Dads Who Really Do Nothing

Big City Mom recently wrote on being a mother who does nothing.

There is no greater task than the nothing you did yesterday, the nothing you are doing today, and the nothing you will do tomorrow. Caring for a baby is all about the immediate experience, yet the first two years are all about investment. It’s give, give, give, and give some more. These are hard-fought, rough-and-tumble years that can cut us down to our core and take us soaring high above the clouds, all in the space of 5 minutes. And yes, as you do the hardest work of your life, it will seem like you’re not getting anything done at all. Crazy, huh?

Our daughter was born 18 months ago and I've loved every minute of being a father. I was fortunate to take one week off prior to her birth and followed it with another 4 months. Both my wife and I were home for those crucial months and I wish everyone this opportunity. Furthermore, I wish that our society put these initial months of nurturing as a number one priority - but that's another topic. Leaving for the first time was difficult but each time after that has been equally just as hard, if not harder.

I'm blessed that my occupation enables me to dedicate 100% of my time off with our daughter. I couldn't have asked for it any other way. There are times where I would rather enjoy a stress free shower without the worry of her crying, a little gaming here and there, but singing along with her during the intro to Sofia the First, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood or even Dr. McStuffins, brings me joys that I can't even speak of. Watching her feet wiggle with happiness when I feed her or teaching her baby sign language trumps mashing buttons, reading technology news and yes, even flying.

My day usually entails changing her nighttime diaper, changing her into "outdoor" clothes, playing with her, feeding her, changing her diaper, playing some more, followed by a delicious 1.5 hour (or more!) nap, then doing the same that afternoon until my wife comes home.

I'm able to get a few things done around the house, but it's even more amazing how much my wife is able to accomplish. She cooks, cleans, does laundry and washes the dishes. She even plans big parties including writing and mailing her mother's invitations for her upcoming 60th birthday party. All this with our daughter still nursing and sometimes throwing small temper tantrums. Not to mention, the previous month where our daughter was sick almost the entire time proved to the hardest yet, but we got through it together. Compared to me, I'm beat from hanging out and literally doing nothing. I like to call it playing hard.

At the end of the day, I sometimes find myself still in pajamas! After we lay her to bed, my wife and I cuddle on the couch and reflect on the past months. Sometimes we think that we haven't done anything barely remembering the first couple of months, but we come to the realization how amazing life truly is. There's no need or want to do anything else but hold her, hang out with her and play. Sometimes I have to resist the urge to wake her up and play more!

Yes, my wife and I joyfully co-sleep with our daughter on the floor of her room. I really don't understand the need to ever sleep in separate beds, or rooms for that matter, especially during these first two years. Maybe it's me being away for days at a time that I rather be with my entire family. I have friends, some with and others without kids, that look at us like we must be in a living hell, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Our setup makes it rather lonely when I leave and stay in the bed of a hotel in a distant city. I love my family so much and the happiness from being together is truly wonderful.

Sometimes we're able to get things together and venture outside the house. When we do, the beach is usually our go to. There are a few times that I look back and really have to think about what I've done, but then my daughter gives the biggest smile and I know exactly, right there, that what I'm doing is all I need to do. Did I mention, I love my family!

Ultimately, the days go by too fast. She's growing up too quickly but I always cherish every day and every minute I get with her.

Stop and Use Honest

Since the birth of our daughter, my wife and I were already all about Jessica Alba's company, Honest. In fact, I was so eager to check them out that I ordered a sample a few months prior to her being born and even scheduled our first bundle to ship while we were still at the hospital! We've been subscribers ever since and haven't looked back.

In lieu of recent events of allergies, particularly to methylisothiazolinone (MI), popping up, I thought I'd reiterate their not only effective, but unquestionably safe, eco-friendly, beautiful, convenient, and affordable philosophy. If you haven't read the report on NBC News, I'd get on it then head over to Honest and try out a free sample. Here's a small excerpt:

Dr. Robin Gehris said she has been seeing more and more kids with reactions to the wipes. It’s possible, she said, that this is because manufacturers have bumped up the amount of MI used in wipes 25-fold.

Being the cautious father I am, I still felt compelled to look up the ingredients of the Best, Natural, Plant-Based Baby Wipes by Honest and wasn't surprised at all that it DID NOT contain MI. Here are all the ingredients:

Purified Water, Citric Acid (Fruit-Based Stability Agent), Silver Dihydrogen Citrate (All Natural, Water-Soluble Preservative), Decyl Glucoside (Sugar-Based Cleanser), Sodium Citrate (Corn-Based Antioxidant), Punica Granatum (Pomegranate Fruit) Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis (Licorice Root) Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Chamomile) Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber Fruit) Extract, Peucedanum Ostruthium (Masterwort Leaf) Extract

You can read more about Jessica and Chris' story here. Once again, it DOES NOT contain methylisothiazolinone (MI). Go grab a bag and try them out!

Trade in your Starbucks for Tonx!

If you haven't been on aware, I'm an avid coffee drinker. My morning ritual the past 18 months goes as this:

• I select the 15 grind setting on my Baratza Virtuoso and start it immediately after my Medelco Glass Kettle starts screaming.
• I then pour the hot water into my Hario Buono Kettle, pour my freshly ground beans in my Able Brewing Kone Filter which sits upon a Hario V60 02 Drip Ceramic Filter, aiming for a 27g/360ml water to coffee ratio over 3:00 minutes.
• I pour for 30 seconds to 60g, then wait another 30 seconds for bloom.
• I take a huge whiff of the brew, and then pour another 120g to stopping at 180 and rest for another 20 seconds. Then I top it off reaching 360.

It might seem complicated but believe me, the cup is FRESH and it really isn't that much of a hassle! This past Christmas, I brought the setup to a friend's house and had a great time making coffee for everyone!

So, I'm telling you all this as one of my favorite coffee roasters, just this morning, launched a Starbucks to better coffee exchange program! You read that right! Trade in your Starbucks gift cards for dollar-to-dollar credit towards a Tonx subscription and get the freshest beans delivered straight to your door!

OUR PHILOSOPHY

We Source. We Roast. We Ship. You Brew. At Tonx, we believe great coffee starts with great beans and the best cup of coffee can be made easily at home. That’s why we source from top producers, roast to perfection, and ship our beans within hours of completion. Our brew guides and expert staff will have you brewing the best cup of coffee in no time.

They line up an oddly priced $38 Starbucks gift card to 8 frappucinos, or 11 cappuccinos, or 17 drip coffees, vs 48 cups of "carefully sourced, expertly roasted, super fresh coffee." I couldn't agree more.

Trust me, this isn't a marketing scheme. The coffee that I have received from Tonx over the past year has been some of the best mornings ever! The only benefit for me is that if you use my link, I earn credit towards my coffee habit too.

Tonx has made it really easy for you too! Just head to https://tonx.org/better/new and enter your Starbucks card number and security code, then it will enter a que to which it will be covered to Tonx subscription credit! I'm in the midst of trading in my $25 that I received for Christmas. It's like upgrading your gift!

Yay for Slice!

If you haven't used the app called Slice (iOS / Android / Web), here's a great write up by my wife Adelle on her recent experience.

Yay for Slice!

by Adelle Nicolas:

Two weeks ago I had purchased a pair of Corso Como 'Famenka' Flat Nude 6.5 M on Nordstrom.com as a gift to myself for my new job. Nordstrom was in the midst of their Half Yearly sale, so I got a pretty amazing deal on the flats and bought them for under $40!

About a week later, I received a notification on my phone from the Slice app (iOS / Android / Web) that alerted me of a $10 price drop in the shoes I had purchased. The Slice Team also sent me an email about my Nordstrom purchase and included a link to the item I purchased with the new adjusted price, my order number, as well as Nordstrom's customer service number so I could inquire about my refund. I used all the information I was given and talked to Jeff in customer service and I was quickly and kindly refunded the $10 on my credit card. I ended up getting a 50% discount on some very comfortable flats thanks to Slice!

If you have any questions about privacy, you can check out their FAQ. Most importantly, the most asked about question, I've posted here for direct reference.

Does Slice store my password to my email account?

Slice uses a secure protocol called OAuth (oauth.net) to allow for authorization to your Gmail, Yahoo! Mail or Outlook.com account. For these accounts, the authentication happens between you and Gmail, Yahoo or Outlook.com, and we never even see the password you enter for your email accounts. OAuth is used by many popular websites, such as Facebook, Twitter, Netflix and of course, Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft.

For mail providers that do not support OAuth, like AOL, iCloud/MobileMe, Comcast and Cox, we will need to store your email passwords to be able to process your receipts. The passwords will be stored and encrypted in a separate, secure database.

The One Card in your Wallet Should be Coin

Trying to slim your wallet down? Check out the latest and greatest that gives you access to ALL your cards with one truly amazing piece of plastic! Introducing Coin. Watch this video and be amazed! Use this link and order now! http://youtu.be/w9Sx34swEG0

Dropcam Pro Available Now!

I just placed my order for Dropcam's newest product the Dropcam PRO. The upgraded camera offers 2x sharper image quality, 8x zoom, 130 degree field of view, and an enhanced two-way talk compared to the previous model now simply called Dropcam. With the previous year old model having over 1100 reviews on Amazon including the numerous best sellers rankings such as:

• #10 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• #4 in Camera & Photo > Surveillance Cameras
• #5 in Electronics > Security & Surveillance
• #5 in Baby > Safety > Monitors

It's also no brainer that with only a week on the market, the HD model has already shot to the top!

• #1 in Home Improvement > Safety & Security > Home Security & * Surveillance > Complete Surveillance Systems
• #1 in Electronics > Security & Surveillance
• #1 in Camera & Photo > Surveillance Cameras

I should be receiving it tomorrow and will let you know how easy the setup is in real life, host an unboxing video and some sample real life pictures. I also opted in for the 7-day CVR for an additional $99 providing me a 1-year contract. I'm excited!

For a further in-depth, turn to Dan Desilva on 9to5mac.

The new Dropcam Pro is a tremendously easy to setup and offers great audio/video quality for consumers and small businesses. The addition of Bluetooth LE, dual-band Wi-Fi, and a wider field of view are all worthy updates that help make the Dropcam Pro one of the best Wi-Fi video monitoring systems available. It truly makes >checking in on any location as simple as can be thanks to the iOS and Android mobile apps.

It's Nest Protect for Me and My Family

I've been enthralled with the Nest Thermostat since its debut but have had no reason for one since our heater is the sole provider in my central air system. I've been actively looking for excuses to purchase one and yes, that does include installing a full-blown system replacing our 32-year-old furnace and installing air conditioning. Money isn't quite there yet so that option will have to wait but that brings me to the first exciting Nest product that I can purchase: The Nest Protect Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector. I posted about its debut a few days ago but I've since had many deep thoughts leading me to preorder three devices.  Use the video below to get re-acquainted. http://youtu.be/QXp-LYBXwfo

From researching online and looking up various building codes, I've come to the conclusion that I do not need to have my system hard-wired (being built pre 1992 with no major reconstruction and upgrades since the original construction) and that I'm okay with how my current two detectors upstairs system works. Both are mounted in the main hallway immediately outside of the sleeping quarters.  I would love to go all the way and install one in each bedroom, but once again, that's quite a huge increase in expense.  I want to say that my current smoke detectors are hard-wired but since the Protect has the ability to connect via WiFi, crosstalk and monitor each other, I would love to make sure that I have the power to provide to these little guys.  There are a few limitations to having the battery-powered versions, but nothing that subtracts from the feature set.

The third Nest Protect is to accommodate a new installation downstairs for the family room primarily for CO leaks coming from the garage area.  Once again, at $129 a piece, it's no easy decision.  What makes it more palatable is the fact that it's primarily for my daughter and future kids. Knowing that this system is that much better that every current product out on the market, my family not only deserves the best but it'll provide me the peace of knowing that they are taken care of when I'm out away on a trip.

For some current laws, I've posted them below for your viewing and educational pleasure. You can also reference the California Registry website which provides more details into all the various building codes.

1) New Construction If the house has undergone any major additions, renovations, or repairs since August 14, 1992 that exceeds $1,000 in cost and for which a permit is required, a smoke detector must be installed in each bedroom in addition to being centrally located in the corridor or area outside the bedroom. In newly constructed areas, the smoke detector must be hardwired with a battery backup. (California Building Code § 907.2.10.5.2.)

2) Wiring or Batteries For homes built before 1992, smoke detectors may be battery operated. Newer homes or homes that have undergone major construction require hardwired smoke detectors with a battery backup, as stated in the California Building Code.

3) Sleeping Areas In homes built before 1992, smoke detectors must be centrally located outside each sleeping area. Depending on the floor plan, one or several smoke detectors may be needed. For instance, a two-story house with bedrooms upstairs and downstairs will need two smoke detectors, one centrally located outside each area. On the other hand, a two-story house with bedrooms on the second floor will need only one smoke detector if the bedrooms are all in the same area. If the home was built after 1992 or has undergone major repairs or construction, the California Building Code requires the installation of smoke detectors in each bedroom, and in each corridor or hallway near each sleeping area.

I do wish that Nest would provide an estimated shipping date. I'll of course gladly take a sample unit too to review =)

Happy Parenting

As WSJ reports, being a parent and taking care of your child is much more enjoyable than going to work. I don't know why this would be a surprise but its definitely nothing new to me. I love spending time with my little Norah and lovely wife and being an airline pilot doesn't help. We definitely need to reset our priorities.

Being a parent isn’t easy. But many Americans apparently feel much happier when they’re caring for children than when they’re working. In fact, caring for children brings nearly as much happiness as leisure time.

Nest Introduces its Smoke Detector "Protect"

Since I've been unable to take advantage of Nest's first product, I'm rather excited about their second! Introducing the Nest Protect! It talks, doesn't annoyingly chirp, communicates to your smartphone and of course it's priced at a premium for $129. (approximately 6x the average selling price of today's smoke / CO2 detectors)

“We’re about creating the conscious home,” Fadell says. “To take a truly important device that has had no great innovation and make that device really, really great.”

http://youtu.be/gByupKn8-Mg

via Wired and The Verge