“
Sunny day gaga! Sunny day gaga!! Sunny day GAGA!!!! SUNNY DAY GAGA!!!!!!…..
Jay Boo (overheard at dawn)

How Mobile Technologies Are Shaping a New Generation

After reading this article, I’m once again relieved that my girls are not part of the “experimental” class of Re-Gen. That will console me for now. Maybe I ought to stop looking for consolation though; from here on out whatever technology becomes the “next best thing” will have untold implications for all of the little ones that it comes into contact with - no matter what their age is. As a parent it is officially my duty to be aware of all of these things and the potential threats or benefits they might have for my kids. I won’t pretend like I don’t appreciate that responsibility B-)

null

Jaymie had a tough night last night. She wouldn’t eat any of her dinner and was defiant when I suggested she stop talking so she could focus on her food. “No doddy” (under her breath) I told her to go sit down on her bed.

I went up there two times to find her playing instead of sitting down. When she finally sat down we had a talk. I told her that dinner was a time to eat and that it was not okay for her to sit there and play instead. She had that general “ladi da, okay whatever you say daddy” demeanor where she orbits her head around like Stevie Wonder with a big smile on her face - where she doesn’t get it and doesn’t want to.

I told her that if she didn’t eat dinner she wouldn’t get to read books with us. I explained it in detail so I was sure she understood me. She agreed.

We went downstairs and she picked at her food again and eventually said she was all done. This move made me understand something very interesting about her. The way she said she was all done she acted as though my agreeing that she was done meant that she had fulfilled her side of the bargain; even though she ate almost nothing on her plate. I realized that she is mistaken about the boundaries of my role as her dad. I think she is sure that my job is to protect her and teach her what is right and wrong. But to her nascent understanding that includes

“
Funny daddy! You funny.
Kara Been
“
At panda stir-fry Mom: You pick the food and they make it for you. Jaymie: Hmmm…I want…I want…they make raisins!
  • (Before speech)
  • Jay: I wanna go speetz
  • Kara: I wanna go my sands
  • (After speech)
  • Kara: I wanna go scheech
  • Jay: I wanna play sand

Kara and Jaymie,

You guys took turns eating bowl after bowl of my cereal this morning. I’m not sure I got more than three bites! Didn’t mommy feed you guys breakfast!?

Love, Daddy D

“
I get treats day!!
Jaymie (when she found out she was getting treats at the Wynn buffet)
“
I wanna see waters dance
Jaymie (referring to Bellagio water show)

Time REALLY Flys!

My original intention with this blog was to make it a consistent record of the girls’ development and my experience (and maybe eventually Amy’s too…hint hint :) as their parent. Lately I’ve been overwhelmed by how fast they’re developing and how much I want to say about it every day. In other words, my original intent will be impossible to realize…at least in its present format. Text takes time. I’m mulling over whether or not I should change the format to video entries. Really the only thing stopping me from doing that is how much courage it would take to do it that way. It’s scary to record like that! I’ll continue with text for now.

They’re little girls now. Jaymie’s longest sentence so far was, “I wanna sit on couch you and watch movies” albeit mumbled under her breath sweetly. Kara routinely says long sentences. “I did the monkey bars today. Jamara was happy. She took picture. I said cheese!” I’ve had full conversations with her.

Mia (our sweet little puppy) terrorizes them daily and I hope they’re learning tolerance. As I write this, Jaymie just tried to let Mia in after she got locked out for chewing Jaymie’s princess crown. Jaymie slid up the lid on the doggie door and once it was high enough for Mia to stick her head in Mia poked through and bit Jaymie’s ankle. This type of thing has been constant. Jaymie in particular has had it rough. I thought she would be terrirfied of dogs for ever from getting nipped at so much (and reacting to it so badly), but she gives Mia hugs now and I think she is getting over it.

I guess playing up their injuries is part of the phase they’re in. “Monkey ice” or “Bay bay” (band-aid) is what they want for their stomache aches and general pains.

They still do a LOT of whining but those moments are outweighed (if only slightly) by novel moments of learning and personality displays that used to be rare or harder to relate to.