Three Weeks
...of really being parents; Mom-in-law left on Oct. 31st. Besides doing a lot of child care, she also cooked. Yeah, I know, lucky us. Parenthood with a Chinese grandmother in the house is definitely tennis without the net.
Well, now it's just us. We kinda expected a nightmare of disorganization, stress-turning-to-panic, meltdowns and quarrels, leading to a desperate search for daycare. But maybe because our apprehension level was so high, it hasn't actually been that bad. So far.
I work 6-10 am, from home, and as many hours as I can manage after Michael's bedtime, making up the rest on weekends. Y. does eight regular hours during the day plus has a commute. Peak stress time for both of us is around 7 pm; by then, we're both nearing burn-out, but still need to make dinner while also taking care of the baby. After around 8:30, we're home free.
Michael is learning to roll onto his tummy -- he’s figured out the general concept, but is missing a couple key steps: the arm tuck, the crucial, point-of-gravity-altering leg shift. He’ll be five months old on Nov. 25th.
Likes: being held, especially at the window where he can watch the cars. His Tinylove toy -- a kind of mutant chicken with one very long spotted leg and two chewable wings. Songs. "Row, Row, Row Your Boat", with extra verses by Adrian Zoot. "If You're Happy And You Know It." And, of course, "Old McDonald" -- this one I feel especially good about. I used to sing Old McDonald to my niece when she was a baby, and now I get to sing it to my own kid.
Dislikes: his feeding bottle, the baby carriage. Naps.
Saturday night; he’s had his bath, and is now sleeping -- probably for the rest of the night, though sometimes he’ll wake at 4 am and tug at Y.’s face, or practice his rolling. The week’s over. I've got a couple hours of free time – unbelievable.
Just at this moment, it almost feels easy.
11:17:16 PM 
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