Bradley Reunion

Though we failed spectacularly at natural child birth (that epidural was goooood), we were invited to the Bradley Baby Reunion.  Our natural birthing classmates all met to get those little babies together.  There were eight couples in the class, and eight healthy babies were born since we all last met in December.  Beautiful babies! Lola has a ready-made pool of birthday party guests! At only five months!

Lola-Pool-Looza

Took Lola to the Galloways.  She went horizontal as soon as she hit the water, kicking and splashing.  We got ourselves a water baby.

First Carrots!

Summer Time

Thankfully, finally we were released from our duties at Travis HS and are on SUMMER BREAK! Yes, we still get paid.  Yes, we are freaking lucky.  But, I promise you, we put up with enough hassle during the year to deserve this.  Loving our new schedule.  Now time to tackle things like getting baby on a sleep schedule, trying solids, eating lunch at a normal speed . . . .

Warning: Turn Down the Volume

Baby's first roll.  My enthusiasm is apparent.

Lola-Bye

Dear Lola,

I had so much fun taking care of you this week. Your smile is contagious. I love how you hold your hands together and look up at the lights. You coo so beautifully and pretty soon I know you will tell me about the wonderful things you have learned. I love your panza, your feet and little toes, your full cheeks, your chunky thighs, grandpa Leonard’s nose, your momma’s chin and smile and your daddy’s eyes. I only saw Grandma Chepa’s dimple three times, but I am sure it will be prominent very soon. Thanks for letting me be a part of your wonderful life. I also got to see how you respond to your momma’s voice and smile. I love how you listen to your daddy read about bugs to you and how you don’t want him to stop reading! You are so very blessed to have such wonderful parents! I will think about you every single day I am away from you. I can’t wait till I can come back to Austin to visit with you again. Be a brave girl when you go to day care, the care takers will fall in love with you and will take very good care of you. Just smile your dazzling smile and you will be their favorite little girl!
I love you with all my heart,
Grandma Evie

From Here to Paternity—Last Tango to Pair Us

Day 10. So bitter-sweet.  I feel like we’re really getting to know each other—maybe that’s why we’ve had so many easy days lately.  You took a nap with me this morning up in the bed—i know: against the rules, but so awesome.  You wouldn’t let me put you down this afternoon; you’d only sleep in my arms.  Fun day.  I’m so glad we got to spend this time together.

Bottle Rocket: you ate at 4:10, 8ish, 11:11, 1:45, 4:45

While You Were Sleeping: doing bottles, laundry, and generally keeping it real.

Lotion’s Eleven: oooooh, you did not like spa time today.

Björn on the 4^th of March: you weren’t a real fan today.  In fact, we came in a little early when you started getting ansty in the onesy.  Before we called it quits, we listened to:

David Byrne=>The Beach Boys=>The Kinks=>Devotchka=>Sarah Jaffe=>Postal Service

Sleeping with the Infancy: you slept up in the bed this morning and in my arms this afternoon. Cute

Ten Things I Love About You: I learned, in no particular order:

1.      You stick your big toe out when you eat

2.      You sneeze exactly like Mommy.

3.      You get really cranky when you’re sleepy—then, you’re out like a light.

4.      Some days you love spa time, other days, you don’t.

5.      Same with baby björn time.

6.      You can totally hold your head up and watch me make silly noises (was that a smile?)

7.      You’ll let yourself sleep in the morning, but not in the afternoon.

8.      You have a pretty smile.

9.      Just because you’re making noise in the crib doesn’t mean you need to get up.

10. You like observing the mobile when you’re in the crib and the books over my shoulder when you’re eating.

I love you, Lola.

From Here to Paternity—Million Dollar Baby

Day 9. Another great one!  You slept up in the bed with me this morning—maybe against the rules but it was awesome! We took a bath, had some tummy time and played and played.

Bottle Rocket: you ate at 4:40, 8 even, 10:44, 1:10, 4:05

While You Were Sleeping: I did the usual awesome stuff and set things up with daycare L

Lotion’s Eleven: you totally loved spa day—I had to slather on some extra lotion on your sun-burned head because I forgot to apply sun bock on you yesterday before our walk.  Don’t call CPS on me!

Splash (I wanted to go with Fishtar, but I thought the reference would be too obscure): we took a bath today and I did much better.  You totally flinched when you first hit the water, then you completely relaxed and let all your worries just wash away.

Good Will Dumping: no poops today. You’re the best!

Sideways: good workout, no lazy steps.  Well, no steps at all.  You’re, like, two months old.

Radio Crier one of the things I’m really starting to love is hearing you mew & grunt & yawn & sigh on your baby monitor. Too fecking cute!  KLOL—all Lola, all the time with fewer interruptions in the morning.

Tomorrow is our last day of just you and me.

From Here to Paternity—Eat, Play, Love

Day 8. Awesome!  You slept like a beast in morning, letting me do some school work. We played a bunch, went for a walk, had some tummy time, and generally bonded.

Bottle Rocket: you ate at 6:20, 9:30, 12:40, 3:00, 5:19 
While You Were Sleeping: I made a powerpoint and corresponding “notes” for school, finally did yesterday’s blog, and various Mr. Mom things

Lotion’s Eleven: some days, you love spa time; some days you hate it.  Today was the latter….or should I say “lather”? No. No I shouldn’t.

Shitizen Kane: look: two dumps yesterday and a load-and-a-half today? The category name may be inappropriate, but nonetheless accurate.

A Star is Björn: we went on a 30 minute power walk in the ‘hood.  You were awake and alert the whole time! It was incredibly awesome! We listened to:

The Strokes=>Smashing Pumpkins=>The Shins=>Paul Simon=>Talking Heads=>The Beatles=>Wilco=>The Shins (again!—shuffle always does that)=>Steve Earle

Sideways: good workout.  You got some good head lifts and totally shredded your quads!

Spy Hard: we locked eyes for, like, ten minutes while I made insane noises. Awesomeness.

Let's do this again tomorrow!

From Here to Paternity—Life of Cryin’

Day 7. You cried all day—like you had a quota to catch up on.  You also woke Daddy up at “wrong” time of night (morning?)

Bottle Rocket: You ate at 7:30, 9:38, 12:40, 3:30, 6 somethin’
While You Were Sleeping: you didn’t

Lotion’s Eleven: our day peaked during spa time (unfortunately this was at 8 in the morning)—you totally relaxed

We'll get 'em tomorrow.

From Here to Paternity—Fun, Lola. Fun.

Day 6. Alright, I’ve been waiting to use this title for a while.  Still, it was a fun day! You slept enough to let me do work and we had a blast while you were awake!

Bottle Rocket: You ate at 5:12, 8:52, 11:40 (you helped out, see above), 2:48, 5:30
While You Were Sleeping: I watched MacGruber (in spurts), did the dishes, folded clothes, and other awesome things.

Lotion’s Eleven: you weren’t a big fan of spa time…and you left a crappy tip. Twenty percent is pretty standard!

Look Who’s Tracking: you were mesmerized by your African animals mobile.  Did it help that I safetypinned home-made high-contrast shapes to their butts? I don’t know…but you were enthralled in the morning and afternoon!

Learn After Reading: we read the first part of Life of Pi (not the post-modern-hump-“Author’s Note” at the very beginning but Chapter 1).  You always skip to Chapter 1! At first you were bored but you really liked the part about the three-toed sloth.

 Sideways: you were a beast from beginning to end! You got some major air & covered at least three inches of ground!....2 ½ at the very least.

From Here to Paternity—Yawn Baby Yawn

Day 5. Awesome day.  Although it started off crappy (see below), we had a lot of fun and you got some sleep!

Bottle Rocket: You ate at 2:45, 6:11, 8:55, 11:55, 3:27
While You Were Sleeping: I cleaned some bottles, and intermittently packed for San Antonio.
The Green Pile: you dropped a deuce sometime between 2:25 and 6:00. Happens to the best of us.

Lotion’s Eleven: applied a fresh coat of shea & cocoa butter.  You sneezed five times in a row, rapid fire.  I wonder who you get that from…

Natural Björn Chillers (good one, right?): we strapped it on and took a brief walk in the ‘hood.  I took a 9 iron with me to keep roaming dogs at bay (though, in retrospect, I should’ve brought an 8 and taken some off).  Before the cold wind brought us in we listened to:

Spacehog=>Beck=>Mazzy Star=>Mumphord and Sons
Sideways: good workout, good workout. 

Rest between sets.

 

Get some air!

From Here to Paternity—The Infant Strikes Back

Day 4.  Well, today was pretty frustrating; but none of it was your fault.  It wasn’t your fault you woke up at the “wrong” times last night….and this morning.  It’s not your fault I filled up the baby bath tub without plugging it first.  It’s not your fault you promptly pooped yourself up about ten minutes after your bath or peed yourself while I changed you—twice! Oh, and then you dropped another bomb later in the afternoon.

I love how you sneeze a bunch of times in a row—just like your mom!  Here’s what else:

Bottle Rocket: You ate at 3:30, 6:45, 9:57,12:55, 4:00
While You Were Sleeping: um, you really didn’t. I had lunch at 2:20, took my morning shower around five.
The Green Pile: see above.

Water World: after using three towels to clean up (see above) we took a bath.  You loved it! You just chilled like a Mini-Biggy Smalls in a hot tub.
Sideways: not too shabby.  A couple of good push-ups.

We'll get 'em tomorrow!

From Here to Paternity—Neonatal Attraction

Day 3.  You did a great job tracking today. Keys, an obnoxious iPod App, yourself in the mirror; you followed them all!

Bottle Rocket: You ate at 5:50, 8:55, 11:41, 2:37, 5:34
While You Were Sleeping: I finally folded your clothes, got dinner ready & cleaned the bathroom.  Beats work.
Learn After Reading: we disagreed after There’s a Wocket in My Pocket. You really liked the Jertain in the Curtain, whereas I was partial to the Bofa on the Sofa.

The Green Pile: you left me a real big present at six in the morning. 
You shouldn’t have.

Björn Supremacy: we had an awesome 30 minute walk outside today.  We listened to:

R.L. Burnside=>The Pixies=>Peter, Bjorn & John=>Bob Dylan=>

My Morning Jacket=>Peter Gabriel. 
You didn’t show any of your Pop-Pop’s love for blues.
Sideways: let’s face it, you were a little off today.  You’ve had some good workouts this week, but true champions don’t take lazy steps.

 

Thank you for the fun day today! Bath tomorrow!

From Here to Paternity--The Oddfather Part II

Day 2.  Lola, today you reminded me of the joy of the minute-and-a-half-fully-body stretch.

Bottle Rocket: you ate at 7:27, 10:11, 1:28, 4:05
While You Were Sleeping: continued Freakonomics (from minute 23 to minute 47), set up mise en place for dinner (used onions instead of shallots, chopped marjoram), washed dishes & bottles--look, no one's making you read this blog, okay?
Dad Man Walking: you were often sleepy, but not asleep. I found myself pacing you around the house, twenty minutes at a time--like a bear at the San Antonio Zoo. 

Babel: I really do feel that, for two minutes there, every time I said “Hi!” you responded with a  robust “Hanh!” For real! A bunch of times! (unless this is developmentally impossible, of course)

Lotion’s 11: during what Mommy calls “Spa Day”, you got a fresh coat of Johnson’s shea & cocoa butter baby lotion.  The Aveeno on your head gave you an adorable Larry Fine look.

Poop Fiction: since you literally got it out of your system on Mommy's watch last night, no poop for you!
Sideways: another great workout during Tummy Time.  You fully lifted your head up & down several times--pretty impressive since you're, like, half-head.

From Here to Paternity--Daddy Day Care: Day 1

So here’s my take on my two weeks of paternity leave.  If I skip a day or two, it’s because I’m completely overwhelmed.  Hope you enjoy!

Milk: You ate at 6:11, 9:38, 12:40, 3:30, 6:19
While You Were Sleeping: I created this blog post (do you think these witty categories create themselves?), watched Freakonomics (the first two parts, anyway) on Instant Netflix, washed (not folded) your clothes, set up the mise en place for dinner (after Googling what a shallot is)
Learn After Reading: we read The Very Hungry Caterpillar and compared your appetite to the elevated metabolism of any organism undergoing a metamorphosis. 
Babel: You tried to say “I love you, Daddy,” but it came out “gerph, neh, enh”
Poop Fiction: all excretions were urethral today.  I appreciate it.
Sideways: you had 10 total minutes of “tummy time”.  It was hard work and you didn't give up. You did really well.
Björn Identity: At one point you loved being strapped to my torso.  Then something changed.  Something really changed.

Lola in the Snow-la

At Home with the Hesters

Sunday with the Williams Family

Karys cares for Lola

Family & Friends

Williamses Gone Wild!



First Trip to San Antonio

Lola meets the cousins!

First Outing Ever

Drove down to Town Lake, changed a diaper on park bench, showed Lola the graffiti on the South First pedestrian bridge, had a drink at Freddie's, and called it an awesome day.