Here's a little poem that I wrote for Krystal on her first birthday (which was just 3 days ago...) Happy birthday, Krystal, dear! You've filled our hearts with so much cheer; We can't believe the year is done And you are ready to turn one! Happy birthday, darling child! We loved you the first time you smiled. Even when you cry and whine Your presence still makes each day shine. Happy birthday, little girl! You just can't wait to see the world-- You want to walk, to run, to...

Today, tomorrow, and half of Saturday, I am alone with my child. Ann is off to San Francisco for a business trip (a training seminar, to be precise), and so Krystal and I have to survive on our own for a few days. So far, I am happy to say (all of 24 hours after dropping Ann off at the airport, 16 if you count instead from the time I picked Krystal up from day care), we are doing pretty well. I didn't get enough sleep, but that's because I decided that the cats wouldn't be loud enough to...

I'm sure this will shock and amaze someone (not sure who, but there's gotta be at least ONE person SOMEWHERE), but my daughter was born, and at this time remains, out of wedlock. But that's about to change! We've got plane tickets, chapel reservations, a hotel room, a best man, a bridesmaid, and someone to help my darling cutie baby to be a flower girl. We're heading to Las Vegas, to be joined in matrimony under the auspices of Caesar himself! (Well, in his palace, anyway; Caesar wasn't...

In a companion piece to my "42 things about me" article, here are 42 things you should know about Krystal: She: 1) is about 21.2 pounds. 2) will be 11 months old next Wednesday 3) is about 30" tall. 4) can pull herself up. 5) can crawl like crazy. 6) hates having her face scrubbed after a meal. 7) hates having her hands scrubbed after a meal, too. 8) loves taking a bath. 9) Has dark brown eyes. 10) has light brownish hair, but it's kinda hard to tell because it's still pretty th...

It was just this past Sunday when Krystal stood up for the first time. And she didn't do it at all yesterday, or the day before, that I know of. Well. Today apparently was a different story. I went to play in my ping-pong league tonight, and Ann was home alone with Krystal, hanging out and watching her CSI and Law & Order and so forth, when Krystal pulled herself up again using the coffee table. Ann ran to grab the camera in case she did it again. And she did. Ann called Krys...

So it seems like just yesterday I was writing about how Krystal finally has a tooth. Okay, maybe it seems like two days ago. But anyway! Yesterday she was playing under the ping-pong table and somehow managed to flop her arms over one of the struts and end up kind of standing up. I wasn't entirely sure if it should count as a full stand because her arms were carrying some weight as well as offering balance, but it was still impressive. Well, today she put any doubts to rest. As Ann and ...

Today (Saturday, regardless of what the post time on this article says) marks a major milestone in my baby's life so far: She's got a TOOTH! Okay, so it's only a tiny little white spot on her gum at the moment, but it's sharp as heck, lemme tell ya. And given that she's 10 months and 6 days old, we've been waiting for the appearance of this little critter for quite a while! Just this evening when we went out for dinner, we chatted with another parent whose baby has two teeth, and t...

You may have read my two articles so far about my refrigerator tribulations ( here and here ). Basic story: a month ago my fridge broke, new compressor had to be ordered, repair person didn't show up when they were supposed to. Well. Today I burned another vacation day waiting for the repair person. I am happy to say, this time at least she showed up, albeit at 2:00 pm instead of between 8:00 and noon as promised, but hey, she was here, which is more than we could say last time. S...

Three weeks ago now, I wrote a little article about how my fridge broke. (See it in all its glory here! ) This past Friday I called the repair people and asked them when I could expect the part we need to arrive. Well, apparently it had already arrived and they were just too stupid to dial either of the phone numbers I gave them on three separate occasions to set up the appointment to get the part installed. But okay, I'm a calm and reasonable fellow, and the guy on the other end was...

Well, it finally happened. After weeks of flailing about, sitting, rolling, going backward, making little froggy-leap motions, and otherwise not quite actually crawling, tonight Krystal did a real, honest, forward-progress crawl. It was only about 2 feet, but she did it a couple of different times and it looks like she's already got the hang of it pretty well. She's going to be a little terror on hands and knees, I can already tell. I guess I'd better really get cracking with more bab...

Bedtime for Krystal Okay, little squirmy one The day is over with, it's done. It's time for you to go to bed and calm your squirmy little head. Okay, little wiggly one The time is past for having fun. It's time for baby's eyes to shut and rest your wiggly little butt. Okay, little active one The time for sleeping has begun. Don't try to woo me with your charms, just still your active little arms. Okay, little tired child Objections over, manner mild, Your legs relax, Yo...

I went on a little trip this past weekend with my woman (Ann) and my adorable baby (Krystal). When we got back Sunday night, we had a quick, easy meal from the freezer. I happened to notice, when I grabbed our repast, that there was, for some inexplicable reason, an awful lot of frost on many of our food items. But I cooked, we ate, and we didn't think much more about it that day. Monday we had a bigger dinner. Ann mentioned that she kept hearing this odd clicking noise coming from the...

My fiancee and I have something in common. (Gasp, shock, amazement, you say. Okay, we have a lot in common, and here's one particular item.) We both hate to match socks. When that big load comes out of the dryer and there's 64 socks in the heap, in a heap is how the socks stay until everything else is done and we grudgingly turn to finish the odious task. But there are steps one can take to minimize the drudgery of the chore, steps that I have taken, long ago; and even informed my woma...