June 2006

Thanks to me Kyla had her first ever visit to an emergency room this month. We were playing while she was lying on a bed and I began tugging her by her right arm. There was a very slight popping noise, after which she was obviously in pain. She had suffered a minor dislocation called Nursemaid's Elbow. A doctor was able to quickly pop it back into place and within minutes she was using that arm again.

Ironically my most awful experience as a parent occurred on Father's Day. Also this wasn't the first time I've done this to someone, I caused the same affliction on my sister Cassie when we were kids. Keep your kids away from me.

Another, less traumatic first for this month was Kyla playing with Barbie dolls. Curiously enough this was also something she experienced with me, so it was something of a first for both of us. Well maybe this wasn't technically a first for me as I do recall playing with some girls when I was five, though I recollect that whatever doll I was issued quickly joined the army and began fighting.

Kyla has become Raffi's newest fan. If you haven't already heard of him, Raffi is a popular children's musician. My brothers were big fans when they were young so I knew to encourage Kyla to listen to him as his music is more tolerable for me than most other toddler music. I've downloaded a few of his albums and put them on my iPod and whenever we get into my car Kyla always demands that we play Raffi (no more NPR for me).

After playing with a friend's tricycle, we decided it was time for Kyla to get one of her own. To my amazement we spend $150 on a model that was not even top of the line. However it definitely has more features than the one I used as a kid with a long handle in the rear and the ability to lock the front wheel in a straight position so that we can push her in it.

Summer is here and I'm looking forward to the adventures it will bring, though I hope we don't see the ER again for a long, long time.