Dear Husband, Part 30

While in Nashville, Wes spoke with several faculty members who have young children. Their advice for him as a new father: If you're arguing with your wife over who should get up and take care of the baby when he's crying at night, just say, "I think the baby's choking," and mom's sure to jump out of bed and tend to him.

I'm not so sure about these doctors as father mentors for Wes...

A visit with Grandma N.

We are currently in the throes of visits from the grandmothers, jetted in to 1) gaze adoringly at their now infant grandson, 2) visit with their daughter/in-law, son/in-law, and 3) provide some help to me while Wes travels out of town for interviews. My mom came in two weeks ago while Wes went to Boston and provided me with several hours of much-appreciated nap time. She also walked the dog when Lucy needed it, changed diapers when Oliver needed it, and most importantly, helped us make the final transition to all-out nursing. Ollie, Lucy, and I all very much appreciated her presence during Wes's stint in Boston. Since she left I have at mom's suggestion initiated a once-daily midday nap on the belly, which Ollie seems to enjoy. We're also bundling him up more at night (now in his adorable "baby in a bag" outfits, which will be featured in a future post), which helps him sleep longer and more soundly at night.

Grandma Kay is here now while Wes travels to Nashville. Thank goodness for grandmas!

Business and pleasure

Friday night, Wes, Oliver, and I headed to the northern suburbs to attend a talk by one of the Evanston (forgive me, NorthShore University HealthSystem) doctors on financial planning. The event is intended to give upcoming graduates (who are, hopefully, graduating to a higher level of income) basic information about what to pay off first, where to invest, and things to keep in mind related to their financial well-being and future retirement. Wes wanted to attend, but, I think, hated leaving me at home at the end of a week during which he had spent a lot of time at work, so we all went. We took the El to a colleague's house who then drove us and three others (big car) up to the event. Ollie was very well behaved. He napped in the car, ate and listened attentively during the dinner (he had a different meal) and the talk. He did have to have a costume change mid-evening when his very wet diaper soaked his onesie.

This event was also notable because Ollie got to meet one of Wes's classmates and friends, Ambrose, a self-professed loather of Christmas, babies, and dogs (we once had him over to our apartment to decorate Christmas cookies while our dog ran around the apartment; I was pregnant at the time but didn't yet know it). Despite his outspoken antipathy to anything as small as a newborn, Ambrose showed plenty of interest in and amusement by the baby. Perhaps this was because Wes danced Ollie across the counter to the tune of the Willie Nelson playing in the living room, or maybe this was just because Ollie is so stinking cute, but regardless -- Ambrose, you've shown your true colors. Next: babysitting.

Caught on tape

By Grandma N.

Time in the tubby

It should be no surprise that someone who likes the shower so much and goes through bars of soap at a rapid pace (Wes) would subject his own child to frequent baths and lots of suds in the tubby. Fortunately, Wes is satisfied with a wipe-down at least every other day so Oliver doesn't get dried out and pruny.

Eat, sleep, and poo

1. When Ollie wants to eat, he sucks voraciously on his fingers. When he's really hungry, he can fit almost his whole fist in his mouth.
2. When he's done eating, he smacks and then purses his lips.
3. When Ollie is working on a dirty diaper, he squirms and grunts. Then he gets really quiet and still and unloads.
4. When Ollie is falling asleep, he coos and squirms.
5. When he's down for a serious sleep, he puts his arms straight above his head as though he's signaling a touchdown.

Dear Husband, Part 29

Wes to Ollie, while changing his very poopy diaper: "You know, if you would just pace back and forth (which is what the dog does when she needs to go out), we could avoid this whole situation."