Mack is starting to smile and kick his little fat legs with excitement. It's exciting for us, Nate included.  Nate gets so excited that he sticks his head into Mack's face. We don't really get it. "EASY!" we say, "CAREFUL!".  But Nate is too excited. We're back in Brooklyn after taking Nate to East Hampton to the Fagen Estate with the rich and famous and 24 hour help. My parents took Mack for two nights and found him delicious and sweet -- an early sign that Mack's true personality might be coming through?

Here the two boys (video too above) are goofing off on the floor on this mat thing that has seen its fair share of spit up. Nate plays pretty well with Mack all in all.  We've heard tales of attempted murder. He calls him "Macko". 

Late June 2012

It's the beginning of summer and we're spending it at Love's Folly -- again -- another full 10 days and only a month from our last 10 day holiday at Love's Folly around Memorial Day. It seems the only way we're going to get through this is to stalk both sets of parents. This is no joke. With Mack's colic and incessant neediness, plus Nate's general bossiness, we need the help. This makes our family of four NEEDY.  We are NEEDY NEEDY. We NEED relief. We NEED NEED NEED. We aren't much fun. There are many tears. When we leave both sets of parents aren't that sad.  We are exhausted and we exhaust those around us. 

That Ron and Simma (and my parents too when we crash their house) would have us for more than a day or two is a miracle. But it shows me the power of family, of pulling together when there is strain.  And so this becomes the new normal. 

Some pics of Nate on the move away from the house... Nate at the playground in Easton.

On a nature walk. 

At the Crab Claw for french fries.

Around the harbor, throwing rocks.

Here's Mack at the house.

Nate's hair

Nate's hair is wild and beautiful.  As summer begins, his hair is the envy of men and women, golden locks of highlights and layers. He likes it I think.  I stare at it longingly.

Nate is communicating more and more. He begins camp soon.  He's nervous about it since he's going 5 days a week. His buddies only are going 2 days, leaving him without his Remy and Ronin crew 3 out of the 5.  He's in a good place though -- we are optimistic.

4 Month Check Up

Here's Mack at his four month check up.  He's skinny and tall for his age.  Lean and mean!?

Sun

Sun streams into our beautiful apartment. There is crying and hysteria at night, no doubt, with Shana and I still taking care of Mack in shifts, trying to hang on.  But the clouds are lifting as Mack begins to gain footing. On mornings like this, the possibilities seem bright.

Memorial Day at Folly

We're in Love's Folly for a week -- Memorial Day weekend.  We need the help. This is not easy. But 4 people can do this.  We can.  We can entertain Nate -- house hang into playground into nap into lunch into pool into house hang.  We can watch and care for Mack -- catch spit up, wipe up spit up, sooth, play with, put down for nap, feed.  

Smiling

It's summer, Mack is heading towards 4 months old.  He's doing his first smiles.  He's still struggling with gas and things -- the poor guy is fussing -- but this smile is going a long way.