“It’s the Least I could do…”

Jake taking a nap on daddy

Well as the picture above depicts I’m sitting here writing this blog as Jake sleeps on my chest. Olivia is sound asleep in her crib for her now once a day nap.  Where’s Susie?  Ahhh…she’s out getting her hair done.  She deserves it too.  She’s been such a trooper taking care of Jake and Olivia while still recovering from only having Jake 6 weeks ago.  In fact, she’s doing great (I think).  She just left the house in her pre-pregnancy jeans.  You might be wondering if I’m scared to death having (6 week old) Jake and (17 month old) Olivia by myself for a few hours.  Well, don’t fret…I actually took them both out with me this morning as a test. Boy was that interesting.  Well for starters I learned that infant car seats will not fit inside the Whole Foods shopping carts.  I learned the hard way that is which meant I had to walk back to the car carrying the car seat and Olivia on my hip.  Got the Baby Bjorn on put the seat back in the car and carried O back to the store so I could at least get her in the cart. Whoow!…Once I was in the store I was fine.  If fine includes Olivia grabbing for everything.  She makes up for it by waving to everyone she passes….too cute!  Our final stop was the Bagel Bakery where I just carried them both in.  We made breakfast for our good friends Mark and Rochel this morning.  I would’ve included their baby Madelyn in that above reference but we technically weren’t feeding her.  Madelyn is just 4 days older than Jake.  Following breakfast we all went for a nice walk along the ocean. Living here does have it’s benefits.

Many of you want to know what new things are happening with O. For starters she’s using the toilet.  She’s pooping and peeing and was totally self taught.  We were thinking that we should probably introduce her to some form of potty training when she took it upon herself to do it.  So now she’ll go to the bathroom, grab the toilet paper when she’s done and even flush the toilet. To boot? If she passes gas or pushes out a stinky poop she waves her hand in front of her face and goes, “Whooooh”….too funny. She loves her brother.  She’s always holding his hand in the car or when she’s sitting next to him.  Of course, she has to kiss him every night before bed too. She’s very attached to him, it’s very sweet.  Jake being 6 weeks old (tomorrow) is doing pretty much what all 6 week olds do which is pee, poop, eat, and sleep.  Oh don’t get me wrong he waves his arms and legs everywhere and spits up and whines as well.  Didn’t want to disappoint you so I thought I’d throw those things in there.

Olivia holding Jake's hand in the car (taken with iPhone)

For now things are going well although I think if you ask Susie she’d stipulate that “well” assumes that not getting sleep is not only a given but not included in the “well” description.  She’s been doing all of the nightly feedings (partly or shall I say mostly..okay for no other reason than my boobies don’t produce milk).  She’s been very kind to me in the evenings and I have to find someway to thank her.  Yes, diamonds are a girls best friend .

Before I let you go I must say I came upon an interesting perspective on the phrase, “it’s the least I could do”. Yesterday as I was talking to my buddy Mark he said, “Well it’s the least we could do”.  He was referring to his offer of Rochel (Mark’s wife) getting us something from Target.  I thought to myself, that’s actually not the least he could do.  In fact, it’s quite a bit more than the “least” he could do.  I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s the most he could do but quite a bit more than the least. Again, this morning after he helped clean up the kitchen from breakfast he said, “Well it’s the least I could do”.  I thought not only was that not the least but why would he want to settle for the least anyway.  I say why settle for the least?  Strive for something higher!  Take pride and initiative in what you do and offer more than the least.  Maybe something like, “Well it’s much more than the least I could do and you should recognize that so give me a break”!  or how about?  ”Well, it’s a good amount of what I could for you”…that would be much more than the least and would show some respect.  So please people the next time you think about doing the least for people think about doing just a little more!