Between life as a full-time parent and full-time freelance writer, blogging has sunk on the list of priorities this week, and there’s nothing wrong with that at all.
The bad news: this scenario likely will occur more frequently in the next year, so get used to it.
That’s my crass way of notifying you faithful readers that [...]

The Villano family spent last night in the guest cabin at a well-known Napa Valley winery. Since the place didn’t have a crib, we brought L’s travel Pack-N-Play, an old-school model that’s about twice the size of the ones they sell today.
As always, L took the opportunity to make us laugh. Hysterically.
It usually happens when [...]

You’ve undoubtedly heard the saying about how absence makes the heart grow fonder. Despite the importance of moms and dads being there for their children, I’d say this concept applies to parenthood, too.
Powergirl and I were reminded of it last night, as we spent the night at a swanky resort in the Napa Valley. While [...]

Is there anything more life-affirming and wonderful than a baby’s giggles?
I’m not talking about the giggles they make when you tickle them, imitate an emu or sniff their freshly tubbed bellies like a dog. I’m talking about the giggles they make when they’re finding happiness completely on their own, when they’ve put themselves in a [...]

After a slow start to the holiday season, Christmas 2010 is in full effect at our house, and little L is reveling in every minute of it.
She requests carols four or five times a day (“Jingle Bells” and “Frosty” are her favorites, though she also likes “Santa Baby”). She plays with the stockings every [...]

Considering that I fell asleep at my computer four times in six nights last week (and considering that I’m writing this at 3 a.m.), I’d say it’s high time something about my work schedule (watch the baby all day; work late into the night) changed.
And so it is with great excitement this week that I [...]

I returned from a 24-hour reporting trip to Las Vegas today to find an exciting milestone in the mail: L’s first official passport.
As I blogged last month, we needed to get her the document in preparation for our post-Christmas trip to England, her first official international trip. Powergirl and I have been waiting eagerly for [...]

It’s as if The New York Times has been overrun with new parents these days.
Last week, the paper ran that article about the impacts of cone-scan technology among pediatric dentists (I blogged about it earlier this week). Since then, the Gray Lady has published two other informative-yet-disturbing articles pertaining to the development of our children.
The [...]

Little L (who celebrated her 18-month birthday yesterday, by the way) is sprouting teeth at such breakneck speed these days that we’re approaching to the point where we need to start thinking about taking her to the dentist.
Naturally, then, Powergirl and I were freaked by a lengthy and detailed story that ran in The New [...]

Everything came up Bryophyta (that’s “moss,” for those of you who aren’t familiar with your scientific classifications) yesterday on a walk with L around the neighborhood.
Initially, the idea was to get out of the house. It had rained for most of Thanksgiving weekend here in Sonoma County, and an afternoon break in the weather provided [...]