Yesterday Duke took four shots: DTaP, HIB, IPV and Prevnar. He screamed when the needles poked his thighs, but he stopped crying altogether as quick as the fourth needle pulled out. I was very proud of him.

He is growing 50% across the board: 11bls 2oz (weight), 22.5″ (height) and 15.25″(HC).

I took off yesterday to spend the whole day with him. After the doctor, we drove to his mom’s workplace. Three of us went out for lunch. Duke got to visit his mom’s co-workers and then he drove to GW to greet my gangs. My boss adored him.

Duke came down with a fever last night from the shots. He was quite feisty. I hope he’ll get back to normal soon or else his parents don’t get to sleep much.

My humanized alarm clock rang an hour earlier than usual this morning. Around 5:30, Duke started to whine and caused his mom who had been restless with him all night to be grouchy. I picked him up and went downstairs to let his mom catch some sleep before work.

Changed Duke’s heavy and poop-filled diaper. Poked our head out the door and felt the cool morning wind. We took a long stroll around the block before Duke eyes almost closed. Went back into the house, cleaned up the kitchen and took out the trash for today’s pickup. Went back upstairs and get ready for work.

Half an hour later, Duke woke up and all curled up in his grandma’s lap. They looked at each other and smiled. Duke mouth was wide opened and occasionally stuck his tongue out. The bonding between Duke and grandma grows stronger the day his mom went back to work. We are very grateful and thankful that Duke is under his grandma’s care while we are away.

American University:

The study, published June 11 in the Journal of Human Capital, looked at the academic achievement of siblings—one of whom was breastfed as an infant and one of whom was not—and discovered that an additional month of breastfeeding was associated with an increase in high school GPA of 0.019 points and an increase in the probability of college attendance of 0.014.

Keep breastfeeding your baby, mommies!

Each morning, my humanized alarm clock would ring no later than 6:30. With a regular alarm clock I can snooze it and go back to sleep for a little longer. With the human one, he would scream until I get up. After brushing and dressing for work, I would take a stroll with Duke around the block. It’s one of the best bonding times between us. We would stare at each other until he falls asleep. His sweet, innocent face with his worrisome eyes still gets me every time.

This morning the rain prevented us from strolling, so his mom stayed up with us and made him laugh. Although I couldn’t capture the moments, the picture already recorded in my mind. I wish I could paint so I can put it down on canvas. Then I gave him a tummy time, balanced him by rocking him on a rolled blanket, and bicycled him.

After an hour with him, I headed to work feeling rejuvenated. What a perfect way to start a morning.

Jay Heinrichs teaches his kids to argue because “persuasion is powerful.” He argues:

An argument is good; a fight is not. Whereas the goal of a fight is to dominate your opponent, in an argument you succeed when you bring your audience over to your side.

I have also added a category called Parenthood.

My wife has made a wise choice on the Baby Trend Jogger Travel System. I have been using it for five weeks now and each day I can’t wait to take Duke out for a little ride. Every time I take him out for a jog, he would sleep the whole way through.

As soon as I start to jog, Duke’s eyes begin to close as well. He enjoys the jog more than the walk. With the big back wheels, the stroller runs smoothly even though Duke prefers a little bit rocky. Even when I hit a hump or a pothole, he still sleeps. The nice thing about the big wheels is that I could just pull the stroller up the porch steps without waking him up. Dana and I took him to the mall last weekend and he behaved really well in the stroller until he was hungry or wet.

Space wise, Baby Trend takes up almost the entire Acura’s trunk. Still, folding the stroller is a piece of cake. Just pull the triggers and press down to close. To unfold, just lift up the stroller handle until you hear the clicks. It is very convenience. If you want to take your baby out for a jog or a stroll without breaking your bank, Baby Trend Jogger Travel System is highly recommend it.

The rain gave me an excuse to stay cozy with the Duke. Grandma went out with aunt and uncle. Mommy, Duke and I shared the new couch. We listened to John Coltrane for a bit and then took a little nap. We watched some of Asia’s Tran Thien Thanh 2, but turned it off because the content is way too dramatic for us. I just laid next to him and watched him sleep while the rain was pouring outside. Each day passes by and I am more attached to this little guy.

I can’t believe a week has gone by already. I’ll be heading back to work this Monday. Just the thought of not seeing Duke for eight hours already makes me miss him. I won’t be the one who changes his diapers during the day. I won’t be the one who burps him after he’s fed. I won’t the one who wraps him up tightly. I won’t be the one who kisses those sweet cheeks.

But then again, he is the one who gives me the strengths to get up in the morning. He is the one who calms me down. He is the one who makes me feel responsible. He is the one who lifts me up when I am down. Just watching him and his mom curled up in bed put a quiet smile on my face. They are the loveliest and I can’t even imagine my life without them.

I apologize for the soppiness. I just can’t help expressing the joy. I am sure you all already feel me based on the responses you have been given me for the past week. You could have read any blog on the world wide web, but you choose to be here and share the happiness with me. By reading my thoughts, you allow me to pour my heart out, something I can’t really do in the real life. I sure appreciate that.

Thanks for all the swift comments and detailed emails regarding to jaundice. They make me feel much better knowing that it’s not so serious. Duke slept good last night. I did everything I could to keep him up during the day time. Night time paid off. He slept from three to six thirty in the morning next to his mommy’s breast. He did wake up at two and we enjoyed a bit of Bill Evans Trio. Evan’s His impressionistic touches on the piano are pure beauty. We will spend more time with him. I love those deep, lyrical, sensational voicing he had going on. A nurse complimented on Duke’s cute, long figures yesterday saying he’s going to be a pianist. I do hope so.

Duke was tested for jaundice today and he has a bilirubin level of 18.5. The doctor wanted to see him again tomorrow. Have any of you (the parents) experienced something like this with your child? Is it because of our Asian yellow skin or is it serious? I hope it’s the former, but please advise.