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3 Comments Posted on fatherhood, parenting, People, Spirituality, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Dear Jack: My Grandma is in Heaven Now

5 years, 10 months.

Dear Jack: My Grandma is in Heaven Now

Dear Jack,

Last weekend, our family traveled to my hometown of Fort Payne, Alabama so that we could attend the visitation and funeral for my Grandma; Delores “Lola” Gonzales Metallo.

Our family most recently visited her just a few of months ago in July, which made the 2nd time she was able to meet Holly.

Then the following month, while you were staying at Nonna and Papa’s house for a week of “summer camp,” you visited Grandma again.

I’m so glad you got to have that one last special visit with her. Nonna sent me this picture of the two of you, which she took with her phone:

“Special visit with Grandma. A sweet bond between a 5 1/2 yr old Great Grandson with his 81 yr old Great-Grandmother. Grandma had an old movie playing on her TV and Jack loved it. Grandma was soooo happy. She loved hearing about Jack but especially the movies he was getting to go see.”

But as of last Thursday morning, at age 81, she passed on to Heaven. No more pain or suffering for her.

One of the first things that came to mind when I heard this was the children’s Bible I read to you each night before you go to bed.

Grandma gave it to me as a Christmas gift in 1988, nearly 30 years ago. In the front of it, she wrote, “With all my love!”

Dear Jack: My Grandma is in Heaven Now

Grandma was known for her love of dogs, her ability to perfectly iron a shirt, her obsession with possible upcoming bad weather, and her fascination with anything Biblical.

She undeniably had a great effect on me developing my faith in Jesus. I think it’s so cool that I get to teach you from the same Bible she gave me.

During the visitation the day before her funeral, I really enjoyed hearing the stories from people who I didn’t know well, but who knew stories about her that I never knew.

It was much more a time of celebration than it was a time of mourning. She lived a long, full life. She got to meet all 4 of her great-grandchildren before she passed, of which your the first.

I would not be who I am today if it weren’t for her influence on my life. She was there every birthday, every Thanksgiving, every Christmas, and every time our family got together; each year of my entire life.

Dear Jack: My Grandma is in Heaven Now

She meant a lot to me, obviously. And I know for a fact that she really loved you a lot.

We will see her again, though. This is not goodbye.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Your Introduction to “The Cry It Out” Method (to Train You to Sleep through the Night)

5 months.

Dear Holly: Your Introduction to “The Cry It Out” Method to Train You to Sleep through the Night

Dear Holly,

This is a very special week for you. Mommy gave me the green light to have full jurisdiction in applying “The Cry It Out” Method to help you learn to sleep through the night.

I did this for your brother when he was 7 months old and now I am happy I get to “sleep train” you about a month and a half sooner than I did with him.

Mommy didn’t mind waking up twice a night to feed you for these past couple of months, but it transitioned into you waking up every couple of hours. I pointed out to her that you weren’t actually physically needing to eat. Instead, you needed to be re-calibrated to be able to sleep longer than 2 hours at a time and I was more than willing to assume the role.

Without much need to persuade her by this point, I presented Mommy with the plan that starting this week, I would sleep upstairs in the room next to yours, with the baby monitor right next to me, so I could wake up and supervise you “crying it out.” That way, Mommy could start getting full, uninterrupted nights of sleep again, while I wake up with you to help you learn to cry yourself back to sleep.

Here’s how it’s been going so far:

Night 1, Sunday: You went to bed around 9:30 PM and had your final feeding for the night. You woke up twice, both times for a duration of 20 minutes. Both times, I had to flip you over after you were exhausting yourself by crying on your stomach, while holding yourself up with your arms. The first time you started crying, you got your foot stuck in the bars of your crib. But after letting your cry for a few minutes that way, you revealed that you easily knew how to remove your leg from the bars yourself. From that point on, I knew not to fall for it.

Night 2, Monday: You went to bed around 9:00 PM and had your final feeding for the night. You only woke up once, this time for just 10 minutes. I had to flip you over on your back again- then you immediately went back to sleep.

Night 3, Tuesday: You went to bed around 8:00 PM and had your final feeding for the night. You only cried once, for 30 minutes inconsistently. However, you remained on your back the whole time, meaning this was the first time I didn’t having to flip you back over.

Night 4, Wednesday: You went to bed around 7:00 PM, though I fed you a full bottle at 10:00 PM; which was 3 hours after you fell asleep. Beginning at 2:00 AM, you mildly, inconstantly cried the first time for 30 minutes, then fell back to sleep on your own. Again, I didn’t have to flip you over. You did it yourself this time. Then again at 4:00 AM, you did the same thing for this time for only 10 minutes.

What my notes of this show is this: With each following night of me applying “The Cry It Out” Method on you, you have been A) falling asleep earlier, B) teaching yourself to either remain on your back or flip yourself back over yourself, and C) wake up happy with a slightly bigger appetite.

Clearly, this method is working for you. Through my supervision, you are teaching yourself to remain asleep through the night, like a child; as opposed to a newborn.

This means better rest for you and Mommy, and eventually me, once you eventually stop crying or waking up all together in the middle of the night.

I remember how 5 years ago when I applied this method to your brother, I was told by a few people that I was depriving your brother of love and assurance, to the point that he would be psychologically damaged from letting him cry it out.

Fortunately, your brother has grown into a well-balanced nearly 6 year-old Kindergartner. He was the first boy student in his class this school year to be awarded by his teacher, Student of the Month, in September.

So I am fully convinced that you will turn out just right, as well. This is a good thing for our family.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Everyone Loves to Hold You (San Diego Vacation/2016 Mitsubishi Outlander)

5 months.

Dear Holly: Everyone Loves to Hold You (San Diego Vacation in a 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander)

Dear Holly,

Earlier this week, we got back from our annual California vacation. Normally we go to Sacramento where Mommy is from, but this time was special, as Mommy’s youngest brother got married in San Diego.

While I have many upcoming stories and adventures to tell you and your brother about our trip, I want to start by showing you these pictures of your cousins and aunts holding you.

As we drove to each new stop on our trip throughout San Diego in the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander, we caught up with a new bunch of Mommy’s family members who were eager to see “Little Holly.”

Dear Holly: Everyone Loves to Hold You (San Diego Vacation in a 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander)

There is nothing like holding a precious little baby.

And with Mommy having 9 siblings, 8 of whom we saw while on our vacation with their families, there was always someone who needed a turn of being able to hold you.

For me, it was an honor to be able to share you each person who held you. I loved seeing the look on each of their faces when they saw you. It was rewarding for me to be able to see how much they valued you being there.

Dear Holly: Everyone Loves to Hold You (San Diego Vacation in a 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander)

I suppose our family vacation in San Diego set a record for being the least amount of time I’ve ever held you in a week. Even though it was a bit of a culture shock, not constantly holding you and playing with you for hours at a time, I still got to see family be able to appreciate you.

Everyone loves to hold you. You’re so smiley and happy.

Not to mention, everyone is surprised by how long you are and how fair your skin is.

You are a very special little girl and you have many people in your life who love you very, very much.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Holly: Everyone Loves to Hold You (San Diego Vacation in a 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander)

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I Didn’t Make Kelly Ripa’s Top 20… But I Will Still Keep Trying to Reach My Goal of Being a TV Host

I Didn’t Make Kelly Ripa’s Top 20… But I Will Keep Trying to Reach My Goal of Being a TV Host

Today I learned, after much anticipation, I indeed did not proceed into the Top 20 from the Top 40 contenders for Kelly Ripa’s Co-Host for a Day Contest. But that’s alright, because I have learned some valuable things from this surreal experience:

I realized what a support system I have in place. I have been amazed and humbled over the past couple of weeks how quickly people who have known me over the years helped support my dream by voting for me on Kelly Ripa’s website and sharing my link on their Facebook pages.

So here’s a major thank you to everyone who took the time and who made the effort to try to convince Kelly Ripa’s producers for me to be her co-host for a day. I am absolutely gracious and will never forget that.

I also received official validation from producers in New York City that I do have enough talent to be considered to host a TV show. They were the ones who chose me, along with the other 39 contenders.

Before these past couple of weeks, it was simply a goal in life to be considered to be a host. Now, my dream has been legitimized.

For the rest of my life, I’ll have the satisfaction in knowing I made it to the Top 40, out of all of America.

It would have been convenient for me to have realized at age 18 that being a TV host would be what I would want to do for a living. However, it took all this life experience in the past 17 years since graduating high school (like being married 8 years and having 2 kids) to get to the level of confidence and emotional intelligence I am at now.

Back when I was young, I didn’t have what it took. Now, I do. Now, I’m ready.

So here’s to seeing if I can still reach my dream job of being a TV host. I’m still working hard on my dream.

One door closed, another shall open. At least, it will if I keep knocking on enough doors.

Leave a comment Posted on fatherhood, parenting, People, Storytelling, Uncategorized, vegan

Live with Kelly Co-Host Contest, Top 40 Contender: 2nd Video/Next Deadline, October 5th

Live with Kelly Co-Host Contest Top 40 Contender: 2nd Video/Next Deadline, October 5th

I am so grateful for everyone who has been helping me out by liking, commenting on, and sharing my 1st video; since I made it to the Top 40 for Kelly Ripa’s Co-Host for a Day Contest, last Friday. After all, my chances of winning are definitely based on how the free market (that’s you) reacts to my video on Kelly’s website.

On October 5th, we’ll all find out if I made it to the next cut; to the Top 20. So in addition to how well my 1st video does based on the public’s views, comments, likes, and shares, my success in the contest will be based on my newest assignment:

Make a video to showcase my ability to demonstrate how to do something in 60 seconds or less, which also features my personality.

I would have chosen to feature my adorable 5 month-old daughter in the video, using the angle on me being a daddy blogger.

However, no one under the age of 18 was permitted in the video.

So I decided the next best choice was for me to feature my “Manly Vegan Protein Smoothie” which I invented 3 and a half years ago, and have been drinking every day since then.

I chose this for a couple of reasons…

It gave me a reason to feature my Rubik’s Cube coffee mug. Who wouldn’t think that’s cool?

Plus, there aren’t a lot of vegan males out there. Being such a rare demographic makes me stand out from the crowd.

But ultimately, it’s not about a smoothie; it’s about me selling my personality in 60 seconds; to prove that I can be both classy and quirky.

So on October 5th, we’ll see if I’m worthy of the Top 20. I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes.

Remember that n the meantime, here’s a reminder of how you can help me out, if you haven’t already:

  1. Click on this link to visit the LIVE with Kelly Facebook page
  2.  Once you’re there, “like” my video
  3.  Next, leave a comment on it, telling everyone how you know me and specifically why I would be the best choice
  4. After you’ve done that, share that link, promoting me as your top choice on your own Facebook page
  5.  Also, tweet that same link on Twitter as your choice: @nickshellwrites