Book Worms

The scene this morning:

Both boys love to sit by themselves and read.  It's about the only time the apartment is silent.  They'll collect a pile of books and plop down somewhere and spend some time reading.  I hope reading and being read to is always something they enjoy.

Civics Lesson

I took my chances with taking both boys to the polling place.  Thankfully it wasn't crowded and all of the volunteers indulged our slow pace, 100 questions, and general poking about the place.

I do love doing these things with the boys.  We talked about the job of mayor and how the ballot works.  Great lessons, although I'm not sure either quite get it but one day it will all come together.

For now they know that today we gave our input on who we thought would be the next best leader for our city.

The Scene: Monday through Friday at 5.30pm

Take our picture, Mama

I'm Sorry I Called Them Buttheads

Hans slept, for the most part, last night.  After being hard to settle at bedtime, a 20 minute crying spell around 11pm, and a 3am nursing, he slept almost 14 hours and has taken a 2 hour nap already this morning.  And it's probably because he is really, really sick today and needs lots of rest.

Nothing like pushing a mama over the edge though when it takes 1 hour to settle one baby and once back under the covers you hear B-I-N-G-O, and Bingo was his name-o from a tiny voice in bed next to you.  Or when the room is dark and still at 4am and those tiny little hands grab each cheek and a whisper, Mommy, I just made a rooty tooty.

Ok, maybe one of them is a butthead.

Lots of this going on lately...

When Charlie comes home from work in the evening Hans fusses if Charlie leaves his sight.  Poor guy only gets to see the Daddy for about 20 minutes in the evening before he's headed to bed.  They make up for it in the mornings though.  And Freddie gets in on the lovin too.

Rub A Dub Dub

My three men in a tub.

Bathtime for Hansie!  Freddie is getting his shower a day, but would not be left out of climbing in the tub with the other guys.

Appreciated

Every single night when I bring supper to the table Freddie immediately says (without prompting), "Thank you, Mama.  Delicious dindin, Mama.  Thank you, Mama," in his sweet, tiny voice.  And if this wasn't enough to make my heart explode, I know he learned this from the example his Daddy has set.  Charlie follows Freddie's lead these days and thanks me for my hard work and taking care of both of them.  Perfect end to a long day, and perfect beginning to our evening together.

My Guy

Yes, they are reading my New Orleans Gardens book.  I'm not the only one dreaming of lush gardens.

Charlie calls Freddie "My guy."

Freddie calls Charlie "My guy, " in a soft endearing voice usually accompanied by a pat or hug.

My favorite part of the weekend

 

My guys, in the kitchen on Saturday morning.

The pancakes were delicious, too.

The kitchen window

Freddie calls out for "Dada" a few times a day but seems to have some cues in the evenings to know that it is getting close to Dada's arrival home and calls for him more frequently after 5pm.  Charlie usually sends me a text message when he's heading out of the subway station just about home.  So I then ask Freddie if we should check for Dada.  He gives a quick "yesh" or "yeah" and runs to the kitchen window.

Can you see Charlie waving?

And we both watch for Charlie to come into sight.  Freddie immediately gets giddy when he lays eyes on Charlie and calls to him through the window.  Once Charlie's in the building Freddie is off to the front door where a giggly reunion ensues. 

Overheard at bathtime

Freddie, the last time I have seen feet this dirty was on Steven W. the morning after the MOMs ball.

Oh, Freddie. I cannot even begin to imagine the tales your father has for you.

I just love my guys

Saturday with The Daddy

Pictures in my inbox, sent from his phone...


This certainly feels like just the right size bolt, Daddy. It will work prefectly for our project.


These two have been busy in the workshop getting ready for Mardi Gras. Wondering how the party wagon will roll this year.

Mid Week Progress Report

I know everyone is curious about what days have been like on Bordeaux Street with The Mama at work and The Daddy in charge, left with 10+ pages of instructions.

First, a bit about The Mama:

• She loves working.
• It was a great feeling to walk out of the house with her briefcase and coffee rather than her diaper bag.
• Hated the breast pump in the other hand. Pumping is no fun.
  
• Thinks we'd be instituting the cry it out, School of Hard Knocks method, at night if she had to get up and work every day.
• Working out would greatly improve her days, but with Freddie still waking during the night, she hasn't figured out how to make that happen before work.
• Text messages from the boys make her smile.
• Is not fond of tag team parenting. We get to share dinner as a family but then I take over for the night shift so Charlie can work.
  
• Seeing Bug's smile when she walks in the door is the best part of the day.
• Thinks finding "contract" work would be an ideal set up for working, providing income, productivity outside the home, and flexibility.
• Would rather be home than at work.
• Is so thankful to have a Bug and a Daddy to come home to.
  

Bug:

• Has been taking the bottle without issue.
• Doesn't seem to be bothered by my absence during the day, but does everything to propel himself in my direction with his big cheesy grin when we make eye contact in the afternoons.
• Is eating his solids.
• Didn't sleep a wink Monday night. He and Mama started Tuesday at 3:30 am.
• Slept from 6.30 pm until 1.30 am, nursed, and slept until 6.30 am last night. He knew Mama needed to catch up on sleep.
  
• Gets a work out from The Daddy every day during floor time.
• Is sitting better than ever.
• Has been working on his sounds...Mmmmmamamama, Bababa, and a throaty, grunting squeal.
• Makes big boy poops.
  
• Changes so much from day to day.

Buggie and Daddy doing floor time.

The Daddy:

• Didn't make it out of his pajamas on Monday and professed he needed a shower because he felt "gross" when The Mama got home.
• Has made dinner every day.
• Used the phrases "new appreciation" and "eye opening" when describing the past three days.
• Realizes that the "moment he walks in the door after work until Freddie goes to sleep" he wants to be with his boy. He didn't realize how much he needed to work on developing a relationship with Freddie and how much Freddie actually changes from day to day. He also didn't realize how desperately The Mama needed a break after being with Freddie all day.
• Learned as trite as it sounds, he wants to be a part of these everyday moments that will make Freddie who he is.
  
• This is my favorite: has set up the tripod with the video camera to record "home movies." We have nearly 60 minutes of videoed bottle feeding and floor time.
  
• Will most likely try to check the tripod placement to ensure he doesn't get 60 minutes of video with the Bug's face out of the frame.
  
• Puts in 6-8 hours of work after dinner.
• Would recommend all dads put in back to back days with their children, sans outside assistance.
• Remains stressed about getting his work completed in time.
  
• Is very much appreciated by his wife and baby boy.
  

Instructions for the babysitter, literally

I'm working this week, Monday through Friday, 9-5. I have a training for the part time job I'll be holding on to this year. After I typed up the instructions for the babysitter, also known as The Daddy, I thought it'd be nice to archive them here.

Here it goes...

Below is an estimate of what my day usually looks like, along with some notes to help you plan your own day.

8-10 am

• Walk in the park
• Nap while walking
• Notes: I will nurse for the last time around 8am, and try to leave the house by 8.30 each morning. Bring along a toy or two if you take the stroller. He'll sleep for at least one lap.
  

10.00

• Floor time
• Nurse
• Notes: He is usually happy to finally be unstrapped and out of the stroller and will happily roll around on the floor so I can fix myself a quick bite to eat. Sometimes he likes to see me so I put him in the swing or exersaucer while I eat so we can “chat”. If he is hungry I may feed him and then do my own eating. Just depends on this mood.
  

11.00

• Solids
• Notes: I usually try an entire container of food with some cereal at this point. He likes it warmed. 8 seconds in micro is plenty. Stir and test with fingers for hot spots. May actually be too warm. You may want to add a few little spoonfuls of prunes depending on the poop status for the day/week. Sometime scarfs it and sometimes he is not interested at all. When he is not interested I usually find it is because he is tired, so if that is the case I usually try again with solids after a nap. This might be tricky for you because he should be offered breastmilk first and the solids after he’s indicated he’s had enough milk. So just play solids by ear, but try to offer them twice a day.
  

Noonish

• Nap
• Notes: This has been somewhere between 1-2 hours lately, but he'll typically wake up 30 minutes into the nap but can usually be soothed back to sleep with a few pats on the bottom.

1-2ish

• Nurse

3-5ish

• Sometimes a little nap happens.
• Floor time: try some tummy time, practicing sitting, sing songs. peek a boo with the lamb, look at books, or go upstairs and lie on the rug with the "gym"
  
• Solids again
• Run errands or go to the pool
  
• Notes: I turn the TV on during this floor play because I am going batty by this point in the day. He sometimes will try to look at it but if you are engaging him, he is more interested in you than the TV. For his solids warm up what he didn't finish or if he ate everything in the morning I usually open a new baby food package and use half of it with a little cereal. It can be a good time of the day to be out and about because it is tough to be in the house all day and you can distract him with an outing.
  

5ish

• Nurse
• Cook dinner
• Notes: This is where the day gets really interesting because he is cranky and you're trying to get dinner done! Good luck with that. I should be home around this time so I can nurse when I get home rather than you giving him a bottle if you think he can wait for me. I've planned the meals for the week, as noted on the calender, and all ingredients should be ready to go. Again, if you can't manage this I understand! Not everyone is as efficient as The Mama.
  

Other Notes:

Diapers:

• Spray diapers out in the toilet before dropping in the wet bag. This is only really necessary if the poop is plentiful or solid. Yuck, I know.
• Plan on washing diapers twice this week, preferably Monday and Friday. Empty the bag into the wash and toss it in. Wash on hot, with extra rinse on. Use 1/4 amount of detergent you'd use for a regular load. Make sure liners are unsnapped before tossing in dryer. Please stuff the liners into the diapers after they dry.

Solids:

• Don't forget the bib. You can also strip him of his clothes before feeding to make clean up even easier.
• Burp cloths stocked in the drawer of the island to use as wipe up rags.
• If you choose a green veggie for a solid, you may want to dip each spoonful in applesauce. He's not liking the greens too much.
• Feel free to try the barley cereal or the oatmeal.
• If he hasn't eaten much all day, I sometimes resort to turning on the TV during the evening feeding. I hate to admit it, but it's true. Just like you are I could eat and entire bag of Doritos in front of the tube, Freddie will zone out and eat every stinkin bite of food you offer him. I realize this isn't one of those tips you'll read in the parenting magazines but I hardly believe I am the first to think of it. Besides, watching Judge Judy while scraping pears off his chin after a day of craziness helps.
  

Miscellaneous:

• Please record times and ounces consumed for bottles. I'll prep the bottles at night for you if you run the dishwasher. Remember, the nipples need a wipe with the little brush.
• Try to throw in a few baths for the Bug.
• He likes raspberries on his tummy and the bottom of his feet.
• Keep the gate to Bug's room closed to prevent the dogs from cuddling up on his rug. Also be sure to block off their entrance to the floor play area when you leave to prevent BooDog from making off with Bug's sock monkey or new squeaking crab. He's been eying the crab.
• Bug loves to water the ferns. He likes to stick his hand in the spraying water. Please try to water them each day if you think about it.
• Thursday is picture day! Don't forget. The camera is in the side pocket of my diaper bag. Take some pictures this week.
• Try the gym if you like. You can make childcare reservations right before leaving the house. I think technically they are supposed to charge you if you reserve and don't show, so I like to make them as I am leaving since I know I will be there.
  

And remember, these are only suggestions. I know you will find your own way. This is just what's worked for Mama and Bug. Daddy and Bug will figure things out for themselves I am sure. And if I find you two and the dogs alive when I get home, I'll consider the day a success! I look forward to hearing the adventures and learning something new about our boy.

Afternoon Chat

This went on and on and on, but I present you with a few seconds. Just because they are cute.