The rainbow connection

So there I am, 4:30am, lil man is starting to chirp. It's been close to 4 hrs since last feed, G asleep beside me, time to kick into gear. Dash to the kitchen, prepare a bottle, back to pick up Caden before he starts to wail. Little man doesn't pass the sniff test, so we're off to the changing area. Plop him down, hit the rain forest peek-a-boo cribside soother. Dismantle blanket wrap and clothing. Remove diaper, one hand on the feet, the other wiping at will. Now the parent of any boy will understand the anxiety of this dance. Sure, one can buy a squirt lid, but let's be honest...a burping blanket will do just fine. Yet in my early morning haste, I simply dismantled and cleaned lil man.



Due to the recent procedure, I need to apply a spot of petroleum jelly to the front side of diaper, prior to lock down. Within the changing crib, I have diaper, no jelly, no squirt lid. Navigate the 12 feet to the burping blanket stash and turn back to the crib to cover up. I check for signs of release...body and crib appear dry. Squirting disaster avoided, I take time to properly apply jelly and begin diaper installation. Just as I'm checking my diaper install for potential leakage, it dawns on me. Why are my socks wet. A proud papa, standing in a pool o' piddle.

Adjusting to the overnight groove

I confess, I really had no idea what the night would bring with a newborn. Being an optimist, I refused to allow the countless "Congratulations, you won't have a good night's sleep for the next decade" bring me down. I figured I would react accordingly when the challenge presented itself.

Reminds me of the first time I went to Scotland. Gayle being the detailed planner and frugal Scot, she reserved a car several months in advance. By choosing manual v. auto transmission, we must have saved upwards of $12 on the eleven day trip. No sooner had she made the reservation, she launched her campaign of fear. "Mike, you won't believe how hard it is to drive over there. The roads are all single lane, people drive fast, it's confusing beyond your wildest dreams...and the entire time you're faced with the fear of forgetting which side of the road to drive on. Oh and I saved money if we drive a stick, so I hope you can handle shifting backwards."

The bond-like smooth exterior responded with "pffft, please." My inner self spent the next two months too fearful to ask if by shifting backwards she meant that the pedals were reversed as well. All I can remember is walking to our rental thinking...c'mon skinny pedal on the right, please let the gas be on the right.

I'm happy to report the clutch is universally left foot, and having a newborn is entirely too enjoyable to be considered challenging. Sure there're adjustments, but hell the guy is a hoot. 20 minutes tops and he's back to the crib or snugglin in with one of us.