We took Allie Cat to work on Friday, just for a visit and to get some business done, pick up a check, etc. The only person I told ahead of time was my court reporter Louise, and she told my judge. I didn’t want to get swarmed at work with the baby, but I figured once I got there and got situated, I could call specific people to have them come to me. At Louise’s suggestion, we got there at lunchtime, when we figured most people wouldn’t be around. Oddly, NOBODY was around. On my floor, my judge’s chambers were dark, and Louise’s office light was on with the door slightly ajar, but she wasn’t there, either. That’s really unusual; those two are almost always in through lunch. Mr. W wandered around while I walked Allie around my courtroom and he found that it was a ghost town everywhere. Turned out people were upstairs in the Judges’ Lounge for an annual karaoke holiday party. Mr. W went up there and snagged some people and sent them down to me, knowing I didn’t want to bring a newborn around to a crowd upstairs. (Turned out Louise went to Costco and my judge had called in sick because his back gave out and he couldn’t move. I should call to check up on him. As for Mr. W’s work-related errands, he’d called his supervisor before we left, and she told him, “Don’t bring the baby to the office! Everyone’s sick!” so that took care of that.)

It was rather risky taking the baby out in public this early, and went against the pediatrician’s advice, because she has no immune system, yet, and this is flu season. Plus, who knows what diseased inmate a bailiff was searching just before he came out and saw us. But everyone at work was really great and kept their hands off Allie, only standing over her or sitting next to me and watching. It made me think of all the times I’d reached out and touched babies’ hands, now wondering whether their mothers cringed as I did that. My impression is that no one usually brought out a 3-week-old for me to interact with, though. I’d feel better once Allie reaches the 2-month mark and could get her vaccinations.

She had a little meltdown while I was alone in my courtroom with her. She screamed so hard she echoed off the walls. It was a good thing the floor was abandoned. I gave in and gave her the pacifier when I couldn’t calm her down, so by the time the first coworker came down to see us, she was calm and sleepy. Soon, as lunch ended, people returned to the floor and more friend-coworkers were located and they came down, also. At one point I had to breastfeed her, so I did that in my reporter’s office for 2 minutes before she let out some wet-sounding toots. I stopped, brought her into the courtroom and asked Mr. W to get a diaper and the changing pad and to meet me in the jury room restroom. Yup, sure enough, poopy! Yay! I understand; court sometimes bugs the crap out of me, too. She was so comfortable after that, after we finished feeding, she fell asleep.

People gave the usual obligatory “she’s beautiful” compliments, some said she was a “mini-Cindy,” and some said they could actually see Mr. W in her. I asked, “Where?!” There was a consensus that she resembled him about the chin and the outside of the mouth. Mr. W was a proud papa totin’ her around, showing her off. I’m so glad we were able to find that fertility clinic and do the ICSI procedure; I’m glad I don’t have to find out what it’d be like if Allie had none of his DNA. I’d probably feel guiltier when she cried and made Mr. W tired, and he may feel less connected to her and not play with her as much or give her those little kisses on top of her head as often. And it’d sure be awkward if people claimed they could see him in her features.