Rookie Dad Journal Highlights (December)

December 1 – Daddy daycare goes into lock down. The first child safety gate has been installed in the house. I give the gate about 7 days before the wildcat tears it a new one.

December 2 – It took Baby Shife about 2 seconds to change the voice mail greeting on the phone, and then it took me about 10 minutes before I figured out how to change it back to our normal message. Good times.

December 3 – Baby Shife and I went to the mall to get a start on our Christmas shopping.

December 4 – Nothing like being greeted in the morning from a visit from the mud butt fairy. Baby Shife thought it would be fun to test to the holding power of his Huggies and my son’s poop won.

December 6 – We are getting the Christmas tree today. How long the tree survives in the house will be the key as I am sure Baby Shife will be plotting his strategy on how he can get his little hands on all of those shiny ornaments.

December 7 – Somebody has learned how to make themself taller. Baby Shife has been climbing on top of some of his toys so he can get to these things higher up on the shelves. You know stuff that he is not supposed to get into.

December 8 – I watched him stand up all by himself in the middle of the kitchen for about 5 seconds. I think he could have lasted longer but I think he realized that nothing was supporting and kind of had a “Holy Cannoli” moment and fell down.

December 9 – Baby Shife touched snow for the first time today. Didn’t seem that interested.

December 10 – Another blowout on Interstate Baby Shife. There was mud all over the road. Not a pretty picture.

December 11 – Baby Shife and I sat down and had breakfast together for the first time. Usually I just feed him but today he nibbled on Cheerios and a rice cracker while I had a breakfast sandwich and some hot tea. The conversation was a little one-sided but it was really nice to sit down with my boy and enjoy the morning.

December 12 – I definitely had Baby Shife withdrawals today. He went over to his Aunt’s house at 1 and he came home about 6:30 but I was out running errands and when I did get home he was already in bed. So I will not get to see him until tomorrow morning when he gets up for the day. I miss my baby.

December 13 – Baby Shife got to experience the madness of Christmas at the mall. It actually isn’t that bad when you have a stroller and just push your way through the crowds. For the most part people get out of your way.

December 14 – Baby Shife needs a better high chair. The current one does not have much of a tray and so most of the sweet potato puffs and Cheerios he tries to shovel in his mouth end up on the floor which makes a certain husky basset very happy.

December 15 – I went back to Toys R Us and decided to return Baby Shife’s Christmas presents and get him some different stuff. He also got a new high chair with a better tray that seems to work out better when he is enjoying his Cheerios. The fat basset is a little disappointed because not as many Cheerios are plunging to their death and into his mouth.

December 16 – In the last 5 years before Baby Shife arrived on the scene I could probably count on two hands how many times I had been to Wal-Mart and Toys R Us. Now I swear we hit one of those places at least weekly. Amazing how things change when you become responsible for a little person.

December 19 – Baby Shife went out to dinner with us and Aunt and Uncle to celebrate her graduation from college. He polished off 2 rice crackers and made everyone giggle with his laughs.

December 20 – Baby Shife might have made his first joke today. He was playing with Quincy’s tail and I told him to be careful of the fat basset’s muffler because it was yucky. Then immediately we heard the little man say something that sounded an awful lot like “No Da Da’s Is.” It might have been complete baby gibberish or he could have been ordering Chinese but that is what Mrs. Shife and I thought we heard.

December 21 – Baby Shife pointed at me today while Mrs. Shife was holding him. It is the first time I have seen him to do that.

December 22 – Baby Shife sported his Santa outfit and went to Mommy’s company Christmas party. He was voted most adorable. I think he also picked up the stinkiest diaper award.

December 23 – I don’t know if it is a coincidence or not but ever since I let Baby Shife play with my Blackberry they have been having problems with their service. Never underestimate the power of Pampers.

December 24 – Baby Shife sat on the piano bench and banged on the keys for a few minutes. He seemed to like it but then again he also likes shoving Quincy’s tail into his mouth. And we got to wrap up the little man’s first-ever Christmas presents.

December 25 – Merry Christmas. Baby Shife didn’t take much interest in his presents until after they were unwrapped and available for his entertainment. All in all, baby’s first Christmas was very low-key and not too exciting which makes it just about perfect.

December 26 – Santa also decided to give Baby Shife his first rug burn. He was playing with his new dump truck and it got away from him as he was hanging on. So the little man picked up a nice little holiday memento on his chin when he fell on the carpet.

December 27 – Let’s see … 4 dogs, 4 cousins, 2 aunts, 2 uncles, 1 great aunt, 1 grandpa, and 1 grandma coming down today to partake in holiday festivities – allegedly – but I think they just want to see the baby.

December 28 – I don’t think Baby Shife has touched the floor since everyone has arrived.

December 29 – You know what they say about best laid plans … well we had a family portrait planned at 4 but somebody decided it was nap time and slept through it. We finally had to wake him up so we could the picture taken before it was too late.

December 30 – Captain Caveman made an appearance today. He ripped out one of his crib slats this morning and was playing with it in his crib after his nap.

December 31 – New Year’s Eve and somebody is 9-months-old today. Happy New Year


Here is a picture of somebody in a new fancy sweater he got for Christmas (he thought it went well with the bruise he picked up on his forehead), and here is a link to his 9-month-old-video if you want to see the little man in action, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlklhHDO77k


Comments

  1. doesnt get much cuter than that!:)

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  2. I agree. Good thing he takes after his Momma.

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  3. Yep. Cute as a button!

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  4. He is by far the cutest 9-month-old I know.

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  5. It's still amazing how quickly things move when it comes to these little guys. I'm with you on the Wal-Mart trips, although I still cling to Target when all possible.

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  6. It took Baby Shife about 2 seconds to change the voice mail greeting on the phone, and then it took me about 10 minutes before I figured out how to change it back to our normal message. Good times.

    OKAY, I started with this one, hoping that making a comment would stop me giggling, but I moved on and laughed even more at the other entries in your diary. Now I'm crying. Really! Why? I just saw the video! Congratulations Shifey, you captured your little star very well. I've decided I'll wait for him, however long it takes..... grins

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  7. Such a little man. A beautiful little man.

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  8. There is no question in the world on how much you love that boy. 'Rookie Dad Journal' is awesome.

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  9. Jon - I would love to hit Target but it is kind of out the way for us and unfortunately Wally World is just down the road. At least my self-esteem improves after leaving that place.

    Valerie - I am glad you enjoyed the journal and the video Val. He truly is a joy and makes me laugh and smile every day.

    Ms. Moon - Yes indeed he most certainly is and I feel blessed to call him my son.

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  10. Thanks Red. I do love that little boy so very, very much. He makes it pretty easy to start the day when I walk into his room and see that big toothless grin every morning.

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  11. excellent journals. they'll make for good reading when you're a grandpa.

    i think it's time for baby shife to get a little brother or sister.

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  12. Anonymous1/14/2010

    You are going to be SO GLAD you kept these journals later when you are pissed off at Baby Shife for doing something stupid. Seriously. Because there are times when you want to run away screaming, "I don't have any children! I don't have any children!" So be sure to keep these notes handy later, k?

    :-)

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  13. I don't want to even think about being a Grandpa yet Billy. And we are thinking about another Baby Shife but we want to wait a little bit longer.

    Thanks RC. I will definitely keep them handy for those moments when I yell "Serenity now" or "Fat Tire take me away."

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  14. I was informed by my lovely wife Mrs. Shife to add the following comment in regards to us giving Baby Shife a little brother or sister: "By waiting a bit longer he means that once Baby Shife sleeps peacefully through the night, and Mrs. Shife regains her sanity and would consider doing anything else besides sleeping and going to work, we will then wait another 2 years so she can catch up on her sleep and feel fondly towards her husband."

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  15. couldah sworn he said "stair" as he was climbing

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  16. Great video, a star is born!

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  17. OMG...Shife...I loved the video..the picture of his little hand and the end, so incredibly sweet. 9 months old has always been my favorite age. My daughters little personalities are exactly the same today, as what I remember them being when they were 9 months old...
    So tender..so sweet...

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  18. I laughed all through that. Babies are so much fun... and effort, but worth it all.

    So the little man has found the way to Q through his stomach! Yay for Q!

    That video is great. Thanks.

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  19. I think you should have let Q get the Cheerios. Perhaps he has high cholesterol and needs it?

    I can tell you that my friends have these bibs for their children that have a pocket across the bottom. They catch a bit of the food that misses the mouth!

    Oh and I think you need some more bonding time with your son. Seems like you aren't very taken with him. ;)

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  20. Wait till he really starts motoring on his feet. Maybe you should build up both your long distance endurance and sprinting power.

    He's cute little boy, Shife.

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  21. You're on heck of a dad, and it shows. I hope the Mud Butt Fairy doesn't pay me a visit any time soon. She always seems to drop by after I go to Taco Bell.

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  22. 1. I had to put TWO gates up for my daughter. She broke them, but climbed them.

    6. I thought I was being clever when I blocked off the tree with the coffee table. It fit very nicely between the couch and entertainment center, and didn't look to bad. Right about that time the 18mth old learned how to climb it. Walked into the living room with him standing on top of it holding an ornament.

    12. When my husband is working his three days (he's three on/three off) he hardly sees the kids at all. He leaves around 6am and doesn't get home until 9pm, or later. I don't know how he doesn't it.

    23. So he is why I can't get online with my BB anymore.

    30. My first somehow removed one of the bars on his crib, I walked in just in time to see him trying to escape. True story.

    Hehee love baby shife's sweater.

    Hey, my 18mth old has that lego dump truck too. He got it for Christmas. He loves it.

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  23. "My lovely wife Mrs. Shife to add the following comment in regards to us giving Baby Shife a little brother or sister: "By waiting a bit longer he means that once Baby Shife sleeps peacefully through the night, and Mrs. Shife regains her sanity and would consider doing anything else besides sleeping and going to work, we will then wait another 2 years so she can catch up on her sleep and feel fondly towards her husband."


    ROFL Awesome. However, the sanity....wait 'till he's sixteen. On his birthday, I'm shipping you both a sledgehammer. Your going to want to pound lots of things.

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