Dad is funny for the second time in his life

Why can't I fly?

There is currently concern among the baby contingent in our household about certain handicaps: namely, neither parent can fly, and apparently this has been passed on to Isaiah. He loves watching things suspended in air: leaves on trees, the painted wooden fish Lisa brought me from Mexico, the rotating stuffed toys in the swing.

He's also bopping himself on the head. He's been swinging his arms a lot, in a boxing uppercut motion, and sometimes he connects with his forehead. If he gets close to the mouth, in go the fingers. I blame Marian, who has been singing "Little rabbit Foo-Foo, hopping through the forest, scooping up the field mice and bopping them on the head."

Isaiah's fans have spoken

When we start getting messages requesting updates from relatives, whose recent London-visiting identity we won't reveal, it's time to update the blog. This probably won't work as an audition tape for future reality television shows, but it shows Isaiah doing some of his best work.

I expect this short to be nominated for best dialogue in a documentary.

Taking our lumps

We all take our lumps in life, and today Isaiah took his to Manhattan. The "super specialist" agreed with the ENT specialist from Friday, the ultrasound doctor from Wednesday and our peditrician from Monday. They all think the lump on the left side of Isaiah's neck is a calcification that will go away with time, not something scary. He needs to practice moving his head (maybe with help of a physical therapist) so both the muscles on either side of his neck grow evenly.

After the doctor's visit, he was pretty wiped out and crashed in the carrier. Walking around with a baby who is not yelling sure draws a lot of smiles and friendly looks from people.

We had lunch before we headed back. One of the best burger and fries I've had in New York at Ziggiz on Third Avenue near 25th. Pictures of that will be posted soon on Liz's food blog soon.

Soaking up the world

Isaiah has his eyes open a lot. Today we went to the midwives' for Marian's checkup (all is well and she can exercise again if she wants). Afterward we had lunch and coffee downtown Yonkers White Plains. He looked all around while we walked down the street. Oddities of note: A sign in the window for Dr. Moody, a dentist I don't want sticking a drill in my mouth.

A very busy day

Isaiah capped a very busy day by playing at Aunt Liz's. In addition to the usual eating, crying, laughing, pooping, arm and leg waving, watching, listening and absorbing, he went to church, met with Deacon Beckford about the baptism and observed oven-roasted chicken at Aunt Liz's. Now he's sleeping, mom is sleeping and dad should be sleeping.

Rubber necking

Isaiah might stop sticking his neck out because he's tired of getting prodded there. After all the fun Wednesday, it was off to the ear, nose and throat specialist today. He did not like the additional poking and feeling on the lump even though the doctor was very nice. She thinks our pediattrician is right, especially after talking to the ultrasound doctor, but she wants us to see a "superspecialist" just to be sure. Wednesday it's off to Manhattan for a third opinion.

Isaiah and I also took our first walk with the baby Bjorn (he cried until I let him out last Sunday when I tried it) this afternoon. He spent some time playing with Marian and slept a lot.

Sleeping

Lots of resting today as Isaiah recovers from a stuffy nose. Made eating and breathing at the same time difficult. We walked outside and looked at trees, too. He complained some when he was awake, but it was more of a frustrated, want to feel better cry than the vehement protest he generates some days.

Wearing us out

The not-so-little guy now weighs 11 pounds, 9 ounces. Or rather, he weighed that on Monday. He's probably heavier now. We know that because we stopped in at the pediatrician's again on Monday with a note we got from the state saying there was a problem with his newborn screening. She assured us that this was the thyroid thing we investigated and no problem. Whew 1.

Then I asked her about the lump I noticed on the left side of his neck Sunday and the fact that he'll turn his head all the way right but not all the way left, so in we went to get him examined. Just after we got the weight, he turned into a little fountain on the scale, peeing on the scale and counter as we all scrambled for something to soak it up. After looking at his neck, Dr. Braier said she thought it was a growth in the muscle and nothing to worry about, but she ordered an ultrasound.

That meant another medical trip Tuesday. One working theory is that Isaiah is thinking about becoming a doctor and wants to review the latest equipment. Anyway, more than hour after we got to the office, we finally got into the ultrasound room. Isaiah did not like the goopy stuff or the wand. He squirmed and yelled. The first tech told us the doctor needed to look. Then the senior tech came in and repeated the exam. More squirming and yelling as Marian and I grew more nervous. Then they said the doctor had to look. Yikes.

Enter doctor. He asked us to hold Isaiah tightly, and either the greater constraint or pure fatigue kept him quiet as the doctor did a thorough exam. After several minutes, he said his exam confirmed what the pediatrician had said. Phew 2.

We told Isaiah (who also has a stuffy nose today) that he's not allowed to get sick anymore. Marian promised to let him play hooky from school if he stays healthy. I protested (the hooky part, not the healthy part).

Stressful day over.

He's not always this quiet

Apparently Grandpa gets special treatment from Isaiah. No screaming. Or maybe we calmed him down before we handed him over? I don't know. Maybe it was the smell of pasta. Or maybe he decided that dad was enjoying the NFL game, so he'd give him a break.

What do moms like to talk about?

Lots of things if you let them out of the house. We walked around the Fleetwood street fair Sunday with Liz. The pictures are from the barbecue restaurant (not recommended or really worthy of the title) while we waited for lunch. I carried Isaiah to give Marian a break, and she and Liz did a lot of looking around at the various tables. Stimulation isn't just good for the baby.

More bashion

Isaiah not only models, but also wears with joy a sweater from Glenna Brodnicki. Perfect for fall afternoons and evenings. The sweater kept him warm and free of bat bites.

Back to the star of this blog

Isaiah met Great Grandpa Tascio (and Great Grandma Tascio) at a party in their honor on Saturday. He was one of three breast-feeding young 'uns there. He really liked the trees on the property and did a great job dealing with being outside for several hours.

Isaiah also got to meet a bunch of other relatives, including Becky Didona (mother of three cute New Jersey girls). We enjoyed the visiting and great food, including a spread of cakes that got wiped out by the herd of children (and adults).

Word nerds

Picked up some bread at the farmers' market on Thursday which led to a conversation with Marian on Saturday morning.

Marian: "What is spelt?"

Matt: "I think it's a kind of wheat. Yeah it's a kind of wheat."

Matt (doubting own expertise for only a moment): "I'll look it up on the internet."

Matt: Blah, blah, blah ... "used in breads and pastas like wheat ... less inbred than its wheat cousins ... "

Matt (a few minutes later): "Also a favored food before spelling bees."

A bad pun, no matter how you slice it

Matt's favored food after shopping at the farmers' market

As suspected, the ramshackle taco huts downtown Yonkers serve awesome beef and carnitas tacos.

Games

This game is simple. I wave my arms around and make funny noises and faces. If Isaiah likes them he laughs. If he doesn't, or he gets bored, or he gets hungry, he starts to cry and I have to go back to one he liked.

Vulcan baby?

Note the interesting hand greeting. Ears are still rounded, though, so I don't think there's too much to be concerned about. Or maybe we shouldn't display emotion?

Door sign

Walked around downtown Yonkers after stopping at the farmers' market yesterday and noticed an old health clinic building next to city hall. Not sure what social hygiene entails, but you can now pay parking tickets in this building.

Sometimes my parents amuse me

Sometimes we make him laugh, although today it was not easy. He cried a lot, including at the La Leche League meeting he attended with mom. It was at the library, so she couldn't even step out of the room to give the other people a break.

Mad hatter

Patrice and Darren, who are parents of the cute Scarlett and often sit a couple of rows in front of us now that we've slid to the back at church, gave Isaiah this hat. He tried it on when Grandma visited last week, but it was a little too big.

One month old

Isaiah turned one month old early this morning. Proof? Here's a copy of the first text message sent about Isaiah from Liz to Anne:

Sent: Aug 9, 2008 12:56 AM
Subject: Baby's crying :)

We served no cake today, but Isaiah did go to baby massage class with Marian. From what I heard, Marian did the massaging until Isaiah decided it was time to eat. Then she fed him.

We also took a big nap this evening, which meant bedtime was delayed because of alertness.

It's been a great month. Thanks for all the messages, gifts, cards and encouragment. Next month we'll celebrate with vaccinations. Please don't explain this to Isaiah until after we've been to the doctor.

Sunday nap

OK, Isaiah is obviously no longer asleep, but I promise that there was serious napping yesterday afternoon. Later we took a walk around the block. He was fascinated by the overhanging trees. I tried to point out some squirrels, but all he wanted to do was lean his head back and stare at the leaves and branches overhead. I took a look myself and found it very interesting, too.

Almost forgot. Note the overalls worn to church yesterday. Next thing you know, he'll be baling hay and showing calves at the fair.

Pooh ...

Pooh

Isaiah feels snug and dry in his Pooh outfit last week after a bath.

Waking up

Guess who wanted mom and lunch after he woke up from a nap shortly after noon today?

Perfect relaxation

When he's sleeping, he doesn't mind the carseat. When he's not, he hates it.

Growing

This onesie used to fit Isaiah. That was before he knew how to dunk a basketball.

Party animal

Isaiah got to meet Gregory and Lori at Liz's party Thursday night. He also wowed the New York girls before he got tired of the loud music and retired to the bedroom to drink with his mom and aunt Liz. Pictured: Lori, Magda, Isaiah and Marian.

Health and wellness

Great news today. We took Isaiah to an endocrinologist in New York city because his pediatrician was worried about his thyroid. The specialist told us the tests came back with numbers that would be unacceptable for an adult but that need no treatment for a newborn. As a precaution, they'll test again in three months.

This was not a surprise given that he continues to grow (10 pounds, 6 ounces and 22 inches today). He is looking around, listening and soaking up the world. This morning, while Marian was showering, I entertained him in bed by waving my hands around above his face while. If he's not sleeping or upset, he wants me to carry him facing forward so he can look at things. He likes lights and dark pictures hanging on bright walls. We almost think he's trying to decipher writing on the spines of books on our shelves.

Here I am now, entertain me

Where to begin? The past couple of days have been a whirlwind. I guess I'll start with the picture. This is Isaiah during a calm moment, slung low across Marian as we walked around the block Tuesday.

His eyes and ears are open and absorbing everything.

Isaiah smiled at us both the other day, then repeated it when I smiled at him. He laughed at himself when we showed him his reflection in the mirror. He's locking onto faces and looking at everything. He's more aggressive and accurate with his hands. He gets bored if we point his head toward our chests when he's alert. He wants us to move around and let him look at new things. He wants to hold his head up and use his arms and legs to propel himself around (still too weak for all but some head holding). He listens when we talk and moves between voices (I had a dream that he used a full sentence). He laughed at me when I touched his nose and then mine while we were reclining in bed.

We're not sure we're going to be able to keep up in a couple more weeks.

Drowning in cuteness

I'm going to start borrowing clothes from Isaiah. He has oodles of onesies decorated with a menagerie of colorful little animals.

Blankets, too

Sometimes motorcycle sounds will make him stop crying. Not sure if he likes them or is stunned into submission by my craziness.

Grandpa bought us pizza

Isaiah enjoyed a visit from Grandpa Tascio yesterday, especially the Dunwoodie pizza. OK, he didn't eat any of the pizza, but a happy, well-fed mom means Isaiah is going to be happy, too.

Isaiah the social butterfly

Babies are irresistable. The tennis pro approached us Saturday while we sat near the courts in Bronxville. After a brief editorial about how people are starting children as young as 3 and a half years old, but that's too young, he offered to get us materials about playing from his car.

Earlier that morning at the farmers' market (with Aunt Liz), Isaiah drew plenty of attention and comments. He's also a big conversation starter in our building (the mail room gathering takes note of our comings and goings). At church, two women who have had daughters in the past year (and their mothers) have introduced themselves and numerous other women have offered advice, including suggestions that we provide a hat on sunny days. Marian's a member of a new club.

Invasion

Invaded by a mouse and ants in the same week. Fortunately, this time I was home and spotted the mouse before Marian (some readers may be familiar with my tragic trip to Missouri during which a mouse took up residence in the bathtub during the middle of the June night). This mouse (if it was a different one) did not escape.