Happy day with the baby

So baby boy has been doing 6 hours (9-3) of daycare during workdays over the past 3 weeks, now that Mommy has returned to work for a little while. It means we now share a schedule... Daddy gets in to work 7 am-ish so that Mommy can be with baby until she drops him off at 9. Then Daddy returns to pick up Junior at 3 and we have a wonderful afternoon until Mommy comes home.

Baby and Daddy have finally got the bottle technique worked out. I was surprised that he actually has a nipple preference.. and wouldn't you know, it's for the cheapest, non-breast-like, unfancy kind. Good boy! At first, he'd only let Daddy feed him while sitting on his lap, facing away from Pop. But now he prefers to eat while staring at Daddy with his pretty blue eyes. Usually, feedings bring on a brief food coma, and then Daddy gets a little while to get things done.

And it's surprising to me how much lower I had to set my expectations for being productive while caring for Noah! I already assumed that doing any sort of schoolwork while providing child care was really unreasonable, and I was right.. however, I've found that I'm lucky just to get a chance to use the bathroom, start dinner or write bills!

We've been planning out weekday menus over the weekend, which - believe it or not - makes meal preparation much easier. Just knowing what the meal makes Daddy much more efficient and makes cooking much easier. Not just that we can prepare some food ahead of time (pre-chopping, setting out ingredients), but also it eliminates that terrible indecision of what to cook while staring at a pantry with baby on my arm. So far, so good!

This past week, our friend who cares for Noah while we work is off at Disney World, so Mommy and Daddy are sharing responsibilities during the day. Daddy has very much enjoyed the long alone time with Baby - well, except for a few extended bouts of crying. We had lots of fun seeing the plants at the municipal greenhouse the other day; the air smelled good and the birds were singing.

What's new with baby? Well, he's turning into a little blond boy and is starting to look a bit more like Dad than he used to. He is very vocal and loves to "talk" back and forth with Mom and Dad. In the past 2 weeks or so he's really started to agressively reach out and grab things, instead of just grasping at nearby objects. Buttons on our shirts, small toys, our chins and noses, books while we read to him. His neck is noticably stronger when we have tummy time - for a while, we thought "standing up" was his only trick.. but it looks like he'll be a strong crawler too! Mommy just reorganized his clothes again - the second time she's had to put away clothing that's already too small for him. He loves to clasp his hands together, and now has no problem sucking his thumb (or his whole hand).

We've set up a futon in the corner of our sunroom and it's now Noah's place. Just a little bit up off the floor to keep the chill away, and big enough to cuddle and play with Mommy and Daddy. And kitty.. Tigger is now in love with baby and likes to curl up against him. She'll even get in front of us now to be close to Junior; she is being very sweet. Sheida the mutt is tolerant of Noah grabbing and pulling on her fur - and boy he sure holds on tight!

Donna scanned a bunch of photos last weekend and Daddy will put them online as soon as he can!

Hope all is well with you. Please email or call!