"What do you do for fun?" "Well... I've been a dad for about a week."

Jeopardy.

I've been watching -- and yelling answers at my TV -- since I was a kid.  It's been a longstanding dream of mine to be on the show.  I think it would be the ultimate game show experience.

Sure, there are other game shows -- you can win more money on Millionaire or scream louder on The Price is Right.  But Jeopardy is the pinnacle.  The competing, nerdy players.  The tough questions.  The quick format.  The Final Jeopardy music.  Alex Trebek snarkily correcting contestants' French pronunciations.  Jeopardy has it all.

I got really excited about 5 years ago when I realized that anyone can take an online test, offered every January, for a chance to be on the show.  I've taken the test every year since, never knowing whether I did well enough to qualify for an in-person audition (they don't tell you how well you did, just that they might call you if you did well).  

So, what does this have to do with being a new parent?  Well, a little over a month ago I got the long-awaited email.  Jeopardy wanted me to come to New York for the second and final round of qualifications, the in-person audition.  I would take another test similar to the on-line one, play a mock round with other prospective contestants, and have a personality interview to make sure I was TV material.  The problem:  they wanted me to come on May 21, one week after Jeanette's due date. 

My initial reaction was, "Well, there's always next year."  But then I thought, "It's a week later, and Molly might come early, maybe I can do this."  I talked with Jeanette, who was really supportive, and we agreed that as long as Molly came early enough that they were home from the hospital, I would go.  Jeanette's sister Jacki even moved up her planned visit so she would be here to help out while I was gone.  (She said it had been her dream for me to be on Jeopardy since she met me...)

As you all know, Molly made her appearance on the 13th, clearing the way for my NYC excursion.  On Monday I headed up on the Megabus, stayed with old friends that night, and showed up bright and early for my audition on Tuesday morning.  The audition went well, everyone was very nice, and I got quite a few answers right (especially in Before and After) -- except in the fabrics category.  Of course there have to be a category on "fabrics" right when I got up to do my mock round... 

Anyway, I knew I needed to do something to help me stand out from the couple of thousand other auditioners.  And what could help me stand out better than the Mollster?  After all, how many other one-week parents could there be among the group?  Plus, what better evidence could there be that I really wanted to be on the show? 

When it came time for my personality interview in front of the room of other contestants, I made sure to bring it up.  We talked about where I was from and my job ("Have you ever had clients you thought were guilty?" "Most of them")  Then they asked what I do for fun.  I said, "Well... I've been a dad for about a week."  Needless to say, Molly was a big hit.  Everyone congratulated me.  The Jeopardy folks asked all about her.  And they even said "Take good care of Molly" as I was leaving 30 minutes later. 

I don't know if I'll get on the show or not.  But if I do, I'll have to think that being a brand spankin (but not actually spankin) new parent helped.

Pumping Rally...

So it has been almost a week since life has changed forever. The first two days were trying. Those hormones are no joke. I was emotional waking up and seeing a little creature beside me- shit, I'm a mom. I was even more emotional when on the second day of Molly's life, she was attached to me like a bee on honey for more than 12 hours. At the time I thought... "great, she's getting what she needs and because she's a bit of a chunckster she needs alot." After a day of sucking, latching and then screaming like Wyatt and I imagine the sounds of a swooping pterodactyl we were at our wits end trying to figure out how to soothe our growing babe.

Yet she wasn't growing. In fact, she continued to loose weight and she was angry about it.

What struck as heartbreak at first has blossomed into a blessing.

When we were told she was not getting food our nurse sensitively and kindly introduced the idea of pumping. Reluctantly, due to pride or hormones or all the above I agreed to pump with the hope of feeding baby girl. Tears ran down my cheeks as I internalize my lack of ability to feed this little human but....

I pumped and drops came.

I pumped again 3 hours later and a few drops dripped. Again and bit more. Fast forward five days and the knowledge from the pediatrician that Molly has a "tight tongue", I'm happy to report the situation is much better than the second day.  I'm pumping and pumping enough to feed my milk to her but through a bottle. A bottle that is held my her adoring father, excited aunt Jacki and all the other visitors yearning to connect and nourish her little being body and soul.

For me it's the best of both worlds. I get a little me time when I pump (I'm actually writing this blog and pumping) and others who love her get to connect with her as she drink her sweet milk gold. It's working for us!

And being familiar with the milking process (what, what dairy farm upbringing), I have to smile a bit every time I'm hooked up to my milker. :)

from a mother for a almost a whole week,
jeanette

Oh here's another photo of Miss Molly hanging out with Aunt Jacki! She kinda looks like a crazy bag lady and we love it!

(be sure to check out more pictures by clicking the link to the right titled- Check 'em out!)

She's here!! Molly Mae has arrived!

It was a long day and a hard journey. Having been told that Molly was going to be a big baby, a planned induction was put into the books for Monday, May 13. Obviously, we hoped that Molly would arrive on her own before that date but we all know hopes don't always turn into reality. So bright and early on Monday, May 13 we were on our way to Holy Cross hospital. Labor started around 9:30 am and Jeanette was told to start pushing around 5:30 pm. And push she did, she pushed for not one, not two but three hours. Pushed with all her might but Molly was content to stay right where she was, warm and safe inside. At the same time, Molly started showing signs of slight distress which prompted us, our doctor and nurse to make the hard decision for major surgery, otherwise known as a c-section. So off to the OR we went. Within 20 minutes of starting the procedure we heard the mighty lungs of our stubborn, vocal and quite fetching baby girl. I got to hang out with her as she was weighed, measured and wiped clean. I was able to carry her over to Jeanette as she got stitched up. Jeanette was super exhausted but was happy to hear Molly's strong cry as she entered our bright and cold world.

So that's sums up our story. We have since been getting to know each other and enjoying the first day of parenthood.

Oh in case you missed it, below is a Molly's e-announcement. See I told you she was cute!

Make your own announcement

From a tired new dad,
Wyatt

Just the beginning....

Greetings all,   This is Jeanette writing with Wyatt hovering above. We have decided to start a family blog. Why you may ask? Well tomorrow, bright and early, we head to the hospital and when we return we will have Baby Girl Molly. Yes, a baby.

Although we have no idea what we are really doing we have spent the last few months of parentfreehood preparing (each in our own way).

Big Phil tested out some essential baby accessories (thanks mom for the sweet homemade bibs)....

Wyatt caught up on some scholarly reading....

And I, or rather my belly, just grew and grew and grew some more. It's a bit ridiculous really but hey I hear it's part of the process.

So here we are on this surreal eve of parenthood. Ready? eh, maybe but she's acomin' and it shall be an adventure.

Oh, just in case you wonder this used to be my blog of my travels and pondering. Feel free to read previous posts, if you dare. :)

Over and out,
Jeanette, Wyatt and Phil (who's hanging out with his best buddies Coby, Ben and Nancy).