Reading “Hey! Wake Up!” By S. Boynton: Avery & Daddy Vlog Episode 2

Almost every day, we begin by reading “Hey! Wake Up!” A cute board book written by Sandra Boynton. This has been the current routine for at least 2 months now, and Avery is finally starting to actually go through the moves as I read.

She still has some work to do with yawning and stretching, but touching her feet/toes and doing the “shimmy, shimmy, shimmy” gets better each day. As any parent knows, routines can and do change quickly, so my wife and I are trying to hold on to this one as long as possible.

Unlike our first Vlog episode where you were graced with staring at me holding Avery as she chewed a piece of food and I desperately tried to get her to do something, anything, she was more lively this time. She actually got upset when I turned the camera off, so maybe there’s hope for more exciting vlogs from Avery and Daddy to come!

I’m trying to avoid editing anything and just posting the raw video we create each time. Obviously, there will be times when I need to shorten parts where everyone is off screen or because of some toddler mishap, but otherwise what you see is what I recorded. Time is precious, and there are flips to do and more books to read off camera!

By the way, our book collection keeps growing around here. Not only for Avery’s sake, but for our sanity as well. Reading the same book about how Hippos Go Berserk! will drive anyone…..errrr, berserk! That said, it is a cute book and Going Mom’s favorite.

Well, I’m typing with a left thumb that’s missing a nice chunk from the tip. This makes it difficult to type, so I’m off to try and regrow some skin and enjoy the weekend with my girls. This weekend is going to be low key since we have a Fourth of July 5k to run next weekend!

What did you think about the second episode?

Any suggestions for what episode 3 should be like?

Why Puerto Rico Will Have You Saying “It’s Rum Time!”

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Rums of Puerto Rico for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you ever visited Puerto Rico? I have yet to go, but I do have a really cool uncle from there. That counts for something, right? Until Avery is older, I think we’ll hold off on making that trip. I’ve grown fond of sipping on a quality spirits over the years, and find that rums from Puerto Rico yield that smooth taste I look for in a drink. Probably has something to do with the fact that Puerto Rico has been distilling rum for over 450 years and is the Rum Capital of the world.

If you weren’t aware, 450 years is a long time, and a lot has happened in that time. Thanks to Rums of Puerto Rico and HISTORY.COM partnering to create a new web video series called Rum Times, we can explore world history through the eyes of Puerto Rican rum.

The series plays on the idea that, because Puerto Rico has been distilling this spirit for more than 450 years, Puerto Rican rum has probably been at the celebrations of many historical milestones throughout history. Rum Times imagines behind-the-scenes parties and celebrations of important achievements such as the quest for electric light, the development of motion pictures, and the invention of sports. It’s an exciting way experience Puerto Rico and its unique rum like never before.

There are two episodes available for viewing now, and in the first one, you learn about Thomas Edison’s quest for electric light and what role Nikola Tesla played in helping with this major discovery. I’d bet a good bottle of Puerto Rican rum these two celebrated their findings with a glass of rum from Puerto Rico.


Whether they kept their drinks neat, on the rocks, or made a mojito, I’m not sure, but I know they had a perfect reason to celebrate with this satisfying spirit. I prefer my rum over ice, but if I were to make a cocktail, the mojito would be my first choice. By the way, the mojito was supposedly the drink of choice of Ernest Hemingway, which I’m sure helped with many of his writings.

Did you know that Rum is a by-product of sugar production where sugar cane juice is turned into molasses? Thanks to the sugar cane workers, they realized you can ferment the molasses with water to create this wonderful spirit. Almost two-thirds of the rum in the U.S comes from Puerto Rico which is why it’s known as the Rum Capital of the world. Brands we know and love like Bacardi and Don Q all come from Puerto Rico and are my top choices for rum.

I don’t drink often, so I like to savor quality drinks like Puerto Rican rum when I do. After visiting Rum Times and learning about Puerto Rico’s rich history along with finding cocktail recipes anyone can enjoy, I suggest you head on over yourself and find out why you’ll be saying “It’s Rum Time” in no time! Once you do, please come back and let me know what you think of the site and which Puerto Rican rum you’re going to try first.

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A Shy Intro: Avery & Daddy Vlog Episode 1

In an effort to reduce my writing time but still post to my blog, I am trying my hand at vlogging. With the high quality built-in camera on my laptop, I’ll record any random thing that involves Avery and myself.

No clue where this will go or if it will last, but hopefully she’ll do more than stare at herself on the screen. The first episode, our “pilot” is nothing to blow your nose at, but at least you get to see a cute kid!

Let me know what you think and if you have any ideas on what to record. I’m thinking some dancing, flips on the pallet, and working out will be in the near future. I also want to record me reading some of our favorite books to her. Maybe even video product reviews too!

What else can you think of?

Vlog, yay or nay? Should I stick to just writing or you like to watch something?