Catching up on the news

Ryan turned three weeks old yesterday, and every day is getting better and better.


I haven't cried since Friday. Today, we slept late, got up and played, then went to lunch at Hunter's new office. Ryan napped most of the afternoon. He'll wake up soon, so I'm writing and posting as fast as I can. (I spent the past few hours just holding him while he slept and watching Grey's Anatomy. He smells yummy, and he won't ever be this small again.)


Speaking of Hunter's new office, my husband was asked to come in for a job interview during Ryan's first week of life. This week is otherwise known as The Week of Despair. He was operating on about 10 hours of sleep in the five days since Ryan was born, and he impressed them so much that they hired him. He started as director of communications for Pierce County last Monday, when Ryan was two weeks old. I can't tell you how amazing this is to me: I could barely tie my shoes that week. I certainly couldn't have landed a job.



Taking this job was a no-brainer in terms of allowing our family to improve our lot, but leaving the newspaper was hard for Hunter. The News Tribune was, and is, a great place to work despite our industry's difficulties. And newspapers are the family business -- his, and ours. When he told Maddie about the new job, she was disappointed. "But I like the people there. And I like that you write for the newspaper." He felt a pretty big twinge at that. But he loves the new gig, and he has an office with a door. Two, actually.


So I'm learning to understand Ryan's language. I can tell when he's truly waking up or when he's just stretching in his sleep. I can tell when he's ready for a nap even though he stubbornly refuses to close his eyes. Who knows where that stubborn gene comes from?

Not me. I'm known for being agreeable. Also, I have some oceanfront property to sell ya.