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Friday, January 23, 2004
Yes, yes too long etc. For what it's worth, I haven't exactly been sitting on my hands lately, either. I noted last night that in trying to get through even one book, I've dogeared the same page so many times that the corner actually fell off into my hand. (Katherine Graham's memoir -- actually worth more attention than I can afford it).
First -- the baby! He's four months old today! Yes, time screams by these days. Except when I'm trying to put him to sleep... We decided to bite the bullet and start enforcing the sleep and wake times in a desperate effort NOT to have to move to another time zone just to normalize him. He got it almost right away, and set about re-training Mama and Papa with a very serious will. The worst moments are when, after one hour of screaming as though wolves were in his crib (we "check" on him every five minutes, but leave him there) I finally break down, assuming that, yes, this time he is in mortal danger, and pick him up. The cries abruptly cease and I SWEAR THIS -- he laughs. When your baby laughs, it is hard not to laugh too. But when your baby laughs at you...
That said, he's actually gotten very good at sleeping through the night (I'm not only knocking on wood now, but stomping on it), and all things being equal I really cannot complain. He's way too cute to complain much. His voluminous hair, given its way, tends to stand pretty much straight up. As a neighbor said the other day, "He's looking VERY downtown." Nobody can make him happier than Galen, whose very presence will send the baby into coo-fests and convulsive laughter. Whatever Galen chooses to do with the baby (except for maybe falling on him) is pure delight for Alejandro. And Galen's tastes are definitely rubbing off on the baby. I haven't mentioned this before, but we have achieved the most intimate familiarity with the soundtrack of "The Lion King," to which we are subjected at breakfast and dinner every day, with perhaps an afternoon run-through following school. Even Javier knows all the lyrics by heart. So far, the one magic pill that will on every occasion be successful in putting the baby to sleep is to play the song, "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" twice through. I'm pretty sure that Galen discovered this (you can guess how).
Galen has been a champion in every way, from suddenly sharing his room with a baby, to not complaining about the baby waking him up at night, to just plain being generous with all of us. He just started swimming classes yesterday (first time), and after the typical protestations, LOVED it. I have to say that I melted down a little bit trying to hold the baby, and get Galen showered off and dressed after the class. Definitely must work on growing another arm!
As for Javier, he's busy every night (in the dark hours of the evening, after the kids are actually asleep) teaching himself new watercolor techniques with (to me) phenomenal success. I think it would be just tremendous if he actually showed people his paintings sometime. He's officially re-employed at Viewpoint, which is in itself a mixed bag. The good part is that we have benefits through that job. The bad part, well... deja vu, if you know what I mean.
I have been working from home almost since my "retirement" from Bernstein. I am having so much fun -- I'm a Personal Assistant to someone I met out in the business world. He's a very successful guy, and definitely lives the lifestyle of the rich and famous, but basically needs a professional wife to handle his day-to-day stuff. So I've been doing that in the mornings, with a babysitter here to take care of Alejandro for a few hours a day. I couldn't have asked for a better situation, or better timing. My client also happens to be an incredibly nice guy -- a bit prone to stress -- but generous to a fault, and lots of fun.
posted by Dorothy 12:31 PM
