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Daddy on Willem's Blog

Inspiration from a child

Experience the world like a kid

Sep. 30, 2021
Explore the world together with your kids and reap the rewards of adventure and fun!

Together with my kids I love to explore the world that we think we know as adults. A kid's perspective inspires and surprises! No need to travel half the world for an adventure: Fly planes, catch bad guys, solve problems, build and break stuff - (re)discover the adventure right at your doorstep!

The birth of a child

Impact on daddy and his biometrics

July 13, 2021
Witnessing the birth of a child changes a man, for science and curiosity I wore a biometric sensor capturing the impact of birth on yours truly.

Today I witnessed the birth of my daughter! You feel humble as a man, witnessing the labour and magic. Not sure if I can come up with something having more impact on a man than this. For the purposes of science and curiosity I wore a biometric sensor, and this is what it recorded.

Hospitalised with MCADD

Averting a metabolic crisis by infusion

May 4, 2021
This week our son was hospitalised because a regular illness caused him to keep vomiting, a dangerous situation if you're diagnosed with MCADD.

This week we experienced the first time that our son was hospitalised since he was diagnosed with MCADD, a metabolic condition that limits his body's ability to utilise fats for energy. Do you or your kid have MCADD? Then, read along and don't worry, as everything will be allright!

Replacing a Shimano shift cable

Fixing the cargo bike after hunting for bears

Nov. 22, 2020
After some adventure with our cargo bike, the Shimano Nexus 7-speed shifter cable got damaged and needed replacement. Read my blog post to learn how to do this yourself.

Last week my son and I where looking for bears in the local park... a child's fantasy is priceless! Unfortunately, during some off road riding with our cargo bike, one of the cables got tangled up with a sturdy branch! Our wounded carbo bike was in need for a repair!

Assembling a cargo bike

Setting up the Babboe Big cargo bike

June 25, 2019
How hard can it be to assemble a cargo bike? This posts shares my experience with assembling the Babboe Big cargo bike.

This month our Babboe Big cargo bike arrived, in boxes. The engineer in me thought it was a good idea to assemble the bike by hand. This way I would know exactly about all its parts and fittings, handy knowledge for maintenance. Read along for my experience and some practical tips.

Six months with MCADD

Thoughts and tips on the daily life as parents

June 24, 2019
It's six months since our son was born with MCADD, a good moment to reflect upon the experience of being a parent with some thoughts and tips.

Tomorrow it's six months since our son was born, a good moment to reflect upon the experience of being a parent of a kid with MCADD. This metabolic condition demands special attention on the feeding schedule and preparation for situations when things go different. It's good to share that this has quickly become normal for us, here are some thoughts and tips.

Born with MCADD

Medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency

Jan. 29, 2019
Our son was diagnosed with MCADD days after he was born. We experienced a metabolic crisis but were lucky to be just in time!

Just days after our son was born, we ran into trouble when our little man didn't want to eat anymore. Repeated attempts to feed him failed as he appeared to be too tired to drink from his mother. When we measured his body temperature we were shocked, only 33ยบ Celsius! What followed was nothing less than an incredible emotional rollercoaster!

My first weeks as dad

On the challenges and rewards of being a father

Jan. 24, 2019
Last Christmas my wife gave birth of our son. It's a life changing experience to become a parent. Read along for my (biometric) findings and some practical tips.

Last Christmas my wife gave birth to our son, a little boy that would change everything! It's an incredible experience to become a parent, especially if it is your first kid. It introduces a whole new way of living, having to deal with regular feeding, caring and sleepless nights. Read along for my (biometric) findings and some practical tips!

All blog posts
Construction manual... 67 pages!
Construction manual... 67 pages!
This plane flies everywhere - yet it never leaves the ground (at Schiphol Airport Amsterdam)
This plane flies everywhere - yet it never leaves the ground (at Schiphol Airport Amsterdam)
Go offroad instead of taking the beaten path - mud in the local park adds to the adventure!
Go offroad instead of taking the beaten path - mud in the local park adds to the adventure!
One happy daddy - two amazing kids - multiplayer!
One happy daddy - two amazing kids - multiplayer!
Hours later, when the adrenaline tunes down, you'll start to feel the impact (and have plenty of smudges on your shirt to prove it, ha!)
Hours later, when the adrenaline tunes down, you'll start to feel the impact (and have plenty of smudges on your shirt to prove it, ha!)
Magic potion from the local academic hospital (UMC Amsterdam)
Magic potion from the local academic hospital (UMC Amsterdam)
Oops... this is not right!
Oops... this is not right!
Do you see a crook with a diamond or a nice chap with a striped shirt eating a blue ice cream?
Do you see a crook with a diamond or a nice chap with a striped shirt eating a blue ice cream?
New inner and outer shifter cable
New inner and outer shifter cable
Looking for bears... in the local park - priceless adventure!
Looking for bears... in the local park - priceless adventure!
Discover the Lego world together and learn about our own implicit assumptions - about good, bad, wrong and right.
Discover the Lego world together and learn about our own implicit assumptions - about good, bad, wrong and right.
At the end of the day you'll feel exhausted beyond measure - but in a very rewarding fashion!
At the end of the day you'll feel exhausted beyond measure - but in a very rewarding fashion!
Luckily my experience from our first child came in handy! Like knowing how to ride a bike, you'll never forget how to change diapers!
Luckily my experience from our first child came in handy! Like knowing how to ride a bike, you'll never forget how to change diapers!
My kid's response to me explaining that if you dig deep enough, you'll reach the other side of the world - where people, relative to us, walk upside down
My kid's response to me explaining that if you dig deep enough, you'll reach the other side of the world - where people, relative to us, walk upside down
Less then one hour later you're a dad - WOW, hello you!
Less then one hour later you're a dad - WOW, hello you!
Loosening the bolt is easily done using two pliers
Loosening the bolt is easily done using two pliers
Babboe Big, fully assembled
Babboe Big, fully assembled
Time to wake up (photo by Ellen Middelkoop)
Time to wake up (photo by Ellen Middelkoop)

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