It's almost 9 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. I'm feeling a little contemplative, as I sit at "J.P.'s table" in the back room at Bongo Java and give serious consideration to taking a "mental health day" off work. Looking to my left, I look out the window at the cars in the back parking lot, the nearby houses and the students hurrying to class. There's standing water in the alley after a night of rain (J.P. and I have been known to drive through the puddles in the alley again and again, laughing as we splash the water up on both sides of my truck, after a good rain).
A couple of days ago, Jude remarked that we're exactly 6 weeks from the birth of our second son, Diesel Leonidas Newman (joking . . . maybe). In some ways, we have vacillated back and forth between taking a laid back approach in our preparations (i.e. doing very little) and sticking our heads in the sand, ostrich style (i.e. doing very little). Reality set in as Jude decided it was time to do some serious nesting.
Over the weekend, we made some decisions on how we're going to set the house up (for 2 children), with a key assist from our friend and interior decorator extraordinairre, Charly Roos. We also selected a new bed for J.P. (we're planning on converting his "toddler bed" back into a crib) and a chest of drawers. J.P. is going to stay in his bedroom and we're going to convert the nook to a nursery of sorts. Over the weekend, I borrowed a pick-up truck and removed the old desk and chair from the office. Our plan is for the office to be a playroom, where we'll put J.P.'s train table, toys, books, etc.
We've got plan, at least, which gives Jude a sense of security that we'll be ready when the baby arrives. Last night, Jude made a list, day by day, of what we need to accomplish. That's good for me, because I generally work better from lists, as opposed to haphazardly bouncing from one task to another.
Beginning this week, Jude goes to Baptist Hospital every Monday morning for an "NST" (non-stress test). After our son's heartbeat is monitored for 30 minutes straight and results are transmitted to our doctor's office, Jude is free to go if everything looks (and sounds) good. Every other week, she leaves Baptist Hospital and goes straight to our doctor's office for a quick visit. Every Thursday, starting tomorrow, she'll have an ultrasound. The extra attention is due to Jude's age, not any particular problem that has deveolped.
I've decided J.P. is nesting, too. Sunday, at Church, I looked over and as he sat between Jude and me, he was lightly rubbing Jude's stomach with his hand while he listened (or appeared to listen) to our priest, Father David Perkin, give the homily. It was a pretty special moment.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Radnor Lake
J.P., Jude and I went to Radnor Lake this morning. Unseasonably warm weather for New Year's Eve, for sure, but we enjoyed getting outside. Jude and J.P. go to Radnor Lake a lot to walk on the trails, look at the lake and just explore.
It was great, this morning, watching J.P. in his element, throwing rocks in the lake and pretending a stick was his fishing pole. It wasn't so great when he almost put my eye out "casting" his fishing pole as I stood behind him. Fortunately, I saw what he was about to do an ducked my head. Hey, being a parent is dangerous sometimes, you know?
That's J.P.'s "fishing pole" in his left hand. Dig the binoculars around his neck, a must for an outdoorsman like him.
Yes, this is a photo of a mushroom. At Radnor Lake.
Reindeer Cupcakes
In keeping with holiday tradition, Jude and J.P. made "Reindeer Cupcakes" for Christmas Day.
Christmas Morning
J.P. with his Home Depot blower. Notice the goggles on the top of his head. "Safety first," that's our motto.
J.P., poised for action on our "hockey rink," sporting his new hockey gloves and stick. Jude and I are raising a big, big hockey fan.
Fang Fingers for Grandma.
J.P., working at his table with what he calls "Playdo Foam."
Monday, December 26, 2011
Twas the Night After Christmas
December 26, the night after Christmas, and I'm sitting in Bongo Java, feeling a little low that after so much anticipation, another Christmas has come and gone. I'm comforted slightly by the fact that the Christmas decorations are still up, complete with random stockings decorated and hung by each of the employees. I'm made more cheerful by the fact I'm staring at a one of our Christmas cards above the fireplace at Bongo Java - a 5 x 7 photograph of J.P. in our front yard, grinning, the autumn leaves piled up in the background. He and I dropped the card off on Christmas Eve. It's nice to see it again, one more time, before the holiday season ends and we march off into the doldrums of winter.
This was a banner Christmas season in our household, mostly because J.P. is the perfect age for Santa Claus. His innocence is so beautiful it's almost painful, like gazing into a cloudless sky so blue it hurts your eyes. He sat in Santa's lap not once but twice, first at the Green Hills Mall, then later at a children's event we attended at the Schermerhorn, home of the Nashville Symphony. Whenever J.P. was asked what he wanted Santa Claus to bring him for Christmas, the first and second things out of his mouth were a backpack and an ice scraper. Something tells me he's not going to be so easy to please forever.
Christmas Eve, we went to church with Jude's grandmother and family at St. Henry's. It's a massive church, so unlike St. Patrick, where we attend. The 6 p.m. service was packed. As was the case last year, Father Mike made quite an impression on J.P. Jude and I laughed from our aisle seat as J.P. waved at Father Mike walking past us as the service began. Later, when we were kneeling, Jude elbowed me and pointed down, where J.P. was on his knees with his hands clasped in prayer. Jude and I silently exchanged a proud look, sharing the moment.
After dinner at Jude's grandmother's house, we drove home and J.P. chattered away in the back seat. He didn't get to bed until after 10 p.m., probably the latest he has ever been awake. Before he went to bed, of course, he and Jude set out some "reindeer cupcakes" for Santa Claus and some pasta for the reindeer. Then, the fun began as Santa went to work assembling a two-sided easel for J.P. I was dismayed when I opened the box and emptied out several packages of screws and loose pieces of wood. Fortunately, Jude came to the rescue and with my not so able assistance, we had the easel up and ready to go in 45 minutes or so. I didn't get to bed until after 2 a.m.
Christmas morning, slightly past 6 a.m., J.P. woke up and climbed into bed with us, so excited he could barely contain himself. I went downstairs first, got the video camera ready, then Jude and J.P. followed me into the living room. He was amazed and literally beamed with happiness, as he examined everything Santa Claus had left for him in front of our fireplace. Curiously, he did ask me (again, just like last year), to close the fireplace screen, presumably in case Santa decided to return to our house. That made Jude and me laugh.
Jude's parents and her brother, James, and sister-in-law, Megan, had brunch at our house later Christmas morning. We exchanged gifts and, as always, Jane and Jimdad were generous to us. Between my mother and Jude's parents, J.P. is blessed to have such loving grandparents. Later that afternoon, I went for a quick Christmas Day run, while Jude, and J.P. napped. Next, it was off to my mother's house to eat again and celebrate Christmas with my family.
J.P. was especially pleased with his easel and his authentic hockey gloves and stick (he's a huge Pekke Rinne fan). The hit of the holiday, though, was the "Cars" walkie talkie set James and Megan gave him. He didn't want to put it down. In fact, we had to pry it out of his hands when we left for my mother's house Saturday afternoon. When we arrived back home, J.P. went upstairs, where he kept up a running conversation with Jude - via walkie talkie (or "talkie talkie," as he said) - on the progress of the grilled cheese sandwich she was cooking for his dinner.
This morning, he climbed into our bed - with the walkie talkies - about 6:30 a.m. and, despite my best efforts to pretend like I was asleep, insisted that I take one of the walkie talkies and go downstairs to get his morning milk, talking to him the entire time. I was dead tired, but I was also blissfully happy as I trudged down, then back up the stairs.
It's a bit strange and a bit sad, somehow, to think that this will be the last Christmas Jude, J.P. and I will share alone. Next year, three will be four, and I can't help but wonder how J.P. will adjust to not being the sole focus of our attention, as well as our family's. I think (and hope) it will be good for him. I can't help but feel that way, as I think about him snuggled next to Jude in her chair in our den this evening, talking directly to her stomach and telling his brother he can't wait to meet him.
It's all good.
This was a banner Christmas season in our household, mostly because J.P. is the perfect age for Santa Claus. His innocence is so beautiful it's almost painful, like gazing into a cloudless sky so blue it hurts your eyes. He sat in Santa's lap not once but twice, first at the Green Hills Mall, then later at a children's event we attended at the Schermerhorn, home of the Nashville Symphony. Whenever J.P. was asked what he wanted Santa Claus to bring him for Christmas, the first and second things out of his mouth were a backpack and an ice scraper. Something tells me he's not going to be so easy to please forever.
Christmas Eve, we went to church with Jude's grandmother and family at St. Henry's. It's a massive church, so unlike St. Patrick, where we attend. The 6 p.m. service was packed. As was the case last year, Father Mike made quite an impression on J.P. Jude and I laughed from our aisle seat as J.P. waved at Father Mike walking past us as the service began. Later, when we were kneeling, Jude elbowed me and pointed down, where J.P. was on his knees with his hands clasped in prayer. Jude and I silently exchanged a proud look, sharing the moment.
After dinner at Jude's grandmother's house, we drove home and J.P. chattered away in the back seat. He didn't get to bed until after 10 p.m., probably the latest he has ever been awake. Before he went to bed, of course, he and Jude set out some "reindeer cupcakes" for Santa Claus and some pasta for the reindeer. Then, the fun began as Santa went to work assembling a two-sided easel for J.P. I was dismayed when I opened the box and emptied out several packages of screws and loose pieces of wood. Fortunately, Jude came to the rescue and with my not so able assistance, we had the easel up and ready to go in 45 minutes or so. I didn't get to bed until after 2 a.m.
Christmas morning, slightly past 6 a.m., J.P. woke up and climbed into bed with us, so excited he could barely contain himself. I went downstairs first, got the video camera ready, then Jude and J.P. followed me into the living room. He was amazed and literally beamed with happiness, as he examined everything Santa Claus had left for him in front of our fireplace. Curiously, he did ask me (again, just like last year), to close the fireplace screen, presumably in case Santa decided to return to our house. That made Jude and me laugh.
Jude's parents and her brother, James, and sister-in-law, Megan, had brunch at our house later Christmas morning. We exchanged gifts and, as always, Jane and Jimdad were generous to us. Between my mother and Jude's parents, J.P. is blessed to have such loving grandparents. Later that afternoon, I went for a quick Christmas Day run, while Jude, and J.P. napped. Next, it was off to my mother's house to eat again and celebrate Christmas with my family.
J.P. was especially pleased with his easel and his authentic hockey gloves and stick (he's a huge Pekke Rinne fan). The hit of the holiday, though, was the "Cars" walkie talkie set James and Megan gave him. He didn't want to put it down. In fact, we had to pry it out of his hands when we left for my mother's house Saturday afternoon. When we arrived back home, J.P. went upstairs, where he kept up a running conversation with Jude - via walkie talkie (or "talkie talkie," as he said) - on the progress of the grilled cheese sandwich she was cooking for his dinner.
This morning, he climbed into our bed - with the walkie talkies - about 6:30 a.m. and, despite my best efforts to pretend like I was asleep, insisted that I take one of the walkie talkies and go downstairs to get his morning milk, talking to him the entire time. I was dead tired, but I was also blissfully happy as I trudged down, then back up the stairs.
It's a bit strange and a bit sad, somehow, to think that this will be the last Christmas Jude, J.P. and I will share alone. Next year, three will be four, and I can't help but wonder how J.P. will adjust to not being the sole focus of our attention, as well as our family's. I think (and hope) it will be good for him. I can't help but feel that way, as I think about him snuggled next to Jude in her chair in our den this evening, talking directly to her stomach and telling his brother he can't wait to meet him.
It's all good.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
The Salad Days
My morning, so far.
0640 - Wake up to the sound of a bump (JP getting out of bed) and little feet running across the hardwood floor. JP climbs into our bed, crawls across Jude, puts his face right in my ear and says, "Daddy, can I have some milk?"
0650 - I get up, limp downstairs (running injury to my calf) and pour JP some milk. Check my cell phone and confirm that a mediation I had set for today settled at 11 p.m last night when the other attorney and her client accepted our final offer. Sweet! My day just got a lot easier.
0700 - Take JP his milk, hit the shower. Get out of the shower and start frying some bacon for his breakfast. Get dressed.
0730 - JP comes down to pretend "Bongo Java" (a.k.a. the kitchen) to eat breakfast. He pretends to be Johnny Bag of Doughnuts and I pretend to be Chad from Bongo Java (one of our favorite baristas at Bongo Java). I put on the Avett Brothers "Gleam" on the iPod. I take the old Kappa Sigma paddle from college down off the wall and pretend to play guitar. JP laughs. Jude walks in, looks at us, then shakes her head.
0800 - Time to brush teeth, we tell JP. He and I negotiate and ultimately settle on me getting first turn with the toothbrush, while he gets second and third turn. He asks me to leave the bathroom so he can go potty. JP needs his privacy. He's 3 1/2.
0815 - Time for JP and me to leave for school. Jude dresses JP in his heavy coat. I point out that it's going to be 60 degrees today. Jude responds that it's 40 degrees right now. I check my cell phone and tell her that it's actually 46 degrees now and will be 50 degrees by 9 a.m. Jude ignores me. Win some, lose some.
0820 - JP and I walk outside. I went to sleep last night and it was December and now it's April. Beautiful, beautiful day. Bright blue sky, brilliant sunshine and almost 50 degrees. Wow. It feels good to be alive, as JP I walk hand in hand to my truck.
0830 - I get to the front of the drop-off line at Children's House and JP hops out of my truck with his school bag. I shake my head in wonderment and remind myself how lucky we are that he has adjusted so well to school.
0835 - As I walk up on to the front deck at Bongo Java, I see Ms. Joyce and several other regulars sitting outside (in December!), enjoying the weather and their morning coffee. We chat for a minute or two.
0840 - I walk inside Bongo Java for a "mood elevator" (iced coffee drink) and toast. Because I'm a regular and Bongo Java is the center of my universe, Chenel doesn't charge me for my coffee. We chat about her impending move to Paris. She's another Bongo Java friend JP and I are really going to miss, but we're happy for her, because she's so happy.
0845 - As I'm about to sit down, Chad, the owner of Chago's Cantina (a Mexican restaurant a few doors down from Bongo Java) taps me on the shoulder, says hi, and invites JP, Jude and me to the restaurant Christmas party on Sunday. It's JP's favorite restaurant and he loves Chad, so I smile, thinking how excited he'll be when I tell him about the party.
0850 - I sit down at a table by a window in the front of Bongo Java with a nice view of the front deck. I relax, listening to some 1950's music on the sound system and watching people go in and out of the front door, bustling off to wherever they're going and whatever they're doing on an unseasonably warm day in mid-December in Nashville. I listen to the routine, mundane by comforting sounds of a coffee shop - coffee being made, music playing, people talking quietly. I look around and see people reading, taking notes, writing in notebooks. I see Rick (another regular) reading the NY Times, likes he does every morning. I'm overwhelmed by a feeling of contentment.
0925 - I finish my "mood elevator" and wish I could stop time.
0640 - Wake up to the sound of a bump (JP getting out of bed) and little feet running across the hardwood floor. JP climbs into our bed, crawls across Jude, puts his face right in my ear and says, "Daddy, can I have some milk?"
0650 - I get up, limp downstairs (running injury to my calf) and pour JP some milk. Check my cell phone and confirm that a mediation I had set for today settled at 11 p.m last night when the other attorney and her client accepted our final offer. Sweet! My day just got a lot easier.
0700 - Take JP his milk, hit the shower. Get out of the shower and start frying some bacon for his breakfast. Get dressed.
0730 - JP comes down to pretend "Bongo Java" (a.k.a. the kitchen) to eat breakfast. He pretends to be Johnny Bag of Doughnuts and I pretend to be Chad from Bongo Java (one of our favorite baristas at Bongo Java). I put on the Avett Brothers "Gleam" on the iPod. I take the old Kappa Sigma paddle from college down off the wall and pretend to play guitar. JP laughs. Jude walks in, looks at us, then shakes her head.
0800 - Time to brush teeth, we tell JP. He and I negotiate and ultimately settle on me getting first turn with the toothbrush, while he gets second and third turn. He asks me to leave the bathroom so he can go potty. JP needs his privacy. He's 3 1/2.
0815 - Time for JP and me to leave for school. Jude dresses JP in his heavy coat. I point out that it's going to be 60 degrees today. Jude responds that it's 40 degrees right now. I check my cell phone and tell her that it's actually 46 degrees now and will be 50 degrees by 9 a.m. Jude ignores me. Win some, lose some.
0820 - JP and I walk outside. I went to sleep last night and it was December and now it's April. Beautiful, beautiful day. Bright blue sky, brilliant sunshine and almost 50 degrees. Wow. It feels good to be alive, as JP I walk hand in hand to my truck.
0830 - I get to the front of the drop-off line at Children's House and JP hops out of my truck with his school bag. I shake my head in wonderment and remind myself how lucky we are that he has adjusted so well to school.
0835 - As I walk up on to the front deck at Bongo Java, I see Ms. Joyce and several other regulars sitting outside (in December!), enjoying the weather and their morning coffee. We chat for a minute or two.
0840 - I walk inside Bongo Java for a "mood elevator" (iced coffee drink) and toast. Because I'm a regular and Bongo Java is the center of my universe, Chenel doesn't charge me for my coffee. We chat about her impending move to Paris. She's another Bongo Java friend JP and I are really going to miss, but we're happy for her, because she's so happy.
0845 - As I'm about to sit down, Chad, the owner of Chago's Cantina (a Mexican restaurant a few doors down from Bongo Java) taps me on the shoulder, says hi, and invites JP, Jude and me to the restaurant Christmas party on Sunday. It's JP's favorite restaurant and he loves Chad, so I smile, thinking how excited he'll be when I tell him about the party.
0850 - I sit down at a table by a window in the front of Bongo Java with a nice view of the front deck. I relax, listening to some 1950's music on the sound system and watching people go in and out of the front door, bustling off to wherever they're going and whatever they're doing on an unseasonably warm day in mid-December in Nashville. I listen to the routine, mundane by comforting sounds of a coffee shop - coffee being made, music playing, people talking quietly. I look around and see people reading, taking notes, writing in notebooks. I see Rick (another regular) reading the NY Times, likes he does every morning. I'm overwhelmed by a feeling of contentment.
0925 - I finish my "mood elevator" and wish I could stop time.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
From One Mayor to Another Mayor
J.P. (future mayor of Nashville) shaking hands with our current mayor, Karl Dean, at the beginning of the Christmas Parade last Friday evening.
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