The Undefeated Irish And Their Biggest Little Supporter

This college football season has started off much better than last year’s. 
The Fighting Irish are undefeated after two games, the most recent a thrashing
of rival Michigan.  More importantly, a pure bred Irish fan is sprouting pom
poms right before our eyes.  Although he had his main line memorized last year –
“Touchdown Irish” – there were depressingly few opportunities to perfect his
delivery.  But after three quick first quarter touchdowns Saturday, Elliott
could have received an honorary megaphone from the ND glee club.  His shouts of
“We love you Charlie (ND Coach Charlie Weiss)” were as heartfelt as Rocky
Balboa’s famous “Yo Adrienne.

 Granted, he had a head cheerleader leading the way.  No, it was not mama. 
She generally finds the most exciting part of the game to be the clock reaching
zero, paying no special attention to who won or lost.  So I volunteered for the
role.  For the most part, Elliott simply had to repeat as directed.  His wide
smile and the passion in his voice gave every indication he would be leading the
pep rally by this time next year.

 Sleep training has hit a bump or two.  Elliott wakes up several times in the
night.  His new toddler bed is not equipped with the imprisoning walls of his
crib, so waking up often means getting up.  Katie will hear him begin to stir
like only a mother could.  When she goes to check on him, she’ll find him in
various places.  The most popular location is asleep on the floor.  I don’t know
if he falls out or crawls out, but he seems to find it comfortable there.  

Katie couldn’t find him the other night when she checked on him.  She
canvassed all floor space but there were no signs of him.  Before total panic
could set in, she discovered him curled up under his bed.  Not under the covers,
but the bed.  The bed doesn’t sit high off the ground, so it took some
determination to hibernate there.  We placed precautionary barriers around the
foot of the bed last night just in case he had some fond memories of the
experience.

 The poor guy has had a stuffy nose for two weeks now.  We think it is
probably linked to those big back teeth fighting to join his smile.  The sleep
interruptions came along about the same time the congestion arrived.  His
sympathetic mama has been more inclined to provide nurturing than remedial sleep
lessons.  “Go back to sleep” and subsequent screams of resistance have been
placed on hold.  Instead, mama lays on the floor next to him, positioned close
enough for Elliott to rub her arm and sooth himself back to sleep.  The
discomfort this has to bring someone 71/2 months pregnant can only be explained
by a mother’s love.

 Mama and baby Ian continue to do well.  We continue to talk with Elliott
about Ian’s arrival, assuring him and ourselves that he will make a wonderful
big brother.

 We are very blessed.  The photos coming out of Texas in the aftermath of
Hurricane Ike serve as sobering reminders of just how very blessed we are.  We
pray that God will provide strength and resources for the millions of people
effected, that they will find the road to recovery paved with the loving support
of family, friends and the many total strangers who always step forward at times
like these.