I Survived!

First, let me apologize... I know it's been awhile since the last post, but there's a good reason for it. You see, I took a few weeks off work to stay home with Maia while Mom went back to work. And, as you can imagine, the combination of colicky baby + no tag team made for one tired me at the end of every day. Thus, no time for updates, only time for cramming food in my mouth and zombie-ing out in front of the TV once reinforcements got home.

As with Aidan, in the beginning it was basically an all-day cry-fest; this time, however, we had the help of the magic baby sling. I think this think is made out of pure morphine; as soon as we put Maia in it she calms down and blisses for a few hours. Which is cool, except it's a little hard on my back. Also, she only does that if you keep moving....but have no fear, I managed to fight through the pain and sway constantly while playing Super Smash Brothers as she slept. At least she takes bottles like a champ, although she does really resent having to stop while I burp her. As you'd expect from a child of mine, she'd much rather just puke half of it back up on me later.

So the days with just her were rough, but I managed to learn some new skills. I can now make a PB & J while holding a baby, as well as many other foods such as cocoa (from scratch, none of that powdered crap thank you very much), pizza, and mac and cheese. I can also put away the dishes, take a whiz, and put my shoes on, all with one or no hands. But the creme de la creme as far as dad tricks go is managing this past Friday. See, Aidan is always home on Fridays, so I had BOTH kids....plus, our TV was being fixed, so I didn't even have that to distract him. I think I get an award or something for this, check it out: I took a 2 month old and a 2.5 yr-old to the grocery store, put the groceries away, fed them both, put Aidan down for a nap while holding Maia, carried BOTH of them down the stairs, and even took them BACK out to the drug store later....all without breaking anything, setting anything on fire, or selling either child to gypsies.

But enough about me... let me tell you about the kids. Maia is now definitely smiling at us, and I think she's ticklish. Either that or I look like Funzo the half-retarded clown when I tickle her, and it amuses her. She's also started cooing a little, which I forgot babies do, and grabbing at stuff. Before you know it, she'll be firing My Little Pony toys at her brother's head. She's also finally used to me and no longer starts screaming the minute I touch her skin, which is kinda comforting, since now I can take her places in public without fear of someone notifying the authorities that I've clearly stolen this child.

For his part, Aidan continues practicing his mastery of the English language. The other day, he opened the fridge while I was in the other room, and proclaimed "Daddy! I opened a beer." Super. I can't wait to explain that one to his grandparents..... 'Dad, need a beer? Aidan will get it. And he makes a mean Martini, too.' He's also growing fond of telling us that he's allowed to do things. Literally. As in, he'll climb somewhere precarious, and I'll give him the hey-kid-you're-gonna-get-in-trouble "Aidan....." dad voice, and he'll just look at me and say "I'm allowed to, daddy." Smart kids kinda suck sometimes, seriously. Because I honestly forget he's not even 3 yet, and it's impossible to rationalize or ascertain motives of a two year old's actions.

And, as usual, I almost managed to screw the kid up again. Who here is surprised? Yeah, that's what I thought. Anyway, we have a rabbit who's taken up residence in our backyard, so I told Aidan we should name it. And here, kind reader, is that conversation verbatim:

Dad: "Aidan, what should we name our rabbit?"
Aidan: "Ummmm...."
Dad: "How about George?" (I was thinking about the old Bugs Bunny cartoons, where the big fuzzy monster names Bugs George and hugs him and loves him etc, etc....yeah, I realize I'm not exactly normal in my associations.)
Aidan: "No, daddy....Ummmmm..."
Dad: "How about Petey?" (Thinking of Peter Rabbit)
Aidan: "YEAH!!! Mommy, look, Pee-pee Rabbit!"
Mom: (shoots me the Look)
Aidan: "Mom! Pee-pee Rabbit! He live here!"
Dad: "Let's call him George."
Aidan: "Pee-pee."

In the end, though, I managed to get him calling the stupid rabbit George. Years from now, he'll remember his rabbit, and wonder why he called it George. And I'll be senile and forget, and tell him he named it that.... which is what I'm convinced MY parents did, because as a kid I had two turtles named Homer and Jethro, and they SWEAR I named them. I was like 3, so I seriously doubt it, but they're not talkin'.

Ah, another family tradition....