Call a thing by its name
Posted on July 2, 2009 - Filed Under The Daily Doodle, Parenting
The context:
We were getting ready to head into town to visit the local municipal swimming pool. Maggie was in the process of changing into her bathing suit. As she is prone to do, she was running around naked and dancing. I had her bathing suit, which she needed a little help getting into.
The dialogue:
Daddy: Maggie, come over here and get your bathing suit on.
Maggie comes over and faces me.
Maggie: I got a pee-pee.
Daddy: Yeah? Do you know what your pee-pee is called?
Maggie nods her head yes, as she normally does even though she doesn’t know the answer to the question.
Daddy: What is it called?
Maggie: I don’t know.
Daddy: Your pee-pee is called a vagina.
Maggie: A bagina?
Daddy: Yeah, a vagina.
Maggie: What is your pee-pee called?
Daddy: A penis.
Maggie: Penis? That’s a silly name for a pee-pee.
Oh, the things children say.
“Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet”—Rousseau
Posted on June 28, 2009 - Filed Under Whine with my cheese, And your point is?, Adult swim, Parenting
You would think that if you’ve been through something once, you would have learned from it. Well, as it turns out, that’s not always true, at least when it comes to Erin and I. In the lead up to Wyatt’s delivery, we were incredibly anxious—impatient, even—for him to finally get here. In fact, one day about four weeks ago, I was standing in my boss’s office and heard Tom Petty sing, “The waiting is the hardest part.” I thought about how true that was for me at that moment in time. To my credit, though, the better part of me slapped me upside the head and made me realize how much of an idiot I was for thinking such a thing. Waiting for him to be born was nothing compared to him actually being here and all that will be involved with being his Dad. That said, I am incredibly happy he is finally here and that he is healthy. And I think that is what I was most anxious about: Is he going to be okay, etc.? Now that he’s here, I am constantly amazed at how perfect he is. We got really lucky.
Amazing…
Posted on June 26, 2009 - Filed Under Uncategorized
Wyatt actually sleeps! I got 6 hours of sleep during each of the last 2 nights - incredibly amazing when you consider what I went through with Maggie! Maggie never slept - I think it was 9 months until I got 7 hours of sleep. Wyatt has been such a good baby - albeit only a week old - but still, maybe we got lucky!
Update
Posted on June 21, 2009 - Filed Under Adult swim, The Daily Doodle, Parenting
Well, the most frequently asked question at this point is, “How is everyone doing?” So here’s an update:
Wyatt is doing well. He needed to be tested for something called bilirubin. Apparently, it is a precursor to juandice and is not a big deal provided the child is watched well in the days immediately following the birth. Erin and her parents took him back to the hospital for a follow-up test today. The results came back indicating no further action would be required. We will take him to meet his regular pediatrician for the first time tomorrow, during which he will undoubtedly be screened (at least visually) again.
Erin is tired, per the normal for a woman who very recently gave birth. Physically, she is doing really well. I think that she is dealing with a lot of the normal emotions a mother-for-the-second-time might. Breastfeeding is going a lot better than it did with Maggie. Erin is extremely grateful (as am I) for the assistence of her parents, who have been here for almost 2 weeks. She knows that once they leave and I am done with my leave from work, things are going to really kick in, but I think she’s got half the battle won because she’s mentally prepared.
Maggie doesn’t really know quite what to think. She has said, even after we brought Wyatt home, that she doesn’t want a baby brother. I, at least, have thought this is probably within the range of what’s normal, especially for someone who has had all of her parents’ love for 3 years. I told her that he will be a great playmate soon. We have been trying to involve her in Wyatt’s care so that she doesn’t resent the attention he gets and she does not. It’s nice teaching her what is allowed and what is not; it just feels so natural. I don’t know how else to say it—a little learning these things is just the way it seems life is supposed to be, even though she probably won’t remember it long-term.
I am doing amazingly well. It might have something to do with not being at work and being fully engaged in my family. I just feel so relaxed. I am not well-rested and have forgotten things, but I think I have a bit of ‘don’t sweat the small stuff’ going around in my head. Staying calm and focused on the ultimate task really helps.
Anyway, one of the things I am worried about is not doing as much of the stuff we did for Maggie. So, with that in mind and in acknowledgement of how the blog has been neglected recently, I am going to make a concerted effort to keep the writing regular. I don’t know if anyone is staying tuned in anymore, but the exercise of writing is something I really enjoy and find catheric, so I guess it really doesn’t matter if people are reading. It’s the journey that matters, right?
Welcome to the world, Little Man
Posted on June 19, 2009 - Filed Under Parenting
Wyatt Hayes was born at 11:01pm Thursday 18 June. He weighed 8lbs 12oz and measured 19.5 inches. He appears to be completely healthy.
Compared to Maggie’s birth, Wyatt’s was much closer to the movie stereotype. Erin woke me up at 10:45pm in a little bit of a panic because her water had just broke. We had been instructed by the midwife to head straight to the hospital in that event. So, we hurriedly gathered our prepared bags and headed out the door. Erin wasn’t experiencing any contractions and didn’t really start until after we arrived. To make a long story short, nothing really happened until after induction medicine was administered. Even then, the real action didn’t start until the evening. Erin was in a lot of pain, so she asked if there were any alternatives to an epidural. We opted for something called Nubain to ease the pain. It really did the trick; Erin was able to get about 30-45 minutes of rest. That was from 9:30-10:15 tonight. Then came the hard work of pushing, which obviously didn’t last too long.
Anyway, we are way tired, so look for me here in the next few days.
OMG somebody save me!
Posted on June 3, 2009 - Filed Under The Daily Doodle, Parenting
Mornings with Maggie usually brings a bit of frustration - she’s three, I except that fact. It’s normal. Basically she is slow - slow to eat, slow to get dressed, slow to put on her shoes and slow to get into her car seat. She is slow whether she wants to go to school that day or not go. She takes her time no matter where we go. I am actually starting to think it is a personality trait - one that Mommy and Daddy gave her! This morning, though, was like OMG (Oh My God) somebody save me!
The morning started pretty normal. Maggie woke up around 7 am and asked to watch one of her TV shows on the internet. She like to watch most all shows Nick Jr. offers. She can even use the mouse to chose new videos to watch, pause the show when she needs to use the bathroom and turn the show off when the show is over.
After her video, I tell her it is time to go upstairs and get dressed. She is fine with that except I ask her to take her stuffed animal, Jeremiah, and a couple small toys upstairs with her. I am taking up her clothes basket. I am big and pregnant. Climbing the stairs for me is a serious workout! She didn’t like me asking her to bring her stuff upstairs; she refused my request. I tell her to bring her stuff upstairs to her room. At that point she starts to do the obnoxious whiny cry three year olds are famous for doing. Maggie has perfected this cry. She throws Jeremiah on the floor and demands I come back down the stairs and walk up with her. I come to the landing in the stairs and tell her to come up. She takes a minute and then decides to come up without Jeremiah. She is still whining. I ask her to get dressed. She takes her clothes off and then proceeds to dance around naked. I tell her again to get dressed. No answer. “Ok” I say, ” Mommy’s getting dressed and going downstairs. When you are dressed, please come down. You don’t want to be late for school.” This, of course, infuriates her sending her into a 30 minute monotone whiny-cry. I timed it. After about 20 minutes of whiny-cry in her bedroom she comes downstairs dressed for school. She proceeds to take the next 10 minutes crying in front of the downstairs mirror holding her tooth brush. Ridiculous.
She eventually stops this monotone whiny cry - thank god! I thought I was going to loose my mind. I almost took video of her tantrum to save and show to her friends when she’s a teenager. We finally made it into her car seat. Exhausting. She proceeds to put on her belts, slowly, because they must lay perfectly on her body. During the car ride to school, I ask her what her problem was. She, of course, has no idea.
I never imagined I would have such a stubborn child. If she doesn’t want to do something, she won’t do it. Even when threatened with spankings and loss of three-year old privileges. A couple months ago, because of this stubbornness, I nicknamed her Princess. Yes, it is a term of endearment but very true as well. I am actually really glad we are having a boy because I don’t think there would be enough room in this house for another Princess. Of course, if personality traits are inherited, we will be in even deeper with our boy-prince.
Home again
Posted on June 1, 2009 - Filed Under Uncategorized
Today is my first day as a stay at home mommy (SAHM) after 18 months of full-time work. While I am looking forward to being at home again, I have a different perspective on it this time around. Having two kids will definitely be a lot more work and the whole recommendation of ’sleep while your baby sleeps’ won’t be possible this time!
Maggie will be enjoying 5 days a week of preschool. A necessity as far as I am concerned. I think she actually felt a bit slighted when I picked her up at noon today. After her nap, she asked if dinner was ready. Not for 4 more hours! I think it will be an adjustment for her to be at home again as well.
This time around, I made a deal with myself that I won’t get sucked into watching hours of the Food Network and E news and waiting for 5:00pm when Jason arrives home!
Still here!
Posted on May 27, 2009 - Filed Under Adult swim, Parenting
I am tired tonight but am making a veggie pizza for my work picnic tomorrow. It is my last full week of work so we all decided to do a cookout for my going-away party!
The University I work for decided to close up the site here in Idaho. I proposed a deal that I would stay on working ten hours a week until all my graduate students finish their courses. Definitely a win-win situation. I will work from home and take the baby with me when needed. Otherwise, Daddy will take over. I could never imagine working full time with a newborn baby! I guess I am lucky to have the choice to work or stay home.
Maggie is getting her hair brushed by Daddy tonight. She hates getting her hair brushed so she only lets him do it a couple times a month. Mommy is not allowed to touch her hair. Honestly, I am totally fine with that! I am very glad she has straight hair and conditioner was invented!
Baby is doing well and everything is progressing very smoothly in these last couple weeks. I have to say that I am feeling a bit victorious tonight based on some things my midwife said to me at my appointment today. A little vague, I know, but its too much information to provide over the internet.
Who’s in his 30’s? Surely not me
Posted on February 19, 2009 - Filed Under And your point is?, Adult swim, Parenting
It is undoubtedly a duty of parenthood to teach children some of the things they can do to be mischievous. Such was my goal when we went to TGI Friday’s this past weekend. (We normally don’t eat there but I got an email from a co-worker entitling the holder to a buy-one get-one-free entree deal. Here’s a link to the coupon. It’s good until March 1st, so print it out and get yourself some free vittles.) We were kind of just sitting there waiting for our food, hoping Maggie would continue to be patient. In an effort to keep her entertained, I got it in my head to peel off a little bit of the straw paper and blow on the end, thus propelling the remaining paper toward her like a spear. She absolutely loved this!! So, I reloaded by carefully inserting the straw back into the hollow paper. I thought it would be funny to blow the paper straight up and let it fall. I took aim, inhaled deeply, and proceeded to blow hard through the straw. I thought my plan was solid; turns out gravity was not my friend. The paper floated down into the booth behind me, which was occupied by a nice young couple. I looked over at Erin, only to not see her imediately because she had taken cover under the table. I got up and told the couple I was very sorry. When I came back, Erin’s face was frostbite-red. Needless to say, mortified was the word of the day.
A Prince for my Princess
Posted on February 17, 2009 - Filed Under The Daily Doodle, Parenting
For those of you who haven’t heard (which is pretty much everyone) – we are having a boy! Although Maggie really wanted a sister, I think she is adjusting well to the idea of having a brother– she has a plan to use her magic wand to turn her brother into a sister once he arrives. I’m a bit worried about that since she is getting pretty handy with her wand, having turned Jason and I into frogs on countless occasions. Maggie is already setting limits on her brother, like refusing to allow him to share her bed. She is willing, however, to share her new bunkbed with Grandmas and Grandpas.
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