The new normal

There are days where keeping tabs on Jack feels not unlike herding cats. I've often wondered what would if I snapped at him or sprayed him with squirt bottle when he's out of control.

Keeping tabs on Jack after two nights in the hospital, far too much caffeine and not nearly enough exercise is like herding cats that are being chased by dogs. Oh, and there's also a baby squawking. This is our life.

For his part, Jack has been really sweet to Madelyn since we got home yesterday. Despite consistently avoiding all other babies that come near him, he's taken to his little sister quite quickly. That'll change at some point ... any minute now.

He also got to spend a few days with Chris' parents, who were here over the weekend. Right now, the focus is getting back to the routine. Because while grandparents rock (they do, totally), little boys get to do whatever they want. And Jack was bonkers last night. He has to do a lot to lose his bedtime books, and he was up to the task.

Today, though, he's paying quietly in the living room, just like a regular weekend morning. (Yes, I know it's not the weekend. He's staying home for a couple of days.) Hopefully a little sleep did him well.

And speaking of "a little sleep" ... Chris and I now remember what the first few days are like. In the hospital, it's not so bad — if you want to send the kid to the nursery, you can. We did that with Jack the second night. But Madelyn was quite a bit quieter, so she stayed with us both nights. And it wasn't too bad, really.

At home, though, things are different. Nurses don't come in to check on you in the middle of the night. And if the kid has a dirty diaper, it's all you. I forgot about that. Actually, I mostly forgot about the part where you rock an unreasonably angry baby for 30 minutes, fall asleep in the chair and then move just a tiny fraction of an inch and wake up the baby again.

Naptime will be mandatory today — for everybody.

And at some point in the next day or two, I'll kit up and go for a little ride. The timing was right to take a bit of time off (end of racing, new baby, etc.), but I'm ready to spin it out for an hour or two and get back into the routine — whatever that may be.

The new CX bike will be done before the snow flies ... provided the snow doesn't fly in the next two weeks. Almost there.

For now, though, more coffee. I hope I have enough.