Owner: Spain Dad, a baby blog URL:http://spaindad.blogspot.com Join Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2007 07:53:29 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: Spain Dad is a baby blog written by first-time dad Kelly Crull. Kelly writes in English from Madrid, Spain about everything baby from the pregnancy to prenatal classes to parenting to family values to raising kids in a foreign country all from dad's pers Site statistics:Click here
Alleke's Worst Day 2007-09-14 02:49:00 Alleke gets a coldAlleke lay on the changing table while I sang her a song and fastened the velcro straps on her diaper. It was early to be putting her to sleep, but she was nodding off already, fighting to keep her eyes open just long enough to moan and reach for me to pick her up. Alleke had a cold, and had spend most of the afternoon resting her head on mom's lap. She had rings around her eyes like red bruises, and when we put her down to play, she just sat there in the middle of her toys staring at nothing in particular. As I lifted her from the changing table into my arms, she began to cry. She coughed, her lungs rattling, and dropped her head over my shoulder in defeat.I walked into the bedroom and reached for the switch to turn on the light, but decided not to. This little girl was too tired for a bedtime story tonight.Alleke chokesI was on the couch in the living room when I heard a knock on our bedroom door. April was in the bedroom helping Alleke get to sleep, and this Read more:Alleke
Making Friends 2007-09-12 10:50:00 Our friend Barbara is hoping to be a grandma soon, so she asked if she could take care of Alleke on Monday night to get some practice. So, on Monday night April and I went around the corner to get a drink, and Barbara took Alleke down to the playground.When we got home, the two of them were sitting on the couch reading books. We asked how the evening had gone, and Barbara said Alleke had played all night with her friends--digging in the sand with the younger ones and chasing the older ones around the seesaw.We raised our eyebrows and looked at each other."Alleke has friends?" April asked.The next night I took Alleke down to the playground. I sat next to her and watched as she picked up fist-fulls of sand and stared at the sand as it ran through her fingers like mini waterfalls.A woman walked up and set her son down next to Alleke in the sand. She also set down her canvas bag, and began taking out beach toys. She handed her son a plastic rake and Alleke a scoop. The woman looked u Read more:Friends
Camera Kisses 2007-09-10 02:01:00 This kiss goes out to all the grandparents out there with grandkids who don't live nearby. Click To Play Read more:Camera
, Kisses
Sandbox 2007-09-07 03:08:00 "I think she has something in her mouth," I said as I glanced over my shoulder at José's mom. José was sitting in the sand next to Alleke playing with a plastic rake. I leaned in for a closer look. Alleke's lips were pressed together in a fish face, and her jaw was going up and down like she was chewing on twenty pieces of bubble gum all at once."Here, let me see," I said, playing dentist. I stuck my finger in her mouth. Alleke shook her head and turned away. I reached again, and this time she surrendered, lifting her head and sticking out her tongue. "Oh, that's bad," I heard José's mom say from behind me.There on Alleke's tongue, as if being presented to me on a miniature plater, was a short, soggy cigarette butt. Read more:Sandbox
Alleke's First Year in 5 Photos 2007-10-02 08:06:00 Tomorrow is Alleke
's first birthday, and to celebrate, I have a surprise from a very special guest contributor. So, stop by tomorrow to find out what it is, and don't forget your party hat.This morning, just for fun, I flipped through the some 2,600 photos I've taken of Alleke this year, and I picked out just five that have special importance to me. Here are the five photos I chose and the stories that go with them.Alleke's Birth DayI expected more responsibility when Alleke was born, but I didn't expect to take care of her all by myself her first two weeks.April doesn't even really remember those weeks. She had a slow recovery, and so, because there wasn't anyone else around, I took care of Alleke myself. I wouldn't have done it if there had been any other way, not because I didn't want to, but because I didn't think I knew how. I was the youngest in my family. I didn't have experience with babies. Others were more qualified.I remember the first night. I tried rolli Read more:First
Spoon 2007-09-30 15:56:00 Alleke learned how to use a spoon today. Click To Play Here are few other funny stories about Alleke and food:The one where Alleke tried to eat her high chair...The one where I threw a cup of milk in Alleke's face...The one where a complete stranger took Alleke from us in a restaurant... Read more:Spoon
Toilet Paper 2007-10-12 16:40:00 Today Alleke discovered how to take the toilet paper off the roll in the bathroom. Need I say more... Read more:Toilet
, Toilet Paper
Bad Influence 2007-10-11 05:57:00 Grandpa and I sat on a park bench in the square and watched Alleke as she wandered around, stopping occasionally to study the fallen leaves.A dad pushing his daughter in a stroller bought a balloon from the vender standing in the middle of the square and walked over. He took his daughter out of the stroller and set her down in front of Alleke. The two little girls stared at each, as if wildly fascinated to finally find someone else just their size, then greeted each other in the customary way by petting each other's noses. The dad crouched down with the pink balloon, which had been twisted up to look like a dog, and handed it to his daughter. He smiled at Alleke.Alleke walked over and took the balloon from the little girl to get a better look at it. The little girl just smiled and clapped her hands. I stood up from the where I was sitting on the bench and walked over. I supposed this was as good a time as any to teach Alleke how to share. I got down on my knees next to Alleke a
Independence Day 2007-10-08 11:43:00 I'm beginning to think of last Wednesday less as Alleke's first birthday and more as her Independence
Day. Last night April and I were sitting on the couches and talking after Alleke was in bed. At one point April looked at me, puzzled, and said, "I barely saw Alleke tonight. Did you have her?" I shook my head."I guess she must have been playing with her friends," April said, thinking out loud. I smiled. I couldn't help thinking of the night before. Our friend Troy had also celebrated his birthday this week, so we threw him a surprise party at his house. I had been working for a few days straight, however, and I hadn't seen much of Alleke. So, even though we were at a party, I decided to spend some time with my daughter. Alleke had already run off somewhere, so I began looking around for her until I found her in her friend Nic's bedroom digging through toys. When I came in, she glanced up at me and handed me a wooden, yellow block, as if to say, "Take this. You'll need Read more:Independence Day
Alleke's Birth Story (Part II of II) 2007-10-04 03:43:00 This post is the second one in a set of two. To read Alleke
's birth story from the beginning, click here.The next thing I knew another nurse came and loaded up my bed for transfer. We rolled down the hallway, and he tried to make small talk with us as I moaned and made loud noises through each contraction (I think the noises I had been making since my water broke were what scared Kelly the most). By now I definitely felt like pushing, but realized it wasn't the time. Off the elevator, Kelly was pulled aside to put scrubs on, and a midwife walked up and grabbed my hand. She was in process of asking me if it was my first baby when she glanced up and yelled, "Oh, April!". It was Carmen, our midwife from prenatal classes. I'm not sure who was more happy that she was on duty - me or her.Once we got to the delivery room (in the basement) the nurse and Carmen helped me off the bed onto the delivery table which was very narrow and didn't have anywhere for me to put my arms. Carmen
Alleke's 1st Birthday Cake 2007-10-03 18:30:00 A few weeks ago Alleke
's friends at the bread shop asked if they could bake her a cake for her birthday. This morning we stopped by to pick it up, and I took some photos. So, for those of you who are curious to see the cake, and for those of you who are skeptical as to whether people as wonderful as our friends at the bread shop do actually exist, here is proof:Jesús, the ownerErika and Cristina who work behind the counter..and the birthday cake Read more:Birthday
Alleke's 1st Birthday Guests 2007-10-03 18:29:00 The biggest surprise of Alleke
's first birthday was finding Grandpa and Grandma TG in the living room when she woke up from her morning nap. They traveled all the way from Iowa in the U.S. to be here on Alleke's big day. They will be staying with us for the next two weeks. Read more:Birthday
Alleke's Birth Story (Part I of II) 2007-10-03 01:19:00 Today is Alleke
's first birthday, and as promised, we have a guest contributor here to help us celebrate. April (Alleke's mom) is going to tell Alleke's birth story. As a writer, I love a good story, and I couldn't think of a better gift for my little girl than her mom telling the story of how she was born in her own words. So, without further adieu, here's April...On October 2, we had our regular prenatal classes that evening. After doing our normal stretches and meditation, Carmen, the midwife told me and the other woman who was at 38 weeks that it was time to practice pushing. Knowing that our baby girl was due in two days, I figured it was a good idea. After class, we talked with Carmen rehearsing all the things we needed to do if I went into labour. She mentioned to Kelly that she was going to be on-duty in the hospital on Tuesday night and Thursday morning, so if we wanted her to be there, try to plan accordingly.For the past few nights, we had been taking long walks,
The alarm went off at 3.15 am. 2007-10-18 06:16:00 I pulled on some jeans and a t-shirt and left the bedroom. The light was on in the bathroom. My mother-in-law was brushing her teeth. I could hear my father-in-law rolling their last suitcase through the hallway to the front door. I helped them carry their bags down the flights of stairs to the front door of our apartment building where we waited at the curb for the shuttle van to pick them up and take them to the airport. We didn't say much while we waited, because who has much to say at that hour.When the van pulled up, I gave the driver some instructions, told my parents-in-law thank you for coming, and gave them each a hug. I pulled the sliding door shut behind them and waved as the driver put the van into gear and sped away. Later that morning I was answering emails at my computer when the bedroom door opened. Alleke wandered into the living room and looked around. April appeared at the bedroom door behind her, and we watched to see what Alleke would do. Grandpa and Gran Read more:alarm
Oh Ye of Little Faith 2007-10-16 05:48:00 So far in my thinking, I've discovered there are two basic parenting styles. Parent as ExpertIn the first parenting style, the parent is the expert. When the baby is born, her mind is like a blank slate without any rules for understanding the world around her. The parent, in contrast, knows the rules from experience and can train the child to behave appropriately.Someone who uses this parenting style might train his child to take scheduled naps throughout the day because he knows naps are an appropriate behavior for a baby. The baby doesn't know this is an appropriate behavior, but the parent does, and feels it's his responsibility to train his child to take her naps. Baby as ExpertIn the second parenting style, the baby is the expert. When the baby is born, the parent focuses on learning how to listen to his baby's cues, trusting the baby will "tell" him when she needs something, like a nap or a diaper change or something to eat.Someone using this parenting style might only p Read more:Faith
April and I locked ourselves out of our apartment last Monday. 2007-10-22 05:25:00 I had just arrived at staff meeting when Troy told me April
had called. I called her back on my mobile phone."I locked myself out of the apartment
," April said. "I'm at Victoria's with Alleke and Grandpa and Grandma. Can I meet you somewhere to get your keys?"I hesitated."I don't have keys," I said. "What? Why?" "I don't have keys," I said. "I left them at home so your parents could use them if they wanted to."We spent most of morning calling everyone we could think of for our landlord's phone number (which, of course, was on April's phone locked in our apartment), including the pharmacist on our street, who did have their number. It was afternoon by the time we reached them, and along with everything they had to say about how we should have left a spare set of keys at a friend's house or even at the pharmacist's, they told us they did not have an extra set of keys.Reluctantly, I called the locksmith. Eventually we negotiated a price that did not include the rush fee, bu Read more:ourselves
, Monday
Alleke (10 to 12 months) 2007-10-21 11:00:00 Watch this slideshow in fullscreen. Flash Slideshow Also, if you're interested, here are photo albums from Grandpa and Grandma's visit and our recent day trip to Toledo.Alleke
's complete photo albums: 10-12 months | 7-9 months | 3-6 months | 0-2 months
XOXO 2007-10-31 06:11:00 Alleke has learned to give her stuffed animals hugs and kisses.Although I'm not so sure her stuffed animals will last very long if she keeps kissing them like this.Alleke makes sure Mom and Dad give her stuffed animals enough hugs and kisses too....and hugs......and even practices in her spare time.Fore more, watch videos of Alleke's first baby kisses at four months and her attempts at kissing the video camera.
R519 2007-10-29 08:43:00 I was sitting there fidgeting with the paper slip in my hand, the number R519 printed on it. An open book was sitting on my lap, but I hadn't read a word. I glanced around at the room full of others watching the red, digital numbers flash onto the small marquee hanging from the ceiling."R519," blinked twice on the screen. I stood up out of my chair and checked the piece of paper again to compare the number. I spotted the woman waiting for me behind her desk on the far side of the room and hurried over, pulling papers out the folder in my hand as I went. "Good morning," we said to each other.The woman took the papers from my hand and spread them out on the desk in front of her. She looked at them, then leaned in to get a closer look at one of the sheets before lifting it off her desk. "Your Spanish residency card has expired," she said, lifting her eyes off the page to look at me."There's nothing I can do for you now." She shuffled the papers together and set them in front of m
Spain Dad's Question (a new blog feature) 2007-11-04 07:04:00 I'm a firm believer that "it takes a village to raise a child." I hope you don't mind me bragging on you all just a bit, but I think we have a diverse and thoughtful community here at Spain
Dad, and while I generally stick to writing stories, I've benefited from your practical parenting suggestions and questions in the comments. So, I've decided to add a new feature
called "Spain Dad's Question
." You'll notice the little box at the top of the right-hand sidebar. In this box I'll share my latest parenting question. Please click "Reply" to share thoughts, advice, or just to have a look at how others have answered my question.
I Heart Spain Dad 2007-11-01 16:21:00 Our good friends Kim and Rodrigo recently got married at Plaza Mayor here in Madrid. Kim sent me a link to their wedding photos, and I found this one with the following caption:It's your wedding day--what are you doing? "Looking at Spain
Dad!"I'm feeling the love, Kim. That's hard core!Here's a picture of the happy couple and their cute dog. Read more:Heart
I'm big. She's small. 2007-11-01 06:39:00 April watched from a bench close by as I lifted Alleke into my arms and set her again at the top of the slide.Alleke bit her lip with determination as she wiggled her way forward. until her weight pulled her over the edge, and she slid to the bottom.All the while, I watched her head, making sure she wouldn't bump it at the bottom. She was convinced she could do the slide all by herself, but I wasn't--not yet.At the bottom of the slide, she turned around and lowered herself into the sand, then darted off towards the entrance, a small break in the fence surrounding the playground.April got up from the bench and walked over. By the time we reached the entrance to the playground, Alleke was half way across the square, standing along the sidelines of a volleyball game being played by teens who had strung up a net between two lamp posts.We walked over. By then Alleke had spotted the ramp that connects the lower and upper levels of the square. She was at the bottom testing her footing o
ÁREA PARA NIÑOS DE 1 A 80 AÑOS 2007-11-07 05:25:00 A few days ago I walked down to the playground with Alleke and noticed that someone had scribbled on the sign at the entrance with a permanent marker. Where the sign used to read, "Area for kids ages 1 to 8," someone had drawn in a small zero with a smiley face in the middle. Now it read, "Area for kids ages 1 to 80."I took that as an invitation to plop down next to Alleke and dig my hands in the sand. Funny, none of the other parents decided to join me.For more, read about Alleke making friends at the playground, and oh yeah, the time she ate a cigarette butt in the sand.
Lost and Found 2007-11-06 04:47:00 Alleke sat on my lap in the lamp light. I read her the last words on the page and closed the book, then set it aside. I lifted her into my arms, gave her a kiss, and told her I loved her. Cracking open the door to the bedroom, I called for April--it was her turn to put Alleke to sleep. I shifted Alleke in my arms, looked around the room for her blankie, then walked over to the travel cot where she sleeps and looked inside. I bent in for a closer look.There, nested in Alleke's blankie, as if laid to rest by small fingers, was something I was not expecting--a 400g box of tomato sauce.
Further Thoughts on Adoption 2007-11-14 08:29:00 My parents used to go for walks, just the two of them, when the weather was good. My brother and sister and I were never invited to go with them, but they couldn't stop us from watching them from the tall windows in the living room as they wandered down the gravel road among the fields of black dirt, their eyes fixed on the sun slipping over the horizon, glowing like embers.April and I have been taking walks lately. We took one on Sunday. I pushed Alleke ahead of us in the stroller, and as we passed through the square, Alleke watched the boys on trick bikes, hopping on benches and bouncing around or popping wheelies and riding back and forth. It was like watching circus performers practice, and Alleke was amused, clapping her hands and kicking her legs in approval. Meanwhile, April and I talked about adoption. This time, we talked in concrete terms about what would actually have to happen if we were to adopt a child. The conversation was jumbled then, like a pile of unsorted lau Read more:Further
, Adoption
Alleke's first word 2007-11-13 02:12:00 Alleke learns her first word. Can you guess what it will be? Alleke's first word from Spain Dad on Vimeo. Read more:Alleke
Recommend Site To A Friend
