a` la Letterman

Autumn had a pretty good pregnancy.  She got that glow all pregnant women get, a sort of sublime beauty that should last, but can't.


Sure, parts that shouldn't swell did, and there was some morning sickness.  But that was over quickly, or compensated for with comfy shoes and new bras.  I think the worst was the heart burn.  That was hotter than the after burners on an F-15 I'm told.

The Children's Hour

I like poetry.  Always have.  While I was in college, Christopher Marlowe's Passionate Shepherd helped procure a girlfriend or two.  My fondness probably started with Mom and Dad tossing Theodor Geisel and Shel Silverstein my way.

Now I like to read poems to Autumn.  I don't think she's much of a poetry fan, but she doesn't seem to mind listening.  And I don't mind when she starts snoring.  Lately I've been reading to her from collections put together by Garrison Keillor.  If you've heard his 'Writer's Almanac', you'll know why I pick up these most often.  Anyway, they are not only good poems, they are especially good for folks who aren't much into poetry.  I can often get an emotion or two out of her as she slowly falls asleep.  Good poetry is nothing of the sort if it doesn't stir our emotions 

My best parenting secret

This is top shelf stuff.  You may want to book mark this.  I am about to share with you the one thing that is guaranteed to make parenting easier.


I promise, if you do this one thing with your kids, all the other parenting stuff you have to do literally and figuratively becomes childs play.  This is my number one parenting tip.  I should be charging for this, but here you go...

Warning - Poop Ahead

Just figured I should let you know right up front.  Some people aren't fond of discussions centered around the stuff that comes out.


I 'm not sure why that it is.  Some of what goes in doesn't look or smell all that different from what comes out- at least in the early stages.  Have you ever opened a jar of baby food?  Then you know what I'm talking about.  I'm not going speculate on taste comparisions (in and out), but I will say taste speculation in general (along with other factors) played a significant role in our decision to make our own baby food.  But that's a post for another day.

A night in Maine

I really can't say why I get so lucky.  Maybe it isn't luck at all.  Whatever it is, I do seem to have a knack for stumbling into great situations.  Wonderful situations.

After I put the boys to bed last night, I bundled up and went out on the deck.  There were a few errant clouds, but they couldn't hide the bright, waxing moon, or Jupiter.  Both were brilliant and lit up the pond and surrounding woods.  It was beautiful.  Then the coyotes started singing from across the pond.  First one, then the whole pack.  And then they were answered by another pack on my side, but farther up.  Not to be out done, the ice on the pond chimed in as well.

Milestone Monday

So milestones are a big deal to parents.  Most people know this.  It's how we gauge the progress our kids are making.  They become badges for some, things to be proud of, and maybe even boast about.


The baby books center around them.  My favorite book even tries to make sure you don't go totally nuts about them by saying things like "Your child might do this, may do this, should do this at X months".  They also advise you to bring missed milestones to your doctor's attention at certain points.  I like that, that kind of advice has helped us get the boys some extra help now and then.

Tolstoy and the New Year

Okay everyone, here we go.  Day one of 365 blog posts.  And since it's the first day of the new year, of course it will be a New Years day themed post.  Nothing cliche about that, right?


Now I hope you aren't alarmed by the title of this post.  Yes it is about Tolstoy, but this won't be the blogging version of War and Peace.  Well, it's sort of about Tolstoy.  Really more about Jon J. Muth.