2008 March 31 — slackermama . com

I have a question to pose to you, oh dear Internets. It’s something that is being hotly contested here in our house these days and I am just not sure what the common knowledge is on this particular subject, or even if there IS any common knowledge.

What is the deal with putting hats on newborns?

Kile insists that because you lose most of your body heat through your head and because newborns have some difficulties regulating their own heat (at least at first), they should wear hats 24/7, regardless of the temperature inside or outside the house.

I have a much more laissez-faire (and, according to Kile, borderline child neglectful) policy and while hats in the hospital are all well and good, after about the first week they probably don’t need the hat all that often. I like to subscribe to the “dress them as you would dress yourself” philosophy since that makes sense to me.

So. Your job, dear Internets, is to tell me which one of us is right. What has been our experience on this particular subject, what have you done with your own children?

Get the word out:

We’re not there yet. Not quite. I’m sure no one expects us to be, either. After all, Kile is still on leave, helping me out here at home. And we won’t have anything approaching normal until he goes back to work (please don’t think that means that I at all WANT him to go back to work because I DO NOT). But with Kile’s mom gone back to Elko and normal life going on all around us, it’s easy to think that “this is how it will be.” Of course, it won’t. Evie is still asleep in her newborn coma. I’m trying not to read too much into that (she’s still jaundiced, after all, so I worry she’s sleepy because of that). Plus, you know, newborns are relatively easy to take care of. They eat, they sleep and they poop. And that’s about it.

Liam seems “adjusted”. Of course, I’m aware that this could all change at a moment’s notice. But he seems genuinely okay with having the little bundle around all the time. He loves to look at her when we’re in the car, since he has a good view of her from his carseat. If she fusses, he “talks” to her. It’s rather adorable, actually. He’s got a good heart, that one.

Harry has proclaimed Evie to be the cutest baby ever. He really is taken with her and it charms me how differently he has reacted towards her than he did towards Liam. Not that he didn’t love Liam, but it’s different. No, his relationship with Liam is much different. They were playing last night, rough housing in the living room, chasing each other, giggling and laughing and wrestling. It made my heart swell to watch them, it did.

Kile actually went in to the office this morning. He’s just helping out with something for a couple hours. Thankfully, he took Liam with him. Not only will this ensure his timely return, but I frankly can’t handle Liam here alone yet. I can’t pick him up, for starters, and in order to do just about anything for him, I need to be able to pick him up. Plus, the ladies in his office just adore Liam so I’m sure his being there won’t be an issue.

So that leaves me here at home, alone, with Evie. I think I’ll take advantage of her snoozing to go hop in the shower real quick. I’ll utilize the whole “bouncy seat outside the shower” technique so I can keep a good eye on her. Of course, knowing that damned Murphy and his dang law, she’ll wake up and want to eat just about the time I’m sudsing up my hair. Anyone care to lay a wager on that?

^{That wrinkly turtle neck of hers just slays me.}