Left to Our Own Devices

Tonight is the first time Damon has left us other than to do unavoidable errands. His Ellis boss asked him and their stage manager to dinner to thank them and to brainstorm ways to improve the next season. I assured him that we would be just fine and sent him out to enjoy himself. I wonder if he will enjoy. I would find it very hard to be away right now.

But Alden and I are doing great, provided I am willing to sit lotus-style on the couch and alternate between nursing and holding him while he sleeps. I guess it’s good that I get a little variety. The sleeping part is pretty entertaining. He makes a noise like a far-away rusty gate when he’s sleeping deeply and he treats me to at least a few Moro flails each nap. That never gets old.

Right now little monsieur prefers to nurse for about 10 minutes at about 90 minute intervals — around the clock. There’s some variation, but that’s the general drill. My back is sore and I won’t even get started on my more tender bits. But I’ll get to weigh him on Thursday and if he’s gaining well then I’m going to count my blessings and wait him out. He will start spacing out these feedings. Right? Right?

[Warning to my Friends with kids: That’s the first of a million questions.]

I’m watching Running With Scissors while I type. It’s not brilliant, but I’m enjoying. Didn’t this movie get awful reviews? I don’t see myself hassling friends to rent it, but I don’t see what’s so bad either.

119 responses to this post.

  1. 10 minutes every hour and a half? Not too bad. Yes, he’ll space it out some.

    Reply

  2. 10 minutes every hour and a half? Not too bad. Yes, he’ll space it out some.

    Reply

    • He punished me for complaining. The night I wrote that post he bumped it up to five minutes of nursing every half hour. Fortunately he was satisfied I’d learned my lesson and went back to his 90-minute schedule the next morning.

      Reply

    • He punished me for complaining. The night I wrote that post he bumped it up to five minutes of nursing every half hour. Fortunately he was satisfied I’d learned my lesson and went back to his 90-minute schedule the next morning.

      Reply

    • He punished me for complaining. The night I wrote that post he bumped it up to five minutes of nursing every half hour. Fortunately he was satisfied I’d learned my lesson and went back to his 90-minute schedule the next morning.

      Reply

    • He punished me for complaining. The night I wrote that post he bumped it up to five minutes of nursing every half hour. Fortunately he was satisfied I’d learned my lesson and went back to his 90-minute schedule the next morning.

      Reply

    • He punished me for complaining. The night I wrote that post he bumped it up to five minutes of nursing every half hour. Fortunately he was satisfied I’d learned my lesson and went back to his 90-minute schedule the next morning.

      Reply

    • He punished me for complaining. The night I wrote that post he bumped it up to five minutes of nursing every half hour. Fortunately he was satisfied I’d learned my lesson and went back to his 90-minute schedule the next morning.

      Reply

  3. 10 minutes every hour and a half? Not too bad. Yes, he’ll space it out some.

    Reply

  4. 10 minutes every hour and a half? Not too bad. Yes, he’ll space it out some.

    Reply

  5. 10 minutes every hour and a half? Not too bad. Yes, he’ll space it out some.

    Reply

  6. 10 minutes every hour and a half? Not too bad. Yes, he’ll space it out some.

    Reply

  7. 10 minutes every hour and a half? Not too bad. Yes, he’ll space it out some.

    Reply

  8. Congratulations on the Baby! Alden is a great name! My brother & sis-in-law are expecting a boy in March…I’ll be an aunt for the first time.
    I didn’t like Running with Scissors…I think I was expecting it to be funnier than it was…more Amy or David Sedaris. I may also have been in a funk at the time, which didn’t help.
    But oh am I happy for you and Damon!

    Reply

  9. Congratulations on the Baby! Alden is a great name! My brother & sis-in-law are expecting a boy in March…I’ll be an aunt for the first time.
    I didn’t like Running with Scissors…I think I was expecting it to be funnier than it was…more Amy or David Sedaris. I may also have been in a funk at the time, which didn’t help.
    But oh am I happy for you and Damon!

    Reply

  10. Congratulations on the Baby! Alden is a great name! My brother & sis-in-law are expecting a boy in March…I’ll be an aunt for the first time.
    I didn’t like Running with Scissors…I think I was expecting it to be funnier than it was…more Amy or David Sedaris. I may also have been in a funk at the time, which didn’t help.
    But oh am I happy for you and Damon!

    Reply

  11. Congratulations on the Baby! Alden is a great name! My brother & sis-in-law are expecting a boy in March…I’ll be an aunt for the first time.
    I didn’t like Running with Scissors…I think I was expecting it to be funnier than it was…more Amy or David Sedaris. I may also have been in a funk at the time, which didn’t help.
    But oh am I happy for you and Damon!

    Reply

  12. Congratulations on the Baby! Alden is a great name! My brother & sis-in-law are expecting a boy in March…I’ll be an aunt for the first time.
    I didn’t like Running with Scissors…I think I was expecting it to be funnier than it was…more Amy or David Sedaris. I may also have been in a funk at the time, which didn’t help.
    But oh am I happy for you and Damon!

    Reply

  13. Congratulations on the Baby! Alden is a great name! My brother & sis-in-law are expecting a boy in March…I’ll be an aunt for the first time.
    I didn’t like Running with Scissors…I think I was expecting it to be funnier than it was…more Amy or David Sedaris. I may also have been in a funk at the time, which didn’t help.
    But oh am I happy for you and Damon!

    Reply

  14. Congratulations on the Baby! Alden is a great name! My brother & sis-in-law are expecting a boy in March…I’ll be an aunt for the first time.
    I didn’t like Running with Scissors…I think I was expecting it to be funnier than it was…more Amy or David Sedaris. I may also have been in a funk at the time, which didn’t help.
    But oh am I happy for you and Damon!

    Reply

  15. I remember when Sweetness was two months old watching ‘The Pianist (the two and a half hour Adrien Brody movie) in its entirety while she was sleeping on my chest. I think had escaped for the evening.
    By the time the movie was over, I was desperate to go to the bathroom, but I didn’t want to risk waking the little one. The eternal struggle.

    Reply

  16. I remember when Sweetness was two months old watching ‘The Pianist (the two and a half hour Adrien Brody movie) in its entirety while she was sleeping on my chest. I think had escaped for the evening.
    By the time the movie was over, I was desperate to go to the bathroom, but I didn’t want to risk waking the little one. The eternal struggle.

    Reply

    • Oh yeah. Damon was out for about five hours today running errands. He called me when he was on his way home to ask if I needed anything and all I could say was, “I need you here asap so that I can go to the bathroom!”

      Reply

    • Oh yeah. Damon was out for about five hours today running errands. He called me when he was on his way home to ask if I needed anything and all I could say was, “I need you here asap so that I can go to the bathroom!”

      Reply

    • Oh yeah. Damon was out for about five hours today running errands. He called me when he was on his way home to ask if I needed anything and all I could say was, “I need you here asap so that I can go to the bathroom!”

      Reply

    • Oh yeah. Damon was out for about five hours today running errands. He called me when he was on his way home to ask if I needed anything and all I could say was, “I need you here asap so that I can go to the bathroom!”

      Reply

    • Oh yeah. Damon was out for about five hours today running errands. He called me when he was on his way home to ask if I needed anything and all I could say was, “I need you here asap so that I can go to the bathroom!”

      Reply

    • Oh yeah. Damon was out for about five hours today running errands. He called me when he was on his way home to ask if I needed anything and all I could say was, “I need you here asap so that I can go to the bathroom!”

      Reply

  17. I remember when Sweetness was two months old watching ‘The Pianist (the two and a half hour Adrien Brody movie) in its entirety while she was sleeping on my chest. I think had escaped for the evening.
    By the time the movie was over, I was desperate to go to the bathroom, but I didn’t want to risk waking the little one. The eternal struggle.

    Reply

  18. I remember when Sweetness was two months old watching ‘The Pianist (the two and a half hour Adrien Brody movie) in its entirety while she was sleeping on my chest. I think had escaped for the evening.
    By the time the movie was over, I was desperate to go to the bathroom, but I didn’t want to risk waking the little one. The eternal struggle.

    Reply

  19. I remember when Sweetness was two months old watching ‘The Pianist (the two and a half hour Adrien Brody movie) in its entirety while she was sleeping on my chest. I think had escaped for the evening.
    By the time the movie was over, I was desperate to go to the bathroom, but I didn’t want to risk waking the little one. The eternal struggle.

    Reply

  20. I remember when Sweetness was two months old watching ‘The Pianist (the two and a half hour Adrien Brody movie) in its entirety while she was sleeping on my chest. I think had escaped for the evening.
    By the time the movie was over, I was desperate to go to the bathroom, but I didn’t want to risk waking the little one. The eternal struggle.

    Reply

  21. I remember when Sweetness was two months old watching ‘The Pianist (the two and a half hour Adrien Brody movie) in its entirety while she was sleeping on my chest. I think had escaped for the evening.
    By the time the movie was over, I was desperate to go to the bathroom, but I didn’t want to risk waking the little one. The eternal struggle.

    Reply

  22. Yes, it’ll space out–but probably after a couple of upcoming growth spurts (about two weeks, four weeks, six weeks) where he nurses ALL the time. ๐Ÿ™‚ He’ll get very efficient, too, and you’ll see a definite difference between comfort nursing and nutritive nursing. Ninety minutes apart is pretty good for this age. If he’s wetting and pooping a lot, you’re good. Ezra goes as long as five hours when he is busy, but if he’s crabby or bored sometimes he’ll nurse, play, and come back to nurse twenty minutes later.
    What I read about why people didn’t like that movie was that none of the characters were remotely likable. It’s less the quality of the film and more the quality of the people involved.

    Reply

  23. Yes, it’ll space out–but probably after a couple of upcoming growth spurts (about two weeks, four weeks, six weeks) where he nurses ALL the time. ๐Ÿ™‚ He’ll get very efficient, too, and you’ll see a definite difference between comfort nursing and nutritive nursing. Ninety minutes apart is pretty good for this age. If he’s wetting and pooping a lot, you’re good. Ezra goes as long as five hours when he is busy, but if he’s crabby or bored sometimes he’ll nurse, play, and come back to nurse twenty minutes later.
    What I read about why people didn’t like that movie was that none of the characters were remotely likable. It’s less the quality of the film and more the quality of the people involved.

    Reply

  24. Yes, it’ll space out–but probably after a couple of upcoming growth spurts (about two weeks, four weeks, six weeks) where he nurses ALL the time. ๐Ÿ™‚ He’ll get very efficient, too, and you’ll see a definite difference between comfort nursing and nutritive nursing. Ninety minutes apart is pretty good for this age. If he’s wetting and pooping a lot, you’re good. Ezra goes as long as five hours when he is busy, but if he’s crabby or bored sometimes he’ll nurse, play, and come back to nurse twenty minutes later.
    What I read about why people didn’t like that movie was that none of the characters were remotely likable. It’s less the quality of the film and more the quality of the people involved.

    Reply

  25. Yes, it’ll space out–but probably after a couple of upcoming growth spurts (about two weeks, four weeks, six weeks) where he nurses ALL the time. ๐Ÿ™‚ He’ll get very efficient, too, and you’ll see a definite difference between comfort nursing and nutritive nursing. Ninety minutes apart is pretty good for this age. If he’s wetting and pooping a lot, you’re good. Ezra goes as long as five hours when he is busy, but if he’s crabby or bored sometimes he’ll nurse, play, and come back to nurse twenty minutes later.
    What I read about why people didn’t like that movie was that none of the characters were remotely likable. It’s less the quality of the film and more the quality of the people involved.

    Reply

  26. Yes, it’ll space out–but probably after a couple of upcoming growth spurts (about two weeks, four weeks, six weeks) where he nurses ALL the time. ๐Ÿ™‚ He’ll get very efficient, too, and you’ll see a definite difference between comfort nursing and nutritive nursing. Ninety minutes apart is pretty good for this age. If he’s wetting and pooping a lot, you’re good. Ezra goes as long as five hours when he is busy, but if he’s crabby or bored sometimes he’ll nurse, play, and come back to nurse twenty minutes later.
    What I read about why people didn’t like that movie was that none of the characters were remotely likable. It’s less the quality of the film and more the quality of the people involved.

    Reply

  27. Yes, it’ll space out–but probably after a couple of upcoming growth spurts (about two weeks, four weeks, six weeks) where he nurses ALL the time. ๐Ÿ™‚ He’ll get very efficient, too, and you’ll see a definite difference between comfort nursing and nutritive nursing. Ninety minutes apart is pretty good for this age. If he’s wetting and pooping a lot, you’re good. Ezra goes as long as five hours when he is busy, but if he’s crabby or bored sometimes he’ll nurse, play, and come back to nurse twenty minutes later.
    What I read about why people didn’t like that movie was that none of the characters were remotely likable. It’s less the quality of the film and more the quality of the people involved.

    Reply

  28. Yes, it’ll space out–but probably after a couple of upcoming growth spurts (about two weeks, four weeks, six weeks) where he nurses ALL the time. ๐Ÿ™‚ He’ll get very efficient, too, and you’ll see a definite difference between comfort nursing and nutritive nursing. Ninety minutes apart is pretty good for this age. If he’s wetting and pooping a lot, you’re good. Ezra goes as long as five hours when he is busy, but if he’s crabby or bored sometimes he’ll nurse, play, and come back to nurse twenty minutes later.
    What I read about why people didn’t like that movie was that none of the characters were remotely likable. It’s less the quality of the film and more the quality of the people involved.

    Reply

  29. He’ll NEVER space the nursing out. You’re doomed! DOOMED TO HAVE THAT CHILD HANGING ON YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!
    Ah, I’m kiddin’. Eventually, he’ll let you get up to use the restroom.

    Reply

  30. He’ll NEVER space the nursing out. You’re doomed! DOOMED TO HAVE THAT CHILD HANGING ON YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!
    Ah, I’m kiddin’. Eventually, he’ll let you get up to use the restroom.

    Reply

  31. He’ll NEVER space the nursing out. You’re doomed! DOOMED TO HAVE THAT CHILD HANGING ON YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!
    Ah, I’m kiddin’. Eventually, he’ll let you get up to use the restroom.

    Reply

  32. He’ll NEVER space the nursing out. You’re doomed! DOOMED TO HAVE THAT CHILD HANGING ON YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!
    Ah, I’m kiddin’. Eventually, he’ll let you get up to use the restroom.

    Reply

  33. He’ll NEVER space the nursing out. You’re doomed! DOOMED TO HAVE THAT CHILD HANGING ON YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!
    Ah, I’m kiddin’. Eventually, he’ll let you get up to use the restroom.

    Reply

  34. He’ll NEVER space the nursing out. You’re doomed! DOOMED TO HAVE THAT CHILD HANGING ON YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!
    Ah, I’m kiddin’. Eventually, he’ll let you get up to use the restroom.

    Reply

  35. He’ll NEVER space the nursing out. You’re doomed! DOOMED TO HAVE THAT CHILD HANGING ON YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!
    Ah, I’m kiddin’. Eventually, he’ll let you get up to use the restroom.

    Reply

  36. You’re going to have to ask Master Alden what his plans are.

    Reply

  37. You’re going to have to ask Master Alden what his plans are.

    Reply

  38. You’re going to have to ask Master Alden what his plans are.

    Reply

  39. You’re going to have to ask Master Alden what his plans are.

    Reply

  40. You’re going to have to ask Master Alden what his plans are.

    Reply

  41. You’re going to have to ask Master Alden what his plans are.

    Reply

  42. You’re going to have to ask Master Alden what his plans are.

    Reply

  43. Thank you!
    And I absolutely agree that Running With Scissors is not as funny as either Sedaris.

    Reply

  44. Oh yeah. Damon was out for about five hours today running errands. He called me when he was on his way home to ask if I needed anything and all I could say was, “I need you here asap so that I can go to the bathroom!”

    Reply

  45. Good to hear. He’s definitely growing. That or the newborn diapers are shrinking. I kind of hope it’s the latter because I’m not ready to give up teeny Alden yet.

    Reply

  46. I knew it!

    Reply

  47. He is inscrutable. One of us is clearly more accomplished at manipulating the situation, and I’m sad to say it’s not ever me.

    Reply

  48. He punished me for complaining. The night I wrote that post he bumped it up to five minutes of nursing every half hour. Fortunately he was satisfied I’d learned my lesson and went back to his 90-minute schedule the next morning.

    Reply

  49. You might better start stockpiling tens and twenties for when he gets old enough to bribe.

    Reply

  50. I want more pictures. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply

  51. I’m trying to hold back, but suspect I will fail progressively.

    Reply

  52. Nonsense, look at my journal. I just assume you’re all clamoring to see more of my beautiful, genius children. Fail away. ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply

  53. I know I’m clamoring! I need to take two minutes and teach myself how to do a LJ cut and then we’ll be off and running.

    Reply

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