friday started early.
went to the doctor
(for me).
on the way in
i ran into a couple.
the woman saw madeline
and said,
“so you’re playing mr. mom today?”
i said,
“yep. i’m mr. mom everyday.”
she looked confused,
and seemed to want to
ask some questions.
i left it at that.
i was running late.
no time to make another
stranger cry.
ran into my favorite
nurse in the hallway.
she finished up her
breakfast and bribed me with
a donut so she
could take madeline
from my arms.
i took the bribe
just so my doctor would
know that i’m actually eating.
(she’s still concerned about my weight).
from the doctor we rushed
home to try to tidy
up before
liz’s
cousin tony and wife kim
stopped by.
they arrived too quickly
and saw just what
a shithole the house has become.
(pretty sure liz wouldn’t want anyone to see the house like this).
they got the tour,
marveled at my daughter,
took a photo with
the robot
and then we headed to
the atwater village
for some lunch
at the cuban restaurant.
later we crossed the
street for some cookies.
dropped tony and kim
off at their car
and madeline and i
were off to visit another
daycare center in
the north hollywood.
elizabeth met us there.
i liked the place a lot.
nice and close to the office.
went home to open
some packages.
madeline watched closely.
the packages were picked
up from the bank in the
atwater village a few days ago.
strangers friends the mcdonalds in the ca
sent me a cd,
and a gift certificate to amoeba,
madeline a rad
t-shirt and a
a story and some music cooked up by the man of the house.
(so awesome…can’t wait to read/play this).
strangers friends chris, amber & reese e. from the ne
sent madeline a bracelet for when she
gets a little older
(robot!)
stranger friend erin n. from the mn
sent me a book that should
help me with madeline,
a teddy bear, some very useful items
and a ton of clothes for madeline
(obviously a big twins fan)
stranger friend amber s. from the louisiana
sent madeline a teddy bear
from her favorite college team
and a bunch of awesome books.
strangers friends martin, jenny and margot c. from the neighborhood left us a nice package.
(i actually got to meet martin and margot at the playdate on wednesday and look forward to hanging out again).
to quote martin:
contents of the package are:
2 books for madeline
1 6-pack of “maddy” formula (he actually built the 6-pack container).
1 6-pack of daddy formula
1 friend for robot
1 cd-format “mixtape” for all
(he even built a little six-pack holder for madeline’s bottles).
and check out the robot…
so, so awesome.
we then headed to the pasadena
to have
dinner with chandra and derek,
who were in town
from the bay area.
decided on a sushi restaurant.
it’s an extremely loud place,
but madeline was comfortable,
quietly surveying the room.
i think she remembered the place.
i was there with
liz
(madeline inside),
last november,
to celebrate a night
of feeling okay enough
to leave the house.
she loved sushi,
but ate only veggies and edamame
’cause she was pregnant.
she was really looking
forward to
going back there someday.
instead, i sat there
with one of her best friends,
telling and listening to stories
about
liz
chandra’s been writing
for madeline.
this will someday be the greatest
gift that madeline will receive.
after a lot of talk,
we walked back
to our car,
passing a bunch of the places.
liz
loved to shop,
and
headed home.
during the short drive home,
i heard this song
we always joked that
it was to be
played at my funeral.
instead it played at
liz’s.
wildly inappropriate.
but perfect at time when
i needed a laugh the most.
i smiled again,
the song ending
as i parked in front of
liz’s
car.
a peaceful day with lots
of good memories.
sleep is in order.
45 Comments
I see you’re up late like me. How’s M.’s sleeping habits? My 16 mo. old started sleeping through the night around a year old. My 3.75 year old at like 5 months. It’s funny though because my baby is learning her colors and will randomly call out “yellow!” in her sleep. It’s sweet and very odd at the same time.
Hope all is ok.
Incidentially, I’m loving your music choices also.
glad you had a good day. thinking about you guys lots. hope you find a daycare you love and that you continue to have good days!
I cant wait to see Madeline one day… she’s so adorable!
Matt, you’re so awesome! Seriously… Awesome!
matt –
one goes one way, one goes another.
i’m a dad too.
i started blogging last year.
someone posted on my blog to go read yours.
i think they knew what they were doing.
my wife was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer
last year. she was 20 weeks pregnant.
the baby died.
she lived.
and so it goes.
but here we are, two manbloggers,
writing about when and how to tell,
how and what to feel,
and a whole lot of unanswered why.
you write about robots,
me about mulberries.
and so it goes.
you are unique,
but you are not alone.
warmth,
daniel
I find myself looking for robots, everywhere. I’m glad you had a good day. It sounds lovely.
peace is good.
i wish you more peaceful days.
hugs to Madeline.
Matt-Im pretty sure, despite the pic of the clown, that “Circus Liquor” ISNT a day care center. (JK-I had to laugh b/c when I was reading, you were talking about visiting a day care center and the next pic was the liquor store…or maybe you were talking about a day care center for you? haha)
So glad that you had a good day with friends, family, music and food. Its also nice to hear that you can laugh at a memory. I’m so glad that your friend Chandra is writing for Madeline, but I think that this is still her best gift. As much as Madeline will miss having Liz around when she gets older, being able to read this and see how much love and support came from total strangers as well as friends and family, as well as her daddy, well, thats gotta count for something.
Hope you had a good weekend too!
p.s-Caught the “ready”-Hilarious!!
I love the pics of her in that little sweet dress.
Where do you work at by the way?
Don’t worry about your house. My house is always a mess… I think it will remain that way ( despite my best efforts) until my kids go away to college! It is a hopeless cause.
Hope you have a great sunday!
Hi Matt – so glad that Friday was a nice day. The picture of Madeline is absolutely adorable. Who knew that she could get even cuter than she already was!!
I’m hoping that the rest of your weekend is a peaceful as Friday was.
As always, love from the mn….
That formula six-pack holder is awesome.
Glad your Friday was a good day. And that photo of Madeline made my heart skip.
looks like your new friend Martin is a keeper
Good luck with the daycare stuff.
Hang in there Matt, thinking about you and Madeline, you’re on my heart. Don’t worry about the house, oneday it will all come together. Just keep taking good care of you and Madeline. And remember there are a lot of people rooting for you. I wish I knew Liz. Take care…
Madeline looks so sweet and peaceful in the first picture, she sure is beautiful!
Awesome package from Martin!
And ditto on the music choices, I love it!!
Hope you have a wonderful day together!!
glad the past few days have been pretty good for you. good luck with the daycare search. all i can say is go with your gut on that one. hopefully madeline is able to get in the one you that you like the best. when my middle girl, who will be 2 in august, saw the pic of liz from a couple days ago all she would say is “eyes. eyes.” over and over. she did have beautiful eyes, but you already know that. hope you have a stellar sunday.
Hi Matt – I’ve been reading your blog every since the article ran in the mn paper. I love seeing how Madeline is changing and getting bigger every day. The first year of a baby’s life is amazing and exciting with so many new things. I think you are amazing and incredibly strong and Maddy is lucky to have you as a daddy. Thanks for letting us all be a part of your life! By the way, I crack up every time I see you and the robot watching the sunset together on the beach. You have a great sense of humor!
God Bless! – Mom of 2 in Eau Claire, WI who reads the “real” news online from the cities.
Will you please explain to us that do not know, the significance of all the robot stuff? Thanks!!!!! Hope you have a nice weekend.
she’s proud of you. we all are.
Your Madeline is going to grow up with amazing musical taste. By listening to the music her mother loved, she will know her mother’s soul.
Last night I was up late with my own Madeline. We listened to Wilco on your page and she fell asleep with a smile. Smart kid.
Babies are such a wonderful excuse for your house being a shithole – and when you have a wee one as cute as Madeline, I am sure they didn’t even notice.
I found my kids were always calm at sushi eating joints – maybe it is the noise, or the anticipation of that first bite of sushi – they love it now!
Glad you had a peaceful day and here’s to a good night of rest.
Happy Sunday, Matt! Madeline looks beautifuler and beautifuler. And you’re doin’ pretty good yourself. May today bring more blessings, and may you see them. You’re a strong and decent man, and you can’t help but think Maddie will be very proud of you.
I am completely hooked on your blog. Just found it on Friday and have finally got caught up to the end (hate when life gets in the way of my online time). Incidently I too must ask for your address to send a package and your email would be great too.
I love the pictures you take, you have a true talent there. Your music choices are awesome also. Glad you got some rest, hope Madeline did too!
A messy house is a good thing. It means life it too full to deal with cleaning. no worries. Mine is messier than most and I just don’t care…. Liz would understand…
@Stacey-
Please see homepage in the side bar. The story is there under “what’s with the fuckin’ robot?”
Hope your having a good weekend, seemed like Friday was an okay day for you.
If the daycare that you visited in North Hollywood is the one I think it is, I REALLY hope it some how works out. I can’t imagine leaving my son anywhere else when he was Madeline’s age.
Hey, I have been silently lurking your site for a while thought I would stop in and say you are doing such a fantastic job: Madeline is just so beautiful. I too see robots everywhere…seriously
Thinking about you in NZ
I see Maddy scratches at her face (probably in her sleep), my son did the same at that age, their nails are so sharp and scratch like a kittens. I used to put his little socks on his hands to stop this and it helped. These are the little tips other moms passed on to me.
Matt,
Glad you had a good day. Madeline is continuing to look oh-so-sweet…in her dress picture she looks like a little porcelain doll!
Don’t worry about the house. People totally don’t care, and understand that you have a new little one.
By the way, that’s one scary looking liquor store clown! I too got a good laugh out of seeing that picture right after you mentioned looking for a daycare for Madeline!
Thanks for letting us share in the ups and downs, Matt. You’re doing an awesome job. Still sending you hugs from GA!
Maddie looks so good in green, that is definitely her color!
Hey Matt & Madeline,
Wishing you a great week to come! Madeline is getting prettier every day, she has beautiful eyes.
Don’t worry about the house, having a baby means instant messy house! Even if you have the time to clean, there is no energy left *LOL* My son is almost 3 & I keep saying I am going to get everything cleaned up any day now…….
My son saw Madeline’s picture last night when I was checking the blog and he said, “that’s a baby mommy, she’s pretty.” I had to then go through the blog & show him all of Madeline’s pictures because he wanted to see the pretty baby. It was so cute! If she needs another little “boyfriend” I have a blonde haired blue eyed boy who has taken a liking to her!
Take care of BOTH of you,
Gina C & Andrew (my son)
As always, Madeline looks adorable! She’s got to be the best dressed baby in CA. Or the US?
I heard a song today & it made me think of you. It’s called ‘Details in the Fabric’ – it’s a compilation between Jason Mraz & James Morrison. It’s basically about a guy having a bad day and the faulty manufacturing of the ‘Fabric of Life’. Kind of soothing though as it’s about holding your own & getting thru it all. Which we all know you’ll do.
That’s my random thought of the day. I hope you had a restful weekend.
As a working parent, I would have to say…if you like the daycare a lot your life just got a whole lot easier. I am certain they will treat your little girl like their own. And they have so much experience with babies they will give you (whether you want it or not) a ton of advice. Plenty of times, they are like a mini diagnostic lab determining potential sicknesses, etc. And sending your kid to daycare will bring sicknesses as they are like mini petri dishes – but Madeline’s immune system will be healthy for it!! My pediatrician would say they will either get it (some virus) when they are a baby or when they are 5… I have a wonderful relationship with my daycare, I don’t know what would do without them. It does take a village… Also- if they are close – it will one day be a great resource of babysitters for you as you will need to have them for various reasons.
I am certain they will see the love and care you provide to your daughter and will provide the love and care that Madeline will need! If you have a good feeling about it, I’m sure they will be fantastic!!!
Did you know that Liz Phair-did a kids album? Waaay more tolerable than the wiggles…
You have an absolutely gorgeous daughter. So precious. You are doing an amazing job. Madeline is thriving and it is because of the wonderful job you are doing!
Hey Matt-
Glad Friday was good!! (-:
Madeline is just so way CUTE!!! Love the pics…
Hopefully you will get the daycare figured out- go with your gut- it’s such a relief if you really love the place and people- then you’ll have peace of mind when you do go back to work…
The presents that you have been receiving are so awesome- so much thought goes into all of them-there are so many of us that are out here who care about you and Madeline…<3 Hope those good thoughts help you to keep on carrying on….
Cheers to the rest of the weekend being good- get some rest, chill ,listen to those great tunes…
As always hugs and kisses from here in the MN. XOXOXOXOX
What an angel she is sleeping, and what a sweet little girl in that green dress! Sending love your way from steamy Illinois!
I so look forward to your updates. We all thank you for them…Thinking of you and Madeline
Nice to hear it was a good day, thought about you off and on all day. Hoped it was a good day! Glad it was.
I can really see your face in Madeline’s i that first photo-
Usually I see her gorgeous momma shining out to the world.. but sometimes I can see the same beauty from her poppa.
It is nice- these babies made created with real love- I swear they are the world savers.
weird I wrote a lil’ comment and it said duplicate comment.. I must be so predictable. heh
what a sweetneck she is..I think she looks so much like you in the first shot there.
Madeline is growing like a weed! What a beautiful little girl she is.
The 6-packs are genius… love that.
Playing Mr. Mom? Excuse me? It’s called being a father.
At one of our daughter’s doctor’s appointments, a woman said something to my husband (he was there alone with her) along the lines of, “Oh it’s so nice that you were able to bring your baby. Are you babysitting today?”
Ooooo. He was steamed. He told her, “No. I’m not babysitting. I’m her daddy. This is what fathers do.”
You may or may not be reading all your responses, but I was wondering how far you’re able to drive for a good daycare/preschool. Our kids go to Woodbury Preschool Village, and if you’re interested, I can help set up a visit for you. We love them, and it’s in Altadena near JPL, so they get a lot of JPL daycare overflow.
Feel free to email me, if you like… I’m sure something can be arranged for Madeline
Whenever I see the Circus Liquor clown, it makes me so proud to be a NoHo resident. Keeping Maddy within a few miles of the office is definitely the way to go.
didn’t have computer access for far to long – just getting caught up on you blog! i am glad friday was a peaceful day filled with good memories.
miss madeline just keeps getting more and more beautiful!!
with much aloha!
(ooh and i love the 6 packs!
fantastic!)