So much changes in a short time...

We all know that life goes fast and a lot can change in a short time, but here is a photographic reminder...

August 4, 2010


April 13, 2011


Don J.

Learn to Dad Easy Meal review - PF Changs Home Menu

I have been spoiled by Renee's cooking ability for more than eight years now, but it is hard to whip up a meal with Joshua in hand.

That leaves some cooking duties to me, so the overall level of culinary capability in the Johnson kitchen is suffering.

Soooo... easy meals are the order of the day lest we have sandwiches every day.

Frozen skillet meals are simple enough, so here is a quick review of one of the better ones I have found – PF Changs Home Menu Orange Chicken.

Serves two-

Per serving:

450 calories

16g fat

1030mg sodium

19g protein

27g sugar

The packaging says "Meals for 2," but that is optimistic. It really needs some rice or noodles to fill out the plate and the stomach.

It is tasty though, as frozen easy meals go. The orange is very pronounced and spice is lacking, but there is plenty of chicken in the mix. Next time I would throw in some pepper or cayenne for kick, but we like it spicy!

What are your favorite easy meals? I'm pretty handy in the kitchen, but time is of the essence.

Breastfeeding - A primer for new dads

OK, so basically, there really are lots of good reasons to go the natural route and breastfeed new babies. Millions of formula-fed people seem ok, but statistics still show benefits, so if it works for the lovely mom, then that is awesome.

But know that it is also a commitment for dads. Breastfeeding is time consuming, painful, cumbersome, painful, difficult, inconvenient, painful and also painful.

Did I mention painful? Yikes. I thought Renee might need a stick to bite on for a while there. Seriously, I'm not sure why this doesn't get more press. Everybody talks about the pain of having the baby, but it was afterwards that my awesome mom-in-law mentioned that she found the feeding more painful than the birth.

And it seems like it would be... that is a sensitive area on a good day, now grab with rubber pliers until raw, rinse and repeat. Reason #73 I am very happy to be male.

While I cannot help with the pain and suffering directly, Renee has noted that just being supportive can help her tolerate the painful part.

Say supportive things, sympathize without going overboard, and encourage.

More importantly, do more than just think about it... take action.

Do the housework that allows her the time to breastfeed. Bring her books, snacks, drinks ... whatever it takes for her to sit and be comfortable. And also take shifts with the baby to make sure the mom gets rest.

And we aren't even to really pumping yet... yikes.

Couch as baby posing spot

Even before the new addition to our household last week it was clear that a lot of my friends and family expected large quantities of photos. Many asked, "Are you going to take lots of pictures?"

Which I think was a rhetorical question because I take lots of pictures of much more mundane stuff than my own new baby.

What is remarkable is that simply having a new baby at home alters what was previously a good chunk of free time, sleep time and such, so actually setting up and taking photos is quite a task.

But we did need some baby pics so here you go. Couches make great baby photo spots, just drape a cloth on there and you have a nice seamless spot, black, white or otherwise. These are all taken with a single 500ws monolight turned way down low with a 2x2 softbox.

Softbox in close...


... can make the baby cranky. Turning on room lights to get their pupils closed a bit seems to help with the flash-shock.


Black background, moved the light up almost to the ceiling (about 10')for a little bit harder light source. Black cloth gives good shadows..

I also tried the softbox down at eye level, just so-so on the look though. Maybe if it was more to the right, toward the top of his noggin.

OK, so get yourself a baby and start shooting! Just be flexible, patient, and prepared with fresh diapers.

Don J.

Home sweet home

We brought the baby boy home today... what a week it has been. I will blog more on this later, but cannot thank the amazing staff at Methodist Dallas Medical Center for taking great care of us and Joshua. Also big thanks to the friends and family, those who came to say hi and keep us entertained and all of you who sent prayers, well-wishes and love our way.

Amazing

Well, it has been an amazing couple of days. On Monday we dealt with storm damage, Tuesday was the first post-due-date doctor appointment for Renee and the baby, which led to Wednesday's inducing of labor and the 7:26 p.m. arrival of Joshua, our 8 lb. 8 oz. bundle of sheer miracle.

Renee was amazing in childbirth and I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and shared experience by folks over at the Learn to Dad Facebook page. Being able to share the experience through words and photos made a long day much more fun for me, so thank you all!

Now we are getting ready to take Joshua home and start a whole new phase of life together ... one where April 13 is no longer just April 13, but a day to celebrate miracles, life, and the blessings of family.

I hope to continue to share this journey of learning to be a good dad. More importantly, I hope to develop some shared learning to help all of us inexperienced dads get better at fatherhood, being a good husband, and encouraging spiritual growth to those who seek it.

For now though, good night...

Don J.

Waiting game

Being in a hospital is never all that much fun, but having a baby (as a dad) is probably the best reason to be here.

Meeting people around the hallways is interesting as well. A lady with amputated feet (both of them, that is) told me to have a great day when I got off the elevator.

Yeah, I think I will. Health is such a blessing, certainly not to be taken for granted.

Follow along on the delivery day journey over on the Learn to Dad facebook page if you are so inclined..

Don J.

Quick update - Scheduling a baby?

Positive doctor appointment today, with a healthy Joshua sucking his thumb and enjoying womb life.

With Joshua going over his due date, we have heard from lots of folks whose babies were 'late' if such a thing is possible.

One thing is for sure, since he is already at 8.5 lbs or so, we don't want him to get too much bigger.

Soo, tomorrow we will be at the hospital bright and early to get this party started.

While induced labor is not ideal, it may be the way to go for us under the circumstances.

Thanks again to all of you friends and family who have been so encouraging through this part of the process... now the real fun begins! Please keep Renee in your thoughts and prayers.

Don J.

Due date

I'm not sure what I was thinking by asking the previous 'how long you worked' question to the moms out there. As Renee said, life continues whether you are pregnant or not. Basically, it has been an eye opener for me to see exactly how much discomfort, emotional toll and inconvenience you gals put up with. So thanks for that education.

Today is Joshua's official due date, and we are anxiously waiting. And by "we" I mean mostly "me." Renee is just resigned to a "he will get here whenever he gets here" sort of space.

Of course we are getting tons of labor-inducing advice. I am beginning to think that, for the most part, going into labor gets attributed to whatever a particular mom was doing at the time. In reality, I think a lot of it is coincidence more than cause-effect.

Castor Oil - probably works some of the time, nasty all of the time.

Black Cohosh - Interesting herbal. Probably lots of medicinal value.. definitely has effects, not all good.

Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll - Nice WebMD post about natural inducers including both of the above...

Basically, other than medical inducement, we don't really get to choose. And that is OK.

Although if I wasn't already bald, I might be pulling my hair out.

Don J.

Mini-Poll: Labor until labor?

I married a very strong, hard-working woman.

Despite increasing pain, soreness, swelling and all of those fun pregnancy ailments, she has continued to go to work. She has awesome and supportive coworkers (THANK YOU!) but as a nurse, there is no way to guarantee that she will have any sort of light workload ... it is hard work.

My question to the moms out there.. how long did you work before the baby came? I know situations are different and not everyone has a choice in the matter, but did you take a week off before the due date?

Just wondering. Answer over here on Facebook...

Don J.