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Baby: A night in the life of ..
Mon, 02 Apr 2007

It is an odd thing, I might say.

I mean .. as I understand it, babies are often fussy between 7pm and 10pm (even in the womb.) I know ours little girl is - then and now. Maybe its the switch from my wives arms to mine, the nightly hiccups or the outside pressure and temperature change in the weather.. who knows? I'll get home each night, take a few minutes to gulp down some food (which will inevitibly be cold before I finish it) and then take my turn with the baby shift. Being that I usually get home around 7 or so, babs is just warming her cycle up: carry for 20 mins, feed for 20 to 90 mins, shushing and calming and singing as I go. Try and sit, change hands, swap her to another person and out comes the screaming monster. Repeat this cycle for a few hours and by 10 pm or ultimately midnight.. she'll start to fall asleep. Well, she'll sleep for 10 mins then awaken.. but eventually she'll go down for the count. Sometimes it gets me a little mad, but usually she's just gassy or constipated, so you can't be upset with her. Its tough being a baby :P

Anyway, each night by about 9:30 pm I spend a good 15 mins being annoyed, and I complain to my poor wife who's trying to catch some sleep (as my shift extendeds through to about 2-3am so she can get a few hours rest up front.) I imagine by now, anyone reading will be wondering.. wtf dude? Why tell you? Permit me to continue, dear friends.

Somewhere around 10:30pm .. maybe its the way the lighting has gotten to, or the heavier my eyelids have become, or just maybe the way she seems to suddenly recognize who I am and snuggle up to the warmth. Maybe its feeding her and the way she looks up with those adoring unspoilt eyes as she aclimatizes to my ministrations instead of mommies. Something happens and no matter if she is fussy or babbling happily, if she's waving her hands around or spitting up .. she is beautiful. Don't get me wrong as she has just as many quiet nights or days as she does freakout ones, but something about this magical notch on the clock.. you just have to lean back with this little person in your lap and feel like the world is okay. Not just okay.. gorramned awesome. Pudding, instead of oatmeal.

Sometimes she'll crack that happy little post-feeding drunken gerber smile and that my friends is why I'm posting, and why I can't wait all day to see her again. I know she'll be ready to cry by the time I get home, but I know my wife is safe at home and ready to bring the baby to the door when I arrive.

Coming to the door of your home, seeing your wife holding a smiling little baby girl..

Who wouldn't want to come home to that?

(Aside: BTW, this is Iron Maiden day in my books. Tomorrow might be The Distillers day.)

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