Parenting Trends: Friday Surges, Sickness Plunges

It's been a crazy week, but it's almost over. Can I get a "thank goodness it's Friday"?

Last weekend was fun if you consider blowing your brains onto facial tissue while entertaining a sick and irritable under-1-year-old enjoyable. Julie kept me sane through the whole thing, even though she also was under the weather.

Micah is much better, though he's still plagued by a runny nose and some congestion. Could it be allergies? It's apparently well-respected that kids as young as he is don't have allergies, or at least don't show it until later, but my wife and I beg to differ.

In other developments:

• Parks are a wondrous place for babies. Micah enjoys playing the gravel the most, followed by swinging and watching the world go by in his stroller. Julie brought him back from one such outing this week, and his hands were covered in gray dust. The same thing happens when he shreds newspaper (though I promise he reads it thoroughly beforehand).

• Food keeps a baby at bay. We already knew this, but a stop for one of many appointments this week reinforced that notion. Fussy much? Nap time? Just pop open a container of cheese crackers and dissolving Puffs snacks and it'll keep the yells to a minimum.