I came home from work Wednesday evening and was handed an infant and an admonition to feed him the frozen breast milk thawing in the fridge after he woke from his nap. Which I was also to time appropriately.
Thankfully, he goes down pretty easily these days with the schedule we've got him on. That my wife has him on. I just emulate what she does as best I can and hope for the same results. So far, doing pretty well. (I failed horribly with not thawing the milk out in time and had a screaming baby, placated him with formula instead and wasted the boob-juice, which earned me a steely glare from my wife later in the evening.)
On top of this I whipped up a spaghetti dinner with meat sauce and rained lauds down on our toddler when he went pee in the potty. Strange sensation when you're hunkered down in the bathroom thinking about simmering spaghetti sauce, an infant clutched in one arm and the other hand ensuring that the toddler's unit stays confined while saying, "YAY!" in unison with him.
I did this because Amy had to shop. We have a wedding to go to on Saturday (I'm a groomsman) and she needed a new dress. So I got the kids and she got a couple hours away from the domestic maelstrom. I can see the gleam in her eye when she pulls out of the driveway, I swear I can.
The thing every woman must do after such a trip is 'try it on for you' when she gets home. By the time Amy got around to it, Tavish was in bed and Dex and I were ensconced in our evening snuggle on the couch after his bath, plowing through his Disney Babies books. My wife came out from the hallway in a delightfully snug navy and white-polka-dot strapless top with accompanying frilly-white summery skirt type thing. Before I could make my compliments, Declan got his two cents in.
"Pihn-cess! Hi, pihn-cess."
My own muttered blandishments were quite favourable, but I don't think Amy was listening to me at that point. She smiled and swirled and cocked her head slightly so we could take it all in. (Did I mention the snug top? Because I was enjoying that; taking it all in.)
She left to change back into more regular garb, leaving Dex to furrow his brow (he does that very well) and lob one last plea towards his mother.
"Pihn-cess! Whey-ah-you??"
Amy and I are life-long members of the Busted Wide Open Hearts Club.
OK, I conceed. Declan is, indeed, the cutest kid who ever lived.
Posted by: Paul | Thursday, 27 July 2006 at 12:09 PM
Snug top, yeah!
Now if I could just get my wife to wear one.
Posted by: Alvis | Thursday, 27 July 2006 at 01:34 PM
What, no photo?
Posted by: marian | Thursday, 27 July 2006 at 02:17 PM
Many of us are in that club. And I think Marian may have a great t-shirt in the works for us.
Posted by: rick | Thursday, 27 July 2006 at 03:06 PM
I am SO impressed that the 'strange sensation' of domestic multitasking is a more and more common experience these days for men. Honestly, I believe that roles were more entrenched even just 10 years ago, that the under-40 parents have a much more egalitarian system.
Posted by: Paula | Thursday, 27 July 2006 at 03:16 PM
Please sign me up for that club, and, rick, make it a snug t-shirt.
I can't imagine being a father in another time, some archaic era that said that men aren't supposed to do the things described herein. My relationship with my son would be much different (and horribly deficient, in my opinion), were we to leave all the nurturing up to his mother. She might be a stay-at-home mom, but that's not because we're in some '50's throwback household.
Okay, stopping now. Save it for my own blog.
Posted by: Mark | Friday, 28 July 2006 at 12:39 AM
What a delightful post. I felt like I was sitting on the chair in the corner watching and listening to all of you with, first- a large, genuine smile on my face and then- a large, equally genuine lump in my throat at the sound of Declan's "Princess" comment. There is just something about how little boys see their mommies that tears me up. Not to overshadow a husband's appreciation for that same beauty, and was damn nice of you to let her know... She'll return the favor I'm sure when you don the tuxedo ;-)
Please post a picture of you all in your finery. Have fun too!
Posted by: Linda | Friday, 28 July 2006 at 06:30 AM