The Baby Years Archives - Page 4 of 11 - The 40YrOldDad The 40YrOldDad

December 24

BIRD IN THE HAND, 3 IN THE BUSH

AUTHOR: 40YrOldDad // CATEGORY: 1-2 years, D-scoveries, Dad Mishaps, Events, The Baby Years
7 Comments

24
DEC

‘Twas the day before Christmas and all through the yard, not a creature was stirring except for…a bird?

Three birds, that is!

Pruning back the hedge bush like giving Zach Galifianakis a Brazilian, I was startled to discover…we we’re not alone.

For just as Zach Galifianakis’ beautician would have been surprised to discover a small Vietnamese family dwelling in his undergrowth, I too discovered a small nest of blackbirds residing in our bush.

Seeing as Santa had given me a heads up regarding the size of a certain gift coming for Indy, it was necessary to make some room in the backyard. Which meant digging out and transplanting a few bushes, but when I happened upon this little feathered family, it was time to down tools. (more…)
December 20

THIS MEANS WAR! – (TER)

AUTHOR: 40YrOldDad // CATEGORY: 1-2 years, D-scoveries, Events, The Baby Years
4 Comments

20
DEC

It was bound to happen eventually. The odds were stacked against us. The old bull and the young buck. The signs were all there, we should have seen it coming…

Our first fight.

It was inevitable, I guess?

I blame the heat, but take full responsibility. Admittedly, I was provoked. Influenced heavily by the conditions and situation we were in.

A 40 degree heat, hot scorching sun, two ‘guys’ alone in the backyard…and a loaded…garden hose.

I guess I should have said, our first…

WATER FIGHT!! (more…)
December 1

MY FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE

AUTHOR: 40YrOldDad // CATEGORY: 1-2 years, Events, The Baby Years, Thoughts
No Comments

1
DEC

As far as family traditions go, one of my favourites has always been decorating the Christmas tree. I remember as a kid, the excitement of pulling it out the box (I love the smell of plastic in the morning), and staring up in awe as it loomed over me like a giant redwood. Only to discover years later, that giant redwood became a bonsai as the tables were turned once I hit my teens.

Many is the time I recall climbing up inside its branches and escaping its carnivorous plastic foliage relatively unharmed, which is more than I can say for Batman’s Boy Wonder sidekick, Robin. Every year I got a Batman and Robin playset with a Batmobile, Batboat and Copter, I would play with the tiny figurines inside the tree. And without fail, that tree would devour poor Robin without a trace within minutes of pulling him out of the box. I can’t say for certain how many Robin’s were consumed by that tree, but by the time I was a teenager the branches were only held together by sticky electrical tape and tiny skeletons.

(more…)
November 5

AHHH, CROUP!

AUTHOR: 40YrOldDad // CATEGORY: 1-2 years, Events, The Baby Years, Videos
4 Comments

5
NOV

There’s no worse feeling than seeing your little one in distress. And that’s exactly what we woke up to this morning. Indy went to bed last night without a worry, despite a little runny nose. But this morning when he woke, his little nose was caked in dried snot and he really struggled for breath, sounding a lot like a barking seal. I grabbed a few seconds on video to help relay what was happening to the doctor in case it wasn’t happening by the time we got there.

Please note: The following video is for educational purposes only in order to help other parents identify croup symptoms in their own child. If you suspect your child has any respiratory ailments, please seek medical advice immediately.

Viewer discretion is advised: Contains scenes some viewers may find distressing.

(more…)
October 30

DADDY’S REDUNDANCY PACKAGE

AUTHOR: 40YrOldDad // CATEGORY: 1-2 years, D-scoveries, Events, Food, The Baby Years
2 Comments

30
OCT

Today, I had my redundancy package served to me on a spoon. A baby spoon to be precise.

The last 16 months I’ve enjoyed sitting with Indy, serving him a hearty breakfast every day of porridge, banana and vegemite toast. He’s been handling his own toast and banana for quite some time now, manipulating every handful skilfully like a ping-pong ball in a clown’s mouth, but porridge duty was always Daddy’s domain.

Like a Roman Emperor being hand fed grapes, Indy was always content to sit back and let Daddy shovel in his sustenance in bite size spoonfuls. That is, until today.

(more…)
October 21

IT’S SNOT ME, IT’S YOU

AUTHOR: 40YrOldDad // CATEGORY: 1-2 years, Body Functions, D-scoveries, The Baby Years, Uncategorized
4 Comments

21
OCT

When I was a kid, video tapes were all the rage. Especially those in the Horror genre. At least, it was for a thirteen year old teenager in the 80’s. By today’s standards, they’re probably more comedies than horror films. But you have to remember, a chainsaw cutting through a rubber arm or stop-motion skeletons with swords, was considered “cutting edge” special effects. (Pun definitely intended) 😉

None were more memorable for me, than the unforgettable movie monsters, such as The Thing, Pin-Head from Hellraiser, the deformed evil Siamese twin from Basket Case and of course, Freddy Kruger. But there is another legendary movie monster from my past, that has recently returned to haunt me…

THE BLOB

If you’re unfamiliar, The Blob was a creature from outer space that resembled a giant red booger that slimed it’s way through town, growing and consuming every living creature until it eventually covered everything in sight. And this past couple weeks, we’ve faced the unfortunate experience of battling this creature’s yellowy-greenish cousin, that has terrorized us (not from outer space), but from within…deep inner space. Specifically…

INDY’S NOSE (more…)
September 28

SUPER INDY

AUTHOR: 40YrOldDad // CATEGORY: 1-2 years, Events, The Baby Years, Trailers, Videos
No Comments

28
SEP

The past decade has seen an avalanche of Superhero movies hitting our eyeballs. (I say that like it’s a bad thing…nu-uh)

Well hold on to your hats folks, coz there’s a whole bunch more Superhero movies just waiting in the wings.

Check out the latest trailer of what’s to come… (more…)
September 23

THUFFERING THUCOTASH

AUTHOR: 40YrOldDad // CATEGORY: 1-2 years, D-scoveries, Dad Mishaps, The Baby Years, Tips
2 Comments

23
SEP

‘Thith morning’ I had to wonder if our boy was 14 months old or 14 years old, as he displayed an uncharacteristic rebellious streak most often reserved for teenagers than toddlers. The type of rebelliousness that incorporates chains, tattoos and heavy metal rock bands. Spikey hair, Doc Martin boots and Alice Cooper makeup. Leather pants, torn jeans and mono-syllabic grunts with obscene hand gestures.

But for our boy, his rebellious weapon of choice…

‘Body Piercings’, in his case specifically…

HIS TONGUE.

And like most rebellious youths, rather than have a professional perform the gruesome task under strict sterilised conditions in a clean controlled environment, our Billy Idol wannabe opted for the ‘home job’ by piercing his own tongue (not with a sterilised needle), but with his very own…

(more…)
September 16

TOLD OFF

AUTHOR: 40YrOldDad // CATEGORY: 1-2 years, D-scoveries, The Baby Years
6 Comments

16
SEP

If there’s one thing I’ve come to understand in the 14 months I’ve been a Dad, is that toddlers know way more than I ever thought they did. And although he’s not yet conversive in the English language, there is a universal language devoid of any words that my 14 month old son is completely fluent in…

Body Language.

Now although he has difficulty controlling his own movements, when it comes to observing and interpreting the movements of other people, he doesn’t miss a trick. And it taught me a very valuable lesson…it’s not what you say or even how you say it that counts, it’s whether or not he can see you when you’re saying it. (more…)
August 17

THIS IS HUGE!!

AUTHOR: 40YrOldDad // CATEGORY: 1-2 years, D-scoveries, Events, The Baby Years
8 Comments

17
AUG

Holy cow, we hit a HUGE milestone today…
And as a clue, here’s some funky lyrics to help shed some light on the matter…

Step One – We can have lots of fun
Step Two – There’s so much we can do
Step Three – It’s just you for me
Step Four – I can give you more
Step Five – Don’t you know that the time has arrived

Can you guess the song, the band and the hair styles?

If you can, one of two things just happened.

You squealed like a girl…or you groaned like a man. (Both sounds are equally as interchangeable between both sexes. Some men have been known to squeal like a girl when they hear this band and are instantly transported back to 1990…not naming any names) 😉

This can only mean one thing… (more…)