April 30, 2005

For the second weekend in a row, we’ve got a wedding to go to. This one in New Jersey to which the boy has been invited. So , basically, we’re taking HBomb on his longest car trip ever, 2 times longer than his previous, and we’re taking him to his first large social event.

I think I’m more concerned about the car ride then the wedding. After all, we went out to dinner with H last night and he was perfect. No problems, just smiling at everyone who looked his way. And after a tough work and HBomb sleep week for Jen and I, that’s exactly what we needed.

No, it’s the car ride that I’m worried about. Unlike most babies, or either of his parents, for that matter, HBomb doesn’t like to sleep in the car. He prefers to look out the window, get bored and start crying for someone to pay attention to him. Also, there’s the fact that he needs to eat about every two hours and it’s a 4+ hour trip. Oh… and there’s the return trip tomorrow. Yes, I am worried about this.

In fact, H is already whining. Perhaps that means he’ll pass out when we hit the road in an hour or so. Let’s hope.

April 28, 2005

I almost killed my cat two night ago. And he was, like, so deserving. As some of you know, my brother was in town and we ventured to the Sox game (they lost, but still won the World Series). I had fours beers. Four beers. I know, I’m becoming a grown-up. There was a time in my life where I would drink more than that. That night, I stood in the beer line after my fourth beer to grab two more. After 15 waiting in line for 15 mintues, I got three people back from the front of the line and then decided I’d much rather pay $45.50 for a small soft-serve icecream. Yup, getting old.

Anyway, back to the cat. I got home at about 11 to find Jen still inexplicably awake. It seems that the person she sings for on one Sunday a month called her at 10:30 on her cell phone, expecting to get VM. Instead, he woke Jen up from a dead sleep, and then she couldn’t fall back asleep. We talked for a while about the fact that Jen put HBomb to sleep in his crib for the first time ever and that, strangely, the boy was sleeping well.

Unfortunately for us, HBomb’s door doesn’t latch correctly, and the cat can get in if he tries hard enough. We really didn’t think he’d try to get in, as he hasn’t in the past and basically seems kinda underwhelmed with the little guy. Just to make sure he wouldn’t try to get in, we left our door open, something that we don’t normally do, as TC (the cat) likes to bite my toes as I sleep. He bites my mom’s and sisters toes, too. But not any of Jen’s families’. It’s gotta be a Sagalyn (or Howell, in this case) smell or something.

Well, as if on queue, TC comes and bites my toes, waking me up after about 30 minutes of sleep. He does it again after 30 more minutes and again after about 30 more. Apparently, noodging is an animal instinct, not just a hobby of my brother’s. When 3 rolled around, Jen handed H responsibilities off to me. TC came and bit me again and then I chased him off.

Thirty minutes later, I awake to the the noise H’s door creaking open and a thump on the baby monitor. I get up and rush in. I look down and there is TC, in the crib, next to H, looking up at me. He knows he has done something wrong, and bounds out of the crib and out the door. HBomb starts screaming bloody murder.

This is when I went into my bad husband routine. I grab H, try to feed him, and start swearing — loudly — about the cat. Jen wakes up, pissed (duh), and asks what is going on. I can’t seem to get H back to sleep or, to stop crying for that matter. So after and hour and 15 minutes of trying to get H calmed down (and me, too) I hand the boy off to Jen. She is clearly mad at me.

About 2 hours later, H is up for good and I’m left with 4 hours of bad sleep and an angry-at-me wife. And who can blame her? That’s about when I decided I wanted to kill the cat. We’ve since made up… but it’s not the same. Oh, and I also fixed the door to H’s room. It’s now cat proof. Man, sometimes that cat…!

April 25, 2005

Ok. How can you not believe that your child is the cutest, best looking, best thing ever? I mean, really. Now I admit, I wonder if his ears may be too big (thanks, dad…. I mean me) but it really doesn’t change that I think he’s the best looking baby I’ve ever seen.

And it’s not just related to looks. His noises are the best noises ever made. He coos, which is the best. He snores, also the best. He squeels. Ditto. Even his cry, “Mwaaa!” is the cutest best thing ever.

So, I don’t think it’s bragging to tell you that my kid is the cutest, best baby ever. And I think you would say the exact same thing about your baby. (Admittedly. when he starts talking, I may have different things to say about him) Anyway, if you’ve got a kid I hope you feel the same way about him/her. If not, it’s time to re-evaluate your coke habit. Or wonder why you got that full frontal labotomy. If you can wonder such things when you’ve had a labotomy…

April 22, 2005

Well, it’s that time of the month again… well… not that time, but picture time. I’ve posted new pix of the boy and placed new links on the left side of the old pix. Now you can get an overload of Hayes, from big-tummy Jen to can-almost-will-himself-to-sit-up 3 month-old.

So what’s new in the pix? Lot’s of HBomb, of course. A photo of H and Dad doing our Linus impressions. Hayes in his Easter outfit with Grampa Gormley. Hayes out in his “mind the gap” onesie (which also has “mind the gap” over his butt. Oh those crazy Brits!) out in the warmth of Patriots Day. And Hayes in his new Bumbo, which he loves while sucking his hand, which he also seems to love. All in all, good times.

April 21, 2005

Our first really hot day was yesterday, today we are back to normal. The day pretty much reinforced what we thought about HBomb and heat. He hates it. He was a cranky little dude yesterday who wouldn’t eat and wouldn’t sleep and went into two hospital style screaming fits — just like his dad sans screaming fits. So I installed the AC in his room around 7PM. The room cooled down, and after about an hour, Jen was able to get him to sleep

Then he slept. And slept. And slept. 5 hours straight for the first time since Easter. And in his room, no less. He then slept another 3 hours straight and then 2. Which put him smiley and wide awake at 7:10 AM. 7:10 AM! Holy shit! It was like being on vacation! If not for the constant waking up and wondering why he wasn’t crying, I would have gotten a TON of sleep. Instead, I’m supremely grateful for the solid amount I got. For me 7:10AM is the new noon as far as sleep goes. Tonight we see if he can go for 2 in a row. I doubt it. But it has to happen someday, right?

April 20, 2005

Well my parents have brought us much needed reinforcements - them. It’s been a rough week of sleep for the HBomb, who seems to either be all or no sleep these days. Fortunately, he’s mostly happy when he’s awake, but it’s taking it’s toll on mommy and daddy. Now daddy… I mean I — I have to remember not to refer to my self in the third-person around grown-ups — can get some work done. And take a nap. And take a nap and get some work done. That, and it’s going to be 88F today here in Boston! OMG 88! It’s like summer in the beggining of spring. Well, off to work so I can enjoy my boy and this weather later.