The First Month: Oh how the turn tables turn!

So I've fallen behind - blogging is more difficult than anticipated.  In an effort to catch up, I'm want to going to attempt to recap the rest of the first month in this post. 

This is post-poop, pre-sleep

By the second week, we had started to get in some sort of routine.  Cade has three modes: Eat, Poop (also pee, but thats not as tramautic if its contained to the diaper), Sleep.  I'm going to call it EPS, or Every Poop Sucks....but especially the ones that don't fit in his pants.  Those are situations.

He also had to be changed quite often usually either because of the aforementioned poop going out the pants or because he has a knack for throwing up all over himself (and sometimes money).  Although I really think Laura just liked to put him in a bunch of different clothes.  

Cade in his PSU uniform before scandal breaks
but after throwing up on mommy... :)

Getting ready to sleep at any second...

Getting used to Cade's cycle was similar to what we went through with Kallie.  For instance, Kallie used to like to pee whenever and wherever.  Of course, she usually picked the carpet as opposed to any of the flat tile or laminent flooring.  She also had the knack for shock-and-awe stlye waking us up in the middle of the night by vomiting up her dinner at the foot of our bed.  This gave us plenty of experience with cleaning up bodily nonsensitys.  Laura especially has progressed from those early days.  When Kallie was a wee-little pup, we didn't want to pick her crap off the ground, so Laura developed a method of stealthily sneaking up on her right as she begins to pop-a-squat and holding a poop bag under her rear.  Although the method actually worked, we received many a strange look, including from Kallie herself, and eventually switched to the traditional reversed-bag method (on a side note, if you see anyone using our sneak-a-poop-bag-under-the-butt technique, please tell them we are patenting that process and to promptly cease and desist).  I tried to employ the sneak-a-poop-bag-under-the-butt tactic on Cade, but Cade refused to ever pop-a-squat out in the alley - I also received many stranger looks than when attempted with Kallie.

Cade enjoyed a burrito at El Vez.  I ate his left overs.

After Cade's 1 week doctor appointment, the doctor confirmed it was copistetic to take him out in public.  We had already been going out to a couple places but after we got the a-okay we wanted to make sure Cade got accustomed to sleeping in public.  This was not a problem for him.

Cade on trip to Philly's Xmas village.

Since the winter cold hadn't yet rolled in, we took the pair on several trips to the park.  To be clear, this was Kallie's park, Cade was invited as a guest.  He wasn't particularly interested anyway.  Kallie, on the other hand, was beyond extatic to be making regular trips back to her stomping ground.  She and her friends found endless ways to entertain herself (see below).  The family trip to the park was enjoyed by all...although each in our own way.

Cade's time at the park:

I don't see what the big deal is about this park.

Kallie's time at the park:

You decide who had a better time....

Why is everything trying to kill me?

As we continued to get used to handling Cade, Kallie picked up some concerning behavior.  She was hd become noticeably jumpy around a bunch of the new stuff in the house.  She hated Cade's car seat, pack-and-play crib-a-ma-jig, vibrating baby seat, diaper genie, stroller, and, worst of all, the rocking horse (which arrived courtesy of grandma).  We're pretty sure that these new fears, coupled with Kallie's already overwhelming fear of the vacuum cleaner, broom and mop, loud noises, and knocks on the door, gave her a nervous breakdown. We had noticed she started walking around muttering "serenity now."  At any rate, this all built up to Kallie developing what we thought was a nervous leak.  Yes, by leak, I mean urinary leak, which she unknowingly did around the apartment.  Oh joy.  Now, we had one kid in diapers that didn't know how to control his bodily movements, and one that knew how but couldn't. And although there are doggie diapers, we weren't ready to start using those on Kallie.  Therefore and despite our trying to shower Kallie with affection and making her feel secure, we had a lot of cleaning up to do  Grrrr.  (update: we have since been to the vet several times and tried several different approaches, as of mid-Feb., I think we finally have it under control)

Find somewhere else to sleep.  This is my bed now.

All and all, the rest of the month went more smoothly than expected.  Unfortunately, it ended poorly when I realized I had to go back to work.

With respect to this post's point, it looks like this may be the start of a comeback.  Kallie's need for more and more attention together with the leaking does not a point make.  On the other hand, Cade took the safe approach with the try not to lose tactic.  It worked this time and I'm awarding him his second point!

Score:

Kallie: 3
Cade: 2

Don't call it a comeback....yet!

- Papasaurus

A Mother’s Tale: The Baby Whisperer?

A little over 4 years ago, the Wieland/Jackson family was blessed with a little girl named Devon.
Devon was the first grandchild on both sides of the family and, as you might expect, she was spoiled by everyone…well, almost everyone. I say “almost everyone” because there was one person who didn’t spend 80% of his salary on her, cuddle with her, or hug and kiss her. 

Devon Jackson

Uncle Pete had never really been around kids before. He didn’t understand them nor did he know how to speak to them in a “baby voice.” He thought babies should be talking and walking by the time they are three months old. He didn’t understand why they would want to poop in their pants. But there was something about Uncle Pete that Devon absolutely loved. Whenever I would call my dear sweet niece Devon, she would immediately say, “Where Unca Pete?” Pete must have sensed her question and proceeded to wave his arms and shake his head so as to say, “I am not here!!!” To this day, Devon must think Pete is at work 24 hours a day. Even though he never once spoke to her on the phone, bought her birthday presents, or acknowledged her existence, Devon LOVED Unca Pete: The Baby Whisperer.

Fast forward 4 years. Caden Finneas Jaslow arrives.

Several Fridays ago, I woke up feeling fantastic. I didn’t get too much sleep, but I didn’t have anything to do during the day, so I woke up feeling very relaxed. I was particularly excited because later that night, Pete and I were going to go to a friend’s going away party. Nanny was coming to take care of our little boy so we could party it up with our friends. It was going to be a terrific Friday! Or so I thought…

It all started to go downhill around 8:00 AM (note: we woke up at 7:45AM). Mr. Cade decided to wear his cranky pants. Apparently, he did not get the memo that this was supposed to be a terrific, relaxing Friday. He cried when I fed him, when I put him in his favorite seat, when I gave him a pacifier, when I laid him down flat, when I bounced him, when I rocked him, when I made funny faces and sounds, when I gave him a toy, and when I took him for a walk in the Baby Bjorn. I think I even made up my own rendition of “Go the F to sleep” at one point. He…was…a nightmare. I can’t wait till I can bribe my child with a cookie or cash to stop crying.

Mommy

At around 3:30 PM, I am pretty certain a clinical psychologist would have considered me insane. I hadn’t eaten a thing all day and was beginning to beg Kallie for her help with her little brother. She, of course, did not have any other ideas for me. After all, she is a dog. I was so jealous of my puppy when she got up and walked her little furry butt upstairs to lie in the comfy bed and take a snooze. Maybe this makes me a bad mom, but I was very tempted to leave the crying newborn downstairs and accompany my always-happy, never crying pup. Instead, I decided it was more appropriate to call Daddy.

I felt like it had been days since I slept, ate, or spoke to someone other than a dog. Pete must have also secretly diagnosed me with a case of insanity because he immediately said, “I’m coming home” upon hearing the distress in my voice. I’ve always thought that dogs had this special ability to sense when their owner was almost home. My childhood dog, Kutja, would go berserk and within about 10 minutes, my father would walk in the door. Kutja sensed it. I had no idea that an infant could have the same superpower…even my superhero son, Flash. About 10 minutes before Pete walked through the door, after roughly 7.5 hours of absurdity, Cade miraculously stopped crying. The Baby Whisperer struck again.

"Mommy, please don't disturb boys time."

It can be frustrating as a mom to drop everything in your life for your adorable child only to have him look at you and scream bloody murder. Doesn’t he know that I gave up my coffee-shop-hopping, FUNemployed lifestyle for him?! Doesn’t he realize how God awful it is to change a diaper when the poop has gone up to his neck?! But it only takes one sweet smile after singing a round of “The Wheels on the Bus” to make it all not only worth it, but absolutely incredible.

-Mamadactyl