Dad Stuff

February 1, 2013April 5, 2017 Matt Dad Stuff, Sleep, Toddler

BAD DREAMS

I’m no stranger to crazy dreams. I once had a dream with flying vampire pigs that ate my brother that was so realistic, I Googled “flying vampire pigs” in the morning to see if they actually existed. I thought for sure they were from some old Transylvanian folk lore that my subconscious somehow picked up on. But I remember feeling disappointed when my search results came up null. “It was so real,” I thought to myself.

It’s amazing how our minds can make something ridiculous into something so frightening. Flying vampire pigs sounds so laughable, but in my dream they sure weren’t and they were as real as you or I.

Now that Ellie has started to have bad dreams, it’s even more amazing to see what her mind turns into scary things.

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January 22, 2013April 5, 2017 Matt Birthdays, Dad Stuff, Family

3 YEARS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Dear Ellie,

Happy Birthday! You are now officially a proud 3 year old. Congratulations!

It’s amazing to think that you’ve been in our lives for 3 years already. In some ways it seems like you’ve always been with us. And other times it feels like just yesterday you were born. I certainly remember your birth like it was yesterday. It’s one of the best experiences and happiest days of my life. You changed my life and the path I would take for the rest of my life.

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January 6, 2013April 5, 2017 Matt Dad Stuff, Family, Inner Monologue

LIFE’S A PARADE

When I was growing up, it seemed like I just couldn’t wait. I was always looking forward to something. Always excited. I couldn’t wait for my birthday, for Halloween, for Christmas, for summer, to start high school, to graduate high school, to graduate college, to get a job, to get married, to have our own house. There was always something on the horizon. But after we got married it was like time stopped. For about six years nothing really changed. We went to work, we did tons of home improvement projects, we enjoyed each others company and we spent time with our family and friends. We were just coasting and going with the flow.

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December 24, 2012December 10, 2018 Matt Christmas, Dad Stuff, Holidays, Inner Monologue, Japanese, The Domestic Specialist

CHRISTMAS BLEND

I love being in a relationship with such variety. I love being exposed to Aya’s Japanese culture, and she loves being exposed to my American culture with my family’s Polish heritage. We try to raise Ellie, and now Chloe, with a nice mix of both. Blending holiday traditions between two different families is difficult enough, but it can be even more challenging when you’re blending traditions from two different countries with very different cultures.

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December 20, 2012April 5, 2017 Matt Christmas, Dad Stuff, Holidays, Outings

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS…

I’ve never felt the desire to get that classic shot of Ellie sitting on Santa’s lap every year. You know the photo. The one where Ellie would be in her fancy holiday dress, bows in hair, and I’d be hoping for that adorable perfect moment when she’s smiling in wonderment but most likely be shrieking in terror. Yes, that photo. I’m not against it, it’s just never been my thing. Aya never had this tradition as a child, and I really don’t remember liking it too much either. I know I went a few times, but the experience wasn’t lasting enough to remember it too clearly. So it wasn’t something important for me to do it with Ellie.