My annual update...

I'm a bit delayed in updating this; it's been exactly a year since I posted pictures last. I apologize to the 3 of you who actually look at this.

Joey is 3, and is somewhat of a paradox. He thinks through things deeply, and shocks me with some of his speculations. On the other hand, he's spent more than one pre-school recess in the Principal's Office. Never mean or malicious, just likes to make the other kids laugh (remember who his parents are). I love our big boy so much.

Bobby turned 1 on 8/30/07, and is quite a Daddy's Boy. He learned to walk about 2 months ago, but still prefers the 50 mph crawl. Although today I found him walking across the living room... when he saw me he actually let loose this sort of deep, throaty, half-fake laugh he has and dropped to his knees. Almost like he walks when we're not around.

We spent some time in Florida in September, and the boys got to hang out with Mickey Mouse, and most importantly, the original Frederick Joseph Dufek.

My Grandfather had actually never met Bobby, so this was a special visit. Bobby had also never been to the beach, so it was an exciting day!

Disney was magical. It was the boys' second time, and definitely the best.

Hear Me

I'm sitting in the library down the road from my store... wishing my wife and boys were here to have lunch with me before my afternoon meeting. I don't do so well when they're gone; I pretty much just stay at the store and don't eat very well. Although I think I got things off on the right foot last night: a Veggie Sub with extra onions and banana peppers for dinner didn't exactly make me friends, but I felt good about myself.

A Day at the Fair

Last month, the NC State Fair came to Raleigh. It wasn't Joey's first time, but it was definitely more fun for him now that he's a big kid. It was a whirlwind day, and since we don't usually give him much sugar at all, he was rather buzzed by sundown. Hey, it's the Fair. =)

It took him a little while to relax and not take everything so seriously. On the rides his face was such that you would think the world was depending on him to complete this one task so that the human race could go on living.




Obviously, he loosened up eventually.

Update coming, with a little "what's new" on the boys and life around the Dufek house. Our friend Tammy is coming over to take some pictures of the boys, and I'll post them as soon as I can.

A little updating necessary

So I don't have any new pics to put up right now. Shameful parenting, you say. Have patience with me, it's all I can do to keep my eyes open as I type this.

We brought Bobby in for a weight check this week. We had been a little worried, because he seemed to have lost weight between his 1 and 2 week checkups. Turns out, we had nothing fret over: the scale was broken, and he's in the 90th percentile for his weight. Currently weighing in at 11lbs, 2.5oz, he has mentioned to us that he's considering the Raleigh-Durham Sumo Circuit, but we cautioned him against it. I would rather he put on a few more pounds and just make his debut on the national level.

Heather is doing well, and I have to say, I am so proud of her. Every day I am reminded of just how blessed I am to have this family with her... the poise and patience with which she parents our boys is astounding.

More later; with some pics, I promise.

Visit from the Andersons

This weekend, our friends Keith and Erin came over with their lovely little girl Ana. I think Bobby enjoyed the visit, although he didn't see fit to wake up while they were there. We're grateful for Keith, though... these are the best pictures of Bobby we have so far.


Bobby had a Dr. appointment today, and they are very happy with how he's doing. Weight gain is what it should be, and he's not quite as yellow as he was. =) He was wide awake at the Dr.'s office; he actually seemed at ease once he realized there were no needles involved.

A Lazy Saturday

Heather has been catching up on some well deserved sleep today, and we had some guests. It was the first clear day we've had in a while, but it was still nice to just relax at the house. I think Bobby's sleepiness is catching on around here. =)

Bobby had his first bath at home, and he seemed drowsily interested in it. He had a far away look in his eye, like it reminded him of something...

There's a new kid in town

So, our Joey has a brother.

"Table for four."
"Four tickets, please."
"These are my sons."
"What's your minimum for a group discount?"

I never really imagined myself saying those words. Two boys is more than I could have wished for.

So it is with great pride and much joy that I announce that... Robert Elliott was born on August 30, at 6:59 pm EST. At 8lbs 3oz, he was almost 1 lb heavier than his brother, yet almost an inch shorter at 20.5".



Mother and son are doing wonderfully, and we're home now. Heather was amazing during the delivery; I am convinced that she is the strongest woman alive. Less than 2 hours of labor, and about 8 minutes of pushing.

I'm sure I'll have much to say on this matter; there's a lot boiling around in my mind. Not much of it is profound, but I'm sure you'll be impressed by some of it. Suffice it to say than my awe for life and it's Creator has been renewed. I've been blessed with much to laugh about, and I've done my share of crying. But I can't remember a time when I laughed or cried as hard as I did when I laid my eyes on my second son.


As you can see, he sleeps quite a bit. I guess after lazing around for 9 months it takes more than a few days to break the habit. H says that Joey was the same way. How soon we forget.
More pics will follow, but I wanted to get things up and running.

Cruising Together

Heather and I had time to take a little vacation this past spring, knowing that once Bobby joined us, we wouldn't really have much time for that. We spent five days plus a little on board the "Celebration", and spent a day each in Key West and Nassau, Bahamas. It was great, and very relaxing. Most of our time was spent just laying in the sun reading. I didn't set foot in a pool, and only went into the water in Key West for about 2 minutes.

Nothing quite like the taste of key lime pie blended with a hand rolled cigar. Strolling around Key West with the hottest woman on the island on my arm, frozen key lime pie on a stick in one hand, and a cigar hanging out of my mouth, it was evident to all who saw me that I owned the place. I felt like Al Capone. In board shorts.



Heather was pretty far along in her pregnancy during this vacation. So, if you have visions in your head of every cruise passenger rock climbing and horseback-riding on the beach by day, then drinking themselves senseless by night, please remove us from your visions. We found the cruise to be very enjoyable, and we didn't lose our life savings in the casino ($70 in 15 minutes was enough). We found plenty of time to snorkel and walk around the ports of call when we weren't sleeping in the sun. Besides, who would pay to drink themselves into oblivion when you can eat yourself there for free? By the way, we waited for everyone else to get 3 or 4 drinks into them before we hit the karaoke bar. And when we did, we were the greatest act that boat had ever seen.

The Eldest of the NC Dufeks

Joey is our first born. Born on 6/11/04, he has made the last 2 years the best of my life. I thought I knew what to expect with this whole fatherhood thing. I had no idea how much joy it would bring me.
Joey and I love to watch some ball, and I have to say, I'm raising him up well. No matter what sport is on tv, no matter who's playing, he's shouting "go Yankees" and "swing batta". Got to lay a solid foundation.



So, Joey likes to drive. The cool thing about this pic (aside from the fact that he makes pink look ultra-masculine) is that the ride he is sitting in isn't turned on. Call it what you want, but Heather and I are committed to protecting our kids from the disappointment that hits when the ride is over. So, the ride never ends. He could sit in there for 5 times longer than the rest of the kids who are preconditioned to feel sad after 90 seconds of bumping and bouncing. Pretty smart, we think. =)



In reality, I look at my son and think, "this is how I am affecting the world".
My life is far from over, but I know that a big part of who I am is about raising my sons to do more in their lifetime than I can do in mine. They will choose what they are passionate about. But I'll be darned if they ever believe that they can't do whatever they set their minds to.