c8's a natural

Piano, smiano…It's in the genes. The world's next geek. Pure genius!

A cs & ld conversation re: c8's 3 friends

c8 spent the night. This morning, (being a good gramps) as cs was holding c8, I grabbed the cow and piglet hand puppets and started to entertain her — c8, not cs. I thought that I was doing a pretty good job because she was smiling and rather amused — once again, c8, not cs.

cs:   Use the "duck". She doesn't want to be entertained by things that you eat. You may not know it, but she has a social conscience.

ld:   I know that life was hard on the farm in Cibola, but on the farm that I was raised — we called these "chickens". No duck that I ever knew had a comb. Wait until FSIL II hears about this. And as far as social conscience goes, what do you think that it will do to her child psyche when she finds out where eggs and chicken nuggets come from?

You're fired!

The words were resoundingly hissed as though they were evoked from the lips of Donald Trump himself.

I was tending baby c8 last night and we were getting along superbly when she started routing around a bit with her mouth — looking for a drink. I tried the pacifier, but to no avail.

I hollered in the next room, Looks like she’s getting hungry.

No, reaction. I mentioned it once more.

Suddenly, the door swung open and cs gave me the word, You’re fired! You’re no longer fit to be her babysitter as she whisked c8 out of the room.

Ouch! That hurt. It's a good thing that I don't wear my feelings on my sleeve.

She doesn’t even play fair…I wonder if c8 feels the same way.

Serious bonding

Yesterday, at 5:30 a.m. the phone rang. It was Bird asking for some help. She had been up all night with c8 and needed to get some sleep. She was asking for cs to come down and help tend because FSIL was going to work and she needed to get some sleep.

So cs said, Yes and volunteered me! I was glad to get to spend some time with c8. I wasn't so glad to get the "mothering" lecture for 15 minutes before I was released to go.

Don't pound on her when you burp her. Remember gentle taps. If you can hear your fingers tapping then that is too hard. You're not pounding on a drum. (Right, like I'm going to pound Iron Butterfly's drum solo of In-A-Gadda-Diva on my grandkid's back.)

Keep her upright for 15 minutes after you feed her. Don't let the bottle drain too fast. Give it to her for a minute then pull it away. Yada, yada, yada.

c8 and I had a great time bonding for half-a-day. (She told me that I was a "natural").

Cate JaNae Arnold

She's here! And great timing too. C8 born on the 8th in 2008.
Arrived @ 09:52 a.m. Too bad for the rest of you because I won the prize. (Closest time without going over. I'll let you know what the secret ingredient was.)
5 lbs 15 oz
17.5 inches

Congratulations to Bird and FSIL…good job!

Question of the day: Dad, how long before the wrinkles disappear?
Not certain whether the reference was to C8 or me.