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Home Alone – Part 2

Posted on 08/13/201702/05/2023 by Mark

Last Thursday, Nina had more training in Austin for her job as a stylist for Stitch Fix, but unlike the last time on  July 19th when she also had training in Austin for her job, she wasn’t gone all day; she was only gone from 10am to 5pm.  So, basically, it was much easier for me!  I had everything planned in advance as Niko would get both naps at home and in between, I would take him for lunch somewhere close where he wouldn’t have enough time to fall asleep in the car and make me drive him around for an hour.  I kept petting his head to ensure that didn’t happen!  Oh, my plans also involved meeting my parents.

Back to Saturday…

Although I didn’t nap on his 1st nap, I did lie down in our bed and relaxed.  I really had to pee an hour and a half later and as I was going downstairs, I must’ve woken him up.  I could’ve peed in our master bathroom, but I was afraid the flushing would wake him up.  Stupid creaky stairs!  It wasn’t a great nap and it was 45 minutes earlier than I had estimated.  After I got him from the crib, we played for 30 minutes and I gave him a small snack; I kept telling him that we would be getting a lot more food very soon.  Finally, at 12:30, I packed our supplies and the baby and met my parents for Mexican food at a nearby restaurant.

You know something, I just love seeing how happy my parents are when they see Niko.  They love him so much and I can tell by the interactions the three of them have.  They have also been extremely helpful in babysitting him once a week so Nina can get some work done.  That helps her so she can take a day off during the week and do absolutely nothing.

I don’t immediately strap Niko in the highchair as I like to give him as much freedom as I possibly can.  But, once we got our food, I strapped him in and he was good to go as he had lots of stuff to eat.  In addition to the peaches, blueberries, string cheese, and broccoli that I packed, he also ate avocado, chicken, eggs, tomatoes, some small bites of a cheese enchilada, and a few spoons of tortilla soup.  To top everything off, he had water and goat milk.  He had a really good fulfilling lunch and it wasn’t messy; just a few food droppings on the floor.  Most parents would leave the floor messy that there kids make, but not me.  I was down on my hands and knees cleaning everything up; that is how I was brought up, I want to show people that I care, and I want to set a good example for Niko.  I know that the wait staff always says don’t worry, but I also know that deep down, they probably don’t want to clean up a kids mess.

I was going to go to Walmart afterwards to do a small shopping order, but time was beating me as it was 2:15 and his 2nd nap was scheduled for 3ish.  Not enough time, so we headed home.  I got home at 2:45 and we played for a little while and then right on cue at 3, I took him upstairs for a nap.  I don’t think he was quite ready for that nap because he didn’t nap; he squiggled around and cried. He was trying to will himself to sleep, but it just wasn’t happening.  I probably should’ve waited a few minutes and gone by his cues instead.  Oh well.  I got him out at 4 and his reward was he got to play with Nina’s 20 year old full-size keyboard and he loved it.   I enjoyed playing on it also.  At 5, while I was feeding him cottage cheese, sweet potatoes, turkey meat, quinoa, and broccoli, Nina arrived home and I was saved!

Saved wasn’t really the word I was looking for, because when Nina came home, she was tired and hungry.  She stopped at Target for a few things; most of it was junk food.  And you know something, I am OK with her doing that.  Hey, she got me some of my favorites things; Swiss cake rolls and cool ranch Doritos!  So, when she did arrive home, she put a frozen lasagna in the oven; we both ate it in bed after we put Niko down.  The three of played for a for a little while until it was time to go call it a night.  Niko and mom got to have some nice bonding in the bathtub; you can tell Niko missed her because he was on the boob immediately and wouldn’t let go for anything!

Niko did really good with me, despite not having a great napping day.  I enjoy taking him out in the world because there is only so much we can do at home.  I can’t wait till it gets cooler outside so we can take him out more.

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