Rubber Ducky, you're the one ...

Like his daddy, Ezra takes a bath every two weeks ... whether he needs it or not.

It was with some dread we approached this second ablution, considering what an ordeal the first one was (see "Bath Time!" for a reminder). We attacked it a bit differently this time: instead of holding him and dabbing him with the washcloth, Ash just filled up the tub and took him in there with her. My my, what a difference it made. Ezra didn't make a peep, and seemed to actually enjoy "floating" (in his mama's arms) in the water. Wringing out the washcloth and sprinkling him with warm water produced much delight.

Now he's fresh and clean and all bundled up in the awesome hooded towel that cousin Lynnie bought for us. You could practically eat off that kid.

Otherwise, we've had a pretty nice weekend. We've had some feeding issues that have cropped up: Ez seems to go for the breast with great abandon, only to spit it out and wail a few minutes later. It's pretty frustrating, but his weight and his poops tell us he's getting plenty of nutrition. In fact, he's finally outgrown preemie diapers, and moved up to ... newborn size! A triumph!

Incidentally, we went back and watched some of the video from Ezra's first hours of life. It brought back so much emotion for both of us. And it was stunning to see how much he's changed in just one month on earth. What an astonishing turn of events our lives have taken. We are awed and humbled.

All else is well. We went on what we hope will be our last major shopping spree, and bought a breast pump, stroller (for when he's a bit bigger), and some other odds and ends. We have developed a real love-hate relationship with Babies R Us. It's sort of fun to go there and frolic around all the gear and see all the parents and kids. On the other hand, they're such craven capitalists, trying to push all sorts of needless crap on us. And I'm pretty sure you have to be a half-wit to work there. Seriously, they must check a box on their applications.

One program note, as we say in radio: I'm adding a few blog links here for your enjoyment.

Well, we're off. Daddy has to work at 6am tomorrow, so better head bedward.

Much love,
Gabe Ash and Ez

Welcome to the world, Remi and Annika!

Ezra has two new friends-to-be. One is Remi Anise Sterling, daughter of Dylan Frederick and Drake Sterling of Oakland, California. Remi took her own sweet time arriving (six days past her due date!), but arrive she did in grand (and painful) style on Aug. 16th just after the stroke of midnight. She weighed in at 6 lbs 14 oz. The first picture is of Remi, reclining against Mama Dylan's belly decorated with a henna design.

And the second friend-to-be is Annika Rehs Wolf, who made her big debut on Aug. 24th via emergency C section at 4:49 am Tokyo time. She's the daughter of proud parents Tania Teschke and Toby Wolf and younger sister of Julia Wolf. They all live FAR too far away in Tokyo, but we're hopeful Annika and Ezra will have the chance to meet before too long. Annika weighed a robust 7 lbs 13 oz (a weight that Ezra just today seems to have topped - 4 weeks after his birth!). (She's in the black and white picture.)

Congratulations to the proud parents and a very big WELCOME to the latest arrivals!

Love,
Ash, Gabe and Ez

Grandstanding

Ezra has been raptly following the Democratic National Convention. Well, rapt may not be the exact right adjective... more like he's been a captive audience. For the past couple of nights if he wanted to eat or be held, he pretty much had to do it in front of the TV. Gives new meaning to the phrase "boob tube"! But I'm sure he's just as excited for Barack Obama's speech as the next 4-week-old baby. And what infant doesn't get a shiver of delight seeing Joe Biden at the lectern?

So in honor of all the grandstanding, we present a new video, called "Ezra takes a stand." We're in awe of his lower-body strength and wanted to share it with all of you!



We also have a couple more pictures from Katy's collection to share. The baby is getting very used to being "slung." In fact, he's asleep in a sling right now as I type this, otherwise I'd never get a chance to sit down at the computer. Okay, i tried to add another picture and it's not working and the baby is starting to wail, so I better say goodbye for now. Love, Ash (and Gabe and Ez)

Soundtrack

Ah, we've been so delinquent about our posting! A thousand apologies -- Ezra says it's Daddy's fault.

Auntie Katy boarded her plane on Sunday, leaving us all alone once again. Ash and I tried briefly to negotiate keeping her on as full-time au pair, but as we could offer little more than space on a futon and the occasional waffle as compensation, she wisely chose to pursue other opportunities.

We upped the ante in terms of our outings this weekend: the four of us visited the Shedd Aquarium on Saturday. The moment we arrived, Ezra celebrated by letting out an exuberant poop. It demanded immediate attention. So we changed him on top of a suitcase in the parking garage. We consider this another notch in our urban parenting belt.

That concluded, we thoroughly enjoyed the aquarium. Highlights included underwater viewing of a pair of dolphins at play, and other fascinating stuff. Ezra was amazingly well-behaved, save a minor meltdown on the way home.

Otherwise, we've just been busy with the mundane but sublime routines of parenting a newborn. One wonderful discovery is that he responds really well to singing. We've been running through our Simon & Garfunkel, Cat Stevens, Beatles and James Taylor medleys. Ash and Katy also chose to subject him to a healthy dose of Abba, despite my protests. I hate to say it, but he seemed to like it. This could be trouble.

We could actually use some help on this score: what other songs should we sing to the kiddo? Got any favorites from your childhood? Please post suggestions on the comment space below, or send them to blastolives@gmail.com.

That's all for now ... but not for long!

Very much love,
Gabe, Ash and Ez

Evacuation

Parenthood continues apace here at Rancho Spitzero/Casa Gross. Auntie Katy has joined us, and is proving to be an invaluable member of the team. Not only do she and Ezra get along famously, but Katy actually volunteers to change diapers. And do dishes.

Ezra is swiftly gaining weight. At last measure, the kid is almost up to 7 lbs. That is quite a clip: we are optimistic that he will be a regular porker before long. This has us wondering exactly where the line between "healthy weight gain" and "at risk of childhood obesity" is drawn. At this rate, by the time he is 10 years old, I calculate that he will weigh approximately 350 lbs. We will love him anyway ... and will widen doorways accordingly.

His weight gain is doubly astonishing considering the volume of material that passes out of him into his diapers daily (as well as on his changing table, his bassinet mattress, and periodically, his parents bed sheets). It's amazing how quickly one becomes inured to grossness.

All else is well here. We're settling into the routine with me going to work, and his sleeping hasn't improved much. We are starting to see what we believe are practice smiles, and he's getting calmer during most of his waking hours.

One other benefit to having Katy around: she is a first-rate photographer. We're posting a few examples here. Also, we've finally updated teh slideshow at the bottom of the blog page. Lots of new pics -- dig it!

Much love,
Gabe, Ash and Ez (and Katy)

Bath Time!

Finally, Mama Gross settles down to write on the blog... and boy, is there a lot to write about today ("today" is actually yesterday. -ed.).

First, we got off to an ambitious start by going out to breakfast at a yummy place called Tweet about a 20-minute walk away. We took the Snap n' Go stroller setup, which seemed like such a cool contraption at the store. (The car seat snaps into a stroller frame, and voila, you're on the go.) Unfortunately, part of the handle that controls the folding apparatus on the stroller broke off the third time we used it. Due to my overzealousness in getting rid of boxes, we can't take the darn thing back, so we're stuck with it. But we can still make it work... Anyway, Ezra did great at the restaurant and got even more than his usual dose of oohs and ahhs. The hostess even told me to breastfeed at will. I love pro-breastfeeding establishments! I took her up on it and fed him in the adjacent bar, called Big Chicks, which has a burlesque theme... Ez probably felt right at home surrounded by pictures of voluptuous womenfolk.

Back at home, we decided today was the day for Ezra's first bath. (Yes, 17 days DOES seem like a long time to go without a bath. But with a crusty umbilical cord and a penis on the mend, we thought it would be wise to put it off. Now he has a genuine belly button and his little member seems to be healed, so today was the day.) Poor Ezra. Returning to water wound up not being quite so much fun after all. Check out the little video montage we made (and forgive us for the poor production values! We're audio people, not video people. But we're trying to learn.)



But all's well that ends well. Ezra is now happy and asleep. And clean. At least until the next poo explosion.

Love,
Ash (and Gabe and Ez)

Well-Slung Baby

Hello all! Sorry it's been a while. It's not so easy to post religiously now that I'm back at work. Ash is saving up some choice pics and stunning, poetic verbal musings for a post soon (perhaps tomorrow). But in the meantime, I'll pick up the slack.

Our latest baby innovation is the sling. Ash has been most anxious to get our babywearing on (hear her story on it here). Ezra has been just a little slow to warm to this practice, but in the past few days he's made much progress. Today we slung him and went on our grandest excursion yet (at least, our most ambitious without the car). We walked to an adjacent neighborhood called Andersonville, the Swedish-lesbian-yuppie-boutique capital of Chicago (though not necessarily in that order). We walked about 2 miles, ate falafel, then ice cream cones, rented a video, and returned home. It was pretty wild.

We have, I must confess, been gratified by the attention Ezra gets out on the street. He is, I'm sure you will agree, a looker. And I think people aren't used to seeing a kiddo so small out and about, at least one who's not confined in a stroller. He -- and by extension, we -- receive many coos, awwws, clucks and squeals of delight. Not being used to this in my daily life, I find it most satisfying.

All else is well here. I'm taking a 3-day weekend, as Monday is Ash's birthday. Also Monday, Auntie Katy will meet her nephew. Ezra is beside himself with excitement.

More to come!
Gabe, Ash and Ez