Too & Through

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Dear Michaela,

Barring any unfortunate accidents, you will be the baby of the family. The last few hours have open my eyes to lots of new things. Just think about what your mother and I would have to go through. 

Dads' Hands while standing.

You see, having three children that can barely communicate with me is not enjoyable. Today I was Dads' Hands (see picture on right) and another child, who were both in need of Gripe Water and some air conditioning was miserable. And lastly, you're brother isn't nice he plays "hockey."

What led me to this feeling was baby sitting Jackie, Olivia Murphy, and you for an evening. It started off really well, or rather, good intentioned on my part. Your mother mentioned to me that she was going out to have a girls night. Not a big deal, she should go out and have a good time. I like to go out an play basketball on Tuesdays whenever I can so what's the big deal right? One of the girls who was planning to go out has a baby under one that cannot walk yet, that hasn't spent time around me since I saw her in the hospital, and has the fluffiest cheeks of all time.

Olivia, Jackie, Me, and MJ (cry face)

Having Jackie (22 months), Olivia (9 months) and you (3 months) was, interesting. My parents used to have Josh, my sister and I on a regular basis. So, when I was asked if I thought I'd be over whelmed by having three kids under 2 years old I didn't think so. I'd seen my mother do it countless times with her home daycare. I had seen my father do it on a regular basis when he filled in for my mother. I'd seen all of my family do it when they watched all the little cousins. So what would be the big deal?

Here's the CliffsNotes version of the events that took place this past evening: calm bodies,cry face, more cry face, and even more cry face (if that's possible), WHACK, well-warranted cry face, sleep, cry face, dance party, return, bathroom break.

The night started out well. Olivia didn't seem to mind that her mother had left her with a total stranger. She wanted to show me how she could pull up on things, stand and play with toys. You were nestled on my leg watching Jackie show off by running all over the living room fast. I thought about using the bathroom but I didn't want Olivia to follow me and get sad. I also thought about getting Jackie some food and taking out a bottle for you (even though you'd never drink from it). 

Then everything went haywire. You didn't want to sit up on my knee anymore. Once you started crying, Olivia being the kind-hearted person she is, cried along with you. With her head held high, she opened up her tear ducts and let out a cry to wake the dead. She refused to be consoled unless she was being held. 

Without the hair, this was me on the couch.

Now picture the precarious the situation I was in. I was using two hands to do Dads' Hands for you to relax and Olivia needed to calm down but I only have two hands. So I put you into the One Handed Dads' Hands Football Hold and picked up Olivia in my other arm. I bounced around until you both stopped crying.

Once I got control of the scene, Jackie decided he'd mix things up. He jumped up on the couch and began playing with Olivia. She didn't want any toys and clung to me like a baby holding on for dear life. I tried putting her down once she stopped crying and the tears had dried up. But Olivia started screaming again as if her pinkie finger was jammed in a car door.

The most positive man in the world, Chris Pyott.

Jackie wasn't impressed. But he's trying to be the most positive person that he knows and tried to make Olivia and yourself feel better. He got off the couch, got a ball and his red shovel.

Asleep on the runner.

 trying to make things better by playing with Olivia. Once Olivia showed some interest playing with Jackie, I thought things were on the up and up. Then she started crying in Jackie's face when she dropped the ball. Jackie reached back with his red shovel and smacked Olivia square in the face.

Jackie was put into his crib, Olivia cried herself to sleep on the runner in the entrance hallway and you won the "I Can Cry Longest Contest," by crying a full fifteen minutes after everyone passed out of the contest. I have a feeling that you will always want to out do others in your future competitions.

I win! I cried the longest!

Although there is nothing that could make me lose my love for you, it is possible for me to wish you will be the last child I will have. Someone once told me going from two kids to three kids is going from playing man-to-man and going to a zone. So, dearest MJ, I'll be sure I've got enough hands for you because today you all were Too much and I am Through.

Love,

Your Dad