Cone

I took Quinn to get her sutures taken out from the “removal" two weeks ago.  She was so happy to not have to wear the cone anymore.  As soon as we got back home she was running through the living room, rubbing her face all over the floor, on the couch, on my legs…  I’m glad she’s in such a good mood.  Now, as long as she doesn’t bark I won’t have to put the bark collar on her.  She mopes so much when she’s wearing it, but I can’t have her barking and waking up Cadence.  I won’t stand for any disturbances while Cady is asleep.  Not much else going on today.  Hooked up the surround sound system Gabby’s parents gave us since they got a new one.  It is a Bose!  So awesome… I need one more cable for it though.  I’ll have to get it tonight or something.  This little apartment is coming together real nice.  I’m thinking I need to begin watching the videos for Calculus I this week… so I can prepare myself for when class starts… just in case the professor moves a bit fast for me.  You can never be too prepared!

 

TTFN

Rockin Daddy, out!

It’s 4:03 and I Can’t Sleep…

Actually, by the time I actually decided to write this it is 0420… that means in the AM, by the way.  We brought Cady home early from Lolo & Lola’s last night, around 2100, because she was acting like she was getting tired already.  This was not the case.  By the time we got her home she was full of energy and wanted to walk around all over the place.  So I washed some dishes and cleaned up a bit while Gabby helped Cady walk around.  She realized very quickly that bending over holding Cady’s hands so she can walk is very bad for the back, so I took over so Gabby could sit down.  It got tiring pretty quick for me as well… seeing as I was still really sore and stiff from moving this gargantuan entertainment center/armour Saturday… that was a doozy, I tell you what.  I’ll be completely honest…. movers moved the thing and all I did was help with this really light piece.  Apparently going up the stairs with said light piece was not a good idea for me, being as out of shape as I am these days. 

Speaking of which… I really need to get myself into a workout routine.  I look at myself in the mirror and do not like what I see.  I see a wimpy guy.  I used to be able to do a lot physically.  Now, you can’t say it is because I am getting old because I am only 26.  That is still very much young.  In the Corps I always had someone to work out with… maybe that would help.  I don’t know.  I really need some sort of physical outlet.

It is non-sleeping nights like this that I am left to think… and I often think of the Corps.  I miss the Corps.  I love my life now, but does that mean I can’t miss the Corps?  I miss MCMAP (Marine Corps Martial Arts) training, unit PT (physical training), hitting the range, and putting on my uniform and lacing up my boots every morning.

 

 

Although I often think of the Corps, it is as a fond remembrance, as one might reminisce of their childhood experiences.  Like when my neighbor Kevin and I would play NES (Nintendo Entertainment System and his mom would yell at him in Vietnamese… haha… good times.

At this point, I have nothing much else to say.  I don’t know what to do right now at 0540.  Cady is finally not stirring anymore.  I changed her diaper at 0330 and again about 20 minutes ago, she drank about 3 oz of milk 40 minutes ago, and I carried her to rock her back to a deep sleep at 0330 and 0445.  Now it’s quiet in there.  Gabby has been knocked out since 0300, when I got up and took over the baby soothing duty.  I didn’t have to stay awake this whole time, but I honestly couldn’t sleep right now if I wanted to… and I do!

 

I’m not sure why I can’t sleep tonight.  I don’t have anything in particular on my mind that I can think of.  I mean, nothing that should keep me awake at this hour.  I guess I’ll play some video games until I fall asleep… I can’t just lay in bed until the sun comes up… if I get tired I know the couch is comfortable… I’ve passed out on it randomly several times.  I think I hear a little voice… maybe she needs some more milk… and maybe I’ll be able to go to sleep for an hour or two… maybe…

Top Brass

There’s this military & tactical supply store called Top Brass here in Houston.  I probably like this place as much as Guitar Center or Sam Ash… and if you don’t know me well enough to know that those are my absolute favorite places to go, now you know.  So we [Gabby, Cady and I] went to Top Brass to get some ribbons for my ribbon rack in my shadow box I’m making.  I’ve seen a lot of different shadow boxes for Marines getting out of the Corps over the years, but I can’t decide on a configuration for mine.  I haven’t decided if I want to put medals and ribbons or ribbons with only the Purple Heart medal, or just straight ribbons.  Something will come to me.  Oh yeah, as I was saying, Top Brass is an awesome store.  They have so much cool……… stuff!  I wish I could win some kind of shopping spree there…  mnmn… tactical gear for no apparent reason… mnmnmn….

I have really been wanting to get Gabby and I our CHLs (concealed handgun license).  I would feel a lot better with Gabby taking Cady out by herself if she had some sort of protection.  I don’t think it is paranoia or anything.  I just want to be prepared in case something happens.  At first I was thinking of trying out a Smith & Wesson .38 Special for her, but I found out that if you get a CHL with a standard pistol then that’s all you can carry concealed.  If you get your CHL with a semi-auto handgun then you can carry either semi-auto or pistol.  The guy recommended trying  a 380-Auto for Gabby because of the size of her hands and it uses a round similar to the .38 (which has pretty good power).  I must do much more research on this and we will have to try some different pieces at the range, but it is definitely on my list of things to do.

Cady has been trying to walk more and more.  Today she pretty much got upset anytime we tried to get her to sit down or just not walk so we could get a break.  She is getting so big.  Can’t believe it.  She wants to eat whatever Gabby is eating.  She wanted my watermelon today.  I love watermelon.  It is recommended that she doesn’t have watermelon, among other things, so she is less likely to develop food allergies.  We are going to err on the side of caution on this kind of thing.

 

That’s all I’ve got for now.  Rockin Daddy, out!

Sugar Land’s Cutest Baby Is In My House!

So, Gabby got an email from the Sugar Land’s Cutest Baby contest people today.  It said that Cady has made it into the TOP 10 Finalist bracket!  We are so happy.  I told you she would definitely make it with this picture.

    I know she didn’t win yet, but I am really confidant that she will.  She has a couple tricks up her sleeves to show the judges to add to her already skyrocketing cuteness factor.  She waves bye-bye, and she razzes a LOT.

 

The final showdown is May 22nd at 0900 at the Sugar Land Town Center in front of Sugar Land Town Hall… or maybe it’s in the back of the SLTH…. I don’t know which is which.

Yesterday Cady also had her 9-months doctor visit.  She was 19 LBS 12.6 oz and 30.5 in long.  She went hysterical as soon as we got into the exam room.  I think she has bad memories from getting her shots the last couple times we were there… poor baby has PTSD about the doctor’s office already…  No shots this time though!  Thank God.

On a side note, I think I totally dominated my history final today… Out of 17 questions and about 50 “Key Terms” that I studied for I got to choose 3 out of the 6 essay topics I knew best and 5 out of the 10 key words I had the most knowledge about.  The stuff I remembered the most out of all those notes and it was the stuff that was on the test.  Good times… good times… Done with History classes, sort of.  In the fall semester I will be taking “The Bible and Western Culture” as my humanities requirement… Time to put the little one to sleep… She is a night owl, just like me! haha…

 

Rockin Daddy, out!

Houston Zoo

We decided to take Cady to the Houston Zoo today.  We had a good time.  When we first got there we stood next to the macaw cage and the birds made their loud “macaw!” sound and Cady got real scared and started crying.

We got the hell out of there real fast!  Then we walked over to the ape area.   Nothing interesting over there except the other children.  Cady is always so interested in what the other children are doing.  I think she wants to join in on the commotion.

Next we saw the Komodo Dragon being lazy.

 

The Giraffes were lounging in their habitat.

And right next to the giraffes was the new baby elephant “Baylor”  with his momma elephant.

Cady was mostly interested in the other kids… it was really Gabby and I that were interested in the animals.  Cady is only 9 months old right now.  She may have not appreciated the animals but I know she appreciated the time being out and about… ours is a baby who likes to pashal pashal (go out and about in Tagalog).  I know for sure she enjoyed the Dippin Dots

She made it a couple hours before she wanted to be taken out of the stroller, too… which was great for mommy and daddy’s backs.  She also enjoyed exploring this seal statue.

It was a good outing for our little family and I must say I look forward to more of them…  Until next time.

 

Rockin Daddy, out!

The Weekend’s Here!!

Oh, wait… I still have finals to finish.  I had my Chemistry for Engineers final today, but the fun isn’t over.  I have my Pre-Cal final on Monday, so i better get to studying for that!  Being the weekend, Cady’s Lolo and Lola (that’s Grandpa and Grandma in Tagalog [the official language of the Philippines]) are watching her.  This is a good time for Gabby and I to relax and get some time to be alone and just lounge.  I know… we’re lucky to have such help in raising our child…  Cady gets to have fun going out with her Lolo and Lola to the mall and seeing people and (if they’re doing what we asked them to) being exposed to the native tongue of her ancestors.  I mean, I’m trying to learn to speak Tagolog too with Rosetta Stone: Tagalog

but Cady really has the opportunity to grow up knowing Tagalog.  Gabby's parents speak English a lot.  Well, they really speak Taglish most of the time… which is still really good for Cady.  Because Gabby said that English is also a primary language in the Philippines.  Good times.

 

So, Mother’s Day is this weekend and I forgot to buy cards for my Mom and Grandma… If you’re reading this, sorry… I’m going to do it today and mail them to both of you… they’ll just be a little late is all.  Another thing coming up on Sunday is the deadline to turn in Cady’s application in the “Sugar Land’s Cutest” contest… Now, seriously, if she doesn’t get accepted into the top 10 in her age category (0-12 months old) there is something seriously corrupt going on… and I just might try to get to the bottom of it! haha… ok, I’m no Dick Tracy, but I will be very sad.

A new development also happened today.  Cady is now able to stand up on her own while holding on to furniture.  She is “cruising” a whole bunch now… it is great to see her grow.  Speaking of growing, she is 20Lbs now… and like 30 inches long.  I love tickling her kilikili (armpits in tagalog) and raspberry-ing her tiyan (stomach in tagalog).

I really need to play my guitar more often, because Cady really loves to dance to my playing.  My fingers have lost their callouses and my hands have lost their dexterity.  I’m half the guitar player I used to be.  Speaking of guitars and music, Gabby found a website called CSN Stores that has small versions of instruments.  My personal favorite for Cady is this 30 key Pink Baby Baby Grand!  She already loves to sit at the piano at her Gabby’s parents’ house and push the keys.  This Pink Baby Baby Grand is for 3 years and up, but I think with proper supervision Cady could play with it starting when she is a year old.  I think a lot of these recommended ages are because of people who think that you can just give a kid a toy and not pay attention to them while they’re playing with it.  You have to watch your children at all times.  They’re just curious about everything there is.  It’s really not their fault when they hurt themselves… they don’t know any better, but you, as a parent, should.

The Crying Game

So this is my first blog and I’ve been wondering how to start it off. What am I supposed to put in it? I guess I’ll start off with the dog. We took Quinn to get spayed yesterday. The vet gave us some pain pills to give her; one a day for 4 days. Today was Day 1. I got up around 0830 (instead of my usual 0600) and gave Quinn the first of her Rimadyl pills. At about 2030 tonight she started whining… and whining… and whining… I thought maybe she wanted to go outside so I picked her up and took her out. She put out a fire and then raced to go back upstairs. Unfortunately her sutures weren’t in the mood for any stair-climbers.

This week begins finals for us at University of Houston (UH)

. My first final is Friday morning at 0830, Chemistry for Engineers. I should really look into peer study groups and tutoring in the following semesters for my remaining science classes (physics, thermodynamics, acoustics, hydro-dynamics, etc….) . There are a lot of them and I don’t want to just pass the classes. Seriously, who wants someone designing and building things who doesn’t really know everything about what they’re doing? Not me…

Now for the namesake of this blog, my beautiful baby girl, Cadence Claire. She has been… inconsistent…. in her “movements” the last couple days. I know how much it sucks to strain when you know what's going on, but it frightens the little one because she has no idea what is happening. We broke out Dr. A’s (Cady’s doctor) recommended 3 tsp of corn syrup to 1 oz of water… you know Cady loves the sugar water! She has made some semi-successful treks into the world of regularity, but still struggling to push it thru.

Baby Cady has brought a lot of smiles to Gabby and I over the last 9 months. Currently, she is working on “cruising” (walking while holding on to stationary objects like the couch) and dancing. It’s the cutest thing to see my little girl bob her head up and down while her feet kick in a wild manner when there is a downbeat. She really loves music already. I whip out my guitar every now and then and Cadence has no problem letting me know which chords and rythms I should and shouldn’t be playing. If she dances while I’m playing it’s good to go, but if she reaches for the guitar it is time to change it up. This girl loves to sing too! If an innocent bystander heard it they would think she was just whining, but really she likes to “whine” to the sound of the music. Not even a year old and she is already making that diaphragm work hard.

That’s pretty much my day today. I’ll work on gathering my thoughts into a more coherent jumble next time. I see things in pictures and sometimes can’t translate those pictures into words.