Mission: Accomplished

We did it! Me, Caitlyn, and 30 round-trip hours on the plane. No crying, no fussing. Just smooth sailing. Can’t say I didn’t see this one coming. I mean, you don’t get the word ‘Expert’ tacked on behind ‘Baby’ by accident. It’s there for a reason.

It was good seeing and catching up with everybody. Until next time, which means in another two years or so, here are the winners and losers from our trip. 

WINNERS:
Shopping carts: This is what Caitlyn flew 7,957 miles for. To sit in a shopping cart while Grandpa pushed her around in the grocery store. Even when there were no groceries to buy, Grandpa would still take her and push her around the store for an hour. Now that’s commitment.

Carousels: This came in a close 2^nd to shopping carts. If Caitlyn saw a carousel, she was determined to ride it. Highlight came in the form of riding one carousel 12 times in a row. I wonder if there’s some sort of world record for number of times ridden on a carousel. Caitlyn could probably beat that without breaking a sweat.

Me: With no Mommy to tattle-tale to, I was finally free from the watchful eyes of Big Brother to do as I please without being reproached. That included eating as much food as fast as I could physically stuff into my mouth. It’s how food is meant to be eaten.

Pink heart-shaped glasses: Caitlyn chose these at a souvenir shop while in San Antonio. She never once took them off for the remainder of our time in the States. When asked why, she simply said that we all wear glasses, so why shouldn’t she. Can’t argue with that logic. Plus, they were perfect for Valentine’s Day. Best two dollars spent.

The Wife: Two weeks without the kid and me. Need I say more? Don’t believe her for a second when she bemoans the fact that she never got a good night's sleep because she was always thinking about us. Someone needs to go to Hollywood to collect her Oscar.

Weather: 80 degrees and sunny in February? Yes, please.

Grandparents: Grandma and Grandpa loved to dote on their grandkid, and Caitlyn took complete advantage of it. And that’s the way it should be….until we're back on my turf. What you gonna do now that Grandma and Grandpa aren’t here to save you?! Wuahaha!!!

LOSERS:
SeaWorld: We drive four hours to SeaWorld and the only thing Caitlyn wants to do is ride on the carousel. Grandpa’s probably thinking about how much money he could have saved just by staying at home and going to the grocery store.

Zoo: We go to the zoo and the only thing Caitlyn wants to do is ride on the carousel. You see a pattern forming here?

Shopping Mall: We go to the mall and the only thing Caitlyn wants to do is…..sigh.

Jetlag: I don’t particularly appreciate being dragged out of bed at 3 a.m. in the morning to play with toy trains and cooking sets all because someone can't stay asleep.

Food: I figured I would be gorging out on Taco Bell, Popeye’s Fried Chicken, and the likes while back home, but strangely enough, I had no urge to eat anything unhealthy. In fact, I had no fast food/junk food whatsoever. Has the wife finally gotten to me? What devious Jedi mind trick do you have me under, woman?!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bon Voyage

Chinese New Year is coming, which means I finally get a break from work and have some time to do some blogging. It also means going on vacations, one which we just completed to southern Taiwan. However, the real adventure begins tomorrow when Caitlyn and I depart for Texas.

That’s right. Caitlyn and I, not Caitlyn, the wife, and I. With the wife being pregnant and our plans for going to Germany down the tube, she decided that I should take Caitlyn back with me to visit my parents. You see, my parents were planning on coming to visit, but the wife thought it improper to make old people fly over 15 hours to see us. But I think in actuality, what the wife was thinking was that she’d get two blissful weeks without a needy baby and an extremely annoying husband. It’s very similar to last Chinese New Year when she went to Japan with her family for a week and left me and Caitlyn at home. I hope this doesn’t become a yearly tradition.

At first, we avoided the fact with Caitlyn that the wife wouldn’t be going with us. We’d just kind of switch topics whenever Caitlyn brought it up. But recently, the wife finally broke the news to her that she would be staying at home while we flew back. Obviously, that didn’t go over so well, but she’s slowly coming around. Now, she’ll say how she’s going back with only me and ask whether or not Mommy will miss her when she’s gone. She’s definitely putting on a brave face, but I’m not sure how that will hold tomorrow when reality sets in for her. Add in the fact that she’s been battling diarrhea the past two days and things could get ugly real quick.

However, I’ve armed myself with coloring books, sticker books, and story books, along with some toys Caitlyn picked to bring along. And when all else fails, there’s my trusty tablet that I filled with enough Dora the Explorer episodes to keep her busy until her eyes go blind.

I mean, it's just a 3 hour flight to Japan followed by a 4 hour layover and then a 12 hour flight to Houston. How bad can that be, right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Naughty or Nice?

About a week ago, I had a friend send me a Top Ten list of worst-behaved girls’ names. Our daughter’s first name, Caitlyn, (the list spelled it Caitlin) and middle name, Olivia, happened to make the list. Talk about a double whammy. 

At first, I brushed the list off as rubbish. Sure, our kid annoys the heck out of me by nagging at me and being a tattle-tale, but if that’s the worst she does, it doesn't seem half that bad. I've seen other kids whose names aren't even on the list throw tantrums, hit, bite, and be way worse than ours. Perhaps this list didn't know what it was talking about.

Then I read an online news headline about a 21-year-old girl who was suing her family for college tuition. Who in their right mind sues their family, especially after they've raised her and given her everything a child could need and more? I’m thinking this has to be one pretty rotten, ungrateful kid. I click the link to read more about this story and lo and behold, guess what the girl’s name is? I’ll give you a hint. It starts with a ‘C.’

Of all the names this girl could have had, did it seriously have to be Caitlyn?! Now I’m beginning to wonder if that list of worse-behaved girls’ names has some merit to it. Do I need to become wary of my own daughter in fear that she might try to back stab me one day? I mean, she already possesses the kind of headstrong, stubborn, obstinate personality the other Caitlyn seems to have. Heck, we even take our Caitlyn to Gymboree just like the family in the article took their Caitlyn! 

Reading through the mother's blog about the experience, it seems they did everything right as parents. They were involved in their daughter's life. They loved and cared for her. Unfortunately, it seems the only thing they did wrong was pick a name on the Top Ten list of worst-behaved names.

However, on a less depressing note, at least Hannah, the name I want to give our second daughter, made it to the Top Ten list of best-behaved names. This just might be what I need to sway the wife's opinion in my favor! And anyway, I suppose there always has to be at least one black sheep in the family. 

  

  

  

  

  

  

"Mommy! Daddy..."

At our house, there is someone who is getting quite good at nagging. No, I’m not referring to the wife. She’s already in a league of her own. I’m talking about Caitlyn. I’ve even recently started calling her Lil’ Momma, much to her delight. I cannot do anything without being called out for some sort of infraction. Examples:

“You’re not supposed to eat food that dropped on the table. Mommy! Daddy ate food that dropped on the table!”

“You’re not supposed to take such big bites of food. Mommy! Daddy’s eating his food with big bites!”

"You’re not supposed to burp. Mommy! Daddy burped!”

“You didn’t wash your hands after coming home. Mommy! Daddy didn’t wash his hands!”

“You’re not supposed to use this bathroom to pee. Your bathroom is the one in the front. Mommy! Daddy’s using the wrong bathroom!” (Don't ask)

“You left your clothes on the floor. Mommy! Daddy didn't pick up his clothes!”

“You’re not supposed to have the water on when you brush your teeth. Mommy! Daddy’s wasting water!”

"Ow! You brushed my hair too hard! Mommy! Daddy brushed my hair too hard and it hurts!"

“You’re not supposed to be eating chips. Mommy! Daddy’s eating chips!”

“You’re not supposed to throw things on the table. Mommy! Daddy threw something on the table!”

I could seriously go on and on and on. In fact, I could probably create a second blog called, “Mommy! Daddy….” with all the scolding I get on a daily basis. I’m almost positive that the wife inwardly smiles every time Caitlyn reprimands me. I can only imagine what it’s going to be like once our second daughter comes out and the triumvirate is complete.

However, all hope is not lost. Even with her infinite bag of no-no's, there are two things, two important things that Caitlyn approves of. First, I have her nod of approval to walk around naked in the house. And second, I am allowed to fart as loudly as I want. Not surprisingly, Caitlyn also likes to run around naked and fart. Maybe there is a bit of me in her after all, though it would be much to the wife's dismay.