Overall it was a nice relaxing trip to Michigan. Which does not make for good blogging material. So I’m going to have to take the tiniest snafus and inflate them into an epic drama.
Ready? Here goes.
When I picked up Elliot on Wednesday afternoon he hadn’t pooped since the morning. That night we didn’t think much of it. But when on Thursday morning he still hadn't pooped, we were a little surprised, and by Thursday night there was an ongoing discussion about what to do.
We were considering manual disimpaction, or at least Hannah was encouraging me to consider it. (I've done it once before on Elliot, with the tip of my pinkie, and it was so successful that I’m permanently traumatized). I demurred, which I do like this: “Hmm, yeah, okay. Hmm.” Right hand on chin, left hand right elbow.
When we woke up Friday and he still hadn’t pooped, my demurrals were becoming less well-received. There was a certain “what the hell are we going to do?” feel in the air. Was he impacted? Was his diet all fakakta?
Oh, I forgot to mention we were starting a four-hour drive to Chicago Friday morning.
All five of us handled it with aplomb. Including the constipated gentleman himself. Kate boiled a few prunes, and we invented a new commercial product: Prune Water! It’s what’s left over after the gooey fibrous part of the prunes are mushed up and separated. How has no one thought of this before? You charge $2.99 and it makes your baby poop!
During the drive to Chicago, Hannah led us on a brainstorming session and took the idea one step further, elaborating an entire spectrum of baby waters, with different mixtures of vitamins and nutrients depending on where your baby’s head (and intestine) is at. We collectively came up with a brand name for this product: Ga-Gaia (because water comes from the earth, and it would all be organic you see).
Don’t anyone try to steal this idea, I hereby copyright it on this blog.
The sad part about this blog post--- well, there are many. First, if writing about baby poop is pathetic, how much more pathetic is it to write about not poop?
Second, I can’t even remember the exciting ending of the story. (spoiler alert: he poops) It was sometime while we were in Chicago, roughly 6-8 hours after feeding him the prune water. But the details escape me. If you really care, email one of the other participants in the drama.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Three Generations, One Booth Seat
This epic photo shoot took place at a hot dog restaurant in Ann Arbor (formerly known as Red Hot Lovers).
Michigan!
Sorry for the dearth of new material this week. I was sick (again!) for a day or so, and then, well, there's just a whole lot of ---- Hey, I don't have to justify myself to you!
Anyway, lots of great photos from our Michigan trip last week. All of which will be dropping into this space today and tomorrow. Stay tuned....
Anyway, lots of great photos from our Michigan trip last week. All of which will be dropping into this space today and tomorrow. Stay tuned....
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
A visit from friends
Emily and Jesse may have overtaken my brother Ian for the title of wacky relative...
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Ann Arbor here we come
Off for a brief visit to Michigan so Elliot can reconnect with his grandparents. They miss him so, at least that's what they tell us.
I'm looking forward to the Chicago portion of the trip --- I think Friday we're planning on driving into the city, to see the house where Hannah was born (literally!) and raised (partially).
So not so many blog posts for the next few days. Find a good book to read.
I'm looking forward to the Chicago portion of the trip --- I think Friday we're planning on driving into the city, to see the house where Hannah was born (literally!) and raised (partially).
So not so many blog posts for the next few days. Find a good book to read.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Co-Gods
Elliot has already helped me think through a bunch of the larger questions about life, the universe, and everything. But here's one that surprised me: He explained God.
More specifically, I think I understand now why people invented God.
I realize that many of the people who read this blog aren't aware that I am an atheist, and this might not be the best way to introduce that fact. But c'est la vie. Stick with me for a few paragraphs.
Being a baby must be terrifying. There are so many things Elliot can't control. He can't move himself around, can't put food in his mouth, can't put clothing on when he gets cold.
We, on the other hand (Hannah and I), have total control. Every time Elliot needs something we give it to him. He's poopy, we change him. He's hungry, we feed him. Maybe not right away. But that just emphasizes the extent of our power.
Elliot may not like the fact that we control his life, but he doesn't question it. He has no uncertainty about our omnipotence. And there's something comforting for him about that certainty. Life may be good or life may be bad, but it is that way for a reason. Maybe Elliot's unhappy because he has a poopy diaper, but at least the God he cries out to for salvation to has a face and a name and is sitting right in front of him.
Between birth and age three or four we see our parents has having total omnipotence. And those are pretty important formative years in a young person's life.
Does it make sense that such fundamental ideas about the universe --- there is someone in control, someone who can be appealed to --- could be totally abandoned when we reach adulthood? Everything else we learn during those first few years stays with us. We never abandon our motor skills, or our language skills, or our social skills. Why would we abandon the idea that someone is in control?
As we grow older, we understand that our parents are not omnipotent. Which leaves a gaping hole in our sense of certainty about the universe. And we fill that hole with God.
I'm not the first person to think of this. Freud wrote (I'm paraphrasing) that "Religion derives its strength from the fact that it goes along with our instinctual desires." And I think Jung had something to say on the subject too.
But even if it's derivative, even if someone's written an entire book about it, I had to write these thoughts out myself to make them my own. Much like a child, who reaches up to touch the stove even when Mommy says no.
Thanks for indulging me.
More specifically, I think I understand now why people invented God.
I realize that many of the people who read this blog aren't aware that I am an atheist, and this might not be the best way to introduce that fact. But c'est la vie. Stick with me for a few paragraphs.
Being a baby must be terrifying. There are so many things Elliot can't control. He can't move himself around, can't put food in his mouth, can't put clothing on when he gets cold.
We, on the other hand (Hannah and I), have total control. Every time Elliot needs something we give it to him. He's poopy, we change him. He's hungry, we feed him. Maybe not right away. But that just emphasizes the extent of our power.
Elliot may not like the fact that we control his life, but he doesn't question it. He has no uncertainty about our omnipotence. And there's something comforting for him about that certainty. Life may be good or life may be bad, but it is that way for a reason. Maybe Elliot's unhappy because he has a poopy diaper, but at least the God he cries out to for salvation to has a face and a name and is sitting right in front of him.
Between birth and age three or four we see our parents has having total omnipotence. And those are pretty important formative years in a young person's life.
Does it make sense that such fundamental ideas about the universe --- there is someone in control, someone who can be appealed to --- could be totally abandoned when we reach adulthood? Everything else we learn during those first few years stays with us. We never abandon our motor skills, or our language skills, or our social skills. Why would we abandon the idea that someone is in control?
As we grow older, we understand that our parents are not omnipotent. Which leaves a gaping hole in our sense of certainty about the universe. And we fill that hole with God.
I'm not the first person to think of this. Freud wrote (I'm paraphrasing) that "Religion derives its strength from the fact that it goes along with our instinctual desires." And I think Jung had something to say on the subject too.
But even if it's derivative, even if someone's written an entire book about it, I had to write these thoughts out myself to make them my own. Much like a child, who reaches up to touch the stove even when Mommy says no.
Thanks for indulging me.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Teeth
Well, his little tooth just keeps growing. It hasn't been joined by any others yet, but to hear him cry about it you'd think all 20 were poking through at the same second.
(That's right, babies have 20 primary teeth (also called milk teeth or deciduous teeth). The internet has taught me that Elliot will eventually grow 8 incisors, 4 canines, and 8 molars. You might think that it would be the molars that babies don't get, but it's actually PRE-molars they lack.)
He's been a good sport about it overall. No more fevers, although he seems more sweaty than he used to. It's getting summery, so that could be another reason for his discomfort. Basically, there's a constant low-grade whine in the apartment most of the time these days, unless we give in and squirt him with Tylenol (which we try to limit to 2-3 times daily).
(By the way, if you're really interested in teeth, here's more information than you could ever use:
The number of teeth of each type is written as a dental formula for one side of the mouth, with the upper and lower teeth shown on separate rows. The number of teeth in a mouth is twice that listed as there are two sides. In each set, the first number indicates incisors, the second, canines, the third, premolars, and the last, molars. For example, the formula 2.1.2.3 for upper teeth indicates 2 incisors, 1 canine, 2 premolars, and 3 molars on one side of the upper mouth.
The human dental formula is:
2.1.2.3
2.1.2.3
Of cats it is:
3.1.3.1
3.1.2.1
The last upper premolar and first lower molar of the cat, since it is a carnivore, are called carnassials and are used to slice meat and skin. The armadillo, being homodont, has a dental formula that is simply 7/7.
The maximum dental formula for placental mammals is:
3.1.4.3
3.1.4.3
Non-placental mammals such as marsupials can have more teeth than placentals. The opossum's dental formula is:
5.1.3.4
4.1.3.4
In many mammals the children have a set of teeth that fall out and are replaced by adult teeth. These are called deciduous teeth, baby teeth or milk teeth. Animals that have two sets of teeth, one followed by the other, are said to be diphyodont. Normally the formula for milk teeth is the same as for adult teeth except that the premolars are missing.
The milk tooth formula for humans is:
2.1.0.2
2.1.0.2 )
(That's right, babies have 20 primary teeth (also called milk teeth or deciduous teeth). The internet has taught me that Elliot will eventually grow 8 incisors, 4 canines, and 8 molars. You might think that it would be the molars that babies don't get, but it's actually PRE-molars they lack.)
He's been a good sport about it overall. No more fevers, although he seems more sweaty than he used to. It's getting summery, so that could be another reason for his discomfort. Basically, there's a constant low-grade whine in the apartment most of the time these days, unless we give in and squirt him with Tylenol (which we try to limit to 2-3 times daily).
(By the way, if you're really interested in teeth, here's more information than you could ever use:
The number of teeth of each type is written as a dental formula for one side of the mouth, with the upper and lower teeth shown on separate rows. The number of teeth in a mouth is twice that listed as there are two sides. In each set, the first number indicates incisors, the second, canines, the third, premolars, and the last, molars. For example, the formula 2.1.2.3 for upper teeth indicates 2 incisors, 1 canine, 2 premolars, and 3 molars on one side of the upper mouth.
The human dental formula is:
2.1.2.3
2.1.2.3
Of cats it is:
3.1.3.1
3.1.2.1
The last upper premolar and first lower molar of the cat, since it is a carnivore, are called carnassials and are used to slice meat and skin. The armadillo, being homodont, has a dental formula that is simply 7/7.
The maximum dental formula for placental mammals is:
3.1.4.3
3.1.4.3
Non-placental mammals such as marsupials can have more teeth than placentals. The opossum's dental formula is:
5.1.3.4
4.1.3.4
In many mammals the children have a set of teeth that fall out and are replaced by adult teeth. These are called deciduous teeth, baby teeth or milk teeth. Animals that have two sets of teeth, one followed by the other, are said to be diphyodont. Normally the formula for milk teeth is the same as for adult teeth except that the premolars are missing.
The milk tooth formula for humans is:
2.1.0.2
2.1.0.2 )
Monday, May 30, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Wedding in Mexico (part 5)
In which we savor our final day.
Elliot likes the pool more than the ocean.
Maybe because he gets more attention.
Went took the ferry to Isla de Mujeres (that means Womyn's Island) for dinner.
Dinner on the beach at sunset.
I heard Mexico only gets two beautiful sunsets each year. Pretty lucky we were there for both.
Then a plane ride home with some light reading.
Gotta keep the legs warm in chilly new york city.
Elliot likes the pool more than the ocean.
Maybe because he gets more attention.
Went took the ferry to Isla de Mujeres (that means Womyn's Island) for dinner.
Dinner on the beach at sunset.
I heard Mexico only gets two beautiful sunsets each year. Pretty lucky we were there for both.
Then a plane ride home with some light reading.
Gotta keep the legs warm in chilly new york city.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Fever
Elliot has a fever.
It started Thursday morning. He had been real crabby and not eating, and Hannah (who has better thermoception than me) thought he was hot, so we took his temp at it was 99.9. I told the daycare this, and four hours later we got a call that he was 100.8 and we had to come pick him up. This also meant that he had to stay out of daycare for 24 hours (I sheepishly admit that I suspected they were making it up, so they could have a day with fewer infants....)
Later thursday night it was 101, and this morning it was up to 101.9. Throughout it all he has been fine, eating normally, still peeing and pooping. He's uncomfortable from the fever, but no evidence of dehydration.
And in the burying the lede department: he has a tooth! We think this is the reason for the fever. It's a left lower tooth, just a tiny sliver of white. I'll see if I can get a photo, but given his fussiness that may be a three-man job.
It started Thursday morning. He had been real crabby and not eating, and Hannah (who has better thermoception than me) thought he was hot, so we took his temp at it was 99.9. I told the daycare this, and four hours later we got a call that he was 100.8 and we had to come pick him up. This also meant that he had to stay out of daycare for 24 hours (I sheepishly admit that I suspected they were making it up, so they could have a day with fewer infants....)
Later thursday night it was 101, and this morning it was up to 101.9. Throughout it all he has been fine, eating normally, still peeing and pooping. He's uncomfortable from the fever, but no evidence of dehydration.
And in the burying the lede department: he has a tooth! We think this is the reason for the fever. It's a left lower tooth, just a tiny sliver of white. I'll see if I can get a photo, but given his fussiness that may be a three-man job.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Wedding in Mexico (part 4)
After the ceremony we were entertained by a mariachi band.
Some would say golf shorts are not appropriate for a wedding. But Elliot has always been on the cutting edge of fashion.
We eagerly anticipated dancing beneath the stars.
Even Pat got to dance.
Elliot narrowly avoided being sacrificed to the Mayan Gods.
Oh, and Shaggy was there.
(Apparently he performed, but by that late hour we were tucking the little munchkin into bed....)
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
The Crib
Up until now, Elliot has been sleeping between us in bed. (And no, we never rolled over and crushed him. But I'll pause a moment to let those who want to get judgey catch up.)
We realize that eventually he will have to learn to sleep in his own bed, and they say that the younger he does this, the easier it goes. So we're trying to make the switch.
I was planning on writing something about this process being harder than removing my own appendix. But the stubborn facts have prevented me from exercising that rhetorical flourish.
Monday night he went into the crib at about 10pm. At first he cried a lot, but once he got used to it he stayed there until 1:30am. After a quick feeding he slept from 2am to 5am, and a little more liquid comfort got him from 5 to 6:30. That may not seem so impressive, but I was expecting a far more sleepless night.
Last night was even better. Again I put him in the crib around 10pm, and he slept straight through until 4am. The only problem was that when he woke up he thought it was time to start the day. He rolled and gabbled and kicked my shushing hands away. It was 5am before he fell back asleep for another hour. (I just stayed up and wrote.)
Lest you think me too saintly, keep in mind I'm not working this week. Plenty of nap time for me during the sunny afternoons in Prospect Park....
We realize that eventually he will have to learn to sleep in his own bed, and they say that the younger he does this, the easier it goes. So we're trying to make the switch.
I was planning on writing something about this process being harder than removing my own appendix. But the stubborn facts have prevented me from exercising that rhetorical flourish.
Monday night he went into the crib at about 10pm. At first he cried a lot, but once he got used to it he stayed there until 1:30am. After a quick feeding he slept from 2am to 5am, and a little more liquid comfort got him from 5 to 6:30. That may not seem so impressive, but I was expecting a far more sleepless night.
Last night was even better. Again I put him in the crib around 10pm, and he slept straight through until 4am. The only problem was that when he woke up he thought it was time to start the day. He rolled and gabbled and kicked my shushing hands away. It was 5am before he fell back asleep for another hour. (I just stayed up and wrote.)
Lest you think me too saintly, keep in mind I'm not working this week. Plenty of nap time for me during the sunny afternoons in Prospect Park....
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