Day 14 with Daddy

Day 14 - Go on a mini-vacation
This only ended up being a half day alone with Rebecca because we headed out of town in the afternoon to go to Fredericksburg for a couple of days. This was our anniversary trip to one of our favorite small towns and is one of our go-to spots for a short trip. We both like the food and we usually get some time in walking the main street looking at some of the shops. The place we stayed was a small house behind a single family residence owned by an older German gentleman. He was very nice and made a couple of restaurant recommendations that we included in a busy couple days:
- Got into town in the late afternoon after driving through rain the entire way
- Went to eat at Hilda's for dinner Friday per our host's recommendation
- Got in a little shopping Saturday morning
- Went out to Luckenbach for a little while early Saturday afternoon
- After church, we went for Saturday dinner at the Auslander, where we stuck around for a while to listen to Drew Kennedy play a few songs

- Sunday morning we did a little more shopping before going to the Old German Bakery for lunch (our favorite restaurant in town)
- Stopped by Wildseed Farms on the way out of town to look at the nursery and take some pictures of Baby Girl with the flowers

Overall, it was a great little get-away in which we got quite a bit in.

It's nice to get away every once in a while and recharge the batteries. The most important thing is to make the most of any situation and enjoy the company of each other. I hope you take the time to relax and take a break every now and then realizing that the stress and work of everyday life will still be there when you return.

Day 13 with Daddy

Day 13 - Watch City Council meeting
This one is going to sound really boring and it probably is, but Thursdays are Austin City Council meetings so we spent a lot of the day watching the meeting on tv. I wanted to monitor how the meeting went, be prepared if there are any items that I need to follow up on and ensure I am not out of the loop even if I'm out of the office. There were a few items pulled associated with my boss' departments, but for the most part it seemed to go smoothly.

Government isn't very glamorous, but it is important to be aware so that we elect responsible political leaders to positions of authority and to hold them accountable once they are in office. Your Mommy and I have worked in different levels of government throughout our careers, even though it doesn't mean a lot in the way of money. Even though it can be very frustrating at times to work as a public servant, we consider it important work and get to help others on a daily basis.

Day 12 with Daddy

Day 12 - Meet Mommy for lunch

Wednesday was our 3rd anniversary and in order to celebrate I brought Rebecca downtown so that we could meet Morgan for lunch.

Look at that stylish wedding party

We picked her up at her office and headed to Casa Chapala for their lunch buffet (where I proceeded to eat too much). During lunch we commented on how many nice anniversary notes and congratulations we had already received from friends and family that day. After lunch we headed back to Morgan's office and showed Rebecca to her co-workers who hadn't seen her in about a month. They remarked on how big she is getting and how cute she is. After being passed around for a little while, Rebecca and I headed to City Hall where my coworkers got to see her again and said the same. By late afternoon, Rebecca was worn out and she napped most of the rest of the time until Mommy got home.

We hope you realize just how much love we have in our family. Your Mommy and I reminisce fondly on how we met, our first dates and all of the other events that have brought us to where we are today. We are so excited that now we get to share that love with you. The friendships we have are also very important, and the support and well wishes we receive from them, in addition to the good times we share, are what make our lives so rich.

Day 11 with Daddy

Day 11 - Shop for anniversary gift
This was another day that Rebecca didn't nap more than 5-10 minutes at a time making it difficult to get ready or do things around the house. In the late afternoon she was calm enough that we headed out to pick up a gift for Morgan for our 3 year anniversary. We had agreed to not spend a lot of money on gifts since we've just purchased a vehicle and we have a trip to Fredericksburg scheduled for the upcoming weekend. Since it hasn't been given yet, I won't reveal what it is, but let's say that it does include glass (3rd anniversary modern gift suggestion). Rebecca was pretty tired by that time and she napped most of the trip, stirring only occasionally, although she did wake up as I was checking out prompting compliments from the lady helping us.

Your mommy and I hope that you recognize how much love there is in our family. We are so blessed to have found each other, and we always look back fondly on how great our wedding day was as we got to celebrate our union before God with family and friends.You have been a big part of this last year (and every year coming up) and we are so excited to have you in our growing family.

Day 10 with Daddy

Day 10 - Trip to grocery store

Yes, we had already taken prior trips to the grocery store, but this one was different because of how the rest of the day had gone and that Rebecca stayed awake the entire time. Beginning Sunday evening it seemed that she might have begun teething. We're not seeing any teeth yet, but there are some bumps which could be teeth. She was inconsolable Sunday night and we finally gave her a little bit of Tylenol which soothed her so that she could sleep. This continued early Monday afternoon when she could not be comforted. After a little more Tylenol she did not seem to be in as much pain, but she stayed awake. We really needed some things around the house so I ventured out, and she was actually pretty good even though she was awake the whole time. 

We're going to keep doing our best to help you avoid pain, but no matter how much we do, you will still have to experience discomfort in your life. We pray that those low periods will be short and few, but know that we are always there to help you through those difficult times.

Day 9 with Daddy

Day 9 - Endurance
This one won't be too long of a post because we weren't able to be too active. Baby Girl had a pretty rough night meaning we didn't get to bed until about 1:00 am and she was back up at 3:30 am. That basically ended up being the start of my day. I also had some work to take care of so I was not able to nap when Rebecca did for a half hour or so later in the day. It made for a very long day, and I was thankful when Morgan got home from the office so I could take a little break.

I know I don't appreciate it at the moment I'm rolling out of bed, but I know I will look back fondly on those late nights/early mornings that I've gotten to spend with you. Don't get me wrong, I will still be very thankful the first time you sleep 8 straight hours (so far the most we have gotten is 6.5), but there is something about the late nights that make me realize even more that I am a parent.

Day 8 with Daddy

Day 8 - Watch a Star Trek movie

Yes, this one is dorky. To coincide with the release of the new Star Trek movie, there were a lot of the older movies on tv yesterday. We laid low Thursday after running a couple errands the day before, and I have to watch at least some of those movies when they are on. We ended up watching most of Star Trek 2: Wrath of Khan and all of 3: Search for Spock.

Prepare to be shocked, Rebecca. Your dad is a dork. He doesn't have an argument for Star Wars vs. Star Trek because he likes both. There is something about science-fiction which has appealed to me for a while, and it is one of the genres that I first got into when I began reading for fun. I can even pinpoint it to a copy of Arthur C. Clarke's 2010: Odyssey Two that I found at your Great-Grandpa and Grandma Migls' house when I stayed there during the summer. I think it is the concept of going into space and reaching for something which seems so unattainable that is appealing. Even though I don't expect you to be a nerd like me, I hope you find a passion that broadens your perspective and makes you think. 

Day 7 with Daddy

Day 7 - Practice golf
I've got a golf game set up for the upcoming weekend so I wanted to get in a few swings prior to hitting the course. I wasn't sure how well it would turn out taking Rebecca to the driving range so after running an errand in the afternoon, I pulled my clubs out to take a few swings in the backyard. I haven't touched a golf club since before Rebecca was born which is probably the longest I have gone in a year and a half. It felt good to get some swings in and try to knock some of the rust off my swing.

I'm looking forward to the day I can take Rebecca out to the golf course with me. I hope she doesn't pick up my swing because it's pretty awful (better to learn that from her aunt Helice or cousins Brittany or Ashley), but I hope that the game is as relaxing for her and that we get to bond in that way. Who knows? Mommy has expressed an interest in learning to play too, so maybe we'll make it a family outing.

Day 6 with Daddy

Day 6 - Grill
An ideal night out is stepping onto my porch area and grilling up a thick slab of something’s flesh.
                                                                                                                            - Ron Swanson

I did my best to make Ron Swanson proud yesterday. The day before I had picked up a few things at the store to throw on the bbq pit. Late in the afternoon, Baby Girl went down for a nap and I decided to bring the grill out and fire it up. It started out well as long as Rebecca was asleep, and I was able to get the first batch of hamburgers off the grill. She woke up after that which made the rest of the cooking interesting as I rushed back and forth between the baby and the grill. Still the results turned out pretty well and we've got hamburgers, hot dogs and ribs for the rest of the week.

I hope that every now and then you enjoy stepping outside and enjoying the smoke coming off a grill. It can be a relaxing experience in addition to being delicious. I'm also sure you will get to enjoy some good barbecue in your life as both of your grandfathers are pretty good at it.

Day 5 with Daddy

Day 5 - Go to the doctor

Monday was a pretty full day for us. It began with a trip to the doctor where we got lots of good news about Rebecca's growth (almost 10 pounds and a little over 22 inches long) and her health. The doctor is pleased with how she is doing. Unfortunately, it was also the first set of vaccinations so it included a few shots which upset her a little bit. She got over it quickly though as soon as she got her bottle. 

The shots didn't seem to affect her too much the rest of the day so in the late afternoon, we headed to the grocery store for our weekly shopping. I've taken her to the store to pick up one or two things but never while shopping for the entire week. She slept through most of it, but woke up just in time for check-out.

Finally, later that evening, we took advantage of the good weather and enjoyed a picnic with Baby Girl. It was a nice way to end a full day.

I hope you do all that you can to grow up big and healthy. Your mommy and I will continue to do our best to provide for you and help you make good decisions, but eventually it will be up to you to eat healthy, go to the doctor and take the time to relax.

Day 4 with Daddy and a little of the weekend

Day 4 - Clean floors

With two cats in the house, keeping our floors clean is a constant challenge. Thankfully we don't have any carpet or cleaning them would be even tougher, but our floors show when they're dirty easily. It's also one of our least favorite tasks and we've fallen behind a little since Rebecca was born. On Friday afternoon Rebecca went down for a longer nap than usual so I was able to get a few things done around the house including sweeping the floors, mopping the kitchen and starting a load of laundry. It was a nice thing to do for  Mommy heading into Mother's Day weekend.

Sometimes there are going to be things you don't like to do, Rebecca, but it's important to do your part to help out the family. If we all take on some chores, it makes it easier for all of us.

The weekend

On Saturday afternoon we made a little trip down to Gruene where we went to a few shops, hung out at Gruene Hall listening to some music for a while and ate at the Gristmill. Here is a picture.

Day 3 with Daddy

Day 3 - Watch a rain shower
I was planning another activity for the day, but a line of rain showers in the afternoon gave us another opportunity. We sat by the back door as the cloudy sky opened up and some needed rain began to fall. It was just a shower with no thunder and lightning so it wasn't too scary for her. The cats had run inside to avoid the shower (we keep the back door open most of the day) and we all looked outside as the rain fell. I turned on CCR's "Have you ever seen the rain" and took Rebecca closer to the door so that we could smell the freshness and feel the cool breeze of the shower.

I hope you're able to take some time and enjoy some of the amazing creations in this world. It's easy to get caught up in busy schedules and miss the simple things that God blesses us with on a daily basis.

Day 2 with Daddy

Day 2 - Shopping for Mothers' Day

We ventured out by ourselves for the first time on Day 2 and went to look for some gifts for Mothers' Day. Rebecca couldn't have been better as she never fussed and was asleep for part of the time. We picked up a couple things for grandmothers and stopped at HEB to buy a few things for the house as well as some flowers and chocolate for Mommy. 

Rebecca, you come from a long line of amazing mothers. No matter what you do in your life, I hope that you do it with the love and passion that these wonderful women have shown in their lives.

Introducing Rebecca Clare... and Day 1 with Daddy

It's been a great year for us highlighted by the arrival of our beautiful daughter Rebecca Clare on March 11, 2013. Morgan was amazing throughout the labor and did it all natural, which many of the nurses remarked makes her a super-woman (of course I already knew that). I don't know if I realized just how much her arrival would change my life, but I feel so blessed to get to see this baby girl everyday.

We've already had a full 8 weeks since she was born as she has gotten to celebrate Easter with both of our families, was baptized in April and been introduced to many of our friends. Morgan headed back to work this week after her maternity leave, and I am taking about a month off from work to watch Rebecca until she goes to daycare.

During this time I had an idea to try to do something different with Rebecca everyday. It wouldn't necessarily be something big, but I would try to give a little explanation about its meaning. I don't know that she will ever read it or if I'll even think of enough things for every single day, but here goes nothing...

Day 1 - Write thank you notes
I've had a few thank you notes that I needed to finish for gifts that Rebecca had received from family and friends. She has received so many thoughtful and useful gifts that we are overwhelmed by the generosity of those we know. So while Rebecca was napping and content in her bouncer, I was able to complete a few. Morgan is very good at sending thank you notes, but I am not and before we met had only sent them for significant events like graduation gifts. I hope Rebecca has a good sense of appreciation and takes the short amount of time to acknowledge those who are special in her life.