Interview with a Baby

Not long ago I was privileged to be able to get an inside look at what Nyla was thinking. Well, with the gender reveal party out of the way, I figured it was about time for another look into the mind of a baby in the womb - this time in the form of a sit-down interview. My little girl was so excited to have someone to talk to, and I was happy to make her happy.

DCG: Ok, Nyla, let's get the big question out of the way now. The one on every one's mind. Are you in favor of expanding the NCAA tournament?
NVG: Absolutely not. Don't mess with a good thing. Keep it on CBS, too. And you know what, why not have the local CBS stations put more games on their other digital channels? Give the fans what they want!
DCG: (Wiping a tear from my eye.) I have never been prouder. Second question, I have not told you what to say, correct?
NVG: I am my own perrrrrrson.
DCG: You clearly take after your mother. Moving right along, describe your first 5 months of existence?
NVG: Dark, wet, and warm.
DCG: Any highlights so far?
NVG: That time you read Psalm 100 to me.
DCG: That's so sweet, but you're too young to butter me up. Let's just move on to the next question. Your thoughts on global warming?
NVG: Huh?
DCG: Exactly!
NVG: No, really, what did you say? I couldn't hear you.
DCG: I said what do you think of global warming?
NVG: I'm not here to talk about the past.
DCG: Since when did you hear Mark McGwire?
NVG: Who?
DCG: Never mind. Generational gap. How about a little word association? I'll say a word or phrase, and you give me the first thing that comes to mind.
NVG: Let's do it!
DCG: Power Grid.
NVG: I will dominate.
DCG: That's debatable. Anyway, Obama.
NVG: Nebraska city?
DCG: (Laughing) Brilliant!
NVG: Daddy!
DCG: Thanks, sweetie.
NVG: New car!
DCG: Um... no, not right now.
NVG: Cell phone?
DCG: Word association is over.
NVG: Can I have a pony?
DCG: No.
NVG: Do you know John Wall?
DCG: No.
NVG: Patrick Patterson?
DCG: No. Why?
NVG: You talk about them a lot.
DCG: They play for Kentucky. You remember, Kentucky, right?
NVG: Nope. You don't talk about them enough.
DCG: Is that sarcasm in your voice?
NVG: Prollies.
DCG: You and your mother...
NVG: Mommy! Daddy is talking about you...
DCG: Aaannnd that's all the time we have for today. Nyla, thanks for taking the time to talk with me. I look forward to our next conversation. And I'm looking forward to getting to hold you in another four months or so.
NVG: Me too, Daddy.

As you see, well, like father, like daughter.

-D

Baby TV

Four months from now, I will be on the doorstep of fatherhood - if not already there with our little bundle of joy. That thought is finally starting to sink in, that I am going to be raising a little person. Nervous? Yes. Excited? Oh yes!

One of the things I have given a little bit of thought is the question of TV. How much should she watch? What should she watch? (I realize this blog has started off on a more serious note, but I promise you it will get sillier the further down you read.) Let's face it. There's not a lot on TV that I would consider good family television - many shows consist of liars, cheaters, and criminals. But enough about CNN, MSNBC, and C-SPAN primetime television. What is my little girl going to watch? What can I watch with her that will be entertaining and educational?

Thankfully, I've had plenty of time to watch and review said shows. 26 years in fact. From my own childhood shows to those my cousins would watch, I have seen a number of programs. So I thought I would give a list of my top five favorite childhood/educational shows.

Now before I get to my list, I have to say that I excluded most cartoons, because, well, I don't really know any value a small child can take away from "Rugrats" (Nyla will probably be able to escape from her playpen on her own) or "Doug" (as awesome as that cartoon was) or "Looney Tunes" (I'd prefer for Nyla to keep away from anvils and cliffs). The shows have to have some form of educational value. Let's begin with some honorable mentions:

--Sesame Street: Blasphemy, I know. I like the silly songs and skits that teach letters and numbers. "Here is Your Life" with Guy Smiley is awesome. And Kermit on location for fairy tales is hilarious. But I don't recall being all that into the lives of the Sesame Street residents.

--Muppet Babies: Unfortunately, the lack of education (not to mention the mystery of who "Nanny" is) makes this honorable mention. This was still one of my favorite shows to watch.

--Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?: A great game show for kids? Check. Learning about geography? Check. Yes, I am a nerd. And yes, I would have thoroughly dominated on this show.

Now on to the top five childhood edutainment (educational + entertainment) shows in my not-so-humble opinion:

#5 - Reading Rainbow: "Butterfly in the sky..." I can sing this song almost verbatim still. Who didn't like Geordi La Forge LeVar Burton showing us the world that books and a little imagination can reveal? Some of my favorite "episodes" include the pizza-making day and sports show, but you don't have to take my word for it.

#4 - The Backyardigans: I've only in the past year come to find this show, thanks to babysitting for the little man "F". Five little friends use their imagination outside in their communal backyard. The results? Tales of knighthood, racing around the world, and, my personal favorite, adopting a dinosaur puppy. The songs and dances during the show are funny and get the kid dancing, and the dialogue is that great humor parents will find hilarious, while the kids are just watching the story unfold. Oh yeah, Pablo is my favorite character. (Picture above in the middle.)

#3 - Arthur: Another show with excellent lessons for the kids as well as clever dialogue that adults laugh at. Yes, the kids may never get out of the 3rd grade, and Baby Kate hasn't walked yet despite being around for years, but the show still teaches excellent lessons about friendship, responsibility, and being good people. Hey, what a wonderful kind of day!

#2 - Square One TV: I will readily admit to my complete and total math nerd-ness, but I really do not care. This show was awesome! Created in the late 80s to help America's perceived "math crisis," Square One had many short features throughout the show relating to math - MathMan, Dirk Niblick of the Math Brigade, and many more. What stands out the most for me, however, is MathNet - the Dragnet spoof with George Frankly and Kate Monday then Pat Tuesday (in later seasons). Each episode through the week would build the story, culminating with the conclusion on Friday. Square One was 30 minutes well-spent, and maybe I can find these somewhere on DVD.

#1 - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood: I confess that during high school, if I was home sick, I would somehow find myself watching this show. Even in college, if I was home, there was a chance I would be watching this show. Not only did you travel to the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, you got to see how crayons, rocking horses, and tricycles were manufactured - plus many more. I was partial to Daniel Striped Tiger, because a) he was a tiger; and b) we had similar personalities. I was so fond of the show that my mom actually got me a book of Mr. Rogers' quotes for my birthday... only a few years ago. If I had one show and one show only that Nyla could watch, it would be this one. Mr. Rogers was everybody's neighbor, and the world was a better place for it.

What TV shows did you watch as a child? What TV shows did you want to watch but weren't allowed?

Oh, The Sacrifices of a Father

I have been thinking that once little Nyla enters this world in all of her cuteness and crying, I will have to make some sacrifices for some things to continue as they had prior to this. Observe the following examples:

*Ginny and her dad have been coaching little kid basketball for the past two years. I would imagine they will do that again for the upcoming season. I would always attend practice to help with fast break drills - I called it exercise but really was looking for proof that I can thoroughly dominate 2nd and 3rd graders. When December practices and games begin this year, I will dutifully stay home with Nyla. Never fear, however, for I will still get my basketball fix on. I will have a clipboard diagramming the intricacies of the 2-3 match-up zone, 1-3-1 zone, and the ever-popular 2-2-1 half court trap to the future All-American Kentucky Lady Wildcat. We will also watch game tape courtesy of this great time-waster at work and watch every Duke loss in the NCAA tournament since 2000. My only concerns are that she doesn't try to eat the clipboard marker and/or beat me in a game of "wet diaper" HORSE.

*Ginny is a puppet master... oh wait, that's not what I meant. But she is heading up/overseeing a new puppet ministry at our church. So for those Sundays in the first two or three months after Nyla is born when Ginny has to be at church, I again will humbly resign myself to staying home with my little girl. Again, I want you all to know that I will be ok. Nyla and I will get our church fix by making fun of and watching Joel Osteen.

*Then there is of course the inevitable Saturday when Ginny has to run errands around the town. What will she do? Leave knowing her loving Hubby will take good care of her daughter as both Hubby and daughter nap on the couch while watching golf. Because if the whole basketball thing doesn't work out, then perhaps a golf scholarship will.

I'm fully aware that this will cut into my social life and cramp my style, but, oh, the sacrifices a father will make... =)

-D

We're having a.....

We are proud to announce that our little baby is a GIRL!

We are so excited! (We would've been happy with a boy, of course, but it's exciting to finally know).

(Daniel: As I predicted the entire pregnancy.)

The Doctor said everything looked great and baby is looking wonderful. She is growing and is perfectly healthy. Her heart rate was 155 bpm and she weighs 13 oz. I can't believe she's almost a pound! Crazy!

Please continue to pray that the baby continues to grow and be a sweet girl to her mama.

She has started to kick quite a lot, thankfully she's still too small that she doesn't hurt. Her little kicks just feel like bubbles popping, which is quite funny, and ticklish at times! But I know soon I'll be able to feel them more and they'll get harder. I just pray they don't hurt too bad.

Everything is still on track and my due date is still July 19, 2010.

20 weeks down and 20 weeks to go (approximately)!

An exciting day!

Today is the day we find out if we're having a boy or a girl!

I can't believe the day is finally here.

It seems like we've been waiting for weeks and weeks for this day to get here.

And now it's finally here.

We're praying for a healthy baby and hoping everything looks good with the ultrasound and we have a good checkup.

Tomorrow is our "Gender Reveal Party" for some family and friends. We aren't telling anyone today what we're having, they have to wait. :)

And to all you other family out there, be on the lookout for a card in the mail with what we're having! It's so exciting!

Come back Thursday for all the details from the reveal party. It'll be a blast!