Category Archives: Brenden

Brenden’s New Bed

Posted on by

Last week we learned that Brenden’s crib, which we’d already partially disassembled when the drop-side rail decided not to stay up, had been recalled due to problems with the slats beneath the mattress. We’d gotten the crib with a nursery-in-a-box set by Simplicity. It was cheap, and we got what we paid for it. The company is no longer in business and many, if not most, of its products have been recalled. Live and learn!

The good news is that Wal-Mart willingly refunded our money for the entire set, not just the defective crib. We used that money to buy Brenden an IKEA twin-size bed and two IKEA twin-size mattresses that we found on Craiglist. The bed is cool – a flippable bunk bed. Naturally, for now we’re keeping it upside-down with Brenden’s mattress on the bottom level and the ladder pushed against the wall so he can’t climb on top. Once he gets older and more aware of gravity, we can flip it so he’s on the top bunk and add a mattress on bottom for a guest. We hadn’t planned on getting B an adult-size bed quite so soon, but so far it’s working out great. He loves it!

Daddy Day

Posted on by

I promised Jenny that on one day each month, I would watch the boys all day so she could sleep, relax, shop, play, or do anything else she wanted to do. It’s kinda like the old Southwest program called “Walk-A-Mile” in which pilots would throw bags on the ramp and accountants would sit with dispatchers to learn more about what other jobs entail. Friday is the first day.

I’ve watched both boys for a few hours at a time, and it wasn’t easy. I’ve never had them all day before. I told Brenden we were having Guy Day. I haven’t decided what to do exactly. The forecast calls for rain in the morning, so we’ll definitely play at home some. If the rain stops by lunchtime, we might go to Mickey D’s for lunch before naptime. Jenny plans to sleep in, do some shopping, get a mani/pedi/facial, enjoy some coffee or tea alone at Buon Giorno, and whatever else she desires. Although I know she works hard every day, I’m sure Friday will be an eye-opening experience!

Brenden’s New Preschool

Posted on by

On Tuesday Jenny and I visited one preschool, and on Tuesday Jenny visited two more. We were looking for a preschool that:

  • Teaches and operates with Christian values
  • Offers class two days a week, preferably with an option for more days as Brenden gets older
  • Doesn’t require two-year-olds to be potty-trained, since B probably won’t be by September (although we can hope!)
  • Has teachers and leaders who LOVE preschoolers
  • Is a mix of fun and learning
  • Is within 10 minutes of our house

We liked all three that we visited. Each had strengths and weaknesses, but we would have been happy at any of them. However, Colleyville Christian Preschool really stood out, and Jenny plans to enroll Brenden on Friday for this fall. A few things stood out at CCP:

  1. Much more than the other two, CCP is an actual school. All three provide plenty of fun activities and recess, but the other two saw fun as the primary goal and learning as optional, an outcome they hoped for but didn’t pursue very hard. CCP has a solid curriculum based on the Montessori model. The preschoolers learn a ton while they are having lots of fun. We think Brenden will do very well in that environment.
  2. They offer class year-round instead of only during the school year. We might or might not enroll him during the summer, but it’s nice to have the option.
  3. They offer class five days a week for very young children through kindergarten, whereas the others offered a more limited set of class options. This way, assuming the boys like it and we like it, they could both stay there until it’s time to start first grade at our neighborhood elementary school instead of having to switch preschools along the way. Right now we hope to gradually increase the number of days they spend at school to ease the transition to first grade. After Brenden turns three next summer, we might start sending him to school three days a week, and then four days a week the next year, and then five days a week to kindergarten when he’s five.
  4. More so than at the other schools, the director who gave the tour really wanted to interact with Brenden. At the other two, the tour guide talked to him a bit, but primarily talked to us. I can see why they did so, but we were impressed by the CCP director’s focus on him.

We are very excited and think he will have an absolute blast at school this fall.

Preschool

Posted on by

It might be hard to believe, but Jenny and I are thinking about enrolling Brenden in preschool for a couple of days a week starting this fall. He’ll be two years old by then. He does so well in nursery and has so much energy and curiosity that we think he will really enjoy it. He seems to get along well with other kids and enjoys playing with them, but he doesn’t get much of an opportunity to be with them except on Sundays at church and the occasional family event. Preschool will also give Jenny a bit of a break for a few hours each week. Our friends have a three-year-old son who attends one of the preschools and absolutely loves it.

We are considering four different preschools in the Euless area right now. Next week we’d like to visit some of them during class to see how they run things and what the teachers are like. It’s a big decision, but I’m really excited about it. I love seeing my boys experiencing new things, learning about the world, and developing new skills. Those are some of the best parts of being a father.

Paternity Leave

Posted on by

Friday night I returned to work after a month off (except for a couple of weird nights where my office was desperate and lured me in). Using a combination of vacation time, scheduled time off, and trades, I was blessed with the chance to spend a huge amount of time at home with my newly expanded family, and we had a great time. When I’m working, I’m asleep for the majority of Brenden’s awake time, so this break gave me a chance to wake him up each morning, play with him at the park and rec center, read with him, and marvel as he grows. Although much of our time was spent caring for one or both boys, the break let me spend some good time with Jenny here and there. Finally, it gave me the chance to see a new little miracle, a brand-new life that is partly me, partly Jenny, and partly the mystery of God’s handiwork.

Being back at work isn’t all bad, though. I like my job and most of my coworkers. I enjoy having a routine and official responsibilities outside my home. To be honest, being at work is easier than staying home with two boys under age 2, especially when one of them is Brenden! When Jenny and I can each take one of them, we get by OK, but when Jenny was napping or out somewhere and I had them both, things could get interesting really fast. Just a few days ago, I was holding Jonathan in one arm, propping up his bottle in place with my chin, and trying to cut up a pizza slice with a fork for Brenden with the other hand. Once the pizza slice ran out and Brenden was still hungry, I threw in the towel and called for backup.

In a nutshell, I had to come back to work to get some rest and to have the time and energy to blog! Sorry for the relative lack of posts, but I’m sure you understand. I am now officially back in business.

Thanks again to all of you who helped us out over the past month, whether through meals, babysitting, visits, gifts, prayers, or well-wishes. We are so thankful to have so many wonderful people in our lives.