Category Archives: Life

Our Crazy Awesome Future in Blogging

When I first started blogging, it was for Just Add Cayenne , where I went about sharing my life along with healthy recipes, fitness tips, and other health related topics fit in. Then I started this crazy awesome blog, Going Dad (I won’t deny that I’m biased), to basically do the same thing.

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But instead of life as an accountant who really really really is into health and fitness, I shared life as a stay-at-home dad wanting to have a way to capture life as my daughter, Avery, and wife, Kelley, all learn and grow together.

I’ve enjoyed writing about all of the memories we’ve already had in just the 2 years of Avery’s life, but I’ve also been trying too hard to write about everything which is becoming increasingly hard. This little girl is doing more than I can keep up with to gather and share on the blog anymore. Even she’s getting tired of my usual memory “tracking” method.
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Normally, I jot down the things she does/says on random pieces of paper I have around the house, but it got to where I was trying to write down something new every other minute. Which meant I was totally losing track of just enjoying the freaking moment/entire day!

I could go on, but I’m sure you get the drift. So, here’s my new plan for the blog….

As Avery gets older and can actually communicate with real words, I’d like to have her help to do product/service reviews. I will also do reviews that only parents/health-minded people would be into since I obviously take a major interest in the health and fitness world.

Why should you, the reader care if all you want is to see our darling daughter and hear what she’s been up to? Well, hopefully you’ll find what I review of good use in your life and you’ll gain insight on things you may never have known existed otherwise.

I’ve already performed several reviews on here, but now I can focus on doing more. In addition, I plan on sharing recipes I create, workouts I love or put together, healthy lifestyle hacks, or just favorite foods you can buy online. Yes, that means I’ll have more affiliate links that will earn me a whopping few cents if you click on them.

I have nothing to hide, I’m hoping to earn a little extra cash if possible because, lets face it, we could all use more. Right?

This most likely means less blog posts, but I do enjoy sharing random facts/funny things I find entertaining, so be on the lookout there. Damn Pinterest really knows how to suck you in, and before you know, you have eleventy-billion new pins when all you wanted was a picture of a cat!

On the topic of social media such as Pinterest, I’ll still be sharing plenty of life happenings with Avery and my wife on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, so be sure to follow these if you don’t already to keep up to date if you care. Seriously, why wouldn’t you  want to see this crazy-haired cute kid?

If you’re some creepy guy, I’d rather you not, but I hope everyone else will follow along and will find what I have to offer useful. Be on the lookout for reviews covering a multitude of things from items for kids and parents, to anything surrounding the world of health and fitness. Just know, I WILL NOT try products I feel are not safe or worth even using, and will give my honest opinion on what I do try.

As the days, weeks, and months pass, I’ll be making updates to the looks and other aspects on here, so check back often. Please?

What do you think of this new blogging approach?

Is there anything you’d personally like to see reviewed first?

You Don’t Need An Elf or A Shelf For Tradition

The Elf on the Shelf Christmas tradition is definitely cute and fun for kids and parents, but you can just as easily start your own, less commercialized tradition too. To me, once there’s an app for that, a lot of the fun part goes away.

I prefer to keep most traditions exclusively within the family, and recently, without the intent of it becoming tradition, we created our own Elf-on-the-Shelf-like tradition with Lamby. If you are not aware of her current best plush friend, it’s the lamb (obviously) in her hand.

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Lamby is always by her side unless he’s “taking a bath” in the washing machine from too much outside playtime. One night, after Avery’s usual pre-bed bath, I decided to place Lamby on the couch where he was peaking over the side. When she came running, naked straight out of the bath, there he was, staring right down the hall where she emerged.

The first time caught her off guard, but her face lit up as she proclaimed “Lamby!” as getting on to him for moving from the spot she had left him. Going Mom and I both loved seeing our wide-grinned daughter excitedly running to find Lamby and grab him to bring to bed. Thus, a tradition was born.

Every night since, I’ve been trying to find a new spot/pose for her wooly pal to be found. Now, after getting out of the bath, she’ll ask where Lamby is and my wife will say she doesn’t know and to go find him. He’s been on the couch in various areas, holding her toy kettlebell, climbing on the desk in our front entry, sitting on a balloon, and most recently, playing with blocks.

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Avery has been repeating “Lamby’s playing with blocks” for the past couple days now, so I am sticking with it for now. She obviously enjoys finding her rogue Lamby.

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Honestly, I’m running out of ideas. I know there is so much more I can do, but I don’t want her going on a scavenger hunt right before bed. Especially when she’s running around naked in a cold house; she can get upset in an instant. Oh wait, that’s toddlers in general.

So he doesn’t come with a book telling the story of his purpose for hiding around the house to keep tabs on our little girl for Santa or the Easter Bunny, but she love it nonetheless. Besides, Lamby is unique to us. Maybe other families have their own free versions too, but we have Lamby in our house, and that just makes it more fun to us.

Who knows, maybe she’ll want an elf as she gets older, but right now, Lamby is free and fun for all which makes it a win-win for everyone. Now, I need to find some new Lamby hiding spots since I know blocks can’t his thing every night.

Do you do Elf on the Shelf in your home?

Do you have your own version of this or any other popular/commercialized tradition?

Any thoughts on what Lamby should be doing next?

When Did Our Toddler Get So Smart?

We had just come to terms that our baby is toddler, but now she’s transforming into a smart/tricky toddler of sorts. Smart, because she’ll call out all letters of the alphabet, numerous colors, stack blocks (instead of just destroy) and speak in complete sentences sometimes.

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In Mary Katherine from SNL style – Superstar Smart!

Tricky, because, well, she’s figuring out how to delay things at night when it’s bedtime, and how to use her cuteness to get her way.

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Stop what you’re doing and just play with me!

But make no mistake, Going Mom and I are not complaining. We couldn’t be me happy to see how our little girl is growing physically and intellectually. But also make no mistake, it drives us insane at times!

Mainly, the nighttime toddler delay tactics. She has this thing where she likes to do a “jump” into her pajamas after bathtime, so Mommy will let her jump once, but then she says “Again”, and she goes again. But two is not enough, and she’ll continue going until one of us makes her stop. Some nights, she’ll accept it, other nights, you’d think she’s auditioning for an opera.

Then, we normally only read one book, but now she turns on the bottom lip to try and delay the inevitable; sleep! Well, at least going into her crib. We had a nice few weeks of an easy transition from putting her in the crib and she’d go to sleep soon after, or at least not throw a fit. But now, WOW, this girl makes her demon days look like a cute and cuddly kitten!

When her screams aren’t radiating throughout the house, she’ll pace around her crib and talk to herself. We consider this much better than the alternative, and even nice to see how her brain has developed. Just listen to her talk amongst herself to decide if she wants the blue plate or pink plate tonight.

Saying “Blue plate tonight” has become the majority of our daily conversations. I ask her if she wants water, it’s “Blue plate tonight”.

Me: Did you go poop?

Avery: Blue plate tonight.

Me: Do you want to go for a walk to see the moon tonight?

Avery: Blue plate tonight.

Me: *Silence*

Avery: Blue plate tonight, blue plate tonight, bluuuuueee plate toniiiiiight!

You get the drift.

Don’t get me wrong, she says more than Blue plate tonight, but those three words are repeated all day long. Other popular phrases are:

  • Crazy football
  • See you tomorrow, goat cheese. (Now she says “See you tomorrow, blue plate”)
  • More goat cheese. Please, goat cheese.
  • The moon’s a coming.
  • Biceps and triceps.
  • Clean the boo-boo on the butt.
  • The light’s on!
  • I’m a crazy Avery.

I could go on with a few more, but these are the ones that stand out right now. Needless to say, this girl truly is crazy, and we’re loving how much fun (usually) she is.

With the increased fun/craziness, means decreased blog posts, or at least shorter in length. Naps are becoming scarce and I’m keeping busy with other things. But don’t worry, I’ll be around to post updates when possible and even share product reviews, workout ideas, and maybe even recipes.

Hope you’re having a wonderful holiday season so far with more good times ahead! Oh, and here, Avery wanted to say bye-bye with Lamby.

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