iChatting Rules!

We love to iChat.  For all you technologically challenged, it's live video conferencing.  For those of you who still don't understand, how are you using the internet?  Living far away from your family sucks, but being able to iChat is a great way to stay in touch and for them to keep up with Zoe.

Above are a couple screen shots of my most recent video conferencing experience.  I was iChatting with my sister in law, Suzanne Winn and her son Jaxon.  For months her link on my blog has been incorrect, so I am now fixing the problem and encouraging you to check out her blog!  She's a crafty mom with a crazy 4 year old boy.  And man, is he ALL boy!  She's got a great family and is such a kind, caring individual.  She always has something positive to say and I'm glad we're family!  So check out http://www.suzspeaks.com/ ... and, a fun little tidbit of information, she is the 6th top referral source for my blog!  Thanks for the traffic, sis! 

Peace,

-marc

Bloggin's hard.

Ya know, bloggin' aint as easy as it seems.  I started to blog yesterday, I really did.  This photo actually is from yesterday and I was going to tell you all about Zoe's stuffed animal, the JellyCat.  But I got distracted, and got distracted some more ... and by 10:00 pm when I thought: "Oh &*$# - I didn't blog", I didn't care. 

It aint easy comin' up with something interesting to say every day.  Obviously ... by the way this post is goin'.  I mean - waddya wanna know?  Zoe pooped today! :) Haha.  For real though, we (Zoe and I) dropped mommytard off at work early in the AM, came back, worked on our own stuff and then had lunch w/ my manager Rod.  He's totally in love with Zoe, it's cute.  Then we went to the park where we did "the loop" and I had a call with a potential client.  Now we're back, Zoe-Toes is swingin', gearin' up for her second nap of the day and I'm ... blogging! 

We're going on, what, the 4th week of being a stay-at-home dad?  Whew!  I listen to NPR a lot and hear that in "today's economy" (man, I hate saying "today's economy") there are a lot of stay-at-home dads.  Fathers have lost their jobs but the moms haven't so the dude stays home all day.  In fact, I see a lot of guys walkin' around w/ strollers and babies.  What's your take on this situation?  How do you feel about the roles being switched?  What's the first thing that comes to your mind when someone says "Stay At Home Dad"?  I wanna know!  Leave a comment and let's discuss.

Hope you guys are well.  I appreciate the readership.  Stay tuned!  I promise I'll keep thinkin' of something to write about. 

Peace,

-marc

Zoe Flips Over!

Now I really feel like a daddy blogger.  I'm uploading a video of my daughter flipping from her back to her belly.   It's a small accomplishment, but a newly learned trick and one she likes to do often now. Sometimes the small stuff is the biggest. Especially with a baby. We read online that babies who are 4 months old are really interested in what they can do, and are often quiet proud of things ... like flipping over! 

Muchos Gracias to my bonita senorita for guest blogging yesterday. I think she did great, don't you? I think it also inspired her to blog on her own blog, Life, Happiness, Peace. Awakening Bliss. Be sure to check out her 4 month photos of Zoe, as if you couldn't get enough. :)

Well, we have a busy week of this and that.

zoes first birthday party...

hola! Zoes mommy here, the awesome mom/ wife that the lovely mr. mom speaks so kindly of.
I have taken the tough responsibilty to "guest blog" for Marc today, as he is out making our family of 3 some dough... :)

I will tell you, a day of being mommy alone is not easy (so let's give Marc some major points, for playing this role daily!).... the day begun waking up at a BRIGHT and EARLY 9:00am for us... we dropped daddy off to work, and we headed over to our favorite spot for coffee, Ciao. Zoe and I shared some tea (she had milk) and breakfast, while Zoe smiled at all of her fans admiring her. She is quite the popular one, and LOVES the attention.

After a morning of tea and breakfast we headed on over to the local Target. Daddy is very happy anytime he is not "welcome" at Target, today was girls day!

We shopped, and shopped picking up only the necessities, and of course a few non necessities... and always a "sussy" (surprise) for daddy. Our main reason for a visit to target was to pick up a birthday gift for Zoe to take to her friend Aubrey on her 3rd birthday! This was Zoe's first birthday party to be invited to, and attend.

We then headed to Chuck-y-Cheese's for pizza, games, friends, and birthday fun! Zoe was once again a smiley happy, loving baby and had so much fun at her first birthday party! She got a sand bucket full of goodies for herself, including sunglasses, a jump rope, some necklaces, and graham crackers.

No pizza for Zoe this time, but I am sure she will be attending many more parties to come...

I will leave you with a few photos of Zoe at the party.

(if you're still reading this far I am impressed, and Marc will thank you for following in his absence.)

We are sending our love from Sherman Oaks, California to you and your family on this lovely Sunday evening. enjoy the last little bit of the weekend.

 

Time to go pick up daddy, and grab some dinner....

Cheers!

We Made It!

We actually made it to the park!  It's been raining for days straight and Zoe and I have been wanting to go for a while ... remember?   So we got all bundled up, got the stroller and made our "loop".  It's a beautiful day.

Not much must be going on if all I have to blog about is going to the park, huh?

Just another Saturday.  A little bit of pleasure mixed with a little bit of work.  Mommy's home and all is well in the Blackwell household!

What would you guys like to see me blog about?  A friend of mine, Miss Kayla, suggested I write about what's TOUGH about being a parent.  I'll probably do that next week.  Really gonna hafta stretch for that one cuz so far it's been a breeze!  (Sarcasm?)  :) 

Have a great weekend!

Much love,
-marc

Zoe is 4 Months Old!

4 months ago today was like any other Friday.  Stacey was off work, we decided to go to the hospital, and at 9:22 that evening we had a baby girl!  We named her Zoe Marcia Blackwell.  Zoe, a name that our great friend Michael Brown helped us find, and Marcia, for my late ma.

 

I didn't really comprehend being a dad until the moment she made her grand entrance.  I had talked to a lot of dads, read books and discussed almost everything with Stacey - but the first time I got to hold my daughter and look into her eyes I knew my life was changed forever.

 

Zoe is such a positive, pure and innocent human being.  It's nice to be around that type of person every day and all day.   I try to take lessons from Zoe's newness to life.  She smiles at everyone, understands only love, and doesn't have a negative bone in her body.

 

This beautiful girl with her stunning blue eyes is changing the world already, one person at a time.  Strangers on the streets, our friends, and especially us (me and Stacey) have changed dramatically for the better thanks to Zoe Marcia.  

 

Sometimes household chores take a backseat, but that's ok.  Everything gets done eventually and our family has really learned priorities.  I feel so grown up!

 

A candid family photo taken at Thanksgiving Dinner.  We're mucho in love.

Zoe on Christmas day.  She didn't really get the point of Christmas, but who does?  And she got to meet her entire family in Oklahoma.  It was 70 degrees in Cali and snowing and below freezing in OKso she got to experience the best of both seasons.

And this is Zoe today.  4 months old, on the dot.  She's so much more alert, fun. funny and sociable now more than ever.  We love this age, and look forward to the future when she's 8 months, 3 years, and 25!

Zoe, we, your parents love you.  Your entire family loves you.  You can change the world for the better.  You already are. 

Peace,

-marc

Zoe 1 Minute Old!

Zoe was born on Friday, September 25th, 2009 at 9:22pm.  This video is time-stamped at 09.25.2009 - 9:23pm.  Stacey and I looked through a lot of videos tonight and decided this was the best one to post. 

Tomorrow will be a big post in celebration of ... ...

Peace,
-marc