Strange Machines

Yesterday was a busy but remarkable day for Jack and I. We went to the office to talk to my boss about returning to work, went home for Grandma to bathe Jack (she does a better bath experience for him really), and then off to his favourite uncle’s place for dinner.

His Granddad happily cooed at Jack while he looked on amusedly and then made squeals of delight, some of which I’ve never heard. I tried to get him to say “ack ack” (Jack Jack) as he did some days again but he didn’t bite. He’s been making an effort to talk more. He said “Hi” (okay, maybe more of a sigh but it was very pronounced) at 6-7 weeks, and has said “Hey” twice since, once in response to my “Hey”.

He happily watched his uncle’s fish while we all ate dinner. After that, my brother grabbed his Jack Jack (from The Incredibles) piggy bank and waved it at Jack who stared back wide-eyed and curious. “That’s you, Jack Jack!” he exclaimed. Jack giggled in response.

I discovered HBO and the whole family sat and watched The Forgotten (guaranteed to make any Mom clench their sons closer to them in horror) and then, Stepford Wives (strangely appropriate during this time of my life). The Hub collected us at 1030pm and Jack was asleep by midnight as usual.

In the mail arrived the 2006 Rhysling Anthology and also Mike Allen’s cool new book of poetry Strange Wisdoms of the Dead, which included 2 poems we collaborated on: Transformations and Asunder. I had a quick flip-through while nursing Jack and was brought to wonderment by the amazing poems I so missed over the past couple of years.

Meanwhile, a huge congrats to Mike and David for winning the Rhysling awards for short poem and long poem, respectively. It has been an awe-inspiring experience to be listed in their and the other nominees’ great company. I’ll be reading poems from both books to Jack. I hope he’ll be as fascinated with science fiction as I am and inherit the wonderment I have for science and the natural world.

Perhaps it had been a long and tiring day, but Jack slept till 6am this morning. He nursed for a while and was asleep again by 630am. He muttered to himself around 9am but didn’t wake till 10am. After another feed he was asleep again. I left him to nap while I made breakfast and read beside him. He had his arms up above his head. It was so cute.

Finally I declared it morning when he fussed at 11am, turned on the main light, opened the windows, and played Mozart for him. He smiled and cooed as I changed his diaper and put on his Doggone Cute t-shirt. I sat him up on my lap and we talked and laughed till noon.