KDUNK

Here is what I have observed about the Dads in the park (some of them):

-they are often outnumbered by chicks and female nannies and act a little nervous at times – not all – but some

-if they have a son – there is less talking between them and more doing (running around, chasing kid, sliding down pole, etc.) – if they have a girl there is a lot of listening and ‘oh…really?’responses

-Dads push a little too high on the swings

-always considerate about other kids waiting to take a turn

-natural negotiators – “After this swing we need to go meet Mom”

-when they talk to a Mom (stranger) they often mention ‘my wife’fifty times upfront so as to not creep anyone out

-less likely to use words like “Weeeeeee!” or “Peek-A-Boo!” and more likely to ask things like, “Having fun?”, “Want me to push you higher?”

-are the only parents at the park early mornings on Saturdays while Mom sleeps in – husband – take note

Lili!

You currently have a total of almost 6 teeth! That is insane! You are like a tooth making machine. Four up top and two down. You are only 8.5 months old! There are kids on the playground that we see that are 11 months old with like…two teeth.

Time for some baby back ribs.

Here are a few ways parenthood has changed me:

• I stop and have a 15 minute conversation (as I did today) with a small 5-year-old boy selling lemonade with his Mom (total strangers)
• I cry at scripted TV shows that involve sick children or children rushed to the ER
• I always have wet hair – no time for blow drying
• I’m proud of my hips which now serve a purpose
• I take less bullshit in regards to people beating around the bush – I have no time for anything else
• I get up at 5:30AM and can function
• I stock my freezer
• There always manages to be a burp cloth, toy, jar of baby food or teething biscuit in my purse when I escape to meet a friend for a drink at night despite cleaning out my bag prior to
• I have no cool clothes
• I avoid onions
• I am aware of germs
• I do tremendous online shopping whenever possible
• I always share a suitcase
• I eat everyone’s leftovers
• I carry 16lbs (not including stroller, etc.) around all day
• I never pee alone

Tell me some of yours?

Dear Lili,

At this point in time you are 8.5 months old.

I’m sorry I’ve been remiss in blog postings of your life.

The good news is I was out living life with you. The bad news is this is only the start to a long and disappointing road of your mother dropping the ball here and there. Like forgetting it’s my turn to be the class parent for the day at your future school or showing up with one curler in my hair (unknowingly) to pick up you and your friends. Get used to it.

Here is a list of things you do now and some random things and observations I wanted to document since our last post:

-CRAWLING: on the morning of Monday, August 4th you crawled for the first time. You were in your striped pink pjs on the wood floor of our tiny living room. You had your eye on a stack of old US Weekly magazines (my child) – proceeded to crawl furiously towards them – and then ripped several to shreds in what appeared to be a fit of anger (your Dad’s child). Regardless we were proud.

-SITTING: on the morning of Wednesday, August 6th (just 2 short days after learning to crawl) you decided to sit up on your own. This was insane. It was like wait…we just barely got our heads around the fact you were crawling around ripping computer chords out of the wall and now this? But we were very happy and proud. Well…mostly proud because we weren’t (aren’t) so happy to be coming in your room every 7 seconds to now lay you back down to sleep after we put you in bed and you sit up immediately and scream. Repeat ten thousand times.

-ALMOST STANDING: the other day you were like an obsessed bull. You were in your crib trying soooooo hard to pull yourself up with your tiny chunky arms and tiny chunker legs but would fall and smash your head on the wood and cry but continue on and on and on again until I finally made you stop by waving something shiny in your face. You have ALWAYS been this way. You get your mind set on something and will not stop until it is YOURS. Or…something shiny comes along. Hey – I can relate.

-TWO DRINK MINIMUM: You – are a total ham. You LOVE to make people laugh. Today for example you made a crazy sound and just belly laughed and jumped up and down on the couch while Gabby your babysitter held you. But you looked left to see if Gabby was watching and then cracked up. Then you looked right to see if I was cracking up. This honestly – no exaggeration – continued for twenty minutes. Belly laughing and trying to get us all involved.

-FOOD: Currently you LOVE pancakes and PIZZA. You are like a real kid. What next? Nuggets? I make you pancakes in the morning and cut them into tiny bits but I sneak in things like fresh fruit or juice or even spinach or sweet potatoes. You say, “MMnnn MMnnn MMnnn” when you eat and you flap your arms and legs up and down if you really like something. You still hate bananas.

-BOTTLE: Yeah – right. You never took one. Never will. The end.

-BREASTFEEDING: A tad concerned that the sand is running out on this timer. We have only about four more months left and I will officially have breastfed you an entire year – as in – no formula or bottles. If you recall this was NOT BY CHOICE but hey. My only concern is your total love for milk and the boob. Yesterday I looked down and you were stroking the boob like it were a rare gem. This could be a tough one to wean. Wish me luck. Sigh.

-THINGS YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT: my car keys, the remote control, the clip/string that holds your pacifier, cloth book titled ‘Peek-A-boo Baby’, the attention and adoration of total strangers at all times and at any opportunity, pancakes, pizza and did I mention pancake and pizza?

-PEEK-A-BOO: Tonight you played peek-a-boo for the first time with your Daddy. It was SO CUTE and I almost started to cry. Because I am lame. You were in the middle of the living room and Dad walked out of the room behind a hanging curtain but you could hear his voice. He said hiding behind the curtain, “Lilian” and you sat straight up like a rocket turning your head from side to side like Big Brother was speaking to you. Then you got on your belly and crawled all the way across the living room to the curtain where Dad was behind – slowly sat up on your own – and then the real finale was your tiny hand pulling back the curtain to reveal Dad on the other side. Adorable.

-YOUR MOTHER: I am doing pretty ok as your Mom I think. I am now working three days a week freelance, which is nice. I write so I am often local and nurse you once during the day. We have fun together and laugh. I sometimes feel overwhelmed but your STUFF – literally clothes and toys and blah blah blah and crave more space as of late but overall I feel happy and lucky. You and I went on our first Mom/Daughter trip alone on the train to Boston to visit my best friend from college and her twins. You were SUCH a good girl and were actually my little buddy. I thank you for this.

-YOU DAD: Your Dad is a hard working man. Why? Because not only does he do his job job but also gets up at 6AM or whenever to help feed you breakfast or watch you when I plop you down in bed and make your breakfast and lunch. And at night gets up several times to help me. Your Dad says cute things all the time too about not wanting you to grow up for example, “She can still fit in that!” in all seriousness when I am caught packing away a shirt you outgrew at three months and you are now almost nine. This means he loves you. We both do.

xo