avablog

In the space of 13 months I went from leading the life of a confirmed bachelor with no designs on having a family to being married and fathering a little girl.  *blink, blink*

[Read more →]

I don’t read a lot. I know, I know. It’s terrible. Illiterate parents raise illiterate children. Fortunately, Ava will probably grow up to be semi-literate, at least, thanks to Leah (who, in addition to being a semi-voracious reader, is beautiful, sharp as a tack, funny, and the love of my life — happy now? ;)). […]

[Read more →]

I try to keep track of this kind of thing.  First cicada.  First firefly.  I don’t write it down or anything, but I make a mental note. Last night I was outside changing the oil in our car, and just at dusk I heard the familiar strains of a cicada off in the trees somewhere […]

[Read more →]

This is what your Daddy was listening to when he was your age. That is one funky blind man. And those kids are loving it!

[Read more →]

I love my daughter and will certainly go to all sorts of lengths to please her and provide for her, but I’m already learning where my limits are. And they are here. Via Daddy Types.

[Read more →]

This past Saturday we took Ava along to an annual neighborhood pig roast we get invited to. It’s a good time. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate, and a squall blew in and soaked everything just as the pig was coming out of the pit. It rained pretty hard for a bit, and then everyone came […]

[Read more →]

You’ve been alive now for 644 days, and this morning I fell in love with you for the 644th time. I rolled quietly out of bed so I wouldn’t disturb you where you were lying next to me and slipped through the door.   I walked silently from room to room, collecting the trash we […]

[Read more →]

I have a couple basil plants that’ve been growing like crazy lately with all this hot, humid weather and rain.  Last night I got my first chance to use some when I made pasta for dinner. We had a tube of frozen turkey in the freezer, so I browned it with a little sweet onion, […]

[Read more →]

…100 hula hoops on a sequin-covered majorette. The drinking game goes as follows: Half a drink every time someone in the room (including you) says, “I could do that;” full drink every time someone falls down or otherwise hurts him/herself on stage. Everyone chugs when Simon makes a contestant cry and/or swear, vomit. Engage…. UPDATE:  […]

[Read more →]

If you’re thinking about having a baby — and even if you’re not — you’ve probably heard some horror stories about sleepless nights. They’re all true. But like everything else about having a child, sleep deprivation is a new part of life you just get used to.

[Read more →]

I was running errands at noon today and had occasion to be on a stretch of local interstate. At one point a truck entered the road ahead of me, and I was verily disgusted by it. It was one of those silver tanker trucks, the kind usually meant for hauling milk or lemonade or marshmallow […]

[Read more →]

My best friend is sitting at home today recovering from a vasectomy. I called him on Sunday to wish him a happy Father’s Day, and he mentioned he was going under the knife. I was a bit surprised, but not terribly. He and his wife have two gorgeous kids, one boy and one girl. They […]

[Read more →]

I’m still getting used to Father’s Day. At least to being on the receiving end of Father’s Day. On Sunday morning I was lazing in bed for a bit while Leah went about putting the finishing touches on my Father’s Day gifts. She came into the room with Ava and set her on the bed […]

[Read more →]

New findings by brain researcher Kelly Lambert, professor and chair of the psychology department at Randolph-Macon College, suggest that fatherhood may change more than just a man’s lifestyle – it may actually cause lasting benefits in his brain. Full story here.  It’s difficult to say whether I’ve noticed any brain change since Ava’s been born.  […]

[Read more →]

I like radishes.  Don’t love ’em.  But there’s something refreshing about them, particularly sliced super thin on top of a salad of mixed greens. The CSA we belong to is producing lots of radishes right now, and I’m at a bit of a loss as to what to do with them.  Salads, yes, but after […]

[Read more →]

That’s what I need. I’d like a method to tell how much Scientology is mixed up in the media I consume (you got chocolate in my peanut butter). Surely there’s an easy way to tally this. Is the leading lady “clear?” Is the director an operating thetan? We could assign a point total according to […]

[Read more →]

There’s an awareness of this concept, and then there’s the full understanding of the reality.  The latter sneaks into your consciousness if you spend any prolonged period of time with a toddler.

[Read more →]

I was biking away from daycare this morning after dropping Ava off, and I had to shake my head at my conceit.  See, Ava had cried and tried to cling to me when I left her.  She did the same thing when I dropped her off the other day, too.  It’s not a fun episode […]

[Read more →]

We had a very nice, albeit a bit cool, weekend in Madison visiting Aunt Rachel and Uncle Kevin.  As usual, we packed each day full of activity.

[Read more →]

No, not that kind. Leah’s become more and more concerned with my health since Ava came along. It’s nice, though I realize the primary concern isn’t really for me. As part of my new health awareness, Leah scheduled me for a skin check at the dermatologist she sees (without checking with me first). No problem. […]

[Read more →]