Ultrarunning Boy Takes on the World(of Children's Books)

My mom gave me recently a book entitled: Raising  Bookworms by Emma Walton Hamilton who incidentally is Julie Andrews daughter. I love Song of Music and Mary Poppins so why wouldn't I read a book by Mary's(errr Julie's) daughter. I'm glad I did!

It had some really good practical suggestions that I plan to implement with baby Ferreira, but there was one specific one that I already started. And it was creating books specific to my daughter. So I've written 5 "books" for Tilda Bear so far that I plan to read to her. Emma talks about increased interest in reading when the book relates to the child, so how awesome is it that these are about my daughter?

The only downside is that they're written by me. So expect sophomoric(at best) stories, bad rhymes and even worse illustrations. But considering she won't know any better, Matilda hopefully won't be put off by them for at least the first few years:)

Here's what I've written thus far:

Matilda the Brave

Matilda the Brave-First Year of Travels

Matilda the Brave-A Visit From Her Cousins

Matilda the Brave-Healthy and Strong

Matilda the Brave-Parts of the Body

I don't expect to be on the New York Times bestseller list(or the Concord Monitor's) but it's been fun to create these little books for Tilda that she can always have and even find online. If anyone actually wants to buy one(trust me: they are not literary classics) save yourself money and use the promo code:FIFTEEN to save 15%.

And I know there are always a few people who delight in finding typographical errors, so(just like the blog) I have left some in for you:) Enjoy!

I plan to keep on writing them as Tilda grows up and hopefully they'll mature as she does. Stay tuned!


Until next time,

Danny

Ultrarunning Boy takes on the world(of sleep deprivation)!

As I am sure most of you are aware, baby Ferreira has arrived!

In with the baby, out with the sleep. Never one to sacrifice sleep, this is a novel experience. I'm already back at work but feel like I'm floating through the days. Not particularly witty when rested, I'm down right dense now. That feeling of apathy that I had late in the Vermont 100(88.6 for me) has returned. Not at all to my beautiful daughter or lovely wife, but to all things that require enough. Like going a run, answering phone calls, or writing a comprehensive blog about how awesome my baby is.

Or how great it has been with both my brother Matty and his family and sister Marilyn coming down to visit her. And my mom and brother Drew will be coming soon as well. And everyone else gets to meet her when we come up to New Hampshire this summer. Let's just say-all things Matilda are great and not pressure me into having to dedicate any more of my limited brain capacity to anything besides looking at her cute little face.

Trust me, despite sleep deprivation which can affect everything from above noted motivation, to memory, balance, and weight gain issues, I cannot get enough of Tilda Bear. And I wouldn't trade all the sleep in the world for her. She's just perfect and she will get there-sleepwise.

Until then don't expect any well-worded blogs or conversations with me though.


Until then,

(a sleep deprived) Danny