Big Brotherhood 7:26 PM

Stockton is adjusting well to being a big brother.

Album of the Year 5:12 PM

My Girl 9:12 PM

Boys beware.

Labor Day 10:43 PM

I had an appointment to meet my daughter (my daughter?!) today, but she decided to hang out (literally - it looks like Dana is attempting to steal a fitness orb). Baby girl's hanging out may mean her personality more matches her dad's. Stockton came 2 weeks early and is very clear in his desires and instructions. (I will let you make the connection:) ).

She will come soon, and there will be the same anxious-nervous-excited-sleepless smoothie that comes with newborns. We will tiptoe around the house to let her sleep, make sure everyone has washed their hands before touching her, and keep plenty of wipes handy for the baby-girl-blowout. We will help Stockton make the fourth major transition in a less than three months (potty, big boy bed, glasses, baby sister), and we will be exhausted.

I hope she comes on Easter.

Spectacles 9:11 PM

Dana's baby blues are unbelievable. I prayed hard that Stockton would inherit the stone-cold stunners and, for the most part, he did....except the part he uses to see. Specifically, the corneas are quality, but the lenses are lame.

We discovered this two weeks ago when his right eye began to periodically look inward. Forty-eight nerve-racking hours later, Stockton saw an ophthalmologist who diagnosed him with the Google-inducing condition of accomodative esotropia. Spell check is telling me there is no such thing, and three weeks ago I would have believed it, but a heartbreaking scene where Stockton struggled to see convinced me.

The good news: Stockton loves his glasses, getting upset when we have to "put them to sleep" for bedtime or take them off for a bath. His eye seems to be crossing less, and his sky-blue glasses are kind of cool. His words to one of his teachers: "These are my glasses. They help me see."

Stocky Snow Day 10:58 AM

Here's my boy. Sadly, the picture of our foot-high snowman was a victim of the frigid, frosty lens.

A Father's Confessions 10:13 PM

After my boy goes to sleep, there is a void in my house and heart. There are no heavy feet "hopping", no fat cheeks to kiss, no little stout torso to tackle you when you aren't looking, and no sweet voice calling out a favorite Thomas the Tank Engine (Toby, which sounds more like "Oby!").

Sometimes, the hole in my heart is too much, so I tiptoe around the "choo-choos", put my chin on his crib, and gaze at my no-longer-baby boy. He lays there with stretched-neck under-stuffed kitty in one hand, Toby in the other, blanket ("hanket"), stuffed basketball ("beebaw!"), and Elmo ("Melmo") all kicked to the side.

I wonder how often my Father tiptoes around my toys and puts his chin on the side of my bed?

In about ten hours, we will be awakened by some combination of "My Mommy!" "My Daddy!" "Out!" and "Poo Poo!" I will go to him, place my hands under his outstretched arms and say, "Good Morning, my son."

Mourning 10:11 PM

"I had already hit the wall, and this is the ton of bricks that was on top of the wall that I am now buried under."

Jason to Dana, Sunday night, 8:34 CST, after learning Stockton had body slammed the laptop.

I have learned many things as a father. And this week, I am learning forgiveness. My beloved baby boy, all 29 pounds of him, pulled the laptop off an end table, potentially destroying the hard drive and all that resided on it. (I say potentially because there is but one thing left to try and because I am in denial.) As of now, pictures and videos of Stockton's first year of life and a TOME of seminary material are lost somewhere between the dented whoseywhatsit and the jammed thingamajig.

One day we might look back on this and laugh, but not today friends. Not tomorrow either.


Probably not Monday either.

Feline Freakout 10:15 AM

I have been meaning to upload this for a while. It happened a little over a month ago. It's crazy to see his development even since then. While outside, Stockton sees a cat and we chase it. Luckily, it rests on our porch and Stockton gets the thrill of his young life.

Stockton's Many Moves 10:30 PM

I love this little boy. There is no substitute for squirting each other with plastic animals while he's taking a bath or running around the house screaming and growling like a lion. Stockton has trooped through a couple of ear infections (or one super stubborn one) and it seems like he demonstrates a new ability every day. His latest (and funniest) exploits involve his new favorite thing - animals. He growls like a lion, moos like a cow, howls like a wolf, puckers like a fish, laps water like a cat, barks like a dog, and (my favorite) moves his elbows-out-arms while hooting like a monkey. This picture caught him mid-monkey. He likes to laugh, dance, kissy-face, repeat our words, be chased, drink bathwater, show you his belly, and is developing a severe independent streak. He does not like waking up, the word "no", or strangers (unless they are blond women - see number three on the "like" list.) Just today, he attempted to dribble a ball when I said "dribble."

I would not trade him for ten Utah Jazz championships.