New Dad

This started out as a Dad's perspective on my wife Katrina's pregnancy and a way to keep the family updated. Alina arrived in February 2006 and now it's more about our parenting adventures. Now we've added Evelyn in July 2008.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Lazy Dad Roundup

Whenever we leave the apartment she asks "Do you have your keys?"

Whenever I drop something or there's a loud noise, I hear from the other room "Are you okay?"

A bevy of YouTube videos are posted HERE.

Her first movie in a theater was officially Horton Hears a Who. The only thing she buried her face in my chest for was the previews. They're often fast and loud.

Katrina went up to Connecticut to have dinner with some old friends. While she was gone, we got messy. Paint and water were everywhere:




We went to Coney Island this past weekend. Astroland got their demolition delayed for another summer. She was finally tall enough to do some of these rides alone. Though technically she really shouldn't be that tall. At least she knows enough to stay seated and keep her belt on.



Friday, April 11, 2008

Buy Buy $Daycare$

From now until the end of Katrina's maternity leave, which starts sometime in late July, Alina will no longer be in a daycare. That's $1,344 a month I won't miss shelling out. As I've mentioned before, Katrina doesn't get paid to be on maternity leave (USA! USA!) so, like before, we're socking away. Alina's daycare made that a very slow process. So now the week looks like this: Katrina is home one day, my mother comes over one day from NJ, my uncle & aunt come over two days, and I take her into the city one day.

My one day is taking her to a daycare center across the street from my job. My company has a Backup Daycare benefit through Bright Horizons where I get 20 days a year either put her in a facility or someone comes over. The subway rides in the morning have been interesting. We get her psyched up by telling her all about going on the choo choo train. Anyone who has been on a subway during morning rush can tell you that it's not quite as romantic as a real Choo Choo. We either get dropped off at the station by Katrina or a taxi, depending on what time she has to be at work. Otherwise, it's a mile walk/stroll. So far, I'm against strollers on the subway. Too much to deal with between stairs, her bag, and herself. The first time we commuted, we took the E express train and stood for part of the time. She held both my hands, standing in front of me as I pressed my back against the side door. Occasionally she'd look up at me a little concerned and then eventually smile. At the first stop, someone got up and we sat down. I guess I have to have boobs to get offered a seat. She'd alternate between sitting in my lap with her thumb in her mouth and standing on my lap looking at posters. I need a Purell pump strapped to my ankle though. She wants to touch everything and it's not a matter of thinking there were filthy people sitting there before you. You KNOW there were filthy people there before you. The 2nd time we commuted, we took the V local train. It takes longer but we're the first stop so all the seats are empty. Besides saying "slow down" to the train, Alina got a little impatient towards the end. Every time the doors opened she'd look up at me and say "All done?" So we counted down on our fingers how many stops were left.

The actual facility I take her to is fantastic and the staff couldn't be nicer. They have separate areas for each age group and NO TV. But like a real, legal daycare, I have many many forms to fill out. And one extra form each time I show up asking me if she's toilet trained, how she goes to sleep, any special objects we brought like a blanket, what food I brought. Everything has to be labeled and we needed to provide pictures and medical histories, etc. I've filled out less forms buying a car.