Fluffy girl!

Sheryl, Cedar, and Johanna with Frea and Tonya Beaudet

Sheryl, Cedar, and Johanna

She loves to stare at the bright lights in the kitchen; she'll often sit in that swing and stare straight up while we cook dinner


Nothing, not even a shirt sleeve, can stop her from chewing on her knuckles

After two days back at work, I do miss hanging out with the baby. I miss our naps, the hour walks with Johanna in the baby bjorn, neighbors commenting how cute she is. Several people at work are disappointed she won't be hanging out with us at Chess Club, but she got to go to Grandma's house this week, which is much better.

I was informed tonight that I am a selfish person who doesn't care about my wife (with whom I am legally separated), my step-child, or anyone else on the planet because all I write about are my thoughts about the baby. "He only writes about himself and that baby, so either he only thinks about himself or he doesn't care about anyone else."

NEWS FLASH: The blog title says, "watch our baby grow, with commentary by dad." It's about the baby! And my thoughts on being a dad of that same baby! It's not about my thoughts about my wife, the war in Iraq, what I think of Californians (who are making most of these accusations), or anything else.

You don't say that Ernest Hemingway hates all fish except for the two species he mentions in The Old Man and the Sea, do you? You don't say that William Faulkner is rude towards people outside the south or that Charles Dickens thinks less of non-Englanders just because they choose to limit their topics, do you? Flannery O'Connor never wrote poetry, she must hate Robert Frost, right???? The topic is the topic. Don't read more into it.

If you really care to see my thoughts on things other than my baby and my wonderful adventure (so far) in fatherhood, which is entering a new phase as I return to work tomorrow, I will create a new blog, just for you. I'll call it, "Here's Ron's thoughts on everything not related to Johanna so that everyone can see everything he ever thinks about so that nothing and nobody feels offended by being left out of Ron's thought life." Catchy title, eh? But I'm sure I'll offend someone, so I won't bother: "You didn't mention how you feel about Pluto not being a planet? What - it's too small, so you won't write about it?" "You never mention Canadians - are you racist or something?"

If you have a problem with what I write, there's a few million blogs out there, enjoy. If you want to see pictures of my baby with some commentary by me, because, heck, it is BY ME, then continue to enjoy this site.

That having been said, I know a bunch more pics of Johanna exist, but they're on Candi Talbott's camera, and Phyllis Taylor's camera, and my mother's camera, so I'll post them when I get them.

Have a nice day.

ron

PS I love blogging. Thanks to all the whiners for the motivation.
PSS The whole Pluto thing ruined by Zodiac chart: Darn those scientists! And I love most of the Canadians I know. PRC rules!

Only two work days of my paternity leave left. I'll get to spend them both at home with Johanna. She has been rejecting the soy formula the last few days, which isn't fun, but the thing I love is that she loves to be held, so I hold her as much as I can, then I walk around the house with her in the Baby Bjorn when my arms get tired. She's about due for her 4 month appointment, so I'll give an update on her size / weight.

Aunt Tina and I took Johanna to get professional portraits done, and she was great. The studio wanted us to sign a release for them to use the photos for ads, etc. and I was flattered until my brother told me they do that just about every other time his wife takes their boys in (which is often).

These pics were taken by Troy Wayrynen, a professional freelance photographer. The one with Johanna on the cart is similar to one I posted a fews days ago. This one looks better!



This is my desk at work. For the record, I did NOT put the Seahawks poster up - it was there for the book fair.

When she finally gets to sleep, she's gone!


She doesn't always smile. This time she didn't want to be changed.


During book fair night at work. She is sitting on a book cart. If you notice on the left of the picture, Troy Wayrynen, a professional photographer and a parent at my school, snapped a bunch of pics of Johanna as well. If I get any, I'll post them.

Still waiting for the pics from the Paternity Leave Survival Party.

The post from the 29th finally was able to be published. I kept getting errors when I tried, then I just plain forgot for a week or so. Sorry.

Only two week left of my leave, and I am constantly asked if I'm ready to go back to work. I have so much other stuff on my mind that I hardly think about it. I'm also asked what we'll do for daycare once I'm back. For now, she'll be shuttled to Portland to my mom's for a few days a week. After Christmas, I might be tired of driving round trip to Portland twice each day, who knows. Either that, or I'll listen to a whole lot of books on tape!