Sunday, March 27, 2011, will go down in infamy. It is the Day that Adeline’s Daddy has moved over to Blogger. You will still find the same Dear ‘ol Dad that you have come to love, with a new layout. The web address will still be www.adelinesdaddy.com Thanks to everyone that has been following me through tumblr, I hope to see you on the other side (in other words, please check out my new blog on blogger) Don’t think of this as an end, but a new beginning. 

So, I’ve decided to bring more of myself into my blog. “But you are so candid, and share such personal things” you say? Oh, I know that, but I am going to start showing a little more of my non-Daddy life, without losing my Daddy-ness… wait, what? If you didn’t know, I am a graphic designer and mostly do design for bands. Mostly t shirt designs for touring and online sales, and album artwork.  So I’m going to start today with some graphic design stuff and will continue on a weekly basis… This is one of the more well know things that I have done over the years. It is an album Layout for the Boston Hardcore band Have Heart. When I was asked to do the project I had no Idea that this band was going to be one of the biggest hardcore bands, and albums, of the last 10 years. I was pretty happy that this album was very personal, empowering and thoughtful. I like all types of music, but as a person, they  lyrics on this album spoke to me. The fold out for the record was modeled after the seasons, which relate a lot to stages in life as well. The album was released 5 years ago, but is still one of my favorite albums that I have designed (and one of my favorite hardcore records music wise).

I know that some people are morning people, and other can be the walking dead until the afternoon. Is this the same for babies? I’m not sure if my experiences are unique to our wake up routine with Adeline. This scene is a common occurrence… let me illustrate: Adeline has been sleeping in Mommy’s arms, she shifts a little, begins to open her eyes and lifts her head, turns her head side to side, makes eye contact with me, and gives me a huge happy smile. All of this, from eyes open to ear to ear smile, happens within a span of 10 seconds. Is this strange? do we have the most agreeable waking baby ever? Addy waking is one of my favorite times, I love being there to see it. … these are the types of things that make me smile at night before I go to bed, and when I wake up in the morning to find her and Mommy sleeping beside me, it makes me get that same smile that Addy has given me, I think I know where she gets it from.

I have definitely meant for these themes to be open for interpretation and creativity. This video doesn’t necessarily show my guilty pleasures (I tried to think of good ones, but I just don’t really have any good ones) but it does show some pleasures that I am guilty of… This week was tough for getting good ideas, but this will still get some chuckles I hope.

Today was the first day of Spring, and here in Upstate New York, it was beautiful. We went to Hudson to visit our good friend Evan whom we haven’t be able to visit since Addy was born. It was great to catch up, he’s been my homie since we were were really young, skateboarding and playing music together (and all things dude). While we were walking with the sun beating down and the fresh winds of Spring blowing our hair, I realized that this is basically the first nice weather day that Adeline has experienced, and she loved it. It was definitely a great way to welcome Spring, cruising the streets with Rachel & Evan, giving Addy a tour of one of the places of her Daddy and Mommy’s youth, and getting a taste of what amazing NY Spring and summer will be like… as a little family unit.

I have given Addy an uncountable amount of hugs since she was born, but this last week was the first time that she hugged me back. I do help her by placing her arms up near my neck, but the hugging squeeze is all her. My wife and I can’t get enough, Addy may end up with some serious upper body strength with the workout she’s been getting. Her hugs already have a super strength, the strength to melt her Mommy and Daddy’s heart. I don’t know what I’m going to do the first time she says “I Love you Daddy”… baby steps, Don, baby steps.

The last photo was entered in The Paper Mama’s “green” photo challenge. I can’t take photo credit thought, that was Rach.

So, the much anticipated arrival of our friend’s first child, the lovely Zuzu Danger Lafreniere,  happened over the weekend. They are currently living in Brooklyn, so it will be a long distance relationship for now, until they move back upstate *hint, hint* All of us here are so excited and can’t wait to see her in person. Congratulations Sara and Tyler, she is beautiful.

AND…

starting to show in Mommy’s belly is little Tommy Falk. Zhenelle and Thomas  have been good friends of ours for a long time, and we are so excited that they are going to have a little one running around soon. And, they had the decency to not move 3 hours away ( : P Sara) Before we know it Tommy and Addy will be hangin’ out with the proud parents each weekend when we do TIght Knit,  confirming more so that we are indeed, grown ups… even if we don’t always act like it : ) But, that little dude had better not have any wandering eyes around my little honey, I’m going to be watching him… like a hawk. They have just started a blog on their journey, you can find it here.

Let me start off this Vloggin’ Vednesday with a warning… my video this week just may be the most ridiculous thing you have ever seen. It was a BLAST making it, Rach and I were pretty much Dying the whole time we were filming and editing. I hope you have fun watching it. I have to say thanks to my wife for helping me with this ridiculous idea, you are such a good sport hun, I Love You. I don’t know how I turned such a beautiful woman into a pencil neck geek. Don’t forget to link your Vlogs below… and then scroll down a little further to vote for me : ) Also, if you are interested, I posted up some funny outtakes (featuring one of our loud cats) … but they are for AFTER the real video.

Do you know what tomorrow is… it’s Vednesday! Don’t forget to post a link to your Vlog right here. My vide will be up as soon as Vednesday rolls in. This is my most ridiculous Video to date, guaranteed to bring on the LOLZ. Hope to see your Videos tomorrow. Don’t forget to check out the VLoggin’ Vednesdays page for themes and dates, new themes added regularly. AND… while your at it, how about a vote for your buddy Adeline’s Daddy : ) (voting link below)

I don’t know if this is a weak answer, but I take day trips to Massachusetts often, I love that place. There are so many awesome little towns and great culture.  It’s pretty close to where I live now, I think we may end up living there at some point. Although.. If I could choose anywhere it would probably be a little town in France, but that would be tough to pull off. 

Thanks, I’m glad you found it now. And, it lead me to your blog, which is so cute, like your little one. Thanks for the photo compliment, I love your photo of Mally’s play date, gotta love the little ones bonding. Thanks for checking out my blog! 

I’m actually going to be covering this in a vlog in a couple of weeks… so I don’t want to let that info out yet : ) But I will soon.

As you may have read in my last post, Addy was sick. I think it is possible that her first sickness may have had something to do with another first that was going on at the same time. She just had her first tooth break through! My wife and I were ecstatic when we first noticed it, another milestone in our little baby’s life! I think Addy is excited too now that that thing is actually out, she going at my finger like a barracuda… that little day old tooth is a sharp little devil. Allie from “It’s a Wonderful Life” blog, let me in on a commonly used statement around her house… “No, do not bite me”. I’m wondering how often we will need to use that with our little cannibal. Right now, having her gnaw on my finger is cute, but I don’t think it will be very cute if she chomps down while feeding (especially not cute to my wife). For now, I will try to have the sacrificial finger, and try to get her biting some of the chewing toys (especially Sophie the Giraffe). Allie also mentioned that the second tooth wasn’t as bad for her little one, I’m happy about that, I really don’t like seeing Addy sick or in pain. It does seem that her next tooth is going to be in soon, she will have her two bottom teeth, and that’s it… such a cute quintessential baby look, up there with the curly flip mullet.

So, this is Adeline’s first cold. I am not into it. There aren’t too many things that pain my heart like seeing my little one not feeling well. I can see it in her eyes and in her actions, not to mention seeing it dribble out of nose and onto my hand. I am unfortunately, not a MacGyver like sickness fixer, curing all with duct tape, tissues and an old baseball card …. and I don’t think anyone is. That is part of the trouble, no matter what you do you can’t just make your baby instantly better, you can try your best, but it just leads to you having an upside down smile on your face. The only slightly MacGyver like thing I can do, is take two arms a tight squeeze and a kiss to the forehead, and make Mommy feel a little better… she is feeling just as sad as I am about the whole thing.

I try not to watch TV too often, but when I do it’s usually PBS. I love the Antiques Roadshow and This Old House & The woodworking Shows( I know, I know… nerd alert)  However, I also like Law and Order SVU (although it’s been harder to watch now that I have a child)… and boy do I miss LOST. : ) How about everyone else?