The second tooth is getting ready to make its appearance with a much bigger production than the first. So far I don’t care for this second tooth. It has an attitude problem so far as I can tell. The first one really just reduced his appetite (which wasn’t actually a bad thing), but this one is causing some very uncharacteristic fussing. All this, and I know they won’t even bother to stick around. These teeth come along, make us crazy, and just disappear in a few years as part of some sort of pyramid scheme with the Tooth Fairy.

We took advantage of the awesome fall weekend and my parental units as babysitters on Saturday and went to the Cabbagetown Chomp & Stomp. Some might question if it’s worth fighting the crowd to get tiny little cups of chili. The answer is yes. The joy I get from stuffing myself at chili cookoffs is somewhat sick. Perhaps because I think the small portions don’t count, even 987 small portions.

Last night was the first night alone without Chris since Connor was born. He had to fly up to Albany to do a presentation-on his birthday, much to his delight. I let Connor sleep in the bed with me for a night that saw his best night of sleep possibly ever. He sleeps pretty well anyway, but I don’t think he made a sound or move until 7 am. Every time I woke up I had to make sure he was breathing it was so unnerving. He usually spends some portion of the night talking to himself or kicking his mattress like he’s Jason Statham.

I guess he was worn out from our long day out Sunday walking the Atlanta Beltline and stopping to grab some food and drinks on the way with friends. But how to spend the evening without Daddy? Chinese delivered to the door and Walking Dead in the dark. Okay that was for me. He was sleeping. I suspect Walking Dead isn’t good for a baby’s development anyway.

I mentioned a few entries ago that we had gone two days without seeing any eyerolling. We actually went three, almost four, but about an hour before bedtime on the fourth day we fell back into the 1-2 a day routine. So that was a bummer, but hopefully means we’ll see less frequency soon.

It looks like Connor will also have the opportunity to participate in a TSC study in Boston. We got connected through a friend who has a son enrolled and I e-mailed with the genetic counselor over the weekend. We are supposed to talk via phone tomorrow to iron out the details. On one hand I’m excited to have experts that will be keeping an eye on him at another major TSC clinic, and giving us an opportunity to get up to Boston for a change of scenery. Any issues that (hopefully don’t) arise, I will have more brains to pick and connections if other opportunities come about. On the other hand, the purpose of the study is to look at the issues that come about as a result of TSC, particularly autism. They are trying to figure out markers of which kids go on to develop it and which ones don’t. The fact that my child qualifies for this study because he has higher odds of developing autism than the general population terrifies me. Autism terrified me before I even got pregnant, even though I have worked with some kids I really loved that had it. One of my favorite students of all time was diagnosed with Asperger’s, but I still can’t imagine it in my life at home. The things that hang over you because of this disease just absolutely suck. I try to focus on the many amazing people who are living with TSC successfully and taking incredible steps to further research and awareness. Apparently the December issue of Runner’s World is going to feature a teenage runner with TSC. And whatever comes, we’ll deal with it.

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