Spring is HERE!

It's been a great early spring weekend! Friday was a perfectly sunny day. It was still cold, but there was a spring feel to the crisp air. I wanted to go on a photo safari but I also had our weekend grocery shopping to do. Instead I took a long, rambling drive into the city. The terrain around our new home is not what I had expected before we came to Wisconsin. I'd thought it was all flat. The area we settled is on the edge of the Driftless Area. It feels a lot like Western PA.



After shopping I ran into Freja's preschool early. It was fun to spend some time there with her. She spent most of it showing off for me, riding a tricycle around and around. I never knew she could move so fast on one!



On Saturday the temperature climbed almost 30°! The winds were also too strong to spend a lot of time outside, so we just relaxed around our apartment. In the early afternoon we walked to our favorite place in town, The Grumpy Troll. We really love their Baltic Porter!




Today, Sunday, the weather was truly the first day we felt that winter is OVER! Warm sun, no need for jackets, and mostly dry ground to hike on. After a leisurely morning we went to nearby Pleasant Valley Conservancy. This is easily becoming a favorite place to go and just relax. Today we also met the land owners, and found out more about their organization. I'm tempted to volunteer there.



As we left the apartment, I outfitted my camera for shooting birds. I had a feeling this would be a good day for it. The very first thing we encountered was a pair of newly returned Sandhill Cranes! Then the owner of the conservancy alerted me that she'd seen a Red-headed Woodpecker. We have so many woodpeckers back in PA that I truly thought it was going to be a species I'd seen before. It was a great surprise to find out I hadn't.




SPRING!!

It's Been Busy...

It's been a busy time, so I haven't spent time updating this blog. We've been getting ready to move into the new house, dealing with our old house, and doing a lot of family stuff. The time is flying by! The funny thing is, I haven't felt like shooting much this month. Even a week long trip back to PA with Freja didn't stir me to shoot.



One of the things we've been doing is exploring the new home range, which I expect is something we'll do for years. We've discovered great places to enjoy a leisurely coffee on a Sunday morning, as well some of the local attractions. Teri and I have even had a day time date thanks to great sitter! I have to admit, we're also spending more time around the new house, walking the neighborhood and driving by to look at the house.





Another thing that had me busy was taking care of Freja. She had a minor bought with strep throat. Nothing serious as it was caught just as it started. She also had an infected, ingrown toe nail that was soar. First she was ill, and then I took her to the old house back in PA for over a week. Ten days of just the two of us was really nice.




Just a couple of weeks to go until we move!

Short Break from Blog

I couldn't take it anymore. After two weeks without my wife and daughter I had to see them. Yesterday I loaded up the car and headed to Wisconsin. The only internet connection I have until friday is my Droid, so there will be no new posts until then. All I have time to say now is how good it is to be with them. Freja has changed a LOT. She also has a bad cold, so I kept her home with me... I never thought I'd be so happy she has a runny nose!

Involved Alright!!

My wife just pointed out that my previous two posts made it seem like she wasn't involved in the raising of our daughter to this point. Nothing is further from the truth! When my wife is home from work, she is completely involved. In fact, when she is home I get little time with Freja as she all she wants to do is be with mommy!



While Teri did work a lot of crazy hours, one week for instance she put in around 90 hours, when she was home, she truly was home. Her commitment to our family, and how loving and nurturing she is are part of the reason I'd married her. I can't think of anyone better suited to be a parent. As I write this I miss her so terribly much and cannot wait to finish with our old house!

Also, she says the frogs were her idea. I'm sure she's right. My memory isn't always as accurate as it should be!

Intrepid Explorer

The first time we all went to Madison, WI was in late June, 2011. We went to an interview for a job being offered my wife. We'd spent a lot of time investigating the area, mainly using Google Earth. Being that we may end up here I'd taken Freja exploring. It was a warm, sunny day, so a beach seemed like the best idea.



I knew from looking at satellite images about where to find a small park. It had a tiny, little, mostly wild beach. Freja immediately began to comb the waterline, looking for treasure. I love how she can immerse herself in the simple act of exploring everyday objects. A side effect from us always being alone, aside from becoming socially inexperienced, is how imaginative she's becoming. Things I think most adults take for granted are wondrous objects of expression.





I'd expected her to get soaked, so I'd packed her swimsuit. She played for over an hour by herself. We saw ducks, and chased butterflies. I watched her litteraly chase a yellow one for over ten minutes, eventually picking up with her fingers. She even found treasure in some loose change.

Eventually some small children did come, but they didn't know how to deal with this overly friendly, "play with me, kid." She didn't know how to play with them, though she kept trying in own unique way. With time, she'll sort it out though. She was only 3 years old...

Viking Tomboy

So my daughter is acting out at preschool, which doesn't surprise me. New town, new apartment, mommy's back to work and daddy is GONE! Then we throw her into a crowded building full of people and kids she doesn't know. Naturally, she's going to go at in her own, unique way.

The thing about my daughter is, instead of mommy being the primary parent, I am. When Teri and I agreed to get married we came up with a plan. I'll detail that conversation later. For now let's just say part of our plan was for me to quit the museum and become a stay at home dad.

Skip forward 14 months and Freja is born, soon there after Teri went back to work and I was the one who took over full care. From the beginning, even before she was born, I'd begun my role. I carried her everywhere I went, strapped to my chest. While I always took precautions to make sure she was safe, we began to adventure.



At first, when she was so small she slept facing my chest, we just went for walks around the neighborhood. But as she grew we began to branch out. With a year we'd go for hikes along trails in all seasons. I could sense her need to explore and adventure, and it echoed my own. I was going to open the world for my daughter.


Most of those photos were taken by Teri.

While we enjoyed a lot of adventures as we explored, we were almost always alone unless mommy was with us. I'd tried to join play groups, all of which are run by women around Greensburg, PA. I was told I couldn't join because I'm a man. So she didn't have a lot of chances to actually play with other kids. It was usually just us, with me being the one she was with the most. We've had some great times too!

Like the frogs we just raised from eggs to adults. We went out and collected them together, then raised them in her room using two aquariums. It was an interesting learning experience for us both.



So instead of dolls, we played in nature, but I did try to teach her about cooking. We ran around playgrounds all the time, and went for hikes. Boating and swimming, exploring and creating art, the days flew by.

Anyway, so now she's acting out at school. I'm told she's only comfortable interacting in small groups. That she objectifies people and has no boundaries. When my wife was there she acted out, doing crazy stunts like lying down in puddles and showing off. She just needs time and patience, and for me to get back in her life full time. This staying behind to finish the house renovations was a great idea on paper, but the reality stinks.

I know she just needs time to learn how to interact with other people. I also know how she pushes boundaries to see how far she can go. If I'm being told she doesn't have any, then I worry perhaps no one is imposing any. Until I actually get out there, I won't know for sure what is going on. I'll be home soon. It must all be so confusing to her. She's not even four years old. It's tough on a little girl when you're raised by a man in his 40's. We don't play with dolls...

A Hand in My Chest

Coming back to an empty house was a lot harder than I thought. All I can see are "ghosts" of the past. For the first couple of days I had trouble sleeping, and just walking around the place makes me feel as if there's a hand in my chest, squeezing. It's as if I've lost them, even though I know there in Mount Horeb, and I'll see them again. It all happened to fast! From the time I met Teri until now has been a blur. It's hard to work on the house.



I took a short drive just to get out of the house. I made the mistake of going to Mount Odin Park, where I took this photo. It was a mistake to go there. This was the park that Freja and I went to the most. On the way back from grocery shopping we'd often play here before going home. I've not felt this sense of melancholy in many, many years. All I could do is reminisce.



I have to snap out of it...

Off to School You Go

It was Freja's first day of school. She's attending the Preschool of the Arts. It's a great school that uses the Reggio Emilia approach to teaching. A method we feel is ideally suited to her personality.



I'm sure it's going to be a big adjustment for her. First we moved to a new city, then she began school and then I head back to the old house for about a month to wrap things up. I hope she handles it as well as a 3 year old can.



The staff of the really has impressed us with how much they're willing to be flexible and understanding of our circumstances. First in allowing her to begin late, and then allowing us to add afternoon daycare for the month that I am gone. They also seemed to be able to integrate Freja into the class even though she's so new to the experience.

Of course, after only her first week we were called because she'd stuck a wad of tissue up her nose and couldn't get it out... oh brother.