Mom vs. Dad

(I know this post is somewhat similar to one I did on January 22, 2009)

1. Mommy changes FAR more diapers than Daddy does each week. The only time Paul changes Ian's diaper is when he's the only one home. He averages changing Ian's diaper once a week. The strange thing is that when Nadia was this age he changed far more than one diaper a week. He still doesn't mind changing Nadia's wet diapers.

2. Daddy uses FAR more wipes when changing diapers. I would estimate he uses at least 3 times as many as I do for one dirty diaper.

3. When Daddy is watching the children he devotes 100% of his energy toward them whereas Mommy also does things like eat, do the laundry, dishes, or grade papers while one of them or both of them are awake.

4. Daddy is far more bothered by messes than Mommy is - whether this means getting dirty while playing outside or while feeding herself in her highchair.

5. Daddy is far more paranoid of possible injuries from Nadia doing things like climbing. I just read an article that said the opposite is what is typically true.

6. Daddy has never trimmed either child's fingernails. I will give him credit that he trimmed Nadia's toenails one time. I have to admit I don't enjoy the task either, especially Ian's right now as his are SO tiny. I am so afraid of hurting him.

7. Daddy has never given either child a bath although he has taken Nadia out of the tub a few times after I've already shampooed her hair and such (when Ian was crying and needed my attention). I think giving her a bath is a fun activity whereas the thought of doing so frightens him.

8. I only try to teach words to Nadia that I think she has the potential to comprehend. Paul sometimes tries to get her to repeat words that she won't understand the meaning of until high school or beyond. To be honest, a few words he's tried to get her to say, I don't even know the meaning of, LOL.

9. If Ian is crying, Paul assumes almost 100% of the time that it means he's hungry. Although that is the case many times, other times I think it's because his diaper needs to be changed, he needs to burp, or he's tired.

10. For the first 8 years of our marriage, I got more sleep than Paul did. Since Ian was born, Paul has been getting more sleep than me (more at night and more naps during the day) - with the exception of the last two nights when he was working on his paper.

Paul didn't finish his paper until this morning. I hope it's not going to be a problem that he submitted it a day late. His officemate didn't think it would be a problem. The same two professors were on her seminar committee last year. I was really, really tired this morning. Ian slept from 8:15-11:30pm, 12:15-2:00am, and 2:50-4:00am. I couldn't get him back down after 4:00am. Nadia slept until 7:30. Can you believe it? She's had an excellent week in terms of her wake up time. I love DST! She napped for 3 hours today which she wouldn't normally do after sleeping almost 12 hours the previous night, but she only napped for one hour yesterday (in the car) so I think she was making up for the sleep she lost yesterday. Ian was awake from 4:00-8:30am. After putting him down, I proofread Paul's 17 page paper and then took Nadia with me to the grocery store.

When we got back from the store, I nursed Ian and then took Ian and Nadia for a walk. Ian didn't last long so I carried him. I'm getting pretty good at holding him with my left arm and pushing the stroller with my right hand. I didn't realize until we got home that Ian had lost a sock somewhere along the way. Amazingly, I found his sock on the road when I took Nadia for a second walk about 4 hours later. I hope I take some pics of the kids today as they both look cute in new spring outfits. Nadia is wearing a Carter's lime green onesie & polka dotted jumper that I got for $2.99 awhile ago. Ian is wearing a new outfit that Grandma gave him yesterday. Grandma makes sure Ian & Nadia are well dressed. I am loving this weather!!! Today is a great day - the first day of spring and my mom's birthday!