Amon Tobin

I went to see Amon Tobin Friday night, this is one of the videos and pictures I took. I have listened to his music for many years and was very excited to see him playing in San Francisco.
It was a pretty good concert, but he only played one song I had heard before which was a bummer. I didn't mind the lack of familiarity though since he is very good at using neat sounds, rhythms and a variety of textures. Only a few times did he digress so far into experimental trance/techno that I found myself yawing.

Most of his stuff is sick samplings that he mixes together: Hip-Hop, Electronic, Jazz, Classical and weird sounds from the Foley room.

iTunes says: "He excels at creating an atmosphere of approaching menace, with short passages of dramatic samples and anxious strings paving way for another array of pummeling beats."

I am going deaf now

This week Lucia has started experimenting with her voice. She tries to scream as hard as she can when she is upset or sometimes just for fun! My ears are ringing and going numb, no joke. The screams are so high pitched and loud that I could leave her in the car and use her as a car alarm. Poor Mrs. Baylee quietly removes herself from the room when Lucia starts her squealing.

A cool technique I have picked up is putting her to sleep right away. Several times during the day when she has been up for a while I notice small signs that she is tired, so I bundle her up and just put her down, she starts to fuss a little, but as soon as I give her the passy she's out. Saves me lots of time too! I'm not sure if this will continue but I hope so.

I have also started letting her feed herself while I change her diaper.
I let her hold the bottle while I do my thing. That way we save time in the middle of the night and theres much less screaming which I am sure those that are sleeping will appreciate...

At The Doctor's By The Numbers

2009, Jan 26: 5.9kg/13.0 lbs - 62cm/24.5in

Hey Miss Smiles!

Not So Steady

While she loves to stand with our help, she's still working on this sitting up thing (and rightfully so, she's only 4 mos!).

I'd Say She's More than Semi-sweet...

 

First Laughs - Editors Cut

Due to popular demand, I have decided to post the laughing sequence in its entirety. Uncut.

Enjoy.

Awesome.

Photo credit: AP John Montgomery

It says 1-20-09 under the YES!

On This Day

I meant to post this yesterday. While watching the Inaugural address, tears streamed down my face. Finally, I thought. The sense of pride to be an American and the hope and the optimism that comes with that, is back. Finally. 

My favorite lines of the speech:

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

First Laughs

Time for Bed

All clean, happy and warm from the bath. Mommy is tired too.

Bottle control

Since we came home after Christmas she has started having to grab the bottle. She cant really control it but it seems she like to think she does.

Trip to Crissy Field

Saturday we decided to take a walk on Crissy Field and enjoy the views and the nice weather. We walked a bit longer than expected but it was a very nice day with tons of people out and lots of things to see. After walking all the way to the Warming Hut and back we went up to Chestnut Street and found a dog friendly outside table, a sandwich and a salat. More pictures from the trip can be found on Flickr.

Warm is good

Theres no denying I have been enjoying the latest heatwave. Today we had 23C/73F as we have for the last week or so. Incidentally yesterday we received some very nice and super soft wool outfits for Lucia from my mom, they will surely keep her warm later when it cools down a few degrees.

Lather and rinse

... and we're out in 3,2,1!

She loves the color red, and high contrast graphics like me, and she can sit in this colorful chair for a while and just "talk". Its great, I can actually do other things while she is awake too! I left her there for a few minutes after taking the two first pictures and noticed how quiet she suddenly was. I left her there until she woke up so I could finish lunch. (I think I can tell in the second picture she is getting tired already)

Mr. Mom reports

I have noticed a more alert Lucia lately. She seems more attentive and notices things more readily now than before Christmas which is cool, but at the same time she require more attention and she is um.. controlling: She has to have her hands on the bottle now and she is using them to pull it out and push it back in when she is ready for more. (See photo)
She also likes to look at Mrs. Baylee and she likes to touch her, if she's within reach.

Another more disappointing development is her beginning aversion toward the pacifier. I think it reminds her of having to go to sleep and she will have nothing of it! The trick is to see when she may want it and introduce it then.
It is funny to watch: one second she hates it, the next she is like loving it and her eyes are rolling, its magic.

I have noticed all kinds of small details now that I spend so much more time with her and I am getting better at "reading" her, understanding and anticipating what she needs.
Reading the sleep book was also an eye-opener to me, no wait! It has been an eye-closer! Some of the things it suggested was counter intuitive but it works! Perhaps she is just reaching that age now when she is starting to sleep longer during the night?

Adventures with Daddy

Pete had an eye doctor appt. today and he and Lucia went on their first adventure together. How cute is this picture? It's making me really miss her! 

Note to my mom: I love my dad-ay! 

Screechy

It's hard to say who's louder here: mother or daughter. Tough call. I know the lighting is terrible -- sorry!

She's Rockin Out!

Just kidding. No widdle ear drums were harmed in the making of this picture.

Dear Lucia

 

Hi. Can we talk? See what you're doing in this picture? Right. We need you to do this more. Like, a lot more. Preferably between the hours of 11 p.m.- 7 a.m., and preferably longer than an hour at a time.

If you could please work on that, we'd greatly appreciate it.

With love,

Your parents.

Day 3

Baby still alive and recognizes me each night. Major successes in my book! :)

Stand up

Being Mr. Mom is not easy. It's a full time job that is filled with interruptions, you never know when you may finish what you started, but also small moments of joy. Lucia has for some time now been quite eager to stand up and look at things and people around her so I decided to take a few pictures of her. She is as steady as a schwaisted sailor so a firm grip is essential at all times.

Back at Work

I went back to work yesterday. It was pretty draining on many levels. I looked at pictures of Lucia throughout the day, which only made me miss her more. I packed my lunch and snacks, plus my gym bag, plus my computer bag, and managed somehow to make it up the stairs to my office. It was good to see everyone, and WEIRD as hell to be working again. The last time I did this job I didn't have a baby! I didn't know Lucia at all -- she was just this squirmy worm in my belly! It's very strange. I miss her very much, but I'm also kinda thankful for the break during the day (sorry Pete!). I was so exhausted last night I wasn't much help to Mr. Mom Pete. I hope that changes as I get used to this!  

Family Picture

We're back in California. Here's fun with photo booth feature on my computer. Note, we had to take about 5 of these before Little Miss would stop wiggling for one.