Awake and smiling!

RE: Goo, goo, and aua …

I can’t believe this … Instead of giving me water (AQUA), they are staring at me with ridiculous faces and saying “isn’t he sweet …” Water man, give me some water when I am thirsty! I am only six weeks old and can’t say that stupid Q – can’t you understand that?! I mean, I am tired of adults being infatuated with infants and not giving them credit for inventing the most important words that YOU (adults) are using. Like the words “mama”, “papa”, “dada” (see dada movement in art), “oh”, “no”, “go”, “do”, “boo”, “uh”, “hmm …” (when you are thinking about a puzzle), “mmm … (when you like something), “ohm” (in yoga), … to mention a few. And we INFANTS first started using them. We actually INVENTED them! The bottom line is when I say “aua” stop staring at me with that stupid smile and please give me some water.

Goo, goo, and aua …

Luka started making semi articulated sounds like goo, goo, and aua. He is so sweet!

Mama and Papa

I think I am loosing my hair …

I know it is unusual but it can happen, right? I am like those Greek philosophers and I don’t want to be like them at least not now – the kids will make fun of me. I mean even adults in this country have no idea about Greek philosophers and not to mention kids. What did those philosophers do anyway? All they talked was about democracy and that is so unimportant here and now. Maybe I should take one of those pills for hair growth. We are all supposed to take pills at some point ... Propecia? But they don’t make such small pills for me. I would have to divide one pill into 20 pieces (according to my weight) or 200 pieces (according to my age). I am surprised they didn’t make Propecia for infants (given that they made Prozac for dogs).

Amelie's mother

This is my Auntie Mrim! She is one of the few people that can calm me down. Maybe because she sings to me French lullabies and you know French sounds really gooood. (I have to spend one afternoon and learn that French.) Anyway, Auntie Mrim has a beautiful daughter, Amelie – big blue eyes, oh … why am I so young … Amelie is probably more than 20 times older than me at this point. That sounds terrible! But I am patient and hopeful … I overheard when Auntie Mrim said that she is accepting offers – you know matchmaking …

Colic – milkoholic

It’s final – I am officially diagnosed as Mr. Colic! I saw my pediatrician about two weeks ago and he kindly referred my parents to “colic clinic” since I am not really the “case” for him and they “might” be able to take care of me. So on Monday, Dec. 17, we went to see two “shrinks”. All I really wanted was to get answers to some practical problems such as: 1) how to survive between two breast feedings, 2) how to tame this volcano in my stomach, and 3) how to control my brain (that feels like it is not yet mine). Instead of answering those questions, they asked if there were lunatics in my family and if my mother was on drugs when she was pregnant. You know, shrinks are shrinks no matter whether they treat adults, children or dogs (did you read that article about Eli Lilly … they made a Prozac for dogs! Unbelievable! I wonder what questions they ask them to diagnose depression). Anyway, what was I supposed to tell them? That there is always a first time for everything, including being Abie Normal?! Well, I didn’t want to say anything – there was no point. I just decided to be an angel. My parents were shocked and felt a little uncomfortable since they told them that I cried much more than 3 hours a day (that’s one criterion they use to label you as colic) and there I was patiently listening to their conversation (of course I wasn’t sleeping – I almost never sleep during the day). Well, the moment they put me back in the car I started my Rigoletooooo – they sometimes call me Luka DeVile …he, he, he, …

With Krishna, Jaya and my younger friend Akul. He and I are like a mirror reflection. You can’t see him but you can tell where he is hiding, right? He will join us in March.

What did I turn into? Look at this double chin and this oversized belly. I can’t believe this is me … I know I have to slow down with my eating but I just can’t stop – I am milkoholic.

A hair dryer is one of those things that does miracles for me. I don’t know if it is the warmth or the sound but it definitely feels GOOOOOOOD.

I am back ...

I got a lot of complaints for not writing for such a long time. I am really sorry for that but you have to understand me. I am only over one month old, my hands are small and I am supposed to type on these huge keyboards!? So I always have to ask my father to type things for me and since he was sleep deprived he refused to obey my orders. I had a long conversation with him today and explained certain things and I hope he gets it now: it’s not him that makes decisions anymore!

This is my Auntie Kutchi, Kutchi (also known as Tayo)

She is the only one that speaks my language (although with an accent).

Are you talking to me? Are you talking to me?
Well, I am the only one here ...

Before ... and after having a "drink"

Knockdown effect

There is something in milk ... it always knocks me down.
No matter how alert I am, after having a few sips I always fall asleep. The same effect as chocolate has on my father:) Maybe I should check my blood sugar? Or my mom's milk is too strong? My father is very concerned. He says: "If he is like this with milk, what will happen when he tries wine?"

Being outdoors for the first time ...

I am growing ...

Today (Friday) was another important day for me (well, when you are only 8 days old every other day is important). Anyway, today I went out for a walk for the first time in my entire life! We went to see my pediatrician Dr. Dvorin. He is a cool guy, a reasonable man which is so hard to find these days. He said that I am doing really well (despite my parents concerns) and that I am growing like crazy. Just to give you a few numbers to make a point: when I was born I weighted 7lb and 6oz; when I left the hospital I was around 6lb 4oz (see how stressful it was there), and today I was 7lb 12oz!!!! From his limited experience (around 30 years) he is not sure he ever saw anyone that gained weight as much as me (in as few days). He usually schedules an appointment for the following week but in my case he said it's not necessary since I am a "case". So I will see him in three weeks!

[I am not sure my parents share his enthusiasm but that's because they are sleep deprived and can't think clearly.]

They just look small ... everything is relative

Flowers make my mom happy ...

The same two characters in new "context".

This is my dad and me without "context".

My mom loves to take photographs but I am not sure she is very good in that. I think she often looses the object she wants to capture but she says that "everything" IS there and she wants to capture "context". Well, this is my father and me in "context".

Milk, milk, milk, ...

has finally arrived in full force on Tuesday. Oh what a day - mom thank you so much. Not that I didn't like colostrum but I had to work all day for a few teaspoons. I will celebrate Nov. 13 as my second birthday. I was so happy, I just couldn't stop ... and then ... well I forgot to tune up my digestive system so my tummy started to hurt. I didn't sleep all night ...

Surprise visit by Auntie Irene. I think she fell in love with me ...

My first smile. I can't remember the dream but I can tell you what I dream of all the time: MILK!

My father and me on a day I was born - I am the one under the hat.

This is my mom and "the first kiss"!

My father says that I look like a little mouse in this one.

I just woke up ... you can tell.

This is probably the first picture of me. I just arrived and they were "fixing" me. I was pretty puffy so I am not going to post other photos from that series.

My name is Luka ...

I just arrived to this world ... about two days ago and it's a crazy, crazy world. Well, I didn't choose the place or the timing so here I am and I will do my best to change it. Remember the old one "Philosophers were just interpreting the world ... the point is to change it!" So here I am.

To be precise, I was born on Thursday, November 8th 2007 at 3:47PM in Providence, RI. It was a beautiful sunset and I was facing two big windows so I had a perfect view. If it were not for the discomfort of the labor, and a midwife in front of me, I would have really enjoyed it.

It was a chilly day when I left the hospital yesterday, but the sun was out so I can't complain. We arrived at the house around noon, and I was surprised to see that the apartment is on the first floor and not on the second like in the song. Oh well, I am Luka but a different one.

My biggest problem right now is that I am constantly hungry and very sleepy. They say it's normal but for me it's a nightmare: can't sleep when I am hungry and can't eat when I am sleepy. I often fall asleep while I am breastfeeding and then the next thing is I find myself in the cradle starving. My parents would like to play with me but I am not in the mood right now. I want FOOD! I am hungry and when I am hungry I am angry. That's all for now.