One Down

Last week you saw photos of a baby all covered in biological gunk. A baby we were surprised to see so soon.

This week you'll see a baby not covered in biological gunk and a baby we aren't surprised to see.

This will be a long one with lots of pictures (thats what she said?)

Part I-- The Incarceration

Before we brought Avery to the nursery we brought Riley in for our first family time. Pics of this meeting are sparse because she was also having her first meal, and this just isn't that kind of website (unless you sign up for the $29 monthly membership)

Then, as per protocol, we abandoned her in the nursery to be the subject of secret government experiment and to receive her security tag capable of putting the whole hospital on lockdown if you get too close to a stairwell or door.

Riley's first act as a big brother was to fuss at the nurses through the window for hurting his little sister. He was legitimately upset, which answers a burning question we had, yes he is human or at least capable of having human emotions.

In addition to having a mass of dark hair, Avery was also a few rhinestones and some yellow polish away from being a star cashier at WalMart. Her mommy fixed that real quick like.

and then they both got some sleep, which seems to be what WalMart cashiers are doing when we are forced to go there.

with her newly shorn fingernails she confirmed that she is Riley's sister and went straight for the thumb.

The rest of the stay was pretty uneventful. All of the nursery nurses and a few of the floor nurses were really good.

Surprisingly, there were only a couple of employees whose personalities and idiocy made me want to rip their heads off (and one of them was a supervisor).

After a couple of days cooped up in that small, drab room, we were paroled and made our way home.

But while we were there, Riley had his own doctor's visit, just to be safe. Our pediatrician, who we really like, told us that in the last month she had put 5 infants in the ICU with RSV that they got from older siblings. That's more kids than she had put into ICU in her 5 years of practice. You could see in her face that it was something that bothered her.

Because Riley had been snotty for a few days, she urged us to get him tested. Fortunately, he passed, and she was visibly relieved. She is either a great actor (doubtful) or she really cares about her patients (probable) and she definitely won us over even more just by showing that she cares.

That visit then led to a week of me having to play "Dr. Hubal" [sic] and let Riley listen to my "heartbeep" and check my eyes for eyelashes.

Part II- Homecoming Week

It was everything you remember about Homecoming Week, just without the cheerleaders, jocks, marching bands, pep rallies and awkward dances.

Avery has gotten progressively more eye opening, literally.

and her hair has demonstrated the insane ability to stay in a mohawk no matter what.

i had forgotten how many silly faces they involuntarily make, especially when sleeping. I was actually momentarily concerned a couple of days ago because her eyes were doing weird Stevie Wonder type movements. Then I realized she had just opened her eyes in her sleep. But that almost makes it more creepy.

Riley has taken to her pretty well, treating her just a couple of steps better than he does Jimmy.

He has rocked her.

and let her lay in his bed.

Held her hand for comfort through he first "bath"

and had sing-alongs while playing spastic movement peek-a-boo

He has only shown a little bit of jealousy toward Avery, but that manifested in the form of mimicry.

he got into a little fight with his cousin Caroline over whose baby it was, but, generally, he's been a pretty sweet kid about everything.

Most people seem to ask me, "Is she sleeping?"

To which i can only reply, " I don't know, but I am."

Despite what Ben Stiller said, there's not much I can do to take care of the baby's most basic need. But from my semi-well rested vantage point, it seems that everything is going well.

And we are less scared this time around and have started allowing occasional tummy sleep when she's having trouble.

Joan has posting privileges, so she may come on and tell the actual horror story of her current life as a 2x mother, but things are sunny behind my rose colored glasses.

Thats pretty much it for the organized thoughts, if that what you want to call what you've just read ( I mean skimmed over while looking at pictures.) Now here's some randomness.

I figure you can't be a truly obnoxious new parent unless you post a video of your kid sleeping.

But this one is actually kinda funny (to me) because it is a 4 day old snoring.

and Riley's musical "talents" have been steadily progressing. He's got the rage of a metal drummer, and the posture of an old blues man.

Here's his percussive interpretation of Mahna Mahna

and the same song jazzed out with his Nanny on the "bandstand", while hitting himself in the eye with his saxophone (easier than you might think)

for reference sake, here's what he thinks he's playing

While it is mildly fun to be doing this again, I can't guarantee weekly posting, so be sure to sign up on the right to receive emails when new posts go up.

Arrived

Avery Christine Wallace

7 lbs 2 ozs

born 11:15 am, January 23, 2011

despite a quick descent, she is lacking the facial bruising we were warned to expect.

Very quick and much easier than Riley. Hopefully that is some sort of foreshadowing.

Poor Planning

I had such grand plans for this chilly Sunday.

With a baby on the way, I figured it would be a good idea to get the old blog muscles moving again and that catching you up on our last few months (including a great trip to Disney World and Eli & Amanda's kickass wedding) would be a great way to do that.

I was going to hit you with great pictures, maybe a little video, and possibly (very remotely) a smattering witticism. With adequate cooperation from life, I was even going to work on the layout and maybe bring this little project up to a visual standard you may go so far as to classify as "tolerable."

But if things were going as planned, why would i need to tell you what I was planning? Right?

So, what changed those plans?

Being woked-uped by the statement, "I either have a bladder problem or my water broke." (rough paraphrase)

So now we sit in the Labor & Delivery Suite, waiting for something to happen.

Unlike three years ago, the hospital now supplies WiFi, and we don't have to rely on the unintentional generosity of a less than tech savvy neighbor.

and now instead of having to talk and interact with a human to pass the time, the world in the palm of your hand can keep you company.

So, if anyone on a Droid phone is playing Word Feud, Jaydub1024 is looking for opponents. She should make plays pretty quickly for at least a few hours. No promises after that.

Stay tuned to watch the (facetiously) fascinating progress of our income tax deductions doubling.

Un Thirdo de Ano

Sooooo, it's been over 4 months since I posted. Please accept my sincerest apologies for the hole that absence must have left in your life.

The dry spell is not due to a lack of happenings, but more so to an over-abundance (real word?) of happenings.

I won't bore you with all of the details, but here's your dose of catchin' up.

Back in May( the last time it wasn't too hot to step foot outside) we spent a weekend in New Orleans for some friends' wedding. Nonnie came along and watched Riley while we did the wedding thing. T'was a weekend full of zoo, aquarium, riverboat, streetcar, ice cream, food and strolling the quarter.

it was also a weekend that set a dangerous precedent. Just a few weeks ago, Riley heard me say "New Orleans" and he said, "I ride the boat and the streetcar train."

We can't afford this kid's memory.

Around that same time, Granny got Riley the toy he had been promised since before he was born. The Step 2 Extreme Coaster.

It is a very well made, fun piece of equipment.

'bout that same time too, Uncle Eli graduated from UL.

Here he is being applauded by a married man who screws high priced prostitutes (literally) and the rest of us (figuratively)

and uncle Eli got in on the fun of the Step 2 Extreme Coaster.

Riley was having such a good time at the afterparty that he got his arm stuck and required amateur rescue from a toy that needed to be thrown in the attic anyway.

(I wonder if Ol Hypocrite Davey V ever ran into that problem, and if the clock keeps running.) (terribly inappropriate, yet appropriate at the same time)

Riley also took his first swimming lessons with Anna, gabe and other kids belonging to our assorted friends.

He still counts it as one of the most traumatic experiences in his short life, but is beginning to move past the damage.

To avoid the heat we mostly did nothing all summer.

But Riley did catch his first movie, Toy Story 3, and actually saw it twice.

He perfected his Space Ranger aerial acrobatics when he got a visit from a real Connecticutian, Cousin Hailee, back in July.

That was just before he decided that he needed a walker again to get around. (that phase lasted 30 seconds)

It seems like most of the summer has been spent in doctors' offices. Everything from sinus infections, to hives, to constipation to a weird mystery rash, he has had a problem with it this year.

>

through those maladies though, we've discovered the wonders of Acadiana Urgent Care on Ambassador in Cordoba. Much quicker, cheaper, friendlier and cleaner than any ER I've ever seen. (though my only recent ER experience was at LGMC at 2am on a Sunday, or as I call it-- Angola Lite)

Acadiana Urgent Care is definitely our first choice for afterhours/weekend, non-trauma care.

and now for the big news, which some of you may already know.

A few weeks ago, Eli and I caught the Deftones at House of Blues. it was awesome.

But I guess that is overshadowed by the even bigger news that Riley is potty trained.

After a miserable Memorial Day weekend potty training boot camp, and a few weeks of learning, he only needs diapers overnight and accidents are getting pretty rare.

its nice.

But even that seems to be overshadowed by the even bigger news that we bought a house last month.

No we were't looking, and no we haven't sold this one, so yes, it does not make sense.

But we couldn't pass it up.

The new shack is 5 doors down from Joan's parents. Its the last house on the second block of a three block, dead end, tree lined boulevard.

The house is the same size but the lot is almost twice as big, and it has a shop that I can park my Jeep in.

It'll probably be another month before we move in.

So far we've stripped down all of the popcorn ceiling, repaired & painted all of the ceilings, painted a couple of bedrooms and ripped up old carpet. Now we just have to paint the common areas and have some new carpet put in and we'll be ready.

I'll do a more detailed post later, but here's a little taste.

Taking down the popcorn ceiling texture was a mess, and due to the fact that some brands used to contain asbestos, we took extra precautions. Respirators, disposable jump suits and acres of plastic sheeting.

If anyone knows anyone looking for a 3 bed, 2 bath, plus office, and screened in patio, 2,050sq ft house, off of Verot in a good school zone, please send them our way.

That just about does it for the major news.

I'll be back if anything else interesting happens.

oh and Joan is pregnant, due in February with a girl.

Bye.