These past couple of months I've been pretty much attached to the hip to El and Isa so it was nice to be able to roam around and chat it up with people - not that I mind being around them, but it's hard sometimes to get a moment to myself. It was cool just to do whatever for a bit before Christmas got into full gear with all the family coming soon.
With the addition of stressing over freelance work and hoofing til the wee hours of the morning I was due for a couple of Jack and Cokes and decompression.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
New Crew
I never got around to posting any pictures of my new crew at The Golf Channel so here it is. Since I am no longer a part of Print and New Media I don't participate in the annual department holiday party. Nevertheless, the new crew had plans of their own.
After the All-Hands Meeting we had lunch at a China Jade, a nearby Mongolian BBQ, and then headed back to the pit to exchange our Secret Santa Gifts. Unfortunately not everyone was able to make it. Andy was on leave after he got hitched, Jeremy who was busy moving to a new apartment and Joe, the adopted member of the Boy's Club, was on vacay.
Pictured here is Chris Nasso (senior design chimp), Jen (coordinator), Horney (Assistant AD), BRad (3D God), Al (Managing Fartbag), Yours Truly, Sheri and Joe B (Chyron kids) and Hughes (Pivot man in the Circle Jerk).
Next time I'll manage a shot of the entire crew. Do I miss my old crew? Of course. They were the original Lunch Bunch so it's hard to replace them and I rarely get to see them anymore. Once in a blue moon I manage a lunch with Jen V in tha Hizzy and Dan Brats.
Things have been doing well in my new department. I've learned alot and they've even trusted me to manage the nightly live show graphics and animations. Suckers. Soon enough I'll get to dip my hands into the meatier stuff, but for now I'm content learning to walk before I run.
After the All-Hands Meeting we had lunch at a China Jade, a nearby Mongolian BBQ, and then headed back to the pit to exchange our Secret Santa Gifts. Unfortunately not everyone was able to make it. Andy was on leave after he got hitched, Jeremy who was busy moving to a new apartment and Joe, the adopted member of the Boy's Club, was on vacay.
Pictured here is Chris Nasso (senior design chimp), Jen (coordinator), Horney (Assistant AD), BRad (3D God), Al (Managing Fartbag), Yours Truly, Sheri and Joe B (Chyron kids) and Hughes (Pivot man in the Circle Jerk).
Next time I'll manage a shot of the entire crew. Do I miss my old crew? Of course. They were the original Lunch Bunch so it's hard to replace them and I rarely get to see them anymore. Once in a blue moon I manage a lunch with Jen V in tha Hizzy and Dan Brats.
Things have been doing well in my new department. I've learned alot and they've even trusted me to manage the nightly live show graphics and animations. Suckers. Soon enough I'll get to dip my hands into the meatier stuff, but for now I'm content learning to walk before I run.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
cuteness Originally uploaded by erickpineda527.
Friday, December 08, 2006
One Month and Counting...
This Saturday marks Isa's 1st month. I look at her every morning and every evening and I see changes in her all the time. We took her to her second pediatric visit a week ago and Dr. Deeb said she had gained a whole pound and grew another inch. Wow! A big difference when you consider it's only been two weeks since she was last seen.
Her head has a nice shape to it - no more "E.T. - the Extraterrestrial" look to it anymore. Her hair is soft and long. Kind of a wispy look to it. I brush it every chance I get. Apparently this is more hair than what most babies are born with. She must get this from her mom.
When she's awake she is VERY alert with intense, big eyes. I love her eyes. Her legs and feet have plumped up some so they don't have that "chicken legs" look to it quite as much as they did. I like when I see her mom letting her nap on her chest belly down and her feet and legs are curled up into a ball as if she's still in the belly.
Despite her late night crying for food and a new diaper I find myself missing her while I'm at work. I know she's still too young to acknowledge that she recognizes me, but everytime I look into her face I search for a reaction to me speaking or kissing her plump cheeks. What a cutie.
Still has that new car, baby smell. Love that. Is it the Desitin? is it the milk on her breath? is it the baby shampoo? I don't know, but I likes. Whenever I hold her and put her down to sleep I can still smell her in my hands. It's indescribable, but I think most people know what the hell I'm talking about.
It's been a month! Sometimes it's so surreal and feels weird to think I have a little girl now. What?!? Yeah. I can't wait for her Lolo and Lola to meet her at Christmas. El's entire family will be here and my parents as well. Everyone is stoked to see the new addition. Cher and Ricky are wanting to come, too, but are waiting until the Christmas madness dies down.
Enough of the ramblings. Mom should be done giving her her midnight "merienda". Time to go burp her. Later.
Her head has a nice shape to it - no more "E.T. - the Extraterrestrial" look to it anymore. Her hair is soft and long. Kind of a wispy look to it. I brush it every chance I get. Apparently this is more hair than what most babies are born with. She must get this from her mom.
When she's awake she is VERY alert with intense, big eyes. I love her eyes. Her legs and feet have plumped up some so they don't have that "chicken legs" look to it quite as much as they did. I like when I see her mom letting her nap on her chest belly down and her feet and legs are curled up into a ball as if she's still in the belly.
Despite her late night crying for food and a new diaper I find myself missing her while I'm at work. I know she's still too young to acknowledge that she recognizes me, but everytime I look into her face I search for a reaction to me speaking or kissing her plump cheeks. What a cutie.
Still has that new car, baby smell. Love that. Is it the Desitin? is it the milk on her breath? is it the baby shampoo? I don't know, but I likes. Whenever I hold her and put her down to sleep I can still smell her in my hands. It's indescribable, but I think most people know what the hell I'm talking about.
It's been a month! Sometimes it's so surreal and feels weird to think I have a little girl now. What?!? Yeah. I can't wait for her Lolo and Lola to meet her at Christmas. El's entire family will be here and my parents as well. Everyone is stoked to see the new addition. Cher and Ricky are wanting to come, too, but are waiting until the Christmas madness dies down.
Enough of the ramblings. Mom should be done giving her her midnight "merienda". Time to go burp her. Later.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Happy Thanksgiving!
Eleanor's mom and younger sister were kind enough to spend their two week vacation helping us care for Isabella. Her mom, a professional daycare specialist, took to the task at hand with gusto. Right from the get go we introduced them to the world of soiled diapers and late night feedings.
It was nice to have some family around during our first Thanksgiving and despite El's insistence I still wanted to prepare somethings for the holiday. I kept it pretty simple with just the basics feeding 5. What's on menu this year? Ginger citrus glazed turkey and stuffing, homemade mashed potatoes; greenbeans and mushrooms with roasted whole garlic; sauteed aspargus, zucchini, squash and carrots; and finishing with homemade sweet potato pie a la mode. Simple and fairly quick if you compare it to Thanksgivings I've done in the past.
Food was great and the red wine made everyone go into a trance. BUT I was determined to do more holiday things. It's traditional at my crib to buy a tree and commence the decorating fro Christmas, but the tryptophan kicked in before we got more done. We got as far as bringing down the decor from the attic and putting up the Christmas lights outside before we called it a night.
The next morning we had brunch at the Celebration diner and then proceeded to pick up where we left off the night before. Before long the tree was. The next couple of days were spent by El tweaking out the details of the house. Tonight the house is completely done and El is passed out in bed to nap before our nighttime vigil with Isa begins anew...
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Isa.
It's been over a week since her birthday. There's so much to learn about being a parent and so much more to experience. We're doing our best to soak in every new learning experience and not take things too seriously. Are we nervous about every sneeze she makes? Is she too bundled up? Is she eating too little or too much?
In this short week we've learned so much about this little person who has consumed so much of our lives in the blink of an eye. We know her different cries. We know what small things soothe her. Today I felt like she's starting to know my face and voice. Every moment seems to be a polaroid moment.
Through all the all night crying sprees and soiled diapers she's still a cutie. She makes me laugh with her different faces of frustration. I look at her sometimes and study her face. The nose and eyes are mine. The mouth I suspect is El's (she debates me on that). I even know how she got dry skin. She definitely sleeps deep like her mother. She's absolutely a product of El and I.
I can't wait for those moments when she first laughs or learns to walk or call out for "Dad". It's still hard to imagine that this person is in my life. Corny and cliched I know. Things will definitely change, but I know it'll be for the better and will make me a better person. Patience, understanding and self sacrifice. I'm ready.
Even Bailey, as needy as he usually is, has learned who she is and is quickly learning his place in the family ("no jumping onto the bed, you can smell her feet only, don't lick her face") and sacrificed his beloved place at the foot of the bed to learn to sleep in his new bed by the door. He doesn't even bark when she cries. What a smart dog.
I don't mean to bore you or sound like a Hallmark card, but I'm stunned by her. She'll be a handful, but I can hardly contain my excitement when I think about the person she will grow up to be one day.
In this short week we've learned so much about this little person who has consumed so much of our lives in the blink of an eye. We know her different cries. We know what small things soothe her. Today I felt like she's starting to know my face and voice. Every moment seems to be a polaroid moment.
Through all the all night crying sprees and soiled diapers she's still a cutie. She makes me laugh with her different faces of frustration. I look at her sometimes and study her face. The nose and eyes are mine. The mouth I suspect is El's (she debates me on that). I even know how she got dry skin. She definitely sleeps deep like her mother. She's absolutely a product of El and I.
I can't wait for those moments when she first laughs or learns to walk or call out for "Dad". It's still hard to imagine that this person is in my life. Corny and cliched I know. Things will definitely change, but I know it'll be for the better and will make me a better person. Patience, understanding and self sacrifice. I'm ready.
Even Bailey, as needy as he usually is, has learned who she is and is quickly learning his place in the family ("no jumping onto the bed, you can smell her feet only, don't lick her face") and sacrificed his beloved place at the foot of the bed to learn to sleep in his new bed by the door. He doesn't even bark when she cries. What a smart dog.
I don't mean to bore you or sound like a Hallmark card, but I'm stunned by her. She'll be a handful, but I can hardly contain my excitement when I think about the person she will grow up to be one day.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
An Early Delivery From The Stork...
If you're ever in the unique position of about to have your first child and thinking you can knock back a couple of drinks at the bars with the fellas a week before she is due to celebrate what's left of your
social life - DON'T. You don't want to be that guy racing home at 2:00am after 2 beers, 3 Jack and Cokes and a shot of Happy Time and stinking of cigarettes to pick up your wife after you've hosed off in the shower to drive her to the hospital as her contractions are
only 5 minutes apart. Don't be THAT guy.
With that being said El and I were at Winter Park Hospital where we were checked in quickly and given a birthing room for her to change into and me to unload our baggage - literally. As soon as we got there her contractions had shortened to 4 minutes apart and I was feeling excited that our big day had arrived, although one week early. After an hour her contractions were hurting her so much she was literally wanting to drop her knees. Where was the damn anesthesiologist???
social life - DON'T. You don't want to be that guy racing home at 2:00am after 2 beers, 3 Jack and Cokes and a shot of Happy Time and stinking of cigarettes to pick up your wife after you've hosed off in the shower to drive her to the hospital as her contractions are
only 5 minutes apart. Don't be THAT guy.
With that being said El and I were at Winter Park Hospital where we were checked in quickly and given a birthing room for her to change into and me to unload our baggage - literally. As soon as we got there her contractions had shortened to 4 minutes apart and I was feeling excited that our big day had arrived, although one week early. After an hour her contractions were hurting her so much she was literally wanting to drop her knees. Where was the damn anesthesiologist???
An hour and a half later he arrived to give her an Epidural Anesthesia. 20 minutes later she was golden. She couldn't even feel them anymore and was soon chatting on the phone spreading the good news to her family. I, on the other hand, was completely wiped out from working outside all morning through the night until the guys thought it a good idea to have a few drinks downtown. It was around 5:30am and only the rush of excitement kept me sober and awake. That and they knowledge that El was in excruciating pain. By the time she got her epidural and in good spirits I commenced to pass the hell out until about 8:30 am as the new nursing shift changed and burst through our doors to run more tests. Screw it - I may as well get up and gear up for the big day.
I thought Isa was going to be born that morning- maybe 9 or 10am. Not so. The epidural slowed down the dilating and contractions considerably and prolonged the whole process even more. By this time Dr. Dukes let El know she had dilated 8cm and was waiting for Isa to drop more. This was the home stretch and El was stoked. So was I.
By 12:15 I was growing impatient and bored. TV can only entertain for so long and it was quite obvious that no one cared if I was there or not. El was the center of attention and rightfully so. A lot of things ran through my mind in preparation. In LaMaze classes I thought it too graphic to watch the actual labor and the discharge of the placenta. Was there going to be blood and gore everywhere? What kind of weird smells was I to expect?
Apparently, while I dozed off Dr. Dukes gave El some Pitocin to further encourage the final stages of labor and by 12:30 it was game time. Dr. Dukes started her off with some light pushing to get her going, but it took nearly three hours to finally get somewhere
interesting - the crowning of Isa's head. All I could see was some hair from her little head. Because if the epidural, though, El had a hard time feeling Isa moving down and visualizing what she had to do to get the job done so a mirror was brought in. This helped eventually and once she saw the top of Isa's head she was a woman on a mission. A half hour of focused pushing and Isa slid out - conehead and all.
Like I said earlier, I didn't know what to expect and thought I'd hang by El's upper torso for moral support. This all changed as Dr. Dukes encouraged me to see the crowning of Isa's head. There was no weird smells. There was no gore and blood everywhere. All I saw was my little girl trying to get out and that was encouragement enough to keep me cheerleading for El to keep going.
interesting - the crowning of Isa's head. All I could see was some hair from her little head. Because if the epidural, though, El had a hard time feeling Isa moving down and visualizing what she had to do to get the job done so a mirror was brought in. This helped eventually and once she saw the top of Isa's head she was a woman on a mission. A half hour of focused pushing and Isa slid out - conehead and all.
Like I said earlier, I didn't know what to expect and thought I'd hang by El's upper torso for moral support. This all changed as Dr. Dukes encouraged me to see the crowning of Isa's head. There was no weird smells. There was no gore and blood everywhere. All I saw was my little girl trying to get out and that was encouragement enough to keep me cheerleading for El to keep going.
I know it's so cliched to say it, but this was probably one of the most amazing things I have ever experienced. After she was born the doc offered me the cord to cut. I accepted wholeheartedly. After which Isa was rushed over to the awaiting "fry warmer" to get wiped down, weighed, footprinted and measured.
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