What's Up, G? (Part 2)

Ok. So, here's the deal. It's time for the second installment of this series of posts. I wrote the first one  when Grayson was almost two weeks old.  Now he is rapidly approaching three months old, and he is changing  constantly. We still have a lot to learn about the little guy, but these are some of the things we know about him:

(1) The child has crazy hair. I mean seriously. Pure insanity. This stuff cannot be tamed.  He had quite a bit of hair when he was born, but he's getting more and more all the time. To make matters worse (or better, depending on how you view the whole crazy hair thing), the hair he does have is growing quickly, and apparently the craziness grows in direct proportion to the length.  For the record, Jenny and I love it.

(2) People always ask how well Grayson is sleeping.  It's easily the most common question I get about him.  Fortunately, I am able to answer that he is a pretty good sleeper.  He has had some rough nights, and he has had some horrible nights, but for the most part he sleeps very well.  At this point he usually has  about six to eight hours of continuous sleep every night. A few weeks ago, his nights were still very inconsistent, and his sleep was restless.  He would grunt and twitch throughout the night.  Jenny was smart enough to think that it might be a reflux problem.  She discussed the possibility with our pediatrician, and sure enough. Apparently, it's a very common issue with infants.  Of course, like always, I had no clue. Ever since he's been on his reflux medication, he sleeps longer and much more soundly, which is a good thing for everyone.

(3)  The boy likes to eat.  Sometimes he likes it a little too much. On occasion he slips into a semi-awake/semi-asleep state that we, his loving and affectionate parents, refer to as "milk drunk." There's really no other way to describe it. See for yourself: 

(4) Grayson has become quite active.  I guess it has been a progression since he was born, but it seems as if all of the sudden he is doing all kinds of things.  Every morning after his breakfast, he is very energized. He reaches and grasps at things, he makes all kinds of noises, and he even rolls himself over.  It's amazing to me how over the course of two months he has gone from basically doing nothing but sleeping and eating to being so interactive.  Next month he'll be doing Algebra.

Rubber Ducky

Ok. So, here's the deal.  Contrary to popular belief, I have not given up on the blog, and I want to apologize for the delay since the last post.  My initial plan had been to update the blog on a weekly basis, but that now seems to be a somewhat ambitious goal.  It has been difficult to find the time to sit down and write with my work schedule picking up and the weekends being consumed by road trips and/or errand-running. 

However, the main reason behind this particular delay is that Grayson is currently in somewhat of a transition stage.  Despite the fact that he is growing, becoming much more alert, and starting to figure things out, it's difficult to articulate the specific things he does in a way that doesn't cause them to lose significance. I guess it's just not easy to put into words the little things he does that make Jenny and I laugh or get us overly excited. I do think we are on the verge of him doing so many noteworthy things that I will have trouble writing them all down, but for now his achievements and accomplishments are a bit more subtle. That being said, there have been a couple of things of late that I have wanted to write about, and this is one that I thought I should share.

I have mentioned in an earlier post that my child really does not enjoy having his diaper changed. Well, the other thing he severely dislikes is taking a bath . . . hold on. Scratch that.  It WAS the other thing he disliked.  Now, it's not quite so bad, and its all because of a major change we have made.

That first night home from the hospital, we gave Grayson a bath. We had the bathroom heater on full blast to make sure the little guy didn't get cold. We had everything ready, including a little rubber duck for the bath. Now, you are probably saying the same thing I said. Why on Earth does a newborn need bath toys?   Well, my wife quickly pointed out that this was not just any rubber duck.  No. No. No.  This duck serves a purpose.  The bottom side of the duck, the part that sits in the water, indicates in big white letters the word 'HOT' if the bathwater is too warm for a baby. Absolute genius. I loved it.  

We couldn't wait to put the duck to use.  So we ran the water in his tiny tub and we used the duck to check the temperature.  Too HOT!  

Seriously? I mean I had stuck my hand in the water and it seemed nice and comfortably warm to me. Jenny was quick to inform me that a baby's skin is much more sensitive than an adult's, and the fact that I thought the water was a nice temperature, didn't mean it was suitable for the G Man. That made perfect sense to me. Not to mention Jenny is a great mom, and she knows her stuff.  What she says, goes.

So, we tried cooler water.  Time for the duck. . .  Too HOT! 

No way.  The water at this point was luke warm at best.  Jenny and I looked at each other, shrugged our shoulders and decided to keep trying cooler water until the duck approved. We finally got it to a duck-worthy temperature, which I don't think could be considered "warm" by any stretch of the imagination, and Grayson got placed in the tub.  He threw a colossal fit.  I'm talking the sad lip, loud crying, squirming, the works.  It continued throughout the entirety of his bath.  It was not fun. We kept telling ourselves that he would eventually get used to it, but every night was the same. Everyone dreaded bath time.

Then, one day on a whim, Jenny bought a new bathwater thermometer for the boy.  This one was a turtle, AND it was digital.  Well, we have since had a much better and less stressful experience with bath time.  Turns out, Grayson was freezing in his chilly bath water.  

Stupid duck.  

 

Time Flies

Ok.  So, here's the deal.  There have been a couple of noteworthy items since the last post. The first of which being that I have gone back to work.  I am lucky enough to have a job that  allowed me to have a full two weeks off. Once the holidays were factored in,  I got to spend almost the entire month of December at home with Jenny and baby Gray.  I couldn't be more thankful for that time and experience.  It gave me a chance to really get to know him and to figure out what he's all about.  It also provided an opportunity to learn all the baby stuff that a new dad needs to know, and trust me, there's a lot.  I'm finally starting to get the hang of it . . . or at least most of it. 

My time off raced by and, like I said, I am now back at work. Luckily, I truly enjoy my job so going back to to the office wasn't really much of an issue, but leaving my family behind every morning has proven to be pretty difficult. Granted, Jenny has managed to make it easier by keeping me updated with texts and pictures throughout the workday.

The other noteworthy event completely snuck up on us.  Grayson turned a month old.  Seriously?  How is that possible?  It feels like he just got here a few days ago.  Time really does fly.  I guess I always knew that was true, but ever since Grayson's birth, time has moved at an unbelievable pace. It's crazy, and it's sad, and according to every parent I've ever talked to, it's just the way of things.  I'll just have to learn to deal with it. 

Before I call it quits for this post, I want to thank everyone for all the positive feedback I've received about the blog.  When I started, I figured it would be entertaining for Jenny and I and maybe a couple of family members, but apparently there are a few other people out there following along.  That's very encouraging, and it's exciting  to know that people are interested in Grayson and want to keep up with his life. So thank you all, and please continue to let me know what you think. (Feel free to post your comments to the blog).       

What Up, G? (Part 1)

Ok.  So, here's the deal.  This is the first of what will hopefully be a series of posts that will take a look at who Grayson is, or will be, or whatever. We don't know a whole lot about him yet, but we're learning more everyday.  As of right now, Gray is a little more than two weeks old, and these are some of the things we know about him:

(1) He loves car rides.  Grayson is his most content when riding in his car seat.  Sometimes he sleeps.  Sometimes he doesn't, but regardless, he enjoys road trips. This is great news, because as soon as we think he's ready, Jenny and I will be taking him to Colorado for some fun in the mountains.

(2) He HATES having his diaper changed.  For the most part, he's been a pretty laid-back, low-key baby.  He doesn't throw too many fits, and when he does, we are almost always able to calm him down quickly.  However, when it's time for a diaper change . . . BAM!  The little guy goes ballistic. I'm talking a major case of the red-face coupled with some kicking, lots of screaming, and the saddest frown you've ever seen.  It's all somewhat unsettling really.  It appears that he may have inherited a bit of his dad's Irish temper. Sorry about that son.

(3) The child has Counterproductive Arms.  Seriously.  It's currently the running joke at our house.  Grayson wants so badly to put those little arms to use. Sadly, he doesn't quite have it down yet, but it's definitely not for lack of trying. His arms are almost always in motion.  Whenever he is swaddled in a blanket, the first thing he does is work his arms free.  The problem is they usually end up hitting him in the face or knocking his pacifier from his mouth.  Its kinda funny and kinda sad . . . but mostly funny.

Anyway, that's it for now. We're learning a lot about the boy each day, and he is quickly learning about the world around him. So, as we figure things out, there will be there will be more of these types of posts.  In the meantime, here are some more pictures:

Boy's Best Friend?

Ok.  So, here's the deal.  There is a specific issue that I have neglected to mention in each of my previous posts, because in both cases I decided it would be better to give this particular issue its own post.  But, I guess it's time.  So, here it is. It's the post about the Issue:

That's right. The issue is a dog, or more specifically our dog, Rory. She's a six-year-old miniature pinscher, and she's been with us since before we got married. She was our baby before our baby, and anyone who has met her knows that she is an absolute piece of work.  Don't get me wrong, she's very sweet and has her moments of being low-key, calm and cuddly.  However, more often than not, she is a spaz.  I'm talking crazy, and crazy for her is like crazy to the tenth power.  It doesn't help matters that she's small and extremely athletic, which causes all of her movements to be at warp speed.  The combination results in an unpredictable, lightning-quick ball of chaos.

Besides her hyperactivity, Rory also has a bit of a jealousy issue. The few times that we have dog-sat for friends or family, it has not been an enjoyable time for her.  When we pay any attention to the other dog, she clearly feels threatened. She will immediately try to weasel her way between us and the other dog and establish her territory. At times, she has even snapped or clawed at the other dog.  Oh, and the frustration reaches a whole new level when Jenny shows affection to another dog.  This is not even remotely acceptable in Rory's world. So, as you can imagine, we had some concerns about bringing baby Grayson into what Rory deems to be her territory.

We weren't exactly sure how to handle the situation.  Jenny hoped for the best, and I feared for the worst.  What would we do if Rory was hostile to the baby?  Jenny assured me it wouldn't be an issue, but I wasn't so sure.  Before Grayson was born, Jenny got online and researched ways to handle the situation. She found one recommendation that said to take a blanket to the hospital that could ultimately be given to the dog.  It suggested swaddling the baby in the blanket for a few hours while still at the hospital, and then to take the blanket and give it to the dog before you bring the baby home.  This supposedly will allow the dog to familiarize itself with the new smell of the baby and help in the dog's adjustment process. Seeing as Rory loves her some blankets, we decided that this method was as good as any.  

So, we tried it, and . . . 

So far so good.  Rory has not displayed any signs of jealousy, at least not yet.  She has been very sweet to Grayson, and has managed with her warp-speed movements to steal a few kisses from time to time. It also seems as if she wants to protect him.  A few days after we arrived home from the hospital, she growled at a visiting family member when they started to pick him up.  That seems to indicate she has some desire to help guard and protect the boy, right?  I'd like to think so.

The few times that we've left the house with Grayson, Rory is exceptionally eager when we get home to check and see if we brought him back with us.  Jenny thinks it's super sweet.  Although, I have to say I'm suspicious that it's only because Rory is hoping we left him behind, and now she can go back to the good ole days of having our full and undivided attention.  I guess we'll just have to see how it goes.

Goodness Grayson

Ok.  So, here's the deal.  After three days and four nights in the hospital, we're home, and we have our new little friend with us. Grayson was born at 5:37 p.m. on Thursday, December 9, and in case you didn't know,  he's awesome.

We went to the hospital at 1:00 in the morning on the day Grayson was scheduled to be born in order for the doctor to induce labor. It was a long night but an exciting one for us both. Once she was induced, Jenny labored more than 12 hours before it was determined that she would need to undergo a c-section.

Now, let me just take a second to say that while the tone of this blog is intended to be funny and light-hearted, there are some serious things that need to be said.  One of those things is that Jenny is amazing.  Granted, I am impressed with my wife on a daily basis as it is, but the way she handled this day was extraordinary.  I can't say enough good things about her. However, I will say that I am extremely proud of her and proud to be married to her. 

Another thing that needs to be said is that we consider ourselves extremely fortunate for having a healthy baby.  While we were in the hospital with Grayson, there were nineteen babies in the intensive care unit.  A healthy baby is such a blessing. Anyway, I apologize for the sappy stuff, but it's all true.

So, like I said, we are home and settling into the routine of having a newborn in the house.  Wait, did I say routine?  That's not quite right. It's not really much of a routine at all.  Every day is drastically different from the last, and the nights are . . . well lets just say the nights are interesting.  

In the previous post I mentioned that I have no clue as to what I am doing as a dad.  That remains true, but I'm learning some important skills on the fly.  One such skill is changing diapers. Until I worked up enough courage to change one of Grayson's diapers, I had never changed a diaper in my life.  Not one.  Want to know how many I've changed now?  793.  I knew there would be lots of dirty diapers, but I had no idea it would be to this extent.  The boy really likes to poop.  

Speaking of poop, for anyone who doesn't know or who may have forgotten, the first couple of days after a baby is born the poop is pure evil.  It's a thick, black, tar-like, unfathomably disgusting mess.  Needless to say I was not prepared.  Thankfully we've moved past the evil poop stage and are on to just lots and lots of semi-regular poop.  Lots.  

Well, that's about it for this post.  As I write this, Grayson is already six days old.  It doesn't seem possible.  The days and nights are requiring lots of work, particularly for Jenny, but they seem to be flying by.  Looking back to Grayson's birthday six days ago,  I can say with certainty that it was the most emotional experience of my life.  The love a parent feels for their child the second they enter the world is indescribable.  I had no idea.  I'm thankful he's here. 

The All-Important Inaugural Post

Ok. So, here's the deal. Up until now my wife and I have lived somewhat happy-go-lucky lives.  Granted, we have our daily and weekly routines like everybody else, but ski-trips, lazy Saturdays and impromptu weekend excursions have all been fairly commonplace. However, in just a few days, everything is going to change . . .  like a lot.

Grayson Wade is scheduled to make his appearance Thursday, December 9th. After months of anxious anticipation, we are finally about to meet the little guy, and we are ridiculously excited.  His room is ready. He has tons of clothes, toys, books and whatever else a baby boy could possibly need.  He even has his own tiny personalized stocking, so he won't be left out this Christmas Eve.  Everything is set.

Except for the fact that I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING.  Seriously.  Not a clue.  

Which brings me to the point of this blog.  I thought this would be a great way to document my experience of being a father, while also allowing me to share stories, photos and videos of our little man. I'm excited for the opportunity to look back on this one day down the road and relive some of the memorable moments of being a new dad.  That being said, I think I am just as excited to be able to showcase these moments for family and friends as I experience them.  

There is no doubt that this should be entertaining, and I have a strong suspicion that I will end up embarrassing myself along the way.  But no matter what, it should be fun.   So buckle up, cause the adventure begins in just a few short days.