The Trixie Update

110 responses so far ↓

• 1 hannah // May 5, 2004 at 2:11 pm

  Do you love your baby? I can’t tell because you never call her snookie or pookie or sweatpea on the site. Just wondering, as are many others.

• 2 benmac // May 5, 2004 at 3:16 pm

  Do I love my what? Oh - you mean subject TRX-73103? Sure, absolutely. We love all the data she generates.

• 3 Doug // May 5, 2004 at 3:46 pm

  Great job with the site. I understand the urge to find creative outlets. When my wife was first pregnant we considered lots of names and would spend lots of time combining the first and middle names (all the combinations) to see how the names sounded together. I was surprised no sites were available to do this, so we made one ourselves. It was a labor of love and we really enjoyed it.

  Anyway, the reason for my post is that I would be happy to add a link on our site if you thought it would be appropriate (and you wanted a link, that is). Take a look at our site and let me know. Keep up the good work!

  Doug

• 4 benmac // May 5, 2004 at 9:48 pm

  I don’t have a links section set up on the site currently, but I think there might be one in the future. For the time being, if a visitor has a web site, I encourage them to always include a URL with their comments. Put it in your text and/or in the url field on the comments form. I check them out, and I suspect other readers do too.

  As far as other sites linking to us, pretty much anything is welcome. BTW, nice site idea and execution.

• 5 DavidNYC // May 8, 2004 at 5:52 pm

  73103 reminds me a lot of that old model BEMS-92476. What a cantankerous hoot he was!

• 6 DavidNYC // May 9, 2004 at 3:02 pm

  Here’s something you should add (watch me channel BenMac):

  Q: Why do you have so many leaks?

  A: It’s a definitional thing. Any elimination that takes places while Trixie is diaperless I call a “leak.” These happen fairly frequently, since I like to let Trixie air-dry when I’m changing her. Thesse are more common than a bona-fide diaper spillages.

  BTW, Ben, the “remember me” setting doesn’t seem to work. (And yes, I have cookies turned on.)

• 7 benmac // May 9, 2004 at 9:31 pm

  Good Q&A. I borrowed some of your text too. Thanks. Looking through old posts, I realize that I have already answered it three times.

  As far as the “remember me” thing - I don’t have a good answer. It works on my machine and I heard it works for Schaff. You preempted my cookies question. I’ll try to look into it.

• 8 DAILY site surfer // Jun 5, 2004 at 7:51 pm

  Congrads on ur little miracle n all the & to come.
  May you have the strength to keep up with what you’ve started.
  Best of wishes , stay strong.

  Drifting on ~~~ Excelent Job on For & Site

• 9 Michael Best // Jun 13, 2004 at 2:28 am

  This blog is a seminal work on the early growth and development of H. sapiens! It is absolutely wonderful! The personal entertainment value is great, and the scientific value is inestimable.

  Please keep it up throughout Trixie’s entire growth and development, a shopbook record of human childhood. Trixie will eventually thank you for it, even if she is embarassed by the early entries. And so much can be learned by others from your experience.

  Thanks, Mike

• 10 Jim // Jun 14, 2004 at 12:43 am

  I came across your site because of the Kim Komando email. I love it and I can’t stop laughing. I received a similiar model to your TRX-73103 last year, the KT-71803, and I can relate to so much. Being a dad isn’t so hard if you have a website to update. Keep the good work!

• 11 Mike Richards // Jun 16, 2004 at 12:51 am

  I dabble a little bit in photography, and I just wanted to say that you’ve taken some fantastic shots. You’ve got a great eye. And I was amazed it was all with a digital camera.

  Anyway, thanks for the site. My wife, especially, is a huge fan.

• 12 handsomebaby // Jun 22, 2004 at 3:13 pm

  I live in Madison, WI and today at playgroup a fellow Mom told me about your site. She found it from a political site. You are a genious, I love your site I am assuming that this is all archived and kept for when Trixie has kids of her own.

• 13 Kathy // Jun 23, 2004 at 4:20 pm

  Hi,
  I have been dying to ask some questions, but couldn’t figure out how to do it without making a public post. Being a doc and a new mom, I was curious how long Jennifer continued to breast feed. Pumping at work is killer and adding hours to my day! Also curious what speciality Jennifer is in (I am guessing residency now). Love the site, it is great to read at 2 am while I am pumping breast milk for our little guy, he never got the hang of breast feeding so I am pumping exclusively. We thought we did lots of logs and anaylysis til we saw the TrixieUpdate. It is grrrrreeeaaaattt!!
  Kathy IMED

• 14 lee hamrick // Jun 23, 2004 at 8:18 pm

  Ben-
  You have too much free time- Jen and I moved to Raleigh last year- I too am a stay at home dad. We need to get together when you are home visiting your parents-email me and I will send you our phone # and address.

  Congratulations,
  Lee Hamrick

• 15 benmac // Jun 23, 2004 at 9:22 pm

  Breast Pumping Info:

  We’re now aiming to stop at 12 months. We’re glad that we did it for Trixie’s sake but we both hate pumping more than life itself. Jenn loses up to 1 1/2 - 2 hours a day pumping. And I’m so sick of washing the 15,000 assorted parts that make up all the different feeding bottles, storage bottles and pump accessories. We’re in the middle of weaning her to a sippy cup (which will be a lot less washing) and we’re about ready to throw some cow’s milk at her. This is a story I’ll be addressing soon. thanks for the question and good luck!

  BTW: Jenn is in Pathology

• 16 Rozanne // Jul 2, 2004 at 10:52 pm

  How do you back up the info on your Web site? And have you found a good way to print blog info? I know, I can just print it using my Web browser but I’m looking for a way to print my blog for my son so that it looks nice. Thanks for the great site!

• 17 Lindsey // Jul 2, 2004 at 10:58 pm

  I love how you explain the diaper change count and everything. The first thought that came to mind, however, is WATCH OUT! Just wait till Trixie starts slapping and banging at that keyboard and you’ll have to go back and correct “30 diaper changes” each day. LOL! My son (14 months) logged us on to the internet the other day, while simultaniously beginning to shut down the computer. Go figure!? Thankfully, my husband has configured the computer so it will not shut down unless we click to confirm. As I said, WATCH OUT!

• 18 benmac // Jul 2, 2004 at 11:22 pm

  Hi Rozanne,

  I have not been backing up the site. If my computer blows up, it’s on the remote server. If the remote server blows up, I’m screwed. What you are supposed to do is export your weblog as a text file and then save that file in a safe place. Or copy it to yet another server.

  I also haven’t printed anything yet, but I think it’s something I will tackle in the future. If I find a good solution, I’ll post it here. I’m guessing it might involve custom css print templates. I would google it.

• 19 Angie // Jul 15, 2004 at 3:57 am

  Hi, could you please tell me where you got the script to count Trixie’s age? I’ve been searching but cannont find one.

• 20 benmac // Jul 15, 2004 at 7:35 am

  Hi Angie,

  Here’s the script I use to calculate Trixie’s age (written by someone much better at date calculations than me.) Good luck-

  http://www.lotekk.net/files/date-diff.php.txt

• 21 John // Jul 15, 2004 at 9:27 am

  All this time I thought you wrote the date script.

  Here’s the one I wrote for Colum’s site; my first php script. It’s interesting to look at the two and see the different appraoches to solving the same problem.

  http://www.celebratingcolum.org/scripts/columdate.php.txt

• 22 Amy // Jul 15, 2004 at 10:15 am

  I love your site…it’s inspiring my husband and me to persist in the parenting thing. We just acquired our own model LE-4579, and were inspired by the (admittedly arduous) milk delivery system. Our model is defective “at the source,” and we were hoping to go to exclusive pumping, but the logistics of the transitional stage escape us. How did you do it? Did you have to layer in formula for the first day or two until you had a little extra stored up? Any advice would be greatly appreciated…!

• 23 benmac // Jul 15, 2004 at 10:25 am

  I don’t remember exactly how the transitition worked, but we didn’t have to use formula. Jenn started pumping three times a day from the beginning (and was still nursing) and I guess it was just enough at the time. It took us a while before there was any surplus built into the system. good luck-

• 24 Angie // Jul 17, 2004 at 2:17 pm

  Thank you so much for the script source! I have enjoyed visiting this site to get updated on Trixie..she’s such a doll! My son, Matthew, is 10 months. We are 1st time parents…and he has been such a joy!!

• 25 Luis // Aug 4, 2004 at 8:23 pm

  As a father who wishes to be able to see his daughter grow up, your weblog is very touching. Unfortunately, due to problems between my child’s mother and I, I have missed out on many of these moments.

  Keep up the good work.

• 26 Kristin // Aug 11, 2004 at 9:23 am

  Ben,
  I am from a radio station that is in Santa Barbara, Ca. I was hoping to schedule a radio interview with you because I just had a baby and your website is very interesting. Please give me a call at 805-879-8380 ext. 313, or e-mail me at kristin@ktyd.com. Thanks for your time.
  Best,
  Kristin Bonnelly

• 27 gigi // Sep 24, 2004 at 6:27 pm

  You should really take this whole site, templatize it and sell it as a product for new parents. I would be the first in line to buy it. Your site is both hilarious and touching and I wish I could create one for my own little guy (ok, he’s huge now at 16 months, but still!)

• 28 gigi // Sep 24, 2004 at 6:34 pm

  Ah! You’re already doing what I suggested. Wonderful news!

• 29 jenny // Oct 12, 2004 at 11:25 am

  Your site is outstanding!!!!! I laughed so hard that I nearly had a leak. What photo editing program do you use, those pix from a mere digital are enough to cause me to drool with jealousy!

• 30 benmac // Oct 13, 2004 at 8:11 pm

  Thanks. Glad you like the pictures. I use photoshop to crop and adjust the levels and curves. B/W photos are converted from color images. If that’s something you’re interested in, this site offers a useful technique to convert to B/W.

• 31 Rozanne // Oct 23, 2004 at 8:15 pm

  Hi Ben,

  I have a suggestion for you — is there any way you can add a link that lets us post comments about Trixie’s awake/sleep time? I ask because I’m wondering why Trixie was up for three hours last night — and she hasn’t really slept during the day today, either. I’m so sorry. I hope she isn’t sick.

  ~Rozanne

• 32 sarah // Oct 23, 2004 at 11:56 pm

  I was wondering the same thing.(about the sleep chart) Sleep charts are my passion these days.

  Sarah

• 33 jtompkins // Oct 24, 2004 at 1:48 am

  i think ben is probably away from his computer ie… out of town, perhaps. i have seen this happen once before. If not, they must be pretty tired folks about now. LOL

• 34 sarah // Oct 24, 2004 at 11:32 pm

  Im wondering if they are phasing out the morning nap?
  I was wondering myself when this might happen with my month older model.

  Sarah

• 35 Joe Stafford // Oct 25, 2004 at 12:48 pm

  Hi, I work for the daily newspaper in Austin, Texas. We’re picking up the story from the St. Paul Press about baby bloggers and I’d like to get your permission to use the image of trixie wearing big gloves that ran yesterday. I’m on deadline so I’d really appreciate your contacting me asap. You can call me at 512-912-5901. Nice site. Thanks!!!!

• 36 Nina // Nov 1, 2004 at 8:51 am

  Hi,
  Could you explain a little bit about what you did in the dark ages? Before the Trixie? I’m wondering because I’m a little jealous of how well you did this site and your use of design programs as well. I’m hoping there was something like a lot of money and time put into school to get this good. See I am putting alot of money and time into design and if you were just this good by playing around on your own I will quit design right now and give up. I can’t compete. Also the coding thing. tough stuff. How’d you get so smart? Thanks,
  Nina

• 37 Michelle // Nov 3, 2004 at 1:33 pm

  HELP!!!!!!!!???? Hello to you; first I have to tell you that I simply LOVE your site. It’s incredible! way to go! keep it up and all the best to you & your beautiful little candy.

  Now….I would love to get your advice & all of you, new parents out there. Well..we just had our first baby girl almost two months ago. In the past week it has been so difficult to put her to sleep in her crib. She is willing to sleep in my hands or in a bouncer.As soon as she falls asleep in my hands, I put her gently in the crib and after a few minutes she realizes that, and statrs SCREAMING & crying histerically. I’m afraid to let her get used to sleep in the bouncer or next to a warm body. Do you have any good advice that might help me with her sleeping habbit? I would love your comments….I’m sooooooooo tired…… thank you in advance

• 38 benmac // Nov 3, 2004 at 8:14 pm

  Hi Michelle,
  We sometimes warmed up a towel in the dryer to take the chill off the crib. As far as the using the bouncer - do what works. Sleep is too important. And it will get better.
  Good luck-

• 39 Summer // Jan 12, 2005 at 2:43 pm

  So…. what are Trixie’s favorite toys and books?

• 40 benmac // Jan 12, 2005 at 10:32 pm

  She really likes this book called Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb right now. Her favorite toy is this set of wooden fruit that velcros together. And the camera tripod.

• 41 Michele // Jan 20, 2005 at 6:13 pm

  I hope this question isn’t too nosy, but do you have a timeline for staying home? (kindergarten? more kids?) I only ask because I’m staying home too, and at first we said a year, thinking she’d get something out of day care/pre-school, but now I think I want to wait until she’s in kindergarten. And then there’s the thorny issue of more kids. Any thoughts?

• 42 Summer // Jan 20, 2005 at 8:33 pm

  I just got the response to Trixie’s favorite toys, books…. Actually i think Autumn has that velcro fruit set you’re talking about! I’m not sure how many sets like that are out there, so it’s probably the same one! But, they are so hard to pull apart for me, let alone her! She can never do it alone, so i have to help her with each one! That’s neat that Trixie has one too. Can she pull them apart by themselves?

• 43 benmac // Jan 20, 2005 at 8:58 pm

  Michele: I haven’t mentioned this on the site yet, but we are thinking about starting Trixie in part-time daycare (2-3 days a week) in the near future.

  Summer: She’s pretty good at using the wooden knife to “cut” the fruit apart.

• 44 Maddie's Mom // Jan 21, 2005 at 12:11 am

  Prepare for a BIDS epidemic when daycare starts. Really. People do not exaggerate.

• 45 Diane // Jan 28, 2005 at 4:43 pm

  Hello Ben:
  I was wondering where you got all your resources from the site-the Photoshop program,the server, the web designing, everything.

  Did you and Jenn design it yourselves?

• 46 MeanMom // Jan 31, 2005 at 3:09 am

  this is not so much a faq question, but more of a what the heck? i never used to have problems viewing TTU but since the poll was pulled the alignment for the topmost article is off, i don’t know if its me or if its just an issue you are trying to iron out now…

• 47 Hsin // Feb 1, 2005 at 8:18 am

  Hi there, I found out about TTU from the Jan 27 news item on baby blogs aired on MSNBC. This is an amazing site! It’s great to read and share about the same issues parents all over the world are dealing with.

• 48 Eric // Feb 1, 2005 at 2:12 pm

  Hi Ben,

  I thought nobody loved data and graphs as much as me before I came across your site. The sleep charts are the coolest! I can only imagine how much effort it must be to compile the data, but it makes for some GREAT graphs!

  I have 1 year old triplet girls and would like to get a graph of their sleep. I was wondering how you got such precise times for sleep/wake. Is there some sort of microphone activated recording or is it all done by pressing keys when you go into/out of the room?

  - Eric

• 49 haeshu // Feb 1, 2005 at 2:32 pm

  holy crap! triplet girls? are they ever asleep at the same time?

• 50 benmac // Feb 1, 2005 at 2:37 pm

  Eric: I’m glad you like the site. I don’t have anything as sophisticated as microphone activated recording going on here. Sleep Telemetry is a browser-based web application. When she goes to sleep I click a button, and when she wakes up I click it again. It only takes about 4 clicks a day now. That’s all Good luck with the sleep schedules!

• 51 Nela's Mommy // Feb 2, 2005 at 5:12 pm

  I found out about TTU from the MSNBC story. It’s a great site. I just had my first child 4 months ago. I can’t seem to get anything done, especially now that I’m back at work. (I’m just so tired; my house looks like a war zone. So far baby stuff is winning the battle.) All the hard work you’ve done on TTU is amazing! How do you do it? How do you find the time?

• 52 julie adkins // Feb 3, 2005 at 4:08 pm

  Ben, I tried searching “chores” and didn’t see anything posted. I am curious if you’ve written on the issue of what household chores the “stay at home” is responsible for and what chores are left to equally divvy up (and when they get done). I thought going into this (though I work 15 hrs part time) I would have plenty of time for laundry/cleaning. Not so. I’m sure others have comments on how it is successfully (?) working in their homes as well…

  Love the site.
  julie

• 53 benmac // Feb 3, 2005 at 8:58 pm

  Nela’s Mommy: Thank you — I’m glad you like the site. I had a lot more energy when Trixie was first born. That’s when most of the site structure was built. Since then I’ve just been adding a little bit every week, and it adds up over time.

  julie: Thank you for searching before asking! You’re my new favorite reader Unfortunately, though there aren’t any stories about household duties on the site. However, to answer your question, Jenn and I are usually pretty good about trading off depending on who is more exhausted, and what has to be done. Also, we have a small apartment, so the chores aren’t overwhelming. BTW, it was Jenn’s turn to wash the mirror doors in today’s TPOD. Hope this helps-

• 54 1nsane // Feb 3, 2005 at 9:09 pm

  What kind of diapers does Trixie use?

• 55 benmac // Feb 3, 2005 at 9:12 pm

  Target brand. We’re very happy with them.

• 56 cynfred // Feb 4, 2005 at 1:15 pm

  I’m trying to get acquainted to the site. Do you have Trixie’s birth story up?

• 57 benmac // Feb 4, 2005 at 1:20 pm

  Actually… there isn’t a birth story. There’s a story about her name, and pictures of her belly button, but that’s the closest I’ve got.

• 58 Angie // Feb 4, 2005 at 11:29 pm

  We have a PowerShot camera too - how do you have your settings? Do you adjust them between shots? The pictures are *fantastic*, as is the site.

• 59 benmac // Feb 4, 2005 at 11:41 pm

  Angie: The settings do tend to change based on the photo. If you have a question about the settings for a specific picture, please feel free to post a comment on that TPOD, and I’ll let you know what the settings were.

• 60 cynfred // Feb 5, 2005 at 1:12 pm

  I would love to read Trixie’s birth story. Also if Jenn doesn’t mind seeing some of her belly pics!

• 61 benmac // Feb 5, 2005 at 2:45 pm

  cynfred: Again… there isn’t a birth story. I never wrote one.

  However, while not exactly belly pics, there is one TPOD of a pregnant Jenn and one of a barely pregnant Jenn.

• 62 jen // Feb 7, 2005 at 5:19 pm

  Just wanted to let you know that you were mentioned in an article about baby bloggers in the Houston Chronicle today. I think it was the article that ran in the Times a week or so ago.

  here is a link:
  http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/headline/features/3026491

  We, meaning my daughters (5 & 2) and I, love to follow Trixie on your site.

  Jen

• 63 benmac // Feb 7, 2005 at 7:21 pm

  Jen: Glad you guys like the site. Thanks for the head’s up!

• 64 Julie from IL // Feb 9, 2005 at 12:17 pm

  Hey–I read about your site from this month’s issue of Parents magazine. I think it is awesome that you are blogging your daughter’s life! I’ll have to check back and read more when I have more time.
  Thanks!

• 65 haeshu // Feb 9, 2005 at 8:40 pm

  so i have been thinking about food lately and kids. is anyone else going through TDM (toddler diet modification)? ben? i think the fact that we had fish sticks, mac & cheese and peas tonight for the third time this month is what prompted it. dont get me wrong, we have eliot try all kinds of new foods, but some nights you just dont want to battle. and if the chili is too spicey, its all over anyway. i look at cooking light longingly and remember when i used to eat things like feta, or salmon or curry… not stuff out of a blue box.

• 66 Leslie // Feb 9, 2005 at 10:11 pm

  Haeshu: We are having serious TDM here. This from a kid who we used to take to our favorite Indian restaurant and watch him delight in naan and dahl soup! I read up on this and apparently there are a few reasons kids in the 1 to 2 year old range get so darned picky:

  1) Their growth slows; no way to maintain the kind of growth they had in the first year
  2) There is some evolutionary advantage to kids under 3 being cautious about what they eat so they don’t accidentally choke or poison themselves. This apparently means they are wired to be cautious about new foods
  3) You know — the whole toddler testing limits thing

  I talked this over with my dad (a pediatrician) after Graham (then 17 now 18 mos) refused to eat anything but raisins and milk for two days. It was clearly some sort of protest and I half expected to wake up one day to find he’d chained himself to his crib with a sign reading, “No more spinach!” Basically my dad’s advice was to always offer balanced meals and snacks and never pressure them to eat. They won’t starve themselves. Supplement with a vitamin for uneaten foods (Graham loves the gummi vites). Also while there is nothing wrong with offering the occasional treat - do not let them fill up on junk food or juice or milk between meals.

  This advice has been working well for us and Graham seems to be letting up on his foodstrike.

• 67 aidens momma // Feb 9, 2005 at 10:12 pm

  haeshu-aiden is 13 months and he eats almost everything we eat…except meat. my husband is a meat eater and i am vegetarian. being that my hubby is gone for a week at a time for work and i stay at home, aiden eats what i do…his favorite is fake-chicken patties/nuggets…so i guess those are our fish sticks. aiden will try anything…even spicy stuff. and normally devours it all. so though i may not know about picky eaters, i do know about the convientent repetative foods. good luck!

• 68 benmac // Feb 9, 2005 at 10:31 pm

  haeshu: TDM? Is that an industry standard or do we get another reader-contributed acronym that to join the ranks of BIDS? Anyway, it’s funny that you mention it now because we might be experiencing it. Trixie is still having some tummy problems and we’re wondering if it’s related to new food at the daycare. Or she might still be sensitive from the stomach virus she had last week. Or both.

• 69 Kelly // Feb 10, 2005 at 9:42 am

  You put a web address on your site one time called vector playground - I think? Could you tell me what that is again? I have a coworker who loves solitaire to relax her at work, I thought the stuff on vector playground would calm her too. I am sooo not a numbers person, but you make the data about Trixie look so interesting!

  -Kelly S.
  Mommy of Mason 4.5 months

• 70 benmac // Feb 10, 2005 at 9:50 am

  Hi Kelly, I’m glad we’re able to make the data fun Are you talking about Vectorpark?

• 71 haeshu // Feb 10, 2005 at 10:29 am

  TDM is on par with BIDS, my own desperate protest at my bland diet. thanks for all the advice leslie and aidens momma. i think eliot is just delayed in his protest. he used to gobble up indian and chinese and all kinds of yummy things. but in the last few months (he just turned three) it has been going down hill. even old standbys are iffy. what kid doesnt like a black bean quesadilla??? i will say that he has not wavered once in his demand for pbj, he has it EVERYDAY for lunch. seriously. everyday. i figure at least there is some protein in there. and we only allow a small cup of oj in the morning and milk with dinner. water for the rest of the day. im thinking it has quite a bit to do with all the attention collette is getting right now. she is just starting to gobble up solids…maybe that is the connection….

• 72 Leslie // Feb 10, 2005 at 11:13 am

  Quick PS on TDM - It may have been mentioned her before, but I found the book Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron a helpful guide when G started solids and still refer to it frequently:
  Super Baby Food

• 73 corayons // Feb 17, 2005 at 1:09 am

  What happens if you two have another child? Will there be another site? How many times have you been asked this question?

• 74 benmac // Feb 17, 2005 at 10:59 pm

  If we have another child, I will collect more data, and we’ll keep the one who performs the best. Jenn gets asked more than me

• 75 Mia // Apr 5, 2005 at 11:50 am

  Hey, I’ve been visiting your site, since I think its great, and Trixie is adorable Now, I’m curious, what does Trixie think about getting her picture taken, and the camera?

  -Mia

• 76 benmac // Apr 5, 2005 at 1:34 pm

  She loves the camera and doesn’t mind getting her picture taken — especially if I show her the image on the camera LCD right after I take it.

• 77 Michele // Apr 7, 2005 at 11:09 am

  This question is for Jennifer. Are you or do you plan to go into forensic pathology? Or do you see live patients? Also, at what point in your residency were you when you took your maternity leave? Did they work you right up to the day you delivered? LOL

• 78 benmac // Apr 7, 2005 at 11:49 pm

  Michele: Jenn’s pretty busy, so I’ll field this one. All pictures are taken with a Canon S45 digital camera, and then I crop and adjust the levels in Photoshop. I’m glad you like the site. Thanks for visiting!

• 79 benmac // Apr 8, 2005 at 12:00 am

  Michele: Sorry about that;) As much as we enjoy discussing autopsies around the dinner table, Jenn’s pretty sure she’s not going into forensics. She took maternity leave during her first year, and it was rough. As the observing spouse, I wouldn’t recommend it. And yes, she worked the day before she delivered.

• 80 becky // Apr 11, 2005 at 10:02 am

  Not to be too demanding, but where is today’s TPOD?? (It is an essential part of my morning!)

• 81 benmac // Apr 11, 2005 at 10:11 am

  Ah… sorry about that. Things have been extremely, extremely, extremely busy around here, and something had to give. The exciting news is that I brought Trixie Tracker Beta online last night around 10pm. I know it’s not the same as a TPOD, but it will be back tomorrow. (And I’ll try to make sure it’s a good one

• 82 becky // Apr 11, 2005 at 12:05 pm

  Thanks, Ben. Glad to know that you are indeed still alive. I am sure many people will appreciate the Trixie Tracker Beta. I don’t have kids, so I’ll look forward to tomorrow’s TPOD.

• 83 Rozanne // Apr 11, 2005 at 4:33 pm

  Hey, where are you guys? I hope you’re okay and the lack of a new tpod isn’t an indication that something’s wrong…

• 84 Rozanne // Apr 11, 2005 at 4:34 pm

  Oops. I missed the earlier posts. Sorry!

• 85 Roy // Apr 28, 2005 at 11:32 am

  Hi — great, great site. I’ve passed it on to a couple of expectant friends and they love it. Very inspirational for all.

  This is a bit ‘off topic’ but I’m really interested in knowing how you make your graphics. The graphs look ones I’ve made using PHP scripts, but so much better and well integrated with explanation and things.

  If it’s not too long and time consuming for you, can you give me a very quick summary of what you use to make them? Many thanks and keep it up.

• 86 benmac // Apr 28, 2005 at 10:57 pm

  Hi Roy,

  Technically it’s a combination of PHP scripts, Excel, Photoshop and Illustrator — it just depends on the particular chart or graph. I’m glad you like them. Thanks-

• 87 Summer // Apr 29, 2005 at 10:12 pm

  Any new info on potty training??

• 88 benmac // Apr 30, 2005 at 12:50 pm

  We’re done with potty training — but not in the good way. Trixie has lost all interest, so we’re back to diapers.

• 89 austinmom3 // May 1, 2005 at 1:25 pm

  Question about biting during nursing. Did Jenn have any problems? Please expound. Thanks.

• 90 benmac // May 1, 2005 at 1:30 pm

  there’s this story

• 91 champ // May 1, 2005 at 9:39 pm

  our doctor said to take them off the breast. i always thought it was cruel but i was also tired of being bit. it did work though!

• 92 Amy W // May 10, 2005 at 8:54 am

  I have really enjoyed your site. I was pleasantly surprised to see you mentioned today in an article I was reading in the Kansas City Star.

• 93 samantha // Jun 10, 2005 at 11:13 am

  I’ve been looking at the Ashville area lately as a possible place to live in the simi-near future. Are you familiar with the area at all. I’m not sure what part of NC you’re in.

  I’m so excited about the possibility of living in a costal state–I live in TN now and we’re land locked.

  Parker–my son loves the water–can’t wait for that beach time.

  Thanks!

• 94 benmac // Jun 10, 2005 at 11:35 am

  We live in the middle of the state, in Chapel Hill. Ashville is in the mountains. It’s a nice place, but I don’t think many people move to Ashville because it’s in a coastal state. Matter of fact, I’m sure Ashville is much closer to the South Carolina beaches than any NC beach. Still, the mountains are really nice

• 95 Allison // Jun 10, 2005 at 3:41 pm

  Two questions:

  Do you ever call Trixie Beatrix? Does she know this is her name?

  Also, are you and Jen thinking of any other little ones?

• 96 ThreePts // Jul 5, 2005 at 4:04 pm

  Great website, great metrics. I am having a child which should be out in a few months. I look forward to documenting the childs eating/sleeping/pooping habits just like you have.

  http://www.webgoonies.com/

• 97 Pamster // Aug 17, 2005 at 12:42 pm

  Just suffered through 2 days of severe sleep deprivation while surfing through TTU archives. Love it! Any plans for telemetry on language acquisition?

• 98 benmac // Aug 17, 2005 at 12:57 pm

  Hi Pamster,
  Sorry about the lack of sleep, but I’m glad you like the archives
  You bring up a great question. I wanted to track language, but I missed the window. Around the time Trixie really began to talk, I got too busy with Trixie Tracker and I just didn’t have time. We’ll have to wait for the next one.

• 99 Pamela // Oct 4, 2005 at 6:15 am

  I was accepted as a beta tester for trixie tracker but my computer went down before I could bookmark the page I set up for my Son. Could you send me the link?

• 100 benmac // Oct 4, 2005 at 7:39 am

  Hi Pamela,
  No problem — it should be in your inbox now.
  Best,
  Ben

• 101 Pamela (Again!) // Oct 4, 2005 at 2:36 pm

  I noticed my timezone is not represented in the options available. I am in Newfoundland (Canada) and the timezone is EST plus and hour and a half.

  Thanks,
  Pam

• 102 benmac // Oct 4, 2005 at 2:47 pm

  Hi Pam,
  Please use the Trixie Tracker Beta Blog for these kinds of issues. There’s a link to the blog at the top of every page when you are signed in. thanks!
  Ben

• 103 Hong Hui // Oct 6, 2005 at 1:20 am

  Greetings,

  i have just stumbled across this site of yours and find it rather neat to see such a interesting dad who devotes so much time and effort on documenting their child’s development thru the web method.

  To track these thingys takes a huge amount of time (to me tho. ;)) and i salute ya for that.
  Best wish and regards,
  Hong Hui

• 104 kelly // Jan 17, 2006 at 6:30 pm

  Ok I did a search and I think no one has asked this yet. How many gigs do you have allocated for photos and what is your archiving solution for long term? Do you have a naming system for photos for archiving? I am about to have my first and I already know the photo volume will be huge, any Tips? Tricks?

  Also, is there a roll out date for the tracker yet? I am due in 29 days and would dearly love to start from the beginning with the tracker.

• 105 benmac // Jan 17, 2006 at 7:21 pm

  Hi Kelly,

  1) I store full size images on my home computer in dated folders. There’s 28.81 GB to date. I use a program called iView to sort and search. I prefer it to iPhoto. I don’t know what options are available for PC users.

  2) I’m 99% sure Trixie Tracker will launch before you are due. However, you are also welcome to sign up now for a beta account. Either way, you will definitely be able to use the software

• 106 DanIzzo // Apr 10, 2006 at 12:24 am

  I really love the site. My baby is due soon, and I plan on signing up with Trixie Tracker. I’m setting up a blog of my own and am wondering what you use to generate the TPOD pages. Not the pictures themselves but the underlying code to create the pages.

  Thanks!

• 107 benmac // Apr 10, 2006 at 7:17 am

  Hi Dan,

  Here’s the link for the TPOD code. Congrats on upcoming arrival!

• 108 Bug // Jul 20, 2006 at 10:27 pm

  Hey,

  I love your site! It makes me laugh outloud everytime I have a few minutes to read it…and you can really never get enough of those moments, right? Tonight, it was Hannah’s “old” references (I, too, am of “advanced maternal age”…not just an insult, but an actual medical term…hmph)…and when Trixie first crawled into the kitchen & you decided, well, you’ve been feeding her for the last six months, so though she’s clearly lost, she can stay .

  I had one suggestion (to take or leave or point out that it’s already available)…adding a search category by, mmm, Trixie’s age. For example, our baby is 7 months & I’d like to jump to when Trixie was 7 months. Sure, I can count on the month & year selector & I have been, but after a long day, I’m not even in the mood to do that much . Just a thought.

  Good luck with the telemetry subscriptions. I hope that means you’ll be online with the updates that much longer!

  Thanks for the laughs !
  Bug

• 109 ThorneW // Jul 13, 2007 at 3:40 pm

  May I use one or two of your pictures? I recently gotten into reborning and would use them on my logo. She’s turly was a beautiful baby right from the start!!

• 110 benmac // Jul 14, 2007 at 10:10 am

  Hi Thorne,

  Thanks for asking, but I do not grant permission to use a photo in a logo. I’m not really sure what reborning is anyway…

  Ben

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