the Leigh, Jeff and Dash Martin Web - Home page.

6/29/09-Under construction: I'm trying to get this reorganized and navigable.

Hey, 

Welcome 2007!

1/1/2007:  Happy New Year!

I am looking forward to 2007.  2006 was a not a bad year, but it was tough.  Dash was a tremendous joy of course and because of him, the 2006 was the best year ever, but a tough year nonetheless.  I have high hopes that 

Most of the new content is over at Dash's website:  dashmartin.net.

3/24/06:  Dash is doing well and is his happy self.  He got a tooth yesterday.  Bottom left central incisor.  Not all that much of a fuss.  

Recent Web Updates

(Dash's web)

2/9/06 New Dash Website! 12/18/05 Special Dash Moments 12/7/05 Dash Christmas Pix 11/21/05 New Dash Pix 11/19/05 blogjam 11/17/05 blogjam 10/31/05 5 new pictures 10/27/05 misc. stuff Dash's Home Page Dash's Room

Free time?  hahahahah! So, I'm really behind on keeping this up to date, but I do have something to console ya:  I have a few DVD's of Dash from birth through January 1.   If you want one email us.  I'll need to know which format your DVD player supports, specifically DVD+R or DVD-R (or simply + or -).  The following webpage can be used to help if you've lost your manual: http://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers.php.  We also can get you either higher resolution photo files.  Holler!

And, yes, the non-Dash commentary will continue to dwindle equally with the non-Dash parts of our lives.  Worth it.

Very Briefly:  I don't really know the metrics of what a good baby is and what sort of things he should be doing to be "on track".  Here's my impressions.  He's a good boy, smiles a lot, I mean a LOT.  He seems really happy.  He has his moments of apparent pain (gas) where he cries sometime urgently.  These bouts occur maybe once a week and can last up to forty minutes.  And, of course, he has the universal cranky cry when he's tired at night.  Other than that it takes no effort to make him smile and happy seems to be his default state.  I like how he entertains himself with various toys and his own hands and fingers.  We have heard about angelic first children who trick parents into having another.   We think this is what Dash is up to

Yesterday (1/21) we went to the beach.  I bundled Dash up real good and took him down to the water.  He seemed interested and curious but not necessarily overwhelmed.  I was happy to take him nonetheless. I've often said that most of my ethical growth over the adult part of my life has come largely through dating (slight compromise unerringly leads to immediate unambiguous feedback).  I'm sure parenting will present interesting dilemmas.  A first occurred the other night at 4:00am.  Dash has his various noisy periods of sleep, often cuz he's hungry, at around 5:00am cuz he's gassy, and eventually because he's up for the day.   Well at 4:00am his eyes were wide open, he seemed to be "up."  Leigh and I were awake but hoping to get back to sleep.  "Don't excite him, maybe he'll go back to sleep."  We'll Dash locks those big baby blues on to yours and breaks into his usual big smile (after his usual long night's rest, he radiates a 'Oh boy, another day, another day!' energy, which would be appreciated all the more if he radiated it at 7:00am instead of 5:00am).  I gave him a flat return so as not to encourage him to stay awake.  I don't remember whether he went back to sleep but I do remember worrying about it through work the next day.  "Do I want to send him the message that happiness is conditional?"  Definitely not.  So from now on: big smile automatically gets a big smile.

Dash, ready for Christmas at the beach.

12/27/05 brief.  Three days at home with Leigh and the boy was awesome.  Those research boys at the baby supply manufacturers are pretty smart.  Things that dangle can keep a nine-week old occupied for hours.  Dash is learning that those hands of his are actually his.  I was able to watch over the three day weekend and after work today (Tuesday) how he's getting control of his hands.  No real dexterity yet, but he can put his fist on things.  He's pretty focused.  Hope he studies like that when he gets to college.  He rolled on his side for the first time yesterday and a second time.  He rolled all the way over onto his stomach before he realized that the Martin boys aren't so good at pushups.  Let's assume I didn't find him completely adorable, I still stop and watch the spiders do their thing, so I find watching Dash develop absolutely fascinating.  I better read up on developmental topics so that I can help.  Right now I'm taking my lead from him.  Much other than Dash is being neglected, but it's a privilege to be in the moment with him.

Hello, Dash!

This is a picture of Dash a couple hours after his breakout.

(click on the picture to go to Dash's Home Page)

(note: if you are not seeing menus to the left click here)

(click for larger)

Contact Info

Email addresses:

Our email addresses are:

• jeff @ leighandjeff.com
• leigh @l eighandjeff.com
• although for some reason Leigh prefers leighmartin @ san.rr.com
• Dash @ leighandjeff.com is received by both Leigh and me.

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