Overdue post and sleep

I know, I know...I haven't really had a good posting in a while. Pics and work stuff. That's all you've gotten for the last month or so.

So...here's the scoop.

Desi is smiling pretty regularly. Except when we get the camera out. My mother says he's a typical Pankow that way.

Also...Desi sleeps through the night, already. No joke. At least, as the doctor defines is. Most nights, he sleeps for 6 or more hours before waking up to eat. This is the only time he goes that long. During the day, he typically needs to eat every two hours. But, at night, he goes down at 9, sometimes fusses a bit, but he's usually out within 30 minutes or so. He won't wake up again until around 3...sometimes later. The other night...he actually went 8 full hours. I don't even sleep for 8 hours.

Shaundar mentioned this to the doctor because we weren't sure if that was healthy. The doctor said, "That's great! I wouldn't tell your friends about it, though. They may get jealous."

We've been trying to hang out with more babies, lately. I want Des to start seeing other kids. We've spent time with Rusty and Megan and their daughter Lia. And, Eugenia and Kenny had us over to hang out with Gabe and Gavin. Kids are fun.

Finally...we joined a PEPS group. Program for Early Parent Support. It's basically a group of new parents that get together and talk about being new parents. Desi is easily the cutest baby there...but, that's a given being that he is the cutest baby in the entire world, ever...well, with maybe one exeption. A ridiculously attractive baby born in 1977 in a small town in Arizona.

Tomorrow...we hang with more parents. We also pack for our upcoming trip to Michigan. Then, on Sunday, we're watching the Arizona Cardinals play in the Superbowl. Who saw that coming? I figured that kind of event would be as unlikely as America electing a black president!

Wait a second...

Go Cardinals!

Desi got Daddy's Genes...

Or...is it Jeans?







Looks like someone left the barn door open, too.

Need something to cheer you up?

It's been a rough week. Professionally, this has been my most emotionally draining week, ever. I survived 3 layoffs at WaMu, but none of them impacted me like this. Being at Microsoft 4 years, I know quite a few of the people affected.

Still...even after spending a day manning the room where affected employees come to pick up their boxes, all it takes is an excited smile from my little boy to lift my spirits.

Yup...I think I'll keep him.

Microsoft layoffs

Don't know how many of my loyal readers follow the news, but I figured I would give to the scoop on me, in case you have heard.

Microsoft, for the first time in their history, is laying off a significant portion of their staff. 1400 people will learn, today, that their jobs are being eliminated. Then, over the next 18 months, another 3600 will also be let go.

As of today, I am not on the list...at least, the 1400 list. Who knows what will happen over 18 months. A significant portion of the cuts is coming from HR. Granted, the day is still very young...but...without going into details, I am either safe today, my leaders really have no idea, or I have been blatantly lied to. I very much trust my leaders, so I think I'm safe. If that changes, I'll let you know. It helps that I am a high performer in a profitable business that the company has invested a lot of time, money and resources in. It also helps that, by Microsoft standards, I'm underpaid. ;-)

Anyway...it's been a pretty crappy week. Even though it looks like I am not being let go, I know a lot of people who are. In fact, I hired a lot of the people who are.

Here's more info, if you're interested.

Pics

Video

Oops

Okay...he's not sleeping, anymore. Now, he's miserable. I think his legs hurt where he was injected. Plus, I don't think he's feeling well. He has been unleashing some horrible cries, this afternoon. I've got him on my chest, right now. I think he needs to be close. He is not happy. Poor little buddy.

Shot day

Desi got his shots, today.

4 vaccinations, total. One was oral. He's a trooper, that kid. We laid him down on the table. He was sucking on his sucky thing and everything was grand. Then, the medical asst. poked him. Three pokes, total. All in the span of about 5 seconds. She was quite fast, props to her for that.

Desi was looking right at me, sucking away, when the first one went in. It's hard to describe his face in writing. But, if I were to attempt to translate his look into words, his face was saying, "OH MY GOD! WHAT THE F*@$ IS GOING ON. JESUS CHRIST, THAT HURTS!"

We have since had a discussion about swearing and taking the Lord's name in vain...even through facial expressions.

Anyway, it's hard not to look back and chuckle just a little. I mean, happy go lucky kid who's eyes instantly go huge, while his mouth turns into a quick frown, and who starts screaming exactly 3 seconds after the first needle went in.

After the shots were over, I picked him up and help him close and shooshed him. He was done crying 5 seconds later. So...all-in-all, not bad. He's sleeping, now. Either that, or pretending to sleep as he plots his revenge.

A few more

Oh...and it records video, too.

Fun with the new camera

Okay...we've been playing around with the new camera. Here's some pics.


Starting with the Christmas Pics Shaundar wanted before the old camera died.

I am a distant daddy

So...my second week back to work has been long. Two night in a row, I got home and Desi was in bed. I'm a bad daddy.

Today, I'm leaving early, though. I'll have to give him some extra play time. Maybe I'll play some songs for him on Rock Band.

PS...our new camera came in. So...we'll be snagging more pics, I'm sure.

Twitter updates added

You may have noticed that, on the right hand side, I have added Twitter updates.

Acknowledging that my primary readership is on the other side of middle aged, I figured I would explain.

Twitter is a social networking site that lets you tell people what you are doing. So...if I am eating a steak, I can write - jpankow is eating a steak. These posts, on Twitter, are called Tweets.

Tweets that begin with the @ sign are replies to someone else. They said something that I am responding to or I am addressing them specifically with one of my Tweets.

That's really it. Nothing too exciting about it.

Our new camera gets here, tomorrow.

Death of a Camera

Our digital camera crapped out, tonight. Terrible timing, too. Shaundar has set up this elaborate set and we were going to snap a picture of Desi in his Santa outfit from Grandma P. in a box under the Christmas tree. But, alas...dead camera.

So...not sure when the latest pics will be up. We may look at new cameras tomorrow. But, FYI, if you don't see pics for a while. This is why.

Someone has a slobber problem

Took Quincy out to the dog park today for some exercise. He had fun running around with his doggie friends and seeing people. Plus, he hasn't had any off leash time since Desmond got here.

Unfortunately...over the last year or so, Quincy has developed a little slobber problem when he's exercising. Many dogs with jowls (bulldogs, bostons, pugs) slobber a bit. But, Quincy...I mean...well, just look.

Before, he would just give his head a good shake and the slobber would go flying off. Now...he gives a good shake and we end up with this:

The worst (or funniest) part is when another dog runs up to me for petting after playing with Quincy and I see a large wad of slobber smeared into that dogs fur.

Anyone want a dog?