Picture of the Week

That's one hot little man.

Three Naps!

Huge napping success today. Dane resists his naps with the greatest determination you have ever seen in a baby. He doesn't even like his swing anymore, and I'm pretty sure it's because he knows it will eventually and inevitably lull him to nap. I've been putting him down in his crib at regular nap times anyway, hoping for the best. If he doesn't want to sleep, fine, but he'll stay in there for thirty minutes anyway. He has been playing the first half and crying the last. But today he took 3 naps in his crib! 2 thirty minute naps and a fifteen. Plus he napped in his swing for about an hour. I'm hoping that this is the beginning of a pattern and that this napping pattern will affect his sleeping for the better.

Could this be our nightlight at the end of the tunnel?

Rocked The Vote!

We packed up the stroller today and braved the crowd at the library to cast our ballot early for the 2008 Presidential Election. We waited in line for two and a half hours and Dane was a champ. He only got whiny when it was time for him to eat and he became the unofficial mascot for the precinct. It was important to us that he was there. He won't remember it when he grows up, but we will be able to tell him that we took him, that we voted, that it is not only a right but a duty. We were continuously reminded by fellow voters, campaigners and volunteers that if we could stand in line for two and a half hours with a four month old, then nobody had an excuse to not vote! So a big congratulations to Dane (like his "I voted early" sticker?) and Daniel today, as this was their first time voting. Early voting continues through Saturday in NC. Thursday and Friday from 11-7 and Saturday from 10-1. You can even register on location.

Better get out and ROCK THE VOTE!

The Daily Dane will be right back after this commercial from EMILY.

Our oldest niece is doing a bang up job on student council at her middle school. Right now they are selling those great Citipass coupon books (2009 edition) for the Charlotte and surrounding areas (S. Charlotte, Ballantyne, Matthews, Mint Hill, Indian Trail, Weddington/Waxhaw, York County/Lake Wylie, Lake Norman, Uptown, University City, Cabarrus County and Gaston County). We bought one and there are great coupons like BOGO Free & BOGO 1/2 Off among other great discounts. Participating restaurants include some of our favorites like Arby's, Boardwalk Billy's, Brixx, City Tavern, Fuel Pizza, Good Ol' Days, Jackson's Java, Jersey Mike's, Kabuto, Krispy Kreme, Mayflower, Mexicasa, Monterrey, Orange Julius, Papa John's, Papa Pino's, Pike's Soda Shop, Pizza Hut, Quaker Steak&Lube, Quizno's, RJ Gators, Rock Bottom, Salsarita's, Shane's Rib Shack, Uno, Wild Wing Cafe, Wolfman Pizza, Zapata's and Zaxby's.
There are also coupons for fun stuff like Build-a-Bear, Charlotte 49ers, Charlotte Checkers, Dave & Buster's, Dick's Sporting Goods, Discovery Place, Home Depot, Laser Quest, Lazy 5 Ranch, Lowe's Speedway, NC Zoo, Northcross Lanes, Office Depot, Regal Cinemas, Sport Clips, and The UPS Store.
That's not even close to a tenth of the participating restaurants/businesses! Books are $25 dollars and the proceeds benefit Northeast Middle School Student Council. It's well worth the money and they're only being sold for a limited time so let one of us know if you want to buy one and support Emily.

How's this tie in with Dane? Two-fold as I see it. One - Emily just took and passed the Red Cross's 6 HOUR LONG babysitting class. I figure exploiting our loved ones interest in Dane entitles us to at least a couple of free hours of sitting. Reason two - when Dane is in seventh grade, Emily will be exactly our age... Can you even imagine all the fundraiser crap she's going to have to buy from Dane? You owe us, Em. Better start saving up NOW! ;)

Weekend Wrap-Up

Dane's weekend was full of action. Not eventful, but action-packed. Friday morning he woke up EARLY and ready to play. He rolled over for the first time. And the second time. And the third. He is now a professional roller-overer. He woke up early every morning and frequently every night. He was loud and mobile and a bad sleeper all weekend. To the point where if it was your kid, we would think it was obnoxious. But on Dane it was adorable.

The highlight of Dane's weekend, I am sure, was Saturday night. Dane got to spend some time with his pal Cole and Aunt Jenny while we went out on our first baby-free bona fide date in over 4 months. Dinner and a movie without having to change a diaper, nurse, rinse a passy, put a sock back on for the 48th time, etc. We were very much overdue for a night out and we had a great time. Dane played nicely and went down to bed easy. Hey Jen, want to come put Dane down every night?

On a side note, we and Dane would like to wish his Bobby Pops and Granny K a very happy anniversary. Congratulations on another happy year together! We wish you many more.

(Can you believe this is the most recent picture we have of you both and Dane?! Shame on us all.)

Picture of the Week

We're training Dane young to be a carnivore.

Wait, does penguin beak count as meat?

We're Pregnant!

Are you shocked? Don't be. We aren't pregnant. But it was this day last year that we found out we were. It truly was one of our happiest, scariest, craziest days. It was a short while before we told people, but our lives were already changed. From that moment on we thought like parents, planned like parents, protected like parents. We would forever more be a mommy and a daddy.

Jackie told Danny she was pregnant by presenting him with a "forgotten birthday present", a photo album timeline of their relationship thus far, with the final page being the positive pregnancy test.

The best part - the "album" was the infant photo album toy "Who Loves Baby?", now Dane's.