I’ve still been taken aback a time or two by how difficult parenting can be. Even so, after eight years, the moments of sweetness continue to make up for all the wailing, gnashing of teeth, and rending of […]

[Read more →]

Gramary picked up Emmett from daycare yesterday and took him out for some adventure, which included riding the train at City Park and checking out some animal masks from the ICPL. I sure do love this picture of our little guy, ensconced in Gramary’s cow-themed carseat with his tiger mask on. And also this one, […]

[Read more →]

Hi, Emmett. It hasn’t even been a week since you turned 3, but already you seem like such a big boy. You’re mastering the potty, at least at day care, where you’re now in “the 3s” with Kendra and your friends David and Oscar. You love scrambled eggs and ham for breakfast, and you’ve taken […]

[Read more →]

Back from California as of last Friday, and it was a fairly exhausting trip. But the kids seemed to have a good time, and that’s the important thing.

[Read more →]

Coconut popsicles on the front porch of an early summer evening.

[Read more →]

I’m able to count on one hand the number of times either of our kids has fallen asleep without significant help from either Leah or I.

[Read more →]