Internal minutiae

I find that my mind these days is preoccupied almost exclusively with thoughts stemming from the imminent arrival of the next eminent member of our household.  As I sit in meetings at work I will frequently discover that what started as a conversation centred on the key performance indicators that have been drafted for our largest mining project has devolved to a frown of consternation at the realisation that over half of the nipples we have at home for both the four and eight ounce bottles need to be replaced since they're more than three months old.

I figure that as long as it looks like a frown of concentration I'm still good.

*****

Other random stuff:  (mostly about the boy)

*  Declan's new favourite word (mine and Amy's too) is 'boat'.  I wish I could accurately describe the incredible degree of concentration with which Dex approaches its enunciation.  It verges on four syllables and completely engages the lower half of his face while his eyes stare guilelessly into your own.  The 'O' and the 'A' are sometimes pronounced separately.  While his lips are puckered at the end of the two vowel syllables, the tip of his tongue escapes briefly to engage his top teeth in the first half of the 'T' then sneaks back in to allow a brief, sharp exhalation that punctuates the overall vehemence with which he tackles his vocabulary.

*  Speaking of Dex's vocabulary, it's growing exponentially these days.  Amy and I have a hard time keeping up with him; almost every day brings a new word he's been encouraged to say or randomly picked up in conversation.  Apparently, we're going to have to stop cussin' like truck drivers in his presence.

*  We have been successful (mostly) in our continued inculcation of courtesy within the boy.  Most times when anyone in the house sneezes it is quickly followed by a slightly timid:  "Bess ooo?"

*  Declan is also tidier than Amy and I could have hoped for.  About half the time he will clean up whatever pile of toys he is done with, especially if there is a dedicated box or bag that they came from.  This goes for his animal-shaped bath sponges as well.  Also his dishes; he'll pick up and hand to the nearest parent his plate when he's done his meal or emptied his sippy cup.  He takes it a bit far though.  While Amy was showering this week he trundled into the bathroom, threw back the curtain and insisted that she take the empty juice cup from him.

*  I have a new favourite pen.  I have never felt passionate about a pen before but now find myself developing just that sentiment.  As a lefty, finding the proper writing instrument is a big deal, having suffered from Inky-Pinky syndrome for much of my life.  I have to use a roller ball style else the ink doesn't dry quickly enough for me.  I need a fine line since anything wider than about 0.5 mm just sort of bugs me.  Enter the Pilot G-Tec C4.  It has a 0.2 mm rollerball tip that makes a 0.4 mm line; it has non-smudge ink (in four colours); and I find that it gives the same sort of tactile pleasure as a 0.5 mm mechanical pencil.  So there.  Now if only I could improve my lamentable penmanship.

*  Dex has gotten into the habit of walking around (or just sitting around) with the inner fingers of both hands crossed over the outer.  A few people that have seen him like this have thought that he has a slight deformity.  He doesn't, he's just weird.

*  Canada is shooting for its first ever men's curling Olympic gold medal today.  They're guaranteed some colour of medal out of the game, elevating our count to a winter record of 20.  The team is (mostly) from Newfoundland and to give you an idea of how big a deal this is, the minister of education has closed the schools across the entire province of Newfoundland and Labrador for the afternoon so that the children can go home and watch the match, which starts at 1 pm local time.

*  Dinner is becoming difficult.  PB&J sandwiches or Kraft Dinner are just about the only sure-fire successes for the boy.  I discovered that boiled weiners and a pool of ketchup work pretty well too.  Eggs and meat and veggies are very much more hit and miss, depending on his mood.  Fickle child.

*  The only time I don't have my cell phone on my person is when I'm sleeping in bed with my wife.  This is in anticipation of The Call coming any day now.  I get jittery every time I hear a ring.

*  I need a third cup of coffee.

Comments

[Dixie]

I get jittery every time I see a new post up by you... hoping it will be the one saying "we're going to the hospital!"

[Paul]

Pat and I are thinking of you and Amy. Can't wait for the news to break.

Also, Go Gushue!

[Linda]

I'm getting so excited for you and Amy and Dex, who by the way sounds like a delightful and intriguing child. I get incredibly sad when I think of an only child becoming an older sibling. It seems they lose their spotlight somewhat. But that is just a fact of life. Does he like grilled cheese sandwiches or waffles/pancakes? I know it's hard sometimes to find appealing foods for toddlers. Ones that are healthy anyway.
I'm not figuring out what "inner and outer" fingers are. I fervently would like to...
Are we going to be able to expect a quick announcement here when the Big Event occurs or do I have to give you my home phone #?

[Jenn]

Ooh, I keep checking back all the time too. Never even met you, and I'm thrilled for you guys and want to bring a casserole over when the baby comes.

Keep us posted! As if you need reminding.

[Mark]

Another kiddo is on de way, mon.

I can't remember, how old is Declan? I know he's not as old as Ben, but just couldn't recall.

That pen sounds great. I'm a little weird about pens, too. Can't just settle for what the office has in the supply cabinet. See cultpens.com for a site you'll likely... um... like.

Also, this blog post:
http://www.callalillie.com/archives/2004/06/3_pen_freak.html

Hang in there, Simon. Now, if you could just get rid of those dogs. Ha!

[Tina]

Hey, Simon ... As a fellow 'lefty' I was thrilled to discover the same pen. Finally I can write without smearing everything all over the page. It's a miracle, I tellz ya ! I can also tellz ya that it's a pretty pathetic statement about my life, when I use words like 'thrilling' to describe finding a pen. Oh, well. I gotta take my thrills where I can find them these days ... Tina