She Keeps Me Guessing

Just when I thought my baby girl was growing up too fast, she surprised me yesterday.

I commented on her site the other day about how she will no longer nap on my shoulder or chest because she is just too big now. I was wrong. Yesterday, she was having a little cranky spell on me and it was obvious she was very tired and needed a nap.

I tried the swing (our norm) and tried putting her down in her pack 'n play. Both spots were not exactly what she wanted I suppose. After about an hour of trying to help her relax and get comfortable, I just decided to hold her on my shoulder and softly sing her some Tony Bennett. He favorite is "Rags to Riches."

Wouldn't you know, within 3 or 4 minutes, Charlie was knocked out on my shoulder. I didn't dare take the chance to lay her down and disturb her rest, so I just eased into a chair and let her snooze away on my chest, her head nuzzled up against my neck.

I think that nap may have been more refreshing for me than her. I still had my baby girl. She's not yet too old to snuggle for a nap with her Daddy.

More Gymboree Laughs!

Today during "Cradle Chat" at Gymboree, I decided to try and contribute to the group discussion. I figured my previous tact of just not saying much because I'm the only guy in the group was not really exciting enough for me. I usually stayed quiet because my previous comments on sleep and feeding habits were generally unpopular with the other "girls".

Today's "discussion" could have been a skit on Saturday Night Live. The women treated me like I wasn't there. I told two stories about successes we've had with Charlotte, and both were met with polite versions of "yeah... well". I just laughed to myself and thought, okay, then keep on struggling with your baby not sleeping or not being able to feed your daughter with anything but a breast. Sounds funny to me just typing that!!!

Women just don't want to hear from a man about baby stuff. Of course, we know NOTHING. :-)

I'm not bashing ladies, I'm just find it amusing that a man can't engage in a discussion with women about raising his baby without getting rolling eyes and cold shoulders... ???

Anyway... I know Charlie appreciates her Dad's involvement.

I Couldn't Resist

I absolutely HAD to post this picture here. Why? Well, I read a really nice comment on Charlotte's website the other day from Lida. She is a friend, and the Mother of one of my all-time favorite kids that I've ever coached.

She commented on how nice it was to see this "side" of me. Her words really touched me, because I really hope this "side" of me has been more evident over the years to the kids I coach. Maybe more so than their parents.

In other words... I hope the kids really know that I care about ALL of them. I may be a "crazed coach," but as tough as I may come off on the kids, the fact is, I coach because I enjoy seeing kids make great strides as young men. I laughed when I read that line Lida... because a lot of people who know me could never imagine that "crazed" side of me! :-)

Some kids don't care to develop a great relationship with their coaches, but others have affected my life more than they would know.

I posted this picture here not only because I think my daughter is super cute... but because I think the levels of vulnerability you can see in both sets of our eyes is amazing.

Charlotte snuggles me because she loves me, trusts me, and needs me for protection. I can't help but snuggle her back, because she's so precious. But in her own way, she's teaching me so much about love and relationships... and how to be the father I've been practicing to be for all these years.

Lida's comment this week made me laugh because for years, her son was like my own in lots of ways... and really still is to some degree in my mind! I hope some day to be just as proud of my daughter as I have been for so many years of Lida's son Ryan... not to mention so many others I've coached.

Too bad he'll be WAY TOO OLD to see Charlotte when I finally let her date at age 35!