Daddy day!

I am currently in my ER rotation. Shift work is one of the best things about ER. I only have to go to work every other day. Kelsey quickly jumped on this and flew the coop :) We have instituted Daddy Day, where I stay home with Houston and she works all day. Here's a pic of H sleeping while I type.

Daddy Day begins the same way. Kelsey brings Houston from his crib to our bed, and we wake up the same way. We stretch, rub our eyes, then smile. Then Kelsey asks him, "Houston, is it gonna be a good day?"(She asks that every day) But today, I answered, "You bet! Are you ready for Daddy Day?" Then Kelsey leaves and I am all alone. Thje first time she left, it felt like my first night in the hospital, when the nurse turned to me and asked, "Dr., what do we do?"I hesitated and she responded, "You're a doctor, act like one." So I told her to get me some coffee and saved the patient's life :)  But seriously, the isolation of sole responsibility is similarly daunting. Though Houston smells much better than my drunks.

After a few full days alone with Houston, I love it. But it also amazes me how cyclical his life is:

Sleep - Wake - Play - Eat - Sleep - Wake - Play - Eat

I have also realized how hard it is to accomplish items on your own list while at home. The only real break is while he sleeps. And during that time, it is so tempting to sleep while he does... Anyway, the plan for the day is to try and revise a few manuscripts and submit them to journals. I also hope to get some cycling in.

Maybe this whole baby thing wasn't such a bad idea after all

Let me begin by saying that I love my little guy, Houston. He is wonderful. But he was not at first what I expected. If we go way back, Kelsey told me she was pregnant on the phone (not in person, but on the phone!!!). Had to throw that jab in there. Still bitter. After a few months, we found out that we were having a little boy. I was ecstatic! While a girl would have also been fine, there's something about the father-son relationship. I immediately started thinking of all the things I would teach him: how to fish, how to hunt, how to scale a fish, how to cut grass (very important), how to drive, how to ride a bike (this list may not be in order). I also thought of all the awesome things we'd do. I've always needed an activities buddy. Someone to do Race Across America (http://www.raceacrossamerica.org) or hike the Appalachian Trail or swim the English Channel with me. Kelsey's just not as enthusiastic about these things.

You'd think my pediatrics and OBGYN experience would have better prepared me, but I was somewhat disappointed when Houston arrived. For the first month or so, all he did was lay there, eat, and crap on EVERYTHING!!! He also seemed pleased to pee on me whenever I changed his diaper. But he also peed on Kelsey, so that was worth it.

But I tell you what! For all you first-time dads out there, keep the faith. Sometime around month 3, 4, or 5, things change. Just when you're about fed up with waking up at night, or being peed on, they smile at you. Then they start cooing to you. My attending on peds thought that evolution held off until the last minute, until right before you discard your baby, then bam, the baby charms its way back.

Well, Houston keeps getting awesomer and awesomer each day. Today, we were playing on the floor and he grabbed at his toys!!! That tongue sticking out is a sign of intense focus.

Daily workout:

I'm supposed to ride today and rest tomorrow, but I think I'll flip them. Yay day off!!!