Diary of a Third Time Dad

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WEEK EIGHTEEN - JUNE 2002

He doesn't have to be fussy.

We were at a birthday party, and I was in charge of the little guy. He was laying on the floor next to me as we all sat around the living room eating dinner. Cheryl got up to go get something. I suddenly had this urge to pick Joshua up and just hold him. Cheryl came back, saw that I was holding him and said, "Oh, was he getting fussy?"

People shouldn't really need a reason to pick their baby up. I find all too often that in our busy lives, we are always trying to put the baby down so we can get things done. And when you have an easygoing little guy like we do, it's very tempting. If I only held him when he was fussy, I would barely see him at all.

Dads, remember to get in some good holding time everyday. And moms try to not only get your husband involved when the baby is needy, but hand him a happy baby from time to time too and watch them laugh together.

I am a genius.

Most people consider me pretty smart. Well, some people do anyway. But today, I was truly brilliant. We were all taking a long car ride, and Joshua was letting us know in no uncertain terms that he was not happy with the car seat situation. As I began looking for the next freeway exit so Cheryl could nurse him (for the second time this trip), I was suddenly struck with a revelation from above. Water!

Sounds kind of simple, but we found the answer to all our long drive problems - a water bottle. Joshua loved sucking down the water. Most of it ended up running down his shirt, but this exercise kept him occupied for the rest of the trip. Cheryl thanked me for my geniusness in solving this dilemma.

Hieroglyphics.

As a doctor, my handwriting is bad enough already. But today I tried to pay the bills while holding Joshua on my lap (it was one of those occasional "don't even think of putting me down" days for him). I feel really sorry for whoever has to interpret the dollar amounts on all the checks I tried to write. I just hope the bank doesn't read my $30.00 phone bill as $3000.00.

Smiley.

I had forgotten about this phase. Basically, whenever I even look at Joshua, he breaks out in the biggest smile. Don't you wish it could stay this way forever?

Dr. Bob

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