Tor's First Haircut

Well, the forces of a throat culture, blood work-up, and chest x-ray combined to tell us that Tor just had a virus--no pneumonia or strep or anything for which we could actually give him medicine. So he sucked down a bottle of Tylenol and slept it off. By Friday he was back at day care, and this weekend his appetite returned. This last development pleased us no end, since the doctor's visit also revealed that Mr. T had actually lost four ounces since his twelve-month visit. Lars pointed out that in the meantime, the kid has learned to "run" (read: toddle manically), so that's burning more calories than his pre-twelve-month sedentary lifestyle did.

This picture is not of Tor, but if you've never seen a baby chest x-ray, you may be as shocked as I was. It's a plexiglass tube with a face hole on a rotating dais. You have to hold the baby's arms up as he perches on a bicycle seat with legs a-dangle. Half the time the baby moves so you have to redo the x-ray. Tor was in good spirits going into the tube, but the novelty wore off in about three seconds and then he screamed for the duration. It probably didn't help that he'd just had a finger poke and a throat culture...they really saved the best for last. Poor little dude.

The face of infant torture

Having a few extra days at home caused Tor to seriously investigate our shoe rack for the first time. He's become keen on "helping" with chores--e.g., pulling laundry out of the basket while I fold it, putting books back on shelves--and now he'll take all the shoes off the shelves and proceed to put a few back on. These flip flops are thus being returned.

The best is when he tries to cram a boot in there

On Sunday, we took Bangs-in-My-Eyes Hansen to get his first haircut! (Note that as of Feb. 3, his car seat now faces front, a switch instrumental in forestalling tantrums on every outing.)

Enjoying his last moments of invulnerability
to the Philistine hordes

Tor played with an Elmo cell phone and watched Sesame Street while his stylist did the deed.

The bangs in profile

The first cut is the deepest

"Hey Elmo! Twins!!"

A sticker, certificate, and lock of hair rounded out the experience. He colored briefly before heading out to unveil his mature new look to the world. And melancholy mama reflected on the paradox of "aching Pleasure."