My wife is gone this weekend at an out of town bachelorette party.  One would think it could have been a daddy and son weekend.   Unfortunately, there are important things in life that just get in the way of having another daddy and son day.   There were important events today such as having to coach soccer and to go to an outdoor wedding reception of one of my good high school friends.  There is no way Rylan would have lasted outside at either of the events.  It was rainy and cold.

Lucky enough, my in-laws were able to watch him all day long.  His day was filled with excitement as his grandpa and grandma kept him busy.  He was on my mind all day hoping he was a good boy and that he is feeling well since he was sick this past week.  Of course the report from them was he was a little gentleman.

My festivities of the day were over at 9:00 PM.  I did have a great day without the little one and my wife.  We won our soccer game and I had a great time visiting with friends I have not seen for awhile.  Even though I had a great day, nothing compares to the hug I got when I took my son out of the crib at grandma and grandpa’s house.  It made me feel even happier being a dad because the hug was filled with love.  It was like a dad, I missed you so much hug.

I am looking forward to the hug I get when he wakes up tomorrow morning after tonights hug.   I am also looking forward to sprawling out in bed tonight since my wife is not home.  I better go take advantage of that now.

Our son has had a sick bug the last two days, which has caused some vomiting and diarrhea. We are lucky that there has been no fever and things are getting better. Of course, the cleaning of the vomit and smelling diarrhea have not been the best of jobs.

Even though I hate missing work, it was a blast spending a day with my baby boy. I never knew staying home with a sick child could be so much fun. It helps that he was acting himself and not too sick.

When I found out this morning I needed to stay home because our baby was throwing up in the middle of the night, I scrambled to get my sub notes ready so my students would have a good day without their favorite teacher. My wife then left for work and it was then Rylan and dad time. We started the morning off reading books for a good 20 minutes until he got more interested in playing with the books. We then crawled around the house like two army soldiers on a hunt. I think Rylan was trying to see what trouble he would get me into. The time flew by and he was ready for his morning nap.

I had about an hour and half to myself where I did some computer work. I was very excited for the next time he got up. I honestly was waiting in anticipation. When he woke up, I fed him some defrosted breast milk. Then we were off to the races again, crawling around and seeing what new words I could get him to say. It seems like he just wanted to keep on saying dada instead. He knows how to make a dad feel good!

We played for about an hour until he was hungry. The poor guy did lose some of his appetite. I had to coax him to eat his yogurt and crackers. The poor kiddo then had his 2nd explosive diaper of the day. I think that was the not so fun part of the day with our son and dad time.

After cleaning up the diaper, we had great time playing again. We rolled the ball to each other and he was practicing throwing a ball. The next step in learning how to throw the ball is throwing it farther in front of him instead of behind him.

Our day was over when he was down for his afternoon nap. My wife was on her way home while I was getting ready to coach a soccer game. I had an overall blast being home from work with my sick son. When my wife got home, she told me hi. Then I remembered that I had such a great time that I forgot to clean like a good husband should. Whoops!

Dad's Dream - Baby Scholarship

My wife went to a very strong academic university – Marquette.  People are proud to have gone there, just like many other people from other colleges.  Besides being known for their strong academics, Marquette University is also known for being very strong in men’s basketball and soccer.   If you think of Marquette, you probably think of basketball player Dwayne Wade and the comedian Chris Farley (rest in peace).  Yes, my wife was lucky enough to meet Dwyane Wade more than once.

As a dad, I would love to see my son go to a great University and would not mind seeing all or one of my kids to go to Marquette University.  The smelly thing (like a dirty diaper) about it is that by the time Rylan is old enough to go to college, it would probably cost $60,000 plus per year.  That price would crush most parents dreams of putting their kids through a private college if you save, save, save.

Most dads who played sports growing up would love for their kids to take after them and play sports they played; in other words, follow in their footsteps. The main sport that I excelled at was soccer.  Rylan will more than likely play soccer growing up and it is not because he will be pushed to play.  It will because he will be exposed to soccer at a young age. I coach soccer, so he will see me coaching it.  I will also play soccer with him at a very young age and as he ages. More than likely, he will play soccer.

He will also probably be playing basketball and baseball because those are more sports that he will be exposed to a lot with me as his dad.  We will shoot our hoops and play catch.  I am a dad that believes a child should be exposed to both academics and sports.  If they see their parents do the same, they will more than likely follow.  Melissa wanted to have Rylan be exposed to dance, but I had to put the squash on that idea.  Our compromise through mom and dad teamwork was Rylan to be exposed to gymnastics for 1 year as a toddler.

Baby Rylan with Dog in Background

Being exposed to sports is great, but, then there comes the thought of college.  I told the suffering misses that the only way Rylan will be going to Marquette is on a soccer scholarship or academic scholarship.  Why not both?  As you can see by the pictures we are working on the soccer part of it. Let’s get to work Rylan!

Real Dad Blog Version:  Say no to dance for boys. I do not want to be a dad who is made fun of.  Playing sports with your kids can lead to some great bonding experience with kids.  College is way too expensive!

New Dad Blog Suggestion:  Think of the song Cats in the Cradle by Harry Chapin.  Play catch with your kids and be there for them.  As my beautiful wife would say, “you only have one life to live.”

Baby Getting Stuck Under a Chair

Rylan is 9 months old, nearing 10 months.  Every day he seems to be learning something new, either a new word or a new gesture.  Since his birth, I have engrained in my head what he has done that is new.  These are the precious moments.

One of my favorite things in the world is that Rylan has learned to wave.  Every time he waves he looks at his little wrist and watches it. He even now waves on command.  “Rylan wave,” and he waves.  It melts this dad’s heart to see him wave.

Besides learning to wave, our cheery baby has learned to do the sign for all done and even tries to say the word done.  Too bad he doesn’t do that all the time though, his sippy cup sometimes goes flying instead.  He makes up for that though by saying the word hi, da-da and doggie.  I sure hope he starts saying mama soon as I think she is getting a little jealous.  He is also learning what toys do too, like putting balls down slides or pushing buttons to listen to certain songs, to making the screen scroll on the computer.

9 months is a great age. They are learning everything and anything.  One thing Rylan has not learned is to crawl.  He is roller and back scooter.  He gets where he wants to go with no problem until he backs himself into a place where he can’t roll or scoot backwards.  This is where he needs to learn, “Da-da, Stuck!”

Time to stop daydreaming and get back to reality.  Being a dad is the best job in the world.

Dad Blog Version: Your kids at 9 months old will say and do knew things all the time.  It stinks when you have your legs up and the little one is crawling around and gets stuck.  Then you have to get up.
Well buck new dads and stop complaining.  Your kid is stuck, go get’em.  You should be playing with them on the floor anyways.

New Dad - Rylan at First Baseball Game - Twins Game.

Remember my story from a few nights ago, Watching Sports Late into the Night – The Dad Blog Mistake.  This story is much better.  Being a new dad and taking your kid to a baseball game.

Last night my wife and I took Rylan to his second Twins game.  We received some free tickets with a free hot dog and soda pop.  As new parents, we can always take something free.  This is my son’s second trip to the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome to see the Twins play baseball.  The first game was against the Milwaukee Brewers.  Last night’s game was versus the Chicago White Sox.

Needless to say, the Twins won both games.  I think Rylan is a good luck charm. Both victories were sweet because the game versus the Brewers we went with sister’s family that lives in Sheboygan. They are Brewers fans. The second game was just as sweet because we beat our division rivals, the White Sox 4-3.

Rylan usually goes to bed around 7:30.  With a 7:10 start, he was not going to bed when he usually does.   We knew we had nothing to worry about though because the first Twins game he went to he was a little baseball fan angel.  Both games Rylan sat in awe watching all the fans, looking at the flashing lights and the cheers of the crowd.  When something big happened last night such as Michael Cuddyer and Joe Nathan getting the save, the crowed cheered like there was no tomorrow; Rylan started jumping up and down on mommy’s lap with excitement.   He had really no idea what the excitement was about, but I will never forget him jumping up and down on mommy’s lap.

It is most dads’ dream taking their son and/or daughter to baseball games and sharing hot dogs, peanuts and cracker jacks.  Even though Rylan is too young to understand the game of baseball and what the fans are cheering about, it is never too early to take them to a baseball game.   I am excited for those future days of summer when I get to take my children to a baseball game (outdoor baseball starting next year!) and sharing all the baseball food that make a fan salivate (nachos and jalapenos!).

So new dads out there, take your kids to a baseball game or other sporting events.  It is never too early to start!

Rylan's second baseball game sitting with Aunt and Uncle

What makes my dream better is that my wife enjoys watching Twins games with me.  I am glad our future kids will have a mom that will be coming to the game and cheering our home team to victory.  Speaking of my wife, happy 2nd Anniversary, Melissa.  She has supported me with writing the real dad blog.  She also makes a pretty good editor.  Melissa, I love you and thank you for being a great mother and wife.  I am excited that we got the chance to be new parents together.

The man new dad version:  Took Rylan and Melissa to the baseball game.  It was fun.  Twins won.  Happy Anniversary Melissa.  Love you.

Rylan at a Twin's Game. Not softball, but close enough

Tonight was our 2^nd to last game of softball.  We won 19-0.  It was a late game so the little one and Melissa could not make it.  Every dad needs those nights of just men and competition.  It feels a lot better to win those competitions then open a can of beer and guzzle the taste of victory.  Tonight’s win was especially sweet as we have sole possessions of 2^nd place. There was no chance of us getting 1^st place team was exceptionally good.

After next week, I will be in the home stretch of my last few weeks off of work.  I will then have to start coaching high school soccer and have less time with the little one and the gorgeous wife.  The benefits of being a stay at home dad for two months and the three reasons of becoming a teacher, June, July and August.

Those months of summer can never be taken away because of have some nights of male bonding with fellow fathers and some day to be dads.  It feels good to bond with my fellow man and sip a cold one.  It is better though to have time with Rylan and the wife.  Oh the dreads of work but being lucky to have a good paying job (Yes, teaching can pay well).  Thank you for the great summer Rylan and wife.  Thank you fellow men for the male bonding and letting the aggression out of hitting a softball.  Cheers to victory and cheers to the dad blog!

If you like softball, you may like this softball blog that I have read a few times for the love of softball.

After Dad fed me my peaches

Yesterday was a great day.  Melissa was gone.  I mean Melissa was gone with my younger sister to pick up my sister’s wedding dress.  I was told she looks great in her wedding dress.  Her wedding is coming up very soon.

With Melissa being gone, I spent the afternoon with Rylan.  Again, we avoided catastrophe even when feeding him.  For last two weeks he had been feeding himself finger food.  But before this, I had to feed him his peaches, the slimy, gooey kind. Below are pictures of what I took of him while feeding him.  I am getting pretty good at feeding him even though Melissa feeds him most of the time.  Nice job daddy David!. (Dads if you are not helping with the feeding of your kids, you better start).

How did I avoid disaster?  When I was feeding Rylan, he tried to get the peach container and it almost went spilling right into my face   I was leaning over and talking to him and boom he nailed it.  I know

the day will happen.  The countdown begins.

Rylan is scooting on his belly all over the place.   We have to baby proof the house a little more because he is starting to experiment with electrical cords.  He is strong enough to crawl but has not figured it out yet.

Rylan on Knees

What did I do with Melissa gone?  We worked on crawling.  I had to put him on all 4’s but the longest he stayed up was about a minute.  Nice work little buddy.  It should be soon and I will have be quicker than ever keeping you out with experimenting with more than cords like tipping over garbage cans.

It is almost every dads dream for their kid to grow up and be good in sports or other activities such as singing.  Positive coaching starts when kids are young.  Work on things with your kids and they will get it with encouragement.

What is next in the Real Dad Blog, Telling Your Kids No.