Planning is ugly, plain and simple, when you have a baby.  Because no matter how meticulously you do it, your baby will not give a lick and will continue to live on his own unmoveable schedule.  Landen is no exception.  Today, for instance, he has been awake pretty much straight for 8 hours, finally going to bed about 20 minutes ago (knocking on wood so hard it splinters.)  He has nights where he wakes only once from midnight until 8, and other nights where he’s eating every 90 minutes (and has to sit up for 30 between them).  The only real consistent thing about him is his smile, and his progression.  Today, he lost the pacifier and was able to get it back into his mouth – that’s the first time I’ve seen that happen.  He did it twice.  I squealed like a schoolgirl.

And trying to plan a weddingish and a trip back east for a week, and finances for the next year, and, well, planning the rest of our lives together… that’s no picnic either.  Because deep down, past all the love and the inexplicable luck we’ve had in finding each other, Ashley and I are human beings.  And today I realized that all of those things that I read about in baby books about snapping at each other for household chores and the sleep depravation wreaking havoc being commonplace, and me always saying “We’ll never be like that,” are in those books for a reason.  It’s sobering, but on the flip side, it’s reassuring to know that we’re not so unusual (except that we still like each other afterwards.)

On an unrelated note, a HUGE thank you to Jaymar and Jen for their generous gift – you should see the results of that as soon as I get off my lazy tuckus and figure out how to transfer movies.  You guys rock beyond comprehension.

Oh, and Ash?  You’re doing great, mom.  Note, for some stupid reason, WordPress has changed (again) and I can’t seem to do large-picture links, so clicking on these pix will not make them bigger.  Sorry.

Here’s some obligatory cuteness.

Mom being overly awake

Landen and AUNT Tracy

And now the interesting sleeping positions he has tried out.

So the winner of the contest, in his first ever entry on my blog, is Doug with this quote:

“The hand is quicker than the eye…” – How I poked myself, by Landen.

Something should eventually make its way to you in the mail.  If you haven’t gotten it by, say, a month from now, give me a shout.  Things are pretty chaotic over here. Or, you know, wait until May when you visit.

Keep it right here for more pointless contests and adorable photos (photos and videos to hopefully follow tomorrow.)

I think a very bad idea for a website would be:

www.hotorinjured.com

Just sayin’.

I’ll try to post about Tracy’s visit this weekend…

Maybe a week ago, Ashley was laughing at how much of me she sees in Landen, especially in his facial expressions and his stretching.  There really is no denying it – the kid’s got alot of my characteristics so far.  So I asked her, “Do you see any of you in him?”  And she kinda sadly replied “No.”

Then late last night, as Ashley slept, I heard something that helped put a puzzle completely together.  She HONKED.  It cheered up her whole day when I told her about it.

And now, for a picture that proves that Reno has a sense of humor.

We had our 1month pediatrics appointment (at 6 weeks) yesterday.  He seems to be in great shape (although we’re still trying to figure out why he’s so fussy for long periods of time at night – it’s a little too erratic and lengthy to just be colic.)  But he’s otherwise quite healthy.  We found out his percentiles for various things, and the results should not surprise anyone.

For overall body weight, he is in the 40-45th percentile.  That’s up from 35% where he used to be.  That’s a good sign.  He’s just crested 10 lbs.

For head size, he’s in the 75th percentile.  So even though he’s below average in weight, his head is still quite significantly above average.  That means the rest of his body is TINY.

Here’s some more adorable.  Who knew my camera phone could take such good pictures?

I’m gonna start off with some cute.

Here is a funny caption

It’s been a rough week.  In addition to Landen’s various ailments (bronchiolitis, acid reflux, a rash which could be just baby acne, incurable preciousness), it seems like Ash and I are gettin’ hit with things too.  She’s got weird pains and swelling in her fingers, as well as continued worsening carpal tunnel in one wrist.  Add to that that she’s putting in a few hours at my company to help us out, and trying to take two classes that truly enjoy assigning homework.  As she says “It’s no wonder people with young babies don’t want to do any housework.”

We interrupt this tirade for more cute.

Our son has yet to learn how to use his sleeper properly

Another funny caption

Work has been thoroughly kicking my patoot.  I cannot remember at any time in my entire life that I’ve worked this hard for two straight weeks, with the possible exception of when I put in 72 hours in 6 days at the theatre in Montclair.  I am heading two departments, both of which are in overdrive right now, and one of them now has a project going where I am trying to input an addition 25 cases a day.  It’s madness.  To top it off, I have been ardently staving off whatever Landen has for about four days now.  I think it’s actually gone away (mostly) which is a huge relief.

At least one of you just awwwwwed

Ash and I are doing okay – when you’re going through this, it seems like you’re the only person/couple that this has ever happened to, but having some perspective helps.  Knowing that my parents had three kids (ages 4-7) and THEN had twins?  At that point I would have gouged out my eyes with hairpins… and uh, then done something that would have made it so I didn’t have to look after five kids.

Landen is caught with his hand in the cookie jar, so to speak

I think it’s the sleep deprevation talking.  He was up until 4 (I was with him until 3) and then woke up around 6 for more mayhem.  It’s no wonder he’s sleeping like angel now.  I think he’s on Cyrus time.  If only he were playing Warcraft 2 and wearing a wombat on his head, I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.

Ah well, rant over.  I’ll have more positive things to say when I’m better rested, and when Landen’s feeling better.

Finally, for you Star Trek fans….

KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!

Landen has got bronchiolitis.  This is not exactly uncommon in kids, but it is not good.  As Ash put it (after we heard him coughing and having a little trouble breathing) – it’s the best of the worst-case scenarios.  This was Monday.  He had no fever, was eating fine, and even sleeping okay.  But it’s gotten worse – he’s sleeping less and he’s eating less.  She went back, and he has lost weight.  The pediatricians solution?  Feed him only for 5 minutes EVERY HALF HOUR.  OF THE DAY.  That basically means that we won’t be sleeping for the next couple of days. Of course, his health is #1, but man… couldn’t there be another way that involved taking a trip to a spa?

Please post something fun to make this seem better.