SteelyKid is home from the hospital now, and settling in to her new environment. She had a pediatrician appointment yesterday, and all is well.
Of course, the more difficult adjustment is for me and Kate, trying to learn to speak Infant while also maintaining a semblance of a normal life. And, of course, freaking out at every slightly unusual thing SteelyKid does.
Happily, my parents have come up to stay with us for a few days, to help keep everyone sane. They’ve done a ton of stuff around the house, and have also occasionally agreed to take on the onerous baby-calming duties:
Seriously, we’d be a wreck without them. Thank God for grandparents.
As Dr. Free-Ride and her Better-Half found when Elder Offspring arrived in their household, not all the answers are in the child-care manuals. We were there for a while trying to provide extra hands and a calming influence too.
The enduring picture I have in my memory is of two Ph.D. parents beside themselves when the 2 week old child went on a crying jag.
I recall new “Dad” holding the child WHILE leafing through the index of the manual in hand: not hungry, well-burped, just changed, papoose-wrapped in blanket, …
Relax and enjoy. It will be easier once you can get more sleep.
Thank God for grandparents.
Amen to that. So are they SteelyDad and SteelyMom, or do they get some other designation? If so, I can’t wait to hear how you explain the names to folks who don’t read the blog.
And speaking from my own experience as a dad, it’s hard to say sometimes who’s cuter – the kids or their grandparents. It’s a beautiful dynamic to watch, that’s for sure.
OK, here’s the official Ahcuah method to get a baby to quiet down and go to sleep: Blondie.
Seriously.
Get a copy of “The Best of Blondie.” You put it in the stereo, fairly loudly (of course not enough to damage eardrums, but certainly loud enough to feel the bass), stand in front of the speakers, and do the baby dance.
Old-time parents know the baby dance. That’s where you have the baby up against your shoulder, and you rock left and right in time to the music, moving your weight from one foot to another. Often, you’ll do kind of a double bounce on each foot.
I’ve never had a baby make it past “The Tide is High” (song #3) without falling asleep, and usually I can deposit them in their crib in the middle of “Dreaming” (song #2).
One time when visiting my brother-in-law he was beside himself. I popped it in, and had the kid down quite shortly.
I’m not sure how it works. My guess would be a combination of two things: 1) the loud bass may break up any bubbles in the stomach and help them release; and/or 2) sensory overload causing the whole system to shut down.
Well, though it took them until my oldest was 7, my in-laws finally followed through on their promise (threat?) to buy the house next door to me. At first I said I’d dig a moat. Now I’m thinking ‘free babysitting…’
At long last!!!!!! A picture of my baby brother with his very own grandbaby!!!!!!!!!!! He’s going to be one of THE best grandpa’s ever!!!! Of course, look at his role model……….your OWN Grandpa Orzel!!!! Let’s give credit where credit is due!