Flipping Baby + Changing Diaper = Wrestling Match

"Welcome wrestling fans to the match of the century! In one corner we have the reigning champion, Big Daddy D, weighing at a massive 191 pounds. In the other corner is the returning challenger, Little E, weighing at 18 pounds."

"Fans, don't let that weigh difference fool you. Little E's has got some incredible dexterity, flexibility, and agility. All that equals problems for Big Daddy D whose got none of those."

"The match has begun! Little E is being carried to the changing table. Big Daddy D looks confident...maybe too confident."

"She's down on the table. Look at her go! Before Big Daddy's hand are off of her, she's flipping over, making it impossible for Big Daddy to get to the diaper straps! What a move! Big Daddy's determined, he's picked her up and flipped her on her back again."

"Little E's making the move again, reaching her right hand over to grab the railing of the changing table, then using that anchor to swing her right leg over thus twisting her body over. Fans, don't discount that grip she has on the railing. She might be small but she's got a one 'kung-fu' grip there."

"Big Daddy's got her flipped over again. Little E's using another tactic, tears. Boy can she belt out a cry. Look at Big Daddy back off. Bad move on his part, fans, now that he's back off Little E has flipped over and is on her hands and knees. At this rate that dirty diaper is going to stay oh so dirty!"

"Look at Little E, the tears have stopped and she's trying to stand on changing table. Big Daddy better get in there if he doesn't want to have to deal with a diaper rash."

"Big Daddy looks like he's got a second wind. He's flipped Little E back over and is now holding her down with his left arm as his right hand is quickly unfastening the diaper. Little E does not like this, it looks like she's gonna try the "tear tactic" again. Big Daddy's got the diaper off. It's just wet. What's this, fans, he's releasing Little E from his grip? Smart Daddy! He's leading Little E into a false sense of security."

"Fresh diaper is out! What is this? Fans, it looks like Big Daddy is trying to put on the diaper with Little E on all fours. That is not working out. I take back what I said about Big Daddy being smart!"

"Fans, if Big Daddy can just get Little E on her back he can secure that fresh diaper. Over the months he certainly has gotten faster in securing that thing. Oh look at that! Little E's back over. Why isn't she crying? Big Daddy gave her something to chew on! The tactic worked! Little E's been distracted from the match! Like some kind of rapid thing Big Daddy's got the fresh diaper on and secured!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, the match is over! Big Daddy D still reigns!"

Summer 2009 with Little E

Coming Soon!

Oh yeah you're gonna love it.

Elizabeth's Amazing Feats!!!

It has been a little over EIGHT MONTHS since Elizabeth was born. Erin and I still can't believe how much she has grown and all the things that she is learning to do.

Elizabeth Joy is crawling now! She began crawling on July 20th and each day since then she has been getting faster and faster. Interestingly enough the things that she crawls to are not her toys. Those things which have motivated her to crawl forward include; the air vent, her mother's flip flops, her daddy's messenger bag, the stereo, and a basket used to store electronic wires. While she's crawling it's fun to get her attention, because to look at you she just doesn't turn her head. Instead what she does is take the arm of the direction she is going to look in (either right or left), she will take that arm and fling it high into the air so that she can twist her torso around to see you. We have dubbed it her "one hand push up". Elizabeth is eager to stand though, we've noticed that many times while on all fours she will lift her butt into the air and bring her knees off the floor. You can almost her her saying to herself, "this isn't working. I'm still on the floor."

Now she has learned to pull herself up to her knees. This skill was probably born out of frustration. Elizabeth doesn't like to take naps, but she's an infant and she needs them (that is what we keep telling her). So when you put her down for her nap (awake) she cries and will put up a fuss. She will turn herself over, crawl to the side of the crib, and hoist herself up to her knees using the crib bars. Once she is settled on her knees she will then proceed to cry louder thinking, "surely those parents of mine hear my suffering". And, yes, we do hear her "suffering". At the beginning I (the father) would rush in to comfort my sweet daughter. Then my wise wife said to me, "she has got to learn how to soothe herself. You've got to let her cry." Yes, my wife is wise so we let her cry. However, there will be occasions (we have learned to discern the "really upset cry") when we go into her room and hold her.