9 Months...

JT went in for his 9 month checkup. All is well. JT is now 28.5 inches tall and 21.1 lbs. He is in the 55%-tile. I think it was 50%-tile but the doctor probably wanted to make us feel good and changed his answer from 50% to 55%.


Aya and I have moved onto sleep training method #2. We were using the Ferber method where we let JT cry, go soothe him but not pick him up. Aya and I lost that battle. Aya and I were pooped and had to take naps and we were still tired.

Now, we just let him cry. Lemmie tell you, it was one of the best nights sleep. I still heard him cry, but mentally I knew not to get him, so I just tuned him out and kept on sleeping. It was fabulous!

Lucy's bday...

Went to my cousin Tom's house to celebrate Lucy's 6th bday. (l:r Maggie, Lucy, Harrison, JT)


Tom had JT's jucuzzi all ready and reserved.

I might have retired from the indoor basketball game, but I am the current reigning and undisputed backyard swimming pool Valencia H-O-R-S-E champion!!!

Did you know that you can make bread from zucinni...aka zucinni bread? Angela made some zucinni bread at the bday party and it was super yummy. Who knew a vegitable would make for good bread??

The Aquarium...

Since it was vacation week, I thought it would be nice to take a family outting to the Long Beach Aquarium. I always wanted to go, but figured I would go when I had a kid...since I have a kid there were no more excuses. JT also likes looking at fishies. Grandpa takes JT to the pond in the backyard to look at Grandpa's fish every day but the fish aren't this big:


Aya showing JT the seal:



JT wanted to touch the rays but we were afraid he would grab and squeeze the ray:



Me and JT clowning around the sharks jaw:

Speaking of sharks, I bought JT a little rubber shark from the gift shop. When we came home and took a bath I put the shark in JTs tub. JT was kind of staring at the shark wondering what it was....normally he has a bright yellow ducky. Well, I grabbed the shark and the sharks mouth is open...JT is in the tub....so naturally I make the shark bite JT's pecker. That was a mistake. JT didn't like it at all.

I figured JT was cranky so the next day I put the shark in the tub. This time JT knew right away what the shark was and started crying again. So the shark is no longer a bath toy for JT. Ooops. My bad.

Vacation....

Could it really be? I haven't taken a vacation in 27 months?? Time sure does fly by. My last official vacation was when I worked at Universal. Since then, no vacation when I was at Directv and no vacation at LMB since I started.

If it wasn't for me capping out at 19 days, I wouldn't have taken any time off but I am maxed out and I can't carry any hours over. So, this week, I am off and lounging at home. Naturally, I am still taking JT over to my parents in the morning. Actually, we started sleep training JT so Aya and I are up in the middle of the night, so we are sleeping during the day. Nothing exciting...but it has been a great vacation so far. Just being able to do things during the day, take naps and go to peaceful breakfasts and lunch. It has been great.

I did spend one day with JT. I took him to the pool for the first time. JT was a little nervous being in the pool and in areas where he couldn't touch the ground, but not bad for his first outting.

JT is now 9 months old. People think he will walk soon but I think he won't walk until Halloween. We shall see.

Hoops Dreams...

If only basketball hoops were this small. JT would be the second coming of Shaq and Yao.

Family lunch...

Sunday we had a family lunch at my parents house. It was the first time in quite some time all of the So. Cali cousins were able to get together at the same time (l:r - Kevin, me, Aya (not even a cousin but wanna in the picture) Scott, Lisa, Melissa & Aiden). Dawn was taking the picture...actually she was M.I.A. for a basketball game but she was there...just not for the photo op.

The next generation of cousins, Aiden and JT:

JT just chillin using Aiden's blue sun glasses that match with JT's blue hat:

Is that so wrong???

My parenting skills have come under review recently for two incidents. The first was in Marina del Rey.

Aya, JT and I were at the light waiting to cross the street. JT was in the stroller and there was some dude pushing the walk button. After a while there was like 10 of us waiting to cross the street. I thought it was ridicilious so I looked both directions...saw it was fairly clear...cars were coming but not that close....so I pushed the stroller into the street and started to cross. As I crossed I heard several, "GASPS" and "With a stroller?" as I crossed the street. I didn't have to run, but I had to push fairly briskly as I crossed the red light. I didn't see the big deal but apparently jay walking with a baby is not acceptable. Totally acceptable without a baby but the second you have a stroller it is a federal offense.

The second incident happened at home. JT has started to eat cheerios. He sucks at it. Half the time he just grabs them and lets them getting soggy in his fist. In any case, cheerios are all over the place. We only give him cheerios in the kitchen but the other day I was in the living room and I discovered a cheerio.

Can you see my dilemma? Yes, I was hmm, how did this get here and what do I do with it? So I grabbed it and asked JT, "Hey buddy, wanna cheerio?" and then I shoved it in his mouth. Aya happened to be there and told me that I shouldn't be giving him cheerios from the floor. Afterall, who knows how long it had been there?

I figured it was okay since cheerios shouldn't get to the living room for one. Two, JT had only been eating Cheerios for 2 weeks so at most it could have been two weeks old. In any case, he survived no harm no foul.

Something old....

I just read a great posting on Saori's website. It was 100% right on (except for the part where I am crazy about wanting Sao to update her site once a week plus pictures).

Tonight I went out and subbed for the Tuesday night basketball team. We won!! Woo-hoo!! Actually I didn't do anything to aid us in winning but at least they got one win for the season now. In any case, Ron asked me tonight if I missed basketball. Without any hesitation I said, "Nope. I don't miss it all."

Driving home I was trying to think, why don't I miss it? I mean I like seeing the guys. It was nice to be out playing, but why don't I miss it more and yearn to come out? Is retired really retired??

Well, I read Saori's posting tonight and it sums up exactly how I feel. Work has been very busy lately. Even though Aya and I do 50-50 around the house (I just added that because Aya reads my website. We all know it is really Miles 51 and Aya 49), it is like having a second job raising JT. Thus, when I do have time, I don't want to spend it playing basketball. If I can get some alone time than great. If not, just time with Aya and no JT is great.

Also, JT just doesn't sleep. We just started sleep training, so if I go out and play ball or stay up later it is just less sleep. No matter what JT is up between 5:45 and 6:15. Not only do we try to get him on schedule, but we try to stay on a schedule because JT never sleeps more than 3 hours at a time. Lemmie remind you of 2-3 weeks ago...9 hours of sleep in 4 days. That is also 4 days of going to work and performing.

With that being said, by no means is it a burden being with JT...it is just hard. I do try to spend a lot of time with him. I don't want to miss anything new. Afterall, I might not have another child, so I am trying to experience everything with JT.

Undermining my authority...

I got a raise and promotion at work a few weeks back. I dunno, I didn't feel like writing about it. I was offered the promotion late last year and I said, "No." I wasn't sure if I wanted to take a managerial role right after JT was born. I liked being a developer and working standard hours. I could work standard hours as a manager as well, but I feel I need to be more involved which means working from home most nights. At least for now, I am still leaving at 4:50.

On Friday we were having a staff meeting. The meeting was nearing the end and we decided to throw an orange around the conference room. We were all kind of lobbing the orange around nothing serious. I decided to take a drink of my gatorade when my co-worker, now employee chucks the orange at me.

The orange hits my cup, which is full of juice, the juice flies back and sprays me in the face and then the orange continues on and hits me. Nice. Nothing like being the boss and having staff throw fruit at you, while smelling like citrus punch the rest of the afternoon! Grrr.

My real answer...

Well I got a few replies to my ethical dilemma post. Yes, I will miss my family, but given family or Ayako and JT, I would choose the later.

The real answer is that, I don't need the $70 million dollars. Sure it would be nice...but only if i could spend it with friends and family. In all honesty, I already have $70 million dollars and more. It isn't about the money that makes me rich. I am rich because I have good family, a great wife and a kid who is awright. As for material items, I have a house, cars and a job I enjoy. By no means are Aya and I struggling to get by and money is hardly a topic of conversation for us.

My thoughts are the same as when I got married. I want to grow old with Ayako and hopefully have enough money to give JT the things he needs (and not wants).

So, while it would be hard to turn away from cold hard cash, I wouldn't take it. Just in case you wanted to know. $100 bills are the largest denomination in circulation now. $70 million dollars would weight roughly 1400 lbs...if you thought about carrying it with you if you took the money. I am just saying....

Ethical dilemma

The names and places have been changed to protect the innocent. Scenario:

You and friend work for UPS. You are expecting a 5000 lb shipment of gold worth 70 million dollars. The shipment never arrives. For one week, the company searches for the gold but no one finds it.

A new guy starts working on a 3 man shift. The new guy finds the gold in the back of a plane that went to maintenance. He just started so he doesn't know the gold is missing and starts unloading the gold.

You and your friend know this is missing gold that people have been looking for but no one knows it has been found.

WHAT DO YOU DO? 70 million in gold.

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So that was our topic of conversation. It would be very hard to pass up taking the 70 million but logistically I couldn't see how I can transport 5000 lbs of gold easy. I also don't run in the circle of selling gold bars. So even if I found someone to fence the gold, I may only make 35 million and then I have to split it with my co-worker.

More than likely I would have to flee the U.S. It would be hard to pass up $70 million but I think I would need more time to plan. If I had the time then I think I might do it.

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That moved us to the next topic. Say it wasn't gold. Say you were given $70 million in cold hard cash to get up from your job, board a plane to fly anywhere you want outside the U.S. and you could never see, talk or give any kind of money to your family and friends again. So no goodbye's. Your family and spouse would just never hear from you again.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

I must be the only crumb because I said I would take the $70 million. C'mon it is $70 million dollars....CASH. The only problem for me would be JT. I would have to leave him with Aya without any explanation. I think I would be very guilty but I am sure $20 million dollars later I would be okay...I think.

None of my co-workers said they would leave their spouse and they don't even have kids! If it was just Aya, in a heart beat I would leave. Of course if was the other way around, how would I feel? I look at it this way, it would suck to be me, but if I ever found out how can I be upset? Who wouldn't have a better life than they do now with $70 million.

My coworkers even spun it the other way, what if Aya could take JT and the $70 million?? I thought that was even better. I would still be sad without JT but then $70 million would set JT up for life.

I dunno, maybe I wouldn't take the money. I know money doesn't make you happy, but I would think everyone has their price. I am just saying given a chance to take $70 million in cash....it would be awfully tempting.

Self Reflection...

On Thursday Aya was back in Los Angeles but had to work late so it was just JT and I at home. I was going through the mail, sorta of watching JT and out of the corner of my eye I see him fall. JT started to cry.

I looked up and told him , "Quit crying. It was your own fault for trying to stand and falling over."

JT stopped crying.

I went back to the mail and then I looked at JT again and he had a stream of blood pouring from his mouth, running down his face, off his chin and pooling onto his play mat. It was not a sight for those who are squeamish around blood.

I rushed over, picked JT up and rinsed his mouth out. Not such an easy thing to do with an 8 month old. I then gave him ice chips and cold water. Apparently, JT fell and hit his mouth right where his tooth if coming outta his gum. Nothing big...Just looked worse than it was.

Of course I didn't mention it to Aya until 5 hours later. It did get me thinking. I sure am glad JT isn't a cry baby like me. So far he seems like a tough little guy. I find myself trying to be more patient, less angry and trying not to raise my voice so much. Not because I want to be a better father, but because I don't want him to be like me. I find that it isn't so easy trying to remain calm and I in a constant battle with myself to try to bite my tongue and watch what I am saying around JT.

I realize he is still young and doesn't understand but I also know that I can't change over night. Hopefully, JT will learn how NOT to be like me and be more like Aya...even if it means being unatheletic.

I guess this is a good sign. Here is JT climbing up the stairs:

New area code??

Am I the only person that hates dialing 310 now?? I mean, I live in the 310. Why should I have to dial 310 for local calls??

What kinda idiots work at the phone company?? I mean I can understand an overlay and calling that area code, but not 310 if my phone is 310. Argh!!

What makes it worse is now that I have a cell phone, when I actually use it, I have to dial 310 to get out. I also had to update all my saved numbers to add in the 310. I can't believe I have to have a cell phone.

4 days in a row...

Aya is back at home, but it was 4 days of just JT and I. It wasn't too bad. Sunday was hard spending the entire day together. Monday - Thursday was business as usual for me. The only hard part was JT caught a virus.

I thought JT was sick on Monday. I would ask my parents every day if JT was okay and they said he was fine. Today, my mom calls me at work and says he is sick and we should go to the doctor!! I knew it!! Only thing is, the doctor can't do anything because JT is too young for most medicines. At least we know he is sick and to keep a close eye on him.

In any case, that is probably why he has been so fussy this week at night. Since Sunday, I have only had about 9 hours of sleep in 4 days. I think that is about my limit. I was struggling at work to focus but I have had so many meeting lately that the day zooms by.

Here is JT staring at the cars on the street. He only turned his head because I told him not to press against the slider 50 fifty times!

End of Day 3

3 days and no Aya and JT and I are alive and well. Last night wasn't too hot as JT refused to sleep and was fussy without Aya putting him to bed. Sadly, JT would only sleep in 90 minute blocks ALL night.

Other than that it was good. We were just lounging: