n e n i e

Previous Week's Weight: 264.0lbs
This Week's Weight: 263.0lbs
This Week's Loss: -1.0lbs
Total Weight Lost: -5.0lbs
Next Goal: 254.6lbs
Pounds to Go 8.4lbs

Yup, it's back and I'm three weeks behind, so here's the quick recap

June 4, 2009
This Week's Weight: 268.0lbs
Next Goal: 254.6lbs
Pounds to Go 13.4lbs

June 11, 2009
Previous Week's Weight: 268.0lbs
This Week's Weight: 266.2lbs
This Week's Loss: -1.8lbs
Total Weight Lost: -1.8lbs
Next Goal: 254.6lbs
Pounds to Go 11.6lbs

June 18, 2009
Previous Week's Weight: 266.2lbs
This Week's Weight: 270.0lbs
This Week's Loss: +4.6lbs
Total Weight Lost: +2.0lbs
Next Goal: 254.6lbs
Pounds to Go 15.4lbs

June 25, 2009
Previous Week's Weight: 270.0lbs
This Week's Weight: 264.0lbs
This Week's Loss: -6.0lbs
Total Weight Lost: -4.0lbs
Next Goal: 254.6lbs
Pounds to Go 9.4lbs

Where to start...

Fatherhood.

It's not the deal I thought it'd be.

I'm not really sure what I expected fatherhood to be like.  As with so many things in this life there was no instruction manual to help you get ready for it, and the books that are written are too mom-centric for me to handle.  

So I've winged it.  

One of the funny things about my life is that the best things are often defined by how they don't suck.  Like when I decided I wanted to marry Nena, I knew I wanted to marry her because I knew my worst days with her would be better than my best days without her.  Same goes with Tico.  Even the worst days, like the two ER visits and the subsequent hospital stays, are better than Tico-free good days.  

Right now I'm spending a lot of time with Tico.  My job's affording me a lot of telecommuting time so I'm able to hang out with him and learn who my kid is.  By and large, he's an awesome guy.  

To all those who emailed yesterday (or commented) with congratulations, thank you.

But you really should check the date on the post....

It really is a goal of ours to live there, but it's not a goal we're going to achieve any time soon.

Though, it's nice to see that so many folks believe it could happen...anyway, I should run.  Tico just peed all over, well, everything.

A few months ago, like, around the time I applied for the fellowship that's sending me to Ghana I was encouraged to apply for a job at The American School of Barcelona.

Well, we're moving there this summer baby...

WHOO!

We're pretty psyched. Tico will get a chance to grow up around his cousin Lou and learn Spanish the way I did, by hearing it around him all the time.

And Barca.  Dude, Camp Nou...it a'int Wrigley Field, but it'll do awesome.

Well, the bracket is set and it's time for my annual NCAA Tournament Pool. 

If you're new here and want in, email me at first.last {at} alumni.carleton.edu.

Rules are simple.  No money, just pride.  Set your bracket and talk smack for a few weeks.

64 points up for grabs every round divided out amongst the total number of games.

First Round: 32 games=2 points per game
Second Round: 16 games= 4 points per game...

First round has upset points.  Get the seed in points for picking the game.

Everything locks Thursday @  12:25 p ET.

I know, I know...I've been slacking in my duties around here.

But that's because I've been busy with my son.

Nenie IV arrived at 8:33am on February 18th.  At birth he weighed 8lbs, 11oz. and was 22in long. 

Yeah, big kid.

Tico (as he heretofore will be referred to) is doing well.  Nena and I are...getting by.

A few thoughts.

1) I'm really glad that I didn't have children until now.  I don't know that I would have dealt very well with the last few weeks at 25 or 20 or 15.  I know there are other people who have done an amazing job, I just know that I wouldn't have been one of them.

2) This whole thing is really fun, but not what I expected.  For the first few days I kept expecting this life-altering realization to come.  And it didn't.  Tico is here, that's the reality of it I accepted it and now I try and make it work.  I know this sounds hella negative, and it's not meant that way.  It's just that like with most things, the advertising doesn't match the experience.  Parenthood isn't a sudden epiphany, it's the slow process of discovering which way is up. 

3) Mothers and fathers relate to things differently.  Yeah, I know, duh.  But seeing the stark differences between the way Nena and I relate to Tico is really interesting.  At first, I think Nena believed that I didn't love Tico.  The reality is that mothers and fathers express their love differently.  Nena needs to hold Tico at all times.  I'm happy to sit and watch because I get to see my wife and son enjoy each other's company and that makes me happy beyond belief.

OK, more to come with the years.  But, I had to start somewhere.

From my inbox:

"querido (a) y adorado (a) toaster solo  te escribo para decirte que ye esta perdiendo las ventas de dia de los presidentes si no te apuras vaeras que te perderas de las cosas mas cute  y lo mejor en sale love abuelita bella"

Translation

Dear Beloved Toaster-

I just wanted to write and tell you that you're missing the Presidents' Day Sales.  If you you don't hurry up you're going to miss the cutest of the sale stuff.

Love,

Abuelita Bella.

______________________

For the record, my folks don't read my blog...or Twitter...so this is unsolicited cuteness...and consumerism.

Message left on my phone...

"Hi Toaster this is your Abuelito Tico.  Hurry up and get here because we have the champagne waiting.  OK, half the champagne, we had some last night, we couldn't wait.  Bye."

Well, the due date's come and gone and still no Toaster.

So, in a shameless attempt to milk more money to seed Toaster's college fund here it is, your last shot at getting in on the Toaster Pool.

There are plenty of good dates left including....THE INDUCTION DATE.

Yup, they scheduled us for an induction sometime on the calendar below...I'll give you a hint, the induction date currently has no bidders. 

And seriously, everyone thinks Toaster is a girl?  Really?  Cuz the bets for boys have been minimal, yo...minimal.

OK, get to bidding...