My Cowboy

I'm a little late on the Halloween post due to Dad Days, but here is my boy, all decked out in his cowboy gear.  He looks like he belongs in the 50s with Howdy Doody.  Do I have to tell you that I love it?

Time Sure Goes By Fast (A guest post by John Willey)

John Willey is the author of Daddy's In Charge? and one of this year's Parents.com Best Dad Blog Award Nominees. Check out his Lego movies (starring everyone from Chuck Norris to Spiderman) which record his singular views on fatherhood.

"Time sure goes by fast, huh Daddy?" - my son Tyler

Yeah Tyler, it sure does.

It seems just like like yesterday I was sitting outside the operating room crying hysterically both scared to death and happy all in the same moment. Scared to death that your mother was having an emergency C section but also happy because it meant that you were on your way out. I was also scared to death because my life would change forever, I was now going to be a dad, and I had no idea what that was actually going to mean. Time sure does go by fast, I remember the first night you were home from the hospital, you were crying your little eyes out and we had no idea what the problem was. The only thing that we could think of was to put a binky in your mouth, it worked wonders. It still took you a long time until you slept through the night, but look at you now, you sleep like such a big kid, although you could go to bed on your own sometimes.

Time sure goes by fast, I can remember sitting in your bedroom late one night and you rolled yourself from your back to your front. It was just you and me and I thought that nothing could be better than that moment. Then you started to crawl, albeit like a wounded army man, and you could now get around on your own. You didn't need me to carry you everywhere. Look at you now, you are faster than a speeding bullet and you run everywhere you go. We have had a lot of nights like that one in your bedroom, a lot of great moments.

Time sure does go by fast, you used to need us to read everything to you. You didn't know your ABC's or how to count to ten. But you figured that all out, you turned into such a smart little kid. The smartest in fact! You used to just scribble everything, before you knew how to write or draw. But look at you now, look at what in incredible artist you are. You amaze me everyday with that little brain of yours.

Time does go by fast, you used to be the only baby that we had. It used to be only you, but then along came Carter. We had an idea that you would be a great big brother, but seeing how you are with him, you really turned into the best big brother in the whole world. He loves you so much! You have gotten to be such an awesome little kid in these past seven years and you grew up so fast, it makes me wonder sometimes where it all went.

"Time sure goes by fast huh daddy? I came into your room at 6:30, (fell back asleep) and now its already 7:45. How did that happen?"

I have no idea Tyler, I have no idea.

Dad Days - Your Posts Needed

I had an interesting discussion with some fellow bloggers on Triberr the other day about how overlooked Dad Bloggers feel in the blogosphere. I've always suspected that Dad Bloggers were under-appreciated; the discussion gave me the confirmation that I needed. And that led me to thinking about how the role of Dad has, in general, seemed to become more and more under-appreciated these days. That's why I'm dedicating these pages over the next few weeks to the other half of the parenting equation, our fathers. I'll tell you tomorrow about some great dad bloggers that you may not know about; some of them will be contributing posts to Dropped Stitches. I'll talk about my father figures and other issues I've noticed; I am, however, turning most of this over to the men as they have the best insight on what it is to be a father.

If you are a dad blogger (or a dad who blogs) who I've not yet met and would like to contribute to the blog, you can contact me on twitter @erinswallace or email me your post idea to ktcwmom@gmail.com. If you are a woman who would like to talk about the father figures in your life you may do the same. I'm excited about these next few weeks and hope to have you all along for the journey.

Fair Fun!

William went to the Union County Fair last year, but he didn't remember anything about it. So this year was another series of big firsts:

First time on a ride without mommy

First funnel cake and lemon shake up

First time finding out that ducks are delightfully fun to watch . . .

but pigs aren't, and they smell!

First kiddie coaster, ridden 5 times

all in 94 degrees, with heat index up to 109

First time discovering the joy of the ferris wheel, and the breeze that it creates.

source

After around three hours the ride tickets were gone, the weather had us swooning, and William was ready to go home. Seeing the fair through his eyes was sheer joy.

The Big Party

So right now, I am in the midst of preparing for Will's birthday party. The cake has been baked an decorated, Swiss Steak (which I will give you the recipe for soon), a family birthday tradition, is in the oven and baking, cut potatoes for the mashed potatoes are on the stove. The girls (Kendall and her friend Ashley) wrapped the presents, Collin and Tim tackled the shoveling and salting of the walkways.

A word on the Swiss Steak. Around 15 years ago, I made my grandfather, who brought the recipe back from his WWII Navy days, write the recipe down. I'm so happy that I did. Ever since he died three years ago, it hasn't been made. I decided now was the time. I was going to use my pressure cooker (which had belonged to him and my grandma), but I got a little too carried away and made more than the cooker could hold. So now it is in a roaster pan in the oven stewing away. I am excited to taste it again, and my family is all showing up for a taste, too. The Vawters are German, food brings us together.

So that's that. Busy busy, while Will enjoys his billionth viewing of The Spongebob Squarepants Movie. I suppose I should change out of my cooking clothes, which are splattered and covered with flour, into something more presentable!

(Will's cake is a dark chocolate fudge cake with chocolate icing. I have no way of sharing a picture of it with you, however, as my hard drive has crashed. Yes, you heard me. Out of the blue, it crashed. So enjoy these pictures from We Heart It.)

3 Years Today

3 years ago today, at 6:10 am, you were born. You came 2 months early because mom's body objected to you being in there any longer. You were dazed with the biggest blue eyes she had ever seen. And you were strong. You may have been early, but you were ready for the world.

You have been happy since the day you were born. Your smiles light up the room. You have the silliest giggle. You take such delight in noticing and learning something new.

But, oh, you are stubborn! How your mom wishes you would just try a bite of fruit. She knows you'd love it. And the tantrums! You want what you want when you want it. But then again, you are three. And the tantrums rarely last long. You just are too happy.

Your mom is going to have trouble with the fact that you are no longer her baby. When she looks at you, you have turned into a little boy. A boy who knows his ABC's and 123's and loves to dance and sing and jump around. A boy who loves to kick and throw a ball, never saw a car he didn't like, and who doesn't mind getting a little dirt under his fingernails. You love goldfish and ever since you discovered that you can pick up the cats, well, they've been on the lookout for you! You are full of snips and snails and puppy dog tails.

Sometimes your mom wonders what your future will hold. But it doesn't last long, because she is here with you now, and every moment is magic. She loves you so, little three year old boy.