Trick or Treat - week 4

Okay, so the title isn't any more creative than last week . . . but it will do.

Every day for the past four and a half weeks I have been faced with a dilemma that is common to all mothers: the baby is asleep, what do I do now? Do I shower? Sleep? Clean? Do laundry? Exercise? Eat with both hands instead of one? The hardest part of the decision is that I don't know if this nap will last 5 minutes or 2 hours. (once I have more kids, this dilemma will change since there are more things to factor in but I'll cross that bridge when we get there)

Today was one of those rare days where Caleb has taken more than one real nap, which means that I got a nap during his first one and got to shower during his shorter second nap! And now I even get a chance to type with both hands because I am sitting indian style (I guess cross-legged is probably the politically correct term for that) with him propped in my legs and the computer on the coffee table/ottoman in front of us.

This past week was full of trips to our new house to get everything move-in ready . . . Monday: fridge delivered, Tuesday repair man fixed oven and stove, Wednesday: electric company, Thursday: gas company, Friday: I can't seem to remember anything about that day except we may have eaten at Arby's on the way back from the house, Saturday: moved some boxes over and then Monday of this week had internet set up (and had stuff stolen by the installers that we are still trying to get back . . . thanks Comcast).

Saturday is the day we are moving in, which means I really should not use Caleb's nap time for sleeping or showering, I should be using it to pack!

Monday was Caleb's first Halloween and he got to dress up as a jack-o-lantern from the costume I made while over-due and waiting for him to be born. We went trick-or-treating to one friend's house to show him off and Mom ate his candy. If he were older, I'm sure he would have reacted like one of the kids on this funny video whose sneaky mom ate all of their candy.

I unknowingly prophesied which tooth Caleb would have when he wore his jack-o-lantern costume.

He's so cute I couldn't just add one picture!

A pumpkin to make it festive

Candy corn makes it even more festive!

Dad and Caleb trick-or-treating

Caleb's tooth still hasn't broken through the surface but Monday it was hurting him a lot so I called the pediatrician to ask if I could give him Tylenol. Here is how the conversation with the nurse went:

Nurse: I think you gave me the wrong birthday. When was your baby born?
Me: October 10, 2011
Nurse: That's this month.
Me: Yes
Nurse: Babies don't teeth that young. What are his symptoms?
Me: There is a white thing poking through his gum, he is crying a lot and will only stop sometimes if I rub his gum with my finger or his pacifier.
Nurse: So his only symptom is irritability? No fever?
Me: I don't think he has a fever, but his primary symptom is the tooth pushing through his gums. At his two week appointment the pediatrician confirmed that it is his tooth growing in.
Nurse (in a very snotty tone): I wish I would have seen that. Babies don't teeth that soon.
Me: Well, I wish my three week old wasn't teething. Can I give him Tylenol or not?
Nurse: I'll talk to your doctor and have someone give you a call back.

That frustrated me and I felt so bad for Caleb that we just sat on the couch and cried together. I wish there was some way to take Caleb's pain away! I suppose that is one of those refining things about motherhood, that you begin to love in a way that you would gladly take any pain just so your child wouldn't have to suffer it. (Eventually another nurse called me back and told me the dose of Tylenol I could give Caleb and that helped some.)

Caleb helping Mom cook . . . thanks for the sling Grandma

It is fun seeing Allen and Caleb together! Allen gets excited when he walks in from work and just wants to hold Caleb and play with him. Caleb recognizes his dad's voice and looks for him when he can't see him. At night, if I can't get Caleb to fall asleep after eating then Dad takes over and does such a good job getting him to sleep. He's got a magic touch . . . and a magic trick: when Caleb is fighting falling asleep and keeps trying to hold his eyes open, Allen "manually" closes his eyes. If he can get them to stay closed for about 30 seconds, Caleb will be out.

Dad and Caleb watching some football or an RSL game, I can't remember which one... either way, it was some manly bonding time, I'm sure. 

Dad helping Caleb get the poops out

Caleb has started cooing more and making fun noises. He also laughs in response to noises we make.

Caleb playing with Mom

Mom cutting and filing Caleb's nails since he gave himself his first real cut this week on his face. It drew blood and everything.

His umbilical cord also fell off last week so he got to soak in a warm bath. At first he is unsure about what is going on and cries for a few seconds until he realizes that the bath feels good, then he just relaxes and wiggles his legs around in it.

The other bath picture I have of him is cuter but not internet appropriate

Outgrowing the newborn clothes, lengthwise but not in width yet

Well, I only had one diaper change and one feeding interruption and I think it's longer than anyone will want to read . . . plus, I just got peed on so time to go change both of our pants and his diaper again. So . . . th-th-th-th-th-that's all folks!