Conservative Papa

Today, the lady at the post office said, “Merry Christmas!” to me. The guy at Wal-Mart and everywhere else says, “Happy Holidays,” but a government employee tells me, “Merry Christmas!” I’d like to thank her manager, but maybe that would get her into trouble. I’ll just say, “Merry Christmas!” to everyone, even the generic “holidays” crowd. Let’s remember to keep Christ in Christmas!

Today, we got up early to go vote in the national election. Arriving just a few minutes after the polling place opened, we joined the line that stretched about fifty people beyond the entrance. Andrew was very good throughout the entire process, which took about forty-five minutes.

I had a sense of pride as I fed my ballot into the optical scanning machine. My ballot was number 160 at that precinct. Perhaps it was only a drop in the bucket among millions of votes, but it still counted! The man handing out “I voted” stickers gave one to Andrew. Amazingly, Andrew left it on his shirt.

We were blessed with the liquid variety of Florida sunshine. I ran for the car and came back to pick up Carolyn and Andrew at the door. We still all got wet. As we pulled out of the parking lot, a rainbow shimmered against the dark clouds. I told Carolyn that it is a sign that President Bush will win. She said that we will pray. The rainbow is a symbol of God’s promise. Whatever the outcome of this crucial election, God has promised to take care of us.

Before going to work, I dropped Carolyn and Andrew off at home. As I backed out of the driveway, I looked at my wife and son waving goodbye. They were framed by the backdrop of our own comfortable home. “This is the American dream,” I thought. God has truly blessed us!

Here is a recent picture of Andrew taken on 9/11/2004. Mama gave him a funny hair do in the bathtub.

The other night, Andrew and I went out to the garage so that Mama could concentrate on her homework. Andrew stayed in his play pen while I puttered around. It was a bonding experience. Perhaps as the summer heat gives way to mild fall evenings, Andrew can keep me company more often.

While out in the garage, Andrew dropped toys over the side of his play pen. The concept of gravity holds a strong attraction for him. However, when the play pen is outside or in the garage, we keep mosquito netting over the top. The toys he dropped got caught between the mosquito netting and the mesh sides of the play pen. Somehow, the toys held much greater fascination when they were suspended between the mesh and netting. They were within his reach but beyond his grasp!

Today is Friday, September 03, 2004

The moment that I stepped in the door Wednesday evening, Andrew ran to greet me. Granted, he was in his walker. He wasn’t in anything else, though, except a diaper. I think that he had spit up on his clothes. His mama had removed them but not found time to dress him with clean clothes. So there he was to greet me. I kissed him and moved into the kitchen to kiss his mama who was making dinner. Andrew navigated the walker into the kitchen where he made it apparent that he wanted me to pick him up. I gladly complied while listening to Mama’s account of the day.

Upon grasping Andrew under the arms, lifting him to my level, and holding him against me, I became strangely aware that I was holding a slightly smaller package than expected. There was Andrew in my arms, sans diaper! The diaper, which had followed him during only part of his upward journey from the walker, now lay on the floor.

There is only one thing to do with a nine-month-old freed of his diaper. After recovering from my state of befuddlement, I retrieved the (wet) diaper from the floor and carried it and my birthday-suit boy to the changing table.

All the while, Mama laughed hysterically. She surmised that Andrew must have undone the Velcro straps of his cloth diaper cover. We often forgo diaper pins and allow the diaper cover to hold the whole assembly together. You can be sure that I diapered and dressed Andrew to restrict him from fiddling with his diaper.

Today is Monday, August 30, 2004.

Yesterday was a rather strange Sunday. Not only did we stay home from church, but I gained a new appreciation for the full-time nature of my wife’s mothering duties.

My nine-month-old son, Andrew, is suffering from a cold virus. He caught the cold from a three-year old that my wife, Carolyn, was babysitting. We feel blessed that it was nine months before Andrew developed his first real sickness. As is often the case with these viruses, Andrew shared with his parents. Carolyn has a mild case of it and I’ve been taking Airborne and trying to keep the tickle in my throat from progressing into something worse.

We all stayed home from church to rest and take it easy. The day consisted mostly of sleeping, eating, and taking care of Andrew. Even though he was sick and practically falling asleep at times, the last thing Andrew wanted to do was take a nap. Contrary to his normal good disposition, Andrew was fussy and cranky most of the day. Toward the end of the day, we decided that part of his problem was that he was having trouble filling his diaper. Carolyn gave him some diluted prune juice, which he drank with great enthusiasm.

This morning, I pulled him out of his crib and changed his diaper. No advancement there. He also still seemed rather cranky and sick. I hope that Carolyn has a better day with him today.

Sunday was rather tense at times, especially when we felt sick and wanted to rest, and Andrew just cried. I’ve had trouble understanding when Carolyn would tell me that Andrew took up all her time. I can see better now that some days are just full of baby, without much time left over to get anything else done. That’s my little bit of inspiration. I’ll try to be more understanding on those days when I come home from work and see the dishes piled up and dinner running late.

Sunday evening, Andrew finally went to sleep and Carolyn and I spent some special time together.