Multi-tasking Papa

Zander as Smurf

Zander as Smurf

The Papa Speaks

Alex's notes on week one of Fatherhood are here

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A List of Motherhood So Far

The whole 'you'll never sleep again' thing isn't as bad as I thought. Who knows how I'll feel about that next week.
I have no idea how single mothers manage raising children solo. Alex is a super dad and I could never do this without him.
Umbilical cord stumps are not for eating. When you get up in the night to eat some walnuts with your baby slung over your shoulder and then return to bed and find what you think is a left-over walnut in his blankey, be sure it's a nut before putting it in your mouth.
I've been reading the same article from the NewYorker for 5 days straight. Each time I get to read it I have to stop on the same column--I give up.
I've started watching the same episode of HBO's "The Wire" 3 times and have not yet actually watched it.
I did knit an entire 3 rows on a baby blanket that will be for Zander's first child at the rate I'm going.

All that said, I don't care because I've got the cutest boy EVA!!!!!!

Zander Sleeps

Alex & Zander

Alexander The Great

Alexander (Zander) Foli Todd Mallet heeded the eviction notice I posted on the 15th and made his appearance on August 16th at 9:41 am, after 13 hours of labor. He's a big boy, weighing in at a hefty 9 pounds 2 ounces. Man, childbirth is hard!!!! More on the details later.

Eviction Notice

Here is a picture.
See the picture.
It's not me, it's Lindsay, but it describes things quite well.
My Tenant's Eviction/Induction Date Has Been Set: Monday, Aug. 21

Dear Tenant,

Please vacate the premises sooner so we don't have to force you out :)

Love,
Your Landlord, Host Organism, and Mom

Butterfly

Disclaimer: No butterfly was harmed in this shoot--it was already dead.

Macro Mooshi & Yes, I'm Still Pregnant

Older & More Creative

Gerber

Yesterday, I received a most excellent bday present from Alex--the Lensbabie 2.0 and Macro lenses. When we got home from Body Worlds, showing at the Museum of Science, I dinked around with the macro lenses. These here blossoms are the result.

The Lensbaby is not a 'traditional' lens by any means. It's more of an artistic, creative sort of photo toy. The effects end up looking like photos shot with a Holga. I haven't quite mastered it yet but am having fun attempting to.

Anyway, it was a swell day to turn 33.

Unfolding Gerber

Nastrutium

Dalia

The Rescuers

Stefanie

Yesterday was a big big day for me--I left the house, used 'my words' on someone other than Alex, and shot some photos at Forest Hills. Big ups to Stefanie (photog extrodinaire-check out her site) and her kiddies for rescuing me from confinement.

Madison

Garrett

The Natural Law of Public Transportion in Extreme Conditions

I fancy myself a person of reason but must admit that I'm becoming more and more superstitious with age. I'm convinced the universe is plotting against me which is why I am a firm believer in the Natural Law of Opposites. Nevertheless, this latest curse of Mother Nature is just unfair.

To escape the heat I could go to the pool at MIT or some other 'cooling center' but the problem and reason I don't is a subsection of the Natural Law of Opposites, it's called the Natural Law of Public Transportation in Extreme Conditions.

The Natural Law of Public Transportation in Extreme Conditions works like this. Take a scorching or freezing day, or just any day where you are in a hurry, running late or maybe sick and have to rely on public transportation.

You go to the bus stop expecting a 5-minute wait, the norm, but end up waiting and waiting leaving you to wonder if the MBTA has cancelled the route in the direction you're going. It will become clear that the same route going the opposite direction has not been cancelled because during your excruciatingly hot 30 minute wait caravans of busses going the opposite direction, 3 deep, running every 5 or so minutes and almost completely empty will pass and taunt you.

The above scenario happens every time I brave the bus and it doesn't matter which direction of the route I'm waiting for--I will wait and wait and wait and count the number of busses going the opposite direction. I'll end up having conversations with the transients who occupy the benches and like all conversations with strangers these days, the talk will be baby, which is mildly pleasant.