Day Three

October 21, 2008

So we have been home about three days now with the newest one, and I can't help but make a couple of observations. We'll start with the little man first, because quite frankly he's easier to describe. As it turns out - the infants really only have like two organs on the inside. Lungs and a colon. It's like the rest of the little man hasn't really developed yet. He eats, he takes dumps, and he cries - literally in that order. I mean Julie is feeding him, and often during the meal you hear it coming out the other side.

That's not normal. I mean it takes even the best of us at least five minutes to work it's way through. This generally leads us to change the boy's diaper. I would say in the last five days we have probably changed six thousand diapers. And I would say that probably five thousand nine hundred ninety-nine have resulted in use of the other organ (lungs) by Riley yelling so much that he might actually become hoarse.

I mean when you are trying to change a diaper at four in the morning and the man is screaming his head off it gets just a little stressful. He's like a little eight pound ball of terror or "the smallest intimidating man". The boy does not like to be cold. He's cute as anything, and then when the diaper is stripped off all hell breaks loose.

I think it all works out in the end for him, since he tends to get his revenge by either peeing or pooping mid diaper change. I'd be okay with it except for the fact that just prior to him releasing his urine furry he opens up his eyes, looks up on us, smiles, and thinks 'change my diaper will you? Take this.'

Then he falls asleep and the whole process starts all over again in two hours. Speaking of sleep (was I speaking of sleep) - the boy has given us two nights of three hours of straight sleep. That's killer for a one week old because we're actually getting like six hours. Granted we spilt that six hours up with an hour or so of feeding and diaper changes, but still - six hours and we're psyched.

And since this will most likely change several times over the next couple of days, I have to mention how awesome Parker has been. He is totally doting on Riley. Offered to get his breakfast the other day when we told him Riley was hungry. "Okay, I'll get him Raisin Bran." I mean, seriously, what kid doesn't love the bran? He is also very gentle with him. Hopefully it's not because we've freaked him out or anything - because I really don't think we have. It's just been really fun to see. I actually think one of the things that's helping him adjust is the fact that Riley really doesn't do too much (other than cry and eat) - and since we're both home this week he is getting all kinds of attention. I mean Julie is able to get up and run around (slowly) and he and I are still kicking it Lord of the Flies style down in the basement - so he might be thinking "hey - mom and dad are both here, this is awesome!" He also totally gets gushed over if he looks at Riley nicely - he's probably picked up on that too.

Julie, however, is just starting to get used to a household full of boys. Two under four and one emotionally stunted. That's going to be a difficult household. Julie has this delusion that maybe someday at least one of the three of us will dress nicely, be ironed, and care about their appearance. I don't know about Parker and Riley, but it's not going to be me.

Hey - who know's more at 4am

Sibling Class

September 12, 2008



Okay, so I took the big man to preschool for the first time today. That was kind of a big deal. And I have to say he handled it really well. When we went on Tues, Julie and I were both there, which probably made it less weird for him. Not this time. And I have to say, I think I handled it just the right way - did the whole drop and run bit. Walked him in to the room, signed him in, and just said to him 'okay buddy, give me a hug and go and play' - and that is exactly what he did. It was cool. Of course, after I drove away, I was like 'damnit, I should have at least watched him for a minute.' I'm such a loser.

I also got to pick him up on his first day - and that was awesome. They were all out at the playground, so I got to catch a sneak peak of how he was playing with the other kids. More telling was that when I went over there, I was a little early, so I asked him if he wanted to go or he wanted to keep playing - and he wanted to keep playing (he wanted me to come in the playground which I declined).

But here's the thing, I try to get him to talk about his first day, show and tell, etc. And all he'll tell me is that he did nothing. It's like he's 13 or something. What did you do today? Nothing? I think it's actually pretty funny and then attempt to tickle the truth out of him, but it is so frustrating for Julie - who, you know, actually wants to carry out a real conversation. She obviously does not appreciate how guys are wired.

So anyway, the whole school thing went well.

So last weekend we took the little man to the hospital for a sibling preparation class. It was pretty fun. The only issue I had was that the instructor who is obviously used to working with kids was so flipping cheerful and upbeat it made me immediately dislike her. Nobody is that happy. And I know she was doing it for the kids, but still - easy on the cheer, okay.

So anyway, he got to see a newborn - which he loved. And there were some great things about the class -- like seeing what the hospital, room, and baby were all about. But then the whole thing got a little over-the-top when the arts and crafts project included gluing together a uterus, baby, and umbilical cord. The kids were all listening with screwed up faces until she finally said something familiar about belly buttons, which is when Parker tuned back in, lifted up his shirt and yelled, "I have a belly button!"

Next we were on to how to diaper and swaddle baby. Cookie Monster played the role of "baby" and proceeded to wear a diaper and receiving blanket for days thereafter. All in all, little man is as ready as he's going to be. He has a certificate to prove it.