brood

as i type, i wear one wee levi in a sling. this sling is of the ring variety and has become a kind of fixture in my way of life. i’d even call it a savior. lady joanna has found her savior in a wrap – the moby wrap.

the boy sits in the sling in a cradle position. there is just enough of him to see to whet one’s appetite. yes, there is often this sensation that if given the proper tools, i might eat wee levi. he’s so wonderful, irresistable, and juicy. he’s like a big banana split. this obviously sounds rather crazy, to want to eat your baby, and I assure you this is merely figurative, but there is a visceral quality to it. i feel better to know that lady joanna has the same urge. we imagine the moby wrap as a large tomato basil flour tortilla and wee levi as the scrumptious filling.

lady joanna is reading a lot about sleep. i want to know more about avoiding sleep problems, or at least get informed on the topic. like any aspect of parenting there are more opinions than one can possibly use, or even wade through. we will probably end up borrowing ideas from the various schools of thought, dare i say factions, out there to see what works for the wee one. he’s way to young for a lot of the ideas. we already kind of co-sleep in that we have a co-sleeper(tm) and that i his bed for now and it’s parked right next to us, as a kind of extension to our bed. he likes it just fine and he sleeps okay. after our usual 7pm nap attempt where he and i typically get 45 mins of sleep together, we get 3-4 hour stretches, starting from 9am and ending at 8am. Although, sometimes around 5am he starts to get really gassy, and fussy – he appears to bear down a lot and just can’t settle. In those cases, after some calming bouncing or walking around the house, he and i snuggle up on the couch so lady j can get some sleep, that’s usually good for an extra much needed 45 mins.

my ace in the hole is the sling. when that 7pm nap goes wrong, I can pop him in there and walk about outside, and pretty much count on sleep eventually. on the weekends, when we try to give lady j breaks, it’s pretty much sling time the whole time. he really seems to like it, and it helps him stay steady on his napping which seems to lead to more consistent sleep at night. the unfortunate thing is that it is so bloody hot here in texas that our outdoors access is very limited.

i feel stirring… i think he may be hungry. oh lady jo? where are thou?

Putting down wee Levi is a kind of art. However, I believe the artist is actually Levi, with us as mere canvas. Though, while attempting to get the boy to Sleep, I often misplace the credit. This is folly, of course. While Lady Joanna and I may have found that the birth ball, neck nestle, and bouncing to be a fine formula, it really is all up to Levi. Even when we have found that we have to add the swaddle with the rain cd and a few little songs, it is all up to Levi. Of course, when we go the final yard and put in the passy, it still is up to Levi. He’s a boy among boys, and we mere playthings willing to do just about anything for a smile, and even more for a good nights rest. Here’s to that… oh boy, I hear him stirring!

I’d like to kick off “brood” our personal parenting blog with a poem. Enjoy, and stay tuned for the musings, broodings, and bellowing voices of ladyjoanna and pappyman.

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brood n., v., adj.

When to brood about one’s Brood?
I answer this with an attitude

Because one’s fretting about one’s Fry
Is done so frequently we can’t deny

It is happening as we breathe
It is happening with a sneeze

It is happening with a scream
It is happening as we dream

It happens when we close the door
It is happening evermore

So, Brood on birth warrior, brood on dear mate
Brood on ye Breeder for it is thy fate