Things You & Your Daughter Should Know

I am in no way any kind of expert on raising kids. Like everyone else, I do my best and will continue to do so. The following are just some things that I have already instilled in my own Daughter, Samantha...and some things that I have already begun to learn and accept.

First thing I have accepted, is that she will now an forever melt my heart any time she chooses. That is first and foremost. Now, on to what I hope every Father would instill in his beautiful baby girl...and himself.

- Tell her from day one that she can accomplish ANYTHING.
- Mom will show her how to bake the cookies. Dad will show her the proper way to dunk them.
- Mom can introduce her to Beethoven, etc. Dad can introduce her to the Beatles, Prince and Michael.
- Encourage her to walk barefoot.
- Do not be afraid to let her shape you as much as you shape her.
- Read to her as often as possible. Soon enough, she will read to you.
- Give her a picture of the two of you for her first purse. If you're lucky, she will keep it forever.
- Play catch with her. Often. Even if the ball is covered in glitter.
- Dance with her early and often. She will never bee too young or too old. I promise.
- Encourage stomping in puddles.
- Ask about her day...every day.
- Keep her secrets early. let her start off trusting men.
- Write this one down: Girls cry...a lot.
- Show her how to play poker.
- Let her teach you. Anything. Whenever she has the urge.
- Teach her never to be afraid of boys...but always be ready to challenge them.
- Show her how to climb a tree...and how to climb back down.
- Teach her to take pride in herself.
- Always respect not only her privacy, but her modesty.
- Show her how a right cross is thrown. Boys need to be backed down from time to time.
- Never let her be rude...to ANYONE.
- Take her drawings to work with you. All the good stuff doesn't need to stay on the fridge.
- Make sure she can reach you 24 hours a day.
- Teach her to be kind to everyone, even the kid that no one likes.

As she gets older, there are going to be so many more things to teach, learn from and instill. But I think I have a good start. Good luck, Dads. We all need it from time to time.

City Bus Adventure

For some reason, Sam is taken with the city bus. Seeing it makes her lose her mind. Every day she gets dressed, puts on her shoes, dons her backpack and tells me she is "ready to go on city bus". I'm not sure where this obsession came from, but it is heartbreakingly cute. She got her wish yesterday. After spending our normal morning of breakfast, school time and whatnot, we headed out to the bus stop to wait for the big city bus.

Bags packed, ready to go.

After waiting for about 20 minutes, the bus came and our adventure started. We hopped on and were off and running ( or riding ). Sam was so excited to see everything from the "big windows" that she couldn't contain herself. Giggling, laughing, playing and soaking it all up was so much fun to watch.

After our first bus, we snacked and waited for the next bus on our trip.

Our second bus was right on time and brought us to our first true destination - lunch.

FRENCH FRIES!!!

With lunch down and out, we headed for our final destination...our friends Hugh and Dustin.

Hugh and Sammy

Sammy and her buddy Dustin

Sam got to help fix and then play on some of Hugh's pinball tables...

Thanks to Hugh for having us over and providing us with not only a destination for our adventure.

Sam then got a special treat for the first time - venison!

( No pics of the venison, just picture me too busy to take any due to wolfing down some great deer meat. )

All in all, a great day with Sammy. Momma had the idea of us getting a pass to the Children's Museum and embarking on more "City Bus Adventures". I like that idea almost as much as Sammy does.

Sam's First Snow!

Being from ( and living in ) Jersey all of my life, I have taken snow and winter for granted...and pretty much hated them for as long as I can remember. Slush, shoveling, wetness, ice, shoveling...can't stand any of it. Glad to be rid of it here in Arizona. However, I have thought of how much Sam would love it...and the Science Center gave her the opportunity a few days ago. Seeing as how I didn't have to shovel it...I was all for it.

Over-sized gloves. Check.

They brought a "mound" of snow in and plopped it on the front lawn of the Center for the kids to play in/on. Sammy didn't know what to make of it at first, but soon warmed up to it. The three of us made snowballs and had fun pelting each other at close range...and Momma made 3 little snow men. One for each of us. Then, Momma showed her her first snow angel!

Then, once warmed up and in to it, Sam made a little boy cry by nailing him in the face with a snowball.

( I'd have been a real insensitive jerk if I had a picture of that. Shame on you. )

All in all, a very good day. Snow balls, snow angels and snowmen...coupled with some bird chasing a kids crying. Can't wait for next winter!

Rock Climbing

Over the Holiday break, Sam got to go rock climbing at an indoor facility called AZ on the Rocks in Scottsdale. 

At first, she wanted nothing to do with it and was happy to make use of their Gym equipment to get in a quick workout.

After watching Mommy do it for a bit, she warmed up to the idea and got strapped in for her first adventure in rock climbing.

All ready to go, she hit the wall like a champ.

Then hung around for a bit.

All in all, it was a really fun day for the Princess. She also gave Daddy a great workout on the two flights of stairs that lead to the Gym/observation platform. We look forward to going again and seeing if she takes too it more next time.

I also saw this amazing 5 year old climb all the way to the top...just thought I would share.

She is, literally, a few feet from the top. I took the pic from the upper observation deck.

Love, Sam

If I set out on adventure intent to discover,
the world’s most brilliant and beautiful, beguiling mother
I’d have to travel the world, search far and wide.
Comb every crevice, from every long side.
I’d inspect all the islands and browse all the beaches,
then follow the coastline as far as it reaches.
I’d forage the forests and climb every tree,
But the best mom I’d find is the one who made me.

Other moms are all just rivers,
My Mommy - an ocean.
Other moms stand still,
My Mommy - always in motion.

Other moms are good,
My Mommy - she's great.
Other moms are only sixes,
Mine’s a ten, nine and eight.

A super star specimen, the cream of the crop,
In a pile of Moms I'd find mine at the top.
My Mommy brought me to this world so I’m alive and breathing,
She's helped me out with everything from walking to teething.
She teaches me all of the things that I will need to know,
She sings with me, laughs with me, and watches me grow.
We start out at the park and then head to the zoo,
My mommy always plans so many things for us to do.

Other moms are pogo sticks,
My Mommy - a car.
Other moms are small planets,
My Mommy - a star.

Other moms are rolling hills,
My Mommy - a mountain.
Other moms are shallow pools,
My Mommy - a fountain.

She’s a big bowl of ice cream, with nuts and a cherry,
hot caramel, whipped cream and lots of strawberries;
bananas and sprinkles, and a striped candy strawfull,
of chocolate and tiny baked pieces of waffle.
Each and every bite is so amazingly yummy,
and none of it is leaving any ache in my tummy.

Other moms are daisies,
My Mommy - a rose.
Other moms are nostrils,
My Mommy - the nose.

Other moms are waiters,
My Mommy - the cook.
Other moms are pictures,
My Mommy - the book.

My Mommy is the best around, there isn’t any doubt,
So excuse me if I take a whisper and make it a shout.
I want to scream it loud enough so everyone hears,
my enthusiastic "I’m so proud, I love you Mommy" cheers.
I didn’t mean to make you sad by telling you the facts.
I hope you can just sit right down, accept them and relax.

THANK YOU

There is no love enough for me to give you.
However much I feel, there should be more.
All the love an angel choir might sing you
Never makes it halfway up that shore.
Know that I would burst my willing heart

Your life to fill with pleasure overflowing,
Or if I had the genius and the art,
Undertake to paint your spirit glowing.

More beautiful than all the summer fields
Or all the cornucopias of fall,
The wish my insufficient passion yields
Holds me with a vastness I recall.
Even as your love became my sea,
Remember that the same is yours from me.

To Momma - Love, Sam

If I set out on adventure intent to discover,
the world’s most brilliant and beautiful, beguiling Mother
I’d have to travel the world, search far and wide.
Comb every crevice, from every long side.
I’d inspect all the islands and browse all the beaches,
then follow the coastline as far as it reaches.
I’d forage the forests and climb every tree,
But the best Mom I’d find is the one who made me.

Other moms are all just rivers,
My Mommy - an ocean.
Other moms stand still,
My Mommy - always in motion.

Other moms are good,
My Mommy - she's great.
Other moms are only sixes,
Mine’s a ten, nine and eight.

A super star specimen, the cream of the crop,
In a pile of moms I'd find mine at the top.
My Mommy brought me to this world so I’m alive and breathing,
She's helped me out with everything from walking to teething.
She teaches me all of the things that I will need to know,
She sings with me, laughs with me, and watches me grow.
We start out at the park and then head to the zoo,
My Mommy always plans so many things for us to do.

Other moms are pogo sticks,
My Mommy - a car.
Other moms are small planets,
My Mommy - a star.

Other moms are rolling hills,
My Mommy - a mountain.
Other moms are shallow pools,
My Mommy - a fountain.

She’s a big bowl of ice cream, with nuts and a cherry,
hot caramel, whipped cream and lots of strawberries;
bananas and sprinkles, and a striped candy strawfull,
of chocolate and tiny baked pieces of waffle.
Each and every bite is so amazingly yummy,
and none of it is leaving any ache in my tummy.

Other moms are daisies,
My Mommy - a rose.
Other moms are nostrils,
My Mommy - the nose.

Other moms are waiters,
My Mommy - the cook.
Other moms are pictures,
My Mommy - the book.

My Mommy is the best around, there isn’t any doubt,
So excuse me if I take a whisper and make it a shout.
I want to scream it loud enough so everyone hears,
my enthusiastic "I’m so proud, I love you Mommy" cheers.
I didn’t mean to make you sad by telling you the facts.
I hope you can just sit right down, accept them and relax.