Friday Night In: Rockin the Suburbs

Every new parent goes through major lifestyle changes, but none may be as drastic as the “Friday Night In.” Goodbye cocktails and dinner with friends. Hello pajamas with feet and bed time stories.

However, the fun doesn’t have to end! After the baby is tucked into bed, regain your youth with music and a bottle of red … sorry, a little too much Dr. Seuss. But once you are confined in the house and have the baby monitor at your side, turn off the TV and plug in your iPod. Whether you keep up with latest bands or prefer the classics, just be sure “the wheels on the bus” does not come up on your party shuffle.

Below is our favorite play list that we created to make us feel young at heart or possibly stuck in the past. And of course, it features our latest anthem - Rockin the Suburbs, by Ben Folds - enough said! This play list can also be downloaded at iTunes. We put it on the web to share with the world, so just go to iMix and search for "Friday Night In."

1. Still Fighting It, Ben Folds
2. City of Blinding Lights, U2
3. Steal My Kisses, Ben Harper
4. The Next Episode, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dog
5. Just like Honey, The Jesus and Mary Chain
6. New Slang, The Shins
7. Way You Walk, Papa Fritas
8. Heavy Metal Drummer, Wilco
9. Run, Snow Patrol
10. Mr. Ambulance Driver, Flaming Lips
11. On Your Side, Pete Yorn
12. Swallowed in the Sea, Cold Play
13. I hope Tomorrow is Like Today, Guster
14. How to be Dead, Snow Patrol
15. The Freshman, The Verve Pipe
16. Crazy Mary, Pearl Jam
17. In My Heart, Moby
18. Rockin the Suburbs, Ben Folds

Please note: This play list is best served with Yellow Tail Shiraz. Its earthy tones and vanilla oak aroma make it smooth enough to go down with any beat and its $7.99 price tag makes it cheap enough to buy more Pampers.

Crash Course in Child Rearing

After months of calling my mother, sisters, and friends with urgent baby questions, I finally got to act like the resident expert on diaper changes and baby food. This weekend I had the opportunity to pass on my 9 months of knowledge to newlywed, and soon to be German local, Kathy Straley (a.k.a. Kathy Lapp). No, she is not pregnant, but just wanted to soak up as much down-home, middle-America parenting skills before heading abroad … just in case! So now added to her resume of backpacking through Europe, studying in Africa, teaching in Japan, getting robbed in Ecuador, jet-setting to New Zealand, and living the “out west” lifestyle in Seattle, are the highly sought after accomplishments of feeding, bathing, and crawling on the floor with Alex.

However, when the weekend course was over, we were sure to make the simple disclaimer that we can not be held responsible if Pottery Barn bath towels, “Hop on Pop,” vanilla custard, a 10:00 pm bedtime, peek-a-boo, and Old Navy jeans are not a hit with future children of the world.

Click here for more pictures of Mrs. International becoming domesticated.

Nine Month Pictures

So I lied. I did not end my relationship with Snapfish, just downgraded it to “friend” status. I realized I have way too many photos of the little guy and I am still somewhat old fashion – yes, I still print pictures out and put them in an album – and Snapfish is my crutch to help me do that.

New pictures of Alex from the past month are now online. Click here and enjoy!

February 14th

No, this is not my Valentine’s Day blog. This date has a little more meaning this year, as it marks Alex’s 9 month birthday, which overshadows flowers, candy hearts and diamond earrings. But since Alex is getting older and may be looking for a sweetheart (or just a good playmate for his early years), I had him fill out an eharmony.com profile this morning. Below are the highlights.

Physical Attributes:
24 pounds, 29 inches, 7 teeth, and size 4 diaper (yes, I have a big po po)

Favorite Foods:
Mac & Cheese, Bananas, and Oatmeal

Favorite Toys:
Cars I can push, balls I can roll, the remote, and my mom’s security badge from work

Favorite Activities:
Pulling myself up (on everything!), opening and emptying drawers, pulling books off of bookshelves, chewing on wires (preferably plugged into something), bathing, kissing, eating paper, crawling around the kitchen, riding in the laundry basket, and cruising around the coffee table

Other Interests:
Dogs, Coldplay, anything Baby Einstein, and computers

Dislikes:
Car seats, peas, evening naps, and being pulled away from the electrical wires I like to chew

Future Aspirations:
Master the sippy cup, eat more Cheerios, Walk! Walk! Walk!

Qualities you want in a Companion:
Strong (able to pick me up), good time management skills (feed me on a prompt schedule), silly (make me laugh with goofy faces and noises), owns a Drivers License (I can’t get to Babies R Us on my own!), and MUST speak babble

The Boys Club

Looks like there are no Theta legacies in this bunch! The Rieders and Comptons came over for dinner this weekend, giving Tyler, Logan, Alex and Frank a chance to hang out, throw toys, jump on each other, run, watch Thomas the Train, and be loud … much different than the old days of meeting at Tellers. As you can see by the picture, although Alex welcomed the company, he wanted to keep a watchful eye on our houseguests to make sure no one left with his cookie monster puppet.

To Cut or Not To Cut

No, I am not about to make a comparison of IQs or math skills. Just merely pointing out the similarity in hair styles between Alex and the great Albert Einstein. So this poses a question … at what point do his curly, Gerber baby locks turn into the messy tresses of great historical figures; thus requiring his first trip to the barber chair? Alex’s other notable look-a-likes, pending on your angle, include Ben Franklin, Friar Tuck, Dr. Emmett Brown, and Johnny Fever.

From the baby comb over to the baby mullet, Alex has sported them all … so is it time for a hair cut?

Irish Pub

Although Alex has been to many watering holes already – Little Bear, Urbs, BWs, and Bar & Grill – it took exactly 8 months and 3 weeks for him to visit his first Irish Pub, Brazenhead. I am still questioning its authenticity - it is located in downtown Mason and has a minimal selection of Celtic beers on tap – but overall it is a pretty cool place and they did a nice job recreating an Irish pub (think lots of mahogany). The one draw back is that it is not kid friendly ... no kid's menu, an unaccommodating wait staff, and only two high chairs. Can you believe I am making this type of complaint?!?

But anyway, a great time was had by all and Alex had no problems bellying up to the table to enjoy his carrots and milk … sorry, no fish and chips or Guinness yet!

Mr. Mobility

Alex has kicked his mobility into high gear, and our baby security level has been elevated to red. From scaling bookshelves, diving into the dryer, climbing up steps, climbing out of his crib, pulling up on chairs, tables, the dog and window ledges, disappearing into closets and bathrooms - which results in eating shoes and toilet paper – and wrestling daily with casey's food dishes, nothing is off limits or out of reach for the curious 8 month old.