Adjustments

Well, we're 5 months into parenthood as of last Tuesday.  The Bakker household has made some adjustments - some well, and some not so well.  I need 8 hours of sleep to function correctly, and haven't ever done okay on less.  However, I'm currently getting much less than 8 hours, and somehow make the commute to work each day without killing myself.  Katie has hit the realization that she won't ever get more than 2-3 hours of sleep at a stretch as she's nursing.  Together, we've established a nice bedtime routine for Tommy that's fairly realiable, so we can count on peace from about 8pm to 11pm each night.  Tommy's typically in a great mood, even though he doesn't sleep through the night and refuses to nap more than 20-30 minutes randomly through a day.  And finally, Mario has earned our trust to be near Tommy, albeit never unattended. 

One of the current struggles in our house?  Mario has given up on overt aggression towards the baby, in favor of passive-aggression. 




Passive–aggressive behavior
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Passive–aggressive behavior, a personality trait, is passive, sometimes obstructionist resistance to following through with expectations in interpersonal or occupational situations. It is a personality trait marked by a pervasive pattern of negative attitudes and passive, usually disavowed resistance in interpersonal or occupational situations.

It can manifest itself as learned helplessness, procrastination, stubbornness, resentment, sullenness, or deliberate/repeated failure to accomplish requested tasks for which one is (often explicitly) responsible.[1]

For Example, "Stay out of the #@$% trash, Mario!"

I installed a reverse-osmosis filter under the sink, so our trash can currently sits out in the kitchen.  It started about 2 weeks ago - he'd raid a greasy wrapper from the very top of the trash can.  Next, he'd fish that same wrapper from farther down in the can.  Next, he raided a messy diaper.  Tonight, we came home from grocery shopping to find Mario had strewn every last piece of trash all over the kitchen.  I'd throttle him, but he refuses to acknowledge his responsibility...

Weekend Update

Tommy's at the age where he doesn't play well with toys on his own, and he hasn't cared for his swing, play mat, vibrating chair, etc.  And since he doesn't nap cosistently, we're kind of desperate to find something he enjoys so we can steal 10-20 minutes to do the dishes, etc.  We didn't have a bouncy seat, but somehow knew he'd like them better than anything else.  I found a local 2nd-hand store called Kid-to-Kid and found the following:

After Tommy went to bed that night, we stayed up late disassebling and scrubbing them down so they'd be dry for the follwing morning.  They've turned out to be a hit!  I'm also hoping they exercise his leg muscles because he seems to have everything ready for crawling from the waist up...

We spent much of Saturday cleaning up and getting ready for winter.  Hoses & patio cushions were stowed, AC condenser was covered, lawns mowed one more time, leaves inhaled by my gas-powered vacuum, and all the powered yard tools were tuned up for next season.  Of course, nothing could be stowed for winter in our shed until it was re-organized and dejunked.

Even though I've been carefully putting garden tools away all summer, it somehow ended up looking like a bomb went off.  I must have squirrels or something getting in there when I'm not looking...

While I was trimming hedges and raking out the gardens, Katie had Tommy all bundled up while she reorganized the shed.  Mercifully he fell asleep for a while.

It's a little big, but Katie found this really warm snow suit at TJ Maxx.  It kind of reminds me of A Christmas Story...

Katie in her element - cleaning out and organizing.

And because nobody's complained about too many pictures of Tommy - here's a few more for fun.  This is his Bumbo which I refer to as his "Captain's Chair".  From his perch on the counter, Captain Bakker can survey the preparation of food items in his kitchen.

Captain Bakker approves.

I think this is actually a couple weeks old, but just came accross it tonight.

Tommy also really enjoys the Moby wrap - so much that he sleeps in it sometimes.

I noticed a flock of starlings in my poplars on Sunday.  I wish they'd carry all my leaves away...

Big Weekend

My mom came up for a visit this weekend to see her grandson (and us, but mostly her grandson). 

We went to a craft fair Friday morning in Ogden at Washington Heights Church.  It was crafty, but actually had some interesting things (not pictured here).

Tom had a good time.

I don't know this cute little girl, but had to take a picture of her with her baby dressed as a chicken.  Her mom said it's normally dressed as a chicken, and that it wasn't just for Halloween...

Later this weekend I converted Tommy's stroller from a "Pram" to a seat.  He's no longer satisfied seeing the sky, overhead power lines, and the occassional tree on our walk.  He's much happier being able to see the world at large - he's growing up!

My poplar trees are are turning.  I think they look like big torches.

This was also the first weekend Tom fit into his coveralls.  I have a couple wrenches just his size.

Having a good time!

Properly lubricating the wrenches - an old mechanic's trick.

A proud dad.

Checking the timing.  A good mechanic can tell a lot about an engine just by feeling it.

Helping Tommy with a little extra leverage.

We got it all tuned up!