avablog

Everyone was in a good mood at the impromptu 4th of July cookout hosted by our neighbors and friends Sarah, Mac, and Andy. Even Emmett. Here he is, smiling, much to the consternation of his mother. She’s not bitter.

[Read more →]

Emmett, your mom is awfully worried lately about your gassy tummy. It’s true that you spend a fair amount of time these days fussing about when you’re not eating or sleeping. I’m not convinced it’s gas. Which isn’t to say you don’t have gas. Oh, you do, little brudder. You do. I just wonder if […]

[Read more →]

Leah, Em, and I had a nice moment on the porch yesterday, during which he smiled at me — on demand — no fewer than three times in succession. The importance of this event was that Leah was sitting directly across from Em and me, so she witnessed the whole thing. She dismissed the first […]

[Read more →]

I’ve clearly forgotten what it’s like to have an infant in the house. I feel kind of stupid for being surprised by the things Emmett does that are the same things Ava did when she was his age. In my defense, I guess it has been almost five years. Maybe when it seemed like we’d […]

[Read more →]

So this morning I was — again — transporting the boy to his changing table to dispatch a soiled diaper. On the way back out of his room, I looked down at him in my arms and was talking to him in a funny voice (not dissimilar from my normal speaking voice, alas) about the […]

[Read more →]

I woke up early this morning to take Emmett for a diaper change. As I walked into his room, I glanced down at him. In the heavy gray pre-dawn light, I could’ve sworn I was carrying a snuggly, wiggly little Michael Chiklis in my arms. This day can only improve.

[Read more →]

Don’t tell Ava that Emmett is a much easier baby than she was. Ava was notorious for howling like crazy every time she was set down somewhere, which made for a really rough first three months home from the hospital. Emmett, by comparison, pretty much eats and sleeps, with an occasional fussy period now and […]

[Read more →]

Aunt Rachel bought Em this cute onesie as a getting born gift. Leah tried to squeeze him into it this morning and found that it’s a little snug. Emmett didn’t seem to mind. Even so, I decided I’d better get a picture to document that he did actually wear it (it’s like hats and bandannas […]

[Read more →]

Oh, life with baby. It’s one thing right to another. The little fella continues to eat, sleep, and defecate with regularity. He’s even entered something of a routine at night, fussing for an hour or so before falling asleep sometime around 9. Then he sleeps until 12 or 12:30, eats, sleeps another couple hours, eats […]

[Read more →]

We’re just back from Emmett’s first doctor appointment. Turns out the little scribbler has gained 12 ounces since the Mercy home visit a week ago. He now weighs 8 pounds, 15.5 oz. (75%), is 21.75″ long (90%), and has a 14.75″ head (75%). If memory and my MySQL database serve, Ava’s only ever been as […]

[Read more →]

Konnichiwa, Emmett. Today at lunch I sat on the sofa in our living room and held you for a while. You squirmed and thrashed and teetered to and fro on your back like you were fighting off a swarm of no-see-ums. It was pretty amazing to look into your eyes and wonder about what must […]

[Read more →]

Hey, Emmett, it’s your very first moment of cuteness post! Huzzah! I anticipate many more to come. Your Uncle Kevin took this shot for me while I held you. He and your Aunt Rachel visited last weekend. It was nice to have another photographer in the house, since I often find myself wishing I could […]

[Read more →]

The hospital in which Leah delivered Emmett has a nice service where they send a nurse by your house a couple days after you’re home. She checks on the mom and baby and provides lots of info on nursing, child safety, and even fire extinguishers. Our visit happened today.

[Read more →]

Seems like as good a time as any to jot down the details — as well as I can recall them — of Emmett’s arrival into the world.

[Read more →]

I’m someone who tries to not focus much on the regrets in my life. And maybe this isn’t exactly a regret. But I sure wish I could go back in time to my 20-year-old self and show him what it’s like to have your infant child nap on your chest for an hour. That is […]

[Read more →]

If you’ve been anywhere near Leah at any point over the last nine months, you know that she had no idea how to raise a son. Well, now she gets her chance. Looks to me like she’s going to do just fine.

[Read more →]

I knew this time would come, and now, here it is. What to call this blog. I understand most of you think I’m daft for having two blogs, and I find myself agreeing with you on some levels. Eh. Maybe I’ll just leave the name alone. Gotta avoid that New Coke trap, after all.

[Read more →]

Well hello, born baby! We’re this close to a name, so stay tuned. Meet Emmett Charles Palmberg.

[Read more →]

We’re in the hospital right now. You decided you wanted to start coming about 8:20 this evening, right after your big sister went to bed. Your mom had a couple pieces of veggie pizza (hold onions) from Pagliai’s, and the next thing you know, it’s contraction city. We’re at the hospital as I type this, […]

[Read more →]

Our due date came and went with no baby. I think we were both expecting this scenario, but it does ratchet up the anxiety a bit. At our last appt., Leah’s doctor offered to have Leah come by the hospital today to “get checked,” and I think Leah might avail herself of that opportunity. For […]

[Read more →]