Another Day

Day 70:

It was a day of work and play, Conor... Work for me, play for you! Mommy was home with you today and decided to do more than coo at you, as has been pretty much all we've done until now.... No, she started reading as to how to stimulate you and get you working.. Get your body developing along with everything else... Turns out a little resistance training is all you need! Mommy said she started pushing your legs back and forth in a bicycle motion and that you started to giggle! A new development!

Try as I may, I must have had your little legs churning, looking for a giggle, ten different times since I've been home. Alas, Mommy wore you out, Boy'O! As evidenced by tonight's picture, I could hardly get you to stir!

Otherwise, in this case no news is good news, Son. We're feeding you more which means more diapers and more laundry! But that's a good problem to have, Son. The Lion Heart will grow to be big and strong and so, so handsome.... And the more you eat, then faster we get there...

Good night, Growing Boy. Guess I'll catch that giggle tomorrow night.
I love you...
-Dad

Nailing Down a Schedule

Day 69:

Over the long weekend, Conor, Mommy and me had an opportunity to really focus on getting you on a schedule... Forming habits. You already have a rather Pavlovian response to being held while crying and subsequently covered with a burp cloth... In fact, your little mouth falls open and begins searching for a bottle, and the moment one touches your lips your mouth snaps shut like an Amazon Crocodile on unsuspecting prey. We figured if you're getting that down, it's time to give ourselves a break and at least try and sort you out so we can at least TRY to understand what's around the corner...

And the report is, so far so good, Conor! Seems you're good for a nap between 10:00am and Noon and 2:00pm and 4:00pm... After that it's a crap shoot but hey, it's a start! Mommy and I continue to have this philosophical conversation pertaining to child rearing and development and where you are and and and and... What we've both come to agree on in the last few days is, you're REALLY only 2 weeks old... Sure, you were brought into the world on December 14th, 2011 but per your gestational age you're actually only 2 weeks old, so while we've been blessed enough to have you home since the 2nd of January, we should temper our expectations a bit as far as your development is concerned... Not rush it, so to speak. Being the proud parents we are it's as though we're expecting you to come out reading Chauser... Soon enough I'm sure.

In other news, it would appear that my vision is pretty good! I mentioned in yesterday's post that I would be having my eyes checked today. There are some correctable things at play to be sure - I'm far sighted, meaning I see everything beyond 2 feet perfectly clear, though things closer to me - say, computer screens and books, the things I'm into the most these days, are straining my eyes a bit more than they should. Not bad, but enough to require a prescription... And so I got one.

That's about all, Son. Tonight the Lion-Heart rests peacefully while I punch away at this keyboard awaiting my queue to plug you with a bottle. And soon enough, that queue will come.

Love you, Boy'O.
-Dad

Conor the Lion Heart - A Man of the World

Day 68:

Busy day today, Boy'O. All kinds of things to do and so we've had you in the car seat in some form or fashion pretty much all day. First it was the mall... A bite to eat, some things for the house, an appointment for my failing eyes (they're not so bad, but I could only hold on to the notion of having 20/20 hawk-eye vision for so long before the reading headaches would get the better of me), and just generally in and out of a few places. All in all you spent a solid three hours in your car seat. By the time we'd returned home everyone was so exhausted we could hardly keep our eyes open, and so everyone grabbed some couch space and took a nap.

I've never been much of a nap-guy, Conor. I've always lived under the idea that I'll get plenty of sleep when I'm dead. That was before I had a son though... These days the occasional nap, if one is afforded to me, is a blessing. My Dad- your Pops, has always said that one of his favorite things to do is to take a mid-afternoon nap. I never understood that having always feared missing something. Not sure what, but something. Now though, I get it.

When everybody awoke from their mid-afternoon slumber it occurred to us that several other errands, including going to the grocery store and getting anything having to do with dinner, had not yet been done though to be sure, it was later than expected... So, Japanese anyone? And back in the carrier you'd go.

Two hot Saki later and very well fed, and here I sit giving you the play by play while Mommy sorts you out for the night. Neil Young on the radio, a light mood, and no work tomorrow... Yep, it's a good night.

Good night, Conor an Chroí Lion... See you in a few hours for the 3:00am feeding!
-Dad

Sleeping Better, Day by Day

The Original Yerkes Kids

Day 67:

Day by day, Boy'O, the Lion Heart becomes a bit more merciful. Last night you went down after your 1:00am feeding and didn't stir again 'til about 6:00am this morning... That's a record for the Lion Heart! These swaddle blankets really do the trick, Boy'O. Otherwise, it was a fairly eventful day. Mommy took a few hours out of the house to go and visit with a friend, and after she came home I went out to sharpen my marksmanship once again.

We went to see your Aunt Jennifer and Uncle Paul, too. Aunt Jen's birthday falls one day in front of mine so each year we get together to have a dinner and celebrate... Tonight was that night. Nice little bistro in Vienna, though nothing to write home about. Still, it's more about the company than it is the cuisine in most cases. Never the less, you were a perfect angel throughout the mean, Son. Onlookers would come by and comment on how handsome you are making the night all the better. But now it's time to put you down for the night and see about going for another 5 hour sleep... Guess I'll let you know in the morning.

I love you, Son.
-Dad

Conor the Lion Heart's First Good Deed

Day 66:

For me it was just another day in the office, Son. For you though, it was a day spent giving. You see, you're such a big boy now, all your preemie clothes, diapers, and food are no longer of any use to you, but there are plenty of families out there who could use our help, Conor... In specific a young family in need recently welcomed twins to the world! But they very much needed help. So, you and Mommy gathered up all we had to give and went to a center to donate your stuff... Conor the Giving...

The center, and the family, were both very appreciative. In fact, Mommy received an email to let her know all supplies had been delivered and of course they just loved it.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow, Boy'O. Mommy's going out for the early part of the day and afternoon and so it'll be just me and you to hold things down. A nice relaxing day... But first we gotta get you through the night, Son.

Good Night, Boy. I love you.
-Dad

My Own Special Day

Day 65:

Today was a special day for me, Son. It's my birthday! My first birthday of Fatherhood... Of course, all I wanted for my birthday was to spend it with you, Boy'O! With my family. Mommy was all to happy to oblige me and as a surprise made a dinner reservation at Flemings Steak House; one of my favorites! With you being so little yet and considering the quasi schedule we're trying to get you to adhere to, that reservation was set for 5:30pm. Now, at this stage in your life that may well mean nothing... But sure as your born, Lad, I haven't sat down for dinner at 5:30pm since I was maybe 6 years old!
"The times they are a changin'" --Bob Dylan
Ain't that the truth?!

Yes Conor, today was the most special Birthday I've ever shared... And for so many reasons. Reasons I can't get into for fear of rambling, and even more... But this birthday I have you, Son. While sitting and enjoying my steak and my glass of big red wine, I could only stare at you and marvel at your presence. Truly amazing... I'd always wanted a child of my own, Son. Your Mother gave me you. And to be sure I never cared about whether my child would be a boy or a girl, but looking at you now, you could have only been Conor the Lion Heart. My Conor an Chroí Lion...

Once home it was all about relaxing and watching whatever I wanted on the television... I finished this wonderful day with a live concert from my favorite band, "Foo Fighters - Live at Wembley Stadium". What a show, Son. What a show. And with guest appearances from Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones of Led Zepplin and the Yardbirds! Yes sir, a perfect day.

Thank you for being my greatest gift, Conor. I love you more than you could ever know...
-Dad

A Trip to the Surgeon

Day 64:

The day started wishing your Grandma MeMeow and Grandpa K9 safe travels as they headed off back to South Carolina, Conor. Your MeMeow was so sad, Boy'O. She wants to be close to Mommy and you so she can be here for her daughter and watch you grow up, but if you ask me diaper changing is overrated!

Following the fond farewell I shoved off to work and it was up to Mommy to get you all sorted out. If you recall the post from two days ago, Dr. Banta found you had an inguinal hernia and recommended a local surgeon who takes appointments in Fairfax but has privileges at Childrens' Hospital in Washington DC. I can't recall the Doc's name but Mommy liked her and she came highly recommended. Still, Doctor says it'll most likely be outpatient surgery pending your experience with the anesthetic. She showed Mommy just where they'd make the incision and described what would happen next, and was very confident the whole operation would really only take a few minutes. The only bummer is, you're not old enough to receive the anesthetic without minimizing risks at this point, so we've been instructed to wait until you're 50 to 55 weeks gestation ally - That puts us right around late March. The good news is, you're not in any pain so time is less a concern.

Well, that's all for tonight Lion-Heart. I'm beat and gotta get up early to go to work. I love you, Boy'O.

-Dad