As you may guess by the title, I don’t count weekends as “Parental Leave” days. I mean, we’re both there. I pretend I’m incredibly busy with other very important things so that Mama Monkey can care for the baby.
Er…. I mean….
I find I’m so incredibly busy with important things on the weekend that I’m so glad Mama is there to help out for those 2 days. Har har, Just kidding. She’s the hardest worker in terms of parenting whether or not it’s the weekday or the weekend. Boobs are always on call, even when Cole’s not around… still pumping to do… poor woman. I keep asking her if she feels like a dairy cow, of course reminding her that in my books she is the Radiant Queen of all things Awesome.
So,
It’s about sleep again. Honestly, at nearly 7 months old, it’s always about sleep. I can’t think of anything else that causes concern in his or our lives right now. Sleep rules all. His sleep, that is. Or lack thereof. Although, it’s also partially about “baa baa baa BAA BAA BAA”
Here’s an uplifting celtic/folk song that encasulates some of my thoughts for the day: Go To Sleep Little Leech (external link) or the (unofficial) video that’ll be in the sidebar for a few days.
The Unexpected Nap
He was due for sleep at 10:30 or so. Drove Alie to work for just after 9, and figured I’d have a chance to swing by PC Cyber for giggles and to price a new 1080p monitor. After a quick step-retracing to collect my house keys (thank God we both had our cell phones!), headed out. Wasn’t sure the most efficient way to get there, but I was already on Smyth, so I took it to Riverside and headed South for the PC Cyber on Hunt Club. About 2 minutes away from destination, he fell asleep. Depending on how consistent you think he is in his naptimes (some days, not so much), that was at LEAST half an hour early. Drove home, parked, and tried to nap. Didn’t get to nap with him (not quite tired enough for passenger-side nap today), and he was only out for another 10 minutes anyhow. Lame little 25 minute nap, but it was enough to recharge his batteries.
The Delayed Nap
Mom came over, brought some food and some helping hands (thanks Mom!). I had already been trying to put him down for a half hour or so, as he was due any time. As Grammy can attest to, it was hard going. By 1:30 he had JUST fallen asleep. It’s the craziness en route to naptime that’s exhausting. Can’t leave him to entertain himself in an exersaucer or something like that, because he’s too tired. Can’t get him to sleep in my arms because he’s too stubborn. Milk didn’t do it the first time around (I knew it wasn’t going to, so this time I cut him off a bit). More walking, Grammy helped to calm him quite a bit as well, and then finally 2nd round of Milk did it.
Guests During Naptime sometimes = Early wake-up
Steve was dropping some bottles off and we had scheduled a bit of a short hangout time… unwind, share stories of our first weeks as daddy daycare…. I knew he was arriving at around 1:30-ish, so I kept my eye out. Car pulled up, Grammy managed the dog barking noise as best she could, and all was good.
But then Abuelito came, and I forgot to be as vigilant. As Balu let out a very loud bark, I knew the nap was over. And it was. Total naptime? 40 mins? Maybe? Didn’t keep track, but I knew it was cut a little short. My bad.
The Lost Dog
3:15 rolls around. Wanted to pick Alie up between 4:00 and 4:30. Figured, “dogs need a walk. Cole needs a nap. Naptime will coincide with the end of a walk at the Pit (dog park), which will also coincide with pickup time… perfect!!” I had it all worked out.
I still suck at organizing. Let’s leave it at that for today. 3:45 I call Alie and tell her, “I just arrived at the pit. I’ll call again when I’m on my way.” Now, I’m still thinking that the plan is a good one; I just need to take a shorter loop around the pit than originally intended… make sure I’m back to the car before Cole falls asleep, and he’ll pretty much be ready to be out like a light.
Make most of the first circuit and I can see that Cole is fading. So I pick up the pace a bit. At the same time, I’m focused on Cole and I lean my head around every now and then to give him a little kiss on the nose. This makes him giggle, and I figure it’s keeping him awake in a pleasant enough way. Thing is, although I was diligent about our “dawdler” (Balu) 95% of the time, calling him back to me regularly… I let it slip once for 1 minute too long.
As I turned the final corner in the loop, I took inventory. Wolf-dog: check. Baby, awake: check. Dawdler Doughnuthead: scratch.
Crap. Look around a bit. Call for him. Do a special whistle. Ask a few passers-by. Nothing. No dog. Well he can’t be far, I JUUUUuuust checked for him not TOooo long ago! Retrace back to a spot with a good line of sight. Nothing. Only thing I can do is call Alie to let her know that I’ve lost the dog and ask her recommendation since she knows his personality a touch better than I do. Recommendation is to wait at the entrance, which is just common sense no matter who the dog is, now that I’m writing it down.
Back at the entrance, I ask newly-arrived walkers to keep an eye out for him and I inform them that I’ll be at the entrance if they find him; if I’m gone it means I’ve found him. Call Alie with an update. Take inventory. Wolf-dog: check. Baby awake: scratch. I had everything timed perfectly if I hadn’t lost the dog. Cole WOULD have fallen asleep in the car, as planned, and WOULD have napped properly on the way to get Mama, and WOULD have had some extended napping time as Alex went into a grocery store for a few things. WOULD have.
Some 10 minutes later, Alie indicates she may have found a ride to the pit to help me out. But within another minute, Chucklehead is trotting down the main path toward me and some of my enlisted helpers are calling out to let me know there’s a dog matching Balu’s description on the way. Call Alie back to inform her that Cole has fallen asleep and will need a nap.
30 minutes of walking later, and Cole is awake. Another short nap. But at least we can be on our way.
Felt bad about losing Balu. I would have been devastated if something had happened to him. He’s a sweet boy, entirely undeserving of being left behind. Ecstatic that he found his way back to me.
Dinner Prep Madman Time
After picking up Alie and some groceries, he was already very tired. But stubborn. As always. Put him in his exersaucer in the kitchen since we both needed to be using our hands to make cleaning and dinner happen.
“baa baa baa”
This is his new sound, taking its rightful place alongside “mem mem mem”. But the thing is, “baa baa baa” can get a LOT louder than “mem mem mem”. And it did.
“baa baa BAA baa baa baa BAA baa baa”
Of course, we’re chuckling a little bit. It’s awfully cute. And he’s just practicing with his voice. Or so it seems at least.
“baa BAA BAA!”
Maybe he’s getting unsettled after all.
“BAA BAA BAA BAA BAA BAAAAAA, LISTEN TO ME YOU ROTTEN PARENTS, BAAAAAAAAA!!!!!”
Pick him up out of the exersaucer, and fairly quickly I can see that he’s almost nodding off already. Stubborn bugger.
After swapping him back and forth for a while, Mama decides he might go down for a nap after some food. Which he does. He had 3 naps, so surely this is bedtime? It’s like 7:45 or so by now after all!
TV watching Madman Time
Nope.
Awake.
We’re trying to watch last night’s premiere of one of our favourite shows, “Chuck”, when he decides he’s not for bed anymore. No problem… he is sometimes quite calm when he’s newly-awakened. Should be able to watch some TV and let him play on his mat.
Worked out for 5 minutes or so, and then the biggest round of “BAA BAA BAA” you can imagine.
Picked him up. It was obviously bedtime again already… but he’s stubborn.
To end a long and potentially boring story… he finally went down after food, bouncing, or something…. to be frank, I hid in the basement while Mama took care of it. I was scared to be any part of it. I did make an appearance once to offer some reading, but he was almost under again.
As we finally sat watching Chuck, Alie slipped her hand into mine and we just sat there watching for a few minutes, enjoying the only moment of ‘together alone’ (not counting baby monitor) we had for the day. Brain-numbing TV and a warm hand to hold… a few minutes of heaven.
