Life of Lyles

You Can Do Anything, But Don’t Spit Up on My Blue Suede Shoes

This past weekend Allen had his first social outing – a birthday party for Stella, daughter of our friends, Katie and Barrett.  Here was our chance to show our little man off.  Of course he would be the life of the party, the gadabout, the rock star, the center of attention (2^nd to Stella, of course).

In anticipation of Allen being the ‘rock star’ of the party we dressed him in the most rock-n-roll outfit we had that fit his “stature."    The tousled hair or the ‘guitar shirt’ alone might not have made the full party statement.  

 However, like the proverbial rug, it was the Blue Suede Shoes that pulled everything together.

Need help getting that song stuck in your head now? Have a listen below:

Blue Suede Shoes

As we have quickly learned, when it comes to infants, toddlers and children very rarely do things happen according to plan.  When we arrived at the party, Allen promptly fell asleep and stayed that way for almost the entire party.   

 

Life of the party, indeed.

 

I say almost as Allen woke just in time to eat.  Many wanted to take this opportunity to interact with Allen.  However, as the evidence below shows Allen does not take kindly to meal interruptions. 

  It’s not uncommon for him to use finger gestures to show his two-week old angst. 

 

Katie decided she wanted to hold Allen, and that’s when it got really fun.  Our socially challenged offspring proceeded to spit up on our gracious host - again, another action not uncommon for him.  In fact, at two weeks old Allen has been able to projectile at least 3 and-a-half feet. As we’re still quite new to parenting we’re not sure about this feat - should we be concerned or impressed?

Sadly, neither Emily Post nor Letitia Baldridge have any advice for Allen on how to recover in a social mishap as this.   Our advice?  Just like the Boy Scouts, be prepared – always have at least one backup change of clothes wherever you go.

 

To recap, Allen spent his first party passed out, waking up only to drink, flip someone off (his father, no less) and spit up on the party host.

Rock-n-roll?  Somewhat.

Punk?  Very much so.

Here’s to our little Sid Vicious.

 

 

 

What’s that?  You were expecting to read and see something a little more….cute?  Here is our friend, Stella, the birthday girl. 

 
 She likes cupcake icing so much that she doesn’t mind eating a candle just to get some.

And here’s the after party – wine and a reading by Stella from a selection of her favorite Curious George stories.

 

Shhhh. the quietest super bowl party ever

Dear Nielsen,

We're sorry.  We can't hold it in any longer.  We can't let you live a lie.  

We know you your report says that 106,500,000 people watched Super Bowl XLIV.  We're compelled to inform you that at least one of those people was asleep almost the entire game.  See it hasn't been the easiest task trying to keep Allen asleep and allow ourselves some moments of peace and quiet.  So when we found him deep in a suspension of consciousness yesterday afternoon we found that we were forced into: 

the quietest. super bowl. party. ever.

 

We didn't give high-fives.  We didn't jump up and/or yell at the TV.  We didn't laugh loudly at the commercials (in our defense, no one anywhere on Earth did).  We had the sound turned down to just above Mute.  We could only whisper, "who dat?"  

But then, knowing we had at least three more hours to get Allen back into a deep slumber I (Matt) felt justified in trying to wake him for his first rock-n-roll experience: the Super Bowl XLIV Halftime Special featuring the loudest band in the world (1976) The Who.

 

Again, sound was turned down.  As much as everyone else in the country, nay the world, let it we could not allow the halftime show go to 11 in our household.  No one's ears bled.  No one's faces melted.  Nothing got rocked off.  

But even at that level no one can deny the awesomeness (it's a word - check it) of Roger Daltry and Pete Townsend.  Allen proved his enjoyment of the show with his eyes widening at the opening keyboard sequence of Baba O'Riley, his feet kicking during Who Are You?, his head rolling during the closing blasts of Won't Get Fooled Again.

I'm almost certain the experience resonated with him - later that night I found him trying to perform Pete Townsend's 'windmill' in his sleep. 

 

And of course, after that the Saints won.

So even though there were no loud cheers, there were no loud jeers, there were no loud belches from too many beers it was the most enjoyable Super Bowl experience we've ever had.

Who Dat?!

It's a Boy!

It’s a boy!  But you already knew that.  Here’s what you may not know:

Allen Jefferson Lyles (Big Al) made his way into the world on January 29^th at 3:16 p.m.  Weighing in at 9 lbs., 8oz, he measures 22 inches – note: refer to nickname above.

Both Rachel and Allen are doing fine as they recover from a long, exhausting day.

 

Rachel, Allen, Maddie (not pictured) and I (Matt) are quite happy with the family we now have! 

 

After two meals, four changes, thirteen wipes, thirty-two kisses and ninety-four photos (no flash, please) little Allen is now fast asleep.  As I am quickly learning, if he's sleeping we need to be sleep or else we may never get it.  With that I bid you good night.

 

 

Today's plan is:

Yes! We Have No Baby Today

"Punctuality is the politeness of kings" - Louis XVIII

"If you're there before it's over, you're on time" - James J. Walker

Here we are.....................still waiting.  Little Lyles was given an official due date of January 25th (this past Monday), yet he still shows little interest in facing the world.  In his defense, how accurate can a delivery forecast be when it's made 7 - 8 months out?  Weathermen can't accurately predict the weather 10 days out.  Economists surely can't accurately predict economic behavior a year out.  Forecasts are simply that.  In any event, he'll arrive precisely when he intends to arrive - as long as it's on or before our doctor forces him out.

One way to coax him out might be through jealousy.  If we talk about, and show pictures of, another baby he may be inclined to come right out just to prove that he's the cutest, smartest and most well-behaved baby that we know.

If you're familiar with product launches then you understand that a testing phase must be performed before a launch (if you're not familiar with product launches, you just learned something new).  Before we "launch" Little Lyles into our household we wanted to test many of the items he'll be using on a daily basis to ensure quality and optimal baby satisfaction.  As shown below, our 16-month old niece (that would be LL's older cousin), Iris, assisted us in our tests. 

Iris in the Safety First Recline and Grow 5 Stage Booster Seat.  She was quite excited each time we placed her in the seat.  The fact that she knew she would receive (almost) unlimited amounts of mac and cheese and milk may have skewed results.

Iris in the Fisher-Price Rain Forest Bouncer.  Note:  that is not a look of boredom.  She was simply entranced by the waterfall.

   

Iris happily hanging in the crib.  Again, access to her drink of choice may have skewed test results.

Either way, all of LL's gear, toys and equipment are here waiting for him - just as we are.

This is What Pregnancy Looks Like

Many have been asking for this picture (a profile), so it's appropriate that this is the subject of the first post.  Rachel is at 39 weeks and still looks as beautiful as ever.  However, even at 39 weeks, you're still going to show something.  With that we give you:  This is What Pregnancy Looks Like.

  

For those of you who are mothers, please understand that we are in no way attempting to represent an all-inclusive look of pregnancy and all included in the nine month "process".  For those of you who are not yet mothers, please consult multiple sources before basing your opinion on all that pregnancy entails.  (A hint:  it's not always this pretty.)

Little Lyles is somewhere in this picture.  Can you find him?