Linus The Great

Names I Call Linus:

1. Linus the Bear, or Linus Bear
2. Small Potato
3. Linus Jack
4. Iggle Piggle (Iggle Piggle is the main character in a BBC program for babies called, In the Night Garden. Alex found it, trolling the internet for steal-able media like the voraciously compulsive electronic thief that he is, and we watched it first one night before Linus even came home. It is mesmerizing. And looks so very, very pretty on our LCD tv. We have, with some self-hatred, already showed a bit of it to Linus and last week when I repeated the name of a group of characters on the show (They all have this odd habit: They only ever say their own names, over and over. A conversation with Makka Pakka, for instance would be amusing, but not particularly enlightening.) in their same sing-song voice, he smiled at me for the first time. Sad, but when you consider how much Law & Order the kid is exposed to, it’s a a wonder his first smile didn’t come at the L&O theme song.
5. Snuggle Pie Jackson, Angel Farts Jackson, Poopy Pants Jackson
6. This. i.e., Alex comes home and, though he has been eating from me for what feels like 13 straight hours, Linus is still unsatisfied. I hand Alex the baby. “Here. Take this.”

I should not complain. Linus is a very, very good baby. He loves the sling. He sleeps well. And unless he’s hungry, he’s happy being held by just about anybody. He’s easily comforted and generally pretty content with the state of his world. He is obviously a genius. But when he has something to complain about, he is very clear about it.

As his repertoire of sounds grows and changes, and as he becomes more and more used to his every need and want being anticipated, his demands have become more pointed. He barks and squawks. He means business. He also cuddles into my neck when I burp him over my shoulder. He pats me as he eats.

We took Linus out for brunch today and as two expectant mothers swapped due dates at the table nearby, Alex brought up how hard those overheard conversations were before we had Linus. For years, there were so many meals, park trips, fireworks outings, concerts, grocery runs when we ached to have what seemingly everyone around us did. Alex asked me how the reality compared to all that wanting. And though it is harder - much, much harder - it is definitely better. Sweeter.

To conclude: He is cute. More photos here.

ps - To all the nice people who have sent Linus lovely things. Wow. You are sooo nice. And I am such a schmuck for not having sent you a thank you note/announcement. It is coming. Soon. And it is so cute that you will immediately forget that it has taken me this long to get it to you - like the tiny man they honor - so worth the wait.