Daddydom so far

So now I've become the guy I used to make fun of. I used to say things like (at least in my head, most of the time) "can't they take their stupid crying baby outside?--I'm trying to eat!" or "nobody cares about your stupid baby pics..."

I have come full circle. I now show people at work (per request, lots of times) the cutesy lil baby pics stored in my phone. I have been that guy in a restaurant with a crying baby--but not very often, becuase my son is perfect, and doesn't really cry that much.

I sing silly songs and talk like a jibbering idiot most of the time I'm at home--he loves it--so I love it. Jeff Young once told me that "you're not even ready for how much you're gonna love this kid." Jeff was so right. Luke's nicknames include, but are not limited to: Sgt Slaughber, Chunky Monkey, Monkeychunk, Mr Tootsie Pants, Babyduke, Pwecious, and Baby. Most of these now have their own theme song. Naptime has its own theme song: "Nappy Times" by Josh Jenkins. Erin sings cute songs from her childhood about Skinnamarinkydink, sun-shiny Florida, sandwiches etc...

Our parents are completely bonkers for this kid. They'll see to it he never lacks for anything, I know--regardless of need, he shall have it. Whenever we're visiting our parents, we don't even "have to" hold him--it's a foregone conclusion that the Grands got it. We're really blessed with an amazing support structure. (saving a fortune on child care, lemme tellya)

Please enjoy some baby pics now--him is growin up so fast.

Happy Mother's Day

So today marks Erin's 1st Mother's Day. Trippy!
Sorry I've been dormant lately--been going through a lot, yaknow? Getting this whole "having a child" thing down...also got a new job/shift going, so it's been a very interesting few months, lemme tellya.

I've become dirty diaper expert--very adept at keeping my fingers clean (or trying to) and dodging his best attempts to soil me. He and I actually had a killer dirty diaper change at the mall last Friday. You know those scary bathrooms at the end of those long scary hallways, where you wish you had a sidearm? One of those. The wall-mounted changing table hung ominously between a crowd of aggravated waiting-to-pee folks, and here I come pushing a crying baby (with VERY dirty diaper) in a stroller, toting a diaper bag...I wheeled up to the changing table and (still) had to say "Excuse me, can I please get in there to the table?" --so, after I folded the thing down and laid down a protective barrier, I set Luke down and went to work. Those folks just had to deal with Luke and me and the funky things we had goin' on...it was a tense/funny moment, to be sure. A couple of nice ladies actually kind of chipped in and helped me, which was cool. When their daughter yelled from the ladies' room that it was out of toilet paper, I kindle offered them a baby wipe--but the angry teen refused it through the door. She was a little embarrassed, methinks.

Back to Erin--I got her a super cute singing card, from Luke, of course, ("ABC" by Jackson 5) and spelled "Mommy" on the front with a backwards y. He's growing like a weed these days, thanks to Erin's never-ending supply of 93 Octane milk. She feeds/pumps/stores/freezes/organizes this stuff like you wouldn't believe. Such a great mommy. I know this kid will appreciate all her efforts one day...

Update

Mommy took Luke to the Dr today and he's progressing perfectly. He weighs 8lbs. Looks like his eyes are going to start to turn, hazel like yours truly--and full of wonderment. I've noticed he likes to look around while I walk him around the house in my arms; he likes to watch fan blades whir round and round.

Erin still (breast) feeds him, round the clock, every 2 hrs. To cope with the light coming on all the time, I've developed a little trick: I keep a black dress sock draped over the headboard on my side of the bed. When Erin flicks on her lamp to feed baby, I reach up, grab the sock, and drape it over my eyes. I especially enjoy this technique on weekends.

Still using the 5 Ss: Swaddle, Shhhh, Shake (gently), Side, & Suck--though he rarely cries hard enough to advance to the 5th S. I offer him a pacifier whenever I think about it, but he spits it out more often than not.
Basically, as Eardleymon once told me: "It's all about the swaddle." Sage advice, Eardleymon.
In the words of Biggie Smalls: "If you don't know, now you know..."

Good luck to all our baby buddies out there, and especially to Jay & Bonnie--they're next! :)

Random thoughts

I'm just pasting the following 3 paragraphs that I jotted down over last weekend. Sorry for the delay in the action! I'll get more regular soon when we get a new computer.

So, here we are…Monday morning. We’ve had Luke home since Thursday night. Erin feeds him round the clock, every 2 hours. We’re both super tired, but we’re managing. I can thank of no words to express my/our gratitude to all our family & friends for their help, love and support. Sure it’s dicey when you’re changing a stinky load at 3:00 am—and your baby manages to pee up into his own face while you’re reaching for a wipe—but we get through each day just fine. For all the meals you’ve cooked, chores you’ve done and all-around comfort you’ve given us, we say Thank You!

I checked out some awesome CDs from our local library—the VIPs include “Suites for Cello” (unaccompanied) by a pimp named J.S. Bach, “Piano Quintet in F Minor” by a player by the name of Johannes Brahms, and “Complete Violin Sonatas” by the effervescent Ludwig Von Beethoven. My lil’ duder loves the strings—just like his mommy and daddy! I’ve always loved strings and sworn to their holistic benefits, but listening to classical every day has re-kindled my love for it. (also, it’s so refreshing to have a bit of a music fest in the house.) Thanks to my mom for the boom box and Topher for the ipod dock.

I have to go back to work tomorrow, and I’m having mixed feelings on the matter. I’m loving all this time to relax with Erin and Luke, just hanging out together…but on the other hand, it’ll be good to get out of the house. All kidding aside—it’s SO GREAT to get out of the house! It seems like the world outside has a whole new luster about it. The greens are so much greener, the sun a bit brighter; I’m seeing with new eyes or something. I just tend towards a happier perspective, I think, because I’m so stoked with life right now. My healthy, gorgeous baby and my baby momma…they inspire me. (and so do our families—it’s no secret how much they love us, that’s for sure!)

Hooray!

We just got our discharge orders this morning! Lil' Luke has checked out in every way, Hallelujah!

As of 10pm last night, we were still waiting on Luke to pee. Oh, he'd pooped many times, so I got plenty of practice with that--but no pee. So, per Dr's orders, we supplemented each of his regular breast feeding sessions with 1/2 oz of formula & checked regularly for pee. (all the newborn diapers have a yellow line down the front--it changes to blue when baby pees :) So, as of 11 something, still no pee & we were beginning to become concerned. I happened to be working on a dookie-load when Erin decided she wanted to get up and walk around, so she showed up beside me at the changing table to help. Luke thought: awesome--now I can wiz on both parents! heehee. When I removed the dookie diaper, still holding his feet in the air, he let loose with a powerful stream across both our bodies--all down my shirt, shorts and into my sandals. Nice & hot.

Way to go, son--a most welcome soiling of Mommy & Daddy's clothes :)

He's here! Luke Joshua: 7lbs 8oz, 20"

To say I'm learning a lot would be the understatement of the year.

I will start with this tidbit though: I have witnessed childbirth. Yeah, I watched a human being come out of another human being, into our world of light and air--and it was cathartic.

Just to catch you up, we called in to Labor & Delivery yesterday, May 16, @ 5am per orders. (we were due on the 8th) We were then scheduled to arrive at 6am to induce. We were pleased not to have to wait around any more--luckily, we were totally ready. By totally ready, I mean 2 days' clothes for each of us, toiletries packed, laptop/bag with camera, charging cords, books, CDs, DVDs, pen & paper, etc... (Note to 1st timers: ALL of this must be packed & staged, ready to go @ a moment's notice within 2 weeks of your due date. Also, your [Chicco hopefully--they rock] car seat must be installed/ready to go. )

SO--by 7:30 ish, Erin was in bed, all hooked up w/ the oxytocin drip. Also, she had 2 monitors strapped to her belly: 1 monitored the baby's heartbeat, complete with audio. The woosh-wooshing sound of his heartbeat was a constant in our room until he arrived. The 2nd monitor tracked Erin's contractions on a real time running graph on a monitor above the bed. It was neat--I could see a spike of (uterine) muscle contraction coming on and I'd say something like "Okay, Baby--we're approaching a swell--breathe deeply and center your chi..." Meanwhile, our beloved nurse, Amy, checked cervical dilation regularly until about 10cm, at which time our anesthetist began Erin's epidural. I was told to sit down--men, do it--because so many of us have fainted upon seeing the needle/fallen & busted our heads open or worse. Erin didn't even flinch; she barely noticed said needle. From that point, after her water was broken, she was in hard labor, but she wasn't in much discomfort, despite the fact. We watched contractions come and go with clock-like regularity, until about 3:00ish, when Jan & I flanked Erin, held her legs up, and worked with the nurse to coach Erin through pushing. The brilliant part about the aforementioned contraction graph: you can see when a contraction is coming on, then coach mom as she supplements these with pushes of her own to send baby down. It's all about rhythm, yall.
We read/listened/learned a lot about the pros/cons of epidurals, but I'm here to tell you, my friends: it has come a LONG way since the 60s. They don't hurt--Erin still can't feel any soreness at the site; I'll blog about any long term effects if we see any. It didn't have any adverse effect on baby. It was a great way to fly for Erin, and I know she'll never have another youngin' without it. :)

By about 4:30, it was ON with a capital O. We could see his hair emerging first--I told myself I wouldn't look--that I'd just focus on Erin--but I looked. I couldn't help it. I was glad I did...it's an experience not to be wasted. Per Erin's orders, I won't get too graphic in detail here, but I will say this: I've always seen Erin as this fragile thing. She's so dainty and delicate, and can't handle too much stress or vigorous strain or whatever. This perception is now changed forever. Erin was so calm and so centered, breathing when told, pushing when told, just a plain soldier, working towards her goal. She was unflappable. She did not even break a sweat. She was tough as nails! I read once that Spartan wives and mothers were revered as the real warriors of Sparta, the metaphorical shield behind which it's citizens truly rested. Can't have soldiers without mothers. Anyhoo--I will never call Erin fragile or delicate again. I'm sure any guy will have a new--totally awestruck--perception of "toughness" after watching a woman give birth. Luke arrived intact, 7lbs 8oz, 20 inches of healthy baby boy. Looks EXACTLY like me. They cleaned him & handed him over, and I was amazed at how calm he was. He didn't squall and holler like the ones in the videos; even through last night, Luke was calm like his momma.

OH YEAH...I cut the cord! I wasn't planning on it, ya know, but hey, you only live once, right?

After a few hours post-pardum we were moved from Labor Delivery to a "Mom & Baby suite" where we're still hanging out. I "slept" in a chair last night that lays back like a 1-man futon--not stoked about it. We woke regularly to change (me) Luke's (VERY POOPY) diapers and feed (Erin, breast) our little man. Circumcision: check. Hearing test: 100%! Hearing test has come a LONG way too (from clapping loudly next to baby's head to see if it startles him--true story) and the technology is amazing! After a few electrodes are placed around baby's head/neck & audio buds on ears, the signal is played, and it graphs baby's brain waves on a screen--you're seeing his brain react to the sounds in real time; it leaves no room for confusion.

Okay, I think I'll sign off--I just wanted to get all these thoughts out & post them before I get delerious & forget them. Daddy Out.

calling Baby Yake

Have you seen my blog yet Yake?

If you're reading this and you're not Jake, but you can contact Jake, you should tell him to read my blog.

That is all.

Daddy

so stoked to give Luke his first whippin'!

Just KIDDING!!! ha HAA!

Beanie & Bernard

These are (Bacchus' sons) our new puppies we're raising too--YAY!

backwards in time

Early stage baby bump: (yes, I just figured out how to post pics on this here blog)

SugarBear contd

more of Mommy before...

SugarBear

Thougt I'd post some "before" pics..."after" ones will be here in a few days :)

Still waiting for the buzzer to "ding."

SO...Luke was due 4 days ago on the 8th. He's still in the oven, hanging out. Probably got his headphones on, reading some Frank Herbert if I know him...he's not in any hurry. I have learned a lesson here: I am already on "his" time; we're doing things on his schedule/when he feels like it. My typically indomitable will is being subverted already!

We've tested and debunked a few wives tales about inducing labor. Eating eggplant does not help, despite all the testimonials you can find online. Spicy foods? nay. Castor oil--She won't even go there, such is her distaste for diarrhea. Walking, sex, jumping jacks, jiu-jitsu? Nary a contraction.

Needless to say, Erin (new nickname: "Sugarbear") is getting restless and is growing by the hour--it's kinda funny, in a super-cute way, how big she's gotten over the last week. I get a kick out of helping her climb up out of her perch on the couch. She's done all the nesting she can do, so without any further purpose at home, she actually went in to work this morning for the 1st time this week. Why not, right? We can always jet down to North FL Regional when the buzzer dings.

countdown

So, it's been a while--but no big news yet--just checking in.

My Mom was in town over the weekend--she was just tickled pink to accompany Erin to her final ultrasound last Friday. The images were amazing, to say the least. We haven't seen this kind of definition before...I'm talking head full of hair, wafting around in the amniotic matrix that is his world...whoah. The seams in his skull punctuate the contrasting whites/blacks of tissue/space...it's getting psychedelic in there.

It's getting crazy out here too. Erin is exhibiting CLASSIC nesting behaviors that our birthing class instructor mentioned. The nursery has come a long way (pics to follow) and is really beautiful. Thanks to our Moms, et al, for all the help! I get a kick out of watching Erin scuttle to and fro, lining drawers, organizing toys/books/onesies by age-range, etc... Oh, and I'm such a grown man--I installed (all by myself!) our Chicco car seat/travel system in Erin's car yesterday. Our suitcase is packed, and at this point, we're just waiting for the bell to ring--I mean for the water to break.

Wish us luck!

(again, I must thank ALL our friends & family for all the support--I see now why they say "It takes a village.")

Beginnings

I'm Josh Jenkins of Gainesville, FL--maybe you've heard of me?

Just kidding. But seriously, folks, here it is: I'm 33 years of age, and I'm about to cross the precipice into fatherhood. I never thought I'd see the day, but lo--it is nigh upon me.



My wife & I married in May of '98, after earning our A.A.s. at Indian River State College. (it was actually a community college then, btw) We then moved to Gainesville and worked on our Bachelor degrees for a few more years. Then we worked until we could buy a house. Then we were out of prudent excuses as to why we weren't ready to have children. We both always wanted kids, we just wanted to wait until the right time. Many people have told me that "if you wait until you can afford kids, you'll never have them." I can see the truth in this--as many of my friends (and myself of course) were born to young, broke twenty-somethings in the mid 70s--these young parents-to-be weren't homeowners--they were not college graduates--but they did raise beautiful families. They raised us--and we are awesome, my generation.



All of this gave me hope. BUT...I was still a bit too pragmatic in my approach to daddyhood to go that route. So I/we waited. No big deal, really. In a way, I kind of feel like it's the old 6 one way/half a dozen the other. We're in a nicer house & 'hood and all to start with, but WITH the added debt of student loans/mortgage that our parents lacked--so are we really in any better of a position than they were to raise us a youngin'? That is one of many soul-searing questions that I will examine in this blog--hopefully I will find out some truths about myself along the way.



I do know this: I am super-duper stoked about meeting my son, Luke.* I'm going to teach him SO many awesome things. My gorgeous wife, Erin, is due to deliver him on March 8 (2010)--mere weeks away. I will keep you posted of all the gooey drama leading up to/throughout/after the delivery. (because, guys, no matter HOW much you'd rather just sit this kind of thing out--you just gotta be there.) Please stay tuned...Double J out.

*unless Erin changes her mind ;)