Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Becoming [Your] Parents

It's hard to believe Maive is already four weeks old. She's growing up so fast (I can't believe I'm actually saying that cliché, I'm already morphing into my parents). Someone stop me if I start putting her in ugly Christmas sweaters on our holiday cards!

At our initial visit with the pediatrician, the doctor told us she was about a half pound lighter than where they would like her to be. We were given instructions to fatten her up a little. If there is one thing that the Jako's are good at, its feeding their kids. At Maive's next visit one week later she had gained back the half pound she lost and added another pound for good measure. Her nurse added some well intentioned comments, "Tell Mom she has been doing a great job getting up with her." As I started to process her presumed lack of paternal contribution to Maive's success, Maive peed all over the scale. Retribution delievered á la Maive.

As I'm sure my parents were and I bet their parents, Alya and I are completely gooey over each little milestone (and I use that term loosely). About a week and half ago Maive lifted her leg up and ALMOST rolled over. Alya was so excited, you would have thought she owned the Kentucky Derby winner. I won't be surprised if she showers the living room in champagne once Maive makes the full rotation.

Sure, parenthood also comes with 3am feeds, dirty diapers, and changing your shirt right before you were going to go out because you forgot to use the burp towel. 364 days a year it's a thankless job, that is until they have their own kids. But, even then you become a grandparent - doing 3 hr shifts of diaper duty and acting as a 24/7 consultant still getting paid in the parental currency: smiles, cute faces, and that noise she makes when she's content.

The realization that you are inevitably turning into your parents is initially met with a fair bit of denial, followed closely by nausea. However, it's also met with a fair amount of respect.


Sunday, April 24, 2011

Introducing Maive

There is a new princess in town! Yes most would think I'm talking about Kate Middleton, but none the less cuter (and with just as many outfits) is little Maive Noelle Jakubowicz aka Maivinator, Maivemuffin, Scoots, Snorts, or Snuffaluphagus (we're still in the process of trialing nicknames).

As with any great royalty, Maive (pronounced May Va) made a grand entrance. After being in labor for a few good hours, the the nurse checked her mother, gave an "oh shit" face, and declared that she was breech. The trumpets sounded and 30 minutes, many tears, and a few consents later Maive emerged kicking and screaming a 7 lb 12 oz bundle of kicking and screaming life change.

It's easy to look at the c-section with rose colored glasses because I came out ahead with two beautiful and healthy ladies. However, it may have taken about five years off my life and added a few silver strands to my head. Even having see hundreds of c-sections, it's a much different experience from the other side of the curtain. How could Maive be royalty without a few gray haired parents anyway?

Our new family spent the next five days in our lavish quarters of the palace otherwise known as Prentice Women's Hospital. Nicer than some hotels with its flat screen TV, room service, wireless internet, complete with an attentive and caring nursing staff, our stay was just what the doctor ordered.

In preparation for her maiden voyage home, I had the car seat checked at the local police station and rechecked again at the hospital. We passed our inspection. The throne was fit for a princess . . . and secured tight enough to meet some NASA standards.

Her Royal Princess Babybowicz finally settled in at her castle. Her servants, her mom and myself, are getting to know her idiosyncrasies as she is getting to know ours. She's a night owl, with peak cooing time between 1am - 3am and absolutely hates bath time. She also favors sleeping on her arm, a position she must have somehow learned from her Uncle while in the womb.

Normally I would not be up in the wee hours of the morning to watch the Royal Wedding, but as I'm learning, Maive runs the show for now. Watching it made me wonder what kind of princess she will become when she gets old. I'm excited to see it, but just not too soon.