August 30, 2005

One of those glad-to-be-in-a-1st-world-country articles in the New York Times today: In Bangalore, India, a Cuddle With Your Baby Requires a Bribe. A highlight (or lowlight, but let’s not mince words here):

A 1999 survey by the center found that 9 of 10 families whose relatives gave birth in the hospitals reported paying a bribe, usually to see the baby. The average amount paid has since dropped to $7 from about $16. But 8 in 10 women still reported paying bribes in 2003 - to have their baby delivered, to see the child after birth, to get their newborn immunized or to obtain medicines that were supposed to be free.

The article goes on to report that it costs $7 to see your newborn girl and $12 to see your boy, which isn’t suprising. I mean cuz boys are, like, so much better than girls. And, like, obviously everyone knows it. Even, like, those people in India!

And… back to reality. Can you imagine? Good thing we have, you know, laws to protect against that. Score one for a litigious society!

August 26, 2005

Ever have one of those days when everything you do makes your baby laugh? I mean everything?

“Time to go to bed.”

Laugh!

“You’re stinky!”

Laugh!

“We elected George W twice!”

Laugh!

Ok, so a lot of people would laugh at that last one. But my point is he was laughing at everything.

It was great.

It was the one day I could do no wrong by him and by proxy it seemed, by everyone. It was as if I was a superhero for a day. It’s truly amazing that 20lb laughing boy can make a 200lb man (as always, up for arguement) feel like a superhero. I hope everyone get’s at least one of those days.

August 22, 2005

Wow! Another month goes by! It seems like just yesterday (it’s hard to write these month retrospectives without miring oneself in cliches) that I was writing month 6. And month 5. It seems like forever ago that I wrote month four — the month where we turned the corner.

With every passing day, Hayes gets more interactive, learns a new trick and gains some more personality. For instance, today he started scooting on his butt to try to get the cat. Yesterday, that was not in his repetoir. I wish that I could develop like that. Today, sorry, can’t dunk. Tomorrow, Michael Jordan. Yah, that would be nice.

Anyway, this is great. Hayes is a fantastic kid. Everyone says to “enjoy him at this age, because it goes by so quickly.” The thing is that may be true, but everyday brings more fun and more joy. As much as I love how he is today, each proceeding day brings something new and great. Yup, it may go by quickly, but I can’t help but look forward.

August 19, 2005

I continue to play catch-up this week on the photo front. I now present to you Hayes 5-6 month, featuring Hayes and his cousin Isabel, Hayes getting his goove on playing the jazz harp (licking, actually, but who really expects him to be playing it?) and Hayes goes in the kiddie pool. Basically all of our family oriented 4th of July activities. Enjoy!

August 17, 2005

It’s well documented that I suck. For further proof, I present Hayes’ life in pix, 4th month. Featuring his first sitting up (well, his second, and, yes he didn’t get there by himself and he only sat for about 5 seconds). Also featuring much fun with mom and in the Amby Bed bouncer. Oh good times. Yes, should have posted these about 2 months ago.