beth! How wonderful to post with you! How are you doing? And your DH?

Also, it's officially tomorrow here. So it's the weekend. I'm very thankful I'm not allowed to do anything on shabbat.

How is daddying her like or unlike daddying Emmett at that age?

Very different experience so far. At 4 months she's only 10 pounds. Emmett was 19 pounds by the time he was 5 months old. So physically she's a lot smaller. Dainty even. He had a big hearty laugh by then and really liked to be startled into laughter. She likes a lot of eye contact and will vocalize with you with a very earnest look of concentration as she says "Awoooah" and "Goo!"

Emmett needed constantly stimulation or he hollered. She can sit still and very interested in trying to get her hands into her mouth. He had a high craving for novelty in what he saw - lot of razzle dazzle was good. She likes to really look at stuff and seem to be figuring it out.

She's sleeping a little better than he did. He was more willful, she wants what she wants but she's willing to compromise if you make the effort.

She's definitely easier at this stage than he was, but maybe it's just because I've done it before.

JZ is a very loving mother and will cry and cry next week when Matilda goes to daycare. JZ frets a lot about messing up, but she's doing great.

Emmett continues to be the most ridiculously doting big brother ever. With apologies to all the beautiful Buffista babies, I will relate his comment from yesterday: "She's the cutest baby ever! All the other babies are hideous compared to her!" When we're getting out of the car he yells, "Dibs on the baby! I get to hold her first."

How are you doing? And your DH?

We are both in transition - I start at a new library next week ( closer to home, no weekends, more duties) and It looks like he will be moving to a job at a local hospital - not as much excitement , but little to no travel and more time for him to do other things in life. But the wheel at the hospital move very slowly- he has been told an offewer letter is going to be here- but he still might have another week to wait for it.

Oh, I'm so completely unsurprised to read that JZ is a wonderful mom. I mean, it's her, how could she not be?

It's lovely to read about Emmett's response! Not that I'm surprised here, too, but still. Is it OK to say that a boy his age is adorable, or is that word unfit anymore?

How is the book coming along? (Sorry if this is all old news. See above re: skipper).

beth! Congrats on the new job! And good luck to your DH with his hange, too.

Yay on no longer being in a Schrödinger's gender situation with the baby, Jessica!

Migraine never materialized today (just oddly light-sensitive, I guess), so I've been wicked productive. Which is good, since interruptions slowed me down a lot the past 2 days.

And I'd forgotten one of the great compensating perks of being on Atkins: turkey bacon as an afternoon snack.

How is the book coming along?

I was able to do a lot of work on it in November and December, and I'm pleased with what I've got. Haven't been able to work on it much during the holidays and now I'm temping again. It's due in April and I've got to find the time to finish it one way or another. But I'm pleased with what I've got - some of my better writing.

And I'd forgotten one of the great compensating perks of being on Atkins: turkey bacon as an afternoon snack.

turkey bacon? How about the real deal?

turkey bacon? How about the real deal?

Bacon bacon?

Some of us like turkey bacon better than the regular kind.

Matt, it's good to read that your day turned out better.

I'm pleased with what I've got - some of my better writing

Oh, and it's good to read this, as well. Good luck with the rest!

turkey bacon

Well, it can be kosher this way. In the brunch in NYC there was this fake-bacon (I'm not sure what it was really made of), so I actually know, for once, what food y'all are talking about (though, of course, only its fake version).