Starfish Files: Pictures!

We haven't been to Starfish since last Thrusday, and we are going tomorrow, but the whole family went swimming Sunday and used up just about an entire roll of film in the hopes of getting some good shots. I think we succeeded. I will post more as I get my act in gear, but until then here are some pretty good shots of our little starfish. The picture of the blob beneath the surface is Heidi underwater.

Photo by Hans Hillewaert. This starfish was sampled on the Belgian Continental Shelf in 2000.


Technorati Tags: Swimming, lessons, Starfish, STAHD, Swimming Lessons, Parenting, family, Nanaimo, BC,

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Crawling? Who Needs it?

Who needs to crawl? Heidi sure doesn't. Today she has shown that she can roll most anywhere she needs to go. We've been trying to get her to crawl; she really seems to want to go places, and now she's found a way.

Technorati Tags: Babies, parenting, family, STAHD

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The Starfish Files: Underwater

It was a big day for our little Starfish! We have a new instructor (I am no longer the only man) and he was very keen to get the babies learning some confidence skills by repeating certain movements and sounds - cueing. So, on the count of 1- 2 - 3eeee we would move our starfish sideways through the water. As the babies' confidence increased we were encouraged to move progressivelt deeper through the water. Well, Heidi went all the way under this morning! I think she was the only one to do so. She had absolutely no problem going under, but was a bit confused when she emerged.

I developed the pictures from the last roll of film, but there were no good pictures from the pool, so I have another roll in my camera that should be better in low light conditions. I will try to take lots of pictures in various conditions and maybe one will turn out (Oh! To have a waterproof digital!)

Photo by Hans Hillewaert. This starfish was sampled on the Belgian Continental Shelf in 2000.


Technorati Tags: Swimming, lessons, Starfish, STAHD, Swimming Lessons, Parenting, family, Nanaimo, BC,

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Daddy Friendliness

I'm thinking about starting a running post on places that are accessible for Dads and babies around Nanaimo and Southern Vancouver Island. Of course, I can't check out every place so if any of the throngs of dads who are loyal readers of this humble blog would like to participate, please let me know.

admin (at) chrismaier (dot) net


Technorati Tags: Fathers, Dad, access, Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, babies, parenting

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The Starfish Files: Nice Pool

Today was our second lesson. Heidi had a great time and was quite interested in a young man by the name of Devon. We learned a few new holds and some songs.

If you want a great way to get a baby to sleep take them swimming for 40-50 minutes. Heidi went straight to sleep the moment I put her in the car seat and then remained asleep after I took her out of her car seat. She did wake up a few minutes later. However, after her first lesson she slept for twice as long as normal.

Now, what I wanted to talk about was the great facility they had at the Beban pool here in Nanaimo. The first thing I noticed was the great family friendly facilities. Their are male, female & FAMILY change rooms. In the family rooms are several seperate rooms with benches, showers and a Koala Bear Kare safety chair. This lets me shower and change without worrying about Heidi. It also lets the whole gang get ready together. The pool itself is very kid and family friendly. There are lots of toys and very fun kid pool. The waterslide is GREAT!


Photo by Hans Hillewaert. This starfish was sampled on the Belgian Continental Shelf in 2000.

Technorati Tags: Swimming, lessons, Starfish, STAHD, Swimming Lessons, Parenting, family, Nanaimo, BC

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Favourite Food

Heidi has started eating solids, but for some reason her favourite food is strap. Whenever she is near a strap she goes for it and sticks it in her mouth. I still have not figured out how to sterilise a strap, or puree it. 

Tired Jester

The joke around here is that we don't parent so much as we are official jesters for our little one. But, dewspite her small size and meager caloric consuption, she can sure tire her jester out. Being at her beck and cry is tough. Right now our little one is trying to crawl, but hasn't the strength; so, she cries after she puts herself on her tummy beconing her jester to come hither. Of course then there are the times when only a song and dance will do. Don't get me started on the acrobatics! She just loves being held upside down.


Technorati Tags: STAHD, parenting, dad, baby

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The Starfish Files: First Day

Today was our first day of STARFISH! Starfish is an introduction to swimming for babies. We spent about a half hour with the instructor learning ways to hold onto our little starfish and how to explore the water safely. Heidi had a great time. She was fascinated with pretty much everything around her. There was so much for her to see. At one point we were playing with a ball, something she loves at home, but was so completely engrossed with the other babies, the water and her environment that she ignored the ball.

What I found amazing was how much these little babies enjoyed the water. Not a single one was afraid or showed any discomfort. They all bravely splashed around and most were smiling widely the entire time. Everyone seemed to have a great time.

I took a few pictures of our morning at the pool, but they are sadly on a 35mm film roll. So until that roll is finished and I can invent a time machine so that I can go back in time and find a place to develop the film all my eager readers will have to wait. Don't worry it won't be long.


Photo by Hans Hillewaert. This starfish was sampled on the Belgian Continental Shelf in 2000.

Technorati Tags: Swimming, lessons, starfish, STAHD, swimming lessons, parenting

Parenting: A Competitive Sport

What is this all about?  It seems like there is a whole undercurrent to parenting that I was oblivious to when I was growing up. Maybe it is a new thing, but I doubt it.  The only glimpse that I had of this competitive world of parenting as a kid was the high-stress-chain-smoking-hockey-mom that I would meet in the arena, but I always thought that they were more of a curiosity, akin to a funny monkey in a zoo - mostly harmless but good entertainment.  I'm assuming that this coach is a parent (Don't coaches have to be parents at that age?). I guess some parents take this stuff pretty seriously.  Too bad.  It seems to me that the important thing that kids take away from sport at the age of 9 is fun, teamwork and sportsmanship - but also the ability to cope with loss.  I guess there is a tragedy in all of this, and that is that the spirit of youth sport has been lost for at least two generations; the coach must have missed it as a kid too.

The Blogfathers » Blog Archive » Youth Coaching Gone Horribly Wrong


Technorati Tags: parents, parenting, coaches, sports, competition

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Sterilising

I don't get it! Why do I have to sterilise almost everything? Most books will tell you to sterilise things with an almost religious intensity, however, I don't sterilise the floor, most of her toys or her hands! when is it safe to stop sterilising things?


Technorati Tags: Baby, Dad, STAHD, Sterilising

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Good Times - 6 Months!

Things have been going very well here in the Daddy Daughter Department. Heidi started munching on crackers today. She took right to them. Originally I thought you couldn't get much messier than a baby eating mush, but I was wrong. Giving a baby a cracker to munch on is a very sticky mess. The mostly masticated mush melds to toys, clothes, parents and carpet. I'm guessing that even this is not the messiest thing yet. Honestly, I can't wait to see what's next. I'm eagerly awaiting the day that we can jump in a puddle and soak mom. That's probably a couple of months away.

I've also noticed that Heidi is becoming a music fan. The first bars of Baby Baluga put an instant smile on her face, andshe loves the beat of When the Saints go Marching in. Today we spent the evening listening to Glen Gould's rendition of the Goldberg Variations - she was mesmerised. I'm not sure why anyone would buy Baby Einstein (tm). The real thing works wonderfully. Combine a beautiful piece with one of the Windows Media Player (tm) visualisations and you've saved yourself a $25 DVD. Of course, if you have no appreciation for quality music check out Baby Einstein (tm) and they will make the choice for you. We're happy.