Fathers Day #2!

If you have read my previous post about Fathers Day 2 weeks ago, then you will understand the title.

This Fathers Day was pretty low key. Kinda boring...in a very good and relaxing way. But What I want to share is Dallin's 3 "firsts"

1. He isn't much for cuddling when he first wakes up. I mean, maybe for a few seconds, but then its over and he is on to bigger better things. But this morning, he gave Cole the ultimate Father's Day gift. After I got him from his crib, I took him to Daddy to say good morning as I usually do. Except this time, he cuddled up between us and fell back asleep. We were shocked! He slept with us for another hour! It was amazing. We love cuddling with that boy.

2. After going back and forth on whether I really wanted to, I decided it was time for his first hair cut. At first, I tried it with thinning shears, but that would have taken over an hour with how wiggly he was being. He was wondering what the heck I was doing to him. He would not stop turning his head, regardless of Col'e attempts to distract him. So, out came the electric clipper. I BUZZED my baby boy's hair away! I was sooo sad! And the screamed the whole time because he was afraid of the unfamiliar noise coming towards his head. So Cole had to literally hold his head down and feed him treats. It turned out ok I guess. but I think he looks waaay too grown up now. Its like he isn't a baby anymore! So sad...

Before.....

After.....

and 3. After I stripped him down to bathe him, he started to pee. So Cole called his name and startled him, which made him stop peeing, and opened the toilet lid, pointed him toward the water, and said "go ahead...you can pee now" And there you have it, he started peeing in the toilet! I couldn't do anything but stare with amazement and giggle as my 17 month old boy peed in the toilet. It was oddly, the cutest thing in the world.

More Father's Day Fun:

catching fireflies

He is getting so big.

A random note on Discipline

I agree with M. Scott Peck (The Road Less Traveled) that a type of discipline is balancing, and a type of balancing is what he calls bracketing. To me, this means that when you come across something or someone strange, instead of automatically judging it or (them) by what your past experiences have taught you to think, think outside the box and accept this thing or person for what or who they are. In other words, don’t be too quick to judge and have an awareness of your judgmental state, and why it is the way it is. It could be your upbringing, or your personality, or a combination of the two.

The phrase “ignorance is bliss” is not true. I have always thought it was, because the less you know about something scary, the less painful it is to endure. But Peck has taught me that the pain you go through because of the knowledge you have is ultimately for your betterment. At the end of your experience, whatever it may be, after all the pain is over, you are stronger and smarter for it. That is what life is all about. Learning and edifying yourself through painful experiences. If you shrug back from pain and shortcut to the end, not only are you selling yourself short of a life’s lesson, but you are also cheating and making yourself, and others think that you are someone you are not.

Examples of these “painful experiences” can be anything. They can be a death of a loved one, writing a novel, a long journey (this journey can be physical or mental), or even something as simple or reading a comprehensive, or somewhat boring book, doing your hair, or brushing your teeth. The point is that with any of these, you can either do it right, and go through the pain of doing it, and in the end- reap the rewards; or you can cut through the hard parts, hurry through it, and not get the best experience of it. If we choose to live our lives this way, then at the end of life, when all is said and done, we will have many regrets and not be able to say that we lived life to its fullest. So my goal is to face challenges and tackle them with full force…because I know that it will strengthen me, and make me want more out of life, and therefore, more challenges.

Father's Day

Much has happened since the last post. First of all....stupid moment of the week...I thought Sunday was Father's Day! So Sat. I got a cheap $20 grill, ribs, made a special dessert, and had Dallin make a card for Daddy (which he thoroughly enjoyed)...

And that night, found out that it is not for another 2 weeks. Why in the world did I think Father's Day was on the 6th? Oh well, I already had everything ready, so I woke up and made Cole french toast and bacon and all that jazz, Dallin gave him his card, and guess what? It was Father's Day for him. It shouldnt matter what day we celebrate it anyway, right? I wonder what I am going to do when real Fathers Day comes around.

Later that day we took a trip to DC with some friends. It was a blast. Very educational, and touching. They had the "I Have A Dream" speech playing on speakers in the very spot where it took place...it was an emotional moment.

notice the old picture and new picture are the same spot.

if you can see the tiny lettering on the wall, those are all names of people who died in the Vietnam War; a war that we fought to protect another country. It is so sad, but makes me proud at the same time. It amazes me how long the wall is, and how many people are on it.

Below: These are just random pictures of a security watchman who I thought was cool. He just looks legit, doesn't he? All spiffy like in the movies.

The Utahn...

The Texans..

f

Then when we got home, we had some friends over and fired up the new grill. After everyone left, Cole did his favorite thing in the world...relax and cuddle with Dally while watching the game.

All in all, I'd say it was a very good "Father's Day"