THE ODA MAE BABY BLOG

So Long Folks...

2007-02-19T08:37:00.000-06:00

Well, it's been fun. It's been real. It's even been real fun, but the time has come to move along. Thanks for all of the readership here at The Oda Mae Baby Blog. I hope you will all follow me over to...

The Famfare

Make sure to link to the new site, blogroll me and all that good stuff.

See you there!

Best wishes.

-Oda Daddy

Gettin' Ready for Bed

2007-02-16T21:39:00.000-06:00

Tonight, Oda Mae and I were playing around a little during bath time.

She loves it when I do this...

No, really...

Nite, nite...

-OD

Not 'Till Monday...

2007-02-15T21:33:00.000-06:00

Okay, I've decided not to start the new blog until Monday. That'll give me the weekend to finish things up a bit. I'll have more readers then anyway.

Here is a video that Oda Mae made yesterday. She would like you all to take a look. ENJOY!!!

-OD

Happy Valentines Day!

2007-02-14T22:09:00.000-06:00

A couple of things for today...

First of all, Happy Birthday to Oda Mae's new best friend, "Lucy Mae" who was born this afternoon. Yep, our friends got themselves a Valentines Baby, that's pretty cool. We'll have some very cute pictures up after we have a chance to go visit tomorrow.

Oda Mae had a very good Valentines...

Blog from the past...
Remember the hike last Fall?

Thursday, September 28, 2006

It's funny how God likes to play practical jokes on people. I really believe that God has a sense of humor. I believe that He wants us to grow, learn, and be spiritual and stuff, but at the same time He wants us to enjoy life and really check out the things He can do. Sometimes things happen to us and we don't understand why, but if you look really close there is probably some humor in it somewhere. A reason for everything I always say.

I'm not sure the "new" blog will be ready tomorrow or not. It might be. Just know that until it is, The Oda Mae Baby Blog will continue to run smoothly. If it is not ready tomorrow, it'll be ready in a few days. I've got some "bugs" to work out still (both in my head and on the computer). I'd really like the new blog to be something special so I just want to make sure that everything is the way it should be.

So, until tomorrow, here or there....

-OD

It's Cold Outside

2007-02-13T15:49:00.000-06:00

We can't wait to have days like this again...

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

We are currently having difficulties with the "New" blog site. Hopefully I'll have it up and running on Thursday, but don't be disappointed if it isn't there yet. Don't forget, I'll put up a link here at The Oda Mae Baby Blog as soon as it is ready.

-OD

Oda Momma is Too Cool!!!!!!

2007-02-12T08:25:00.000-06:00

Oda Momma got to get her picture taken with the one, the only, Willie Nelson this weekend over at the Nokia Theater. It was a benifit concert so I didn't get to go 'cause tickets were $500.00 each for the cheap ones. However, I did get to play one song with the one, the only, Nanci Griffith over at Bass Hall. I know, I know...I said the same thing, "Who's Nanci Griffith?". You gotta take what you can get.

Some of my favorite blog post have been when we go out for outings. Like this one when we went to the park.

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

A couple posts from the past....

2007-02-11T17:50:00.000-06:00

This post on Friday, March 24, 2006 inspired this post of

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Totally Funny!!!!!!

-OD

Becoming a SAHD

2007-02-10T22:28:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite post of all time was the series of posts I did on the day of the "Big Experiment". We were going to try out the whole stay-at-home-dad thing. Oda Momma went out for the day and Oda Mae and I spent the the day together, just the two of us for the first time.

You'll have to scroll down to the very bottom of the page to start reading this series.

Friday, June 3, 2005

-OD

Wakin' Up

2007-02-09T18:57:00.000-06:00

Here's a pic of Oda Mae wakin' up from this afternoons nap. I should have taken pics of Oda Momma and I as well just wakin' up from a nap today too.

Today's look at the past was a pic I took of Oda Mae when she was playing Star Wars!

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

All Good Things....

2007-02-08T14:20:00.000-06:00

Like I said last week, it's been more than two years since I started this blog. I believe that things have run their course. I tend to not be posting very much and even the pics have slowed way down. I still enjoy blogging. I still enjoy taking care of Oda Mae. It just seems that there really needs to be a change. Next Wednesday, February 14th will mark the end of The Oda Mae Baby Blog.

I'll keep the site up for a while while I begin archiving my little journal of the last 2 1/2 years. I can't tell you how much fun I've had with this project. I started way back on Saturday, August 21, 2004, with my first blog post. Since then we've gone through pregnancy. We had a little girl. I became a stay-at-home-dad. And now, Oda Mae is very quickly turning into a little kid. How crazy is that. After Oda Mae was born several people asked me if I was going to keep posting. Well, it was more like..."You ARE going to keep posting, AREN'T YOU????!!!!!" And of course I said yes.

This blog has helped me stay in touch with my family and friends. I've even been able to make some new friends through the "Mommy" and "Daddy" bloggers network I have over there to the right. It's really nice to know I'm not the only one in the world who is staying home with their kid. It's even better to know that we all have the same problems, questions and concerns. These are the reasons that I've decided to start a new blog. The new blog will begin on February 15, 2007 at a currently "undisclosed" location. Like I said, I just need a change. I've been working on new projects that I really didn't think were appropriate for the "Baby Blog"; I have lots of new ideas that I'd like to talk about, and that will give the new blog a personality of its own. On the 14th I'll put up a link to the new site. I hope to see you all there!

In the meantime, this week I'll be linking to my favorite posts of all time from The Oda Mae Baby Blog. I think that would be a very nice way of bring things to a close.

My first look back at TOMBB is the post where Oda Momma and I told our families the good news.
Wednesday, August 25, 2004

-OD

Little Miss Grownin' up...

2007-02-01T14:40:00.000-06:00

More that two years have passed since I started this blog. Since that time I've come to learn a lot about my self, a lot about Allison, and a lot about what I want out of life. Recently, I realized that Oda Mae is not a baby anymore. She is turning into a wonderful little girl. (with the exception of that whole "NO" thing.) This week, I've found that it is easier to teach her something new and positive rather than to try and get her to stop saying "NO". We are working on "Yes (NO), sir", etc. It seems to be taking a little bit of the edge off of "NO". We'll see how things turn out in the coming weeks.

Doing this, I've realized that now is the time to begin teaching her good manners. All of the "magic" words, being polite around other kids; all that kind of stuff. I hope that I'm not starting too late. Hind sight is 20/20 you know. I look back and see where I could have been doing so much more all this time. Please don't let my kid turn out to be a hoodlum!!!!

I suppose all parents feel this way; not knowing if they are doing the right things or doing them enough. I figure that ultimately, she will turn out to be the person she is meant to be. What ever that means. I can just try to teach her not only to look out for herself, but to watch out for others as well.

In the meantime, we'll play with our Little People, try to keep food off of the floor, and learn cool stuff like hopping like a frog. Speaking of Little People, we had a pretty big hit yesterday. Go check them out....

EDIT: Of course, after I make this blog post, this evening Oda Mae goes and sticks mac-n-cheese up her nose. I really wanted not to laugh, but I just couldn't help it. Someday I'll have a picture of that to show to future suitors.

-OD

NO!

2007-01-30T20:08:00.000-06:00

Yep, she learned it. I don't know exactly when or where, but she's got it down. It all happend after Oda Mae went to go spend the night with Aunt Sis last week. (Now I'm wondering exactly what they did that night.) The last couple of days, Oda Mae has been running around the house saying "No...No...No...No...". "Do you want your juice?", "NO!". "Let's go change your diaper.", "NO!". "Will you help Momma pick up your toys?", "NO!". "Are you sleepy?", "NO!"

You get the idea.

Oda Momma told me yesterday that someone told her that if you can make it past 2, then when she turns 3, she would be really fun. Oda Mae isn't even 2 yet. I'm not so sure I'm going to make it that far!

On another, more fun note, Oda Mae had her first beater today....

On an even more happier note, me and Oda Momma are going to eat a piece of what that beater made while watching an episode of Smallville. Woo Hoo!!!

-OD

Since Nov. 13

2007-01-23T22:21:00.000-06:00

Since November 13th I've been running and practising a lot. My chops are in pretty good shape now (first time since Oda Mae was born) and I've lost 25 lbs. The audition was Monday morning. I did not play as well as I could have. That's how auditions are, kind of a crap shoot. Sometimes you play well sometimes you don't. It wasn't awful mind you, but it wasn't good enough. I came home from D.C. a day early and about $300.00 less in the old bank account. (Auditions are expensive!)The good thing is that I know the person who won. I play as well or better than he does. It just goes to show that it's all up to who plays the best on that particular day.

There is another audition coming up in about two months for a group in Ohio. Over the next couple of weeks I'll consider whether or not I want to audition for them or not. It's a pretty big gig, so I'll have to really think about it.

In the mean time, I'll just keep doing this...

...it's not so bad really.

Tomorrow, Oda Momma leaves for a couple of days so it'll just be me and Oda Mae. Maybe we'll do a little photo shoot or something to make us all feel better.

That is all.

-OD

Snow Day!!!!

2007-01-17T09:28:00.000-06:00

Maw

2007-01-16T08:44:00.000-06:00

The "Oda" family lost someone very special to us last week. We know that she is in a better place now.

We love you Maw!

I like the Wizard of Oz...

2007-01-06T19:24:00.000-06:00

I like the Tin Man.

-OD

Picture courtesy of Nonchalant Savant.

Cue End Credits

2007-01-03T22:27:00.000-06:00

Today was the last day of class for The Little Gym this semester. I have to admit that Oda Mae and I were both a little skeptical about going to such a place back in August. We were going to be out some $$$ for a whole semester of "play" time. I was worried that we wouldn't really be getting our money's worth. Since I stay at home during the day, I can do all sorts of stuff with her without somebody telling me what we should do. Our first day, if you'll remember left something to be desired.

Looking back, I'm really glad we enrolled for the Fall semester. She has learned so much. She loves to run in circles now; she hangs on the bars better than anyone else in the class; she can almost walk on the balance beam by herself. All of these little tasks are great, but the real sense of accomplishment is seeing her become more and more social and seeing how much she can learn in such a short amount of time. I have to say also, that I've grown as well. Today at The Little Gym, I had no less than five little kids (besides my own) hanging around me want to play ball, look at bubbles, and sit in my lap. What a great feeling! There were a couple of sessions this semester that I would rather have been sitting in an office somewhere doing paperwork. There were times when I wish Oda Mae and I could have just stayed home, but I'm happy that we didn't. We have both adjusted very well. I'm not that weird man who comes to the gym with his kid and all the other mothers now. I'm "Allison's Daddy", and I'm okay with that.

Every week we also go to story time after Little Gym. The first few weeks Oda Mae was pretty restless, and now she pretty much sits and soaks everything in.

Next week we start the Winter/Spring session and we can't wait!

Oda Mae and I have started "school" at home. It's an organized time for us to work together on stuff like letters, numbers, phonics, pictures, simple words, etc. After some thought, I decided that while we've been working on this type of stuff for quite a while, I would be able to keep up with her if I had a set time and a set "curriculum" to work on every day. The last 2-3 months have been amazing. Allison learns so fast and picks up new things every day. Hopefully, I'll be able to keep up with her now. For a while there she was having several "pouting" and "crying" sessions a day. I look back now and see that she was just bored and needed something to do. That's my fault. The last few weeks have been VERY positive. She just wants to learn.

-OD

2007

2007-01-01T18:04:00.000-06:00

The "Oda" Family would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year!

Christmas Day

2006-12-27T21:45:00.000-06:00

Yep, we made it all the way through Christmas night. We had a wonderful Christmas holiday. Thanks to all the fam for fitting us in! Still one more to go on the 1st.
The theme this year for the big gift give-a-way, "If you build it, they will come." You're gonna want my present!

-OD

Merry Christmas!!!!

2006-12-25T02:16:00.000-06:00

Just got home from my 3 service Christmas Eve gig. I decided to blog tonight since I wouldn't have any time tomorrow (ummm, today). We had two more Christmas celebrations today and had a wonderful time at both. Oda Mae is very much liking the whole opening presents thing. Here are a couple of pics from the days activities.

Warning!!! Sappy Christmas Message...

This evening on my way home in the rain, I saw a very terrible accident. It reminded me that I/We need to take the time to think about what Christmas means. There is one and only one reason we celebrate Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. We give gifts to each other in remembrance of what God has given to us (if we choose to accept that gift). Most people tend to forget that. All the lights, decorations, celebrations have meaning other than they are just pretty and fun. It is my hope that everyone who reads my blog will at least give some thought this year about what Christmas really means.

Now, I have to go to my "second" gig tonight. I think Santa is going to come to my house very soon!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

-OD

Christmas Eve Eve

2006-12-23T21:35:00.000-06:00

One down, four more to go...

"The Jones'"

2006-12-22T08:32:00.000-06:00

Here is a pic I took of our neighbor putting up Christmas lights. Ha Ha Ha.....He makes me laugh.

-OD

Christmas Lights 2006

2006-12-21T11:11:00.000-06:00

Just in case you're wondering....18,701.

What does Oda Mae want for Christmas?

2006-12-19T14:34:00.000-06:00

Click HERE* and find out.

*Or you could just contribute to her college fund.

(Okay, that's all I'm saying.)

-OD