A First Is a First, Even When It's Snot

Not Buck, but, boy, does he look sick.

Watching babies grow, you get to experience a lot of firsts. First time rolling over, first tooth, first time he peed on you, first steps, first injury, etc. Well, ole Buckeroo is in the midst of a dubious first: first cold. Chances are, this will be the first of many. According to BabyCenter.com, the average baby has 6-10 colds per year. I guess I've gotten off easy if buddy boy has made it 7 1/2 months before his first mucous-laden infestation.

All of these firsts provide mini research projects for me as I scour the internet for medical information, advice from other parents, and the like. It turns out that the cool mist vaporizer that we've had for years has done wonders for his sleep. Thanks internet. And you can't fight a baby's cold without Boogie Wipes. Those things have magic boogie-dissolving powers. Thanks Jane. I have one of those rubber bulbs that look like they could suck a baby's brain out through his nose, but it wasn't necessary this go around. And don't get me started about those snot aspirators that have the parent orally sucking the greenish-yellow stuff out via a tube connected to junior's nose....

All in all, it has been a positive cold experience. It was a mild cold that helped build Buck's immune system. He's starting to feel better, which is great. And I've got yet another research project under my belt. Praise the iPad and the Google!