Don't touch the monkey

One year, I don't remember which one, the outbreak movies were all the rage. Several shows came about describing some virus that starting in a monkey or rat and threatened to spread to the human population. Usually in these movies there was an unfortunate human who had caught the virus. This character usually appeared in a glass bubble being poked and prodded by doctors.

Well, today I'm that human. Late last week I started feeling ill, and just thought I was catching Joshua's first cold of winter. I later find out that I have the mumps virus! I'm one of the lucky 10% who can both be immune an also catch the virus (which sort of changes the definition of immune but I write code, not cure viruses).

Luckily Joshua is fine, the doctors are very sure that he is not at risk and with his teeth finally breaking through he is in the best mood in weeks. I, on the other hand have been ordered to say in my house until next week for fear of outbreak. I mean this seamed like a big deal. My boss at work got a call from the Human Health Services and had to pass out informative information and everything. So I'm the guy in the bubble for the next few days that everyone wonders if they got too close to.

I'm not complaining though. I've got a pretty good setup at home and I loving working here (quite and comfortable). While I'd love to just take the next few days off from work and have some father-son time I know cold season is around the corner and Joshua will need those sick days then. So he has been cleared for daycare, which he loves to go to anyways (he is very much the social butterfly).

15 Months and still going

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Originally uploaded by jduty.

Kerry just posted the 15 month pictures of Joshua. Its been a few months since we did this and you can really see the differences. In my eyes one big difference is you can really start to see his personality come out. In previous pictures he obviously smiled more but that was simply because there were lots of people in the room. Now he is more engaging. He was studying the people in the room and more interested in communicating with them rather than just smiling and laughing at what they were doing. Don't get me wrong, he was still the very social butterfly but now he wants to do stuff with you and learn about you rather than just laugh at you because of a funny face.

Oh, and of course the other major change is the mountain of white hair on his head. We try to comb it, and that lasts for about 5 minutes until he starts pulling at it or rubs some sort of food into it. Who knew tomato sauce could add such body to your hair?

The Boy likes meat

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Originally uploaded by jduty.

For anyone who questions whether any of my Texas blood made it into Joshua I submit this photo as evidence of his heritage. Only a Texan can feel comfortable attacking a rib like that in public.

This photo was taken at our block Labor Day party. My neighbor David, and accomplished grill master, treated us with his special ribs and homemade BBQ sauce. As you can tell these ribs are Joshua approved. What is more impressive is what his shirt looked like after the party.

One for the little guys

un·der·dog –noun
1.
a person who is expected to lose in a contest or conflict.
2.
a victim of social or political injustice: The underdogs were beginning to organize their protests.