I have to admit... hearing "Da-da", as Zach is often babbling now, is quite rewarding. I mean, what father doesn't like to hear "dada" or something similar being among the first semi-articulate words coming out of their child's mouth?
News flash... and I think I'd read about this somewhere... is that while 'dada' is a fairly common first sound... it's fairly random and can be used to describe any of mom, dad, hunger, garbage can or perhaps the latest results of the American democratic race.
So, that tempers the excitement a tad but still... there's still that flicker of pride when "Da Da" comes out of his mouth and he's at least looking in my direction.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Saturday, March 8, 2008
It's a world of laughter
Taking a 5-month old to Disney World is an interesting experience in a lifetime. Me, I love Disney and always have. Sure I was spoiled as a child and went often when I was a young'un. Even two years ago, Julie and I went for a vacation (winter after the wedding and Italian honeymoon, Florida was the affordable option) and did Disney... and had three very packed fun days there. Now we're traveling with someone who cannot (at this point in time) speak, walk, hold himself up, or be permitted to be out of eyesight.
Needless to say it's a different pace.
Still... I found myself watching him more than whatever ride we happened to take him on. Watching his fascination with the swirling lights or colours, became much more interesting to me than the ride itself.
Stopping for feeding every once and a while... many many rides he cannot yet go on. But still, here I am, now a parent of a child at Disney World. It doesn't mean squat to him right now but it means the world to me. I'm not really sure why... For some reason I waited nearly an hour in line for Zach to have a picture with Winnie the Pooh. Zach has several items of clothing with said Pooh and I thought it would be appropriate. Every 15 minutes or so, the characters would take a break. After nearly an hour, I was the next person in line. No-one was next for a picture but I. The three characters there.. The Pooh, Tigger and some unknown female character named Darby... they take their break. But hey, I'm next, so I'm patient. Tigger and unknown girl return... No Pooh. The 'handler' explains that Winnie had another photoshoot. This mystified me.. of course he does... right here, right now!
I was pretty ticked... maybe it was the almost-hour in line... maybe it was the 'who the hell are you Darby?'... but I was affronted that my little guy wouldn't get his photo opp with Pooh Bear. Did he care? He just ate, all was right with the world and now there's a 6ft tall orange and black cat standing next to him.
What's a dad to do?
Get him a photo opp with the Mouse himself, that's what!
Needless to say it's a different pace.
Still... I found myself watching him more than whatever ride we happened to take him on. Watching his fascination with the swirling lights or colours, became much more interesting to me than the ride itself.
Stopping for feeding every once and a while... many many rides he cannot yet go on. But still, here I am, now a parent of a child at Disney World. It doesn't mean squat to him right now but it means the world to me. I'm not really sure why... For some reason I waited nearly an hour in line for Zach to have a picture with Winnie the Pooh. Zach has several items of clothing with said Pooh and I thought it would be appropriate. Every 15 minutes or so, the characters would take a break. After nearly an hour, I was the next person in line. No-one was next for a picture but I. The three characters there.. The Pooh, Tigger and some unknown female character named Darby... they take their break. But hey, I'm next, so I'm patient. Tigger and unknown girl return... No Pooh. The 'handler' explains that Winnie had another photoshoot. This mystified me.. of course he does... right here, right now!
I was pretty ticked... maybe it was the almost-hour in line... maybe it was the 'who the hell are you Darby?'... but I was affronted that my little guy wouldn't get his photo opp with Pooh Bear. Did he care? He just ate, all was right with the world and now there's a 6ft tall orange and black cat standing next to him.
What's a dad to do?
Get him a photo opp with the Mouse himself, that's what!
Monday, March 3, 2008
It IS a small world after all...
It's been a while since we caught up here. I formulate posts in my head and then the day just seems to get away from me. Before long, it's two months later... Work has been hectic and busy for months now and every once and a while I start hearing the "cats in the cradle" in my head which means it's time to stop everything and hang out with little Z.
So what's been happening? Well, little Z had his first vacation at the end of January... first trip, first flight, first visit to another country. Zach in Florida was a smashing success.
In talking to many people about flying with a baby, I think we were pretty well prepared. I can't say enough good things about the people at Westjet, they're just amazing. It'd been suggested to us that we don't take the 'pre-board' advantage... which, secretly, I was looking forward to. Next best thing to first class I figured. However, the good advice we got was that if you do the pre-board, you're then sitting there for 20 or so minutes doing nothing while your infant gets antsy. So, in talking to the nice Westjet people, we compromised (since they needed to give us instruction on the plane anyway)... I went on half-way through and got everything settled... handed the ultra-light cool stroller we got, put the carry-0n's in the overhead compartment (with a selection of toys out, blanket etc..) All good.
We learned quickly that the key to infant flying is distraction. Westjet planes are a b
ig help in this, with every seat having it's own personal tv. So, tune it to Treehouse and that buys you 15 minutes or so with the flashing colours... walk up and down the aisle.. and with a cute 5 month old, you feel quite popular. The feeding during ascent and descent worked out fine and Z seemed to enjoy. The arrival in Florida, with grandparents eagerly waiting, went speedy and before you knew it we were on our way...
And the first stop, in keeping with grandma, grampa and Mommy's favourite tastes, Ghirardelli Chocolate at Downtown Disney. But first, to greet the Florida sun, Zach had to make himself more comfortable...
Once settled into the condo, roughly 1.5 miles (yeah, miles, what can you do?)... The Florida adventure was in full sway... and the (continuing the string of firsts) first swim in the first pair of swimming trunks.
His first swim, well, he seemed fairly unimpressed. No big smiles, no "My god, this is the coolest thing ever!" But conversely, no freaking out either.
With the vacation underway... and Disney eagerly looming, Grampa made his pronouncement. "When we're at Disney, I am taking him on 'It's a Small World' and he will sit on my lap!"
Who can argue with that?
So what's been happening? Well, little Z had his first vacation at the end of January... first trip, first flight, first visit to another country. Zach in Florida was a smashing success.
In talking to many people about flying with a baby, I think we were pretty well prepared. I can't say enough good things about the people at Westjet, they're just amazing. It'd been suggested to us that we don't take the 'pre-board' advantage... which, secretly, I was looking forward to. Next best thing to first class I figured. However, the good advice we got was that if you do the pre-board, you're then sitting there for 20 or so minutes doing nothing while your infant gets antsy. So, in talking to the nice Westjet people, we compromised (since they needed to give us instruction on the plane anyway)... I went on half-way through and got everything settled... handed the ultra-light cool stroller we got, put the carry-0n's in the overhead compartment (with a selection of toys out, blanket etc..) All good.
We learned quickly that the key to infant flying is distraction. Westjet planes are a b
ig help in this, with every seat having it's own personal tv. So, tune it to Treehouse and that buys you 15 minutes or so with the flashing colours... walk up and down the aisle.. and with a cute 5 month old, you feel quite popular. The feeding during ascent and descent worked out fine and Z seemed to enjoy. The arrival in Florida, with grandparents eagerly waiting, went speedy and before you knew it we were on our way...And the first stop, in keeping with grandma, grampa and Mommy's favourite tastes, Ghirardelli Chocolate at Downtown Disney. But first, to greet the Florida sun, Zach had to make himself more comfortable...
Once settled into the condo, roughly 1.5 miles (yeah, miles, what can you do?)... The Florida adventure was in full sway... and the (continuing the string of firsts) first swim in the first pair of swimming trunks.
His first swim, well, he seemed fairly unimpressed. No big smiles, no "My god, this is the coolest thing ever!" But conversely, no freaking out either. With the vacation underway... and Disney eagerly looming, Grampa made his pronouncement. "When we're at Disney, I am taking him on 'It's a Small World' and he will sit on my lap!"
Who can argue with that?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)