Stewie - And a Swimming Tangent

As I've mentioned before Stewie has had some issues with JJ the last 6 weeks. Mainly because JJ is cramping his style and stealing some of Stewie's spotlight. Stewie is nothing if not a princess and needs things his way. Yes, he's a dog.

Well the last week or so he has warmed up a bit to the little guy.

They share meals (Stewie licks up JJ's spit up)...

Stewie helps JJ take a bath (Stewie licks the water off JJ, probably because he's thirsty)...

Most importantly Stewie helps change JJ (he mainly sniffs the dirty diapers and rarely tries to eat the poo)...

Allyson tells me today, and this is so cute, JJ spit up, so what did Stewie do? He spit up too...on the couch...awesome! We are a special family.

However one thing that hasn't changed is Stewie's disdain for JJ's late night wailing jags. Stewie still hates these. I guess the point I am trying to make is that Stewie is warming up to JJ but still doesn't share he toys with him and totally belives that all JJ's toys are his. I also needed a reason to post those pictures of the brothers together.

On a COMPLETELY unrelated note; that 4x100 relay last night the US team turned in was amazing. I know the announcers did a good job explaining how improbable that comeback was but I am not sure people who don't "understand" swimming as a sport (not something you do in your backyard) really get. These swimmers can pretty much predict what they are going to swin on a given night based upon previous swims and how they've trained. There are variables such as the pool and other things but all told they know how they are going to perform. The swim by Lezak last night was simply unbelieveable and borderline impossible. Not improbable...impossible. Amazing.

Here's the link (just install the program it asks you to install...you'll use it again). Watching it again. Ally cries when she sees it. I get the chills. Listen to the annoucers. They weren't trying to create drama. They were speaking the truth. On paper there was no reason the US should have won that race. Amazing.

Whole Lotta Nothing

Another week come and gone. JJ is getting SO BIG. It's amazing watching him grow and feeling the additional stress holding him puts on mommy and daddy's joints and limbs.

Yesterday was a big day for us. First, we took JJ to his first "non-family" outing, a BBQ put on by our friends/neighbors Audrey and Phillip. As a side note, when I say BBQ I don't mean somebody schlepping around the back yard, firing up the Weber or gas powered grill. I mean out of this world Santa Maria style BBQ cooked over oak. Check out the Santa Maria visitor information website. It's amazing stuff.

Anyway, JJ got there and slept the entire time in his car seat. He's still boring. But the good news is that I think we can bring him into public venues with friends and not worry about him freaking out! In his defense though he only has meltdowns when he's a) hungry, b) gassy or c) not hungry but wants something to suck on be it finger or his "paci". We've figured him out, for now....

Stewie had more fun than anybody running around the yard and playing with Coco the dog. If there is a cuter dog than Stewie please show me. I don't buy it.

Stewie is still having issues with JJ in that he's no longer the center of attention. He acts out by grabbing the toilet paper and running as far as he can then shredding as much of is as possible until Ally or I stops him. We need to work on leaving the bathroom doors closed. That's our bad.

He also doesn't like his new sleeping pattern or the baby screaming. He has a new look that he uses...it's a look of annoyance. I didn't know dogs could project annoyance but Stewie seems to have it down pat!

I got off topic...Anyway, yesterday was a big day not only because we have killer BBQ but because I got to feed JJ for the first time out of the bottle. It was really amazing and I can't wait to do it agian when I get home. He took right to it, like he's being doing it all along and polished it off in no time flat...then spit up on me a few times but it was all worth it! I really can't explain how great it was, but those of you who have done it before know what I mean. Pretty amazing stuff.

Ally wants me to talk to the baby, but I am not sure what to talk to him about so I end up touching different parts of his body then saying what they are called in both english and spanish. 4 years of spanish and that's all I know. Any ideas? I also tried to tell him the story of Star Wars but that seems to scare him...maybe need to lay off the light saber noises? It was a little concerning that it scared him. I am going to try telling him the Godfather tonight.

One more thing we (I) learned about JJ. Don't watch a Led Zeppelin concert film when trying to put him down. He really liked the music, especially Misty Mountain Hop, but something about the flashing strobes and other visuals (possibly Robert Plant with painted on jeans and shirt open?) seem to bother him. The moral to the story is point him away from the TV during a Led Zeppelin concert film and he enjoys it just fine. Point him towards the TV, shrieking baby. Who knew? I just hope I didn't cause permanent damage.

It's been brought to my attention that I need to post more and I will try. I will also try to add more video but he really doesn't do anything yet. Really.

In the meantime, enjoy. Happy Monday!

T-Minus Any Minute

I imagine I will pick up the pace on these entries. There hasn't been too much to write about recently. All has been going great with Ally and baby. That doesn't make for a very interesting read I wouldn't think. Also, I have played like 40 hours of GTAIV as well as finally playing Portal (and LOVING IT). So between the mundane lack of details and being otherwise occupied with work research, I haven't updated in like 4 months.

That will change. Furthermore, expect to see exciting multimedia elements added in the form of "videos" and "pictures". We have more contraptions for capturing the baby in action (or sleep) that you can shake a stick at (Ben pauses to pantomime "shaking a stick") and plan on keeping everyone up to speed on every boring and mindless detail that we will no doubt find utterly facinating and amazing like millions of parents before us: "Look at the poopie diaper! It's amazing! My kid makes the best smelling poopies ever!" Ugh. I will become that guy and Ally that woman. Good times. That also might have been one of the longer sentences ever typed. Looking that up now.

So, Ally is officially on maternity leave and has been for a week now. I thought for some reason that once she went on mat leave (that's what the cool kids call it) she would get bored quickly and decide to have the kid. Turns out I was wrong and that's not in fact how the miracle of birth goes down at all.

Turns out the kid comes out when HE is ready. I for one and hoping for a Friday around noon start to "go to the hospital" labor. What you are about to read if incredibly selfish but the way I look at it, this is my last chance to be truly selfish. Anyway, Ally needs to go to the hospital Friday around noon. I will leave from work and meet here there, thus not taking a full day off work. Baby is born anytime there after, hopefully shortly thereafter. Now here is where the idea really takes off. I will take the following week off work, AS WELL AS the following Monday. Why, you ask? Because July 4 is a holiday not counting against my week long paternity leave. SO, in short if baby arrives this Fridayish I get 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, yes 10 full days off work and 1 half day.

I mean, this baby is coming one way or another, why not have him help his dad (and mom for that matter cause more days off work means more help for mom) this one time?

There is a second scenario, albeit not as beneficial to Ally. In this scenario the baby is born Monday. Why you ask? So we (including Ally here) can have one more weekend to ourselves we can spend playing video games and generally lounging around. I am not sure what Ally would do all weekend. Really her call.

This is how my mind works. Scary. All told the baby isn't coming any later than Monday since we have an appointment at 7am to get him out once and for all.

We made a short list of names for the little dude. Both Ally and my initial choice are out of play due to the fact we couldn't agree. We went back to the drawing board and came up with 3 solid choices. We will meet him prior to deciding on the final name.

Stewie 2 (The "One and Only" Stewie seen at left with sleeping Mommy) is not in the running.

Anyway, Ally is ready (see above...my thumb adds to the experience I think). I am ready. Now baby needs to get ready. Any day now...

In closing, I wrote this at work so there are probably 1000 grammar mistakes and other things I will have to go back and edit later. Keep thinking good thoughts!