Good Morning

Nothing is better than a morning after Gilbert has had a good night's sleep. He's all smiles and loves the camera.

Back At Work

I'm sitting at my desk back at work. Not much has changed. The mail did not pile too high and I cleaned out my email prior so I'm basically back up to speed. The summer months are often slower so nothing pressing was waiting my return.

I did recieve two requests to attend meetings/visit offices so I could be heading to Australia and South Beach. Of course, it is winter in Australia right now and brutally hot in Miami. Good timing on my part.

Signs of Movement?

Finally! Gilbert looks like he might ready, er, willing to be mobile. He's begun to stay on his belly more and now rotates to grab objects or change his vantage point. In bed he's moving around as well. His butt is starting to go up into the air as if he's going to put his knees under it for balance and propulsion.

Close to rolling over from back to belly he's reaching for more items and his awareness of surroundings has heightened. When people or objects go behind his field of vision, he is aware of its presence and expects it to be in the same place when he turns around. This makes for fun games. Especially peek-a-boo!

Also, he loves to stand up. When he's sitting and grabs my hands he shoots up into a standing position. This is not new. However, now he stays on his toes and wants to lunge forward.

All of this is very awkward, but the signs point to a mobile Gilbert!

The End Is Near

Today is my last day of paternity leave, i.e. FREEDOM! Tomorrow I'll be back at my desk. Ugh.

Temps are suppose to push 90 degrees. Not exactly ideal for taking Gilbert outside for prolong periods. Perhaps a trip to Gymboree? Otherwise, nothing incredible is planned for the day. Just a list of small tasks and items to complete.

My mind has already begun to transition as I cleaned out my work email last night. All my clothes are cleaned, ironed, etc. Feel like I'm just counting the hours until I go to the 'chair'! All that remains is what should I have for my last meal!

Carnivore Squirrels?

Gilbert and I went to the park yesterday for some afternoon 'swing time'. On the way to the park a squirrel came out of a city trash can. In its mouth looked like the remnants of a pork chop. The squirrel jumped out and ran to a base of a tree where it proceeded to clean the bone of any meat.

When did squirrels become meat eaters? Guess this is a prime example of darwinism. Scary!

Gilbert's First Weekend Alone

No, we didn't leave him in his crib with a weekend's supply of food and water along with toys. With Kristen and I at the Crony Cup we dropped Gilbert off in the trusting hands of Kristen's mom. Taya has been planning Gilbert's arrival by preparing her home for the little man. She bought a pack-n-play and mapped out a weekend's worth of activities and parks.

She recently renovated the kitchen and the new deep sink was perfect for bath time! Gilbert adjusted easily, was intrigued by Taya's dog and cats, and overall had fun.

For us, this marked our first time away from Gilbert. Neither of us worried, but I do know Kristen talked with her mom at least once a day to check in!

Fantastic Golfing Weekend

Returned yesterday from my annual Crony Cup. Despite being on the losing team, the Cup was definitely a memorable time!

I believe I've posted about the Crony before, but to refresh it is a Ryder Cup-style event started by a group of guys who played golf together at Purdue. Of the twelve participants this year, 10 are still originals. I'm fortunate to be part of the group as a non-original! Most live in the Indianapolis area, but others have moved and now come from Atlanta, Nashville, Dallas, and the New York area.

The golf is the main reason for the Cup, but tenants such as camaraderie, competition, and friendship definitely underpin the event. This year was no different.

The quality of golf is stellar with scores ranging from a few below par to the high 70's and I'm one of the weaker players of the Cup. However, once the first drive is hit, the competition becomes fierce. I drew 'A' players for all three matches making it tough. I played well the first two matches, but not well enough. The last match is one on one match play and again, I drew an 'A' player! However, I played my best and the match came down to the 18th hole. One down, I needed a birdie on the par 5. We both hit wild drives and I hit a fabulous low hook through the trees around a pond up to about 20 yards short of the green. My opponent was in jail in the woods and hit a great shot just to escape Sherwood Forest. He was so deep I asked if he saw Little Red Riding Hood in there!

Anyway, he stuck his approach to 4 feet leaving a kick-in for birdie. So, knowing I had to make my chip for eagle to win the hole and halve the match, I nearly did so as the ball ran over the right lip and stopped a few feet from the hole. Oh well!

Beyond the golf, the evenings were a blast. With the ladies in attendance, we had group dinners and on the last night an awards ceremony took place and the captains for this year's Cup created a Family Feud game for us to play. That was a riot!

In all, the Cup again lived up to its billing and I'm already looking forward to next year. The next Cup represents the 10th year and there is a lot of talk about taking the Cup on the road to a premier destination. Should be fun!

Happy Birthday To Me!

Yep! Today is my birthday. 24. 39. Just kidding. 36. Ugh.

I've been joking with Kristen that on this day I will have passed the midway point. She was not pleased that I planned or wanted to check out by 70. Heck, the world is going to implode by then anyway!

But seriously. 36. I don't act 26!

How will I spend my day you ask? Not doing much. I fly to Indy this evening. Probably will spend the day just lounging, playing with Gilbert. Might take in a matinee, go read (and take a nap) in the park, or just sit on my thumb. The best part is it is my choice!

Long Drive

Yesterday was the final round of golf in preparation for my Crony Cup. The Crony consists of 12 guys who participate in a Ryder Cup-style tournament. Getting ready for the Crony has been difficult this year given my bike accident. However, the past few weeks away from work has helped!

I've attempted to play courses similar to the Crony course and in continuing with this preparation I went to Cog Hill. As a single or 'walk-on', I play roulette as to who I will be paired with for my round. I can play golf with all levels and still have fun, but it is nice to be paired with golfers of the same caliber.

I was in for a treat this time! I was paired with Sean "The Beast" Fister and his agent Stacey. The Beast is a 3x long drive world champ and is in the LDA Hall of Fame. The first hole was 325+ yards and he drove the green and sank his putt for eagle. This was going to be fun!

After a few holes and they realized I was a decent golfer the round became quite fun with a lot of conversation and storytelling. Well, I asked questions and then just listened. Turns out Stacey, the agent, used to be a guitarist for David Bowie back in the wild days. Good stories, wish I could have heard more.

The Beast was in town to do a show for the Speed Network. Eight long drive guys were paired up with eight drivers from NASCAR for a long drive competition. Filming takes today and the show will be aired over six weeks in September. They offered to get me tickets - most appreciated! - but I head out to Indy for the Crony.

Both were great guys and it was fun round. Shot 77, not bad in my own right. I did notice a few times I attempted to clobber my driver in attempt to keep up, show off, or whatever. Some results were good, some not so!

Gilbert's First Visit To the Library

I have been quite delinquent in obtaining a library card. On my to-do list during my vacation, I set out this morning with Gilbert to accomplish the task. Also, Kristen and I wanted to learn of any children's programs or readings that Gilbert can attend.

Utilizing public transportation, we rode the 'L' around the loop to the main branch of the Chicago Public Library. Luckily, and without and prior planning on my part, each stop had elevators. Not all stops have accessibility and had either stop not had elevators we would have had to get back on the CTA and go to another stop. Whew!

I must admit not allowing strollers on escalators is a pain in the butt! In the library, I had to find the elevators to get to where we needed to go. Also, people can be rude about elevators. Young people not acquiescing to their elders, people with wheelchairs or dad's with strollers!

In the line with application in hand for my new card, Gilbert decided to start squawking. And loud! A few friendly looks from library staff and I realized my faux pau. Quickly, I inserted pacifier into child and quiet was restored!

Obtaining a library card was incredibly simple and swift. Afterwards we went into the children's library so I could reconnoiter the surroundings. I found the toddler section and we took a few minutes to read some books. Gilbert loved it. He quickly assumed the reading position - in my lap reclined against my chest - and waited patiently to be read to. With the library's schedule in hand, it was back on the 'L' for a quick ride home!

A Fun Holiday Weekend

I trust all my readers enjoyed their 4th of July and long holiday weekend. We sure did! We spent our time in Michigan visiting family and just relaxing. A hard task for me, I managed!

On the 4th I played a local golf course that was a quite a surprise and a treat to play. Reddemann Farms is located in Chelsea, MI and is on what used to be a working dairy farm. Now a well manicured golf course, the layout has nice rolling changes in elevation and winds through the local woods. At $32 to walk, it was an incredible deal!

Beyond the golf, we hung out on the property, enjoyed our time catching up, and playing with Gilbert and Jasper. For the evening of the 4th we built an ad hoc fire pit and started a bon fire. Kristen was able to fulfill her 4th wish of having smores!

Saturday consisted of traveling to family for a graduation party. It was nice to see Kristen's family as it has been awhile.

However, the most surprising aspect of the trip was to discover what a great traveler Gilbert can be. The trip was approximately four hours each way. He slept the entire trip home and on the way out he slept most of the way and when awake simply enjoyed his time in the car seat. Talk about a relief!

Happy Independence Day

From our family to all of yours, we hope you have a safe, patriotic and memorable 4th of July.

PJ's safety tip: when playing tag with roman candles, aim below the waist!

Traveling With the Kitchen Sink

I'm packing for the trip to Ann Arbor. Could I BE TAKING ANY MORE STUFF? Pack-n-Play? Check. Noise machine? Check. Video monitor? Check. Trip's worth of food and milk? Check. Stroller? Check. Sunscreen, lotion, diapers, wipes. Check. And the list goes on. I'm not sure if my mid-size SUV has enough room for me. And I'm the driver!

But seriously, the amount of stuff required when traveling with a child is immense. I know this is not new news to those veteran parents, but the reality of it has settled in. I'm considering contracting with a moving company to help organize each trip!

One Week Down, Two More To Go

I've just enjoyed my first week (of three) vacation/paternity leave. I'm beginning to understand why the Europeans go on 'holiday' for an extended timeframe. I feel rested, been enjoying the sun, playing golf, and spending time with Gilbert all with the comfort of knowing I have two more weeks to go!

Checking my BlackBerry only sporadically, it feels good to be disconnected and have gone a few days without checking email. Quite wonderful. I had to ask someone today what day it was!

Tomorrow starts road trip #2 as we head to Ann Arbor for the 4th of July to see Kristen's brother, their new home, and newbie Jasper. Don't fear, the golf clubs are coming with me!

I Like Pool

My daddy and mommy took me on a planz ride to Hustin to see Gram and Grampa. Dad sez it was 'Afrika hot'. I don't know what that means, but it doesn't sound plezant!

They put me in a gigantus bath tub. They called it pool. But it seemed like a just a really big bath tub. But it was confusing. No soap! I like the pool.

I wore a special diaper with Nemo on it and then got to wear a floppy hat. I like floppy hats. The water was colder than my bath, but I like it.


On my first day in teh pool, Mommy and daddy carry me all around. Sez I would sink. I thought sinks were in the kitchen? It was still fun.

Later, they let me sit on the step and play. I like sitting in the pool. I wanted to eat the pool, but they sez it is not edible. Who's Ed?

The second day I sat on rocks with water running on them. Daddy called it a water fall. I could feel the cold water running under my legs. It felt nice. Mommy looked worried and would yell at Daddy to "stay close" to me. Daddy seemed annoyed by Mommy's commands. He told me I was a strong, Little Man and would not fall over. I didn't!

I like pool.

Back From Houston

The first week of my paternity leave was a good one! Team Johnson packed up our wares and headed to Houston for an extended weekend of family fun.

Gilbert was fantastic on the plane rides. We learned a lot about when we should travel with him. The outbound flight was early in the morning and our return late at night. He was great in both instances, but the evening flight was more taxing on him. Clearly tired and ready for sleep, Gilbert's slumber was repeatedly interrupted by transfers from car to plane, plane to stroller, stroller to car, car to bed. Poor guy!

The weather was humid and HOT! Everyday was over 90 degrees and we loved it! My P's have a pool - most do in Houston; a requisite to survive the summers - and we used the opportunity to introduce Gilbert to the water. He was hesitant at first, but quickly embraced the water and enjoyed all his time in it!

My sister, her husband and their daughter came down for the weekend too! And during their visit we celebrated the birthday's of both my niece and myself (we share the same day!). I also played a few rounds of golf with my dad and brother-in-law and otherwise just enjoyed the concept of vacation. Kristen and I even went out for a dinner date!

Last Day of Work

No, I did not win the lottery. Damn it! But I did receive something close. My firm provides paternity leave, so starting tomorrow I get three weeks off from work! Hooray for me!

The leave is good for one year and can be taken anytime. I opted to wait instead of using the leave after Gilbert's arrival. Must admit that was a shrewd decision on my part. Now, he's more active, it is summer and we can enjoy the three weeks outside.

What am I going to do you ask? Well, there will be travel. Leaving for Houston on Thursday to see my folks and take advantage of 90+ degree days for some sun and fun in their pool. Then the following week we'll be in Ann Arbor visiting Kristen's brother for the 4th of July and meeting Gilbert's new cousin. The last week we'll be in Indiana for my annual Crony Cup golf tournament. In between all those trips I will be taking in a healthy dose of golf and quality time with Gilbert. I see multiple trips to Gymboree and visits to the park in our future.

I can not wait!

Delicious Has Arrived!

Okay, Delicious didn't walk up to the condo, but rather was picked up. All tightly packaged and neatly labeled.

To prepare for Delicious I collected coolers from the other cartel members (better known as the Delicious Meat Club), bought dry ice this morning to keep Delicious nice and cold and then headed north for the pick up. Accompanied by DMC member Brian, we traveled to the pick up point where we were met by a cold delivery truck and upon opening the door saw three cardboard boxes with my name on them! We loaded the meat quickly into the coolers and headed back to Brian's house.

Kudos to Jordanal Farm. The whole experience was professional and first class. As mentioned, the meat was well packed and labeled making it easy to divvy up back at Brian's house. In his front yard we lined up the coolers and laid out the meat, now grouped by type and cut and began the separation process.

Brats, wieners, sirloin, tenderloin, ribeye, new york strip, flank, skirt, flat iron, rump round, tenderized round, short ribs, soup bones, beef roast, ground beef, and the list goes on. Each member received a base package and then I had to make the executive decision on how to divvy up the rest. In the end I think our first foray was successful. All that remains is actually eating the meat!

With all the meat laid out, I quickly realized I had too much of the ground beef converted to hot dogs and brats. An error I will correct next time. Hopefully, when the club steps up to a 1/2 cow!

Not to just dump and run, I prepared a guide for preparing grass fed beef as its preparation is substantially different. The guide included a map of the cow so each member could learn more about Delicious and where each cut came from. Recipes for rubs, marinades, and sauces were also included along with tips for preparing and grilling the meat. I'll post it later.

First up, bratwurst. The package is thawing now and will be ready for the grill tomorrow! Stay tuned!

Jack and Gil They Like To Chill

We voyaged out to We-Go (West Chicago) to visit our friends and meet their newest family member, Jack. It was a fun visit. Kristen spent most of the time holding Jack reveling in how small he was as compared to how fast they grow while lamenting how she can't even remember the time when Gilbert was once a newbie.






For me it was great to catch up and relax. Of course, we took the opportunity to snap a few pictures of Jack and Gil.

Counting The Days

Come Wednesday next week, I'll be off of work for three weeks. Yippee to me!

My firm offers paternity leave and I'm taking it. Good for one year, I held off using it when Gilbert was born thinking it might be more valuable come summertime. Those three weeks will be full of fun.Mostly visiting family, playing golf, hanging with Gilbert and getting some sun. I use to be a tan person, but the day job has killed that pasttime. And then the tan was good up to mid-arm and mid-thigh. Nothing is more attractive than a farmer's tan!

The next few days at the office will be tidying up my projects. I'm surgically connected to my BlackBerry so I will not be able to be completely devoid of work, but at least the responsibility of actually doing it!

Reacquainted With An Old Friend

More than a year and a half has gone by since I made contact. A year and a half too long! But this morning I made amends.

At 5am I teed it up and played golf for the first time since October of '06. As many of you know, knee surgery destroyed my golf season last year and after losing a game of chicken with a car, playing golf was further postponed.

After practicing for the past few weeks it was time to take off the training wheels and go out alone. Granted it was just nine holes, but it was a glorious nine holes. The City still asleep, I drove through the Loop onto Lakeshore Drive and headed north to play the nine hole track that is Sydney Marovitz. A nice layout, it suffers from destruction at the hands of the thousands of city golfers drawn to it as the only golfing refuge for those living downtown or to the north of the City.

The sun was just beginning to stir, but had yet to introduce itself to the world. In fact, the pro shop wasn't open either. So, I quietly slipped over to the 1st tee, smacked a 3wood down the middle (jitters be damn!) and begun my round. My game off the tee was in mid-season form hitting all the fairways. My iron play was inconsistent, but was expected. The greens were like putting on shag. Overall, I was pleased. Not bad, not great. But definitely some good moments. I shot a 40 and the rust definitely accounted for a few strokes.

But the best part was just being on the course. It reminded me of being a kid when I worked at golf courses and would be the first out to get a round in before working the bag drop. The grass was still wet with morning dew and walking would kick up the moisture onto the back of your legs. Just wet and cold enough to provide a little, friendly sting.

The course runs along Lake Michigan and as the sun broke the horizon you could feel its warmth. A jogging path runs along the course as well and it was full of joggers. Who jogs, willingly at 5am? Then again, they were probably wondering who plays golf at that time as well!

There were even times I forgot I was playing golf in the middle of the City. As I looped around to the finishing holes that run along the inner drive that tranquility was shattered by the beginnings of rush hour traffic. Only an hour and twenty minutes was needed to play and I was back home by 7am. What a great way to start the day!

Jumpin' Gilbert

Gilbert is becoming friends with his Johnny Jumper. This past week he's discovered the art of jumping. And twisting. And swinging. I'm sure the door frame will get a workout!

Got to love the background noise; clothes washer, Kristen beating eggs, and me making monkey sounds to entertain Gilbert. College education at its finest!

The Many Faces of Gilbert

Pictures are courtesy of Kristen the Nanny! She gets to see all his crazy faces as his moods swing throughout the day. Glad she is around to capture his moments!

Happy Father's Day...To Me!

And to all the other dads out there. Both new and veterans. Today is my first Father's Day. A day finally dedicated to PJ to allow me to do as I please. How cool!

And a good day it was. The weather was poor when we woke up - we brought Gilbert into our bedroom for some morning playing - and watched the storm front roll in. Gilbert seemed to enjoy watching as well. Or at least staring at the trees across the street get whipped back and forth by the wind.

No sooner did the storm unleash its rain and wind did it dissipate out over Lake Michigan so I set out on my original plan for the day; some PJ time at Harborside International for range practice. I've mentioned before the excellent facilities at Harborside and it has become part of my Sunday routine. As much for pleasure as for therapy to restore my strength and flexibility lost from the bike accident.

The course is a popular destination for city-folk - the best, and closest, fee-based course around the City. An interesting observation was the clientele today. No women. And all the foursomes were dads and sons. Very cool. Found myself looking forward to playing golf with Gilbert!

Back at home, we lounged, played, and watched the final round of the US Open. Turned out to be a great final round as Tiger miraculously sank a birdie putt to force a playoff on Monday.

The weather was still beautiful so we embarked on the second request I had for Father's Day and that was dining al fresco. A new Italian restaurant opened - Trattoria Isabella - recently just a few blocks away and we have wanted to sample their fare. The restaurant is in a nondescript office building and on first glance you would not know the establishment existed. The owners must have known this too and smartly built an expansive outdoor seating area equipped with a permanent, covered bar. In fact, they closed the inside portion and exclusively served outside. Smart move!

Jonesing for a 'sweet', Kristen was so Baskin-Robbins satisfied her craving as we continued to enjoy the day with a walk around the neighborhood. The employee working wished me a "Happy Father's Day". I was taken back at first not realizing he was talking to me. It was a mental check as if to say, "Yeah. That's me. A father!"

A new high-rise development is near completion only two blocks away and with it was a promise to build a park. I've been monitoring progress intently as it will give Gilbert quick access to a park. It is close to completion. The equipment is installed as well as the concrete paths been laid. Now the crew is installing the rubber asphalt ground around the equipment. This is only part of a larger park that has been graded and now awaits seeding for grass. Should be nice once complete!

Back at home, we watched the outcome of the golf tournament and begun preparations for back to normal Monday.

Oh yeah, Kristen and Gilbert gave me a fantastic gift - a Bulova watch - for Father's Day. Definitely a surprise.

I must say Father's Day has its privileges!

Peas Please!

Gilbert likes peas. I give him credit. I hated peas as a kid. My mom made me eat them growing up and it was a battle of wills as to who would win. No battle with Gilbert. The spoon lifts up from the bowl and his mouth opens like a baby chick waiting to be fed by his mother!

The latest pea feeding was a bit messy. When pureeing this batch, the peas became a bit thin (added to much of the cooked water). Add to the equation Gilbert's desire to be playful and you can see the results!

Dive Bomber

As of late when Gilbert sees an object, toy, or something he wants to touch and investigate he's begun to lunge for the object...no matter where he is at the time. Kristen and I now have to be more cautious in how we hold him as to not allow the Little Man to jump out of our arms.

In addition to the lunging he has begun to dive bomb. Breast feeding moms may be familiar to this as the babies have a tendency to lunge or throw themselves into your boobs, grab at your shirt, bra, etc. all based on instinct.

Well, Gilbert has done this to a lesser extent. However, what is funny is he likes to 'dive bomb' into his favorite blanket as witnessed by this video.

Splish Splash

Gilbert was making a mess in his bath! This is a portion of a greater splash session. After this episode, Gilbert graduated to the 'big boy' bathtub.

Unfortunately, Kristen and I have to develop a new routine for Gilbert. The past three nights have felt like we're all thumbs and he has been less than amused with the new surroundings. Hopefully we'll master a new routine soon as Gilbert's bathing time is a highlight of the evening!

Happy Eater

Solid food and Gilbert are best friends. This is no secret as I've blogged about this plenty. During one of his recent dinners, he was particularly happy and was content to sit in his high chair upon completion (usually he's ready to move on to the boob topper or his bath).

Kristen finds it humorous that Gilbert crosses is feet. Full from his meal, he was in full recline and crossed his feet.

As if the gesture served as a signal to us for a 'meal well done!' Fast forward forty years and he'll be doing the same, just in his lazy boy chair and with his belt undone! How's that for illiteration!

Future Golfer?

I'm attempting to plant the seeds for Gilbert wanting to play golf early. I started introducing him to golf balls. He has taken to the round object. I think he likes the weight - as it is heavier than all the featherlight toys he currently plays with - and the texture.

However, like any object he comes into contact with Gilbert is not satisfied unless it goes into his mouth!

Teething Relief

As I write this post Gilbert is in his crib for a nap. I guess it is not a nap as he's not sleeping. No, I'm watching him on the monitor and he's grabbing his foot, shoving it in his mouth and then rubbing his foot across his gums for relief from teething he's currently going through.

Who needs ora-gel, pacifiers, or any other high tech stuff. Gilbert's solution to teething...his feet.

Nice.

Laundry Helper

Kristen the Nanny was helping with laundry and Gilbert wanted to assist. I think he was more of a hinderance than a help, though!

Little Man

Sorry for the silence. Been sequestered in meetings and dinners the latter part of the week. But I'm back!

Gilbert has been waking up at nights lately. We quickly realized it was because he was too warm. A pool of sweat would be behind his head. Now that the warm weather looks like it is here to stay, we switched his pj's to short sleeve and without feet.

This has solved the sleeping challenge. He's back to sleeping through the entire night. However, with the change in nighttime wares, he looks substantially more like a Little Man and less like a baby. So sad!

Delicious Update

Just received word Delicious will be ready for pick up on June 15th. Oh yeah! Can't wait to get Delicious on the grill. I'm all stocked up on spices and dry rubs. To round out my arsenal, I picked up two types of BBQ sauce from local establishment Smoke Daddy.

The sauces are quite good and low in sugar (reduces the burn and charring of heavy sugared sauces). The sugar that is present is naturally occurring from the molasses that is used as opposed to pure cane sugar added for taste.

BBQ sauce tip: don't apply your sauces until just prior to the meat being finished. For example, for juicy skinless, chicken breasts as the breasts near completion apply to the top and turn over for 1-2 minutes. Apply to the other side and repeat. The sauce will be warm without charring the chicken. Of course, for brisket or other slow-grilling meats, the sauce will be more integral. Chances are you will combine it with a mop sauce as well.

Smoke Daddy sells three flavors here. I bought their Original and Sweet and Smokey. I have yet to test the flavors on my existing inventory, but have sampled it on some coldcuts and the flavors are fantastic!

White Caps

I finally got a good look into Gilbert's mouth last night and saw not one, but two white caps just breaking through the surface of his lower gum.

Our feeding routine is solid food (last night's fare included oatmeal cereal and sweet potatoes) followed by a boob topper (Kristen hates it when I reference 'boob'). Once Gilbert is done, he's usually in a playful mood sits on Kristen's lap exploring by touching/grabbing her hair face, nose, clothes, etc.

I was sitting next to them enjoying it all when she began to tickle him and he'd open his mouth wide to laugh. It has been difficult to get a good look into his mouth. As parents, you know the challenge. Whenever you force something, the kid rebels. I'd stick my finger over his gums and his tongue would shoot out or he'd grab my hands away. But last night I was able to look right into his mouth (as drool poured out) and see the tops of his bottom two teeth. One is ahead of the other and still has a nice jagged edge. At least, Kristen tells me it is sharp!

The Cost Benefit of Making Baby Food

Now that the baby food making machine is in full gear, Kristen and I began to determine what makes sense to purchase and what we should make from home based on cost. Let me tell you, the money saved from making the food is amazing!

Sans applesauce (can't beat the cost of a big jar of the natural kind) just about every food is cheaper! For example, sweet potatoes. One medium sweet potato produces four servings for a baby in Gilbert's range. The sweet potato costs anywhere from 10-to-50 cents whereas a a single serving from the store can run between 75 cents and a buck. 50 cents vs. 4 bucks, hmm...tough call. Not!

We bake the potatoes when we make our own, I let them cool and quickly puree them up. Maybe takes an extra 15 minutes. And since I do the food in bulk, I just fill up a ice cube container and freeze it for later. Now Gilbert's food is done for part of the week.

Next up, peas. A frozen bag cost about $1.5. I get 8 servings out of the bag. Oh yeah! Prepared stuff costs about the same as the sweet potatoes. Do the math. Cha-ching!

Anyway, for any parents looking to budget or save a few bucks, in my opinion, experiment with making baby food.

Also, as your child sees you make the food once he/she is old enough to help it is a great opportunity to spend time together doing an activity that is constructive. Hope Gilbert will be a foodie like his parents!

Another Day In The Park

What another fabulous weekend! After spending most of Saturday assembling furniture and electronics, we were anxious to enjoy our Sunday outdoors. We headed to our favorite park for some swing and blanket time.

At Gymboree, Gilbert loves to play with their miniature beach balls. For two bills I thought I could splurge for the Little Man. We introduced the surprise to him. As you can see, he was quite happy!

Stimulating the Economy

Well, the Johnson's are doing their part to spur our economy through spending. And we did our best to increase the trade deficit by buying goods surely not made in the US!

We have been in our condo for just over a year. When we downsized our home, we sold our family room set. Not sure what we wanted to do in the living room, Kristen came up with the creative idea to combine our three file cabinets with our wine fridge, build a top for it and then drape it to create a faux buffet. Worked perfectly. It lasted about six months.

At home one day, Kristen had a moment of interior designer rage and disassembled the drape and made me take off the top we had cut for it (just plywood). So for the past six months we have just had the television (a whopping 20" LCD - got rid of the big bulky rear projection tv I had during my bachelor days!) and the stereo components sitting on top.

Come this spring I had enough of staring at file cabinets. We are adults and should have adult furniture. Problem, furniture - to me - is ridiculously expensive. To me it is just 'stuff'. I'd rather spend (or save!) the money elsewhere.

I challenged Kristen to design a built-in. When priced out it was quite expensive. Then again, the design was awesome, incredibly contemporary and would have been built with sustainable materials.

Since that didn't work, I succumbed to agreeing to buy furniture and we began looking for built-in's or entertainment centers. Of course, I rolled up my sleeves and did some research to assist Kristen (and to look out for my own interests!). Well, we ended up buying our media center from Crate & Barrel. It showed up this weekend.

Look how pathetic my television looks in it! I felt obligate to fill the void with a new television! Oh yeah. I almost pulled the trigger on a flat screen last year, but cancelled the order the day before it was to ship.

So, a year later I was prepared, but still reticent. Again, it is just 'stuff'! I settled on 42" plasma from Panasonic. Went to consumerreports.com to compare and then price it out. Yes, I'm a research geek. However, as my friends know, when I'm committed to doing something I go full speed and don't mess around. Once I decided to buy the tv, I did my research and made the purchase in a single day. Hate loose ends.

The media center has yet to be complete. Most of our picture frames and other tchotchkes are in storage. Kristen wanted me to reiterate it is not done and would not allow me to show a full picture until it is sufficiently decorated. Stay tuned!

New Additions!

Friends and family have brought new additions to their family into the world!

Family. Kristen's brother and his wife gave birth to their first child, a baby boy - Jasper Quinn Bouton Lawrence on Tuesday. The little guy came in just over eight pounds. Mom and son are doing well. Talk about timing! They just completed moving in to their new home last week!

Friends. Lifelong friend, Tim, and his wife had their second child, a boy! Jack Robert Prerost was brought into the world last night around 7pm. The little guy weighed in at an impressive nine pounds'ish! They are doing well also.

Congrats!

Preparing For Delicious

The expectation is killing me! With the warm holiday weekend, grilling was in full force (actually I grill in the chilling cold winter, but so what!) and I was without my Delicious!

Supposedly Delicious is still on schedule for early June and I have been dutifily preparing. Over the Memorial Day weekend I visited Penzey's Spices and stocked up on the necessities - Chicago Steak Seasoning and BBQ 3000 along with a few other items.

Knowing Delicious will take up most, if not all, of my freezer space I have been timing the inventory. I'm down to only a few frozen flank steaks and fish fillets along with one frozen bag of chopped pork for the last stir fry of the season. Once this inventory is gone, the freezer will be dedicated to red meat and breat milk. A winning combination.

I've been working on my grill skills as well. I mentioned awhile ago that during my stint in the 'burbs I worked on masterly grilling on a Weber using real charcoal. However, City ordiances forbid charcoal grills on balconies and decks, but I can use a gas grill. Nothing like a combustible, flammable tank of gas on my porch, but oh well!

Having to succumb to grilling with gas, I have had to relearn grill times and temps. But check out these grill marks on some pork loin I recently did. I find the key is to lightly coat the meat (or chicken) with oil after I apply the dry rub - I use grape seed as it has a high smokepoint - and this helps seal in the juices. This technique will be invaluable to keep the lean, grass fed Delicious, well, delicious!

Squawk Box

I've posted earlier how Gilbert can squawk. He's doing it more know. According to Kristen (courtesy of one of her development books), the seventh month should be a talkative month for Gilbert.

The jumper chair is courtesy of my mother. As you can see, he prefers to swing and squawk as oppose to jump!

A Day In The Park

Okay, not a full day. More like an hour, max, but it was great. As Memorial Day drew to a close, we wanted to get outside so we headed to the local park for some fun and sun. Skinner Park is a nice walk (or quick drive!) and a nice family area - fenced in away from all the other activities - allows kids and parents to play with some level of comfort and safety.


We took Gilbert out for a swing and some 'blanket time'. Here are the pics!

The Jagged Edge

Gilbert's first tooth has breached the surface. We knew it was coming soon, but were surprised the tooth has arrived.

He did not exhibit any of the traditional teething symptoms - becoming a drooling factory, developing a red bum from 'drool stool', or was in visible pain.

I noticed the tooth tonight when I was feeding him dinner. I had some peas on my finger and put it in his mouth. Rubbing the lower gum, I felt the jagged edge of his tooth as it had pushed above the gum line.

Kristen later got to experience the new tooth during breast feeding. Pleasant, I'm sure!

7 Months And Counting...

Seven months ago today when Gilbert entered this world. Nothing overly special other than it is just another special day with the Little Man. Today we introduced him to his first cup.

He took to it quite well. Don't let the picture fool you, he's shown no propensity to hold his bottle, let alone this cup. I just happened to capture him picking the cup up. What I didn't capture, but was more appropriate was the cup laying on its side and Gilbert leaning forward attempting to attached his mouth to the spout without using his hands!

Happy Memorial Day

We hope all our readers are enjoying the holiday! And what a great day. The sun is out and the weather is warm in Chicago. Got my day started off right by spending a few hours working on my golf game down at Harborside International. They have a great practice facility with a HUGE range as well as practice greens for pitching and chipping.

Coming off both the accident and the knee surgery last year it feels as if I'm having to learn my swing from the beginning! I better learn fast since my annual trek to Indianapolis for the Crony Cup is only a few months away and I need to be able to shoot mid-to-low 70's!

I'm sure you have been enjoying parties and BBQ's with friends. Same here! We had two yesterday. Gilbert was awesome. Despite his naps being completely screwed up he was quite the trooper!

The second party of the day kept Gilbert up til 8pm - way past the usual lights out! He was fun and entertaining squawking like a prehistoric bird, but eventually even that ran out and we headed home. However, it was great to see friends, their kids, and indulge in food and beverage! Hope your holiday weekend has been equally fun!

Chef PJ

Another week of homemade baby food preparation took place. Learning from my first round of errors, I was determined to create baby food Gilbert's pallate would accept.

This time I went to the greens. Peas and beans, that is. First up, peas. These were quite easy and very quickly I converted the frozen peas into a smooth puree. Gilbert feasted on them all week!

Last night I moved on to beans. I purchased a good quantity of fresh green beans, prepped them and also was able to make a fine puree! Making a large batch, I filled two baby jars and then put the rest of the food in an ice cube tray to freeze and save for later. Now, all I have to do is pop out one of the bean cubes, let it thaw and presto, baby food!

Once the greens are a staple of Gilbert's diet the next step will be sweet potatoes and fruit. Maybe a pear!

Social Breakthrough?

Gilbert may be coming out of his social shell. Maybe. I've posted before how when in unfamiliar surroundings, Gilbert becomes reserved. At Gymboree yesterday we noticed a marked change in his behavior.

Arriving a few minutes early to play on the equipment, he was much more engaged and exhibited smiles and genuine interest. During the class we placed him on a balancing platform with another baby (about a foot from each other) and for the first time he actually reached out to touch another child. He kept grabbing at the little girl's sweater! Then, he became fixated with her bow and was persistent until he was able to remove it from her head.

For us, it was great to see Gilbert finally become comfortable with his surroundings and actually enjoy it!

Gilbert's Latest Visit To The Doctor

Today was Gilbert's latest 'well visit'. Suppose to be his six month check up, he's actually close to seven months (on the 26th). The visit today was a tough one.

Background. Gilbert is quickly becoming aware of his surroundings. As a result, he's in full "stranger, danger" mode with anybody that is not familiar to him. When confronted his bottom lip sticks out and he's ready to cry. For unfamiliar surroundings he gets very quiet, sometimes inserts the thumb and simply stares around as if he's in the mafia and he's watching the door half expecting a hit man to come through!

He was somewhat aware of his surroundings at the doctors office so he played it cool in the waiting room as well as his patient room. Stripped down and sitting on the scale, the nurse leaned over to adjust the measurements and given Gilbert a friendly hello. About a foot from his face, this definitely violated his no-fly zone. I quickly scooped him up to avert 'stranger, danger' moment.

Back in the patient room, Gilbert had to have his blood checked so the nurse pricked his finger. He was sitting on the table as if all was cool, and then wham! A pricked finger! He let out a wail, the tears began to flow, and he looked up at the nurse as if to say, "Why would you do that. It hurts!"

He was not happy the rest of the visit. Each time I attempted to sit Gilbert back down on the table, the screaming and crying began. I had to hold and comfort him the entire visit. When the doctor checked his ears and eyes. I had to hold Gilbert down. His face was purple from screaming!

After the poking and prodding, Gilbert began to calm down as I held him and Kristen peppered the doctor with questions we prepared. Satisfied with the answers, the visit was over.

Not quite! Gilbert received his next round of vaccinations. Two shots in each thigh and his oral rotovirus ( he doesn't mind that) and he was back to full on wailing!

We quickly dressed him, I scooped him up as Kristen settled our tab, and out the door we went. Gilbert was asleep within minutes of being safely deposited back into his car seat. Whew!

Here are the stats from the visit...

• Weight - 18lbs. 10oz (50th percentile)
• Height - 27 1/2 inches (75th percentile)
• Head size - 18.25 inches (95th percentile)

Pretty consistent from past visits. He has not grown much from his last visit, but his weight: height ratio rocks. And then there is his head size. Could it be any bigger! Apparently he continues to absorb all the bs I sling around the house!

Gilbert's Big Boy Chair

We had been feeding Gilbert in his Bumpo. However, the last few days, he's been arching in the seat and can almost pop out of it. Last night I was on feed patrol and was tired of him arching away from his food.

So, I pulled out his high chair to see if it would make a difference. Oh yeah! He loved the new roomy accommodations. With a big smile on his face, he sat back, opened up his mouth and let the food pour in!

The Clap

Kristen and I have worked on this one. From early on, we would clap Gilbert's hands together whether to song or if he did something rewarding. Originally, I would clap his hands together after he'd sit up from pulling himself up holding my hands. At first, one hand would open and clap over the other still in a fist.

Then he started to open both hands. The hands then opened wider to make that smacking sound from palms touching. With his trips to Gymboree I think he started to see the other babies clapping. Well, I was playing with him yesterday and happened to catch this on film.

Kristen's Birthday

Yesterday was Kristen's birthday. Now a ripe age of 33, Gilbert and I treated her to a little breakfast in bed. She had minimal demands, coffee and a 'sweet'. I think she just wanted to enjoy me having to actually go into a coffee shop and order coffee! Everyone knows how much I enjoy coffee!

So, I bundled up Gilbert (freshly awake from his sleep) and we trodded on down to the local Starbucks to grab a Soy Latte Grande something and a few baked goods. And yes, the Sunday Tribune.

Back at the condo, I made scrambled eggs (with cheese. Kristen likes cheese) and throw in some fruit and wha-la! Breakfast!

We lounged around for the morning knowing we had a wedding to attend later that day.

Kristen's present you ask? Well, Daddy and Gilbert combined their financial resources and spoiled Kristen with a new 'bag'. Oversized purse if you ask me.

Wandering around the neighborhood she stumbled upon a boutigue - Bess & Loie - and was raving about this bag she saw. Being the attentive husband that I am, I deftly asked a few more questions to learn about the bag and visited the store a few days later and made the purchase.

I am pleased to report Kristen was surprised!