A stay-at-home-dad offers thoughts on the joys and sorrows, and everything in between, of fatherhood.

Friday, January 06, 2006

Family Jet Lag

As luck would have it, the first day back from vacation wasn’t the worst for jet lag. That would have been today, I fervently hope. For starters, daddy didn’t sleep more than a few tortured moments last night, as my own inner clock rebelled at the jet-setting. By the time I started duty with baby this morning, I was counting on resting during her naps. Never count on your baby’s naps.

Baby did indeed take her normal first snooze, going down at 9:15 and waking at 10:15. She then proceeded to fight off sleep like a champ until 3:45 this afternoon. No big deal in the wider scheme of things, but not ideal for baby or myself. She was exhausted, yawning and dozing, but then fussing before she could be put in the bassinet. Eventually, I realized that she was gassy, perhaps owing to all the traveling, and gave her anti-gas drops for the first time. (Her mom had done so a few times in the past.) The drops appeared to work, as baby slept for just about all of the next two hours, waking briefly for small feedings before nodding off.

I hate being so tired that her napping means so much to me. Despite the exhaustion and discomfiture on both ends, no shortage of singing and gleeful glances were exchanged over the course of the day – thanks be to God.