Colette had her first fever. 101.7 was the highest we recorded, so it wasn't too bad. The fever came and went two Sundays ago, then returned the following Tuesday. I got the call to pick her up from day care that afternoon. Whatever she had got me quickly, and I spent most of Wednesday and Thursday unconscious. Colette was better by Thursday, though, and went back to day care (leaving me by myself for the second day).

She's changing quickly these days. She's three and a half months old now, and she's more interactive each day. This is good and bad, I'm learning. It's good because she's so much fun to play with. I can just talk to her now to get a grin, and her face always lights up when we first make contact. I've been using her as my drum set/dance partner for months, but now she's enjoying it. This afternoon I was listening to and singing along with the B-52s album Cosmic Thing. Colette likes the B-52s.

We took her yesterday to her first carnival. The Goddard School, which is her day care, had a carnival to benefit the school. Most of the people walking around had children who could walk, but Jean and I brought Colette in her stroller. It was a hot day – we were up in the 90s before the rain came through -- but Colette seemed to hold up well. She's a champ.

The bad side of Colette's growing interactivity is her increasing need to be played with all day and night. It's tough to find time to do the things that need to get done, let alone the things I want to do. Sitting at the computer weeknights has become a luxury, one I'm cautious to take since it puts work on Jean while I surf. Jean, for her part, has been kind. She's encouraged me to get back to keeping my web journal. We've both enjoyed it over the last few months, and it's been a great way to keep up with family and friends (many of whom have been nudging me to get another entry out).

It all comes down to priorities, and these days Colette is number one. I've heard that parents need to find a way to keep themselves (and each other) as the top priority if the family is going to be successful, and I'm beginning to see why. Lately I've felt more tired that I usually do, and I think it's because I haven't been getting around to the things that make me go. I need to take the time to read, to write, to surf. I've got to keep my batteries charged. Jean needs to do the same.

We're talking strategy this weekend, trying to figure out the best way to fit the puzzle together. We've got to keep giving Colette all the things she needs, but we've also got to find time for ourselves. We're working on a schedule for the week – as a test – to see how much planning can help. This is the first good week we've had in a while: neither of us is sick or has a big deadline to meet. And while I know we're due for a curveball from our daughter right about now (I can hear some friends in Maryland Hall laughing at my attempt to plan life with a child), I am hopeful that Colette, Jean and I will all find a better balance in the coming days.