No wonder Quincy hovers around the high chair.

Untitled from Jason Pankow on Vimeo.

Desi takes a spill at daycare

Yeah, yeah...I'm a blogging slacker. I have 3 blogs and I haven't touched any of them in weeks. Some in months. Time to get on it.

Today, there was an event at daycare that has me ready to tell you all about it. Still trying to figure out exactly how I feel about it.

I am at work, today, and I get a call from Shaundar. Apparently, the daycare has called her and told her that Desi has fallen, head first, out of his crib. The crib assigned to Desi hasn't been lowered, yet. As I haven't been updating the blog, I don't think I've talked about "Standing Desi," yet. Desi stands. Has been pulling himself up since my trip to New Orleans. Does it quite frequently, now. I lowered the crib at home on the first sign that he was thinking about pulling himself up. Apparently, daycare didn't think to do it.

Shaundar, being the protective mother that she is, immediately blamed us. We should have DEMANDED that the crib be lowered. Me...I don't see why we need to be babysitting the babysitters. I mean, sure...there are things to police. Like, "Hey, I'm Jewish (we're not really Jewish). Don't feed my kid pork." Or, "Hey...don't regurgitate your Democrat propoganda in front of my kid." But, "Hey...you should really lower the crib for kids who are standing."? You would figure they would get that on their own.

Anyway...he was napping. The girl in the room (and, I call her a girl because she can't be older than 17 or 18, max) was changing one of the other babies. After changing, she turned around to wash her hands. During that time, Desi woke up, stood up, and flipped himself over the rail and fell onto the carpeted floor, head first. This is their story.

Personally...I call BS. I mean, Desi hasn't mastered the art of standing in 5 seconds, yet. He still takes it pretty slow. So, unless she was washing her hands for 5 minutes, I find it hard to believe that she was at the sink long enough for him to wake up (without making any noises, which is unusual), scoot himself to the rail, pull himself into standing position, climb the rail, and tumble over the rail. No...I think she just wasn't paying attention to him.

So, I've been struggling. On one hand...kids get hurt. I have a boy. He is going to have plenty of injuries while he's growing. But, this one seems wholly preventable. I didn't bite anyone's head off when I picked him up, today. But, still...what the heck? How can my 9 month old be put in a position where he can take a 5 foot spill onto his head?

For the record, I took him to see the doctor. She says he looks, "Perfect." She always says this about him. I think my baby doctor really digs my kid. Everything is functioning properly. When I got him home, he wanted to play. So, asside from a fair sized bruise on his forehead, no problems.

I think I may stay home with him, tomorrow, anyway. And, I think I may call some other daycares to see what the wait list looks like.

FOTv Live

http://www.fistfuloftalent.com/2009/08/fotv-5-.html

FOTv - Show #5 from Fistful of Talent on Vimeo.

When I'm a dad, I promise not to...

Take my kid to Bourbon Street in New Orleans.

Okay, okay...I know I am a dad, now. But, the label was already created.

So, how about this: Now that I am a dad, I promise not to take my kid to Bourbon Street in New Orleans.

I am currently in New Orleans for work. I arrived on Saturday night, had a good time as a tourist on Sunday, and started work on Monday. I hit up Bourbon Street on Sunday, but not very hard. Really, I just wanted to see it. Tonight, we took it in more. I went with 3 coworkers.

If you've never been to New Orleans, let me tell you a little bit about Bourbon Street. (Warning...if you are my grandfather, you may want to stop reading here).

Bourbon Street has three kinds of stores. Tourist shops selling crap, bars, and strip clubs. That's it. At night, the street is not accessable for vehicles. People walk up and down the street and you are allowed to carry alchohol around with you outside. In fact, people are selling alchohol outside. It's really no holds barred. There is even a club, I'm not positive as I didn't go in, but given the pictures outside I am pretty sure, that you go in to watch people have sex. I don't know about other guys...but I am not THAT lonely.

Anyway...this post isn't about the debotchery of New Orleans. I am an adult. I can handle it. What baffles me is the amount of children I saw, tonight.

It's almost 12:30 AM. I just got back to my room. We were walking Bourbon Street between 10 and midnight. These kids were about 9 and 13, maybe. So...#1, here we have kids out at midnight. #2, here we have kids walking by a club that has visible pictures of people having sex outside. And...booze EVERYWHERE.

What kind of parents do that? I asked Michelle, the coworker I was out with who also has kids, if she would bring her kids here. She said, "Um...I'm a good mother."

Seriously...I'm baffled. Who does that. Those parents get a Fail, in my book.

Desi's real dad was a Shaolin Monk

I am convinced that Desi's real father was Quai Chang Cain, or something. Let me explain:

The other day, I was changing Desmond's poopy diaper. As I removed the diaper and noticed the copious amounts of feces, I quickly realized that Des was in a kicking mood. This meant, that if I wasn't careful, one of those feet was quickly going to find it's way into the dirty side of the diaper.

Sure enough, Desi looked at me and I could see it in his eyes. He was going to kick and he was aiming straight for the poo. But, I was ready. I thrust my hand out to catch his foot and I was successful! BLAM, his left foot landed right in the palm of my hand.

only problem...in the time it took me to get my hand out, he had already kicked into the poop, retracted his foot, and kicked out again landing his disgustingly poopy foot right into my awaiting palm.

Yuck.

I figure, if Desi were part of a Shaolin monastary, he would be able to leave at 8.5 months. The teacher would hold a pebble in the palm of his hand and tell Desi to take it. "When you take the pebble from my hand, it will be time for you to leave."

Desi would quickly snatch the pebble, wipe in in his dirty diaper and have it back in the master's palm before anyone could say Kung Fu.

Throwing the ball

Playing ball with Quincy from Jason Pankow on Vimeo.

Piano Man

Piano Man from Jason Pankow on Vimeo.

Our little Matador

The Little Matador from Jason Pankow on Vimeo.

Desi and Quincy

I realized that I haven't really taken any time to chat about Quincy, our Boston Terrorist.

I don't remember if I have ever talked about our concerns regarding Quincy, before Desi arrived.

In a nutshell, for those that don't know...Quincy does NOT like children. He had some rough experiences when he was a puppy with friends' kids. Then, when we moved, a bunch of brats that live behind us used to (and sometimes still do) torment him through the fence. He gets very anxious around children and even nipped our neighbor's 9 year old on the finger.

So...knowing we had a baby coming, we were very nervous about how Quincy would react. Quincy is my little buddy. It would have been very hard on me if we had to get rid of him...even if he is a jerk.

Then...Desi arrived. Quincy's first reactions were curious ones. "What the heck is this thing making all the noise?" Then, skeptical. "It's small, so it probably can't hurt me...still, it's often loud and annoying."

Now...these two are best friends. Seriously. They love each other. I'm not positive, but I think it happened the day Quincy discovered he really enjoys the taste of baby vomit. I know it's gross, but I am not kidding. Des doesn't spit up nearly as often, anymore. Still...any hint of a burp, and Quincy is scoping out Desi's face, looking for the used milk.

Maybe you don't believe me that these two are best friends. Let me give you what I consider to be the best proof.

Not long ago, Quincy was macking on one of his rawhide chewies. Desi is mobile, now. He started making a bee-line over to the dog and his chewy. I immediately got ready to pounce on Quincy. I mean, after all, you don't mess with a dog and his chewy. Especially, if you are a small thing with limited control of your movements and only one tooth.

What I saw was amazing. Not only did Quincy not react, he willingly relinquished his chewy to the baby. Desi grabbed it with both hands and immediately put it in his mouth. I took me a second to be grossed out by this as I was so proud of the dog. But, I quickly snatched it away with a "Yucky, Desi" and threw it down the stairs.

But, wait...there is more.

Quincy bolted down the stairs to get his chew toy. I figured he would find somewhere else to work on it. Nope...walks back up the stairs, over to the baby and drops the chewy in front of Desmond.

Quincy gave Desmond his disgusting, slobbery, slimy rawhide.

Needless to say, I am very proud of that little dog. He's still a jerk to strangers, and kids...but, he's been better than we could have ever expected around little Desmond.

Pics from Lincoln Park

Thanks to Uncle Brian for taking the photos.

Sheesh...I haven't posted in forever. I guess having a kid just isn't very exciting, anymore. In fact, it's downright boring. I mean, he doesn't spit up as much, he sleeps most of the night, and the dog does a terrific job babysitting him. What is there to write about?

Just kidding! I've just been a lazy poster, lately. I haven't come up with anything good for Fistful of Talent in a month, either...and that blog pays me.

Recipe of the Week - Hoisen-Honey-Glazed Pork with Grilled Pineapple

Had this tonight. Very very good! Especially the pineapple.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup(s) hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon(s) honey
• 1 tablespoon(s) grated fresh peeled ginger
• 1 teaspoon(s) Asian sesame oil
• 1 whole(s) (1 1/4 pounds) pork tenderloin
• 1/2 medium pineapple, untrimmed
• 2 tablespoon(s) brown sugar

Directions

Prepare outdoor grill for covered direct grilling over medium heat. In small bowl, combine hoisin, honey, ginger, and oil.

Place pork on hot grill rack. Cover grill and cook pork 18 to 20 minutes, turning occasionally.
With serrated knife, cut pineapple half into 4 wedges. Rub cut sides of pineapple with brown sugar.

Grill pineapple 10 minutes or until browned on both sides, turning over once. While pineapple is grilling, brush pork with hoisin-honey glaze and turn frequently until temperature on instant-read thermometer reaches 155 degrees F. Transfer pork to cutting board; let stand 10 minutes.

Transfer pineapple to platter.

Thinly slice pork and serve with pineapple wedges.

Yummy!

Eating

I'll get ya'll an actual posting up here, again, in a little while. But, in the meantime...check out Mr. Messy Pants feeding himself.


Feeding one's self...kinda. from Jason Pankow on Vimeo.

Desmond's 3rd Baseball game

With Grandpa John. Uncle Gary in the background.



"Dad...why do you keep dragging me to these things?"

No, Desi...he can't come home with us.

Okay...this section is a promotion for my camera. A Canon Powershot SX110. We were sitting in the view seating, which is the 300 level, which means the highest section, almost right behind home plate. For those of you that don't know, Ichiro plays right field.

Jarrod Washburn pitching. Again...I'm up high. 300 level, 24 rows up in the 300 level.

The camera picked up the ball, for crying out loud.

I think we paid, like $350 or something for this camera. Money well spent.

Also...if you've never been to a Mariners game at Safeco Field, the dancing groundskeepeers is one of the highlights.


Dancing Groundskeepers from Jason Pankow on Vimeo.

Desi's 2nd Baseball game

I think we are starting a new Father's Day tradition. Baseball!

Desi took a little better to his 2nd game than to his first. It probably helped that there were no fireworks, this time. Still...the big cheers frightened him. And, he got pretty tired by about the 3rd inning and just wanted to sleep. Woke up at about the 5th inning and was in better spirits until he got tired again around the 6th inning. Clearly, Desi finds baseball very thrilling.

Here are some pics:

"I don't know about this...last time I was here it was very loud."


"Okay! This rocks! And, it's Daddy's Day, so I'll have fun with my Daddy!"


"Who's on first?"


"Nevermind. I hate baseball."


"Baseball is stuuupiiizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz."


"Daddy has a non-sexual man-crush on Ichiro."