Miles will be welcoming 3 (yes 3!) new cousins into our extended family in the very near future. My sister, Sarah and her husband, Jeremy, have been matched with a sibling group from Ethiopia.
Hirut is the oldest child and she is 8 and a half, followed by Helen, 5 and a half, and then Binyam 2 and a half. Two big sisters and a little boy...why does that seem familiar to me...?
We could not be more excited for our growing extended family! If you would like to check in on the process from now until they travel to Ethiopia to bring their kids home check out their blog.
Miles was so excited he wanted me to share the good news.
On Sunday morning, Katy was sitting on the couch, holding Miles in a standing position in her lap when she said, "who's my handsome man in his nightgown?"
Since I was in pajama pants and a t-shirt, it became painfully obvious she was referring to Miles.
Good to know my wife can find bald, diaper-wearing, toothless men in nightgowns handsome for my senior years....
I recently got back from my first business trip since Miles was born. Before I left, I dreaded it for weeks.
Most days I miss him by noon, which made me wonder how the hell I was going to make it four days without seeing the world’s best toothless smile in person. Not to mention, knowing my departure was going to create even more responsibility for Katy certainly didn’t help ease my anxiety about the situation.
My imaginary fears envisioned coming home to a wife in a three day old, coffee stained t-shirt, with the hair she hadn’t pulled out pointing in all directions, cursing me over a screaming baby wearing nothing but a dirty diaper….
But, since business travel is an occasional fact of life, I knew this would come, and like it or not, it was time for me to get this “first” over with.
The trip kept me quite busy, so I had little time to fret and think about what I was missing at home.
I was in Dallas, and during my last evening there, our entertainment was provided by a cowboy who was a ropin’ and bullwhippin’ expert. As a part of the fun, he pulled a young boy from the crowd and mock hogtied him. Hey, when in Rome…
The thrill of experiencing something so exciting and foreign was painted all over the kid’s face. And, for the first time I got the sense of how seeing that must have made his father feel.
As I choked up over a mock, modern day cowboy tying up some kid, I decided I’d had enough whiskey for one evening. When I got home the next day, I shared a long hug with Miles.
Oh, and Katy was well groomed and in good spirits...
A couple weekends ago, a friend threw us a sip-n-see party to show off Miles that got insanely wild. It didn’t even really get rolling until 12*. And, while parties like this usually wrap up around 3*, we kept partying until well past 5*.
(*All references to time are in the p.m.)
It really was a great party that mostly consisted of friends I’ve practically known since I was Miles’ age. Amazingly, that’s just a mild exaggeration.
With such history, to state we haven’t been strangers in getting together in a celebratory capacity through the years would be a mild understatement. But this was truly a first.
All of a sudden a baby in a baby carrier became the new twelve-pack as practically everyone was carrying one into the party. Brunch with fresh fruit and stinky cheese replaced the late night frozen pizza. People were sprawled all over the floor…playing with babies.
At one point in time, I entered the living room and reality hit me with the sight of Miles as only one of four babies poking, or laughing at, one another in the room. My first thought was whoa, whatever happened to, never mind, I was told there was need of a diaper change…speaking of change…
Big thanks to Casie who threw a killer baby bash. And, to all the friends, loved and wee ones who joined.
While Katy attended a couple events for work last night, I was excited for some man time with Miles. I guess I was the only one...
After Miles and I got home from daycare, I started to feed him. Although he initially took the bottle, about a minute or so into it he all of a sudden burst into tears, looked at me and wailed something that sounded exactly like, "Ma! Ma!"
The initial shock of hearing my son speak, what were perhaps his first words, quickly eroded into slightly hurt feelings. Come on man; I know I'm a poor man's Ma! Ma!, but the bottle's full of breast milk and you know I can put on a hell of a puppet show...(or is the kid giving me courtesy giggles...hmm...)
"Miles," I said, and continued, "mama's not here, you're just hangin' with your papa..."
At that point, with a beet-red head, he turned away from me and shouted, "Ma! Ma!"
I was upstairs with Miles on Sunday morning when a shrill scream came from the main level.
“Ahh! Eww…. Oh yuck…. Honey!!,” Katy shouted.
From past experience, I assumed there was some really gross bug scurrying across the kitchen floor. Deep down I relish opportunities like this, as they allow me to put on my big boy pants.
Feeling manly as I grabbed Miles to head downstairs and save the day, she continued, “Kyra is chasing a mouse! There is a big, ugly mouse in our house!”
A mouse! The mere thought sent shivers down my spine. I’m happy to swoop in and handle a bug of any size, but a mouse has fur, and a tail, and eyes… My big boy pants turned into a skirt as the horror of sequestering this rodent over took me. (On a side note, all fingers are crossed that this not the start of a terrible new trend.)
As I quivered in the corner trying desperately to find some semblance of manliness, Katy went on to say, “well, Kyra is hunting it down, maybe she’ll handle the situation for us…”
‘Oh yea,’ I thought to myself, ‘the cat that sleeps in hiding 25 hours* a day is going to do something noble…’ As I tried to grow a pair and finally entered the living room, where the mouse was last seen, I was shocked to see Kyra standing triumphantly by her “taken care of” hunt.
Kyra: 1; Mice: 0; Troy: -50,000,000
After I mustered up a clean-up effort, well-deserved congratulations were showered upon our new hero, Kyra.
After she patrolled the main floor one last time, she gave me a look that read, “Now that’s how you take care of business. I’ll be upstairs napping if you need me, Sally.”
Yesterday marked D-Day for Katy: The first day of daycare for Miles.
After looking long and hard for a good daycare provider at an affordable price, we finally found a center we’re currently enamored with merely six blocks from our house. Score.
Not only is it close, the center focuses on arts (hence the name Artisticrats), which is very cool.
My mind was at ease upon entering the place during our initial visit, as it’s practically a warm fuzzy factory.
But, as it goes for moms, as I’m beginning to discover, it wouldn’t matter if this place had a Mary Poppins per pupil. Katy, like every mom I've been talking to, dreaded this day for weeks.
I’m happy to report both Miles and mom made it through their first day apart. And, Katy only checked in on him once during the day….
It’s Sunday morning and I’m up with Miles. He was fussy earlier, but only because he’s teething.
Yea, lucky for him (and us) he’s teething considerably early as he just turned three months old yesterday. Great… But after a feeding and some Tylenol he was pretty content so I put him down.
As Miles was catching some Z’s in his swing I was reading the paper (Ahh... a nice, quiet Sunday morning).
Eventually he gurgled, which caused me to interrupt the article I was immersed in. As I stared at him - and his ever growing body – while he stretched and cooed (super cute…), I had one of those moments of shock, Katy and I are pretty sure every first time parent has: Holy sh*t; that’s my kid; I’m a responsible parent; he’s going to be with us for a long time; he’s going to grow up, have opinions, ideas, thoughts, growing pains….
If only there was a Tylenol for all the growing pains - for him and us - to come….
The Saturday before Christmas, a snowstorm knocked out our plans to attend an out-of-town family party. While Miles’ introduction to more extended family unfortunately had to wait, it gave us a day together to share in some good old, classic American family, holiday fun.
Bundled up, we ventured downtown to Macy’s to introduce Miles to Santa. Because at 10 weeks old Katy and I knew he couldn’t wait to get placed into the lap of a big, wild white haired, funny red suit wearing stranger…
But, as Katy and I remembered how days like this turn Nicollet Mall into a life-sized holiday snow globe, I couldn’t help but feel Clark W. Griswold-like excited for some family fun.
The day didn’t disappoint, and I’m happy to report there were no Clark Griswold-like meltdowns from me, and more importantly, Miles.
With a special nod to Miles for helping to make the season more bright, it’s great to be a parent during the holidays.
Miles and Troy in line to see Santa (note Miles' excitement)
Miles first Christmas with Santa (note Miles' excitement)
Miles and Katy, lunchtime at Brit's (note Miles' excitement...)
Miles and Katy, Nicollet Mall turned winter wonderland
It was a little after five on Wednesday when Katy called me at work on my cell.
“Hey hon, just wanted to check in to see when you think you’ll be home,” she asked innocently.
“Umm, I don’t know, it’s late work night tonight,” I state in a manner implying she obviously must of forgot, because it was obviously the late work night we talked about weeks ago.
“No; you said your late work night was the 12th.”
“Yea.”
“Today’s the 10th. I had your late work night listed, as we discussed, on the 12th in the calendar. Are you still not checking the calendar!?”
Busted. And then, as if on-cue, I hear Miles start to cry in the background.
I go on to plead imbecile as my obvious failures at simple communication come to light.
She continues, “remember, I had plans…needed you to be home…that’s why I update the calendar….”
I needed to work late; at that point in time there was nothing I could do. The crying in the background just kept getting louder.
Note to self: Keep up with the changing times. Check the damn calendar.
This evening I posted an overdue update to the "About us" section.
Our family has changed from our original description: Katy, Troy, Chloe, Kyra and Baby Monster
Troy: Husband, Twins fan, music lover and avid griller who typically smells nice. Katy: event planning genius, loving wife and excited soon-to-be Mom. Formerly a foodie before getting pregnant, she's now currently just a production vessel for Baby Monster. Chloe: Faithful dog, who is unsuspecting of the future and sudden demise from the high life as "only child." Kyra: cat that's around from time to time. Baby Monster: Ever growing, disruptive force who specializes in making Katy nauseous and sick.
Miles recently* had his four-week check-up. (*and by "recently," the neglectful poster means two weeks ago...)
We're happy to report Miles got an all systems go grade from the doc.
And, during his impressive four weeks of life review, we also learned he grew by a couple in both height and weight;* measuring in at 23.5-inches and 10.5-lbs.
*If Shaquille O'Neal grew at the same rate he'd go from 7'1" / 325 lbs. to 7'6" / 406 lbs. But then again, this comparison is odd and irrelevant.
Some Mogwai-esque gurgling noises – which we’ve become very fond of – woke Katy and me up at 4 a.m. this morning. By the time I was able to wipe the sleep from my eyes, Katy and Miles had already assumed their feeding position. This was no different from what has become the norm. But, the realization of this norm is what struck me.
After all, it’s only been a month since what was once a great mystery burst on to the scene as the newest, and certainly most popular, member of the family.
Most of the time it’s still hard for me to believe we’re actually parents. But walking into the TV room to find my wife with things that look like suction cups attached to her you-know-whats to draw and store Lil Man’s food certainly helps to drive the point home. Nobody but a mom would spend a Friday night this way. Nobody but a dad would make up nonsensical songs to the beat of this machine as it rhythmically pumps away. Nobody but a newborn would stare in awe to such out of tune, idiotic foolishness.
Becoming a parent is an amazing experience. But believe the hype, as it changes life quite a bit. For instance, it took 30-plus years for me to utter a phrase like, “whoa, does someone have a big doo-doo poo-poo pants?” Within the last four weeks, I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve said or heard such things from grown adults.
Never before have we been surrounded by so much love and joy from our friends and family… and occasional stranger at the grocery store.
The best part is that Miles is happy and healthy; and normally a splendor to be with. When he’s not eating or sleeping, he’s spent the good part of his first month meeting friends and family, and bonding with his mom and dad.
It appears his goal for next month is to master the art of lifting his head, as he’s already made great strides in this regard. Already, it makes us think: wow, how quickly he’s grown….
It's truly a historic time. A healthy and happy new son has given our family a new direction. And, we believe the election of Obama to President will bring a new, happy and healthy direction to our country.
We couldn't be more thrilled to be a part of such historic events.
Katy: Loving wife; happy, first-time mom; foodie; always concerned about the well-being of others -
Troy: Husband and first time dad who means well -
Miles: Formerly known as “Baby Monster,” this former trouble-maker in the womb eventually entered the outside world as bubbly, bouncing baby boy -
Chloe: Faithful dog who’s dealing with the sudden demise as “only child” -
Kyra: Cat who’s around from time-to-time
