Daddy on doody-count duty

It must be NCAA Men's Basketball tourney time, judging by the number of times the phrase "one and one" is used around the Swanson household. For non-basketball fans, "one and one" refers to the free throws awarded to an offensive player when a non-shooting foul is committed and the defending team is already over the limit of team fouls. More than you wanted or needed to know, right?

For baby fans, "one and one" refers to the contents of a dirty diaper. When we were still in the hospital and in the days at home immediately thereafter, we were asked to keep a record of feedings and changings. On the feeding side, we were asked to keep track of the start times of feedings as well as to monitor the number of minutes spent on each breast. On the changing side, we had to dutifully record each "doody." That is, keep track of whether it was a pee, poop or both, putting a checkmark in each column. In the days immediately after the birth, we also gave a visual description of bowel movements (noting, in particular, the yellow-brown meconium that was working its way through Little Elvis' system).

While we no longer have to keep and active record (our pediatrician said we could discontinue the rigorous count following the baby's first doctor visit) Meredith and I still use "one and one" as shorthand for what Little Elvis' bowels are up to.