A banner day in Babyland...Dexter has figured out how to roughly bring something to his mouth to suck on it. It's not graceful, it's not terribly accurate, but this morning he managed to bring the little stuffed bugs from Cousin Allison to his mouth. His eyes popped open in awe, and he gurgled with delight. The only video camera available was on my phone, which prompted me to finally order that USB cord from Samsung so I can transfer data from my phone to my computer.

Yes, I know I COULD do it wirelessly, but I was never able to figure out how to make an"@" symbol on the phone keyboard, and I canceled the internet feature from our phone plan, since we never really use it. I tried to buy the cord at the Cingular store last month, but they were sold out. Good thing, too, as they had it for $30. Samsung had it online through their corporate website for $12.99 and free shipping.

As if I hadn't been lured into the world of online shopping already working 60 hour weeks, I now appreciate it even more with a new baby. The Herculean effort it takes to get out of the house to do basic errands even after 2 months keeps a lot of stuff on my shopping list. Now I order it online then it shows up eventually, at least sooner than I would have been able to get out to hunt and kill it. But when I do hunt and kill, I'm finding myself succumbing to the lure of Costco and it's Big Box Store cronies. I have always been the "stop at Trader Joe's" twice a week kind of gal, channeling the Parisian housewife stopping at the market every night on her way home. I'm starting to appreciate the convenience of larger sized items, at least when it comes to non-edible items like paper goods. I am desperately trying to find secret storage in our one bedroom apartment, so we don't look like a tacky warehouse. So far, it's working.

Today I'm trying to start the baby on the road to a Daytime Schedule. He is very predictable at night, and usually sleeps almost all the way through, with one feeding between 3am and 5am, but many nights he goes right through until dawn.

So this morning, I am trying to put him down for more than a 10 minute nap. In the bedroom with the shades closed, cool and relatively quiet. This is the second try of the morning, and so far it's working. He just fussed for a few minutes, but no screaming this time. We'll see how he does. It would be nice to know I could get something done during the day, even if just for an hour or two. Or that he might sleep through Mommy and Me Yoga, at least partly, so there could be more Yoga and Mommy and less Me.

This week in Babyland...

We had our first Date Night!! Our pal Keelie came over and watched the precious tot while Steve and I were able to go out and take in a movie. We saw "Knocked Up," so it wasn't a completely baby-free evening, but it was a very funny movie, and more of the kind of light hearted entertainment we wanted on a Tuesday than "Sicko," which we are going to see today, thanks again to Keelie, who had offered us a two-for-one with the babysitting.

It was nice to leave the house in a regular bra, no maternity or nursing clothes on, carrying a small purse and even wearing heels. Heels made by Aerosoles, but heels none the less.

While we were gone, Dexter slept the entire time, snoozing away in his Moses bed on the floor of the living room. Keelie reported that Schmedley also kept a close watch, periodically getting off the sofa to go over and peer into the basket, as if was also on babysitting duty. Schmed has really taken to the baby. I have noticed that if the baby starts to fuss in the other room, the cat comes over to herd me in that direction.

I even had my first audition this week, for some VO work on an audio book. Brought the boy in a stroller and he charmed the casting lady with his big eyes and good behavior. Great in public, screams in the car.

We almost made it to Mommy and Me yoga this morning. We were up, dressed, fed with an entire hour to spare for one last feeding before we had to leave. Except it took more like a hour and twenty minutes. Too bad, so sad. We'll try again on Monday. Instead, I have finally posted an ad on Craig's List to unload the old Honda, and hope to make it out to Target for trash bags.

It's been a couple of weeks...things are starting to settle into a routine. I'm still on the feed/bottle/pump cycle, but at least everyone's Thrush has cleared up (which I didn't even mention) so that has helped to eliminate a couple of steps as well as make it more pleasant for the both of us.

Dexter has finally put on weight and is "thriving" as they say. He's a little peanut, but healthy and good looking. I may not be getting a full night's sleep, but piecing something like it together most days. We are managing to leave to house almost every day to do something like doctor's appointments or little errands. Still no pedicure yet, but Steve and I hope to go out for our anniversary. Sans bebe. Even my baby weight is coming off, or so the scale tells me, though I fit into nothing from my former life that isn't sweatpants. And so the Summer of the Newborn Baby goes.


Yesterday's little outing was to the Kwik-E-Mart in Burbank. 7-11 stores have outfitted a select few stores around the country to look like Apu's store on the Simpsons to promote the movie coming out in a few weeks. Steve got a Squishee and I got a bright pink frosted donut with sprinkles, the iconic Simpsons pastry. There was a line out the door with security letting people in and out. I'm sure if corporate 7-11 realized what a hit these stores would be, they might have opened a few more. This particular location is normally a low traffic store. The employees looked a little overwhelmed.

This is my third attempt to post, but I've been busy...we had the baby over Memorial Day Weekend, and since then my free time for composing clever blog entries has been curtailed. I'm still able to keep up with reading email, but sending it out is not as easy.

I have literally become a cow, breastfeeding on demand since we came home, and for the last week also hooking up to a MILKING MACHINE as well. It is all I can do to wash all bottles and tubes, eat something, and use the bathroom before the whole cycle starts again. Little Dex has still not gotten back up to birth weight, so as of today he also gets a couple of ounces of formula to top it all off. He is now sleeping off his first really full stomach, and Steve and I cannot believe what a calm baby he is. In general, he's mellow, but has been a bit fussy, and it's because he's been hungry.

Oh, the guilt. I'm sure it won't be the last thing I feel terrible about.

The upshot, is that my baby will hopefully sleep more peacefully for longer stretches, and perhaps I will be able to achieve the small goal of having enough time to get a pedicure without thinking my child is starving without me.