warm little blog

Feeling Our January-Suppressed Best

2012-01-15T14:45:00.000-08:00

Thank goodness, we made it to 2012 with the rest of you.

On the way, Dad’s employment sunk and resurfaced, Mom’s liver lost its way
and lived to fight another day, and Firstborn Son’s training potty passed Training Number One.

If anybody’s doing anything fun, don’t assume we have plans.

Have a good year.

Touch Gold (GO WARR’RS!)

2011-11-22T09:26:00.000-08:00

For those of you who missed Dad’s abundantly adolescent transition from high school to college, the Warm Little Blog is taking three minutes to play it back. Hopefully it answers more questions than it raises.

Song: Me on Your Front Porch
Artist: Criteria
Album: En Garde
Label: Initial Records (2003)

Steps of the First Variety

2011-11-20T16:41:00.000-08:00

Footage taken on the very afternoon of Young V's first step, so, you're probably seeing his 6th step, taken within 6 minutes of his 1st. Also, other steps. Filmed July 13, 2011 and July 31, 2011.

Song: Wizard Power (instrumental)
Artist: Sambo Yojimbo (me & Luke)
Album: NA
Label: NA (2008)

The Age of Capers

2011-11-16T22:58:00.001-08:00

Song: Before It Fades
Artist: The Only Children
Album: Change of Living
Label: Glurp Records (2004)

Strange, it never worked for me.

2011-11-10T11:59:00.000-08:00

Fall Colors, Family Shadows

2011-10-23T10:15:00.000-07:00

Tooth in the Top Spot

2011-10-21T14:16:00.000-07:00

Just as we were finishing our preparations for life with a 3-toothed son, he relaxed his gums and let another one through.

On your left: real tooth. On your right: phantom tooth.

The Good, the Bad, and the Guggly

2011-10-12T19:33:00.000-07:00

On the Cape! (without a Baby)

2011-09-30T22:25:00.000-07:00

Mom & I just returned last night from Cape Cod, where we had ourselves a pair of dignified celebrations: our two-year anniversary (belatedly) and Mom's 26th birthday.

We landed in New Hampshire and spent a quick night there before driving through Boston—and eating at the original North End Regina Pizza—on our way to the town of Chatham, Mass. We checked in to our excellent lodgings at the Captain's House Inn and, from there, let the vacation flow unto us without compulsory means.

Mom, freshly checked in on birthday eve

One of the first things we did was relax poolside with a book (featuring Katniss)

We first dined at the Impudent Oyster, where seafood novice Mom met her match (no photo available)

On Wednesday, September 28, 2011, Mom had a birthday. We rolled from bed to breakfast and strolled from bed & breakfast to bicycle shop. We rode bicycles around! We passed a dead horseshoe crab on our way to the lighthouse and the beach and the delicious locally made ice cream of Buffy's.

Our birthday dinner plans took us to 28 Atlantic for our priciest meal to date

Mom's halibut and my swordfish were grand and were followed by lemon-basil sorbet

And on the next day, we took that road back through Boston

Though we didn't go in, we explored the incredibly wooded grounds of the Boston temple

Alive in the Land of Work

2011-09-18T11:14:00.000-07:00

The week of GO! 2011 XANGO International Convention just concluded yesterday. And that's a huge deal here at the Dalton home. There were some very long workdays in that week, but also a lot of very satisfying payoffs. Vincent started the week by getting sick, and I followed suit on Wednesday night, the first night of Convention activity.

For the first time, Jake and I were "selected" to be tour guides for XANGO Distributors visiting our world headquarters. On Thursday, my most congested and achy day, we led six tours through the building in our best skinny-guy suits. We met some very nice folks, whom we would run into from time to time up at the Salt Palace later in the week. It was fun, or neat, (yes, those are the best words to describe it) having people recognize us as their XANGO tour guides.

Friday brought the real meaty stuff. Lots of it. I woke up at ~~sick~~ six a.m. feeling like an old man. It took a good long shower to wake up my joints, but, surprisingly, by noon I was feeling much better. Between Friday and Saturday, Jake and I managed to post 24 corporate blog entries chronicling all the major announcements and activities, including the complete refresh of the XANGO brand.

At the top of my list of announcements, and probably most people's, was the new product launches. For these, the creative team (to which I technically don't belong after a few department shuffles) put together, in my opinion, some of XANGO's very best work. This year's convention theme was GO!, and it was all done in an innocent, happy, retro-'60s sort of way. I've embedded all the product commercials/jingles below for your enjoyment:

The new spa-inspired Juni by XANGO®

Precis™ targeted nutrition

Glimpse Luminescence Collection™

XANGO 3SIXTY5™ Kids

GO Green, centered on XANGO's new eco-friendly packaging for XANGO® Juice

Cassie and I have been using some of the sample formulas from the new Juni, and we're really liking them. At any rate, if my family readers are interested in trying out these new products—maybe the guys want some Precis™ Men's Health, the women want some Bone Health, the parents want some 3SIXTY5™ Kids, the epidermians want some Glimpse® Luminescence—let me know and I'll keep you posted on when I can get them.

But back to me. Since I can't take a lick of credit for those video spots (I mean, if I really tried, I could talk about my influence over the years helping to mold the brand, to create the culture of the original creative department, and to attract some of the people (who had major roles in the making of the videos) to XANGO... but that would be giving myself way too much credit), I want to link over to the big (digital) Convention edition of GO magazine for which I acted as content editor. This is my, to use a Bulgarian word meaning "masterpiece," shtedyover (give the PDFs a few seconds to load). You can click on any of the four different covers, and they'll all lead you to basically the same digital edition of GO. Jake Wilhelmsen, Dave Webb, Elizabeth Weight, and Maggie Franz all contributed greatly to the magazine.

Lastly, during all of last week's fullness, I also received a printed copy of Community magazine containing my first-ever paid freelance story (p54), complete with byline! It's just an itty article about the National Audubon Society, but I love everything about it.

And that's what Dad has been working on.

Birthday Outfit & Card Combo

2011-09-04T09:53:00.000-07:00

Student of the Game

2011-09-03T21:38:00.000-07:00

Song: From Debris
Artist: Matt Pond PA
Album: Several Arrows Later
Label: Polyvinyl Records (2005)

Young Gun of 1

2011-08-17T20:35:00.000-07:00

The family boy aged his way into yearhood yesterday, and the whole yard was there to celebrate!

Our little guest of honor was slow in warming up to the festive mood because of an unplanned birthday bash (to his eye!) earlier in the day. He begrudgingly and defeatedly enjoyed his cake, and only half-interestedly admired his gifts during the more social portion of his party, but with a healthy dose of ball-pit time and an injection of post-bedtime, post-caketime energy, he was striding around like a confident 1-ager.

Gran'muh Gina sculpted the surf of this traditional family 1-year cake

Now one day removed from the party, it's safe to say that Vinny has enjoyed playing with every last one of his birthday gifts, including cash, checks and bonds. Thanks for all the thoughtful gift giving.

His folks got him a boat bed, which he respects

Good Old-Fashioned Walking Party

2011-08-03T04:48:00.000-07:00

I've narrowed the date of Vinny's first official steps to either July 11 or 12, 2011. It was a regular lunch break on a busy weekday when he decided he could bypass the mom-appendages blocking his couch handrail without going to his knees.

This past Sunday he took it to a new level, walking as many as 25 consecutive steps, and introducing a new post-walk floor celebration, some of which is portrayed in the video.

Props to Melon for manning the camera. The footage is his.

Song: The Beaten Path
Artist: The Good Life
Album: Black Out
Label: Saddle Creek (2002)

He Walks! Just Not in This Picture

2011-08-02T15:58:00.000-07:00

At the Homestead

The Best Around

2011-07-25T08:21:00.000-07:00

I would just like to take a minute and express how great a husband I have. I married Clint because of his kindness, sincerity, considerate nature, work ethic, "seriousness", love for the gospel, and so many other things that would take me forever to list. Clint has an amazing talent for writing and always manages to leave a good lasting impression on everyone he meets. He is a great father to Vinny. I love how excited Vinny gets when Clint comes home from work and tosses him as high as he can into the air. Clint can't help being an exceptional uncle as well. I don't know how he has the energy for his son and all of those rowdy nephews (ok ok. He makes them rowdy.) and his one niece. I can't imagine my life without this wonderful man. My parents told me that when we got married they had never seen me happier. I love him with all my heart. I wish I was as good as expressing myself on paper as he is but I guess this will have to do.

Clint, I love you so much. You are my best friend and the best decision I have ever made.

2011-06-26T13:28:00.000-07:00

Smug Little Skeptic

2011-06-26T12:52:00.000-07:00

Baby Behind the Curtain

2011-06-26T12:48:00.000-07:00

Memorial Midway with Balls & Boys

2011-05-29T12:57:00.000-07:00

We grabbed a blow-up pool from Target and a couple 100-packs of pit balls from Walmart before taking a southerly bearing to the mouth of Provo Canyon where Canyon's clanyon lives. The boys played in the shallow ball pit—ours a lot and theirs a little—before driving the beautiful drive to Midway, and its Galleria Cafe, for some quite-good pizzas and interestingly presented cupcakes. The rascals were allotted more playtime together at the Prusso home at eventide, while the hosts shared their chocolate ice cream and raspberries with the guests. The whole evening was rotundly nice.

The Fabled First Tooth

2011-05-02T20:26:00.000-07:00

See that?

That's a tooth.

Set Phasers to Run: Ragnar SoCal 2011

2011-05-02T10:14:00.000-07:00

Team name and logo—both my creation. I take minimal pride in that.

The historically accurate (well, except for "jonathon") design for the back of our shirts

The team (including the pilot of Shuttle #2)
Race date: April 15 & 16, 2011
Race distance: 200.9 miles
Race time: 32:39:49
Overall ranking: 203 of 479

Tooth 25: Harbinger of Easter

2011-04-26T21:23:00.000-07:00

Though not the clothes horse he once was, dude still knows how to dress.

After baring his tooth the day before, guy scavenged up 21 eggs.

Guy's gotten big—and we can prove it

2011-04-25T20:41:00.000-07:00

Just some footage we found of our seed being 2 months and 1 week old—and gracelessly adorable.

Roaring for Ducks

2011-03-20T19:54:00.000-07:00

Pre-Spring Photos

2011-03-20T16:39:00.000-07:00

These gloves were made for thumbs-uppin'

The nicest guy in our family

Peejes from the recent past

4-1 RSL—Out of the quarters and into the semis

Sights set on the snowfall

6 months this Wednesday

2011-02-13T15:12:00.000-08:00

It's no Max walking, but this is Vinny's 2011 highlight reel as it stands:

{As per the video description: It started with the pea-eating and continued with the over-rolling. Then, after a short state of tonic immobility, it resumed with the up-sitting and the jib-jabbering.}

Even the Best Babies....

2011-01-12T19:45:00.000-08:00

Laughter at Last

2011-01-04T21:00:00.001-08:00

A Message Regarding The Wiggles

2011-01-03T10:32:00.000-08:00

Mom to Dad @ 8:56 a.m. : Vinny watching The Wiggles. He has totally ignored me for about fifteen minutes.

Christmas Decorations

2011-01-01T10:36:00.000-08:00

~~This~~ Last year, Cassie & I decorated each other for Christmas

P.S. Photos taken with our new camera, also a Christmas gift. (Thanks, 'rents.)

The Patient Rescue of Captain Droolbeard on Christmas Morning

2010-12-30T12:13:00.000-08:00

Our Friendly Neighborhood Portrait-Maker

2010-12-08T21:53:00.000-08:00

With the fine help of fellow Pheasant-Pointer Jessica Haderlie, we freeze-dried our faces through a digital lens last week. And oh what faces they were!

Mommy, Daddy and Baby faces.

Jessica set her camera to stun, and Baby Vincenzo obliged.

Click her logo for 3 additional sneak peeks.

Vince Tells It

2010-12-05T09:40:00.001-08:00

btw, Murano kills it in the snow. KILLS IT.

2010-11-30T14:26:00.000-08:00


Trying to contain his growing melon

Please? In Beaver?

Thanksgiving bed

A near featureless mass of cheek-flesh

Fireside

2010-10-24T11:38:00.000-07:00

Building around a brand-new faux fireplace, my magical wife (when it comes to budgets and spacial arrangements) redid our front living quarters to great effect. Check it out. Probably the best part is that we now have room for Vinny's swing and elephant gym. Plus a housewarming fireplace (for stockings?).

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

PS: The fireplace's name—named by the manufacturer, not us—is Dalton.

2 Months: Blessed & Immune

2010-10-18T20:39:00.000-07:00

After a Sunday-Monday combo that tested his tiny endurance, Vinny is now swaddled in the most common protections known to latter-day infants. He seemed to thoroughly enjoy hearing that his official name was the same as his interim name had been, and he cruised through the entire ordinance without peep or pacifier. The immunization started well too, as he drank down the sweet oral elixir. The thigh shots, however, flushed his face painfully red for a few sad seconds.

He's a healthy 9lbs 6oz as of this morning, with a 23" body span.

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Vinny at XANGO: Round Two

2010-10-05T17:13:00.000-07:00

Chattin' over the cubicle wall like he owns the place.

After waiting an entire married year for it to kick in, Mom was able to take advantage of our improved vision insurance by scheduling an eye exam (stylish glasses, here she comes). On her way to Vision of Lehi or some such place, she dropped Vinny by the office for an encore performance with Dad.

Man, he sure knows how to keep it cool in front of an audience.

Two Pals Having a Proper Lunch of Pork Loins

2010-10-05T08:16:00.000-07:00

Kelly Spencer was so kind as to invite me into his backyard for grilled pork loins and Gatorade last little Thursday. It was a radiant September afternoon in the Spencer menagerie, and the loins were delicious.

The Feelings of Faces

2010-09-18T10:56:00.000-07:00

PIC: It's Vinny's "I miss you" face.
PIC: It's not as cute, but it means the same.
PIC: This is when I told him you would be home later tonight.

PIC: In summary

9.15.2010 :: RSL 4–1 TFC :: First Match for Our 1-Monther

2010-09-17T21:57:00.000-07:00

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Vinny's First Bath in Photos

2010-08-31T18:55:00.000-07:00

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

2-Week Checkup

2010-08-31T14:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Vinny's two-week checkup. Here's what he has accomplished to date:

//Weight //Length //Umbilical progress

6lb 8oz (gain of 3oz)               20.5" (gain of 1")               Removed yesterday (though some granuloma
                                                                                         remains to be cauterized)

//Travels                                                                          //Illness
Visited Dad's place of work and                                       Sadly, a possible first cold may have set in wowed the workforce                                                       last night, gooping up an eye and a nostril

//Best night of sleep //Hygiene

Nine consecutive hours beginning August 27 and First immersion bath taken last night
terminating August 28 (11:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m.) (momentous photos to come)*

*Last night

was also
Mom's first
immersion
bath since
the Cesarean
(no photos
were taken)

S—8 wallet-size portraits 2.5" x 3.5" .............. $10

2010-08-25T09:21:00.000-07:00

If you were to look at my phone today, this is what you'd see:

It's my baby! On my phone! With his eyes ever-so-open at bedtime.

I've begun to capture and keep my family on my phone, but I still don't have a picture of them to carry in my wallet. Is that something that still happens, or is the mobile device the way to go nowadays?

Anyone out there carrying wallet-size family photos?

But Can Your Baby Do This?

2010-08-22T13:27:00.000-07:00

Still Coming into His Own

2010-08-20T11:13:00.000-07:00

When It Rains It Floods

2010-08-19T15:38:00.000-07:00

I parked on the street to the west of XanGo this morning for my triumphant return to work. The parking location was necessitated by XanGo acting as the stage host for the Tour of Utah today. We sent the cyclists out in style before returning to our duties as daily cubicyclists (cubicle pun?).

Shortly thereafter, the rains came in with a vengeance, selecting in particular the street to the west of XanGo.

Footage from the First Hour

2010-08-18T15:00:00.000-07:00

//The Open Eyes of Our Offspring

2010-08-18T10:06:00.000-07:00

» Today we escape; all three of us. Today we battle abominable abdominal pain; especially one of us.

Day No. 2 in Room W404

2010-08-17T10:13:00.000-07:00

After notching a solid 3 hours of sleep at least, 5 hours at most, our "Day Two" brought the apparent promise of progress. Vinny outslept us all through the night and had no agenda beyond being cute all morning. Cassie lost the calf contractors and the IV tree early on, so the three of us took an unencumbered stroll around the 4th floor in our socks before enjoying the first doctor-approved meal of solids for Mom. Already, today feels parsecs better than yesterday.

It's only 11 a.m. of the second day, though, and it feels like 4 p.m of the third. Vinny is just moments away from circumcision and our number of expected visitors has taken a hit. So, while it's already a victory, we won't call it a landslide yet.

Face of the Firstborn

2010-08-16T12:18:00.000-07:00

Full Name: Vincent Clint Dalton
Weight: 6.5 Pounds
Length: 19.5 Inches
Hair Type: Dusty Rust
Hair Length: 25 Millimeters
Eye Color: Stygian
Favorite Expression: Consternated Kissy Face
Fitzpatrick Scale: Type II

Abridged Delivery Description

2010-08-16T12:11:00.000-07:00

Sunday, August 15
8:00 p.m.
Eat Shauna's southwestern chicken soup.
8:45 p.m.
Experience otherworldly backaches.
9:15 p.m.
Wonder, "What should we do?"
9:40 p.m.
Know what to do.
10:20 p.m.
Arrive at hospital.

Monday, August 16
12:15 a.m.
Have a nervous moment.
12:30 a.m.
Recover.
1:05 a.m.
Have a more pressing nervous moment.
1:30 a.m.
Have a Caesarean baby. Escape a prolapsed cord.

Vincent Eve

2010-08-16T11:53:00.000-07:00

Vincent Eve, August 15, progressed from our queen-size bed to Lehi City's river bed (as pictured) to Utah Valley's hospital bed. What began as a holiday preface to the date of planned induction ended up being a back-pained beginning to the birth of Vincent Clint Dalton.

Nursery Not Yet in Use

2010-08-11T17:29:00.000-07:00

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