Danny Makes It Feel Better

As always, the very best stuff was happening about a minute before I got the camera out, but Matty was fussing in his car seat before we took our walk, and I emerge from the bedroom to find this ...

Mr. Two Months Part Two

The other pics were a bit blurry, so here are a few better ones...

The Butler Boys

Mr. Two Months

12 1/2 lbs and 24 inches, give or take a little...

Some Thoughts on Matty's Nearly-Second Month Birthday

I know some people are immediately head-over-heels in love with their babies from the jump. Maybe they are just incredibly nurturing people who have a powerful draw to someone so incredibly needy and dependent. I can't quite say I'm like that. Of course, I'd have lain down in the street for either one of my kids the second we were two instead of one, I worried sick about their eating enough and stupid pustules on their nether regions, and desperately worked for and waited for their first smiles. But with both of them, the first 6-7 weeks were emotionally tough. I've said this before, but the two states of newborn baby are upset and neutral. And then, like with Matty, you throw in some lovely gas and a wonderful dash of colic. And since you really don't know the baby and vice versa - at all - he can't TRUST that you're going to make it better, he just knows it's not better yet, and commences wailing the second anything hurts/he's tired/needs a burp/needs a diaper change/is hungry/is bored/is lonely/needs a kiss/etc. It can be a very tough go.

This I somehow forgot, especially having a fully-formed child in our house who can communicate clearly, who can interact, who laughs at my jokes (sometimes) and who says ridiculous things like the other night, instead of the usual "One more book, then bed," he tries "One more book, then chocolate." Chocolate??? And he says it as if to slip it by me, like I might not notice and say, "Oh, sure thing, how many squares?" Or when we were out working in the garden and he came up behind me, smacked one hand on each of my buttocks and yelled with glee "Mommy has a big bottom! Mommy has a big bottom!!" At which point I'm laughing hysterically/mortified at the PEOPLE WALKING BY HEARING MY CHILD EXCLAIM ABOUT THE SIZE OF MY POSTERIOR.

But I digress. Having Danny be so big helped me forget that having a newborn is seriously like having a very cranky and demanding Uncle Leopold from Warsaw sleeping in your bedroom, and this uncle needs you to take care of their bodily functions and has a tricky prostate so he's up every 3 hours. And he doesn't speak English. And you've never met him before. Of course, this uncle would be insanely cute, and smell delicious. But my point is, it ain't easy at first.

Every morning I honestly wake up and am excited to see Danny, to say good morning and connect with his goofy butt. But this morning, for the first time, I was aware of being viscerally excited to see both Danny and Matty equally, to connect with each of them. It's hard not to jump to conclusions about their individual personalities - (and I come from a family that is aces at the compare/contrast game, so fortunately, David is aces at live and let live, so it balances things out) - but I do find myself beginning to realize that with each leaf of Matty's gentle, warm personality opening slowly but surely, I get an equal but different thrill from each of them and who they are as human beings. And today, I know that even while the first child makes your heart feel so full it might burst, suddenly, one day, you are in love with the second just as much as the first. The heart makes room, and today, for me, we are truly a family of four.

Hey, Wait a Minute!

Hi There!

Matty

Playing

So we're getting a schedule down, which I'm convinced is the answer to sane parenting. There's a lot of baby napping happening, which helps a lot, and Danny and I have a good 2 hours in the morning to work in the garden and do some laundry, etc. But we have three "high-intensity" times during the day, where for at least 45 minutes we have crossover of super-awake Matty and super-awake Danny, both wanting a piece of Mommy.

But every day, as Matty gets more and more aware, we're getting closer to the glorious day when they can actually play together, and I can sip coffee and eat bonbons.

See here Danny is showing Matty how to play choo choo trains (on his belly, of course)






And Matty loved it.





Now, yes, Danny has no shirt, and his pants are about to fall off. But in my defense, he is wearing a clean diaper. It's the small victories, these days...

Then Danny insisted I take a picture of his car. So here it is.

Some Other Dudes Think This Stroller is A-OK Too...

And of course, Simon is the baby.

Reunited and It Feels So Good...

Buddies

I was very happy and Danny was even happier to commence our Thursday playdates again after a long hiatus. We had everybody over here, and considering it was 6 boys tromping through the house, and only a pacifier went missing (Thomas was missing overnight, which was an actual tragedy-in-waiting; I told Danny Thomas might be out "getting a wash and a new paint job" in case we had to pick up another one at the store), it was a rousing success. Matty was passed around from Mom to Mom, and only spit up on Melissa, fortunately.

The moms are bringing us dinners to get through this stretch of David's schedule, and Suzy (Simon's mom) brought a flat of cupcakes for us. And the boys got into them, as you can see.



And there's Cooper, can't forget Cooper.

As Martha Said, Singlehandedly Stopping the Water Shortage

So we're almost through the first week alone with David working long days. (He has to work tomorrow, they told him yesterday, which was, well, BAD NEWS, let's put it that way.)

But we're slowly finding a rhythm, and Danny's really being so good with Matty, it's pretty phenomenal. Today I had to put Matty down in Danny's crib since Matty's crib was all messed up, and he joined me in tiptoeing out of the room going "Shhhhhh!" I'm also beginning to float this idea that they'll be sharing a room in August probably, so hopefully he'll get used to it a little bit before then.

But it's amazing what you can do on your own when you have to. See below:





Obviously, David was around to take these pictures (now THAT would be amazing!), but how else do you give two baths at once?

Documentary Updates: The Life is Amazing Edition

So I thought I'd reached my geek-out point when Bob Dylan's manager saved our Levon Helm documentary and I got to send him chocolates.

But now, the the film is with both the Beastie Boys' distribution company and now Dave Matthews' distribution company to see if either is interested. One by one, the rock giants of my youth/young adulthood are watching our movie.

And today's solid addition to the "no way" theme: our Baltimore doc is with Albert and Ron of Bona Fide, who loved the film and are considering coming on as Executive Producers, possibly with Carmelo Anthony of all people (who would put up the money). Turns out "Melo," as David calls him, grew up in West Baltimore and now wants into the movie business. Well, sir, throw us a little bit of cash, and we can make that happen, yes we can.

David of course wants to know if this means courtside seats whenever the Nuggets play the Lakers.

It's a long shot, but wouldn't that be rad???

Also...

I'm so utterly beyond thrilled to report that I'm eating normally again, except caffeine and citrus. Matty seems to be fine these days, outside of just some good old fashioned gas. No food allergies.

Thank you Jesus!

Danny and Villa

Whenever Villa comes to work in the yard, Danny couldn't be happier. They literally spend hours out there, picking up sticks and leaves and putting them in the bin. It's pretty awesome.

Good Old Pea Pod Pea

Double Stroller = Best Money Ever Spent

Took a nice long 75 minute walk along the beach today, with both dudes! New stroller is a hit! Insanely huge, but a hit!

Off to the Beach!

Bruddas

Bathtime with Matty

Edited for modesty, of course...

Best Mother's Day Gift Ever...

Matty smiled!

Danny's ACTUAL Birthday - Belated

Never got to postin' the pictures from Danny's actual birthday on the 24th, so here they are.

Uncle John came over, bearing an Edible Arrangement and balloons...




We played a bit of soccer...





Then some t-ball...


Then Mom chased Danny around the yard...








Matty was the life of the party, for sure...



A little dinner alfresco...



Then...CAKE!!!