The Baby Expert

July 7, 2012

The Flying Cow

Our first overnight trip with the grandparents was to a country farm called The Flying Cow this past Wednesday. At the farm, you can do all sorts of stuff like feeding and petting the farm animals, milking the cows, getting bit by mosquitoes, and making butter and ice cream.

Of course, it was way too hot for Caitlyn to really be out in the sun for an extended period of time, so while the wife, baby, and grandparents all opted for the comfort of our air conditioned guest room for the majority of our stay, I was free to explore the place at my own leisurely pace. As it turns out, it is quite a pleasant place to visit.

Besides the heat and the overabundance of mosquitoes, the only other low point of the trip came when I put the wife in charge of the camcorder. She assured me she could handle it after I told her all she had to do was push the red button to record and to stop. But at the end of all our Kodak moments, the wife gravely informed me that she wasn't sure if she had even recorded anything. And sure enough, after double checking, nothing had been recorded.

How does that happen?! I didn't think it could get any easier than pushing a little red button. Ah, well. I'm sure we'll be making a return trip to the farm in the future when Caitlyn is older and more able to participate in all the activities. But maybe, this time we'll go in the fall when it’s not so gosh darn hot.


I think I'll just hang out in our nice, cool room!

Let me help you plan our itinerary

Even fake cows need shade

Barn house/restaurant

Awesome landscape

Taking a casual stroll

So peaceful

Can we buy our own farm?

Let me out!

Peep peep!

Lots of butterflies at the farm

Wannabe butterfly

Look at the camera
and say, "Moo!"

Are you sure this is safe?

You want to switch?

Pedal faster, girl!

Look! A cow!

A nice country stroll at sunset

Feed me!

Grandma showing how it's done

Ah! Get away!

Should I be embarrassed that I'm
scared of a little lamb?

Help! This cow's a meat-eater!

Fresh milk

Raise your hand if
you're having fun!

On the bridge to our room

July 5, 2012

Summer Days

Unfortunately for the wife, the baby has decided to stick with waking up at 6:30 every morning. Fortunately for the wife, I'm on summer vacation now and can be at her beck and call any time she wants. Unfortunately for the wife, that means I have an extra 11 hours of time every day in which I can unintentionally annoy her. And she'll tell you that I don't put a minute of it to waste. Fortunately for the wife, Grandpa and Caitlyn have finally struck a truce. She'll let him hold her, but only if there's a cracker in it for her or when she needs a quick mode of transportation to find Mommy.

Now that we're in the middle of summer, the heat has become quite unbearable for adults and babies alike. But waking up earlier has been a blessing in disguise because now we can leave earlier to do things before it becomes too hot. We've already made a couple trips to the mountains and to the zoo - all coming back before lunchtime.

This would have been unheard of in the past when Caitlyn would wake up at 9. Plus, because most of the trips are just with my dad and Caitlyn, we can get ready and leave a lot quicker than if the wife was involved. Take this one conversation for instance:

(7:40 am)
Me: I'm taking Caitlyn with me and my dad to the mountains this morning.
Wife: When did you decide this?
Me: Just now.
Wife: You haven't changed yet.
Me: Don't need to. My t-shirt and shorts double as pj's and mountain climbing clothes. Awesome, right?
Grandma: Did you tell your dad?
Me: Nope. He's in the bathroom. I'll tell him when he gets out.
(Grandpa gets out of the bathroom)
Me: Hey, you want to take Caitlyn to the mountains right now?
Grandpa: Sure. Let's go!
Me: Sweet! See you later, honey!
Wife: But....
(7:50 am - We're off!)

Had the wife decided to tag along, this is how things would have went down:

(7:40 am)
Me: I'm taking Caitlyn with me and my dad to the mountains this morning.
Wife: Ok, well, I want to come too.
Me: No problem. But you’ll have to hurry. I want to get there before it gets too hot.
Wife: I just need to take a shower and wash my hair.
Me: Why do you need to wash your hair? We’re just going for a hike.
Wife: You wouldn’t understand. And then I’ll need to prepare some food for the baby.
Me: But we’ll be back before lunch.
Wife: You never know. After that, I’ll have to put on some make-up, do the laundry, and then tidy up the house a bit before we leave.
Me: Sigh.
(9:40 am)

Wife: Ok! I’m ready to go!
Me: Forget it! You just ruined everything!

And that is why men are superior to women.