Kaylee is going to have a little brother or sister. We are very happy to announce that a new Robleto is expected in late May. This one will be born, by the Chinese zodiac, in the Year of the Dragon (just like their dad).

We do not yet ... [ more ]]]>

The Baby Dragon

Kaylee is going to have a little brother or sister. We are very happy to announce that a new Robleto is expected in late May. This one will be born, by the Chinese zodiac, in the Year of the Dragon (just like their dad).

We do not yet have something to call this new bundle of joy. If you have any clever names to call the yet-unnamed yet-unborn child, please share. (Special consideration for dragon-themed names).

Over the past two weekends, we’ve been doing a lot of celebrating Kaylee. It started on Saturday, April 16th when we held a week early a First Birthday Party for Kaylee. We invited many of our friends and relatives in from Maryland, Virginia, ... [ more ]]]>

Over the past two weekends, we’ve been doing a lot of celebrating Kaylee. It started on Saturday, April 16th when we held a week early a First Birthday Party for Kaylee. We invited many of our friends and relatives in from Maryland, Virginia, DC, Delaware and even Florida to join in the festivities that essentially including watching a one-year old process 60 people singing Happy Birthday, lit candles and a mountain of presents. I am sure it was fun for her, but it was a great opportunity for us to see so many of our friends that we haven’t seen in a long time.

]]> I don’t think there is anything in the world that brings me more joy than hearing my baby laugh.

Thanks Mom for making this video.

They did not.

Baby Danielle ... [ more ]]]> Baby Danielle

Twenty two years ago my aunt and uncle gave my brother and I the opportunity to watch my new baby cousin while they went out to an event with my parents. I was 12 at the time, old enough to babysit, provided things went relatively smoothly.

They did not.

Baby Danielle started teething that night, which meant she started crying inconsolably.  We tried all the usual things like bottles and swaddling, then moved on to unusual things: I remember taking out her the earrings from her newly pierced ears, thinking that might help.

Finally, I gave up, called the social hall where my parents and aunt and uncle were (this is 1988, well before cell phones), got whatever person picked up to go get my uncle (in retrospect, no idea how that worked out), and when he was on the line yelled:

“This baby is a pain in the butt!”

My aunt, uncle parents then left the event early and came home.

Baby Kaylee

Fast forward two decades and I have a wonderfully calm baby that only cries when she’s hungry or uncomfortable, both easily remedied… until this past Friday evening.

I was watching Kaylee while Selena was getting her Jason Statham fix watching The Expendables. It was smooth for the first hour, then suddenly she woke and started crying a cry of immense pain.

I tried: bottles, pacifiers, teething rings, stuffed animals, swaddling blankets, socks, lack of blankets or socks, sitting, standing, lying, rocking, being held, in her swing, in her Bumbo, in her playland, different outfits, no outfit, watching TV, in a quiet room, in the bright light, in the dark, outside, inside, being talked to, being sung to, being changed and being burped. All to no avail.

At that point my mind was shouting “Now, THIS baby is a pain in the butt!” and I realized I was reverting to my 12 year old self, and that I needed help.

But, instead of calling Selena home from her movie, I called my in-laws who live on the other side of the neighborhood and were happy to come over and support. In the end, Kaylee cried herself to sleep in grandpa’s arms.

I kinda hoped that with 22 years to reflect on it, I would have done better when I encountered a teething baby again.

Selena deserves a night out with her friends, she hasn’t done so since Kaylee was born. So, she’s off to SATC2 and I’m going to be watching Kaylee alone, and what better way to be attentive to my daughter than to ... [ more ]]]>

What Kaylee thinks of being left home with dad.

Selena deserves a night out with her friends, she hasn’t done so since Kaylee was born. So, she’s off to SATC2 and I’m going to be watching Kaylee alone, and what better way to be attentive to my daughter than to live blog the experience. (Note: it would have been way irresponsible to actually live blog , so I’ve sync’d up the times with the thoughts and actions after the fact).  Here we go:

4:37pm – Dropped Selena off at the theatre to watch Sex and the City 2. Heading home with Kaylee.

5:12pm – Got home, Kaylee’s resting in her pack and play.  This isn’t so bad.

5:19pm – Here comes the crying

5:23pm – Sookie is using Kaylee’s whaling as a distraction to steal pacifiers, burp cloths or anything else of the baby’s not bolted down.

5:34 pm – Kaylee’s crying persists. Changing the diaper was not enough. Really hope this isn’t about the diaper rash as that could go non-stop all night.

5:36pm – Remembering that Selena asked if I had her step-mom’s phone number just in case. I said no and then she never gave it to me. Kaylee continues to cry.

5:38pm – Hoping she’s hungry, trying a bottle.
6:05 pm – I like feeding cause it’s brainless and I can watch TV while I do it. Tonight,  I see there’s a Two and a Half Men marathon. There are probably a lot better things to put on, but this episode has Ming-Na Wen guest starring.  I’ve liked her since Joy Luck Club.

6:12pm – All this feeding Kaylee reminds me that I’m hungry myself.  Baby first.

6:15 pm – Kaylee’s all fed and still screaming. WTF!

6:28 pm – Moving crying Kaylee to her carrier, it’s like a reverse backpack that I wear. I hoping she’s quiet with the motion.

6:32pm – It’s working, Kaylee is calming, now Sookie is ramping up. Debating walking her now, which I should, or eating first cause I’m starving.

6:38 pm – Nice, neighbor dog and Sookie’s favorite playmate, Saint, is in their front yard. The decision is made; I’m holding off dinner and taking advantage of having Kaylee in her carrier and an immediate outlet for Sookie’s energy out front.

7:04 pm –Sookie is spent, even fed her too (sadly, a year into being a pet owner, that’s not always a given that I remember to do that). Now to my own food. Kaylee is falling asleep in carrier.

7:19 pm – Kaylee’s is sleeping now, even able to move her from the carrier to the pack and play. Enjoyed my own dinner, leftover enchiladas. Damn they were good. Wondering if I should go clean up the kitchen or enjoy the moment of silence.

7:24pm – Took the moment of silence, five minues of silence actually.  Now, cleaning up the kitchen.

7:37pm – Kitchen’s clean, living room’s clean, Kaylee is still sleeping, Sookie is starting to stink. Dare I take on washing the dog?

7:41pm – Kaylee awoke, but was soothed back to sleep with the pacifier. I think I dare.  Setting up the minotor’s so I can hear Kaylee from the basement. C’mon Sookie, it’s bath time.

7:50 pm – Mid-bath for Sookie, Kaylee’s cries started coming in over the monitor, so had to make haste. Sookie’s darting around the house ringing herself out, but smells so much better now.

7:53 pm – Wow, this pacifier really works. I may be able to watch the Flyers game tonight even.

8:04pm – But not yet, have to do something about Sookie, she going absolutely nuts, sprinting back and forth on the couch.  Putting her in her crate.

8:10pm – Now, I’m finding my groove, Kaylee is calmly sucking on the pacifier, Sookie is calming her in crate, I am watching an incredible hockey game and going through mail and paying bills during breaks in the action.

8:24pm – Muting the hockey game to read Kaylee my favorite Little Golden Book, The Monster at the End of this Book.

8:36pm – Let Sookie out of her crate, but she decided to stay in anyway. This is new.

9:07pm – Finished all the bills, wow, that pile went way back to before Kaylee was born.

9:11pm – Here comes Kaylee back to life, gotta stop all other activity to get her calm.

9:20pm – No chance on getting her calm without some food, it’s been about four hours, that’s about right. Heading to the fridge for another bottle.

9:25pm – Selena called, it’s getting close to time to go pick her up. Told her I would as soon as I finished feeding Kaylee. Sounded really responsible on the phone.

9:29pm – Kaylee wolfed down the bottle, and she’s still crying.  Dilemma – Give her more bottle which will take some time to prepare or go pick up Selena?

9:31pm – Remembered that Kaylee will very likely stop crying once I get the car in motion. She has a convenient habit of zonking out in the car.  Bypassing the extra bottle, heading out to get Selena. The first night of being a single dad is over.  I certainly have a newfound respect for what Selena has been having to do all day when I go to work.

Selena is not allowed out of the house for one month, so says Confucius.

Okay, maybe it’s not a decree specifically from the ancient Chinese philosopher specifically but somewhere between his time and the beginning of the Lo Dynasty (two weeks ago) the Chinese rules for ... [ more ]]]>

Confucius say "You're grounded, Selena."

Selena is not allowed out of the house for one month, so says Confucius.

Okay, maybe it’s not a decree specifically from the ancient Chinese philosopher specifically but somewhere between his time and the beginning of the Lo Dynasty (two weeks ago) the Chinese rules for a new mom were determined.

They are:

• Drink only special Chinese tea
• Eat only special Chinese chicken soup
• Do not go outside

At first I thought these were ancients customs, good to know in that understand-your-heritage sort of way. But, no, they are being taken this very seriously.  I know because of how many people come to visit bearing chicken soup.

Selena’s dad, step-mom, aunt and uncle, her dad’s friends, and even our have dropped by to see Kaylee and brought with them the special Chinese chicken soup.

With each new guests arrival, it became clearer to me that this was a conspiracy. I have been in the dark, while the greater Chinese culture was cooking Chicken soup, mixing hot teas and getting ready for Selena’s recovery month.

And how has Selena taken to being grounded by her culture?  Pretty well. She’s been recovering from the surgery, so she’s hardly been interested in even going upstairs, much less out on the town.  Plus, she prefers warm beverages anyway, so that was no biggie. The real aspect that’s required some discipline for Selena has been the food. Chicken soup is good on occasion, but she’s had to eat quite a lot of it. When this month is over (in about two weeks), I know she’s going to be craving some good eats.