Babies are a joy.  There is a social construct however that tells you they are nothing but cute cooing and big grins.  Anne Geddes didn't take pictures of the pooping so much that they blew out their diapers or crying until their faces are a red as a fire engine.  So a lot what I thought was awesome about being a parent was off set by diaper blow outs and fire engine crying (both for the color and the volume).

With Isaac it was a constant surprise.  He'd do something amazing and then cry.  He'd have a poopacalypse and then be great.  With Ethan is another set of constant surprises.  This kid is a mellow baby.  Both Bianca and I are, well, a bit high strung, and Isaac is too.  But Ethan, he is our little Zen Buddhist, not just for his belly, but his comportment.  This is one happy kid.



Part of that is his personality, but part of that is Bianca's amazing focus on her littlest boy.  They have really bonded and she can comfort him when no one else can.  She also does a very good job of keeping him well-fed.  So here you go--pop quiz: thigh or butt?

So I have a strong opinion about swearing.  I think our social taboos regarding swearing are silly.  A hundred years ago "tarnation" was as serious a swear word as any word banned by the FCC today.  Now it is something cartoon characters say.  BUT...and this is a big but, I am a Dad and my reasonable beliefs don't control the social constructs that Isaac will encounter.  So we have been very strict about Isaac not saying bad words, in particular "stupid."  He is not allowed to say this word under any circumstances.

Over time he has said it and gotten in trouble many times, but never all that bad.  He has gotten increasingly careful about not saying "stupid."  Now he has figured out a workaround.  Instead of saying "stupid" he says "bad word."  After a brief frustration two nights ago I heard Isaac muttering to himself "Bad Word, Bad Word, Bad Word."

The taboo about swearing is dumb and smart kids figure out clever workarounds.

Ethan Joseph was baptized on Sunday June 14.  It was a great celebration with Deacon Tim doing a bang up job in front of a huge crowd.  We had about twenty people there and there were five other babies and we were the SMALLEST group.  It was like a mass. 

Ethan did the obligatory baby thing and spit up on Bianca and I at the beginning and then he conked out during the actual ceremony.  He was awakened, literally and I guess spiritually, by having water poured on his head in the baptism font.  Isaac was up front with us and when Ethan was anointed with oil he was right behind his brother.  Deacon Tim passed us and then Isaac reached down, took some of the oil off of his brother's head and...sampled it.  It was delicious apparently as he reacted favorably.  When Deacon Tim noticed he whispered to Isaac that it "tastes great on salads."  Isaac then proceeded to go back for seconds and offered me a lick.  It was quite a funny moment.

 

Thanks to everyone that came!  We had a great time at the church and the party after.