Daddy loves you
Isaac and Daddy have enjoyed a new, special bond since the Boob Leech came along. When Mike is home, he often takes charge of playing with Isaac or taking Isaac places, like to Home Depot or music class, to give me some time alone with Jacob. He would probably switch it up and give each boy a turn on the Dad Train, except that he fears a Jacob meltdown in the absence of the milk-bags.
One major new addition to our schedule now, on a near-daily basis, is the Daddy-Isaac Movie Night. We used to have Family Movie Night on Saturdays, which involved popping a Disney movie in the DVD player at around 7:30. It was all a secret ploy to put Isaac to sleep, but it stopped working (i.e. he started actually watching the movies) and we stopped doing it for awhile. But now that Jacob is here, Mike and I are both waxed from a day of hard work by 7 or 7:30, and more often than not Mike will take Isaac downstairs, to our newly finished basement, and they will relax and watch a movie together. For awhile, it was all about Shrek 2. Isaac watched the entirety of this movie almost every night for a month. He's since expanded and prefers Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., or Robots.
[Now, before you write to me and berate me about how much TV my child watches, please try having two super little people and a husband who works 60+ hours a week yourself. Then be reassured by our new "no TV between breakfast and dinner" rule, and leave me alone.]
After movie time, it's off to bed for Isaac. He brushes his teeth, I try to read him a story, and then, more often than not, it's Mike nowadays who does the tucking in. Mike's told me what they do, their tuck-in routine: Mike asks Isaac how his day was. "Did you have fun?" he asks. "Yep-ee," says Isaac. They talk about what was accomplished. Then Mike says "Daddy loves you. Big hug" gives Isaac a big hug, wishes Isaac pleasant dreams, and leaves the room.
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At lunch time today, Isaac was pretty cranky, likely because he had flatly refused to eat. When I did sit him down by enticing him with such balanced fare as tortilla chips and yogurt, he asked "Lullabye, mommy?" [Translation: Please sing me Brahm's Lullabye in the vein of Aaron Neville on that one HBO special you TiVoed for me.] Because I don't know all the proper words to Brahm's Lullabye, I sing my stupid made-up mommy version that goes something like:
Lullabye...and good night...
Go to sleep, Little Isaac.
Mommy loves you,
Daddy loves you,
And it's time to go to sleep.
Except I don't get to the last line. Out of nowhere, as soon as I say "Daddy loves you," his precious little lower lip starts to quiver. Buckets, and I do mean BUCKETS, of tears flow freely forth as he starts bawling "DADDY LOVES YOU WAHHHHHHH BIG HUG WAHHHHHH" over and over, so much so that he is hiccuping, he is crying so hysterically. I try to reassure him that, yes, Daddy does love you. Daddy is at work, but we'll see him soon. Oh look, and Mommy loves you, too! How about a big hug from Mommy?
But, while the Mommy-hugs are accepted, they are clearly not of the same quality as Daddy-hugs. For a half-hour the nonstop whining: "DADDY LOVES YOU! BIG HUG WAHHHHHHHH". Finally I suggest we call Daddy and talk to him ourselves; this is met only with more pitiful "DADDY LOVES YOU BIG HUG WAHHHHH". So we went and bugged Daddy at his office to get our hugs straight from the source. This quelled the fuss-waves, and Isaac fell asleep on the ride home.
You can imagine how special this must make Daddy feel. I think he almost cried when we called him, if dudes can do that.
One major new addition to our schedule now, on a near-daily basis, is the Daddy-Isaac Movie Night. We used to have Family Movie Night on Saturdays, which involved popping a Disney movie in the DVD player at around 7:30. It was all a secret ploy to put Isaac to sleep, but it stopped working (i.e. he started actually watching the movies) and we stopped doing it for awhile. But now that Jacob is here, Mike and I are both waxed from a day of hard work by 7 or 7:30, and more often than not Mike will take Isaac downstairs, to our newly finished basement, and they will relax and watch a movie together. For awhile, it was all about Shrek 2. Isaac watched the entirety of this movie almost every night for a month. He's since expanded and prefers Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., or Robots.
[Now, before you write to me and berate me about how much TV my child watches, please try having two super little people and a husband who works 60+ hours a week yourself. Then be reassured by our new "no TV between breakfast and dinner" rule, and leave me alone.]
After movie time, it's off to bed for Isaac. He brushes his teeth, I try to read him a story, and then, more often than not, it's Mike nowadays who does the tucking in. Mike's told me what they do, their tuck-in routine: Mike asks Isaac how his day was. "Did you have fun?" he asks. "Yep-ee," says Isaac. They talk about what was accomplished. Then Mike says "Daddy loves you. Big hug" gives Isaac a big hug, wishes Isaac pleasant dreams, and leaves the room.
--------
At lunch time today, Isaac was pretty cranky, likely because he had flatly refused to eat. When I did sit him down by enticing him with such balanced fare as tortilla chips and yogurt, he asked "Lullabye, mommy?" [Translation: Please sing me Brahm's Lullabye in the vein of Aaron Neville on that one HBO special you TiVoed for me.] Because I don't know all the proper words to Brahm's Lullabye, I sing my stupid made-up mommy version that goes something like:
Lullabye...and good night...
Go to sleep, Little Isaac.
Mommy loves you,
Daddy loves you,
And it's time to go to sleep.
Except I don't get to the last line. Out of nowhere, as soon as I say "Daddy loves you," his precious little lower lip starts to quiver. Buckets, and I do mean BUCKETS, of tears flow freely forth as he starts bawling "DADDY LOVES YOU WAHHHHHHH BIG HUG WAHHHHHH" over and over, so much so that he is hiccuping, he is crying so hysterically. I try to reassure him that, yes, Daddy does love you. Daddy is at work, but we'll see him soon. Oh look, and Mommy loves you, too! How about a big hug from Mommy?
But, while the Mommy-hugs are accepted, they are clearly not of the same quality as Daddy-hugs. For a half-hour the nonstop whining: "DADDY LOVES YOU! BIG HUG WAHHHHHHHH". Finally I suggest we call Daddy and talk to him ourselves; this is met only with more pitiful "DADDY LOVES YOU BIG HUG WAHHHHH". So we went and bugged Daddy at his office to get our hugs straight from the source. This quelled the fuss-waves, and Isaac fell asleep on the ride home.
You can imagine how special this must make Daddy feel. I think he almost cried when we called him, if dudes can do that.
posted by Claire at 3:13 PM
8 Comments:
You mean, there are people out there that think tv is bad for families? WHAT ARE THEY INSANE?
dude. Pop in a movie guilt free-- by prescription of Dr. R*Belle. Sanity is VERY important in a mother.
That is just so sweet! Especially that you had to drive him to Daddy for the big hug before he would go to sleep. Awwwww.
Oh, and I'm with r*belle...I only WISH Brandon would actually sit still for a little TV now and then. We are lucky if he will sit for 5 - 10 minutes of Blue's Clues or something. But a whole movie?? WOW!
Claire: ok, I've made it through the adorable pictures, movies and incredibly well written (always with a sense of humor) blog entries...but the "Daddy loves you big hug" was too much for my aging, no grandchildren yet, heart. You are all going to have to visit Seattle soon! Susan
All I can say is Awwww, that is just too precious!
Oh, yeah, dudes can do that. I got misty eyed just reading about it. And if I didn't have to wait on the train I'd probably be headed home for some hugs right now.
Great story! And, yes, there is no doubt that it made Mike feel special.
Claire, You've got to try that "Pooh, Pooh" song that Mamaw Carolyn sings. Tee! Hee! Love, Mom C
Hey we have watched Finding Nemo now two days in a row. He actually watches it for about 30 whole minutes. It is heaven in a tiny fishie.
Oh my God the DADDY LOVES YOU BIG HUG WAHHHH" has me laughing and crying right now ... aaahhh must stop. Oh so cute. And dramatic! Ah the toddler-drama - it's like our very own soap opera unfolding daily!
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