Apparently, for John Patrick, baths are going to be an acquired taste.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Built for Speed
John Patrick, training for the one man bobsled event in the 2030 Winter Olympics. I think he's got real potential.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Saturday Afternoon on the Front Porch
John Patrick, watching Jude and I playing cards on the front porch. He's very interested in what's going on, as you can see.
No Time Like the Present
Last weekend, a friend of mine, Rebecca Larson, said something that really struck a chord with me. "When you have a baby," she said, "the days seem to last forever, the weeks go by more quickly and the months fly by." That really makes sense to me, when I stop and think about it.
I've always looked forward to weekends and time off from work, to do what I wanted. The weekends always seemed to pass too quickly, though. Since John Patrick was born, however, on Friday afternoons I feel almost giddy, like school is about to be dismissed for the summer. Just knowing I have the entire weekend to spend with Jude and John Patrick puts me in an ebullient mood at the end of the day.
And here's the thing. The weekends really do seem to drag by, which is amazingly nice. It seems like we have so much time on our hands, all to spend with John Patrick. There's such a pleasant rhythm to our activities . . . feeding him, burping him, changing his diapers, playing with him and watching him sleep. The cycle repeats itself, over and over, and somehow that's very reassuring to me.
Here's another thing that's really nice. Before John Patrick was born, Jude and I would literally sit down each Sunday evening and review our calendars to see what the coming week looked like. On many occasions, one or both of us would have activities scheduled after work during the week. As a result, we would jealously guard the few weeknights when neither of us had anything on our schedule.
I was telling Jude the other night, it's totally different now. Although it may change when Jude returns to work, at present there's rarely a weeknight when either of us has to be anywhere other than home after work. It's great, too, because we're completely focused on being at home and spending time with John Patrick.
For us, there truly is no time like the present.
I've always looked forward to weekends and time off from work, to do what I wanted. The weekends always seemed to pass too quickly, though. Since John Patrick was born, however, on Friday afternoons I feel almost giddy, like school is about to be dismissed for the summer. Just knowing I have the entire weekend to spend with Jude and John Patrick puts me in an ebullient mood at the end of the day.
And here's the thing. The weekends really do seem to drag by, which is amazingly nice. It seems like we have so much time on our hands, all to spend with John Patrick. There's such a pleasant rhythm to our activities . . . feeding him, burping him, changing his diapers, playing with him and watching him sleep. The cycle repeats itself, over and over, and somehow that's very reassuring to me.
Here's another thing that's really nice. Before John Patrick was born, Jude and I would literally sit down each Sunday evening and review our calendars to see what the coming week looked like. On many occasions, one or both of us would have activities scheduled after work during the week. As a result, we would jealously guard the few weeknights when neither of us had anything on our schedule.
I was telling Jude the other night, it's totally different now. Although it may change when Jude returns to work, at present there's rarely a weeknight when either of us has to be anywhere other than home after work. It's great, too, because we're completely focused on being at home and spending time with John Patrick.
For us, there truly is no time like the present.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
The Human Alarm Clock
There is no snooze button on a baby who wakes up, at night, and wants to eat.
I'm fairly certain the question I get the most from friends and colleagues who know we've had a baby is some version of "are you getting any sleep?" We're getting some sleep, of course. Not as much sleep as we got before John Patrick was born, however, and not what I would call "quality" sleep.
Normally, Jude feeds John Patrick at 9:30 p.m. or so, then puts him to bed. On a good night, he'll sleep until 2 a.m. or so, at which point he cries, wakes up and Jude feeds him. Again, if it's a good night, he'll go right back to sleep, then wake up at 7 a.m. or shortly thereafter. That's not every night, mind you, that's a good night.
On a bad night, John Patrick only will sleep until 1 a.m. or, if he sleeps until 2 a.m., after Jude feeds him, he won't go back to sleep for an hour or two. In other words, she may finish feeding him at 2:30 a.m., but he won't go back to sleep until 4 a.m. Those are the tough nights, because then he wakes up again a 6 a.m. or so and wants to eat again.
Lately, though, Jude and lay in bed and laugh, because when John Patrick first starts stirring, he grunts, growls, sighs, whimpers and generally makes more noises than you can possibly imagine. Really strange, loud noises. Noises you wouldn't normally associate with a human being. All of this occurs with his eyes closed. He'll do that for five minutes, get quiet again and sleep for another 10 - 15 minutes. Then, the noises begin again. Jude will lift her head up, look into the "Pack-n-Play" (where he sleeps) beside our bed and if his eyes are still closed, she'll put drop her head back down on the pillow and try to go back to sleep.
The other night, I compared it to the snooze button on an alarm clock. He makes these bizarre strange noises for five minutes, then stops. That's the equivalent of hitting the snooze button, because we desperately try and steal another few minutes of sleep until the cycle starts all over again. Eventually, he'll start crying, at which point we know it's time to get up, change his diaper, and feed him.
I'm fairly certain the question I get the most from friends and colleagues who know we've had a baby is some version of "are you getting any sleep?" We're getting some sleep, of course. Not as much sleep as we got before John Patrick was born, however, and not what I would call "quality" sleep.
Normally, Jude feeds John Patrick at 9:30 p.m. or so, then puts him to bed. On a good night, he'll sleep until 2 a.m. or so, at which point he cries, wakes up and Jude feeds him. Again, if it's a good night, he'll go right back to sleep, then wake up at 7 a.m. or shortly thereafter. That's not every night, mind you, that's a good night.
On a bad night, John Patrick only will sleep until 1 a.m. or, if he sleeps until 2 a.m., after Jude feeds him, he won't go back to sleep for an hour or two. In other words, she may finish feeding him at 2:30 a.m., but he won't go back to sleep until 4 a.m. Those are the tough nights, because then he wakes up again a 6 a.m. or so and wants to eat again.
Lately, though, Jude and lay in bed and laugh, because when John Patrick first starts stirring, he grunts, growls, sighs, whimpers and generally makes more noises than you can possibly imagine. Really strange, loud noises. Noises you wouldn't normally associate with a human being. All of this occurs with his eyes closed. He'll do that for five minutes, get quiet again and sleep for another 10 - 15 minutes. Then, the noises begin again. Jude will lift her head up, look into the "Pack-n-Play" (where he sleeps) beside our bed and if his eyes are still closed, she'll put drop her head back down on the pillow and try to go back to sleep.
The other night, I compared it to the snooze button on an alarm clock. He makes these bizarre strange noises for five minutes, then stops. That's the equivalent of hitting the snooze button, because we desperately try and steal another few minutes of sleep until the cycle starts all over again. Eventually, he'll start crying, at which point we know it's time to get up, change his diaper, and feed him.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Mafiozza's
This afternoon, while Jude was feeding John Patrick, I slipped away for a trail run at Shelby Bottoms. It was an absolutely gorgeous spring afternoon, clear blue sky with the temperature in the upper 60s. The Cornelia Fort Trail was muddy, with standing water in places. There's nothing like splashing through the mud and water on a trail run to make you feel like a kid again.
When I got back home, Jude suggested we take John Patrick out to dinner with us. An excellent idea! We loaded him in the stroller and off we went to Mafiozza's on 12th Avenue. After a 15 minute walk, we arrived at the restaurant and requested a table on the patio, which was already crowded with people enjoying an early evening meal. After a short wait, the waitress led us to our table. I carefully maneuvered the stroller (yes, the City Elite, by Baby Jogger) around and in between tables and chairs. I think I only ran into two or three chairs on the way to our table in the far corner of the patio.
We had a nice meal of pasta and pleasant conversation, although probably not two minutes went by without one of us peeking down into the stroller to check on John Patrick. He slept through our entire meal and didn't even stir until we arrived home just after 7 p.m. His first dinner outing was a resounding success!
When I got back home, Jude suggested we take John Patrick out to dinner with us. An excellent idea! We loaded him in the stroller and off we went to Mafiozza's on 12th Avenue. After a 15 minute walk, we arrived at the restaurant and requested a table on the patio, which was already crowded with people enjoying an early evening meal. After a short wait, the waitress led us to our table. I carefully maneuvered the stroller (yes, the City Elite, by Baby Jogger) around and in between tables and chairs. I think I only ran into two or three chairs on the way to our table in the far corner of the patio.
We had a nice meal of pasta and pleasant conversation, although probably not two minutes went by without one of us peeking down into the stroller to check on John Patrick. He slept through our entire meal and didn't even stir until we arrived home just after 7 p.m. His first dinner outing was a resounding success!
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Rolling, rolling, rolling . . .
I've been catching some grief from the folks at work, because right now, Jude and I have four strollers. That's right, four strollers and one child. One small - but getting bigger every day - child. Originally, we had three strollers, all of which we received as gifts from friends or family at baby showers. However, a couple of weeks ago, I purchased a fourth stroller, on-line. It arrived last week and I assembled it last week just in time for our friend's (Cyndi Baines) weekend visit with her daughter, Finn.
Taking inventory, we have two handy, lightweight strollers, the kind we can keep in our vehicles (one in each) and use at the mall, etc. The backs of the those strollers don't recline, however, so we really can't use them until John Patrick is a little older and capable of sitting and holding his head up for an extended period of time.
The third stroller is a Graco stroller. It's the "Cadillac" of strollers - sturdy, lots of strorage space and compatible with our Graco car seat. It's not real fast or overly maneuverable, but it has a nice, dependable ride. The back reclines until it's completely flat, which is helpful since John Patrick generally falls asleep as soon as the wheels start turning.
The fourth stroller is my baby. Well, my other baby, that is. It's a City Elite, made by Baby Jogger. It's the "Land Rover" of strollers. Sleek, trendy, fast but very functional. Also, it's capable of traveling off road. It has three, larger wheels with tread like you'd see on a mountain bike tires. In fact, the tires have spokes, just like bicycle tires. The front wheel can be locked, so it stays straight, or unlocked, so it swivels. The swiveling option of the front wheel makes the stroller very maneuverable. It's also fast and it has a lot of features (or options). There are a couple of storage compartments underneath, wind flaps on the sides to let air in or keep it out, flaps on top to let the sun in or keep it out and pockets attached to the handle to store items (wallets, cell phones, etc.). The back reclines, as well. Also, I ordered separately a small cooler (capable of holding a 6-pack . . . of baby bottles), which attaches to to the bottom of the stroller, between the rear wheels, and a cup holder. Last but not least, it's really lightweight and is easy to fold up to store or load in a car.
I'm very proud of my baby . . . and John Patrick, too.
Stroller number five is coming soon, too. I haven't ordered it, yet, but it's a performance model, also made by Baby Jogger. It's designed for runners - larger, narrower wheels (x 3) and more aerodynamic than normal strollers. The idea, obviously, is to able to go for a run, while pushing your child in the stroller. I don't think John Patrick is quite ready for it, yet, but it won't be long!
Now, where are we going to put all these strollers?
Taking inventory, we have two handy, lightweight strollers, the kind we can keep in our vehicles (one in each) and use at the mall, etc. The backs of the those strollers don't recline, however, so we really can't use them until John Patrick is a little older and capable of sitting and holding his head up for an extended period of time.
The third stroller is a Graco stroller. It's the "Cadillac" of strollers - sturdy, lots of strorage space and compatible with our Graco car seat. It's not real fast or overly maneuverable, but it has a nice, dependable ride. The back reclines until it's completely flat, which is helpful since John Patrick generally falls asleep as soon as the wheels start turning.
The fourth stroller is my baby. Well, my other baby, that is. It's a City Elite, made by Baby Jogger. It's the "Land Rover" of strollers. Sleek, trendy, fast but very functional. Also, it's capable of traveling off road. It has three, larger wheels with tread like you'd see on a mountain bike tires. In fact, the tires have spokes, just like bicycle tires. The front wheel can be locked, so it stays straight, or unlocked, so it swivels. The swiveling option of the front wheel makes the stroller very maneuverable. It's also fast and it has a lot of features (or options). There are a couple of storage compartments underneath, wind flaps on the sides to let air in or keep it out, flaps on top to let the sun in or keep it out and pockets attached to the handle to store items (wallets, cell phones, etc.). The back reclines, as well. Also, I ordered separately a small cooler (capable of holding a 6-pack . . . of baby bottles), which attaches to to the bottom of the stroller, between the rear wheels, and a cup holder. Last but not least, it's really lightweight and is easy to fold up to store or load in a car.
I'm very proud of my baby . . . and John Patrick, too.
Stroller number five is coming soon, too. I haven't ordered it, yet, but it's a performance model, also made by Baby Jogger. It's designed for runners - larger, narrower wheels (x 3) and more aerodynamic than normal strollers. The idea, obviously, is to able to go for a run, while pushing your child in the stroller. I don't think John Patrick is quite ready for it, yet, but it won't be long!
Now, where are we going to put all these strollers?
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