My blog n'at

I really have no words to express how proud I am of this little guy and trying to rationalize the time that has passed since his birth is impossible. 3 years ago today I held my first child in my arms, weighing in at just over 3 pounds,  before he would be whisked away by 15 nurses to the N.I.C.U. to be hooked up to machines for the next 4 weeks. Scared, terrified, and wasn’t sure what was going to happen. Doctor kept telling us that he was a fighter. 3 years later they couldn’t have been more right.

With the energy of his mother and the persistence of his father this 33lb brick house is… wait, am I writing an intro to NFL Films?

Teaspoon, you’ve been an amazing little man in our lives and an incredible big brother to the O-man. Thanks for making the last 3 years an incredible ride and I smile with pride as I watch you grow up. You’re already rocking at pre-school and have shown a passion for hockey (thank you God!), are a role model to your younger bro and have better manners than most adults. Raise a bottle of chocolate milk buddy, you can kick the Most Interesting Man in the World’s ass.

I gave my 2.5yr old our Nikon CoolPix L18 for the weekend to see what would happen. In the end the camera is probably toast but the pics he took made it worth it.

Things I learned:

• The kid is a natural at taking a picture of himself
• He has a knack for this. He started setting up his own shots by placing toys in certain spots to get a picture
• Retractable lens is apparently crack. on-off-on-off-of-off
• He picks up on technology WAY faster than I expected
• I have no idea what some of these symbols are that now appear in the preview screen
• I think he knows french, or so the menu system now says.

My oldest turns 2 years old &  my youngest hits 2 months today.

With all of the hardship that happened on Teaspoon’s birth and his time in the NICU I’m blessed to have a healthy and happy son today.

Enjoy your pass to be a maniac, tomorrow I go back to laying down the law

Here are pics from his birthday party over the weekend at the Toy Lending Library

Phone call yesterday:

Lushie: You won’t believe what your son did now
Me: Oh now he’s MY son, this should be good…
Lushie: You know how he likes to pretend to cook like mommy in the kitchen?
Me: yeah.
Lushie: Well I was in the fridge when I heard a beep, I turn around and he took the kettle (which he like to pretend to stir food in), turned it upside down, pushed it against the wall, stood on it, opened the microwave, put his SNEAKER in the microwave, closed the door and hit cook  all in the matter of seconds.
Me: I told you he doesn’t like to wear shoes… or socks… or pants.

*sigh* Welcome to my life… and he’s only 20 months old.

Hard to believe that guy was an 8 week preemie. That little man has changed my life in more ways that I ever expected and all for the better. I can’t imagine a day without him.

Every day, thousands of babies are born too soon, too small and often very sick. I’m walking for my son, Teaspoon, who was born 8 weeks early. He did not have an easy start in life but thanks to all the great nurses and physicians in the NICU he is happy and healthy today. Not all families are as lucky as us, some children have life long health problems and some never make it home. The March of Dimes wants to change that, they want all preemies to be like Teaspoon, healthy and happy.

Please support my walk. Support the March of Dimes. Support babies like Teaspoon who just want a chance to make a difference in this world. Making a secure donation is easy: just click the ‘donate now’ button on this page. Thank you for helping me give all babies a healthy start!

The mission of March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.

You can donate and/or sign up to walk on the website below.

http://www.marchforbabies.org/personal_page.asp?pp=3100581&ct=4&w=4405758&u=dderda&bt=11

Here is the info on the event:
Date: May 23, 2010
Address: 115 Federal Street, Pittsburgh, PA  15212
Walk Distance: 3 miles
Registration Time: 8:00 AM
Start Time: 9:00 AM

For those of you already walking with other groups let us know and maybe we can meetup!

I hope to see you there while having a good time walking for a great cause!

Thanks!
Spoon, Lushie & Teaspoon

If you have any questions please let us know!

I’ll get more this weekend in the daylight but for his first full time of moving around I couldn’t pass it up.

If you can’t see the video go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfvDwVh2JnM

There you have teaspoon from 2009 and today. hard to believe a year ago he was still in the NICU and all wired up and coming in around 4.5 pounds and now he’s a 22lb teething slobbering bundle of baby awesome.

Next year, he finds out what a parade is… heaven help us.

We’ll call this one a draw…

I have to admit that this has been the most life changing year of my life. Some good, some bad and some mind blowing kickass. Here’s a quick recap as I reflect before tonight’s festivities start. I’m splitting this up into 2 sections because lets be honest, no one will scroll through 12 months.

January
Reflected on the first beer I EVER drank and yes, I kept the bottle. Prepare for the end of my 10+ year employment at ForeSystems/Marconi/Ericsson. Bitched about the weather and yinzers inability to drive in snow plus dumb ass snow removal by my neighbors. Both of those still hold true today. Got ready for an unbelievable run to the Super Bowl

February
Steelers won the Super Bowl and became the first ever 6 time champ thus giving every knock off t-shirt maker starry eyes at the potential of “6 pack” shirts. Punxy Phil said 6 more weeks of winter. I was officially laid off, was interviewed for a Post Gazette story on unemployment moments after i was laid off (that never was published), Pens started to turn it around and the biggest shock of them all… Teaspoon arrived 2 months early making me the happiest and most terrified dad. Came in at 4.1lb, dropped to 3.2lb and would leave at 5 in March.

March
It was the month of Teaspoon. Lushie and I spent every minute we could at the Mercy NICU while he got healthy in an incubator. 28 days later he came home. Also witnessed the stupidity of some Hill District parents who think its a hotel in there and the joke that is unemployment system in PA.

April
Went to my first ever Rugby match and got addicted to watching Claire and the girls kick ass. Missed my first opening day of Pirates baseball since 1984 (watched it on TV with Teaspoon and started a new tradition with my boy). Bought a Wii. Enjoyed the greatest comeback in Pens Playoff hockey that I have witnessed as the Pens turned the series around with 1 fight and the Max Talbot shhhhhhh! Saw Beer Wars the Movie with hundreds of other craft beer fans around the world and baked an incredible beer ham for Easter.

May
Should I Drink That turned 3. Pens defeated Washington and Carolina to earn a second trip to the Stanley Cup Finals for a 2nd year. Bought a Blackberry. Joined Sadie’s Soldiers and took some Great Strides. KDKA reads my “tweet of the day” which I WISH they would bring back. The great personalized jersey debate. Meatshield welcomed his first child (i swear it was the year for kids to be born) and we had a cookout with some family. Bowling league ended and we were the undisputed champs.

June
Teaspoon’s first trip to the ER. Coming out of golf retirement after 3.5 year for a day with Yinz Teamer’s Woy, Lokay and Shireman at Cranberry Highlands. The Clarks release Restless Days after 5 years. Pens win the Stanley Cup in 7 games vs Detroit. Pittsburgh floods… again. Unemployed Utensil makes his first appearance as a way to help me get through not working. My first Father’s day and Pirates waste of talent Ian Snell cant take negative people.

up next… July through December.

more later…