Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Happy Birthday to Addie!


Well, its been a while since I have written, but not because things have been ho-hum around the Penny household.  In fact, Addie has definitely kept things lively (if that can be combined with sleep deprivation) for us.  And today is her 2 month birthday, so happy birthday to our little girl!!!!

The past several weeks have been filled with both the usual trials and tribulations facing new parents (spit up, throw up, irregular sleeping, diaper explosions, fussing for the sheer sake of fussing), and some more unusual ones.  These weeks have also been filled with great joys, as Addie has grown so much both physically and emotionally.  She smiles readily and gloriously now, tracks people with her eyes, seems to be acknowledging toys that we show her (and, sometimes, that Daddy forces her to play with), and has developed a strong hatred for "tummy time."  Not that you don't hear this from every new parent, but her smile can basically fill up our lives and melt our hearts at the same time.  Yes, I know that we are in trouble when she learns how to use that smile against us!

We have also had a bunch of fun "firsts."  Addie has been out to her first dinners with friends and had her first vacation to the coast when we went down to visit Brad, Lisa and Harry in Galveston.  Clearly she is living the high life.  She had her first visit with Aunt Danielle and Uncle Andy, which was so special and far too short.  She is also set to have her first shots today, which is the kind of first that none of us is too excited about. 

She is also developing a much greater awareness of her surroundings.  She really responds to Mommy's presence, and their bond is very apparent.  She loves to snuggle with Mommy, go on walks with Mommy, and be held by Mommy when she is sad.  Much to Daddy's chagrin, there are some times when only Mommy can quiet a cry or soothe a fussing.  Undoubtedly there will be periods of time in the future when that will change (especially when Addison realizes what a pushover Daddy will be), but for now I accept it.  And there is a part of me that loves to see Addison learning about her world, and is so proud that Mommy is at the center of it. 

And more learning is just around the corner.  Mommy goes back to work next week, and while I am totally confident that everything will go smoothly  I still don't really have the words to express how truly I feel about that pending little adventure.  I guess we will just have to see -- I am learning that some parts of parenting cannot be anticipated or pre-analyzed (is that a word?) with any sort of clarity.  I guess Addison isn't the only one who is growing.

Happy 2-month birthday, Addison! We love you. 

Monday, February 22, 2010

Lullabies

You can tell some things about a person by the kind of music they are listening to at 3:30 in the morning.  When you're in high school or college, you're usually listening to some Phish or Dave Matthews live cuts at 3:30 am.  When you are 32 and trying (rather unsuccessfully) to feed your daughter with a bottle for the first time, you listen to the soothing tones of Norah Jones. 

That's the situation Addie and I found ourselves in last night:  3:30 am, planted in the rocker in Addison's room, Daddy trying to coax Addison to drink from a bottle for the first time.  Unfortunately, despite the serene harmonies of Ms. Jones (like Addie, a Texan), the bottle feeding did not go smashingly.  While Addie did get some milk down, its safe to say that a good amount of it also went down her cheek and her chin and Daddy.  And worse, I don't think my taking a feeding had the desired effect of giving Mandi more sleep, since I am fairly certain Addison's intermittent crying had Mandi sufficiently on edge to prevent rest.  Oh well, Addie and I will just have to keep practicing until we get it right.

The observation about music choices does bring to mind some thoughts about the change in perspective that occured (and is occuring) upon Addison's arrival.  Certainly there is a powerful, almost overwhelming, bonding between parent and child.  I can feel that, and I can see it in Mandi whenever she looks at the baby girl.  But I am also feeling such a great sense of responsibility -- but a responsibility different than I have felt in the past.  Growing up (and even into adulthood), I think many people think of responsibilities as burdens, weights that drag them down and prevent them from doing the things they would otherwise like to be doing.  School and chores are responsibilities; work, balancing your budget and eating right are adult responsibilities.  We accept them, but we don't necessarily like them.  So far, though, it seems like the responsibility of caring for Addison is....fun. 

I saw a friend of ours when I was walking the dogs yesterday morning, and he asked how things were on the home front.  He looked surprised when I said that it was fun.  But I think that is an apt description, there is something enjoyable about doing things for the baby that distinguishes those tasks from "obligations," even at 3:30 in the morning.  (Though, admittedly, its easy to forget how much fun you're having at that hour!) Maybe that sense of joy will change as the routine (and sleep deprivation) sets in.  Maybe, as the tasks get harder and she is causing more trouble, my responsibilities will feel more like jobs that I have to do.  But for now, I am enjoying having this innocent newborn to care for.  If for no other reason than that, Addison and I will probably be giving it another shot with the bottle and listening to Norah Jones again tonight.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Its Saturday, I'm in Love

I realize the Cure song lyric ascribes love to Friday, but the calendar is not cooperating and, frankly, there is no other way to describe what is going on in our house now.  Its love, love, love, all the time.  Little Addison has adjusted well to being at home, and we have had a series of great firsts all week.  First bath, first time in her swing, first time in her bouncer, and, this morning, first time sleeping in her crib!  In addition, we have some more family guests as Aunt Emily, Uncle Kevin, and cousins Lily and Jadon made the trip in from Round Rock to visit Addie in her first week.  Plus we have Bubbi and Zadie here and Mimi has been over! Safe to say, Addie and family are feeling the love.

Mommy has been nothing short of outstanding.  She has jumped into motherhood feet first.  She is nursing every 1 to 2 hours, except for the occassional stretches when Addie sleeps a little longer.  More than anything, she has so bonded with Addison.  There is a palpable mother-daughter connection between them that you can see even when Mandi is just holding her.  From the outside, it is a sight to behold.  I can only imagine the love that flows between them.

From my perspective, I am still marveling at what I feel for this little girl that doesn't talk, can't see me, and does nothing but eat, sleep and poop.  She could do nothing but lay there for the rest of her life and it would not change what I feel for her one bit.  Its a totally different kind of love compared to what I thought of as love.  Its unconditional.  Its pure.  And I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Next week is a whole new batch of firsts.  First day without the grandparents providing a safety net, first day of work for me, soon, first doctor's appointment.  Everything is a first for Addie and she is giving us a continuous stream of our own firsts.  I guess kids do make you young again.  And I love it.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

D-Day +1!!!!!


Coming to you live from the 6th floor of Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, Texas at 4:21 am, its baby Addison and the Penny family!  Yes, Addie has decided it is time to join the family and her preciousness knows no bounds.  Baby came into the world yesterday at 5:45 p.m. after Mandi spent about 9 hours in labor (the last two of which were the real pushing).  Unfortunately for Momma (and Aunt Emily who was scared by the screaming) the epidural didn't entirely take effect and Mandi was intensely present for much of the delivery.  But baby and mommy survived, and now it makes for a great story!

Addie came into this world at 8 lbs 4 oz, and has since lost about half a pound (she has to protect her girlish figure already apparently).  She has beautiful gray-blue eyes and a nice mop of straight, dark hair.  Her face was a little puffy around the eyes, and it looks like she may have the fabled Penny nose, but despite my genes she is precious beyond belief.  While I will spare the world of the Interwebs much of the gory details, she is eating great and is ahead of the game when it comes to .... um ... doing her business.  I can see a glimpse of my life for the next, oh, six months, where the highlight of my day is not that the Texas Longhorns basketball team had a great victory against Oklahoma State but the fact that my daughter ate a lot and made big poopy diapers!

Mandi got some much needed rest tonight, and Daddy had his first real stretch flying solo with Addie.  It was a wonderful bonding time, and laying here finally starting to focus much of the emotion and many of the scattered thoughts of the past few days.  The center of my world has shifted, dear readers, to this adorable little mass of person, and things are never going to be the same!  So you who are permitted, continue to sleep well.  Me....I'm off to another diaper duty.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

And the Beat Goes On

The blog's music theme continues as we reach the 39th week of pregnancy.  The preparations have been made.  The classes have been taken.  The name has been chosen (finally).  And now the waiting has set in.  Waiting and hoping that Addison will join us sometime soon.  Sometime, anytime, please, if you listen to Mandi. 

Wednesday we went to the doctor for Mandi's weekly exam.  Without getting too graphic for the Internet (is it even possible to be too graphic for the Internet?), things are progressing, though less quickly than we would hope for.  Still the good doctor (who we shall refer to as the Good Doctor) said that anything could happen at any time.  That kind of specificity earns you the blog nickname Good Doctor, so apparently it is a low standard. 

Mommy Mandi is predictably uncomfortable, though also braving it with an admirable toughness that, from some commentators, was unexpected.  Still, its hard to "enjoy" pregnancy when your stomach muscles are rippling as a little child kicks and punches her way out of your gut.  For both of us, though, the emotional ebbs and flows of preparing, waiting, hoping, waiting, expecting, and more waiting are starting to take a little bit of a toll.  Its time for her to get here already!

So, dear readers, any advice on how to get through the pre-Addison doldrums?  Post comments below.

And to answer the obvious question, yes I do appreciate the irony of this post since once she is here we will be praying for a Saturday morning where we can wake up, drink coffee and post on a blog or, better yet, sleep in.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Welcome!

Of course, readers of this blog will know that its name is a blatant theft from an excellent Beatles song.  Continuing the trend of plagarizing ... err .. paying homage great Brits, I feel compelled to quote Winston Churchill: 

"This is not the end.  In fact, it is not even the beginning of the end.  But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."

That famous phrase seems appropriate as the Penny Family (the protagonists of this blog) near the addition of a brand new member.  Baby Addison is due to arrive in about 3 weeks, and our whole family is bursting with anticipation at her joining us.  This space on the Internet is going to be dedicated to the joys, accomplishments, triumphs, and, yes, occassional troubles of our family as we join the community of parents and children. 

And I do consider it a community in every sense of the word.  From what little I have seen so far, parenting appears to be the most cooperative and most independent vocation on which we will embark.  Everyone has a kind word, a piece of advice, a kernel of truth they wish to impart on new parents.  And we welcome such words of wisdom, rookies as we are at nurturing and raising a tiny human being.  At the same time, the responsibility for such nuturing falls to Mandi and me alone, and that singular goal will likely govern all of our decisions for some time.  What could be more personal and solitary?

Philosophizing aside, soon we will be part of a giant tribe of families, many of whom we will turn to and with whom we want to share our chapter of the human story.  This blog is dedicated to that effort -- and allowing the occassional comment from the peanut gallery.  I hope you enjoy what you find here, and hope you'll offer us your piece of advice.  We take all comers.