observations

A few observations since Christen has gone back to work post-baby (he's been gone an hour):

• A vibrating bassinet that a baby doesn't like will babysit for exactly 3 minutes. One should not use this time to check email -- rather, one should use this time to start laundry.
  
• A swing that baby formerly did not like may be rendered useful by rolling receiving blankets and encasing baby in them so he feels more secure. This will babysit for about 10 minutes while baby decides if he likes it or not. Again, this time should be used for starting laundry and getting dressed for the day now that it is officially the afternoon and not for trolling the internet.
  
• Introducing baby to the family dog for the first time should not be done by oneself unless one wishes to give oneself a heart attack. That being said, Lola seemed to really like Spencer. Once Spencer cares, I think he'll like Lola too.

Other observations include using the metal side of an old computer case on top of the bassinet that baby doesn't like makes a lovely side table to hold your drink (and if you are alone with baby for the first time this should not be alcoholic).

Date night

We had our first post-baby outing tonight -- so nice! We had to remind ourselves (at least mentally) to stop talking about him, but it was nice to get out of the house for a little while.

Mom and the kids came over to babysit at Mom's suggestion, and we went for dinner and a movie (isn't that so high school of us?). Technically we went to movie and a dinner, because we hit the movie first and saw No Country For Old Men. It was very good ... very good. Christen had been wanting to see it, and I'm never in the mood for movies so I suggested to him when Mom suggested the date night that we go see a movie that he wanted to see. Last time we went to see a movie was Juno, which I picked (and he also liked, BTW). I think that up until we actually got to the theater he was expecting me to back out and say I wasn't feeling like a movie. But we went, and it was good. We both knew that the ending was abrupt, and when it ended I looked at him and said, "Dinner?" and we left while everyone was still sitting there. I told Christen I figured they were all waiting for a better ending.

Dinner was at Bonefish Grill. It had been 7-8 years since either of us had been there, and neither of us had been impressed the last time (the one and only time I went was for my birthday with Jim and Shell and Richard, and it wasn't very good and I was underdressed, making me feel very self-conscious). Christen's parents gave us a gift card for Valentine's day, and although we could have used it at one of the sister restaurants (Carrabba's, Outback) we figured we would use this chance to give it another shot.

It was good! Very good, actually. We both got a glass of wine (the La Crema Pinot Noir, as I had it on Shea's authority that it was a fantastic bottle) ... we thought about splitting a bottle, but given that I haven't drank in almost a year my tolerance is pretty low. One glass was actually the perfect amount. We started with the Bang Bang shrimp which also came highly recommended but I didn't like -- too spicy and mayonaise-based (Christen loved it). I ordered the Lily's chicken, which is a lot like Carrabba's Chicken Bryan, and Christen got some pork chop thing. Both were fabulous, and the night was perfect (and we were home around 8).

So date night is over, and we had a great time although I missed my little Birdman. Next Tuesday is our next night out, when we go to see TMBG!

I heart IKEA

Friday we decided to drive out to Orlando before Christen had to go back to work. The original plan was to see if we could find a Superman onesie for Spencer we he could be like daddy. I didn't think about the fact that Superman is DC and not Marvel which is owned by Universal until we were on our way out there, but that's besides the point. But while on our way out there we decided to hit IKEA, since we've never been there and I've been excited about the one opening in Tampa in 2009.

We spent three hours in that store. So many ideas for the next house -- especially related to the library -- great libraries! I know it's not awesome quality stuff, but really, for the price can you beat it?

Three hours later we emerged with a 6-pack of beer glasses for $6.99 and a 99 cent toilet bowl brush. Exciting, right? But we'll be revisiting this when we decide on a house -- definitely! :)

All goings on

I have learned in the past three weeks that:

a) My son can certainly pee with the best of them. He can pee through his clothes, even while wearing a diaper and two layers of onesies and still soak my clothes too (and my sheets if he's laying on me and I'm laying on the bed).


b) I can't stand staying home. Spencer, Christen and I have been out almost every day and it's been so nice! I'll miss my husband when he has to go back to work next week.

c) Vibrating bassinets are great for a fussy baby, but not for sleeping. Ever. Evidently. Also evidently the only place an infant will sleep between midnight and 7am is on top of their parents.

d) You really never know anyone, like when you find out information about someone that could be detrimental to their relationship and they still refuse to call you or your husband back so that maybe it could be straightened out. Also, I realized that it's something that should not be handled by me.

So we've been taking Spencer out with us house hunting and out for meals -- he's slept through every meal we've taken him to -- Tijuana Flats, Mimi's (that was Valentine's Day dinner - yum!), Outback, BJ's, the BBQ place in Safety Harbor (delish! mango bbq sauce!). It's been a great few weeks. We've had a few hard times, a couple gassy evenings and a few late nights, but for the most part we've all gotten a lot more sleep than we thought we would, and Spencer's been great. When a friend from work came back from maternity leave she said that she loved being a mother but that it was a lot harder than she thought it would be. Well, it's easier than I thought it would be. Why do people try to scare you?

Also, as of last Thursday I have lost 25 lbs ... but I only gained 18 with the pregnancy so I'm officially lighter than I was on my wedding day! So 25 lbs in 2 weeks ... I may actually lose some real weight if I can get rid of my new pooch!

Happy Valentine's Day!

How cute is that? Hope you had a happy one!

The great pacifier debate

I hate pacifiers. When I see a three-year-old with one stuck in his mouth I just want to yank it out as I pass by. I always think of them as a vice, a crutch. Parents who don't want to deal with what their kids really want force something in their mouths so they don't have to listen to them.

But my child won't stop sucking. It doesn't matter if he's been fed or if he's sleepy or what ... he was sucking on our fingers until they were pruny and that didn't seem to be any better a vice than a pacifier. However, I was still apprehensive about sticking a piece of plastic in instead. I don't want my child to be one of those toddlers ... am I being selfish and caring too much about how people see me? I know I've passed judgements ...

So I talked to the doctor, and she eased my mind about nipple confusion and vices and the reasons babies suck (evidently a lot more reasons than anyone knows). We've gone with a pacifier. I think we're all happier.

Cat Power

There's a commercial that Cat Power did last year where she covered Lana Hall's "How Can I Tell You" ... that song haunts me, and it's not fair that she never recorded more than the 30-second bit. Lana Hall's version is okay, but very 60s. Cat Stevens recorded it also, but it really needed a woman's voice. Can we start a petition to get her to record the damn thing? It's so incredible. Sadly, I'm now going to post the You Tube video of the commercial so you can hear what I hear, and so I can hear it again ...