Riv

It's been a while since I've changed a diaper.  My wife does it for a living in her Day Home.

Yet here I am, tossing legs, wiping up messes, and fastening up nice little cozy containers over my new son's lower area.  Even though it's been 10 years, it all comes back to me.  Like riding a bike.

Little River was born almost 7 weeks ago.  God help him but I've been scolding him for being so handsome.  I say "where did you get those handsomes from?"  The next day wagging my finger at him, I'll say, "How many more handsomes are in there?  Two?!  Three?!"  He has yet to respond.

My little guy has been pretty fussy, compared to his big brothers.  At least, that's how we remember it.  This little guy has a combination of rituals, a routine that unlocks the sleepy lands.  We've got him jiggled, shushed, and cuddled.  Once he goes through 2 or 3 crying cycles he finally hits the sleeping sweet spot and then we can put him down in his little crib.

His crib is sort of like the Ferrari of cribs.  It shifts and bobs on 4 or 5 different settings.  It has a whole section of white noise sounds.  Once River is set up in his ride, he'll usually good to sleep for anywhere from 10 to 45 minutes.  That's where we're at right now.

Overall, as a new dad again, I think this time I can really settle in to enjoy things a bit more.  When Miles was born, it broke my heart every time he cried his little tears.  With River, I can't help but laugh and console him as best as I can.  I am way more laid back in that way.

Jonas loves spending time with River.  He holds him all the time.  Atll the time, that is, until he gets "too hot", at which point, he is passed on to me.  But Jonas loves looking at him and he thinks he's funny and cute.

Miles doesn't like holding River.  He'd rather read a book.  However, he does show love to him.  He also thinks River does some pretty neat things.  He noted that River's cry sometimes starts off like a cat's meow.  Since Miles likes cats, I expected him to make that comment.  You can see it in Miles' eyes that he is pretty content and intrigued to have a much littler brother around.

Obviously, the hero of this story is Barbara.  She's seen a ton of babies and has had a heart for each and every one that comes across her care.  Yet it is neat to see the deeper, and more vivid love she shows to River.  She's spent every waking and sleeping hour next to the little guy, and because of the way she is, she still responds to his little actions with surprise and joy.  As if he were new each and every day.  And I guess it's sort of true that he is a newer version of himself each day.

Last week, while I was holding him, she said, "I love it when other people hold him because then I can look at him more."

These are the thoughts for now.  It's been a lot of work and a whole lot of fun having this new guy around.

Riv with big brother Jonas