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.

Don't Forget to Take Your Folic Acid Pt. 2

If any of my longtime loyal readers remember, I once had a post about the importance of taking folic acid. This shall serve as a continuation of that post with the hope of educating anyone who might be thinking of having a baby.

One of the first things I did after I found out the wife was pregnant for a second time was to go to the vitamin shop and purchase a bottle of prenatal vitamins and folic acid for her. I still clearly remember our scare with spina bifida when the wife was pregnant with Caitlyn, and I certainly do not want a repeat of that. Ideally, a woman should begin taking folic acid when she’s thinking about becoming pregnant, so we were already behind the curve. Therefore, not another moment could be wasted.

At first, the wife was very good about taking her vitamins. I’d leave them out on the table for her in the morning and would also text her after I got to work as a reminder. However, after one of her visits to the obstetrician, she came back stating that the doctor said the vitamins provided no real benefits and that there was no need to take them. The wife immediately welcomed this as she has never really liked taking anything that’s not natural. She began taking the vitamins intermittently and if I would remind her about it, she’d get defensive and cite the obstetrician’s words to give herself credence.

This went on for a bit until I got fed up with it and asked her to give me evidence and research that showed taking folic acid wasn’t useful. Unsurprisingly, she couldn’t. Therefore, I took it upon myself to compile a bunch of facts to show her that taking her prenatal vitamins was important. All the following was taken from respected medical and health organizations.

1. Taking a prenatal vitamin with the recommended 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid before and during pregnancy can help prevent birth defects of your baby's brain and spinal cord. Take it every day and go ahead and have a bowl of fortified cereal, too.

2. Birth defects occur within the first 3-4 weeks of pregnancy. So it's important to have folic acid in your system during those early stages when your baby's brain and spinal cord are developing.

3. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you start taking folic acid every day for at least a month before you become pregnant, and every day while you are pregnant.

4. It may help reduce their baby’s risk for birth defects of the brain and spine called neural tube defects (NTDs).

5. All women, even if they’re not trying to get pregnant, should take folic acid.

6. It's hard to get all the folic acid you need from food. Even with careful planning, you might not get all the vitamins you need from your diet alone. So even if you eat foods that have folic acid in them, take your multivitamin each day, too.

7. The CDC reports that women who take the recommended daily dose of folic acid starting at least one month before conception and during the first trimester of pregnancy reduce their baby's risk of neural tube defects by 50 to 70 percent.

Thankfully, after sending the wife my list and having her read over it, she agreed to start taking her vitamins regularly again. Our unborn child is going to owe me big time for this one.

Speaking of unborn child, we now know that it’s going to be a girl!!! And with that, I officially submit the name Hannah for your consideration.