Right with the Lord

We scheduled Mia's Baptism for the first Sunday I was home. That passed about a week ago and the event went swimmingly.

Our good friends the Duffs, and their lovely daughter Annabelle were in town for the weekend as well. They had their daughter baptized on Saturday and asked me to be the Godfather. An honor I take on with great happiness and excitement.

Daddy Duff and I have been friends since roughly the 4Th grade, well perhaps not friends till a little later in the Boy Scouts, but you get my drift. He is my oldest and closest friend. He introduced me to my wife and more or less dared me into the Army. Two of the biggest undertakings in my adult life. I was the best man at his wedding and floundered the speech. I know it's suppose to be my thing but I got a little overwhelmed. He was the best man at my wedding and hit the speech out of the ballpark. I mean wow it was a good speech. He and I have daughters that look just like us and they are 7 weeks apart. (See the Annabelle entry for more info.) So, it's only right that he should be the Godfather of the little M. Now they are Godsisters! I know he will be a great choice.

So both events were quick and to the point; holy water, blessings and an abundance of pictures.

Mia actually seemed to be having a good time as the center of attention and in the holy bath. It's good for her considering I am getting her enrolled in the nearest nunnery just as soon as she old enough! Just kidding--Maybe.

As I was busy being the Godfather and Daddy I was negligent in my picture taking. I think Grandpa got some, so as soon as I can gather them up I will post the good ones.

Last two points:

1. Baptising my daughter means that the catholic church is going to be a baseline for our daughters spirituality. However she finds her way to God and her own inner voice is mostly in her hands. We will continue to show her a path with church, C.C.D or Sunday school, but in large her relationship with God will be a personal choice.

2. Annabelle on the other hand is my God daughter and I will take a more formal approach. I think that Daddy Duff and I have similar views on most things and I will line up however he needs me to in order to help his daughter grow and develop into the church.

Amen

A letter to Mia.

So what is to follow is going to be a letter to the little M. Now, I had a little trouble trying to figure out if I should address her now as she is, all cute and basking in her babiness or if I should address her as someone who would actually read and comprehend a letter from her father. I haven't mentioned but we would like to collect all the posts from the first year and send them off to a company that makes blogs into books. So considering we wouldn't give her the book untill she is a teen. It solves my problem I will address her as such.

Dear Mia,

I wanted to write you a letter about the here and now. I often wonder about my own years as a baby. My life is a young child was not typical and there were a lot of challenges for me. I spent a lot of time moving around. Eight different foster families in fact. That includes different schools different friends and different personalities.

What I hope for you is something very different. I need you to know how happy our world is now that you are here. In a very real sense you fill an empty space that I have always tried to fill. Your that missing thing in our lives. So far we have stumbled our way through the first eight months of your life. We guess a little about what to do. We argue a little and meet somewhere in the middle of what we both believe to be right, but we are never without an abundance of love for you.

We love you very much.

Your a very happy baby, and beautiful. You have big giant eyes that already melt the hearts of everyone who sees you. One of our friends referred to you as impossibly cute. I agree. Yesterday you laughed, giggled out loud at something we were doing and it was as if the world stopped for a moment and we held our breaths. Ask me about it, I will remember it till the grave.

The world will forever be in turmoil, sides will always bicker. If you get one thing from me I pray that it is hope. Hope that if we do our best, and give our best that it will always be enough. I hope for you that you are the best part of me.

Forever your Father,

Petrie

The Helmet and the flat

Anyone who has had any personal time with the little m. will know that she has a flat head. There I said it, her head is flat. Anyone who has had any personal time with me may understand why I would like to do everything in my power to ensure that she has every chance at a nice little round head.

I know what your saying oh she is so cute it's really not necessary etc. etc. Thank you, your right she is lovely! Yup were still doing it.

So the process to correct the flatness will require three months in a helmet for 21 hours a day. It's a cute helmet, got little butterflies on it and everything. we will have a ton of pictures for you to enjoy.... I said enjoy laugh with not at. I know who you are.....

Well, I don't have pics right now but we will be sure to keep you updated with the before during and after. Plagiocephaly as the Dr calls it is fairly common these days, even an epidemic according to one smart Doc.... My dad! It has become an epidemic due to the risk of SIDS and the need to keep kids on there back to sleep.

So make sure you tell her how nice she looks in her helmet!

Home

So I am tempted to give you a nice long post with all the newest and greatest, but I learned in my recent stint away that I should break em down and keep you the two readers I have interested and not overwhelmed. So you will get four or five posts in the next two days, YIPPEE!

So here I am home again. How wonderful to see the Little M. and Trixie again. I pulled into my driveway after the three months away and the 10 hour drive home. I had to park 9 feet up from the end of the driveway because that's where the plow was blocking the driveway. When I pulled away in late March that's how much of the driveway the Snow mountain had overtaken.

Anyway I pulled into the driveway and the first thing I saw waiting for me in her stroller was the very big baby M. The effect was a little startling. I had just seen her in person not three weeks ago, but here was a very big and attentive smiling baby. Well everything was wonderful that night there was giggling and smiles, cuddling, and playing. All things in the world were good again and I had the happiest baby in the world. So, everybody is happy and off to bed. I, thanks to Trixie slept like a man who has slept in a tiny little bunk bed for three months and is just meeting a king sized bed for the first time.

Then there was morning... "wait you were up every hour after midnight?"

"Who's demon child is this and what do you mean your going to work?!?!"

Then began our day together. It was nice she didn't want to be put down but it would be nice to have a free hand. Finally about noon when the green snot faucet was working and the feeding was not, Trixie mandated I bring the little M. to the Dr's office.

Dr said she's fine..... Yeah she sure is. So daddy's out of practice forgot the little thing called a diaper bag. Who wants to get changed have a snack and a toy to play with? Daddy does at the very least. So yeah she's fine.

Well nobody died that day but people were tested perhaps some feelings got hurt, who can say. What I can say is that two little teeth down there on her little gums were suddenly where they were not. And suddenly after two days our baby returned.

Even with all that said I am happy to be home. I am happy to have traded my big green duffel bag back in for a Baby Bjorne (yup spelled it wrong on purpose)

So what I want to close with is this. We are dealers in words and I use them as well as the next guy. We typically know what to say to people to make them feel better to hurt them and yes, to sometimes manipulate them. So sometimes the words seem not enough, so I can't help but not want to use them. In particular when it comes to Trixie and how she dealt with my absence and how she cared for protected and provided for my one and only child. She had help to be sure, which she also had to organize and task. I hope there is a way for me to make her know how important it all really is to me.

It's a shifting of weight. She has the baby squarely on her shoulders like Atlas had the world. I am standing here nudging my way in and for the most part she is giving me my fair share, but I can feel her not wanting to let go. Not all together ready to share the full load. And I so get that, I love it, it's how it should be. So I will stand close and take my shared share and just keep being there.

Memorial Day

I have reunited with Trixie and the little M. for the long weekend. We have met in the far off lands of Syosset, Looaawwnngg Island. It's actually a city ordinance that you pronounce it that way.

So thanks to our very generous friends -- Ima and Sethe ,who have two young girls of their own, we were able to plug the little M. in and have a nice quasi-relaxing weekend. As relaxing as things get with three very young girls. There were some hiccups along the way. Ima and Sethe's daughters Maya and Elle both came down with a stomach flu, so we were never far from a bought of good natured vomiting. We are thankful though that as of right now they haven't shared their bug with Mia.

So, it was a big weekend for the little M. she had her first airplanes rides and did wonderfully travelling with her mommy. She put on some baby sunscreen and enjoyed her first wade in the kiddie pool. Enjoyed lots of play time and walks around the affluent suburbs of Lawng Izsland.

As for me I was ecstatic to see her. I think she still remembered me which was a concern I was having. And I am sure she would have fallen back to sleep when she awoke at 5 a.m. had I not been so excited to pounce in and gobble up my sweet little turducken! She is a delight, she has her fussy moments and a little impatience as babies I am sure do, but daddy thinks she is amazing. Such a happy faced little sweet tart!

It was a tease though. We had a wonderful weekend we all got reacquainted and now here I am back at school anxiously awaiting the three more weeks till I graduate and get back home!

When I do get home in mid June stay tuned we are having Mia baptized at Saint Max, the 22nd at 12 noon. You all are invited to help us celebrate her, and join her at our BBQ directly after at the homestead.

Saying good-bye is never easy and I am still a little sad, but we are almost there. We draw near the end of challenge better for it and soon normalcy will be very well received!

Mia Mosiac

Happy Mothers Day!

Greetings from Maryland! I feel like I have been neglecting everyone. All three of you who might check out the blog anyway! But I do, things have been very busy here and I will say only that I have 6 weeks left and I am touting a 94 average.

Now for the important stuff! Word is the Little M. is growing in leaps. She is holding her head up and looking around. Trixie says she has thoroughly enjoyed sweet potato (unlike ol Daddio) and some squash! Yuuummyyy! Of course the rice cereal and oatmeal are an ever present staple in Mia's diet.

Mommy and the other stand in caretakers are reporting that 4 p.m. continues to be a most difficult part of the day and stroll and car rides are helping the situation. Her teeth being very close to poking through may contribute to a bit of fussiness but for the most part she has my happy demeanor and mom's temper. (look out!)

A big point here. With mother's day here I need to reiterate the importance of this holiday and the huge assistance we have received from friends and family. It continues to be very difficult for everyone to be a single parent and this weighs on me immeasurably. I know that Trixie is busting her backside and literally her wrists to keep everything running around the house and in the little m's new world. I am very sad I can not be there to help but Trixie is doing such an amazing job. I want to thank her on this mother's day for everything that she has to sacrifice for me to be here. She is a saint and I love her for everything that she does. When I get home I am sending her out with her friends family, whomever wants to go out and help her celebrate her awesomeness!

Also to those of you helping around the house and with the little M. Thank you! A million times think you. Think what you want about the Army and the situation but thank you for helping me with my joy.

The countdown has begun, five weeks. I will be home to hold my ladies close and hopefully not have to leave them for a very long time. Stay tuned.

Happy Easter

Journeyman

I have packed my big green duffel bag and headed off to dozens of places. Sometimes only a few days and more often for much longer. It has never really phased me much. It's something I have always accepted as a part of who I want to be. This time however is very different. It weighs heavier then the worn bag on my shoulders. This is not the most dangerous trip nor is it the longest or furthest away, but it already feels like the hardest.

The obvious reason stares up at me with big shiny eyes and innocence unmatched. The little M. has been here for only 5 months and she does something new everyday. She looks at the big wide world now as if someone flipped on the computer switch in her brain and it constantly hums, embedding countless bits of information on a clean slate.

I can only imagine what she will be doing in another three months? I know there will be nothing monumental. No missed words or walking no analyzing War and Peace. It's always the little things that matter most though. One good thing I suppose is that she has the memory of an earthworm. She won't remember that daddy was gone. I am sure I will anticipate everyday --the first smile I get from her when I return. That will help.

I have a chance to be the kind of person my daughter can look up to and be proud of. That will help.

Let us not overlook mommy! She has to be a single mother for three months. To be honest I think her mission will be harder then mine in every other sense. The juggling of work baby home and all the mess that is contained therein. I know she will be amazing and that of course will help.

There are worst things in the world, so it is what it is.

Fear not dear reader we will still keep you informed via remote locations or from the well versed Trixie herself.

So, thanks to all who are pitching in and who have offered. Again your generosity is loved and accepted graciously.

She continues to do well and is growing ferociously. We are expecting to meet our good friends The Duffs with their new baby Annabelle and start their life long friendship and then off I go.

See you from the road!

Jackpot

BOB* is out today and we are basking in it. Turns out the Little M. is a Cash Cow! She has earned the family her first payday. 300 smackers straight from the commander and chief and his merry band of do-righters. She is contempleting all the ways she can help stimulate the economy. A shiny toy, a sucky thing or some of the fanciest rice cereal. I told her to make sure whatever it is, it's American. It's only right. I don't have the heart to tell her she is probably going to have to pay it back with interest. When she sheds the "Little" to become a Big M that is. Untill then, we will have our day in the sun.

*Bright Orange Ball

Such a girl

As a parent you can't possibly expect us to be impartial about our baby or even reasonable when it comes to our expectations. For instance sane people wouldn't swear that their little girl was already developing a personality at 4 months and less than 15 pounds. The little M. has already shown her quirkiness by breaking ties with Chico and the B. Once her only friends and confidants, she now shuns them and refuses to make even eye contact. Was it somthing they said?

She has found new and exciting was to communicate, which of course is a great relief to mommy and daddy. The crying is great and all but we prefer the babbling and motor boating. Yes, motor boating. Think thhhhhhhbbbbbbbtttttttttttttttt with a wet ring to it aka. the rasberry.

The first few months were less about entertaining and more distracting. As of late though we are happy to report giggling smiling and what would seem rapture to be watching her loving parents! Your darn right it's rapture, see I can be very sane and impartial.


Now, as for the loving part we are doing a ton of that. To be honest it's the only thing we are sure we are doing right. Some may say we are spoiling her and to those I give you a motor boat of my own TTTHHHHHHBBBBBBTTTTTTTTTT!!!!


Lastly on a sad note daddy has to go away and play G'I. Joseph for three months. Nothing inheirintly risky just a school, a school I have no choice but go to and a great oppurtunity. However, three months away from my new family. I should get a stipen for that, hazerdous duty pay at the very least sick call for my broken heart. No worries dear reader mommy will keep you updated and may be begging you all for help. Stay tuned for more tales from the crib.

Who me?

Oh my goodness, what a cutie pop! Here are those eyes I was telling you about.

Tales of a House Husband

So, here we are. This post will be a bit lengthy so I warn the casual reader. I have been slow in the updates lately and for those eager for them I apologize. I hadn't known so many people were checking in until they started reminding me that I had not posted anything about the Little M. in quite some time.

My goodness what a person she is becoming. At just over three months she is quite a sight. Right now she is babbling on about who knows what to her elephant Chico. Both of them have grins on their faces but neither of them are telling why. She is constantly eating her hand, and here I thought it would be some time before we started her on solids. Her best friend next to Chico is a bee. His name is B. Hey, we are a creative bunch. She is definitely interacting now with her toys which is to say she spends hours trying to get them in her mouth. And of course she is a beauty. She is starting to look like a baby and she has Trixies dramatic eyes. We haven't gotten a weight recently but the guess (and I am always wrong) would be about 15lbs probably less. Last night she slept a remakable 8 hours stretch, although my guess tonight she will be back down to her average of 4 or 5.

As for Trixie she is suffering her way back to work and hates being away from the babe. Having recently been promoted to House husband I can tell you that the years I thought house wives had it easy are years that I was severely misinformed. It is a joy and great privilege to watch our daughter do all the fantastic things she does it is also a blessing to be able to share all of the magic she is observing and life she is taking in. That being said it is work to keep up, keep entertained keep clean, keep fed and keep fascinated in said world. Wow, couple with that a terror of screwing it up or damaging the kid for life. I don't know how anyone does it much less a single parent. My diapers off to them.

I am a bad blogger to have kept you waiting for over a month when everyday there is something wonderful to report. My New Years Resolution is to keep you the dear reader captivated with many flax golden tales of the Little M. Till then gagga googoo

Punk Rock Prom Queen

There is more to update you on and that will all come very soon. The little M. is doing wonderful and doing all the little baby things she can. The holidays have been very busy for us so expect more just as soon as I get a free moment. Just a little pic. to tide you over for now.





Ah, the twin cousins. Aren't they cute? Avery and Mia! The little M. looks great in her dress from annah and SAM-AH. We know it was more annah! Trixie likes it because it's cute. I like it because it looks PUNK ROCK!! Stay tuned friends more of the lovely little m. very soon!

Annabelle

Duff, is a very good friend of mine. We stood up at each others wedding. I have known him since grade school, boy scouts, high school etc. I count him and his wife as two of the true friends you should be able to count on one hand. Eight weeks after little m. was born we help welcome the very lovely baby Annabell. So starts a new generation of Duff and Mo friendships. I certainly hope they won't have exactly the same adventures as we have but I do hope they have some adventures together. I will try my best to not project my own idea of how good a friends they should be. We all know how well pre-planned things like that work. As a daughter of Duff I assume if she found out there was a schedule or plan she would do the opposite. However, if mommy Stellie has contributed baby Annabelle is probably already organizing her toys. So, another girl in this growing field of babies in our lives. Time to get started on a boy? Probably not quite yet.