Probably pretty soon, if what I hear about babies is true.

Emmett didn't sleep through the night until he was 5.

Honey. Even though that's true, please don't add any more unproven worry to your sleep-deprived wife's brain, or she might just flip out like a mammal. Justifiably so.

Emmett didn't sleep through the night until he was 5.

Um, Emmett is a *little* unusual in that respect then. Did he actually wake you?

JZ, what everyone else has said. It does get better, really really truly. And you will feel better, and sharper, and a little bit more like yourself. I promise.

the $1300 in additional repairs of leaky valves and bald tires the car turned out to also need when I brought it in for the keys

You may have found out about this at the same time, but this is hardly your fault. Without being sleep-deprived and under the stress of learning to deal with a baby, I've done any number of less-than-smart things that have cost me a lot of money.

David, you totally just did the equivalent of saying to a pregnant woman "OH! Did I tell you about my six months of bedrest and seven days in labor, followed by emergency c-section??" Party foul.

In more amusing news, I love the little ratings blurbs at the end of NYTimes movie reviews:

"Music and Lyrics” is rated PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned). It has some sexual situations and naughty language. Parents of a certain age who see it with their children may have to endure some uncomfortable questions about the ’80s.

Matilda's not Emmett.

And yet, they have similar shaped heads

Honey. Even though that's true, please don't add any more unproven worry to your sleep-deprived wife's brain, or she might just flip out like a mammal. Justifiably so.

It's impossible for Jacqueline to worry more. Her brain is at full worry capacity at all times.

Anyway, I'm offering to take one of the mid-o-night feedings now that she's pumping enough to feed the baby at daycare and have some leftovers.

but, if it didn't get better, parents wouldn't have more than one kid, right?

Er, mine didn't...

Actually from what I understand, baby DJ was pretty ok. Not a big sleeper through the nighter, but able to just lie there anyway. Except for being almost constantly sick, I wasn't too much trouble.

Though I did try to escape once. That may have been what did it.

It's impossible for Jacqueline to worry more. Her brain is at full worry capacity at all times.

Speaking as a fellow mother, this is the most untrue thing I have heard since "Weapons of Mass Destruction."

Like Jell-o, there is ALWAYS plenty of room for more worrying.

Well there is a job coming up with the same high pay scale but much more limited, rigid, regimented responsibilities -- I could still make much better bank than I am now without feeling so stretched and over-responsible and depleted. They'd still think I was a pussy for turning down the shiny job -- and, more importantly, I'D think I was a pussy -- but in the long run it'd probably be much better for my mental health.

Did he actually wake you?

Yes, he did.

David, you totally just did the equivalent of saying to a pregnant woman "OH! Did I tell you about my six months of bedrest and seven days in labor, followed by emergency c-section??" Party foul.

Back up, Jack. This is not my primary forum for talking to Jacqueline about baby issues. It's not like she's getting news from me here, and this is not where I'm going to offer succor and comfort or an alternative feeding plan. Sheesh.

Eve slept like Matilda at 4 months, worse than Matilda from 6-8 months (I used to see every single hour in the clock all night), then better for a while, then bad again after a year. From 18 months onward, she was decent - up once in the night if at all. For me, getting ONE 4-hour stretch at night is very important. Peter is terrible right now, since he has a cold, but his basic pattern is up twice between 8 and 5:30, which is manageable for me.

There's a really fine line between "I am so fucking tired" and "I am so sleep-deprived I may quite honestly die." I know it well. The first, you can still laugh (at yourself, at life); the second, it's all about the anxiety and panic and, honestly, fear. JZ, I prescribe an afternoon at a friend's house, spent in the bed sleeping. This weekend. It will help.