Oh, motherhood! What an experience. So far I feel very blessed with the baby I have been given. She has slept through the night the last 3 nights, only cries when there is something wrong (and barely even then), and eats well. My mother-in-law said it perfectly when she said that no matter what we do they survive us. Sophia had her two week appointment last week and it was the first time I was going anywhere with her on my own. Half way there I realized I forgot the diaper bag at home. In the waiting room she pooped her diaper and leaked out onto her clothes. Strangely, the office does not have an emergency supply of diapers but the receptionist had some newborn diapers in her car. What were the odds? I had her naked on the exam table wiping her with flimsy wet papertowels when she peed. In the end she got cleaned, dried and dressed again in a fresh diaper. It had me stressed out and wasn’t the ideal situation and for those who know me really well know that I stress easily, hate it, and don’t like to be unprepared. I will not forget the diaper bag again, lesson learned.

Sophia was due for her second newborn screen this week. I got myself showered and even got makeup on and hair done. She was awake the whole time I was getting ready and fussed a few times, but no major meltdowns. I was so proud of myself that I had gotten her and myself dressed, had the diaper bag, and I had her loaded in the car seat. I had even timed everything so I would be gone and back before rush hour traffic. However, once I got to my car I saw that the base to snap the car seat into place was still in BJ’s car….I couldn’t go anywhere. It takes so much to accomplish what I did (mother’s home alone with baby can understand) and then it seemed pointless!!! Oh well, we will try this all again tomorrow. Besides, I’m a new Mommy and will learn in time that this is nothing to be upset over.

It is amazing how quickly things develop and change. She is not quite 3 weeks old and her head and neck are getting so strong. She holds it up for longer periods of time just looking around at the world. She has started to fuss when she is really sleepy and wants to be held to fall asleep. Not a good thing. I can’t wait to see what the next few weeks will bring.

–Heather

Categories: Heather, Sophia
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I came across this article on the Wall Street Journal regarding manufacturing and parts of Japanese and American automakers. There used to be a good excuse to buy American. You know, because it gives jobs to American workers. Apparently as Japanese auto makers move their manufacturing and parts facilities here, American auto makers are outsourcing. After hearing dealer commercials and Ford TV spots asking us to sacrifice our hard earned dollars on vehicles that are less American than a Nissan Titan, you find yourself wondering why you should deal with the hassle of a big 3 car. Hit the link

Wall Street Journal Article

Categories: BJ, Philosophy etc
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Wow, I was really used to that thar Tivo. I’ve already found an alternative. RSS feeds to a certain swarming protocol client gets me all the time shifting I could want. This downgrade on service comes in the wake of having a child, and realizing I was wasting 80 bucks or more a month on communication and entertainment services.

This isn’t so bad, but the cable tech managed to knock our internet out the same night. I find it funny that working in an environment where the primary contact with the customer is over the phone, has made me more critical of technical support/customer service/phone jockeys regardless of their pay grade. You would think I would be more forgiving cause I know what they go through, yet I’m less patient with their quick answers, and usually really blunt. It comes at no surprise that the tech couldn’t come back out to correct the wiring the same day, but I was still a little miffed.

I realized then that I was addicted to the internet. After a long day at work I just wanted to check out some headlines, grab some e-mail, and possibly put a post up. Then I called my parents to console myself. The same server that controls the atchley.org domain also serves as a firewall, and web cache server at my Dad’s house. It has been down for about two weeks, and they’ve been without internet.

Poor Dad..

Categories: BJ, BJ's Life
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She makes funny little squeaks while dreaming. Combine that with fluttering her eyes and smiling randomly, and you have the ingredients for an afternoon of “ooooohhing” and “awwing”. This is only while she sleeps mind you. While awake she has a variety of actions and reactions. She furrows her brow when trying to lift her head and look at her surroundings. Sophia is ticklish. If you try to count her ribs she curls her feet up and tightens her stomach while smiling and sticking her tongue out. I have determined her ribs, underarms, feet, neck, and legs are ticklish. I believe it easier to count the places she is not ticklish.

Heather is doing wonderfully and much more mobile. She had been in a bit of pain for 5 days or so after giving birth. After witnessing what happens in the birthing process I’m surprised she bothers to move at all. Heather is much too nice to me. She tries as hard as she can to let me sleep through the night. She closes the door to the bedroom, changes diapers in the living room, and rocks little Sophia to sleep so as not to disturb me. I appreciate it, but feel humbled by the care she shows me and amazed at how naturally she falls into the role of the best mother in the world.

Sophia is so comforted by her mother’s presence that she falls fast asleep while held to Heather’s bosom. This happens within minutes. It has turned each feeding in to a game of wake the baby. Diaper changes, massages, tickling, and pretending she’s on a roller coaster serve to keep her awake enough to eat, but sure enough when held close to her mother’s heart a smile steals across her face and she falls fast asleep. Daddy doesn’t quite have that power. I seem to be the gateway to interesting things. She paws at my face and looks around anxiously, probably looking for her mother. I can’t say that I mind considering her mother is such a beautiful woman. I can hold Sophia forever if only to see her smile.

Categories: BJ, Heather, Sophia
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As much as one could refer to a week with a new youngster sleeping 18 hours a day and being active 6 hours a night a vacation, my little vacation is over. With a job interview looming on Tuesday and paperwork to sift through tomorrow, there’s a little pit of insecurity in my stomach. When you’re away from work for a week and half, work has a tendency to build up, and any future I don’t know is a future that greets me with slight trepidation. On a lighter note this website went up in about 5 days time, and I’m pretty proud of it.My greatest difficulty is knowing I can’t look into my daughter’s eyes at any given moment and see the beauty of new life. It’s comforting to know that Heather will be home with Sophia for the next few months, but hard for a new daddy (me) to go back to the daily grind. This summer will be fine since I’m only taking one class, but come fall I’ll have school four nights a week, not including study time.

We have Grandmas, Aunts, Cousins a plenty to rely on, and I’m sure Sophia will have them all wrapped around her finger.

A new episode of Top Gear comes on tonight. I’ll have a little present for Top Gear fans by Wednesday.

Categories: BJ, BJ's Life
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Thankfully neither did he. I just watched the entirety of Mr. Colbert’s speech at the White House Correspondents dinner. Click here to be taken to Google Video. No, I’m not in the camp that believes every wind of thought that floats across the minds of a “liberal”, nor do I hardline the President’s decisions. I do however enjoy knowledge, and making sure facts are known (and in that same respect knowing facts). Colbert’s uncompromising satire gave me goosebumps, and showed me what the media should be doing. Everything should be questioned. People need reasons to believe things, and without those reasons decisions should be called into question.

Perhaps it was uncouth of Colbert to launch into such politically charged commentary in a “respected” forum, even if it was satirical but it was the delivery that was genius. It separated him from Al Franken, Michael Moore, or any other popular critic of the Bush administration. To be completely fair I’m not sure that Colbert truly believes everything he comments on, whether faux bluster, or dead-pan open satire. I have to applaud him for saying what needs to be said, and not pulling any punches.

It won’t change anything. “By the people and for the people,” has long been forgotten and replaced by, “by the elite, for money”. Paraphrasing Colbert: What he believes on Wednesday will always be the same as what he believed on Monday regardless of what happened on Tuesday.

I do have to fault him on his continued stance on global warming. Every decade it’s different and every decade our fears were induced by an overreacting media and hype machine that wants to sell a huge story. Sure global warming exists, but overpopulation, ozone depletion, and the global cooling crisis of years past faded into nothing even though the causes of each have not been addressed. Maybe if the media yells more the government can subsidize something else like installing photovoltaics on the backs of gila monsters, instead of pushing forward a domestic nuclear energy initiative.

Categories: BJ, Entertainment, Philosophy etc
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After tweaking and editing, then realizing there were inconsistencies between the previous version of this theme and this current one, I can finally say I’m done…. for now. Now it’s just a matter of pretending I have interesting thoughts that friends and family will want to read. I’m sure where I fall short Heather will be able to shine through with poignant thoughts about life and motherhood. 50 years ago diaries and journals were private. Now more people than ever record thoughts where everyone can see them, even manipulating search engine systems to encourage complete strangers to read their thoughts. Most of the time the only person who really benefits is the person doing the writing, while trackbacks, link rings, and comment spammers turn google into a carnival of SEO snake oil salesmen, where the only legitimate links were the ones you already knew, but you had forgotten the exact address.

I feel sorry for real mesothelioma patients. While looking for a cancer support group they’re introduced to redirect sites and comments in an irrelevant blog somewhere in Finland so a rat can get a few more bucks from his adsense account.

That sure sounds bitter. I love the internet and the ability it has to bring everyone closer together. It also makes it much easier for people to be taken advantage of.

Categories: BJ
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Well apparently Heather doesn’t share my opinion as to her true nature, so I got lectured. I’ll draw her fire Sophia. You run while you can.

Just kidding Mommy, because Daddy and Sophia love you dearly.

Categories: BJ, BJ's Life, Heather
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