Mornings

Sometimes I get a morning to myself- it's rare, it's often very early, but I really do love them.  Especially this morning because we have finally started to get some rain in California.  While most of the country has been struggling with extreme weather conditions, California's winter has been more like a cold spring, things are blooming here and it's barely into February.

Today I woke up as D was leaving, the dog didn't want to let me sleep, and I'm glad.  It's been about 30 min so far that I have had completely to me, sipping coffee, listening to the rain.  Hey, the blog even gets a few pictures because of this morning.

 This is what is happening in our living room, vintage sofa and chair from my mom, but originally from her aunt.  Her story is an immigrants story for sure- came to New York, worked as a live in housekeeper all her life for a wealthy older woman who had no heirs, and who then left all her money and belongings to my great Aunt.  The couch and wing chairs have been recovered (and will be again when the kids are a bit older) but still hold their antique charm.  The rest of the room is stuff we have had, the infamous fauxdenza sits under the TV and gallery wall- I will have to do a post on how that has turned out since I never followed up with that after we built it.

I love this picture, makes the living room look darling, and L is perched how he usually is in the morning watching some cartoons.  We have a lot of natural light that comes into the living room.





















Meals as of late- eggplant fries with walnut oil based aioli (with some sriracha because it was the Super Bowl), and then eggs with bok choy (one of my fav greens to have for breakfast), almonds, and pomegranate seeds.  I think eating real food and eliminating grains has made the food we eat more colorful and beautiful to look at.

E loves to eat, here she is enjoying some goat cheese- those blue eyes mesmerize me every time.  We still do full fat yogurts and occasional organic cheeses with the kids.  D and I rarely partake because both of us seem to have negative consequences when we do- for him it's lactose intolerance- for me, I get a headache, stuffy sinuses, and it makes me moody.  Strange I know, but it's amazing what you notice after you eliminate something then slowly add it back to your diet.

Today on the docket is taking a shower (this will be a challenge with both the kids and just me), delivering some business cards to a doctors office- it's wonderful having consistent referral sources, returning library books, just hanging out with the kids- oh and if I can manage, bathing the dog- she stinky and like a third child.

Today:

First thing in the morning poop blowout, spider in the bathtub, poop on my phone, then pee blowout at the playdate so we had to head home early since I didn't bring enough extras (L managed to need a clean diaper, shirt, pants, and I also needed a clean shirt- had everything but an extra shirt for myself)...

I really am avoiding studying for my exam...oh and I'm also avoiding exercise/running- injuring my shoulder has been a great excuse.

Visiting the Redwoods

Last week (after we bought our new car- so in love with it), we headed up to Marin to eat Sol Food and visit  Muir Woods.  Here are some cute pictures from the trip.

Oh What A Day!

Countdown 7 days till I return to work...

Since my maternity leave is soon ending and D is now off work with me, I have had glorious plans to maximize our family fun.  Today was supposed to be the highlight; every first Tuesday of the month is free museum day in SF (De Young, Legion of Honor, MOMA are all free).  We especially wanted to go to the De Young because many of the art from the Musee D'Orsay are being displayed.  When we were in Paris it was by far our favorite museum, and who doesn't love post-impressionist paintings.  I hoped we could make it to both the De Young and the MOMA, D knew better.

The day started off alright; D went to the dentist, I pumped a hefty bottle to save for another day, and got L dressed.  We fixed ourselves up and left before noon, but soon found ourselves stuck in traffic.  Fortunately D knew a back way so we kept driving on side roads.  L had been great all morning but decided to turn down the charm on the ride.  We made one stop to nurse and change diapers- the crying/screaming hadn't rattle us too much and we were still in good spirits.  We arrived in the city, and made our way to the De Young only to find out the Orsay display wasn't free like the rest of the museum, and we wouldn't even be able to buy a ticket, it was sold out.  Major bummer!  At this point we were hungry so we stopped by the museum restaurant and ordered some food.  L was being such a cutie!  He was flirting with strangers at the next table, smiling up a storm, I saw many babywearing moms- our order was forgotten but came quickly after D went up to the kitchen to ask about it.

D and I decided to leave the De Young without even walking around (we had been many times before) and go to the Legion of Honor for their Japanesque display.  I think this is the point where L decided he was done.  L fussed in the ergo, I changed him, held him, nursed him...still fussing.  D took him for a bit in the ergo to see if he just needed to sleep (he has a hard time falling asleep while I where him, he only wants to nurse to sleep).  After pulling out all our tricks and still getting a fussing baby, we left the museum feeling a little defeated.  Yes, we went to two museums, but we didn't really absorb any of the art at either one.  Funny though- as soon as we get outside away from building, L falls asleep.

Then the day/evening just gets worse.  We attempt to eat dinner at Magnolias- L was so not having it.  It was loud, he was over tired, over stimulated, hungry, and just fed up with our plans.  D changed him, I nursed him, and as soon as our food arrived we asked for it to go.  I took L outside and he instantly settled.  What is it about being outdoors that calms him, I don't know exactly....I have always found it more peaceful though.  So there we were at the intersection of Haight and Masonic (not a calm or quiet intersection by any means), and L just seemed like his happy self.  We get to the car, planing to eat on the ride home (no utensils needed) and L lost it.  For a while L has decided he no longer likes being buckled into his car seat, and usually takes a bit to calm down in the car.  Tonight however, he went crazy!  The poor little guy was so distressed, screaming, no screeching, in the back seat.  I hooped back there, D sang to him, tears rolling down L's face- we pulled over.  I nursed him for quite a while.  It was one of those nursing sessions where he is still choking back tears for the first minute, then he is gulping it down like he hadn't eaten in a day, and finally is out asleep- at peace.  I put him back int he car seat (hey, we have to get home somehow!) and the crying starts again!  Luckily some singing, lullaby pandora station, and the motion of the car help him fall asleep.

Oh What A Day!!!  It was an adventure to say the least. We are all thoroughly exhausted, but hey, we got some cute photos.

Dinner

Morning

First cup of coffee in a REALLY long time.



Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday. We're getting ready to head to San Jose. I'm thrilled to hear a friend had her daughter yesterday (well past her due date and a LONG labor- you go Sara!).

Liam is officially 4 months today...his photo shoot may be a little late. Can't wait to celebrate his first Xmas with him.

The Destruction Continues...

All Clean

Went to the dentist yesterday (finally found one I like). The hygienist, upon learning I do therapy with addicts, spent an hour telling me her whole family's experience with addiction...



I really do love that clean feeling afterwards though...My laptop is still dead so I'm posting from the iPhone- takes much longer.

Blurg!

Yes, blurg! As said by Liz Lemon.  This may be my last post for a while...

In about 15 min my lap top will be in a coma :(

Feeling Rushed

The holidays are upon us- time has been flying and I just feel rushed.  This morning we had to wake up early to drive D to the train station for work.  This was the first time I had woken L up that early and left the house (good practice for when I return to work).  He actually did great- stirred a little when I first picked up him out of our warm bed, but then fell right asleep once I buckled him in and started driving.  

After dropping D off we came home and I showered while L played in his bouncer- he can now pull the frog that plays music and it's been a great distraction for when I need to shower.  L also decided to poop (for reference we also call the bouncer his poop chair since that always seems to happen when we set him in it).  He had a "blow out" so I was scrambling to rinse/wash the wool cover, and bring in the diapers that were washed last night.  We made it out the door in once piece and headed to a lactation consultant appt.  Although breastfeeding has been going well I am still having some nipple pain and wanted to see if there was something we could do differently.

The LC helped a lot.  She suggested we change a few things and I immediately noticed a difference in the way his latch felt- less pinching.  Then we headed over to the post office to buy stamps (we still hadn't mailed out those beautiful holiday cards).  Now I know going to the post office the monday before Christmas isn't the smartest thing to do, but I wasn't sure where else to go.  We tried to get stamps at stores over the weekend but they were out.  I figured with this rain, it would be better to make one trip then multiple.  The post office was packed, but the line moved quickly.   L flirted with people in line- he has started to make eye contact, smile, and then turn his head into me as if he is bashful.  

After getting the stamps we stopped to make a return and then finally headed home.  L was famished, so once home we nursed in bed and he fell right asleep.  I think I will take a nap too...

My View...

This morning...

Visiting Babka

Went down to San Jose to visit L's grandma.

Going Backwards and I'm Grateful for Ceiling Fans

I didn't make a post yesterday for the December Photo Project....it's a simple project, post 1 photo each day.  But nothing is simple any more, or rather nothing is easy or expected.  L has been teething- yes teething at 3 1/2 months.  He is chewing on his hands, toys, and my nipples constantly!

Night time has become difficult again.  L had finally gotten into a routine with regular sleeping patterns- we still co-sleep/share a family bed, but I was no longer being used as a human pacifier all night.  Well it seems we have gone backwards.  The last two nights have been very trying, I think my nipples may fall off.  L can't sleep unless he has them in his mouth!  D spent much of the early evening with L in the ergo so I could sleep, and then again did so around 4am.  I am more rested today because of that, but I would love to have a nice nap by myself right about now, and it's not even noon.

Tonight D and I will be having a date night.  The plan is to drop L off with D's mom, grab some food and go see the new Harry Potter.  I haven't seen a movie in the theaters in almost a year.  We stopped going to the theater during my pregnancy because I had to use the restroom so often that I missed too much of the movie, plus it saved money.  I'm excited for tonight, but the thought of cuddling in bed with D and just sleeping sounds so nice, or maybe getting some laundry done, or actually doing anything uninterrupted!  But no, it will be nice to relax and enjoy ourselves.

So here's my photo for today.  L staring at the ceiling fan while I pump and type this post.

Crafts

Today as I waited to get my hair done, I worked on a blanket I am crocheting for L. Many people are surprised to learn I know how to crochet, and sometimes even more surprised when they hear how I learned- in residential/boarding school. Imagine a bunch a rebellious teenage girls in slippers crocheting. Yes, no shoes allowed- we wore slippers so we couldn't escape runaway.

I also completed a yarn wreath which I will post up later. Right now I'm in bed early with L trying to get him on an earlier schedule that will work for when maternity leave ends and he begins daycare- I'm devastated just thinking about it.

Baby toy

L helping me get ready....

we had to stop by the bank and make a babies r us trip (we have a gift card)

hair brush = great baby toy

Interesting fact about this photo: L was lifting his leg to let out a fart - my little gassy man.

Today...

We played on the floor...

Fall

It's always been my favorite time of year...though at our home it means lots of yard work thanks to a towering oak tree.  L and I helped - we did some gentle sweeping in the babyhawk.

Milestone for me

Well this weekend D and I went out (only about 5 min away, and for a few hours) without L!!!  It was HARD, but I knew I had to start small and do it soon since the 30th we are going to the city without him.  We were down in south bay visiting my mom - it was nice to relax a little and have a change of scenery, and go to the new whole foods.  Yes, I know its nick name is "whole paycheck", but I can't deny that they have great things there.

On Saturday morning I pumped a bottle while D and I talked about possibly seeing a movie by ourselves.  The movie theater near by was in a mall and my moms friend had given me a gift card to the Cheesecake Factory, so we settled on going there for a few drinks then deciding if we could do a movie.  I wasn't about to get food there being dairy free and all, I wish they would make a dairy free cheesecake option - maybe made out of nut butter like the raw vegan desserts from Cafe Gratitude.  I cried when we left L, I cried in the car, and even at the bar...D was very supportive.

Once we got to the Cheesecake Factory I was overwhelmed - I hadn't been to a bar or ordered a drink in what seemed like forever.  I thought back to some drinks I used to like and ordered a gin and tonic - mistake.  I took a few sips, asked for extra lime, then ordered a glass of red wine - much better.  It was very strange at first to be without L, and of course thats almost all we talked about.  But it seemed like we had fleeting moments where it was just the two of us again.  

We decided against the movie, and instead walked around the mall - I bought some makeup at Sephora, D got a new Giants hat.  After a few hours we headed back.  L was asleep in the Babyhawk, my mom was wearing him.  I went over and kissed him, he woke up, I nursed him - I felt complete again.  So there it is, my mommy milestone - going out with D alone, leaving L with one of his grandmas.  Next weekend is going to be wild - 3 grandparents houses for Thanksgiving celebrations in three days.

Wonderful Sunday

Spent the day in the East Bay at the Botanical Gardens in Tilden Park, then an early dinner in Berkeley.

L was hungry on the way home so we got off the freeway and ended up stopping near this school parking lot with a beautiful view of the sun setting behind the bay and golden gate bridge.  L was not happy being nursed in the car so we got out and walked a bit while nursing in the sunset....

Love this quote:

Tonight's Dinner

D worked late tonight so I was on my own for dinner.  L has been really great the last two days.  Great as in cute and amazing as always, but also great as in I can calm his fussing--its been pretty limited to hungry, dirty diaper, hold me.  When I sat down to eat L began to cry in his bouncer--hold me!  So he sat on my lap instead.  I'm not very good at eating one handed while bouncing a baby, though I've gotten increasingly better at doing many things one handed (like typing blog posts!).  Inevitably I dropped food during the meal, but I didn't have to pick up my little food droppings....thank you puppies!