Our baby is so special that we've named him so many times.

People find our son's name stressful. Or rather, it's his lack of a consistent name that makes people, well, I guess uncomfortable. I'll start by saying that no matter which name you call him, we won't be offended. His legal name is . Hyphenation wasn't really our favourite choice for a last name, but it seemed the most fair and it sounds pretty cool. Elray is a combination of our fathers' first names: Raymond and Elmer. We like this name very much and if you want to call him , go ahead. We know who you are talking about because often we call him too. I probably call him Augusten most of the time. Augusten is pronounced Au-GUS-ten with the emphasis on the middle syllable. People often pronounce it AU-gus-ten. We really don't mind that either. It's sounds European. and Europe is cool. We especially liked the name because it could be shortened to Gus. Gus is just too diminutive to be a legal name so we expanded it to Augusten. But you can call him Gus and we like it too. Augie is cute. It is an unanticipated short form of Augusten. We like this name also.
I've had friends comment that Augusten will be confused because he doesn't really have a consistent name. We also call him: "the Dude", buddy, poopy-pants, monkey-pants, Mr. Baby, sweety etc. I think most people call their babies affectionate terms. So think of him as having many affectionate terms, and one of them might be his actual name that sticks.
I often say that I will let him choose when he is old enough (sometime before he goes to school). I imagine he'll want to called 'fire engine' or monkey-pants.
We like all of these names which is precisely why we haven't been able to stick with just one. My guess is that one will start to be used more than the others. I'm guessing either Gus or . In the meantime, call him what you wish and we'll know exactly who you are talking about. Eventually, he'll know exactly who you are talking about too.

laika's christmas bedroom

all my toys, originally uploaded by Wintemutes in the corals.

looks like a drag queen threw up in there

first xmas

P1010003, originally uploaded by Augusten Elray.

fortunately he wasn't too spoiled - although he will be one of the best dressed babies at library storytime for next few months.

First real post....maybe

Greetings all, I have decided that the best way to give updates on the wee one's life is to create an ongoing blog. It will also serve as my own little record of the "early days" - although it's hard to believe that I've already missed the first six months. Alas, no formal record of those days will exist. It's a shame since some of the real changes happened in those first months, not just in his development but also in my own mental state as a new parent - that's the really astonishing part. Starting out completely clueless - it really is worse than culture shock. Even though you faithfully read the Lonely Planet cover to cover, once you reach your destination (jetlagged and exhausted from the flight) you are on your own. Sort of. The guidebook is there to return to again and again with largely accurate information about food, language, culture, even addresses and phone numbers of places to stay and eat. Parenthood too comes with it's own guidebooks (in no way as accurate as the travel guide) - the Dr Spocks, "What to expects..." and endless theories about the "right" way to do things: attachment parenting, Ferberizing, baby whisperers and so forth. Culture shock too sinks in - nothing could have prepared me for the immense change parenthood is. Instead of jetlag we have our own special brand of sleep deprivation (not to mention recovering from the birth process), instead of a new culture you have this tiny helpless being that you and your partner are solely responsible for. Breastfeeding never happens as the books tell you and sometimes you check all the things that are supposed be wrong (diaper, hunger, etc) and your baby still won't stop crying. And there is no safety of your hotel room.
Of course, now, looking back, it seemed so easy - he slept so much I should have read several tomes, all of his food was ready to eat immediately and he didn't even notice when we left the room. Now we're lucky if he naps for longer than 40 minutes, scheduled feedings of rice cereal and warming refrigerated jars of sweet potatoes and applesauce (sans microwave, I might add), and leaving him alone in his crib or exersaucer usually results in a loud "OH-MY-GOD-YOU'RE-NOT-LEAVING-ME" wail.
Despite all these challenges (and there are many more I could list) he has suddenly become the funniest, most adorable little bundle of action. Darren and I have probably laughed more in the last few months than we have in our entire lives (We've also probably bickered more too). Babies are constant comedians - Augusten is just learning to give kisses, it's no wonder since Darren and I are constantly planting wet smackers on his cute little cheeks. anyhow, he doesn't quite get what's going on when we kiss him since he can't see what our mouths are doing. All he knows is that we are using our mouths - and what are mouths for? Sucking, of course! We get big, wet, open-mouthed, suction kisses on our faces. Nothing could have prepared me for how much fun a six month old baby can be. He's fascinating to watch as each day he learns new tricks to amuse us. I am already sad that these times will slip by so quickly (these cute pudgy baby feet will one day be hairy and rough). I try as hard as I can to live in the moment.

well he's awake and demanding my attention. I hope this blog will be as meaningful to you as it will be to me.