family

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Dear Jack: We Saw Captain America Civil War on Opening Weekend & Bought Mother’s Day Gifts (in the 2016 Lexus IS 200t)

5 years, 5 months.

Dear Jack: We Saw Captain America Civil War on Opening Weekend & Bought Mother’s Day Gifts (in the 2016 Lexus IS 200t)

Dear Jack,

In case you haven’t figured this out yet, you are a cool kid…. with a cool daddy. Whenever a new superhero movie comes out, ever since Ant-Man last July, I’ve been taking you to see it on opening weekend.

Dear Jack: We Saw Captain America Civil War on Opening Weekend & Bought Mother’s Day Gifts (in the 2016 Lexus IS 200t)

Plus, over the past year, we’ve been making our own little “superhero movies” and putting them on YouTube, with our series, Jack-Man.

What a great time to be a boy and a great time to be a daddy, with all these superhero movies coming out so often. Just like our Saturday morning tradition of exploring the woods in surrounding neighborhoods, another father-son bonding experience we participate in is seeing movies together.

Dear Jack: We Saw Captain America Civil War on Opening Weekend & Bought Mother’s Day Gifts (in the 2016 Lexus IS 200t)

It gives Mommy several hours to herself (but mostly the baby and the laundry) while you and I get to see awesome non-bloody battles between the superhero characters that you wear on your t-shirts to school.

Dear Jack: We Saw Captain America Civil War on Opening Weekend & Bought Mother’s Day Gifts (in the 2016 Lexus IS 200t)

I’ve noticed that one of your favorite parts about seeing movies with me is watching the previews. You like to map out which movies you want to see with me in the future, like X-Men: Apocalypse. It surprised me when you told me you want to see that one, since you didn’t recognize any of those characters. But hey, now our calendar is marked for it, just 3 weeks from now.

Dear Jack: We Saw Captain America Civil War on Opening Weekend & Bought Mother’s Day Gifts (in the 2016 Lexus IS 200t)

As for this past weekend on Saturday, I took you to see Captain America: Civil War. Not only was it an epic movie, but it was an epic event, since this marked for the first time you’d ever seen any of those characters on the big screen, other than Ant-Man.

Dear Jack: We Saw Captain America Civil War on Opening Weekend & Bought Mother’s Day Gifts (in the 2016 Lexus IS 200t)

Captain America has always been my favorite Marvel superhero, and I think I have by default influenced you to feel the same way.

Dear Holly: Our Family’s 1st Ride in the Same Car (2016 Lexus IS 200t)

Dear Holly: Our Family’s 1st Ride in the Same Car (2016 Lexus IS 200t)

To make the event even more special, we took the 2016 Lexus IS 200t to see the movie. We were pretty much a big deal.

Dear Jack: We Saw Captain America Civil War on Opening Weekend & Bought Mother’s Day Gifts (in the 2016 Lexus IS 200t)

We also headed over to Target that afternoon to pick out some gifts for Mommy for Mother’s Day, which was the following day. She had strongly hinted that she was wanting some pampering natural lotions and the like, so we got her on taken care of. Plus, you reminded me Mommy would want some licorice, so we threw in some jelly beans as well.

Dear Jack: We Saw Captain America Civil War on Opening Weekend & Bought Mother’s Day Gifts (in the 2016 Lexus IS 200t)

The next morning on Mother’s Day, having obviously enjoyed the movie, you decided on your own to pull your Captain America Halloween costume out of the closet as you played.

Dear Jack: We Saw Captain America Civil War on Opening Weekend & Bought Mother’s Day Gifts (in the 2016 Lexus IS 200t)

Dear Jack: We Saw Captain America Civil War on Opening Weekend & Bought Mother’s Day Gifts (in the 2016 Lexus IS 200t)

Meanwhile, Mommy fed your baby sister Holly, then made vegan French Toast for us; or as Mommy calls it, Danish Toast.

Somehow, you decided to play with your “dinosaur putty” as slime, then transitioned into a Ghostbusters theme.

Dear Jack: We Saw Captain America Civil War on Opening Weekend & Bought Mother’s Day Gifts (in the 2016 Lexus IS 200t)

Dear Jack: We Saw Captain America Civil War on Opening Weekend & Bought Mother’s Day Gifts (in the 2016 Lexus IS 200t)

Dear Jack: We Saw Captain America Civil War on Opening Weekend & Bought Mother’s Day Gifts (in the 2016 Lexus IS 200t)

Dear Jack: We Saw Captain America Civil War on Opening Weekend & Bought Mother’s Day Gifts (in the 2016 Lexus IS 200t)

I’d say we had a pretty awesome and memorable weekend.

You’re a cool kid. Good thing you have a cool daddy too.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Holly: Our Family’s 1st Ride in the Same Car (2016 Lexus IS 200t)

3 Comments Posted on car reviews, parenting, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Dear Holly: Our Family’s 1st Ride Together in the Same Car (2016 Lexus IS 200t)

2 weeks.

https://familyfriendlydaddyblog.com/2016/05/03/motormood-classic-review-a-fun-emojicon-for-emotionally-intelligent-drivers-giveaway/

Dear Holly,

Amazingly, it wasn’t until you were exactly 2 weeks old, this past Sunday on Mother’s Day, that we finally rode together as a family of 4; together in the same car.

Dear Holly: Our Family’s 1st Ride in the Same Car (2016 Lexus IS 200t)

With Grandma staying with us for the first week of your life, she stayed home with your brother Jack when Mommy and I needed to take you to the doctor for a check-up.

Dear Holly: Our Family’s 1st Ride in the Same Car (2016 Lexus IS 200t)

But finally, our family got to ride in the same car today, as a family of 4, together on Mother’s Day. However, our little road trip wasn’t in one of our old cars.

Dear Holly: Our Family’s 1st Ride in the Same Car (2016 Lexus IS 200t)

Instead, we were graced with a 2016 Lexus IS 200t for this past week! What a way to go for our first family drive. I know you’re new in this world, but a Lexus is a very, very nice luxury brand with quite a reputation.

Dear Holly: Our Family’s 1st Ride in the Same Car (2016 Lexus IS 200t)

All the guys at my work drooled when they saw me in the parking lot. And I think Mommy had a hard time giving the car back after a week.

Dear Holly: Our Family’s 1st Ride in the Same Car (2016 Lexus IS 200t)

Dear Holly: Our Family’s 1st Ride in the Same Car (2016 Lexus IS 200t)

Last Thursday, Mommy took you in it to get your professional newborn pictures made. She texted me once she got there:

“Love that car! Want a Lexus one day for sure!”

l11a

Dear Holly: Our Family’s 1st Ride in the Same Car (2016 Lexus IS 200t)

She also loved getting to take the Lexus IS to go pick up groceries while I stayed home with you and Jack on Saturday morning.

As for Mother’s Day, having received her gifts on Sunday morning, she decided for her official Mother’s Day activity, she simply wanted to go out for a special treat at Jamba Juice, which is 16 miles away. She’s been craving their smoothies since she gave birth to you.

Dear Holly: Our Family’s 1st Ride in the Same Car (2016 Lexus IS 200t)

Your brother Jack decided he wanted a popsicle at Whole Foods right across the street, so Mommy got her Jamba Juice to go and we hung out there at the patio.

My treat was a Strawberry Serenity kombucha. (Yes, that’s what a vegan dad chooses as a “treat”.)

l13

Your treat, as a 2 week old infant, was of course none other than milk.

It was so nice hanging out as a new family of 4,  with treats in hand and sun on our skin.

Dear Holly: Our Family’s 1st Ride in the Same Car (2016 Lexus IS 200t)

And though I can’t be for sure that I can credit the Lexus for this, I do know you slept perfectly in the car the whole way there and the whole way back.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Holly: Our Family’s 1st Ride in the Same Car (2016 Lexus IS 200t)

1 Comment Posted on parenting, People, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Dear Holly: I Particularly Love Your Ears

1 week.

Dear Holly: I Particularly Love Your Ears

Dear Holly,

Before you or your brother were born, I always thought all babies basically look the same. And for the most part, I probably still do believe that.

But as for you, there is one certain feature I have noticed from the very beginning that I just really find adorable: your ears.

Mommy noticed this too. The fold at the top of your ears are 90 degree angles. That’s not something we’ve ever seen before.

I love your ears.

No matter how old you are, you’ll always have your unique ears. I will always adore them on you.

Your eyes still have that bluish tint in them that newborns have, but it looks like it’s only to cover up brown eyes for the time being. I think in the next couple of months, it will be obvious to the world that you have brown eyes like Mommy and me, and unlike your brother Jack who has blue eyes.

Dear Holly: I Particularly Love Your Ears

As for your hair color, I’m seeing what appears to possibly be (at the moment) a sort of strawberry blonde color. I definitely see hints of red, but then your eyebrows are clearly platinum blonde.

Obviously, your brother Jack had blonde hair for most of his life. Only recently has it truly started looking brown, though he still has some platinum blonde in his bangs when I spike his hair up.

Speaking of Jack, you actually look a lot like he did when he was a newborn. I predict that the two of you will resemble each other.

I am enjoying seeing you in your girly clothes that we’ve had ready for you all these months. You are such a beautiful and precious little girl.

And you are particularly fun to hold. You are so mellow and so cute, that time just flies by before I realize it.

Love,

Daddy

j8

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

Dear Jack: Bug Hunting, Base Jumping, & Going to Chili’s with Grandma

5 years, 5 months.

Dear Jack: Bug Hunting, Base Jumping, & Saying Goodbye to Grandma

Dear Jack,

This week Grandma left to go back to California, as she’s been here since a week before your sister Holly was born on April 24th; as we’ve transitioned into life with a newborn again. It’s been so nice having her here.

On Sunday, for one of our last meals with her before her flight, we took her to Chile’s; a place that actually serves vegan burgers for me and has mac-and-cheese that you are crazy about: “Daddy, this is the best kind!”

On Sunday, for one of our last meals with her before her flight, we took her to Chili’s; a place that actually serves vegan burgers for me and has mac-and-cheese that you are crazy about: “Daddy, this is the best kind!”

Dear Jack: Bug Hunting, Base Jumping, & Saying Goodbye to Grandma

The day before, I took you out for some adventure as Grandma helped Mommy with Baby Holly back at the house.

Dear Jack: Bug Hunting, Base Jumping, & Saying Goodbye to Grandma

Since it was raining, we drove to Jump Street in Cool Springs, which is an indoor trampoline park. It was the best decision. Not only did you burn more energy more efficiently there compared to any other way I can think of, but you truly impressed me.

Dear Jack: Bug Hunting, Base Jumping, & Saying Goodbye to Grandma

You showed no fear with jumping off a 10 foot ledge several times. Granted, you landed on an inflated cushion each time, but there’s no way I would have done something that daring when I was your age.

Dear Jack: Bug Hunting, Base Jumping, & Saying Goodbye to Grandma

We took a picture of ourselves together right before we left. You were soaked in sweat! And that’s a good thing, because like I said, it was raining outside and you had too much reckless energy to stay home with Grandma, Mommy, and Baby Holly.

Dear Jack: Bug Hunting, Base Jumping, & Saying Goodbye to Grandma

That afternoon after your nap, the rain had stopped so we decided to go “bug hunting” outside. I taught you the trick over turning over big rocks, in hopes of finding bug underneath.

Dear Jack: Bug Hunting, Base Jumping, & Saying Goodbye to Grandma

The only luck we really had though, was apparently discovering the skeleton of a crawdad (crayfish). You proudly placed it in your bug case and took it home to Mommy and Grandma.

Maybe we’ll find more interesting bugs this weekend.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: Bug Hunting, Base Jumping, & Saying Goodbye to Grandma

Leave a comment Posted on parenting, Pregnancy, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Dear Holly: I Never Realized How Badly I Needed a Baby Girl

1 week.

Dear Holly: I Never Realized How Badly I Needed a Baby Girl

Dear Holly,

For years, I was convinced I was perfectly happy having only a little boy. But now that you’ve been in my life for a week, I realize I was wrong. I needed a baby girl in my life.

I love everything about your brother; he’s the perfect little boy. With you here now though, I see that you provide the proper balance to our family.

Dear Holly: I Never Realized How Badly I Needed a Baby Girl

With your brother, I get to be rough and crude and adventurous, as I should be with an all American boy. I get to drive through the mud with him and take him to PG-13 rated super hero movies that some say are inappropriate for him. I love that I get to feel sort of rebellious in parenting your brother.

Dear Holly: I Never Realized How Badly I Needed a Baby Girl

With you, I get to make sweet cooing sounds directly into your face as I stare at you for no less than an hour at a time as I hold you. I am so in love with you.

I have never got to experience this before. Despite being a parent for 5 and a half years, having you here is completely different. You are such a sweet, adorable, and mesmerizing little girl.

You’re so easy to stare at. I love your amazing little smile. I love your uniquely folded ears. I love your tiny little cry.

Had you born a boy, I would have been just as happy; because I couldn’t have known what I was missing. I already knew how much I loved having a son, so I knew things would have been great.

But instead, you were meant to be Holly Joy. I was meant to have a daughter.

I’m not saying there’s no possibility of you never having a younger brother or sister… but I do know that our family has never felt so complete- like the way it does now that you are here.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Holly: I Never Realized How Badly I Needed a Baby Girl