Diary of a Third Time Dad

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WEEK 45 - DECEMBER 2002

Cookie monster.

As a pediatrician I am daily counseling parents about good nutrition. I like to convey the concept of "shaping your young baby's tastes". Get them used to only healthy foods, and they will grow up with taste buds that crave the good stuff.

So what does Cheryl do? She calls me over to the table and says, "Look, Joshua's first cookie!"

I must admit, it WAS cute. So to all my patients out there, do as I say, not as I do.

Escape from Joshua-traz.

Turning our living room into Joshua's play room, with the safety gate so he can't escape, has worked out pretty well. That is, until separation anxiety set in. Now whoever is watching him has to stay in there. As soon as we open the squeaky gate to sneak out, Joshua sounds the alarm.

We have found some creative ways to escape, like climbing over the couch or stepping over the gate instead of opening it when he's not looking. And when we are successful, what do we do? Do we sneak away and go get things done? No. We turn around and stand there watching how cute Joshua is playing by himself and not realizing he's alone. THEN we go try and do something as fast as we can, cuz we know the alarm will sound any second.

Once again, impressed with myself.

Things tend to happen late at night that I don't seem to remember. Cheryl told me something this morning that happened last night that I was quite proud of. She said Joshua woke up at midnight, and stayed awake fussing and squirming on Cheryl's chest for an hour. She said that I woke up, rolled over and laid my head on top of him. Then I went back to sleep.

"Wow" I said, "I was being quite paternal." I was impressed with myself.

"Ya" answers Cheryl, "For a whole 30 seconds out of an hour."

I am still impressed with myself.

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