Lesson: Have your kids in the Spring

Well, Fenn and I are on about day 6 of staying at home by ourselves. At first I thought I was going to die. Each day has gotten easier though. It's not too bad until around 5 or 6 pm. By then we've already been on our own for 10 hours, my back hurts, and he's getting the 'end of the day crankies'. So those last two hours are pretty tough every day - but we're working on that too.

Of course we spoiled him during his first three months. We just passed him back and forth all the time. Now he's addicted to Mommy and Daddy.....which makes it tough when only one of us is around. So, I've been trying to let him be on his own a little more each day - trying to make him a bit more independent. It's working out alright. Now we have to get him to be and independent daytime sleeper, and we'll really have something.

Even on the good days though.....I tend to run out of entertainment options. Bouncey Seat - Check. Play Gym - Check. Swing - Check. Car Seat - Check. Crib - Check. Reading Books - Check. Playing with Toys - Check. Sitting on Lap Watching TV - Check. Stare at Kitty - Check. Poop, Pee, Spit Up, Drool - Check, Check, Check, Check! And.....that's all by 10 am......

It sure would be nice if we could go outside and wander around, take walks, etc. Hard to do that in January though. I guess about a month from now, we may start getting an occassional day. If we would have had him in the Spring, it would be the middle of the Summer right now, and we could go to the Zoo and Royals games all week long! Even Worlds of Fun.....although I'm not sure he's tall enough to ride all of the good rides.

Who would have thunk it?

So, Anne and Fenn are in North Carolina. And I'm in Omaha taking my
"do something else so you don't worry" vacation. Ok, I won't blame it all on worrying - getting away is always fun.

But, I actually haven't worried as much as I thought I would. I went into the airport with them and watched them until they got close to boarding - so that I could see Mommy had everything under control (plus she had strict instructions to ask flight attendents for help with bags, etc). They were in Charlotte in no time. And then I started betting on dog races to take my mind off of the long, mountain drive!

What I wasn't really prepared for, was how soon, and how much I would miss Fenn. Of course I knew I would miss him. But by mid afternoon on the day we all left, it hit me that I really, really missed him, and that I was still 3 days from being able to see him. You get kind of addicted to looking at that precious little face all day. There had only been 1 day where I'd gone more than 3-4 hours seeing him, until this weekend.

But, Anne has sent me several photos on her phone of him having a good time in North Carolina. From what I hear, everybody seems to think he's pretty cute - which comes as no surprise - and it sounds like he behaves better on the road than he does at home!

So...thus far, Fenn's first vacation is a big success. Now, if only the right dogs would run faster, we'd all be in good shape. (and....for the record.....I miss Anne too....I just have more experience missing her.....)

I'm Learning To Fly, But I Ain't Got Wings

Well, it looks like Fenn is just 9 days away from his first plane trip. Daddy put it off as long as he could, but has finally given is authorization for Mommy to take Fenn with her to North Carolina.
I'm sure they will be just fine - because Anne will take great care of him. But, the combination of my own dislike of flight, mixed with being away from him for the first time has me a little anxious.

Times have sure changed. I think the first time I flew I was 12 or 13 - a trip to Florida our family took with the Norcross family (thanks Grandma and Grandpa Hager!). I don't think I flew again until I was in my 20s. Fenn will be flying when he is one day shy of 12 weeks old! Why do I have a strange feeling Fenn won't be 34 when he takes his first trip to Europe like his Daddy was?

Stella, one of Fenn's best friends and a potential future prom date, took her first plane ride a couple of weeks ago. So, one of the reasons Fenn gets to go is that I don't want his girls having more world experiences than he does. You can see his reaction when he heard Stella got to go on a plane ride:


In other updates - Fenn continues to be a great sleeper! In the past week, he has slept 11 hours straight one night, and 10 in another. He's no longer getting his arms tied down in his swaddle.....He's back to just regular swaddling. By morning he has usually got his arms lose and has turned around in his bed - but he still seems to be sleeping just fine.

Only 2 weeks before Mommy goes back to work. Only two weeks until Daddy becomes a stay at home Dad 3 days a week......for 13 hours each day......Only two weeks until Daddy's hair turns grey and he loses his mind.....