Our pediatrician likes to see breast-feeding babies 48 hours after they leave the hospital, to make sure that they’re eating properly and gaining at least half an ounce per day, and that their jaundice is at least beginning to go away.

We had  a pretty chaotic morning, with everyone up-and-at-em by 4 am. The footprint picture was taken around 6:30, and the King has been eating every 1.5-2.5 hours. And he peed all over himself and the changing table just as it was time to leave. By the time we went to the doctor’s, for a 9:30 am appointment, we were all getting a little loopy. Except Noah, who was howling at the horrible indignity of being made to sit in the car seat.

Everything took longer than we expected but fortunately, we planned for that. And we live 5 minutes from the pediatrician.

Then Jill somehow managed to set off the car alarm on her new car. Noah and I were already in the car, and she’d turned back to lock the door to the house. Actually, she said "I don’t remember whether or not I locked the door." We both turned to look, and it was standing wide open.

Then the car alarm went off. I didn’t even know the car had a car alarm!

Jill got in and tried to figure out how to make it stop beeping. Nothing worked. Finally, I said "let’s just go." So we drove off, a Noah’s First Pediatrician Visit Parade, honking uncontrollably through our quiet subdivision.

By the time we got out of our neighborhood, we were both laughing so hard I had to beg her to stop talking, because laughing that hard HURTS. And the alarm finally stopped.

And Noah is doing great. His eating is back on its championship track — he’s gained 3 ounces in the last 2 days, and his jaundice is gone from mid-chest down. If he keeps eating like this and gets a little more sunlight, he should be his normal healthy color all over very soon.

I’ve also discovered something that is letting me type this, using both hands, and is letting Jill nap at the same time. If we put him down right after he finishes eating himself into a milk coma, he often stays asleep! Even without a mommy under him or with her finger in his mouth!

I’m going to go join mommy for a nap.

Fruit & Veg Count, 2/15: 1 banana & 6 or 7 baby carrots