Summer Recap
28 Aug 2008 Leave a Comment
in family fun, update Tags: boom-boom bap, farmers' market, reservoir, summer, swimming, walle, words
I know I’ve been terrible at updating this blog. I now have a new laptop, and am trying to make up for lost time. I just published a particularly cute story about Jack and Sassy.
This summer has been very busy for us. Mommy’s been working, Daddy’s been working and picking up Mommy’s slack, and Jack started Montessori preschool.
Every Saturday, Mommy, Jack, and sometimes our neighbor Nee-Nee (Jeanine) go to the Brentwood Farmers’ Market. We see the “boom boom bap guys”. The Big Fat Swing Company, which consists of three high school guys who play sax, drums, and piano, plays almost every week. We also go to the “Splash Fountain” – a small but nifty fountain at the end of the street.
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- Jack at the Splash Fountain
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- Boom Boom Bap Guys
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- Daddy and Jack at the Reservoir
On Sundays, we go to the reservoir – and yes, Jack can say “reservoir.” It sounds like “reservoir” too – “rez-eh-var”. Daddy has come with us just once. “Noah an’ Joe” – two friends from the MOMS Club – come with their parents and little brother Elijah. I’ve only taken the camera once, so there are few pictures in existence.
Speaking of the MOMS Club, we left. It’s a long story, but they banned Dads. We’re hoping to remain friends with the moms who didn’t support that initiative.
Jack saw his second movie, Wall*e, with Daddy on July 2, as we recorded here. Since then, he’s been in full Wall*e mode. Nana bought him a Wall*e lunchbox to take to school with him. He is now the coolest kid in town.
Jack can now reliably count to 20. He can recognize most of the uppercase letters and some of the lowercase. He can recognize many numbers, including 10. He has a hard time with “1″ and “7″ depending on the font.
Now that summer is just about done, we find ourselves in Pittsburgh, PA, visiting “Gramma Sandy and Grampa Clyde”. More news and pictures to come…
Week in Review
20 Jun 2008 Leave a Comment
in update Tags: boom-boom bap, swimming, update
Anything I want to remember about this week?
Oh yes!
First, we went swimming at our friend’s house. Jack always has fun playing at Morgan’s, especially when swimming is involved. After swimming, he twirled around the living room with the little girls. (There was only one other boy there, and he and Jack don’t get along.)
The next day, we went to a birthday party for another friend. When she was opening her presents, someone tried to look at an open one, and she said, “Mine!” in a voice and face that was a perfect impression of Golum (Lord of the Rings).
Our friend was selling her “boom-boom bap” kit, so I ended up buying it for Jack. He wanted to play it immediately, but he had to go to day care, so I fibbed: “Daddy has to put it together.” When we got home, though, a happy Jack played boom-boom bap for us.
Over the weekend, I came down from bed and Jack jumped off the couch yelling, “Mommy’s awake! Mommy’s awake!”. I stopped at the bottom of the stairs to get my hug. But no! Jack ran to his drum set and started playing.
Jack Playing Boom-Boom Bap
I Don't Want to Forget
12 Oct 2007 Leave a Comment
in my kids are great Tags: reading, scrapbooking, signing, swimming, talking, yucky trash
I’ve been thinking recently about all the little things that I forget. I’ve been working on journaling Jack’s baby book. (OK, books – 4 to be exact. From pre-birth to his 1st Birthday Party. Anyway…) There were times when I was great about writing – either here or on paper. Then, there are times when there’s nothing. Basically, from October 24, 2006 until his birthday, then from birthday, it’s all sporadic. So, I’ve decided to write a bit, even though it’s late, about what I don’t want to forget.
Tonight, Jack and I went Kick Kick for the first time in a month. It was a lovely evening for it. Jack was a little fish daredevil, which I think is great. I don’t want him to fear water, at least not when a parent is around. He was jumping around, “swim”ming, blowing bubbles, tilting his head back into the water. At one point, he accidentally swam underwater. I think he went to jump and to tilt back at the same time. Anyway, he didn’t freak out or cry – just sputtered and held on to me for a minute or two.
He has so many new words each day! He’ll actually say words when you ask, “Can you say?” like, Pomegranate. It sounds a lot like pomegranate. He doesn’t miss a trick, and is so clued in to what’s going on. He knows most of his books by title and cover. Like “More Baby” and “Swee Mimi”. He’s just a little knowledge sponge. And yes, I am totally getting overbearing about it.
Today, Jack was a VERY GOOD BOY. He only threw 2 mini fits. Well, and when he woke up and Daddy wasn’t here (long story), he cried. But he missed Daddy. The first fit was, after we found the garbage man, we went to walk ahead of him. Jack couldn’t see the truck and started kicking in his stroller. But I stopped and turned his head so he could see. The garbage man, such a nice guy, actually waited for us to get to where we could see him pick up the trash every time he turned a corner. I gotta call the number and say this guy deserves a raise. The second fit was when I asked him to climb onto the stool to wash his hands. He just didn’t want to do it.
He ate well, and didn’t throw any of his food on the floor. This is an amazing accomplishment. He learned a new sign (school). (I never wrote down when he signed his first sign. I just know it was “more” and a few days before Christmas.) He didn’t go down for a nap for me, but he didn’t complain either. Then Max came home and was able to put him down pretty easily. He went in for his bath without too much trouble, and was all about snuggling up and having me sing him to sleep tonight.
OK. I have to go. I should add that Jack’s friend Keegan now has a little sister, born today. Yay!
4th of July
04 Jul 2007 Leave a Comment
in past Tags: fireworks, food, holidays, July 4, movies, Sprites, swimming
The 4th of July is my very favorite holiday (followed closely by Christmas – if only in my head). I love the celebration of summer. I am not patriotic, and usually do not stand for the national anthem when it is sung at baseball games and graduations. But everyone deserves a birthday, right? So Happy Birthday USA! And if there happen to be BBQ, summer snacks, and fireworks involved, so much the better.
Today, we stepped up a bit. Jack and I went with our friend Jude and her son to see Charlotte’s Web for free. It was the new live-action. It’s theme really was appropriate for the 4th – how extraordinary things come in ordinary packages, and the combinations of two or more ordinary things may make for something truly extraordinary indeed. Jack was excellent in his first movie! He actually sat on my lap and watched, pointing to the animals and saying their names. He didn’t get bored until the families went to the fair, about 3/4 through the movie. We then went to the Burger King play place, where Jack got his first fast food French fry (and what could be more American than that?).
We got home and the Chittister family took naps.
Sadly, I had awful dreams that make me think I should just have stayed awake and gotten something done. I’ve been having really awful sleeps myself lately. I mean to post about that, for all you budding psychologists out there.
We went to a friend’s house for some BBQ and swimming. Jack loves swimming! Kick Kick! They have a water slide, and he wanted to go down. I admit that I pointed it out and was at least as excited as he was about it. I took him down with me. I didn’t realize how deep the pool was. I thought I’d go under, touch bottom, then push myself back up. But I didn’t touch bottom. So I had to lift Jack above my head to make sure that he didn’t suck up water. Apparently, me not coming up scared him more than the slide did. Poor guy! Later, he fell down the two stairs from the deck (wood) to the pool (cement). Max caught Jack’s head with one hand. Good catch Daddy! As one of the other fathers in attendance said, “He deserves some payment from that, is all I’m saying.”
We hung out for awhile. Jack was saying “nye nye” so we came home. No fireworks again (disappointing for Mommy). Jack was actually kind of bouncy so I brought him downstairs after bottle (and singing the Johnny and the Sprites theme song for the 12th time), to see if the fireworks were on TV. Nope. There was some country band on the Capitol Fourth, and Jack went “clap clap” and clapped his hands, then clapped my hands, pretty much in time to the music. Song over, he said, “Sprites!” (More like “sites”.) So we watched some of them and Daddy took him up and put him to bed.
Max and I watched fireworks from San Jose on TV.
All of this has made me realize that I want to have a BIG 4th of July again. Whether it’s here, or in Silicon Valley, Albuquerque, NYC, Disney World, or somewhere in between. We should be able to swing one big 4th of July every 5 years or so, right? I know traveling with children is expensive (trust me, we’ve done it 10 times, so I know). I also know that I want to meet these kids that are popping out, and to see the people without kids who never email because we bore them with talk of our kids. One big bash to reclaim the summer. To eat like a kid, and introduce our kids to the wonderment of cotton candy, fireworks, and summer magic.
Catching Up
14 Aug 2006 Leave a Comment
in activities, update Tags: height, mommy, naps, sassy, singing, swimming, vaccines, weight
I am currently catching up on email from April. I have decided to place anything of interest in this one post, then I do not have to write email to everyone I know.
I’m not lazy, I’m just a person who can only get things done when the baby is asleep.
People ask about work, and if I like being at home with Jack. Well, I really miss working with the people at NEDC. Jack is GREAT and I enjoy being an SAHM, but I have to admit, when Max asks me questions about XML and FrameMaker, I get so happy and excited. I know, I need help. I like using that part of my brain; it doesn’t happen often enough.
How did Stephen Colbert get to be the speaker at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner? I love this stuff!
- What’s Britannica to tell me the Panama Canal was built in 1914. If I want to say it was built in 1941, that’s my right as an American. I’m with the president, let history decide what did or did not happen.
- If anything, they are rearranging the deck chairs on the Hindenburg.
- It’s like boxing a glacier. Enjoy that metaphor, because your grandchildren will have no idea what a glacier is.
Jack is in the 2-3% of weight and not on the chart at all for height. (His birthparents are both short.) He has a large head though.
He’s finally begun napping on a somewhat regular schedule. If by regular, you accept that he sleeps once somewhere between 9 and 12 and then again somewhere between 12 and 4. Planning is very difficult under this schedule, but we’re getting more done and he’s a happier little guy. One week ago yesterday (Sunday) he began to sprout teeth. He has two rising ripples of solid teeth. And his favorite teething toys: His parents’ fingers. OW!
We’re delaying or not doing a lot of the vaccines, but we did decide to get the HiB shot. Max had to take Jack, because of my severe needlephobia.
We had professional pictures done a few weeks ago, and they were SOOOO expensive. We got the sitting for free through the MOMS Club, so we went. Jack was insanely fussy, then ended up falling into a deep sleep. We didn’t think any of the pictures would turn out, so we decided we just weren’t going to buy any. Unfortunately, a lot of them did look very nice, so I ordered as few as I could, while having enough for us, the grandparents, greatgrandparents, and birthmother.
We go to Missouri at the end of the month to finalize Jack’s adoption (8/25), stay in MO for 2 days, fly to Pittsburgh to see Max’s family and friends. Max’s parents are having a party for Jack. We’re in Pittsburgh for 2 days, then we come back home. I’m so looking forward to the new airline restrictions on liquids.
Jack does actually sing, but he only does it for me and only when he doesn’t think I’m listening. Really. He’s going aaahhh aaahhh or laaa laaa or some combination, with a slightly musical tone.
Jack pulled Sassy’s tail yesterday, so today he was not allowed to be too close to her. Sassy has been very patient with Jack in the last week or so. I think she’s beginning to understand that he’s another person who adores her. Unfortunately, Jack doesn’t pet, he grabs. Sometimes, this is all right, as she likes to be scratched, and that’s what gentle grabbing kind of is. I try to show him how to pet, by petting him, by holding his hand to pet Sassy. Still, he is fascinated by her tail and tries to grab it whenever it gets close, which isn’t often.
I’m glad that the weather is settling down. I couldn’t take Jack out for walks. He did have swimming lessons though. He’s so cute! He enjoyed the water, and I want to take him to the pool on my own, now that I know what to expect, how to handle him in the water, and all that important water safety information. Today, we went to the park and swung. He didn’t want the baby swings, though. Nope. He had to sit on my lap on the big kid swings, which weren’t made for moms, even short ones like me. But it was fun all the same.
My friend Wendy said” I’m finding that even when I have “time to myself” it’s not really “time for myself” and I’m sure you’re experiencing the same phenomenon.
EXACTLY! I finally told Max, that I have exactly one hour each day to get work done, and that he needs to “come home from work”. Because he works from home, he’s always working. (Or playing computer games and reading humor sites.) I’ve been better about asking him for help this past week, and I have told him that he will be taking Jack for a few hours on Sundays, specifically so I can get scrapbooking done. I really enjoy it, and was able to finish about 6 pages yesterday.
I’m constantly reading parenting stuff. I took a break to read The DaVinci Code. So not worth it. I have several books going: What to Expect the First Year, The Baby Book (both of which I read parts of each month), and I’m Chocolate, You’re Vanilla, about raising children and race awareness. Next up: Scrapbooking for Profit and The Safe Baby (about baby-proofing, which Max is doing some of this week).
My cousin Mandi won Miss Teen Vacaville 2006!
Tales from Mommyhood
31 Jul 2006 Leave a Comment
in activities, everyday Tags: humor, mommy, naps, stung, swimming
In my last post, I said that my next post (that is, this post) would involve Baby Bodily Fluids. I know all of you are waiting to read about them, so I will not make you wait any longer.
Jack likes to fly — we pick him up and raise him horizontally over our heads. One day, Jack was flying. He was soooo very happy! He opened his mouth to laugh… and drooled in Momma’s eye.
I didn’t know drool was acidic.
Jack was supposed to start swimming today. Ever since I’ve wanted to be a mom, I’ve looked forward to “mommy and me” swimming. We had him on a schedule/routine for one week. Max’s aunt and uncle came to visit this weekend, so of course the routine went out the window. (Which isn’t anyone’s fault; no 2 days are ever the same, and we had fun with Molly and Wayne.) So, today, he wakes up, eats, and immediately falls asleep, says Max. My parents and grandma show up around 10:30, expecting a Jack who has just woken up, not one who is just about to go to sleep. Great-Grandma feeds Jack and he falls asleep on her. In 20 minutes, I take him and put him in his crib.
Mini-Rant: I cannot put Jack in the crib unless the crib rail is down. The piece of crap crib (the one I researched and looked at and tested and found to be the best) broke last week, so it is incredibly difficult to lower and raise the bar. Max can put Jack in and take Jack out of the crib without dealing with the rail. You can see where this is going…
Trying to get the rail down, I wake up Jack. I change him, slow dance with him, and put him down. He cries.
He falls asleep before I get downstairs, then starts to cry 20 minutes later. I have no idea what to do. He ends up crying for half an hour, because that’s when his nap would have been over anyway. We play for a bit, then eat, and he falls asleep on me.
I proceed to get these BIZARRE muscle spasms. The last time I had them was after I spent all day cleaning the garage. I wake Jack up when I move around, trying to find a way to sit. Max takes Jack while I go stretch out. I take Jack back, and we do the naptime routine. He’s clearly tired.
Then, I take him upstairs. He gets all happy and smiley and just enjoying our time together. This is great! Sort of. You see, I had to put him down before 3 so he could sleep and we could still make it to swimming. So, we read and dance and I put him in his crib. He’s smiling at me. I close the door and wait for the cry.
Nothing. Sometimes it takes a few minutes.
I collapse on our unmade bed. Jack lets out a YELL.
I sigh, waiting for the next yell, and think about what’s going to happen next, how are we going to do at swimming, should I try to take a nap, and then I realize: No more crying. Confused, I get up and check the clock to make sure I haven’t accidentally slept for 3 hours. Nope. I go into Jack’s room: Sound asleep.
Good Mommy!
Then I realize: Jack ate at 2pm. If he sleeps until 4:30 (for 1 and 1/2 hours), he’s going to need to eat. BUT I can’t feed him, because swimming starts at 5. It would be one thing to throw a satiated, somewhat confused awake baby into a car seat for a ride that ends in him being immersed in water. But I can’t take a hungry baby and do that. I literally forgot that Jack needed to eat.
At 4:30, he’s sound asleep. I make the decision that Jack is not going to swimming. We missed the very first day.
And I am, to be completely honest, heartbroken.
I know it doesn’t make sense; but it’s something that I’ve wanted to do for so long. Like the kid who shows up at Disney World the one day it’s closed. Max and I talk and we have no idea how to schedule a day such that Jack is in the perfect mood to go out swimming at 4:45.
Feeling sorry for myself, I call my newly married friend and fellow mom Annemarie. She’s empathetic and nice, although, she did say one thing that she meant as a positive, but I had already realized as a negative: “Everything is always changing.”
She meant that, Jack’s sleep issues will probably be sorted out soon, and we’ll move on. I thought that, Yes, everything does change. That’s why I can never make plans or give a firm RSVP, to anyone, about anything.
During this call, I decide to sit outside for awhile. I have to sit away from the A/C (too loud). After I sit down and breathe, I realize I am SURROUNDED by wasps. (That’s lowercase.) I try to slowly get up, they come closer, and I feel a very distinct prick…
I scream, throw the phone on the grass, grab my arm, and run into the house. One wasp follows me in. Screaming, I run into the living room and yell to Max what has happened. I help him hunt down the invading wasp. Then I realize, Oh, yeah, I really was stung. OUCH! FUCK!
Max retrieves the phone. Apparently, Annemarie stayed on all that time, and Max gives her back to me as I start icing my arm. (Max actually looked up the care of a wasp sting and was very level headed about helping me.)
So I think, If I had just been a good mother, and gotten Jack on the schedule that he needed, I would have been swimming now, instead of sitting here with a wasp sting.
On the bright side, being stung didn’t hurt as much as I remember it hurting from my childhood.
We will try swimming again tomorrow…
