Howling out loud! » Lil Monkey Boy

N got a new haircut!

Alpha Wolf — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:45:36 +0000

Here is Alpha Cub with a fantastic smile on his face!

Alpha Cub still has a lot to learn…

Alpha Wolf — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 04:17:20 +0000

Alpha was a little rude to mommy tonight. He decided that he wanted to see other people instead. I didn’t know how to handle it, and I probably handled it poorly. I pretty much stayed out of it, but I keep wondering if there was something I could have done or should have done. I will dwell on it and hopefully come up with an answer soon.

Alpha Cub is a good friend!

Alpha Wolf — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:38:33 +0000

Today I woke up and saw my son do something in a new light today, something he has done countless times before but I never really saw how special it was.

Let me backstory a little. On Mondays and Tuesdays the Missus works as a nanny for my Aunt’s children and watches AC while she works. AC sticks around two of the children pretty much the whole day. The first one is Em, a girl who is a month older than AC, and Nick who is about 6 months older.

They constantly play together, or fight together at some times. Pretty much like brothers and sister.

Today I was saying goodbye to go to work. I reached Nick first and said goodbye and hugged him. Then I hugged and said goodbye to AC. Em was a ways away and didn’t want to come to me so I just waved goodbye. AC then said ‘Em’s turn!’ He was telling me that Em should get a hug as well.

I didn’t think of it as particularly special cause I heard him doing that alot. It only occured to me today that Em and Nick do not stand up for anyone except themselves! Out of all three children he is the only one who is consistently exhibits considerate behavior! I wasn’t even sure, because I only see all three together for an hour per day for two days in the week, so I asked the missus. She confirmed that the other two children are rather inconsiderate overall.

I was doubly proud of AC today! He so rocks!

Alpha cub is allergic to Wheat, Milk, Eggs and Peanuts…

Alpha Wolf — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 21:58:51 +0000

Ok, now that I got that information out in the open the real reason for this entry. I am trying to find substitutes for certain foods that contain the above allergens so my son can eat cool foods and not scratch himself bloody or worse.

Milk turned out to be easy, as Silk Soy milk is readily available in my neck of the woods, and there is even an enhanced version that contains Omega-3.

Butter is fairly easy also, we use Smart Balance light which contains no milk products but otherwise is a great butter substitute.

Wheat is an ongoing issue, it is in so many things. I have found a good gluten-free pasta substitute, a good gluten-free bread and Betty Crocker even has gluten-free Cake, Brownie and Cookie Mixes.

Eggs seem to be the hardest one to work around. There is no one egg substitute. I keep on looking online to see what people did in certain circumstances. My current experiment is Betty Crocker cookies, and what to use in place of the one egg needed. I was hoping to pick up Ener-G Egg Replacer and see how that works, I was not able to find it locally yet.

There is no eggless mayonnaise. I have to examine and test what Alpha Cub will like and he is not allergic to. I am thinking that a good Guacamole would be an excellent mayo substitute – heck I would love it if N enjoyed Guacamole. It’s healthier than mayo on average and I love it as well. I looked around for a simple recipe so I can learn how to make it.

I am sure that there are other obstacles that I will reach and have to overcome so Alpha Cub can have a wide range of foods that he can enjoy. It used to be a chore, but it’s getting more and more enjoyable as he gets older and his tastes develop.

For my loyal readers, any advice is welcome. New products, old recipes and anything in between so I can prepare fun food for my son. Extra points if it’s cheap, easy and if I like it as well.

We all dream…

Alpha Wolf — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:02:11 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

I am not someone who makes resolutions. They never seem to last, there is very little emotional attachment to them. Most people make them as a spur of the moment action that they then try to unnaturally force themselves to obey.

Since the anniversary of Martin Luther King‘s birthday I was thinking about my life and how I have lived it so far. I, like everyone else, do have dreams and aspirations. Some of them are small ones, just little things that I want to remember or achieve. Some will take a lifetime and more. Some are very selfish, and some are rather altruistic. I thought it might be a good idea to list as many as I can remember easily, and perhaps use this blog to track how well I am doing achieving my goals.

Let me start with what should be the rather simple ones, to be a loving husband and the best father to my son that I can be.

I would like to visit Europe at least once in my lifetime.

I would like to earn a Bachelor’s Degree, however I am not sure what I wish to major in after all this time.

I would like to keep up more with this blog, and perhaps even get more people visiting from time to time.

I would like to read more books, and write more blog reviews.

I would like to write a book.

I would also like to have a book published, and perhaps even become a bestseller.

I would like to read more, and play silly computer games less =)

I would like to live long enough to see that Renewable Energy Sources are the main sources of energy for all people on the planet.

I would like to own a house.

I would like to live life fuller than I am now.

I would like the previous dream to be a perpetual one, where I am constantly reexamining my life and becoming the better for it.

Christmas Eve 2009

Alpha Wolf — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 01:38:45 +0000

Christmas Eve was the best evening I have had this year, and one of the best I have had in a long time. M and I worked hard to get the place cleaned up, and I did a lot of the leg work while she did all of the cooking and preparing. We invited some friends and M’s sister to join in the feast of the seven fishes, which brought the total dining count up to five.

From the start there was nothing but joy and good will throughout the evening, starting with some cheese and crackers to whet the appetite. We were supposed to have some trout dip, which came a little late. The only extremely minor mistake in an otherwise flawless evening. The next thing we did was open the gifts we exchanged with each other. I loved watching LMB open a few gifts and squeal with joy! Then LMB got his last bottle and off to bed with him.

Well, not quite. Shrimp cocktail with a homemade cocktail sauce was served while he was drinking his bottle. He finished and came over for a taste of shrimp, which he did not like at all. After we enjoyed the cocktail I had enough time to rock him to sleep and place him in his crib.

After that we had some salad with prosciutto wrapped asparagus. That was super yummy! We rested for a little bit then had some snow crab legs. They were fantastic, sweet and didn’t really need any butter at all. Another rest and some talking and then we had some linguine with clams and mussels that was out of this world! There was just the right clam juice and garlic to flavor this great meal. Another break and then we had some whitefish soaked in milk and covered with homemade breading and butter. The fish tasted absolutely fantastic!

After the fish there was some cleaning and some talking, and then there was dessert! On one plate we had some cheesecake from Costco via the Cheesecake Factory. On another plate we had genuine Godiva Chocolate and Vanilla Cupcakes! The cupcakes were absolutely decadent! A treasure in chocolate form!

The dinner was the centerpiece, the highlight of the evening, and it was fabulous! However there is also much to be said about the company. I had a great time talking to my friends and sister in law. They were fantastic guests. I was very sorry to see that evening end, as far as I am concerned it could have lasted forever.

My sister in law paid my wife the highest compliment, she told her it was just like grandma used to do it.

Book Review – The Read Aloud Handbook

Alpha Wolf — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:33:01 +0000

: Image by San Jose Library via Flickr

I recently finished reading ‘The Read Aloud Handbook‘ by Jim Trelease. I am extremely happy that I picked up this book. This book was not only an excellent read, but it was also very informative. The book is essentially divided in two, where the first half presents mounds and mounds of evidence in support of reading to your children from when they are born to when they finally move out and go to college. The second half of the book is a resource list for anyone who needs ideas of what books to get your child.

I really enjoyed reading this book, there are a lot of little tips and facts that I didn’t know that have helped me out with Alpha Cub a whole lot. The second half of the book is proving useful even to this day, and I am sure the book list will be useful for years to come.
I fully recommend this book to current and future parents.

Alpha Cub, AKA Lil Monkey Boy, Enjoys the Season of Spirits

Alpha Wolf — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:27:15 +0000

Me Greedy Monkey!

I had to work well past Alpha Cub’s Bedtime, but Mommy was able to get him all dressed up in a costume to enjoy the day! I was told, in fact, that my little cub had a fantastic day overall. He started by having a fantastic nap, and woke up very happy. He played for a while, M read to him and everything was pleasant. He had a fantastic dinner of chicken, beans and grapes! Then he was dressed in the fantastic costume that you see pictured. I must note that I was very proud of him for wearing the costume properly, he is usually very bad about keeping hoods and hats on but he was great with this costume! He walked around, knocked on doors and showed his little basket. He wouldn’t say ‘trick or treat’ be he always remembered to say ‘Thank you!’ I figure if he was to remember something, that would be the best part. He also loved getting candy, and enjoyed a few pieces just before nodding off to bed. A lot of the people at the apartment complex did not have candy, that did not make me too happy. Still, LMB had a great day and a great time and as he grows older if we have to we can take him by car to the cool neighborhoods.

Overall this should be a day to be remembered and commemorated with song, dance and scrapbook!

Update on Alpha Cub – Celiac Disease

Alpha Wolf — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:55:16 +0000

Here is another update on LMB, aka Alpha Cub!

Overall, he has been doing fine. He has been growing, but we have noticed that he is not so broad shouldered as other babies. He also has ezcema that often drives him crazy with itching.

One might think that these are very minor issues, but when he scratches thin bloody lines in his skin in multiple areas, M and I decided to try and do something about it. Especially since doctors seemed a little stumped by the whole thing and just keep on prescribing different medications, none of which have really helped him out for any length of time.

So we did our own investigations, and have decided that he may have some form of Celiac Disease. Yes, we are not doctors and attempting to diagnose issues is very scary for both of us. Still, since the solution has no real downsides except not helping him we saw no reason not to attempt the cure – a gluten free diet.

Oh, and the reason that we thought this might help instead of just accepting that he may have ezcema? Well, he also has a pot belly after eating, he still has some minor issues holding down his food, the aforementioned persistent rash/itching and he seems to not be thriving (but how is one to measure that?) All of these things are symptoms of Celiac Disease and it’s forms.

We will keep the diet going for a month and see if there are any changes. Most internet reports say that changes happen within the week, so a month is more than enough time to see a positive change in LMB.

I hope it works.

My morning exercise…

Alpha Wolf — Fri, 22 May 2009 17:09:28 +0000

After my Alpha Cub had his breakfast he insisted, in his own I only speak baby way, that he wanted to watch Wiggle Time! It’s a fantastic DVD, featuring The Wiggles, an Australian troupe of four that sings lots of songs and dances to them. Of course they all encourage their audience to ‘wiggle’ also. ‘Cub loves this DVD, and he loves it when I dance with him while watching it. Of course I happily joined in and we danced for about 20 minutes straight. After that the DVD goes more into song and less into dance and we get a little rest.

The DVD is awesome, and entertaining! I recommend it for any child, and their parents.