Ada and the Boys

I really am feeling guilty about all of the recent sports related posts and I do apologize to those of you who stop by to catch up on little Ada. It does ease the conscience a bit that, today, I actually do have an Ada story from this weekend for you. Well, the story isn't really about Ada, but it was originated because of her.


Also, there is some content that may be meant for more mature audiences, so if you are offended easily, please stop reading now. This is a family friendly blog, so it isn't that bad, but I felt the need to forewarn.


This past weekend, we had a "bachelor gathering" for BP (don't worry, this isn't the mature part.) He is getting married in a few weeks and we had to celebrate. Gathering, because I don't think what we did could justifiably, be called a bachelor's party, like I said more of just a gathering of old friends. Everybody drove into Atlanta Friday night, once they were all here, headed to a 12:30am movie (Granted, I couldn't make the movie due to my new found fatherhood. I couldn't leave LB at the house until the wee hours of the morning. What kind of Father would I be?). Then, everybody woke up Saturday and went to breakfast (at 12:00) at a place called Thumbs Up Diner in eclectic Decatur, GA and afterwards went to play football at a park downtown. After football, BP had to get out of Dodge because he was set on making it back to Guntersville for their annual Christmas parade….true story.


It was in that delectable little diner where our story unfolds. However, that is not where it begins. It began when LB remembered she had a haircut appointment the weekend of this bachelor jamboree. The only solution we could come up with would be me just coming home when it was time for her to go get her haircut to babysit Ada for that hour or so. In case you are wondering, there was no canceling this appointment because she has to be in a wedding this coming weekend, so skipping the haircut, not an option. We originally thought, by 12, the fellas should be tired from all the football anyway. Not really the case. The morning is ticking away and we haven’t even gotten a phone call, much less gone to breakfast yet. Finally, we get the call from the guys around 11:30, which left me with no other option. I packed Ada up and took her out with the boys.


I thought twice about it, I didn’t know what everyone’s reaction to a 4mo old's presence at this bachelor’s shindig would be. When we showed up, Ada was warmly received. I was pleased. Everything was going well, the guys who weren’t scared to hold her got their chance and Ada got to meet her Uncle Tank for the first time (Don't worry Aunt BowenOwen, your time is coming soon). I knew, based on the time of the previous feeding, that I had until about 12:15 until Ada would start getting hungry and right on cue, the fussiness began. I assured BP it wasn’t anything he had done, she just cries when she gets hungry, it’s normal. I left the guys meandering around outside waiting on our table to be called ready and went inside to feed her. While I was feeding her, our table got called and all the other guys found their seats. Another 5min and the feeding session was over. It was a very successful feeding: she drank it all, there was no fussing, there was a burp, but no spit up. I was feeling good about my parenting skills.


I got to the table, and asked the waitress for a high chair. When she brought it, I did the ol’ flip it over and sit the carrier on top of the upside down high chair trick. It fit beautifully, so this impressed many of the guys, adding to the sense of pride in my parenting skills built up from the previous successful feeding. Soon the conversations were going, we were talking about politics, who should win the Heisman, mortgage rates, then, I am still unaware of how it came up, but the number of Ada’s “used” diapers came up. I explained that with a breastfed baby, it was normal for them to go a few days without a dirty diaper, but teetee diapers were very common. This statement struck a cord…..breastfed??? But, I just had fed and there were no breasts around? How could this be? I then got to give a tutorial about the (gasp!) breast pump. The conversation went similar to this (names were withheld to protect the innocent):


Male1:A what?
Me: A breast pump.
Male1: What is that?
Me: A device used to extract breast milk for just such occasions as today.
Male1: Does it have like tubes and cans and stuff?
Me: It has two big suction cups, with tubes coming off them and two little bottles to catch the milk.
Male1: Does it hurt?
Male2: No man, it's just like if it was Ada.
Male 1: Is it loud?
Me: You can barely hear it, but it is very rhythmic. Close your eyes and it is very soothing, sort like the waves crashing into a sandy beach. (I meant this comparison to highlight the relaxingness of the rhythmic sounds, but I think it may have come across as comparing the noise of ocean waves to milk running into the bottles, oh well.)
Male 1: Is it electric or does it need batteries?
Me: It's not electric, but you have to plug it in.


I realized the foolishness of what I had just said a moment too late. The guys started making fun of me for saying something electric doesn't have to be plugged in and the conversation swung just like that. I am sure we then moved on to something much more macho, who ever heard of talking about breast pumps during a bachelor breakfast bonanza? The rest of the breakfast went really well and Ada was very good. She even fell asleep on the way to drop her off back at home, confirming her comfortableness with the guys. All in all, it was a very successful first outing with the Cuzes for Ada, she got to meet a few people for the first time and her eating habits were thoroughly discussed. I just wanted to share this one more milestone to add to her ever growing list.


Now, because I have one less tooth than I did two days ago, I am off to eat some mashed potatoes and a milkshake....