Third Week Funk-meister

With Elliot's third week of life came a little bit of fussiness. He's been harder to please lately and were not really sure why. Justeen went to a breast feeding class yesterday and she heard rather consistently from the parents of three-week-olds, that it's a turning point in life. Perhaps it's like an early adolesence - he's rebelling against his naive youthful days. Those first three weeks of life, he was taken in by the man and he bought the repressive ideology of capitalism hook, line and sinker. Now, man, he's going to fight back. Fight the power! Or something like that. All I know is that mom, dad and baby are getting less sleep than they would all probably like. Also, to make matters worse, Elliot's acne has gotten worse. I suppose it goes along with his youthful rebellion. Hormones are surging through his bloodstream and erupting in his poor pores. He's still cute, but I'm having terrible flash-forwards to his teenage years and I'm not liking it. I figure I should have at least a good decade before he starts his obligitory rebellion. But, I suppose you take it as it comes.

So today was a beautiful day here in beantown. It was 72 degrees and simply stunning. People are stupid with spring fever as they emerge from their winter hideaways and stumble deliriously onto the streets soaking in the warm sun. Days like today make living here really spectacular. Everyone, and their children, were out looking for smiling faces and it was like a big party in the neighborhood. We planted some pansies in the front yard and we're eagerly awaiting the budding tulips, lilacs and forsynthia. Even Elliot, when we took him outside was stunned by the general feeling of goodwill that a sunny day in March could bring.

Here's little Elliot taking a break after a long day of fussin' n' sun.


And here's mom and baby having come to a mutual understanding.

Pizza Face

No new pictures today. Partly, because little Elliot has some gnarly acne and I don't think he would appreciate a photo shoot just about now, and partly because the little guy has taken to not sleeping, ergo his parents have taken to not sleeping. Just getting by with the minimum amount of work I need to do to keep my job is challenge enough. But, thankfully for me, Justeen is still taking the brunt of the sleeplessness. For the last two nights, she, Izzy and Elliot went downstairs and let me get a few hours of sleep. I thank them all for their merciful indulgence of my sleep needs. Being that I teach a class until 10pm this evening and I'm mired in hours of academic counseling this week, those four hours of good sleep are priceless.

So, we go imageless for just another day or two. By Thursday I'm sure I will have subjected our little acne boy to some more representations. Maybe it's a good thing to record his first acne outbreak - then when he's fourteen and depressed by his skin ruptures, I can show him that he's already fought and won a battle with those little red confidence killers.

Oh yeah, one more thing. We discovered the name "smelliot." And we thought his name was tease-proof.

What a Long Strange Trip It's Been

Just got back from a walk. Lesson learned: make sure the little bean is fed before venturing too far from home. We stopped on a park bench near the lake, had some lunch, and Elliot figured that he wanted to have lunch too. Well, all hell broke loose and the little guy screamed and wimpered throughout the speedy fifteen minute walk home. We were hasty. We left the house without proper timing.

I learned something else: selfishness is immature. Obsessing over one's own needs above all else, the inability to empathize, the lack of awareness of other consciousnesses, is simply immature. It's OK for Elliot, because he's only two weeks old. But, what of people in their thirties, forties, and beyond who are still incapable of acknolwedging the existence and sovereignty of others? They've never grown out of that primal impulse for self-preservation. I think Elliot has taught me more about adults than he has about children. He's the ultimate anthropological subject - a true human "native."

But I excuse my son for his selfishness. After all, that focus on self-preservation is certainly what has secured the persistence of humanity. But interestingly, the inability to grow out of that self-preservation instinct will surely be what destroys it. I hope I can teach my son one day what he's just taught me.

Lost Post

I had a long, descriptive post about the past several days of Elliot's life and my computer crashed. And I'm too hungry and tired to write the post again. So, for now, those days go unremembered. But, I have pictures to share.

This is Elliot in his warm, fuzzy bunny (or bear) suit. Whatever it is, it has ears and it's white. And he looks very suave when prancing about around town in it.


The little guy looks really sweet when he's sleeping. But don't all people look really peaceful when they're asleep? Consciousness can really get in the way of our ideal sense of what it means to be human. And when I stare at my son, I find myself thinking about those questions of human-ness, but totally in the abstract, because there's no pesky consciousness to get in the way.



And there's Justeen, someone who looks just as sweet awake and asleep. Actually, sometimes she drools when she sleeps. So, Justeen is much more peaceful when she's awake.



Here's Elliot pondering what it means to be in a bunny suit (or is it a bear suit?).


And he's asleep again. One day he'll look back on these pictures and wonder what happened to all those hours of sleep. Especially if he ever has kids of his own.

Waking Life

One of the strangest things about babies is that they are sometimes awake without activity. When Elliot isn't pooing, peeing, or eating, mostly he's sleeping. But, every once in a while, he just stares, wide awake, into the ether. There's something wonderful and disconcerting about this. It's great just to see Elliot be, but I've gotten so used to filling up my time with activities, that my immediate response to his being-ness, is that he's bored or something is wrong. Why isn't he reading a book, watching TV, or making lists? What a wonderful things babies are when they remind you that "just being" is an activity too.

Here he is in the bathroom, just chilling out while his mom takes a shower.


Still chillin'


I think I surprised him with my camera. This is one of those shots that you can imagine on the cover of Star Magazine, with the headline "Caught in the Act: Baby spies on Showering Mom"

Taking a Walk

Can't seem to get this picture to load...I'll try again later.

On a cold early spring day, the family went out for another walk. Despite my lament in the previous post, it's getting a lot easier to mobilize everyone. Elliot sleeps through most activity. Here we have him snuggled in like six blankets, a sleep sack, and a hat. I'd sleep through just about anything too if I were so snuggle-ificly modified.

Exhaustion Setting In

It's saturday night about 9:30 and I'm feeling exhausted. I think the interrupted sleep schedule and the obsessive planning for absolutely everything (the prep time to go to Target this afternoon was practically longer than the outing itself) is taking its toll. We had some friends over for a brief visit this morning, took a walk, and went to Target. And that's a full day in my new world. However, I think once we figure out all the many outing gadgets like the car seat and stroller, the outings will become easier. But it's not as though we're not going out. In fact, Elliot has been to three restaurants, three long walks, Trader Joe's and Target in his first ten days of life. That means he's been out to eat 33% of the days he's been alive. That's more than I can say for myself.

Ten Days

Here's Elliot in his new truck outfit. It says "Heading Out to Save the Day." I don't think he's heading anywhere to save anything right about now. But, because babies serve the function of dolls (real pooping, peeing dolls), we dress him so that we might laugh at the subtle absurdity of his shirt.


Izzy is so overwhelmed by the cuteness of Elliot that he attempts to give the little guy a kiss. Don't freak out - all you germ police - we didn't actually allow any contact.


Here's that smile again. And if you look real closely, you can see Justeen's toes growing out of his head.


This is Elliot after I told him about family responsibility and duty. I told him that he would have to plow the fields when his parents get too old, and that he would take over the family business when we could no longer run it.

Cord Loss

His cord fell off today. It's gone. The bloody, stinky reminder of his in utero days is dead. I am relieved. In yet another new parent panic moment, we called the doctor last night because his belly was smelling like three-week-old beached whale. The doctor called back this morning and said that it was normal. What dark beginnings we have. It's no wonder we've lasted so long. If not for the almost sinister cuteness of babes, the human race would have long been abandoned by the weak stomached for something more pleasant like flowers or hamsters. But when that little guy stares up at me with his blank wide-eyed wonder, I can't think of anything but him. When he twitches his little arms, the whole world twitches with him. Yes, a baby is a masterful design - a totally dependent, stinky little lump. A little lump that is destined for evolutionary success because not only does he contain our potential, but in his absolute innocence, contains what we can never be again. When I look into his eyes, I gleam with anticipation because I know he'll become like me one day, and I mourn the perfection that wanes as he approaches that goal.

Above all, I've learned that Elliot's cuteness trumps his grossness. I guess that's the first lessons of parenthood.

One Week Old

Well, the little bean turned one week yesterday. I suppose birthdays will become less frequent as time moves on. We'll move from every week to every month to every year. And then I'm sure at some point we'll stop caring all together. But for now, every minute is remarkable. Every minute is the lead story on the nightly news. And with every lead story - there MUST be good pictures. If there's one thing I learned in film school, it's that a story is only as good as its representation. So, I take pictures constantly. I'm trying to prepare him for a life of being followed by paparazzi.

Here he is looking dramatic.















When he's not posing for the press, Elliot's posing for family photos.


And here's Justeen looking fondly at Izzy. Not sure why because just moments before this picture was taken, Izzy got into the Diaper Genie and spread "poopie diapers" all over Elliot's room. Love is a funny thing.


Check out this new outfit. Very slick. He's practicing his Michael Jackson crotch grab.


And a fancy new sweater. This boy is well dressed. Although, what's with the face?

On the outward appearance of smiles

It's funny that in the first days of life, a smile can either be an external symbol of happiness or gas. Now, it might be that these things remain closely connected throughout our lives, but there's something disconcerting about their absolute parallel early on. Kind of like a happy-faced clown, who very well might be masking a frown, a happy-faced baby is masking a fart.

Just hanging out

Finally, the little guy opens his eyes long enough for us to take a picture. This is a document of his longest waking span yet - practically 2 hours. Man, I can't remember the last time I was awake for two hours straight.



During this same "waking session," Izzy tried to introduce himself to his new brother.

Elliot's first outing

Elliot had his first outing on a beautiful early spring day. He slept the whole time, but I'm sure, if he were awake, he would have really enjoyed it.
















He appears to be pondering the beauty of the situation.

The Yellow Menace

Little Elliot was home for exactly one day before we had to take him back to the hospital. He was pretty jaundiced and he had to go sit under the tanning lights. So, we checked him back into the hospital last night. Justeen stayed the night and Elliot sat naked with little sunglasses on under these solar lights for about twelve hours. He didn't much like it, but he was lookin' pretty cool. I came home and got my first full night's sleep in several days. And while Justeen was woken up a few times to feed, she also was able to get lots of rest. The good news is Elliot's levels are down and we're back home once again. We both feel rested, which I imagine is a state that won't come easy in the coming weeks (or months).

Elliot's second day

As you see, Dad's getting a little tired.


But, Justeen is still keeping her cool after getting only two hours of sleep.


And Elliot is of course totally rested.

Elliot's first day

Dad and his son













Here's a close-up of the little man. He was pretty beaten up when he first came out, but he starting to look a little more human here.


Here he is keeping watch on his mother as she spreads the good news.

Mom's elation

Justeen had a rather unusual labor. She started having minor contractions on Tuesday night. We both slept through the night. We woke up Wednesday morning, went for a walk and her contractions were coming somewhat more frequently. But they were (in retrospect) quite minor. We called the doctor and they said go to the hospital and get checked out. So we went to the hospital at 1:30 PM. They put us in triage and within 30 minutes decided that Justeen was probably in labor, but most likely in the very early stages. She could have six hours, or even a day or two before full labor sets in. So they sent us home. Well, in the lobby of the hospital, Justeen's water broke. But, thinking that we would still have many hours before it "began," we decided to drive home. During that drive, her contractions became incredibly intense and started coming every 2 minutes. So, we called the doctor again, and they told us to go back to the hospital. We went back to the hospital at 2:45 PM. Elliot was born about two hours later. Whew!



So, here's a pic of Justeen the moment the little speed demon popped out.

Welcome to Elliot Kahlil

Sorry for the delay in posting, but the "fancy" hospital didn't have any wireless connection. Elliot Kahlil was born Wednesday, March 8, 2006 at 4:57 PM. He was 8 lbs, 7 oz and 21 inches long. Here he is taking his first breath. Who did his hair? It's looking fabulous!

Off to the hospital

So, the contractions are coming every 7 minutes or so. We called the doctor's office and the nurse said we should go to the hospital to check out the scene down there. We're off now to see if, in the immortal words of Lucy Ricardo, "Ricky, it's time."

Early Labor?

Here's the image from our latest ultrasound. We look forward to meeting him.

Beginning last night, Justeen started having somewhat regular, somewhat painful contractions. We're not sure if this is the real thing or not. We're told that the contractions will increase in duration and intensity. That has not yet happened. So, we're both hanging around close to home today, waiting for Godot. I'm reminded of the last lines of that play:

Vladimir: Shall we go?
Estragon: Yes, Let's Go.
They do not move.

false alarm

Justeen called me from work this morning and told me she was feeling what appeared to be "real contractions." Well, about an hour passed and those so-called real contractions went away. False labor - you are very mysterious. So, she took a walk to the tropical fish store near her office (because the fish need to eat) and everything seems to have returned to the status quo.

The good news is I've been able to get a lot of grading done this afternoon. I thought for sure I would have to use the old baby excuse to justify not returning my students' midterm papers. Alas, no baby excuse for this guy. I'm sure I'll be able to pull it out for some other reason.

Izzy is growing impatient. He's following me around the house, seemingly annoyed with me. And he just finished jumping on the hardwood floor guy who came by to tell us our floors are experiencing stress. The hardwood floors need a nice warm womb to hang out in.

So much for March 6

The day has almost passed, and it looks like he ain't coming. We went to the doctor today - the ultrasound told us that he was happy as a clam in there. No stress whatsover. If he's got it so good in there, why would he want to come out? After all, life in the real world ain't so sweet. Look who's president!

So, Justeen is going to work tomorrow and I'll spend the day working from home. We'll get back to life as usual and see if we can fake little Elliot out. Perhaps if he thinks we're not looking, he'll want to come out. Not even born, and already I'm playing psychological games with him. Ah, to be human.

while we're waiting

We just took a long walk in the Arboretum. People tell us that long walks are good for inducing labor. We're back and there's no labor yet. So, while I'm waiting for something to happen, I thought I'd post a pic from our other fabulous baby shower. This is the group of good friends that stopped by to wish us well. It took place at Brooke and Cher's house - they're the couple second from the left. Cher planned the whole shabang and, believe me when I say, it was meticulously planned, down to coordinated napkins and plates. It really was a great time.

We have an ultrasound scheduled for tomorrow. So, either look for a new fetus pic or a baby pic. Whatever comes first.

March 4th and no baby

I was thinking that March 4th would be a good birthday - being that it's the only day of the year that is also a command. But, despite my efforts, he has not obeyed me. His actual due date is Monday, so we plan to use this weekend to see lots of movies and eat out a lot. Of course, my spring break begins Monday, so if he really loved me, he would arrive promptly in the morning so that I have the week to spend with him (I'm practicing my jewish guilt).

Neither of us got much sleep last night - I suppose we're practicing sleeplessness as well. Well, we're off for a walk and then to the museum and then maybe to a movie. It's a lot of work being an almost-babydaddy.

community shower

Our neighbors threw us a surprise baby shower and made this lovely quilt. Everyone made a patch and then through a series of meetings and negotiations, they put this incredible thing together for us. It's a great feeling knowing that the people in the community are embracing this child.

Jealous Brother

One of the biggest concerns about this whole baby thing is how the dog is going to react to the change. That's right - the dog. He's very jealous. As you see in this pic, he doesn't really know what's about to happen. Here he is thinking everything is fine - thinking that all of that attention will continue to be showered upon him. Well, wake Bob Barker - your world is about to change. We're hoping he learns how to deal fairly quickly - but something tells me we'll be dealing with the aging child actor syndrome. True Hollywood Stories: "He was once the cutest thing in the household, but now, he's just a scruffy mutt. And he's talking his new insecurities out on the fancy furniture!"

still counting

So, no baby yet. But, no bother. That just leaves more time for pregnant justeen pics. I've been a terrible documentarian, as I've only really taken to this picture thing recently. All those stages between 1 and 8 months of pregnancy are relatively lost to the terrifying backwoods of unmediated memory. But, if my studying of the function of propaganda has taught me anything, if I inundate my senses with enough imagery, then all that which is not imaged will quickly lose its importance. I say, who cares about those first eight months - it's the last few that matter, right?

So, here's a pic of Justeen heading to work, perhaps for the last time before maternity leave.

About to pass the finish line

We're three days to estimated b-day and we're all ready for the little bugger to come out. The nine months of anticipation, dread, excitement and joy are giving way to "let's go already!" It's like sitting through too many previews before a movie - at some point you want the movie to begin.

So, here's a pic of Justeen at full term. Any day now...