I have a friend who is three years old (almost four).
On Wednesdays she visits to "babysit" Smiley. This is good for everyone. She gets to interact with a non-parent grownup. Her mom gets one-on-one time with the other child. I get someone to talk to. Smiley gets attention paid to him even when I briefly leave the room to do something.
Today my friend said two especially cute things.
The first was just an example of her three-year-old world, in which politeness and compliments are so much more present than in the adult world. She saw me sweeping the kitchen floor and said, "You clean so well."
"Thank you," I replied.
The second was an example of how it can be especially funny when a young child uses a adult's phrase inappropriately, especially if it is not a phrase either parent uses to add the mystique of wondering where it came from. Smiley was lying on his back and had a big sneeze. My friend looked up at me and said, "Your baby has issues."
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Google Uniqueness
Hm. Since doctors regularly recommend letting infants spend some time outdoors unclothed to help prevent diaper rash, I had expected I did not invent the phrase Naked Wiggle Time, which I used as a caption of a photo yesterday.
However, according to Google, that phrase appears only on this blog. Let's hope this blog does not now attract people who are disappointed to find cute baby pictures.
However, according to Google, that phrase appears only on this blog. Let's hope this blog does not now attract people who are disappointed to find cute baby pictures.
One More Photograph
I thought I was done with pictures for now, but my wife asked to share one of her favorites which she uses as a desktop background since it has extra "empty space" on the left hand side.
As long as I was using the Picasa software to upload it I improved the lighting slightly for her. :-)
July 3rd, out back on the deck
As long as I was using the Picasa software to upload it I improved the lighting slightly for her. :-)
July 3rd, out back on the deck
Monday, July 28, 2008
You are Sixteen Weeks, Going on Seventeen Weeks
July 27th was our twelfth anniversary, and Smiley was sixteen weeks old. We celebrated by going blueberry picking.
At sixteen weeks Smiley has become very proficient at grabbing things and holding his head up.
He is also more aware of his surroundings. His crib is now a place to look out of, not just a small world of its own.
He still loves seeing his reflection. At bath time the "other baby" is very exciting!
Toys also are now recognized. Here are a turtle made by one of his aunts and a duck given to him by one of his mother's coworker's daughters who says she is too old for it now.
He loves to stand, and although he has no balance yet his legs are strong enough that he can brace himself when held by the arms or when leaning against the couch.
He also uses his Excersaucer to stand. He's much to little for it to be anything but a chair at this point.
At sixteen weeks Smiley has become very proficient at grabbing things and holding his head up.
He is also more aware of his surroundings. His crib is now a place to look out of, not just a small world of its own.
He still loves seeing his reflection. At bath time the "other baby" is very exciting!
Toys also are now recognized. Here are a turtle made by one of his aunts and a duck given to him by one of his mother's coworker's daughters who says she is too old for it now.
He loves to stand, and although he has no balance yet his legs are strong enough that he can brace himself when held by the arms or when leaning against the couch.
He also uses his Excersaucer to stand. He's much to little for it to be anything but a chair at this point.
Some Pictures from the Back Yard Deck
Here are more pictures!
Sad Face
Fifteen Weeks Old with Daddy
Fifteen Weeks Old with Mommy
Naked Wiggle Time
Sad Face
Fifteen Weeks Old with Daddy
Fifteen Weeks Old with Mommy
Naked Wiggle Time
Boppy with Ergo Insert
At the beginning of the month I mentioned that we have an Ergo Insert. This is a piece of fabric shaped like an arch with a very thick outer hem. Here is a photograph.
If we knew its size in advance we could have sewn such a thing ourselves and saved money. Since Smiley can hold his head up we no longer need it when using the Ergo. What to do with it?
Smiley likes using the Boppy as a recliner or as a way to be kicking things.
But he rolls sideways and gets stuck on his side, or kicks his legs and his heels pull him out of it. The Ergo Insert, folded in half, works as an extra "edge" to keep Smiley in his Boppy.
If he is reclining it prevents him from rolling sideways and getting stuck.
When kicking it prevents him from rolling sideways and falling out.
If we knew its size in advance we could have sewn such a thing ourselves and saved money. Since Smiley can hold his head up we no longer need it when using the Ergo. What to do with it?
Smiley likes using the Boppy as a recliner or as a way to be kicking things.
But he rolls sideways and gets stuck on his side, or kicks his legs and his heels pull him out of it. The Ergo Insert, folded in half, works as an extra "edge" to keep Smiley in his Boppy.
If he is reclining it prevents him from rolling sideways and getting stuck.
When kicking it prevents him from rolling sideways and falling out.
Energy Powers of Ten
Finland's Fierceness
On the internet you not only can read silly things, but quickly search and find an explanation of the historical details.
(Note: The second link does not work well for me until I refresh it's page. Then it properly jumps to the correct forum post with the long history essay.)
(Note: The second link does not work well for me until I refresh it's page. Then it properly jumps to the correct forum post with the long history essay.)
More Nice Vests
A month ago I wrote about the Filson company that sells nice vests for everyday where during cool months, which do not look like they belong on a photographer or hunter.
Someone pointed out to me the Coronado Leather company. Unfortunately, outerwear that is not waterproof does not really have a place in Eugene's climate. The weather would either be too hot for a vest, or too wet for good leather. And I don't think I'm a dress in leather kind of guy. But the vests do look sharp, I agree.
Someone pointed out to me the Coronado Leather company. Unfortunately, outerwear that is not waterproof does not really have a place in Eugene's climate. The weather would either be too hot for a vest, or too wet for good leather. And I don't think I'm a dress in leather kind of guy. But the vests do look sharp, I agree.
Advertisements in My Comments
Blog comments are an odd mixture of public and private space. It's sort of like inviting strangers to visit your house and paint murals on the walls.
A month ago someone put a comment in my post about my neti pot that seems to me a lot like an advertisement rather than a genuine personal anecdote. Expensive salt packets? Don't people use a container of salt and a quarter-teaspoon measuring spoon?
I certainly do not mind if someone has a relevant comment about something I write about that happens to promote a product. I don't even mind if a company's employee has a genuine personal anecdote about the niftiness of their company's product. But let's keep things both relevant and personal in these murals. Thanks.
A month ago someone put a comment in my post about my neti pot that seems to me a lot like an advertisement rather than a genuine personal anecdote. Expensive salt packets? Don't people use a container of salt and a quarter-teaspoon measuring spoon?
I certainly do not mind if someone has a relevant comment about something I write about that happens to promote a product. I don't even mind if a company's employee has a genuine personal anecdote about the niftiness of their company's product. But let's keep things both relevant and personal in these murals. Thanks.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Linux Soon?
In a month I may no longer be using Microsoft.
My computer's CPU is from 2002 (a Celeron 2 Ghz). Now that I have a Flip camcorder and am playing with video the processor is finally showing its age. Is it worth spending money for a better CPU? In about three weeks the local Linux store will start carrying little desktop CPUs, smaller than a shoebox, that fit an Intel business class motherboard. A zippy dual core Linux system will cost between $400 and $500. That seems reasonable to spend every six years for a home PC.
Earlier in July I wrote about the software I use. Only a couple of changes would result from leaving Windows XP for Ubuntu.
I am no longer regularly exchanging with other ministers .doc and .ppt files that that include both English and Hebrew text. I can thus switch from Microsoft Office XP to OpenOffice.
My wife and I may need to switch from the RTS games we know to a free Linux RTS game. We wouldn't mind this. The two we play we have played for many years, so something new will be a nice change.
No other software I use and care about has any trouble with Linux.
Oddly, I am enough of a math geek that I cannot muster the distaste for Microsoft that so many people have. Excel is (and always was) a great spreadsheet. I'll still have it at work.
From what I understand, the main problems with Microsoft Windows have always been nicely summarized by this picture of a Nazgul's Fell Beast chasing Captain Jack Sparrow. Windows has always tried to speak the language of every peripheral, which left it as vulnerable to corruption as a child who plays with the Bad Kids as well as the Nice Kids. Allowing too many things to mix is a recipe for disaster, but the business world rejected Apple's early business model (only our safely approved kids are in the playground) and demanded that every peripheral have a chance to work. I'll be pleased to be away from ActiveX and Norton, but not celebrating with a party.
My computer's CPU is from 2002 (a Celeron 2 Ghz). Now that I have a Flip camcorder and am playing with video the processor is finally showing its age. Is it worth spending money for a better CPU? In about three weeks the local Linux store will start carrying little desktop CPUs, smaller than a shoebox, that fit an Intel business class motherboard. A zippy dual core Linux system will cost between $400 and $500. That seems reasonable to spend every six years for a home PC.
Earlier in July I wrote about the software I use. Only a couple of changes would result from leaving Windows XP for Ubuntu.
I am no longer regularly exchanging with other ministers .doc and .ppt files that that include both English and Hebrew text. I can thus switch from Microsoft Office XP to OpenOffice.
My wife and I may need to switch from the RTS games we know to a free Linux RTS game. We wouldn't mind this. The two we play we have played for many years, so something new will be a nice change.
No other software I use and care about has any trouble with Linux.
Oddly, I am enough of a math geek that I cannot muster the distaste for Microsoft that so many people have. Excel is (and always was) a great spreadsheet. I'll still have it at work.
From what I understand, the main problems with Microsoft Windows have always been nicely summarized by this picture of a Nazgul's Fell Beast chasing Captain Jack Sparrow. Windows has always tried to speak the language of every peripheral, which left it as vulnerable to corruption as a child who plays with the Bad Kids as well as the Nice Kids. Allowing too many things to mix is a recipe for disaster, but the business world rejected Apple's early business model (only our safely approved kids are in the playground) and demanded that every peripheral have a chance to work. I'll be pleased to be away from ActiveX and Norton, but not celebrating with a party.
Nice Hips
Today my wife and I received the results about Smiley's hips. It is good news! His hips are developing properly.
The troublesome trend evident in the first two ultrasounds has reversed itself. The angles measured in the third ultrasound are better, not worse, than those in the second.
His hips are still slightly loose, but no treatment is necessary.
Thank you for your prayers! God is good to us.
The troublesome trend evident in the first two ultrasounds has reversed itself. The angles measured in the third ultrasound are better, not worse, than those in the second.
His hips are still slightly loose, but no treatment is necessary.
Thank you for your prayers! God is good to us.
Concept Study: Vows
My routines are settling enough that I have resumed adding new concept studies to the P'nei Adonai website.
One purpose of this blog is to provide a place for comments and discussion about the concept studies there.
Please use this blog post to discuss the new essay about vows.
One purpose of this blog is to provide a place for comments and discussion about the concept studies there.
Please use this blog post to discuss the new essay about vows.
Friday, July 18, 2008
A Few Smiley Videos
Well, I have not heard of any better suggestions than Blip for hosting home videos. (I cannot mark videos as private, but the interface is easy, quick, and clean.)
So I uploaded a few for friends and family (and complete strangers, I suppose) to watch Smiley in action. Among other cuteness, you can see how he has learned to flip over during the past two weeks.
Enjoy!
So I uploaded a few for friends and family (and complete strangers, I suppose) to watch Smiley in action. Among other cuteness, you can see how he has learned to flip over during the past two weeks.
- 2008-07-03 Boppy Monkey
- 2008-07-06 Tummy Cooing at Three Months Old
- 2008-07-16 Practicing Orcish
- 2008-07-17 Where is Your Fist?
- 2008-07-17 Trying to Fly
Enjoy!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Dr. Horrible Says: Sing with Me!
Courtesy of Shamus, I learn about Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog!
It is only free to watch this week, so join the choir now!
UPDATE: Sigh. A few times the writers have Captain Hammer use needlessly crude language to demonstrate that he is dim, crude, and violent. They could have shown that just as easily while making the show family friendly. Why limit their audience?
UPDATE: Hm. The final episode is not at all what I expected. This isn't a show for people who like happy endings. Comments on Shamus's blog and Wikipedia.
UPDATE: The entire film, with commercials, is now viewable here.
It is only free to watch this week, so join the choir now!
UPDATE: Sigh. A few times the writers have Captain Hammer use needlessly crude language to demonstrate that he is dim, crude, and violent. They could have shown that just as easily while making the show family friendly. Why limit their audience?
UPDATE: Hm. The final episode is not at all what I expected. This isn't a show for people who like happy endings. Comments on Shamus's blog and Wikipedia.
UPDATE: The entire film, with commercials, is now viewable here.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
CJB Aloud
Jonathan Settel has a wonderful singing voice. Has anyone purchased his reading of the New Testament and is willing to provide a quick review?
Video Soon
Well, I finally got through editing our Flip videos of Smiley, and sorting through the past month's photographs.
Expect more photographs in the Picasa album soon. I'll continue to blog most of them.
I'm still waiting to hear people's suggestions about where to share videos online. I know y'all want to see Smiley in action!
I have found an informative comparison of video hosting sites on Wikipedia. One feature that might be nice would be the ability to mark a video as "private" and inaccessible to people without the URL. That article does not mentioned this: do any sites have it?
UPDATE: I've put a very short "test" video here on Blip.
Expect more photographs in the Picasa album soon. I'll continue to blog most of them.
I'm still waiting to hear people's suggestions about where to share videos online. I know y'all want to see Smiley in action!
I have found an informative comparison of video hosting sites on Wikipedia. One feature that might be nice would be the ability to mark a video as "private" and inaccessible to people without the URL. That article does not mentioned this: do any sites have it?
UPDATE: I've put a very short "test" video here on Blip.
Hello, Chizumatic
I'm adding Steven Den Beste to my blogroll.
I have been reading his blog ever since his U.S.S. Clueless days. Even after switching from "mostly politics" to "mostly anime" he continues to provide smiles and interesting reading.
Most anime is cartoons with no more merit than the Saturday morning cartoons I grew up with in the U.S. But a few series are gems I am happy to own. I would never have known about Haibane Renmei and Serial Experiments Lain were it not for Steven. (The local library introduced me to Last Exile and Gunslinger Girls.)
It is also a nice diversion from my Real Life Issues to read reviews of silly cartoons I will never see, so I get many smiles from his writing about "garbage cartoons". Moreover, now and then, as icing on the cake, he continues to write occasional thought-provoking political insights.
The only reason his blog has not been on my blog roll is that he puts a random image from an anime series on the top of it (changing every half hour) and a few of them are not appropriate for children and other innocents. I'll simply say that Japanese culture has different views about the comic value of underwear. A few of his images I can ignore but might upset some of my friends.
Be warned! Don't visit Chizumatic if you might be upset by what cartoons some else is watching. (And, apparently, do not attack the Earth in a gigantic robot.)
I have been reading his blog ever since his U.S.S. Clueless days. Even after switching from "mostly politics" to "mostly anime" he continues to provide smiles and interesting reading.
Most anime is cartoons with no more merit than the Saturday morning cartoons I grew up with in the U.S. But a few series are gems I am happy to own. I would never have known about Haibane Renmei and Serial Experiments Lain were it not for Steven. (The local library introduced me to Last Exile and Gunslinger Girls.)
It is also a nice diversion from my Real Life Issues to read reviews of silly cartoons I will never see, so I get many smiles from his writing about "garbage cartoons". Moreover, now and then, as icing on the cake, he continues to write occasional thought-provoking political insights.
The only reason his blog has not been on my blog roll is that he puts a random image from an anime series on the top of it (changing every half hour) and a few of them are not appropriate for children and other innocents. I'll simply say that Japanese culture has different views about the comic value of underwear. A few of his images I can ignore but might upset some of my friends.
Be warned! Don't visit Chizumatic if you might be upset by what cartoons some else is watching. (And, apparently, do not attack the Earth in a gigantic robot.)
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