BABY BUDDY HACKETT

Okay...I swear Leo does not look that fat in person..it's all in the angle. and the photo doesn't even look like him--but it's so funny I wanted to post it. Or is this one of the many moments that I'm thinking that LEO IS HILARIOUS AND CUTE and everyone else is just politely nodding their heads...but he looks like an old man sitting in his Lazy Boy. He kind of looks like my Uncle Chet.
Leo is a "Spring' and looks great in pastels. I was doing a mini photo shoot with him last night...and every once in a while his eyes completely cross. It always makes me laugh really hard. I swear I never do that when I see someone with crossed eyes out in the world.





And that would be a smile. There have been a few smiles..little glimpses.

I've been so busy since after the holidays because Jeff is helping me get in 3 hours of work a day-which usually means I go write at a coffee shop for 2 hours and then go exercise. I've got to finish a play and a book proposal. This three hours sort of makes the rest of the day feel so JAMMED PACKED with so much to do. But it's been going really well. The only thing that I've really had it with is all the fricken baby books. If I have another person tell me THE BOOK that I MUST GET...I'm gonna make them buy it for me at least. Every book that I read tells me the exact opposite of the one before it. I'm not kidding. I went to an infant care class that the Pump Station hosts every day for new mothers to sit around with their boobs out and complain and get advice from a lactation lady...it was great. Not enough jokes for me..but it was great. And every mom is feeling guilty and stressed and worried. It made me feel very sane. Which is good. But the Pump Station is all about 'the happiest baby on the block' which is a book that is pro-swaddling and pro-the swing and pacifiers and everything that we have and use. And then we have a guest on New Years Eve who tells me I MUST get this other book and this book "The self-confident baby' made me a very insecure parent. Burping a child by patting the back is considered abusive and the swing is giving him a 'drug' by turning him into a zombie etc etc..

Every body tells you something different and they tell you with 'if you're doing that to your baby--you're a selfish baby killer'. Drinking coffee once a day is murder to some--and not asking your baby verbal permission before you wipe his butt is considered baby rape. The extremes and the judgement that comes with it is really like nothing else i've ever experienced.
I think Leo and I are going to take a smoke break now to relax...

Leo cries more but it just feels like he's more awake and expressive.....

Jeff and I are deeply fantasizing about moving to the east side--as much as we love the ocean we feel that we should be around other parents and families that we know and maybe even have a back yard. We're dreaming big.

I just put Leo in his swing and I feel guilty. I'm gonna google 'serial killers and baby swings'. I feel like I'm gonna raise Leo like I raise myself---moderation. Balance. Daily Weigh-ins and white wine.

Zach and Lizzy are back together and she's transferred to Boston University...so that's the big drama news there.

One of the big joys I have is dressing Leo. I love putting together the outfits for him--and when he gets to be 3 months the clothes starting getting really cute--so I can't wait for that.

Hope everyone has stopped throwing up from the holidays and I hope we get to see you all in soon. It's looking pretty solid that we'll be able to hop to Indy for 4 days in March. Arriving Monday early-ish and then leaving Thurs evening. So quick. Geez...