This a boy who loves to eat. Here's he's eating some hamburger meat Jude cooked for him. A true carnivore, he loved it.Sunday, May 31, 2009
Like Father, Like Son
In college, I majored in "Cooler Management." Last weekend, when we had a cookout at our house for Memorial Day, John Patrick decided to show off his skills. As you can see, he's a natural.
Smiling for the Camera
As I've said before, my son is very photogenic, just like his mommy. This is what you call a "toothy" grin.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Let's Play Two!
Tonight, Jude and I took John Patrick to see the Nashville Sounds play a doubleheader at Greer Stadium, about a mile from our house. It's pretty cool, because our house is close enough that we can see the fireworks, after weekend games, from our bedroom upstairs. We were curious to see how he would react at the game, since he's old enough to be a little more aware of what's going on around him. I was a little apprehensive, because my seats are directly behind the visitors' dugout on the first base side and I've seen line drive foul balls rocketed my way.
As the game got underway, it appeared we might be in for a long night. Every time the Sounds retired an Omaha Royals' player, the crowd cheered and John Patrick cried. During an at bat, with the crowd relatively quiet, he was fine. As soon as people started cheering, though, the tears started flowing. Fortunately, his anxiety was short lived and he adjusted to the cheering and noise after an inning or so. We fed him dinner and he ate while sitting in Jude's lap, playing with her visor - goldfish crackers, turkey (until we dropped the last few slices on the ground), peas, macaroni and cheese and strawberries. He took turns standing in Jude's lap, then mine, smiling, making faces, waving and pointing at the people sitting in the row behind us.
We left about 5th or 6th inning, since bedtime was approaching. Overall, it was a really good night at the ballpark with John Patrick and, most likely, one of many more to come in the future.
As the game got underway, it appeared we might be in for a long night. Every time the Sounds retired an Omaha Royals' player, the crowd cheered and John Patrick cried. During an at bat, with the crowd relatively quiet, he was fine. As soon as people started cheering, though, the tears started flowing. Fortunately, his anxiety was short lived and he adjusted to the cheering and noise after an inning or so. We fed him dinner and he ate while sitting in Jude's lap, playing with her visor - goldfish crackers, turkey (until we dropped the last few slices on the ground), peas, macaroni and cheese and strawberries. He took turns standing in Jude's lap, then mine, smiling, making faces, waving and pointing at the people sitting in the row behind us.
We left about 5th or 6th inning, since bedtime was approaching. Overall, it was a really good night at the ballpark with John Patrick and, most likely, one of many more to come in the future.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Memorial Day Weekend
I'm watching my Lakers struggle against the Nuggets in game 4 of the Western Conference finals. The Lakers are up in the series, 2-1, but it looks like it's going to go back to Los Angeles 2-2, after the Nuggets win tonight. It's funny but just a year ago, I sat in my "man chair" in the den, watching the Lakers in the playoffs, as John Patrick slept in my lap, his head on my knees.
Saturday evening, we had a cookout at our house. Jude's mom and dad came, along with her grandmother and her aunt, Margaret. My mom came up, as well, with my sister, Tracy. The weather was pleasant, so we sat outside while the burgers and bratwursts were grilling. John Patrick entertained us all, crawling around the deck, walking a few steps to me in the backyard and making funny faces at everyone. He was in rare form.
Yesterday, we attended the 8:30 a.m. church service at Christ the King on Belmont Boulevard. Later, we went to Jude's grandmother's house for brunch. I got a run in about 5 p.m. It was wicked hot and very humid. When I finished, I put cages around my tomato plants, which are already growing with all the rain we've had the past couple of weeks. After we put John Patrick to bed, Jude smoked me in Scrabble. Payback, I guess, for Friday night, when I beat her.
Saturday evening, we had a cookout at our house. Jude's mom and dad came, along with her grandmother and her aunt, Margaret. My mom came up, as well, with my sister, Tracy. The weather was pleasant, so we sat outside while the burgers and bratwursts were grilling. John Patrick entertained us all, crawling around the deck, walking a few steps to me in the backyard and making funny faces at everyone. He was in rare form.
Yesterday, we attended the 8:30 a.m. church service at Christ the King on Belmont Boulevard. Later, we went to Jude's grandmother's house for brunch. I got a run in about 5 p.m. It was wicked hot and very humid. When I finished, I put cages around my tomato plants, which are already growing with all the rain we've had the past couple of weeks. After we put John Patrick to bed, Jude smoked me in Scrabble. Payback, I guess, for Friday night, when I beat her.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
As we were about to depart for the aiport to return home from Neptune Beach, Fl., a week ago, Jude told me to grab the camera and get a picture of John Patrick and Finn. They were sitting in her lap, as she was reading to them. A moment later, I walked into the den with my camera, by which time John Patrick had pulled Finn's hair and made her cry. Then, he started crying. Go figure.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Stupid Human Tricks
Troy Baines showing off one of his many hidden talents. His son, Wolf, was very impressed.
The Sun Dog
Saturday afternoon, Troy and I took the kids to his second home, the Sun Dog. Wolf and Scout had milkshakes, while Finn ate everything Troy fed her. I love these photos of Wolf and Scout clowning around. They love to pose for the camera.
Monday, May 18, 2009
At the Beach
Sunday afternoon, we all packed up and went to the beach. John Patrick loved playing in the sand, but did not want anything to do with the Atlantic Ocean. When I carried him into the water and dipped his feet and legs in it, he immediately started crying. He enjoyed playing with seashells, although what he seemed to enjoy most was putting them in his mouth.
A Memorable Night
Perhaps because he wasn't on his normal schedule, John Patrick just didn't nap or sleep well while we were visiting the Baines' family in Neptune Beach, Fl. In particular, Saturday night was really tough, as Jude and I had a tough time getting him to go to sleep in the Pack 'n' Play in the bedroom of the guest house. Every time we laid him down, he would start crying. When we left the room, he would cry louder and louder, until we'd finally go back into the bedroom and pick him up to calm him. Finally, he fell asleep.
About 3 a.m., though, John Patrick awoke and immediately started crying. We tried to ignore him, but he stood in the Pack 'n' Play, holding on to the top of it, and just kept screaming and crying. Jude picked him up, held him, then laid him back down and he immediately started crying again. I lifted him out, held him, but he started crying as soon as I laid him back down in the Pack 'n' Play. After a half hour or so, I brought him to bed and Jude went in the other room to get some sleep on the couch.
As I laid down in the bed, John Patrick fell asleep on my chest. For the next two or three hours, he slept contentedly and I dozed off and on. It was a night I'll always remember, I think. As I was telling Jude tonight, I felt so close to my son as he slept on my chest, with my hands clasped around him, my chin resting on his head.
Another really cool thing was that around 7 a.m., John Patrick started stirring and I was able to watch him wake up, ever so slowly. He rolled around a bit, still with his eyes closed, then started cooing a little bit. After a few minutes, he quietly murmured, "da da," and my heart melted. It was a special moment.
About 3 a.m., though, John Patrick awoke and immediately started crying. We tried to ignore him, but he stood in the Pack 'n' Play, holding on to the top of it, and just kept screaming and crying. Jude picked him up, held him, then laid him back down and he immediately started crying again. I lifted him out, held him, but he started crying as soon as I laid him back down in the Pack 'n' Play. After a half hour or so, I brought him to bed and Jude went in the other room to get some sleep on the couch.
As I laid down in the bed, John Patrick fell asleep on my chest. For the next two or three hours, he slept contentedly and I dozed off and on. It was a night I'll always remember, I think. As I was telling Jude tonight, I felt so close to my son as he slept on my chest, with my hands clasped around him, my chin resting on his head.
Another really cool thing was that around 7 a.m., John Patrick started stirring and I was able to watch him wake up, ever so slowly. He rolled around a bit, still with his eyes closed, then started cooing a little bit. After a few minutes, he quietly murmured, "da da," and my heart melted. It was a special moment.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Road Warriors
Several weeks ago, Jude and decided to take a trip with John Patrick to Neptune Beach, Fl, to visit our friends, Troy and Cyndi Baines, and their children, Wolf, Scout and Finn. Friday evening, we boarded a Southwest Airlines jet a little before 8 p.m., and departed shortly thereafter on the flight to Jacksonville. Jude and I were a little apprehensive, having never taken J.P. on an airplane together.
About ten minutes or so before we were to land in Jacksonville, Jude lifted John Patrick out of his car seat next to the window and held him, as he had become a bit fussy. Suddenly and without warning, he vomited all over her. By all over her, I mean all over her, on her and underneath her. Literally, Jude was sitting in a pool of vomit, in the middle seat of row 17. I jumped up and walked to the back of the airplane, where a flight attendant gave me a trash bag and a handful of paper towels. Next, I tried to wipe her off while John Patrick squirmed in her arms.
Finally, we landed at the airport in Jacksonville, only to discover our gate was occupied by another airplane. We waited on the tarmac for about ten or fifteen minutes, then taxied, finally, to our gate. Jude, John Patrick and I were the last to leave the airplane, as we tried to clean up and gather all of our gear (carry on luggage, laptop computer, car seat, stroller, etc.). We staggered down to the baggage claim area, retrieved our luggage, only to realize we had left my camera on the airplane. Fortunately, the airplane hadn't yet left the gate and after an extended wait, a baggage handler arrived with my camera. For some reason, he refused to accept a tip from me. Cyndi met us outside the airport and we headed home to Neptune Beach, arriving near midnight.
John Patrick was so tired, we had a hard time getting him to go to sleep in the "Pack 'n' Play" in the Baines' guest house. It was a long, long night.
We're not so much "road warriors" as "road rookies."
About ten minutes or so before we were to land in Jacksonville, Jude lifted John Patrick out of his car seat next to the window and held him, as he had become a bit fussy. Suddenly and without warning, he vomited all over her. By all over her, I mean all over her, on her and underneath her. Literally, Jude was sitting in a pool of vomit, in the middle seat of row 17. I jumped up and walked to the back of the airplane, where a flight attendant gave me a trash bag and a handful of paper towels. Next, I tried to wipe her off while John Patrick squirmed in her arms.
Finally, we landed at the airport in Jacksonville, only to discover our gate was occupied by another airplane. We waited on the tarmac for about ten or fifteen minutes, then taxied, finally, to our gate. Jude, John Patrick and I were the last to leave the airplane, as we tried to clean up and gather all of our gear (carry on luggage, laptop computer, car seat, stroller, etc.). We staggered down to the baggage claim area, retrieved our luggage, only to realize we had left my camera on the airplane. Fortunately, the airplane hadn't yet left the gate and after an extended wait, a baggage handler arrived with my camera. For some reason, he refused to accept a tip from me. Cyndi met us outside the airport and we headed home to Neptune Beach, arriving near midnight.
John Patrick was so tired, we had a hard time getting him to go to sleep in the "Pack 'n' Play" in the Baines' guest house. It was a long, long night.
We're not so much "road warriors" as "road rookies."
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Mother's Day
What a great, great Mother's Day weekend! Jude's folks were in town. They came over Saturday around noon, with her grandmother, Rita, and aunt, Margaret. We went to Mafiozza's on 12th Avenue for lunch. John Patrick did great and wasn't really fussy at all until we were preparing to leave. Saturday evening, Jude and I saw "Happy Days" at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, while Carley babysat John Patrick. Saturday, in general, is definitely our favorite day of the week.
Sunday, I got up with John Patrick, so Jude could sleep in on Mother's Day. He and I strolled to the Frothy Monkey on 12th Avenue and arrived about 7:30 a.m., just after it opened. I ordered a bagel and we sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful morning. I had packed up John Patrick's breakfast in the stroller, so I fed him on the deck at the Frothy Monkey. He ate Cheerios, oatmeal, then really went to town on some strawberries. Afterward, I held his hands and we walked around the deck. We got back to the house, played in the front yard for a little while, then went inside in time for his morning nap before church.
Sunday afternoon, I ran 6 miles in Shelby Park, on the trails in Shelby Bottoms. It had rained, heavily, for several days and the Cumberland River was as high as I've ever seen it. Two of the trails I usually run on were completely submerged. I had a strong run and got back to the house in time to plant eight tomato plants in our garden. Overall, it was a nice weekend.
Sunday, I got up with John Patrick, so Jude could sleep in on Mother's Day. He and I strolled to the Frothy Monkey on 12th Avenue and arrived about 7:30 a.m., just after it opened. I ordered a bagel and we sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful morning. I had packed up John Patrick's breakfast in the stroller, so I fed him on the deck at the Frothy Monkey. He ate Cheerios, oatmeal, then really went to town on some strawberries. Afterward, I held his hands and we walked around the deck. We got back to the house, played in the front yard for a little while, then went inside in time for his morning nap before church.
Sunday afternoon, I ran 6 miles in Shelby Park, on the trails in Shelby Bottoms. It had rained, heavily, for several days and the Cumberland River was as high as I've ever seen it. Two of the trails I usually run on were completely submerged. I had a strong run and got back to the house in time to plant eight tomato plants in our garden. Overall, it was a nice weekend.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Flowers in the Spring
A couple of years ago, Jude planted some lilies in the garden in our front yard. The bulbs hadn't produced any flowers until this spring. Take a look at this amazing flower, with purple and yellow mixed together. Wow!
Prairie Home Companion
Saturday afternoon, Jude and I saw Garrison Keillor and Prairie Home Companion, broadcasting live and nationwide, at the Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville. What an amazing show! Sam Bush and Brad Paisley were fantastic guests. Jude and I are big, big public radio fans and she got tickets for us when she made a donation to our local public radio station, WPLN.
We sat about four rows from the stage, dead center. It was a magical afternoon, for sure. Although we've seen Garrison Keillor at the Ryman a couple of times before, once with Prairie Home Companion, I was so glad to be there Saturday. I've heard a couple of times lately that the radio show will only be around for a couple more years. It might have been the last show at the Ryman and, if so, I'm glad we were there.
We sat about four rows from the stage, dead center. It was a magical afternoon, for sure. Although we've seen Garrison Keillor at the Ryman a couple of times before, once with Prairie Home Companion, I was so glad to be there Saturday. I've heard a couple of times lately that the radio show will only be around for a couple more years. It might have been the last show at the Ryman and, if so, I'm glad we were there.
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