On Friday, I met Dave at the post office after he picked Mike up from the airport so that we could process Peyton’s passport. We have one for Brandon, so we wanted to get one for Peyton in case we wanted to take a trip to visit Dave’s aunt or just to not have to rush to get one if we wanted to go somewhere spontaneously. Both parents have to be there with the child otherwise more paperwork and notarization is needed. Since Dave was taking off early to pick up Mike, it was an opportune time, especially since most post offices only have the passport processing for a limited schedule. We all stayed at my parents’ house that night to get ready for the next day, Peyton’s red egg party.
On Saturday, we all headed up to the restaurant to set up for the party. We were expecting about 100 people. Almost all the attendees were from the Bay Area; my mom didn’t want to invite anyone not from the area because she didn’t want them to feel compelled to come. The exceptions were Aunties Betty and Marian from LA and Dave’s parents. It was nice to see the aunties (Peyton’s great aunties) since we don’t see them that often. Lunch got started a bit late (Chinese time) after my dad gave a short speech (we made him do it at our wedding, too). He said Peyton was his “favorite granddaughter” – we’ll see if that title will last. We had champagne flutes for favors. Kristin designed the logo for us. The restaurant brought out the food pretty slowly, which under normal circumstances is ok, but with all the kids we had there, including our own, it was a bit long. Brandon was way overdue for a nap. He was fading in the car on the way home, but I tried to keep him up so that he’d take a nap for longer in the bed. It didn’t quite work; he fell asleep with 10 minutes to go. He woke up when the car stopped, and it was a little bit of work to get him back to sleep. We had the family over for dinner since they came up all this way, and we didn’t get to see them that much at lunch. Auntie Marian really enjoyed holding Peyton. Peyton really enjoyed being held by Auntie Marian; she was licking her sleeve, then fell asleep in her arms. When Auntie Marian wasn’t holding her, Marc wanted to. You don’t usually picture a 23-year old kid wanting to hold an infant, but he is a seasoned veteran. He even helped out and took Brandon to the potty twice at lunch. Brandon was too silly though with Marc, getting pee all over himself because he giggled the entire time. I think it’s just because Brandon isn’t used to peeing with Marc. He doesn’t giggle with Dave or me. Mike went to stay with his cousin for the rest of the weekend, so he didn’t stay for dinner. We stayed overnight again because of my mom and I were going to see Wicked the next day.
My mom and I were having a “Mommy and Me, Part II” yesterday. It was a great show! We had pretty good seats in the orchestra. Dave was on his own with the kids and his parents. By the time we got home (we were gone for a total of 7 hours), his parents had left for the drive back home. Peyton was sleeping and Brandon was watching Bugs Life. The kids took it easy on Dave, who was packing up to get ready to leave. We stayed for dinner, then left in shifts. Brandon took Dave home first, then I followed about an hour later with Peyton. She was wide awake and playing with my parents, so I didn’t want to leave. I mostly started to unpack our stuff. We had opened Peyton’s gifts at my parents’ house, but I still have to put everything away. Also, Peyton’s little rashy area is all better! I think the cooler weather at my parents’ house helped with that. It was a very busy weekend, and now we will spend the rest of this week recovering.
More rx’s for Peyton
I took Peyton into the doctor’s today because her neck folds were looking a bit red. The doctor diagnosed her with interigo, which is quite common. It’s just too much sweat mixed in an area that doesn’t get enough airflow. She said it happens in adults under the “boobs” (yes, she said “boobs”) and in kids under their armpits, groin, and neck folds. It gets worse when it’s warmer. Peyton has a mild version now, but she said it was a good thing we decided to come in and get it treated before it got worse. I love that our pediatrician never makes me feel stupid for coming in for seemingly “mild” things. She gave us an antifungal and antibacterial cream because when the skin gets macerated like that, yeast then bacteria can get in there making for a royal mess. She was also weighed again – 15 pounds, 9 ounces! Looks like her sleeping through the night has not affected her weight That was 1130pm or so. She was sleeping until I had to wake her up at 730am to get her ready for the appointment. She stayed up long enough to make it through the appointment and be playful. I put her down on the table with the crinkly paper, and she’d start playing, then hear the noise and put all four limbs down on the table at the same time with a frightened look on her face. She’d forget that she was scared, then start moving around again, trying her best to turn over. She’d realize there was noise again, then do the same thing – put all four limbs down hard on the table. This happened 5-6 times before the doctor came in.
Entrepreneur
I picked up Brandon a little early today, so I had him help me start making dinner (fish sticks and a salad – ok, it’s not much, but it’s what we had). We washed our hands, and he grabbed his stool so he could reach the countertop to help me. He arranged all the sticks on the cooking sheet. He watched as I preheated the oven. We waited for the “beep beep” of the oven to tell us it was ready to put the sticks inside. While they were cooking, we made some tartar sauce using some mayo, relish, lemon juice and a little bit of mustard. He scooped out each condiment then mixed it all together. After we were
done with that, we washed our lettuce leaves, cucumber, and tomato. He put the carrots into the salad, and some frozen corn. I cut all the veggies, and he put them into the salad. By the time we were done with that, the sticks were done baking. Soon afterwards, Dave had come home and Brandon said, “I made dinner for you!” While we were eating, I thanked Brandon for helping me make dinner. He replied with, “Can I have a quarter?” Dave and I just looked at each other and shook our heads. Usually, he gets a nickel for his chores – like putting away the dishes, etc. He raised his prices! In all fairness, he probably deserves a raise.“I like (Mommy or Daddy) better”
We picked up Brandon early today because Dave was at home all day watching the plumber change our specialized hot water heater. $2300 later, it is fixed! Seriously…specialized, they say. Even though it’s under warranty (our last month to “cash” in), we only get the cost of the heater back. Plumbers make $115 an hour, no joke! After today, we may consider a change in careers. Anyhow, so we picked Brandon up early, and were going to get a passport photo printed for Peyton. We don’t have anywhere specific in mind to go, maybe to Canada, but
just to have it would be nice. Both parents must be present to process the passport, so it would have been nice to go today had the plumber not spent ALL day here. We had parked to go to dinner afterwards, and Dave was pushing the stroller while I was walking with Brandon. As I held my little boy’s hand and asked him who he wanted to sit next to at dinner, he replied, “I want to sit with Daddy. Because I like Daddy better.” Straight up, no sugar-coating that one. Oh, well, there’s always tomorrow.Dave is a child
So, after I posted my last entry, Dave was in the process of bathing Peyton. After all, he had to do something around here. I went in to give him a towel, and he was chuckling, pointing to the water. I asked him
what he was laughing at, thinking she had just given him a laugh. He said, “She made bubbles.” He said he didn’t care how old you are, it’s still funny. I’ve said it before, I’ll said it again, “Boys will be boys.”Out of Practice
One of the ways to help Brandon adjust is to make sure I spend some time with him. That means giving him a bath and doing the nighttime routine. For Dave, this isn’t a free pass. This means he has to feed Peyton if needed. Tonight, he was hesistant to feed her with the bottle. He wanted me to get Brandon ready, and then feed her. But she needed practice with “bottle time” as I recently heard of one of our doctor’s coming back only 2 hours a day because her second born, a son, couldn’t take a bottle. I don’t have that luxury, so both Daddy and Peyton needed practice with it. We also recently got some real bottles, not just the drop in kind. I don’t remember them having this type of bottle with Brandon, so I thought I’d plunk down the big dough for them and try it. So, I started thawing some milk for Dave (yes, I had to prep the bottle for him in addition to everything else). He had difficulty getting the milk out when he realized that there is a cap within the nipple contraption to prevent leakage for travel purposes. Once he removed that, lo and behold, milk flowed from the nipple. His next challenge was getting her to take the bottle. All I heard was Peyton protesting the entire time I was giving Brandon a bath. I knew that meant she wasn’t eating! After bathing and then reading to Brandon, I came back into our room to assess Dave’s situation. He had given up, not wanting to force-feed her, stating
I took her, smelled poop, and then proceeded to change her (while Dave said goodnight to Brandon). Dave said she had just pooped (whatever). After cleaning her up, I proceeded to offer the nipple. Dave came back and said she was just playing nipple hockey with it before. I attributed that to her dirty diaper, or at least her need to get her business over with first before she could properly eat. After a few sucks, and putting the nipple in further, she happily sucked away. Hmmm…didn’t seem to be having any problems with me. He said it was only because I was holding her and she smelled me. I told him it was because he was out of practice and feigning not being able to do something so that he could get out of it (I wonder if he learned that from me with my “inability to cook” routine). In any case, the hungry, little girl took most of her 4 ounces without complaint. Hope she’s able to keep it down later tonight. Otherwise, Dave will tell me “I told you so!”
Didn’t want to wait
I got up this morning and fed Peyton, then while Dave was showering, I had breakfast with Brandon. Peyton was in the crib, wide awake, and just looking around. She was making small peeps, cooing, but she was content. Dave told her he’d pick her up and play after he was done showering. I came back to the room to check on her just as Dave was getting out of the shower. Dave looked into the crib
and said, “I guess she just didn’t want to wait for me.” I looked down to see what he was talking about and saw that she was out cold. It wasn’t more than 10 minutes! Dave said he just wasn’t used to a baby falling asleep by themselves. It is pretty unusual for us. So I got ready for my day as well. Have to be on alert in case the fire alarm goes off again!This is the way we roll…
Peyton is almost ready to flip over! Dave says she is a foot away – not in length, but just getting her opposite foot to flip over so the rest of her body will follow. It all happens so quickly.
Brandon and I went on an errand earlier today when suddenly he said, “Mommy, that’s a funny- looking car.” I turned to see what he was talking about and saw a bright, shiny Ferrari. He then told me he wanted to buy it. Maybe someday he will buy one for me.
Another restful night
Thanks to the alarm clock! Brandon came running in at 652am and said, “I came in right away!” Then he went over to Dave’s side of the bed and said, “You so proud?” Then he said, “I’m 3yearold (it’s one word to him) already!” (I say it a lot to him since I still can’t believe he’s 3!)
Peyton went to sleep at 1115pm, and I didn’t hear from Brandon after 815pm. I hope this continues when I go back to work. Poor Peyton, though, she was awake since probably around 6, I vaguely heard something. She just grunts, sucks on her hand, and plays in the crib. I know she must be starving. Even with Brandon now, one of the first things he asks for is breakfast.
Fashion Show!
This is what we do when we’re at home…these are over a few days, I don’t torture her! (I didn’t do this with Brandon, I guess it’s just because she is a girl