Here's some old ones.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Baby Jake update (11/30 column)
I can tell I’m starting to get more recognized in the community. It’s a great feeling to go places and see friendly faces of people I’ve worked with. But I think my notoriety is miniscule compared to that of my little boy, Jacob. Everywhere I go, I get the same question, “How’s that baby doing?” Since so many people have been asking, I will give you all an update.
Little Jake’s going to be four months old this Friday. It hardly seems possible because I can still feel the pain of having him like it was yesterday. They say that memory fades. I read that about stretch marks, too, but they don’t seem to be going anywhere either.
It’s quite an experience watching a baby discover the world. Most parents would say this, but Jacob seems to be quite a unique little guy. From the moment he came into the world, he has been an observer. I remember the first night in the hospital when we were both laying in our beds, I looked over and he was wide awake, watching TV. I know babies can’t see very far, so the bright light in the darkened room must have caught his gaze. He still likes TV, especially sports.
I’m a believer that children should be taken on outings as frequently as possible to learn how to behave in public. Since I’ve been dragging him along with me almost everywhere I go, Jake’s become quite the traveler. Just a few weekends ago, while Dad was hunting, we road-tripped to visit some of my college friends in the Twin Cities. There we visited the Mall of America, a place Jake would be more excited about if he was a girl, I’m sure. We looked at the Christmas lights, shopped for presents, and even made his own teddy bear.
All through the mall, people kept smiling and commenting, “He’s such a good baby.” I guess being a first-time mother, I didn’t realize I could be a lot worse off. Jacob rarely cries unless he’s hungry, overly tired or bored. He likes to be held up so he can see what’s going on.
Physically, Jacob is also excelling. He was nearly a nine-pounder at birth and he has kept up the pace. At two months, he was bigger than 95 percent of babies his age. With the four month visit coming up next week, I’m curious to see where he’s at now. Jacob’s unusually strong and learning to reach for things, which is why I had about six inches taken off my long hair a month back. He’s been able to support his body weight on his legs since birth. If he wasn’t so top heavy, he might be crawling soon.
His most recent accomplishment has been learning to sit up. He still needs a little support, but he can hold himself up pretty well. Sitting up opens a lot of new activities to him, and now he can look around whenever he wants. He also started using the daycare’s exersaucer. His teacher told me he’s the youngest she’s had that was able to use it. Sitting up also opens another new door: solid food. We’ll wait to see what the doctor says, but I suspect he’ll start a little rice cereal by Christmas. So I told Jake he needs to ask Santa for more bibs. Big ones. The kind that covers the entire body and looks like a towel with a hole cut out for his head.
And Mom’s going to ask for more laundry soap.
Little Jake’s going to be four months old this Friday. It hardly seems possible because I can still feel the pain of having him like it was yesterday. They say that memory fades. I read that about stretch marks, too, but they don’t seem to be going anywhere either.
It’s quite an experience watching a baby discover the world. Most parents would say this, but Jacob seems to be quite a unique little guy. From the moment he came into the world, he has been an observer. I remember the first night in the hospital when we were both laying in our beds, I looked over and he was wide awake, watching TV. I know babies can’t see very far, so the bright light in the darkened room must have caught his gaze. He still likes TV, especially sports.
I’m a believer that children should be taken on outings as frequently as possible to learn how to behave in public. Since I’ve been dragging him along with me almost everywhere I go, Jake’s become quite the traveler. Just a few weekends ago, while Dad was hunting, we road-tripped to visit some of my college friends in the Twin Cities. There we visited the Mall of America, a place Jake would be more excited about if he was a girl, I’m sure. We looked at the Christmas lights, shopped for presents, and even made his own teddy bear.
All through the mall, people kept smiling and commenting, “He’s such a good baby.” I guess being a first-time mother, I didn’t realize I could be a lot worse off. Jacob rarely cries unless he’s hungry, overly tired or bored. He likes to be held up so he can see what’s going on.
Physically, Jacob is also excelling. He was nearly a nine-pounder at birth and he has kept up the pace. At two months, he was bigger than 95 percent of babies his age. With the four month visit coming up next week, I’m curious to see where he’s at now. Jacob’s unusually strong and learning to reach for things, which is why I had about six inches taken off my long hair a month back. He’s been able to support his body weight on his legs since birth. If he wasn’t so top heavy, he might be crawling soon.
His most recent accomplishment has been learning to sit up. He still needs a little support, but he can hold himself up pretty well. Sitting up opens a lot of new activities to him, and now he can look around whenever he wants. He also started using the daycare’s exersaucer. His teacher told me he’s the youngest she’s had that was able to use it. Sitting up also opens another new door: solid food. We’ll wait to see what the doctor says, but I suspect he’ll start a little rice cereal by Christmas. So I told Jake he needs to ask Santa for more bibs. Big ones. The kind that covers the entire body and looks like a towel with a hole cut out for his head.
And Mom’s going to ask for more laundry soap.
Friday, November 25, 2005
Me and the Packers: a love-hate relationship (11/23 column)
When I was a little kid, my uncle thought it was funny to put in the movie Jaws while he was babysitting. Since I was a cowardly little four-year-old, I hid behind the chair. But I couldn’t resist peeking around the corner to see what was going on, even as that shark swallowed one of the guys whole.
That’s what it’s like to be a Packer fan this year. As ugly as it gets, I can’t turn away from the screen.
Now I’m no sports junkie columnist, but I do enjoy (or used to, anyway) watching the Packers. So consider this from an average fan’s point of view. This year has been particularly painful for Packer fans. Now 2-8, they have virtually no chance of making the playoffs. A true Packer fan still thinks they can make it to the Super Bowl. Even if by some miracle they made it in (as in the rest of the NFC Central teams lose all their games and the Packers win the rest), do they really deserve to make it in this year?
Statistically, the Packers don’t look too bad. They’ve actually outscored their opponents overall. On paper, they look like a winning team. On the field is a different story. If it’s close, the Packers lose. This team just cannot find a way to win.
No one is more frustrated right now than Brett Favre. The future hall-of-famer made a big statement without saying anything by skipping the post-game press conference Monday night. If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all, I guess. After everything this guy has been through, he deserves a winning season to cap off his career. Too bad his teammates can’t deliver.
A few brave souls have suggested benching Brett Favre and starting a raw Aaron Rodgers in his place. That would the dumbest move ever. Why replace a veteran, three-time MVP quarterback with a rookie kid? If Sherman tried that, he would need bodyguards on the sidelines. I don’t think Favre is to blame. He threw for 227 yards and two touchdowns last night. There isn’t another quarterback in the league who could do the same with the troubled receiving corps he has.
I have a proposal, although from what I’ve gathered so far, few people agree with me.
Fire Mike Sherman. No one likes to see heads roll, but when it comes down to it, the head coach is supposed to take responsibility. The Packers could just as easily be 8-2, and Mike Sherman would be a hero. At 2-8, he should get the same credit: a king who let a dynasty collapse. Ray Rhodes got canned after one 8-8 season in 1999. I think the difference is the players like Sherman. Rumor has it Favre said he will retire if Sherman is not head coach next year. But face it, Favre’s not coming back no matter what. He wishes he wouldn’t have come back this year. And if the Packers are already losing the cornerstone of the team, why not start with a new foundation as well? A new coach for a new era.
Yes, I’m done playing Tuesday morning quarterback. Now it’s time to get ready to watch next week’s train wreck known as the Green Bay Packers as they take on the chaotic Philadelphia Eagles. Is the season over yet?
That’s what it’s like to be a Packer fan this year. As ugly as it gets, I can’t turn away from the screen.
Now I’m no sports junkie columnist, but I do enjoy (or used to, anyway) watching the Packers. So consider this from an average fan’s point of view. This year has been particularly painful for Packer fans. Now 2-8, they have virtually no chance of making the playoffs. A true Packer fan still thinks they can make it to the Super Bowl. Even if by some miracle they made it in (as in the rest of the NFC Central teams lose all their games and the Packers win the rest), do they really deserve to make it in this year?
Statistically, the Packers don’t look too bad. They’ve actually outscored their opponents overall. On paper, they look like a winning team. On the field is a different story. If it’s close, the Packers lose. This team just cannot find a way to win.
No one is more frustrated right now than Brett Favre. The future hall-of-famer made a big statement without saying anything by skipping the post-game press conference Monday night. If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all, I guess. After everything this guy has been through, he deserves a winning season to cap off his career. Too bad his teammates can’t deliver.
A few brave souls have suggested benching Brett Favre and starting a raw Aaron Rodgers in his place. That would the dumbest move ever. Why replace a veteran, three-time MVP quarterback with a rookie kid? If Sherman tried that, he would need bodyguards on the sidelines. I don’t think Favre is to blame. He threw for 227 yards and two touchdowns last night. There isn’t another quarterback in the league who could do the same with the troubled receiving corps he has.
I have a proposal, although from what I’ve gathered so far, few people agree with me.
Fire Mike Sherman. No one likes to see heads roll, but when it comes down to it, the head coach is supposed to take responsibility. The Packers could just as easily be 8-2, and Mike Sherman would be a hero. At 2-8, he should get the same credit: a king who let a dynasty collapse. Ray Rhodes got canned after one 8-8 season in 1999. I think the difference is the players like Sherman. Rumor has it Favre said he will retire if Sherman is not head coach next year. But face it, Favre’s not coming back no matter what. He wishes he wouldn’t have come back this year. And if the Packers are already losing the cornerstone of the team, why not start with a new foundation as well? A new coach for a new era.
Yes, I’m done playing Tuesday morning quarterback. Now it’s time to get ready to watch next week’s train wreck known as the Green Bay Packers as they take on the chaotic Philadelphia Eagles. Is the season over yet?
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