I can't stand it.

Standing? Yes, Standing! from Kenton Kodner on Vimeo.

Month 3

Eli is now one quarter old. He has learned how to smile. As it turns out he is much more fussy that we initially realized. He loves long walks with his puppies. He does not like to spend time with himself. He no longer fits in newborn clothes. Everyday brings something new.

Its like Calling the Hippie Green

So way back when we invited our friends Julie and Ben over for dinner and they informed us that they were expecting! We talked and talked about preparing for a baby and had a very nice evening. Eli was weeks from being born and we all were in various mental states of readiness.

One of the conversations we had was about cleaning products. Julie had strong feeling about the toxic nature of most main stream cleaning products and they had just decided to get rid of or use up what they had left. At the time I thought it was a bit overkill, but I chocked it up to personal choice and moved on.

Fast forward to last Friday. Emily asked me to pick up some cleaning supplies if I went to the store. I told her I have been watching  alot of Planet Green tv and I had been thinking about using homemade products. We decide that I was going to do some more research and then we would make a decision.

It was surprisingly easy to find lots of information about how clean with simple things that you can find around your house and in what proportions you need to mix them. I made a list of what we did not have and off to the store we went.

We now clean with borax, vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, and salt. I even made recycled dispensers out of old jars. 

On Sunday we put our new chemicals to work. Emily and I were both happy with the way that things worked out. Everything was just as clean as if when we used our old stuff. Back when Julie first just brought up this idea I thought that she was just being a hippie. Now look at us. Just a bunch of dam hippies.

Sleepy Afternoon

Eli and I have to fend for ourselves for around ten hours every weekday. To keep myself from feeling overwhelmed I break up the time in two hour blocks. Get through five blocks and Mommy comes home.

I start out my day running. A quick walk with all the boys while Emily showers. If I try to do other things first Leroy gets pissed. You don't want him to piss him off. He will find something to get into. Then Emily takes Eli off to eat while I make breakfast for the two of us and I pack both of our lunches. Yes, I pack myself a lunch. I never know when I will have time to eat, much less make something. Then we all walk Mommy to the train, and the rest of us get a nice long walk. Thus begins my time blocks.

Block 1: Nap time. Almost always a 90 minute nap followed by confused looking around time.
Block 2: Play time! Reading time! Lets Make a Deal time! Offer a bottle and change the boy. Do errands?
Block 3: Feed Daddy. (Most often with one hand). Fussy playing and crying. Walk dogs. Change the boy. Offer bottle.
Block 4: Long nap. More playing. Lots of eating.  Change the Boy. Do errands?
Block 5: Eli has lost most of his fight by now. Some playing. A lot of just laying around. Some crying. A lot of cuddling and multiple small naps. Walk the dogs. Go meet Mommy at the train!

After all this fun I make dinner and do things that take two hands. I find cooking relaxing so this is a good activity for me while Emily had some Eli time before he passes out for the night. 

Today we spent most of Block 4 on a long walk and playing at the dog park. Much fun was had by all. This also made the afternoon go by fast.


Sleep from Kenton Kodner on Vimeo.

Vices

We all have things that help us get through the day. Some of us like to start out the day with a bottle. Some need to end the day with one. I will let you all sort out the details.

"The time has come...

the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."

Emily is going back to work full time as of this Thursday morning. I am now officially Mr. Mom. We are going to miss her, but I think that she is going to miss us more.

Flip Flop

We are officially on flip watch. We have been having lots of belly time lately and Eli's neck is getting so strong. It is kinda scary. The thought of him moving. I too flip flop. I go from cheering him on to wishing he could just stay so small and sweet forever. He wants to move so bad. His eye get so wide and he gets so frustrated when he can't do it on his own. I will keep you all update when the flip happens. They grow up so fast.