Turnerville

Christian's 16-Month Birthday

2012-01-23T13:53:00.001-05:00

January 13, 2011

Dear Christian,

Happy sixteen-month birthday!

Sixteen month statistics: Weight: TBD Length: TBD inches. Diaper Size:5 Clothes: 24 months.

The word of the month is SIGNS. You are a little signing madman. We don’t always know exactly what you mean, but signs for more, please and up we see every couple of minutes. You also know pig and elephant. You do something for cat that looks nothing like the actual sign for cat, but you do it very regularly whenever we read a book about cats.

Speaking of books, boy do you love books. At night time I can ask if you are ready to upstairs and read books and you drop whatever you are doing and run for the stairs. Well, not running exactly, but quickly crawl to the stairs. You have taken about four little unassisted steps, so I imagine next month the word of the month maybe walking. Back to books though. You love to read books, but you are very specific. You adore the Usborne “That’s Not My….” Books. You also like I’ve Been Working on the Railroad, Maisy, and the Baby Signs Books. You get quite upset with me when I try to read a new book. You actually shove it out of the way and screech until I find one of the approved books.

This past month you have been taking pretty regular naps around noon or 1pm each day. They typically last about an hour, but at least once a week the nap only lasts about 30 minutes. This is frustrating for me, but you have been sleeping better at night the past two weeks so I’ll take what I can get.

You love to be where your brother is. You want to play Legos with him, you want to knock down anything he builds, and you just want to be in on the action. Your brother doesn’t always take too kindly to you playing with his Legos, but in general he is very sweet to you. You have just recently started defending yourself a bit with random shoves. We are now practicing being gentle with each other.

Your eating habits are so different from your brother’s. You love fruit, but I don’t think you ever eat a vegetable willingly. I try to hide veggies in your food whenever I am able, but I worry that you are getting enough. Thank goodness you enjoy fruit, and you are always excited to sign more and please whenever a blueberry, raspeberry or banana comes into your view.

To wrap up this month’s letter I just have to talk for a minute about your sweetness. You have that adorable little baby giggle that makes this mama’s heart beat fast. You love to stand in the tub and bend over to look “up” into the water spout – and I’m always oh so tempted to randomly turn the water on you. I haven’t and think I’ll wait until your big brother figures out how much fun that would be. You love to stick out your tongue and raise your arms up in the air just waiting for someone to pick you up. While sometimes I think I just can’t possibly carry you for one more minute of the day, I do love just how sweet it is to have you at my feet, little arms stretched high into the air, just begging to be held. You have also gotten into the habit of clutching the top of my shirt in your little hand when you fall asleep at nap or bedtime. I love to rock with you and stare at your little hands while you are snuggled up in your baby bag.

I love you little one.
Happy 16 month birthday.

Love,
Mama

P.S. This month’s picture is you happily playing on the floor of the pantry. You love to root around and see what you can find to occupy your time.

Christian's 15-Month Birthday

2012-01-23T13:52:00.000-05:00

December 13, 2011

Dear Christian,

Happy fifteen-month birthday!

Fifteen month statistics: Weight: 27lbs. 12 oz. Length: 31.75 inches. Head circumference 19.5 in. Diaper Size:5 Clothes: 18-24 months.

You may have noticed that I was completely fail last month at writing a letter. Sorry about that.

The word of the month is MIMIC. You have picked up some of the sweetest little mimics. You pretend to sneeze by going Ah… Ah… Ah… Ah – choo! Then you laugh and clap for yourself. You also do things like smacking your lips, blowing raspberries, blowing kisses, and waving good-bye.

Dad is still calling you Scooter because of your cute little scoot-crawl that you do. You are cruising around the furniture and will walk a few steps when holding our hands. The pediatrician was minorly concernced that you aren’t yet walking, but given your early birthdate she said she wouldn’t have any real concerns for awhile.

For Halloween you dressed up as Ming-Ming, the duck from a cute little show called Wonder Pets. You basically wore a duck costume and then grandma made you a green cape to wear. It was adorable. You had lots of fun answering the door the nana and handing our treats.

In early November, we went to the Annual Parish Retreat at Shrine Mont with our St. Matthew’s friends. We had such a nice weekend. You didn’t sleep well at all, but the days were beautiful and filled with relaxing with great friends.

You had a couple of weeks of good sleeping at night, followed by a few horrible weeks. In November you contracted hand, foot and mouth disease. It looked like you had chicken pox, as you were covered with little sores all over your skin, including on yoru fingers and your down your throat. It was nasty business. Oh, and that was followed up by an ear infection. Kind I mention this was a fun couple of weeks? Not really!

Once you got over your assorted illnesses and we put a space heater in your room you started sleeping a little better. We have had a few tough nights, but we’ve had some good ones too. Napping during the day hasn’t been great. You’ve been sleeping about 20 minutes and then crying. Sometimes you fall back asleep, and sometimes you don’t. Not an easy road for me, but I’m happy to have you sleeping at night.

In addition to sleeping a bit better, you are also eating a better. Still picky, but showing improvement. I’m finding a few things you like: Chicken with Vodka Blush Sauce for instance. I’m even able to hide an occasional vegetable in there.

As Christmas approaches you are loving the holiday decorations. Just like your brother, you love the jingle pals from Hallmark. They sit on the floor under the Christmas tree and you love to press the little button to make them sing. When the dog sings and shakes you make the sing for dog. You are adorable when you pat your little leg. Some other signs you know include: hat, airplane, and more.

I’m so looking forward to your second Christmas. I know you wont remember it, but I’m sure looking forward to seeing you with the wrapping paper and lights on Christmas morning.

Love you sweet little one.

Love,
Mama

Christian's 14-Month Birthday

2012-01-23T13:51:00.003-05:00

Christian's 13-Month Birthday

2012-01-23T13:51:00.001-05:00

October 13, 2011

Dear Christian,

Happy thirteen-month birthday!

Thirteen month statistics: Weight: 23lbs. 4 oz. Length: TBD inches. Diaper Size:4 Clothes: 18 months.

The word of the month is FUN. This month we have done all kinds of fun activities. We started off with a visit to Cox Farms. You had a great time going down the slides. We all had fun in fact. It was a cool day, with some rain in the morning, but we persevered through the rain and endedup having a wonderful day. You loved riding in the backpack where you could see everything.

In addition to Cox Farms, we also managed to get you on the swing in the backyard. You loved it! I seem to remember your brother not enjoying swings for a long time so I was worried about your reaction. You had a great time!

On Saturday, September 24th, Nana arrived! Nana packed up her stuff, rented her house to a friend and drove across the country to come live by us. For now she is staying with us until she finds her own place. You love spending time with your Nana. You also love pinching her nose! She is teaching you to rub noses which is just adorable. Speaking of adorable, you have recently started giving kisses. They are just open mouth slobbers, but I love it!

We waited for Nana to arrive to have your first birthday party. On Satuday, October 1st, we were joined by some wonderful friends as we celebrated your first birthday! Dave, Jen and Annabella Gentry; Jimmy, Missy and Nikki Yarbrough; and Matthew, Becca, Betsy and Abigail Pepper were all in attendance. We served chili and macaroni and cheese for dinner, and then you had Wild Maine Blueberry Cake for dessert. You weren’t incredibly impressed with the cake at first. Dad helped you figure it out and then you were pleased to help yourself. You received many wonderful gifts: Little People Super Heroes, Animal mobile, winter clothes, books, custom designed teddy bear to match your room, and a variety of little toys. It was a wonderful day.

This past weekend, we drove down to Norfolk, Virginia to attend a wedding. My half-brother, Steven’s daughter, Amanda, married David Rodriguez. It was a beautiful ceremony right by the water. Uncle Steven took us down to the Naval Base to see the ships and we got to see two aircraft carriers – they are huge! They hold 6,500 sailors and 90 aircraft! It was amazing to see. You had a tough time sleeping and were pretty fussy over the weekend, but we still had a good time.

I don’t know exactly when it started, but recently you have turned into the pickiest eater on the planet. One day you will eat something with gusto and the next day you turn up your little nose at it. You spit food out. You throw it on the floor. You don’t want to eat at mealtime. It is infuriating!!! We just keep offering you whatever we are eating, and occasionally we supplement with yogurt and applesauce if we feel like you didn’t eat enough dinner. You also drink whole milk now since you decided to stop nursing on October 2nd.

When we took you to the doctor for your one year appointment, the pediatrician suggested that you be evaluated for gross motor skill delays. You just started crawling at about 11 months and just started bringing yourself to sitting in the past couple of weeks. The evaluation process was very easy and it was determined that while you are delayed, you are not delayed enough to warrante any kind of intervention. The physical therapist gave us lots of activities to do at home, and we are already seeing improvement. You enjoy standing at the couch (minus the couch cushions) to play.

This past month has been a challenge for me as I have started teaching a new online class for Art Institute, and your nursing strike has been a difficult change for me. Through it all it has been great to see your many smiles and laughs. While motherhood is never what I expect it to be, it is always amazing. I love you so very much.

Love,
Mama

Christian's 1 Year Birthday

2012-01-23T13:45:00.002-05:00

September 13, 2011

Dear Christian,

Happy one-year birthday!

Twelve month statistics: Weight: 23lbs. 4 oz. Length: 29 inches. Head Circumference: 19 inches. Diaper Size:4 Clothes: 12 - 18 months. That is 58th percentile for weight, 23rd percentile for height, and 97th percentile for head circumference.

The word of the month is TEETH. In your last letter I wrote about your third tooth coming in. This past month you have sprouted four new teeth – all on the top. There has been some serious fussiness associated with this, but what can we expect when you get four teeth within about a weeks time.

Since we returned from the lake house in August, you are basically napping once a day. You are still very tired in the morning around 11am, but if I can keep you up until 1pm you take a two-hour nap in the afternoon. I use this time to pick up the house, prep dinner, eat my own lunch and get work done.

Speaking of work, I was just offered a teaching job with Art Institute of Philadelphia in their online division. This is a job I have been wanting since 2008 when I first applied. Last year, right before you were born, they invited me to take a training course they offer. I thought I best to wait until after you were born. I’m sure glad I did that considering you were born about a week after the offer was made. A week or so ago, they not only offered me the training class, but also my own class to teach starting September 26th. I’m excited to teach my first class for them.

You continue to eat a wide variety of foods, but you sure are a picky little eater! When I offer you something you don’t want to eat you purse your lips together and shake your head at me. It would be adorable if it wasn’t so incredibly frustrating! You have started to like foods that you can feed yourself better than anything I can put on a spoon. Of course this makes for crazy messes! Your dad is out of town for work and we made him a little video of you covered in dinner. For the record, roasted chicken with bowtie noodles in vodka blush sauce is one of your very favorite dinners. In addition to pursing your lips at me, you also like to hide food behind your back when you don’t want to eat it. For some reason you think I won’t notice, but you should see how dirty your clothes are getting.

At your one-year appointment, the doctor expressed some mild concern over the fact that you aren’t yet bringing yourself to sitting, nor are you pulling up on furniture yet. You try, but you just can’t seem to get your legs under you. She suggested that you be evaluated for gross motor skill delays through a county program. I’ll call and set up an appointment. I personally think you are just a little slower to milestones than some kids, but we’ll see what they say.

In about two weeks your nana is leaving Henderson to come stay with us while she looks for a house in our area. I’m so excited to have my mom close to us! You will be so lucky to spend time with both your nana and grandmother! I’m sure you and your brother will be spoiled rotten. Since she will be here so soon, we have decided to wait until October 1st to have your first birthday party. We want her to be here to celebrate with us and I don’t think you will notice if your party is delayed a couple weeks. I’m sure looking forward to celebrating this milestone!

It has been quite a year little one. The first few months were sure a difficult time for all of us, but you have just turned into the sweetest little thing. You are all smiles now. You still love to be held, but really, who doesn’t? I love you so much and I’m so happy to have you in our lives. I’m also really happy that you don’t cry so much.

All my love,
Mama

Happy 11 Month Birthday

2011-08-21T21:40:00.002-04:00

Dear Christian,

Happy eleven-month birthday!

Eleven month statistics: Weight: TBD Length: TBD inches. Diaper Size:4 Clothes: 12 - 18 months.

The word of the month is BUSY. Oh, have we been busy. Since I wrote last month we have celebrated my birthday and brother’s birthday, we have driven your brother to summer camps all around the city, we’ve had play dates and we went to Pennsylvania on vacation.

You had a fabulous time at your brother’s sixth birthday party. (Star Wars theme, complete with Death Star piñata!) Nana was here to help us celebrate and you were such a good boy. You didn’t care for the water much, but you loved to sit on Nana’s lap and eat watermelon. You even signed “more” for her. Of course, you haven’t signed “more” since, but it was cute that day.

Your brother has had a busy summer filled with nature camps, vacation bible schools, fencing camp and more! Of course, most of the drop off and pick up coincided with your nap schedule at some point, so your napping has been off. The past several weeks you have only taken a very short morning nap – if any, and then a longer afternoon nap (1.5 – 2 hours). You are so very tired in the morning and I know you still need a nap, but when we have places to go it just doesn’t always happen that we have time for you to snooze in your crib. Every once in awhile you will fall asleep in the car, but you wake up as soon as we get home.

We had fun this month having a play date with baby David who lives around the circle from us. David has six older brothers and sisters and you seemed to love all the attention and commotion at his house! His sister Anna just loved you, and you loved to play with her hair. Mason also came along since David’s brother, John, is just about his age. We have also enjoyed some playtime with Abigail Pepper. The two of you are adorable as you wave back and forth to each other and make giggling noises!

August 6 – 13 found us at Treasure Lake, PA, where we rented a four-bedroom house right across the street from the lake. It was beautiful! What a lovely, relaxing time we had. You loved to sit in the sand and let the water rush up over your little toes. You really enjoyed the sand and only had a few bites. You were much more interested in the ice cream we were eating. You also enjoyed your first time on the swings. What fun!

You continue to enjoy lots of new foods. You are becoming quite skilled at putting food in your mouth. Blueberries, black beans, kidney beans, waffles, and little baby crackers called Mums Mums are your current favorites. While we were at the lake house we fed you jarred baby food for the most part. Your poor little skin broke out in a nasty rash of eczema. I don’t know what it is about jarred baby food that does that to you. Your brother had the exact same reaction when he was a baby. Good thing we make most of your food. As soon as we got home and fed you table food again, it cleared up. In addition to table foods you continue to nurse four times a day.

You have done lots of exciting things this month. You practice standing, and you are rolling like a champ. You still don’t roll the way your brother did – traveling from room to room. You don’t seem to mind being on your belly quite as much as you did in the past. You are starting to push up on all fours and push yourself backwards. The other day I sat you in the middle of the living room to play while I did some dishes, when I came back you were gone, but I could hear your grunting. I finally found you around the side of the couch with your little legs stuck under the couch and you were laying on top of the A/C vent with cold air blowing on you. Poor baby!

All of your scooting around has led to a new nickname – Scooter! You can blame dad for that one.

In addition to scooting around, you still love your tea set and you are developing a love for board books. The series from Usbornne books, “That’s not my ….” are some of your favorites.

I almost forgot! While we were at the lake house you got your third tooth - another little tiny tooth on the bottom right. Seems like it took months for that stinking tooth to come in. We even make two trips to the pediatrician because I thought for sure you must have a cold with the stuffy nose, fevers, and irritability, but she kept saying, “It’s just teething.”
She was right. I’m so glad the tooth is in. You are much happier now!

My sweet little boy, I’m excited to say that your eyes are still blue as we head towards your first birthday. We’ll see if they stay that way.

Keep smiling at us and showing off those little teeth!

Love,
Mama

Mason II Turns 6 Years Old!

2011-07-24T20:34:00.001-04:00

Dear Mason II,

Happy Seventy-Two Month Birthday! You are six years old!

Statistics: Weight: 55 lbs. Length: 48 inches. Clothes: 6. I’ll have more accurate numbers on Wednesday after your doctor’s appointment.

Well, the word that best describes the past six months is READING! You are an amazing reader and your dad and I are thrilled that this new world has opened for you. You still like for us to read to you, but you often can be found with your own book. Your dad has read the Chronicles of Narnia to you. I found a funny little series of Stink books that we read, and you continue to love Bible and Star Wars stories! We are even attending a Boys Summer Book Club on Fridays this summer.

It is amazing to me that in just a few weeks you will be starting kindergarten at Countryside Elementary. You seem pretty excited for school, and I hope that you have an easier time going to kindergarten then you had with the past year at preschool. Even on the very last day of preschool you had a fit and threw yourself on the ground and refused to go to school. Let’s hope this next year is better!

Your favorite toys are still Legos and anything Star Wars. In fact, for your birthday that is about all you received. Dad and I purchased Slave I for you, and you received your first Star Wars action figures. The top of your birthday cake was decorated with Captain Rex, Anakin and a battle droid.

In April, I took a day off work and we headed up to Baltimore. The two of us had a special Mom and Mason Day of Fun! We went to the Port Discovery Kids museum and had a great day walking on the rope bridge, climbing the tower, going through the mystery house and playing in the water room. We had ice cream before we headed for home, and you took a short nap in the car so I figure that is a sure sign you had a great day! I wish we could have more days like this.

In May we went camping at Camp Hebron with our friends the Peppers: Matthew, Becca, Betsy and Abigail. It had been pouring rain before we left so the campground was a muddy mess. You and Betsy had a great time getting dirty and seeing the animals at Lake Tobias. While we were packing to leave on Sunday morning, you and Betsy found an outdoor shower and absolutely drenched yourselves. It was hilarious and the highlight of the weekend.

The end of May brought a sad time at our house as your dad’s best childhood friend, James Welborn, passed away. James had a son just one year older than you and our hearts break for his son and family. To remember James, we headed to Las Vegas for a memorial in June and while we were there we took a side trip to Southern California.

You had a fabulous time in Las Vegas playing with your cousins Mary Lynne, Howard IV and Harry. What a cute bunch you all made! Our trip to Southern CA included a surprise visit to Legoland and Disneyland! (Three tickets for Disneyland cost $250.) Visiting two theme parks in two days was a bit much for you. You really are kind of a homebody so you were pretty tired by the second day. In fact, we had to convince you to stay at Disneyland because at 10am you started asking if we would take you back to the hotel.

You are sitting next to me as I write this so I asked you what your favorite ride was at Disneyland. You said Star Tours and Winnie the Pooh. Funny thing is when we went on Star Tours at Disneyland you said it was boring and you wanted to go home. I do not understand you sometimes you funny little boy! After the Star Tours ride you made your own light saber at the Star Trader gift shop. It cost $24. Other rides we went on: Finding Nemo Submarine Ride, Autotopia, Pirates of the Caribbean, Pirates Lair Island, and the monorail. We also watched the Jedi Training Academy program while we ate lunch at Tomorrowland Terrace.

Legoland was also fun, but you weren’t much interested in going on rides. You only went on two rides the entire day. You did enjoy looking around at all the exhibits. Your favorite thing about Legoland was the Star Wars exhibit. No surprise there! We were lucky that the weather was beautiful while we were there and your brother seemed to get along well with all the traveling. Oh, you did puke twice in the car on the way home to Las Vegas. We figured it was because of the excitement and weird food.

Since preschool got out in May, you have been very busy with camps. You went to Wetland Detective Camp where you learned about wetlands and made frog puppets. You went to VBS at Galilee Methodist Church where you learned about Super Heroes of the Bible. This past week you also went to Little Pirate Fencing Camp at Claude Moore Park. Coming up you will attend VBS at Saint Matt’s, Nature Detective Camp at Claude Moore and finally Camp Smashup where you will go fishing in the mornings at play Legos in the afternoons. Should be fun!

Nana was just here for your birthday this past week and you had lots of fun playing and snuggling with her. The two of you can always be found up early rooting around in the kitchen. Nana even brought you Star Wars sheets for your bed as an early birthday present.

Your birthday party was lots of fun. Again we filled the backyard with sunshades, a pool, slip and slide, food and lots of friends! We had Padawan Pizza and Boba Fett’s Favorites Fruits and Darth Vader Veggies for lunch. Oh, and we enjoyed Yoda Soda and Tatooine Iced Tea to drink. Your dad made a Death Star piñata for you and we filled it with Darth Vader pencils, lollipops, Star Wars stickers and Tootsie Rolls. We also had water balloons! Good times!

Over the past few weeks we have tried having movie nights on Friday or Saturday night. We set up dinner in the family room and watch a movie. So far, we have had to turn several movies off because they are too scary. (Brother Bear and Up went off right away. Luckily we have Veggies Tales as stand bys. For your birthday, you watched the Clone Wars movie.

Okay, both you and your brother seemed to be starved for attention at the moment so I need to run. We are about to read a Star Wars story.

Love you, you sometimes little aggravating one.
Mama

2011-07-20T22:02:00.002-04:00

Dear Christian,

Happy ten-month birthday!

Ten month statistics: Weight: 22lbs. and change Length: TBD inches. Diaper Size:4 Clothes: 12 - 18 months.

The word of the month is: FOOD. You are now eating so many exciting kinds of food. In the past month you have had the following: pancakes, waffles, salmon, grilled cheese, pasta noodles, blueberries (one of your favs!), yogurt mixed with avocado, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, cantaloupe, watermelon, and lots of other things. You are also starting to show some pickiness in your eating habits. You can often be found turning your head away from some of the vegetable choices you are offered. Sorry kid, just cause you turn your head doesn’t mean we won’t keep offering vegetables!

You are becoming quite skilled at picking food up with your fingers these days and most of it actually makes it into your mouth. In addition to picking up food you are also picking up small blocks and other toys. We recently pulled out the wooden blocks and you enjoy knocking down your brother’s creations.
When we went to the doctor for your nine-month appointment we found out you had an ear infection. Perhaps that is why you disliked the plane so much when we were traveling? You also had slightly low iron, so we have been giving you vitamins with iron the past month. Finally, the doctor had some concerns about you not making any consonant sounds, but that has changed this past month. You have started babbling some and making some “D” sounds. So cute!

While you still aren’t crawling, you are able to scoot yourself around in a circle and push yourself backwards. Dad has taken to calling you Scooter for your ability to scoot around while sitting. We have also been practicing standing this past month. I purposely took your picture standing at your little activity table. I should mention that as soon as I snapped the picture you promptly fell over. J

You are still taking two naps each day. They follow the same pattern as last month: one loner nap and one shorter nap. You are still nursing about four times a day, and most nights (knock on wood) you sleep through the night.

During the day we play Little People and tea party and drive your brother around to his activities. You don’t like to be left alone for long, if at all. Some days it is very hard because I have things to do around the house or for your brother and you just don’t want me to take a step away from you. I’m so sorry that you have to cry sometimes so I can go to the bathroom or wash dishes. I hope you know how very much I love you even when you are fussy and I can’t be right there, right away to hold you.

Here’s to hoping the next month is even better than the last.

Love,
Mama

Happy Nine Month Birthday

2011-06-20T18:41:00.010-04:00

June 13, 2011
Dear Christian,

Happy nine-month birthday!

Nine month statistics: Weight: 20+ lbs. and change Length: TBD inches. Diaper Size:4 Clothes: 12 - 18 months. We go to the doctor on Wednesday so I’ll update then.

The word of the month is: SLEEP! Precious, glorious sleep! A few days after you turned eight months old we decided to put sleep training into high gear. I hated to do it, but my body was seriously shutting down from the lack of sleep. I also don’t think I was a very nice person to be around. After just a couple of rough nights, you have now been sleeping through the night from approximately 8pm – 6am.

Another exciting thing that happened this month is our trip to Las Vegas and California. I’m actually a few days late writing your letter because we were gone from June 11 – 18, 2011. Your first plane ride to Las Vegas was a tough one. The last two hours of the flight you screamed your bloody head off. The guy across the aisle from us put his hands over his ears and a man a few rows ahead of us gave me the stink eye the entire time. Like I really wanted you to scream at me for two hours. Grrrrr!

We spent a couple of wonderful days in Las Vegas seeing friends and family. We also took a couple of days and drove to Southern California. We went to Legoland and Disneyland! We had a great time, and you actually traveled quite well. The drive to CA was a little rough, but I think you had trouble with your ears adjusting to the pressure changes as we drove over the mountains.

Once we got there, you did surprisingly well. You slept well at night and took a few short naps at the parks. Disneyland was packed with people and even in the crowds you did well. You screamed through the submarine ride, but loved Pirates of the Caribbean. You also went over to Pirates Lair and on the Winnie the Pooh ride. Overall, the trip was a success!

Prior to our visit to Las Vegas, we took you on your first camping trip. You even have special shoes for camping. Who could resist shoes with little bears in a tent with a campfire?!?! We went to Pennsylvania and stayed at Camp Hebron and visited Lake Tobias. This is a place we have camped with your brother before. We brought along our good friends, the Peppers. It was great to camp with such good friends. You and their daughter, Abigail, got along well. The first night was pretty rough, but we had a great time at the animal park on Saturday. We were reminded just how much work camping is and think we might be waiting until next year to try again.

In preparation for your doctor’s appointment on Wednesday I filled out a form that talked about your development. You are a champ at sitting up on your own, and you can spin yourself around. However, you still aren’t crawling at all. I suppose I shouldn’t complain and should just appreciate that you stay in one spot. When I hold your hands/arms you are able to stand on your legs, but not much movement toward walking. You easily pick up toys and pass them back and forth between your hands. You pick up little pieces of cereal and sometimes get them in your mouth. You are not using the pincer grab yet, nor are you making any consonant babbling sounds. I guess we’ll have to ask the doctor if that is any concern.

You are eating a good variety of foods: spinach with apples, applesauce, carrots, squash, sweet potato, avocado, beets, peas, nectarines, and bananas. You had a bunch of pre-prepared baby food while we were traveling and you seemed to like all of it. While the packed baby food sure is easy, you did develop a few eczema spots and it is quite expensive. I think we’ll stick to making our own at home for now. In addition to eating food, you are still nursing four or five times a day. You also like to drink some water from a sippy cup.

On average you take two naps per day. It seems to be one long one and one short one, although they alternate. The past few days you have taken a longer morning nap (a couple times over 2 hours). This morning was back to just one hour. When the morning nap is long, then the afternoon nap is generally an hour or less. Right now you are awake upstairs, because the UPS deliveryman rang the doorbell and woke you up after 20 minutes. *sigh*

I’m looking forward to your doctor’s appointment on Wednesday to see how much you have grown.

Love you little bear,
Mama

James

2011-05-23T16:37:00.003-04:00

It's important to say this: James killed himself. It's important because we are surrounded by sad people. In fact, we are all sad people, aren't we? We have to confront each other's sadness, or we all run the risk of becoming lonely little islands in a sea of other lonely little islands.

But we can't wait until things get "really bad" before we start talking. At that point, it's too late. We have to find the people that we care about and make their business our business. And we have to let other people butt into our business, too. We all need to be aware of each other's normal so we can pick up on the faintest sign of abnormal. We need to help each other pull our devils out into the light before they get too strong. Because once they get ahold of us, they won't let go without a bloody fight. They will make it very, very hard for us to accept the help, the love, we need.

If you knew James, you knew a joyful man. A man that would help anyone; that took delight in the delight of others. But obviously — obviously — there were dark demons pulling James into a horrible place. I certainly don't know much about them ... because I had stopped being a safe place for James a long time ago. If he ever did trust me enough to share his pain, that trust died while ago.

I trusted James with my sadness for many years. So yes, I feel horrible that I didn't have his confidence when things may have been manageable. Maybe I was too judgmental in my youth. Maybe I was too self absorbed. But I know we stopped talking, and recently it became impossible to reconnect.

Of course I am going to remember the friendly and goofy James. But I will not let the sad James be forgotten. When I think of the other friends and family I have let slip away, I'll think of James. When I pull away from any new friendships, I will think of James. It's important for us — for me — to remember that we all need to reflect God's love for us back onto the world. That reflection has to be contstant and consistent. And it has to start with the people that are closest to us.

Happy Eight Month Birthday, Christian

2011-05-16T21:39:00.001-04:00

May 13, 2011

Dear Christian,

Happy eight-month birthday!

Seven month statistics: Weight: 19 lbs. and change Length: TBD inches. Diaper Size:4 Clothes: 12 months.

The word of the month is: Raspberry. You love to blow raspberries. All the time you make the cutest little noises. It cracks us up.

Last month you were sitting up on your own with the Boppy behind you. This past month you have really mastered sitting and can do so all on your own. You topple once in awhile, but you are pretty stable now. You are also rolling in both directions now, although you don’t do it very frequently. We can still sit you in one spot with a few toys and find you in almost the exact same position a few minutes later.

Speaking of toys you are really enjoying toys now. You like anything you can put in your mouth. We have also brought our a few Duplos for you. Might as well start you on the Legos sooner rather than later! You enjoy playing with rings that click together and also the Little People farm. Each day you spend some time in your exersaucer and you enjoy all the sounds the saucer makes. Your other favorite toy is your older brother. You love when Mason smiles at you and shakes toys at you. He isn’t always as gentle as he should be, but he is trying and he loves to spend time with you. One last thing that you love to play with is paper. You love a piece of paper, you love the paper that covers the table in the doctor’s office, you love waxed and parchment paper. But, you only like it so long as it crinkles. Once you have squished it up enough that it doesn’t make noise anymore you totally lose interest and demand a new piece.

You have tried lots of new foods this past month. You still struggle with anything that needs to be chewed even though your second bottom tooth has come in. You are eating the following: banana, avocado, peas, carrots, sweet potato, pear, apples, bread, beets, chicken, and salmon. I was surprised how much you liked the salmon the other night! We will likely be starting spinach and yogurt this coming month.

Your sleep patterns are still killing me. You usually take one good nap (1.5 hours) each day, plus one shorter nap (30 minutes). You go to bed around 8pm, but you are still up a lot during the night. Many, many nights you are still up at least twice and won’t go back to sleep unless nursed. Your dad has tried to go in and change your diaper, re-swaddle and then rock you – but the screaming is torturous! We don’t know what to do, but something has got to give. We are all exhausted! We love you, but we are tired! Yes, you also read that right that we are still swaddling you for naps and bedtime. You always break out, but you just can’t seem to fall asleep without being swaddled.

This next weekend we are going to try going camping for the first time this season. We are excited to be heading back to Camp Hebron in PA, and we will spend Saturday at Lake Tobias Wild Animal Park. Our friends Matthew, Becca, Betsy and Abigail Pepper are coming with us. We figure since you and Abigail are so close in age we can commiserate if it doesn’t go well. I have confidence that it will be a great weekend.

I know I say it every month, but it is hard to believe another month has gone by. Eight months old! Wow! We enjoy your sweet little smiles and raspberries every day. Now, just give us some nights of good sleep, please!

Love you, sweet Christian,
Mama

Happy Seven Month Birthday, Christian!

2011-04-13T21:20:00.002-04:00

April 13, 2011

Dear Christian,

Happy seven-month birthday!

Seven month statistics: Weight: 19 lbs. and change Length: TBD inches. Diaper Size: 3 Clothes: 9-12 months.

The phrase for this month is an oldie, but a goodie – Better! Things are better! You are feeling better (all the RSV is gone) and you are sleeping better. Thank goodness, because I have been one tired mama these past few months. Since you are feeling better and sleeping better, your little disposition is also better. Better than better, in fact, dare I say sunny? During the day you are taking great naps and you are down right cute and adorable during your wakeful periods. Thank you!!

Here’s a brief overview of your daily schedule:

7am – awake and having morning milk
9am – nap time (anywhere from 30 – 60 minutes)
11am – lunch milk and some cereal
1pm – nap time (anywhere from 1 – 2 hours)
4pm – snack or dinner milk depending on the time
5:30pm – dinner milk and/or some cereal and other solids
7pm – night milk and bedtime
8pm – usually asleep
Sometime between 3am – 5am you have an early morning snack. Maybe once or twice you have skipped this one altogether. Feel free to skip this feeding whenever you like.

I should go back and read, but I think you are slower at starting solids than your brother. So far you are eating banana, avocado, peas, carrots and squash. Banana and avocado are the only things you really like. You tolerated the carrots and peas and squash continue to be a struggle. Oh, we gave you a tiny bit of applesauce the other day and you hated it! Who hates applesauce? Crazy kid! I try to give you solids twice a day at lunch and dinner time, but sometimes we just get too busy. You seem to enjoy sitting at the dinner table with us and eating some cereal and the veggie of the day. I have tried putting some food on your tray, but you don’t quite get the idea of picking it up and putting it in your mouth just yet. We also give you a little sippy cup of water, but you aren’t really sure what to make of that either.

You are a champ at sitting up now, although we still put the Boppy pillow behind you if we are walking away from you at all. Your activity mat has taken on new interest since you are now seeing it from a different perspective. You have only rolled from your front to back twice so far, but I’m sure it will happen when you are ready. You are really grabbing at toys now and putting everything in your mouth – including your toes and socks!

Speaking of your mouth, you got your first tooth! Bottom, middle, left came in just the other night. We can’t even really see it yet, but I can feel it. Sharp little bugger!

This past month we have been attending Babygarten at the local library. It is basically a story and song time. Although you are the youngest baby there by six or eight months, you seem to have a good time. We sing all types of songs and then read a story of some sort. Your dad loves the shark song (Baby shark, doot doot, doot doot….)

We are finally starting to get out of the house more. We actually went out to dinner for the first time since you were born a couple weeks ago. We joined some friends from church at Pomodoro’s for pizza. We figured we would go with friends so that way if you got upset, hopefully they wouldn’t be too upset. You were great! A fun time was had by all. Your dad even learned about to play Bananagrams after we ate!

We also started packing at the LINK food pantry in Herndon. We have signed up to pack food once a moth for families that don’t have the resources to feed their family. Helping others is an important part of our beliefs and we hope that you and your brother grow up to be kind, generous and helpful men. The only way to make that happen is for us to donate our time as a family so you see how easy it is to integrate helping others into our everyday lives. Your dad and I hope that as you grow you will find lots of opportunities to help others. If you don’t see any, then you probably aren’t looking very hard!

Okay, my cute little smiling son, oh wait, I have two boys that fit that description…. How about, my cute little smiling seven-month old son, it has been a great month. I’m glad you are feeling better and sleeping better and starting to discover the world around you. I love you so much!

All my love,
Mama

Happy Six Month Birthday, Christian!

2011-03-14T21:19:00.002-04:00

March 13, 2011

Dear Christian,

Happy six-month birthday!

Six month statistics: Weight: 18 lbs. 12 ounces Length: TBD inches. Diaper Size: 3 Clothes: 9-12 months.

Last month the phrase of the month was maintaining the status quo. This month the word is sick – icky, icky sick! You were diagnosed with RSV about three weeks ago, and it seems like we have been in the pediatrician’s office two – three times per week since. RSV is a viral respiratory infection that caused you to have horrible wheezing. It also then contributed to a double ear infection. To help you breathe easier, we gave you nebulizer treatments every four hours around the clock for over a week. You also had oral steroids and antibiotics. When the ear infection didn’t get any better – in fact, it got worse – they gave you a stronger antibiotic, which wrecked havoc on your poor tummy. The past four nights you have been up from approximately midnight – four am crying your heart out. Your dad and I take turns walking, patting, rocking, singing, anything we can think of. The sleep deprivation is really getting to us. We took you back to the pediatrician on Saturday and she prescribed a new antibiotic that should be easier on your stomach. We also started probiotics again. I have my fingers crossed that tonight is better! We hate seeing you so sick.

In addition to getting RSV yourself, you were kind enough to pass it along to grandma. She has also not been feeling well. Luckily, you were done with the nebulizer just as she started to need it. She had an x-ray and on Friday and seems to already be feeling much better.

In the past two days you have started sitting up on your own. You are pretty wobbly, but it is great to see you hit this important milestone. A few days ago you also rolled from front to back. I even got it on video! You don’t much like being on your stomach so perhaps that is what motivated you to roll. No sign yet of rolling from back to front.

Now that you can sit up a little, you love to sit on your play mat and swat at your toys. Speaking of toys, you are so interested in them now. Dad pulled some of your brother’s old toys out for you to play with. It is amazing to see you so engaged with them. We also give you a spoon to hold and play with. In addition to toys and spoons, you have found your feet! It is adorable to watch you grab at them.

Speaking of spoons, it is time for solid foods. This morning I gave you a little tiny bit of banana on my finger. You weren’t quite sure what to make of it and promptly pushed it right back out of your mouth. Tonight, we gave you a little bit of rice cereal for the first time. You seemed to really like it! Of course, you had a bunch of it in your neck when I got you ready for bed, but I think that goes with the territory when first starting solids. I checked a book out from the library called, Baby Love, a collection of recipes for first baby foods. I’m excited to start making some delicious foods for you.

It is hard to talk about any kind of schedule for the past month since you have been so sick. You have not been sleeping well at night since the wheezing got bad. I think at a minimum you are up two times each night, and you are having lots of trouble going back to sleep. During the day you are taking naps, but only when we swaddle you and then walk with you for 7 – 20 minutes. Most of that time you are crying. Once you calm down and fall asleep, we place you in your crib. You are still a fan of the 28-minute nap, but we have had a few longer naps. Sunday, for instance, you slept over two hours. I’m not sure if this will happen on any kind of regular basis, or it is just all the medication you are on.

Well my little one, it is nine o’clock at night and you have just woken up crying already. Your dad is up with you, but I better go check on you both to see how you are doing. Your dad and I are really tired, Christian. If you could help us out in the sleep department it would be greatly appreciated.

Love you and your sweet smile bunches and bunches,
Mama

Happy Five Month Birthday, Christian!

2011-02-13T21:25:00.002-05:00

February 13, 2011

Happy five-month birthday!

Weight: 18.4lbs. You are wearing size three diapers and 6 – 9 month clothes.

If last month the word of the month was better, this month I think the best descriptive phrase is maintaining the status quo. Your eating and nighttime sleeping schedules have remained largely the same, and you are still experiencing some happy times during the day.

Your schedule varies each day, but you eat roughly every three hours during the day. You go to sleep around 8:30pm pretty regularly, and most nights you wake once during the night. We were blessed with a few lovely nights when you slept without waking for almost ten hours! Of course, those lovely nights were balanced by a few really rough nights. Just two nights ago you were up crying from 10:30pm – 1:30am. We finally gave you a dose of Tylenol since I thought for sure you must be in some grave pain and would likely wake in the morning with five new teeth. Alas, there were no new teeth when you woke, but the Tylenol helped you get some sleep. Perhaps it was a growth spurt?

While you are sleeping quite well overnight, the daytime sleeping is just not happening. We have been trying to swaddle you and put you down for a nap as soon as you start yawning during the day. Unfortunately, you don’t seem to be able to self-sooth at all and end up crying until we end up walking, bouncing, rocking, you to sleep. Yesterday afternoon the walking – bouncing routine took over an hour. I finally laid you in your crib and you slept for a total of 28 minutes! 28 freaking minutes!! You are killing me (and my back!) Everyday is like this and I don’t have any idea what to do. I’ve tried putting you in the swing to nap, and still, you only sleep for 30 minutes or less. A few days ago, you did take one nap for 41 minutes! Did I mention at day care you sleep for almost two hours? I have tried my best to replicate the daycare routine, but it just doesn’t seem to work at home. What’s up with that??

Let’s talk about something happier, shall we? You have the most adorable, sweetest smile! You are even laughing a little bit. I have started playing patty-cake with you and we do our own rendition of the ‘We’ve Got Spirit’ cheer from high school. Both of these bring huge smiles to your face, even when you are feeling grumpy.

Another sweet thing about you is your fabulous little peach fuzz head. Some days it appears to be light brown, and other days it looks almost blonde. You are also still holding on to those blue eyes. Wouldn’t it be fabulous to have a blonde haired/blue eyed little boy in the house? What a contrast it would be to your brother’s darker hair and eyes.

Speaking of your brother, oh boy is he in love with you. Each morning he comes into our room and wants to know if you are awake yet. He runs into your room and throws himself over the edge of your crib to lay his head on your belly. “Good morning, brover,” he says. He doesn’t quite have the “th” sound down just yet. You smile and coo at him, which just thrills him. Every night at dinner your brother gives thanks for you being in our lives.

You are just starting to sit up on your own, although you are pretty top heavy so you lean pretty quickly. You are doing great at tummy time and holding your head up. When I lay you on your activity mat you throw your legs around and lean from side to side. No rolling yet, but plenty of rocking.

We still aren’t getting out much, because you just don’t like to sleep on the go, and you get cranky quite easily. Your dad and I get to the grocery store each Saturday morning and your dad loves carrying you in the mei tai baby carrier. You usually fall asleep about 10 minutes before we are ready to leave. We haven’t been brave enough to try to go out to dinner, but we have had a few trips in the car where you aren’t crying. Things are definitely looking up.

Christian, you have been such a wonderful, but different addition to our lives. Your dad and I are faced with challenges we never even fathomed before you were born. However, we are so happy to have you with us, we are so happy you are a healthy little boy, and we love watching you grow. Sometimes when I go to sleep at night I wonder about what kind of man you will become. Will you be a butcher, a baker, a candlestick maker? No matter to me, I just hope and pray that you become a man that knows great joy, smiles easily, knows God, and loves BIG!

With love and affection my sweet boy,
Mama

P.S. Becoming a candlestick maker is probably not the most lucrative career choice – just saying! ;-)

Mason II Turns 5.5 Years Old!

2011-01-21T15:18:00.004-05:00

January 21, 2011

Dear Mason II,

Happy Sixty-Six-Month Birthday! You are five and a half years old!

Statistics: Weight: 52 lbs. Length: 46 inches. Clothes: 6

Well, the word that best describes the past six months is CHANGE! There have been lots of changes around our house since I wrote last.

The first and greatest change was the arrival of your brother, Christian. Born five weeks early he really threw us for a loop. The first three months of his life were some of the most difficult I have ever encountered. I naively thought I would have another baby that was just like you – so sweet, so happy, so flexible. Ha! As you and I both know, your brother has not really been any of those for his first fifteen weeks of life. You, however, have been such a trooper and the most awesome big brother around. You fetch diapers when needed and can often be found signing silly songs to encourage your brother to stop crying. You love to give him belly pats and hugs and kisses. I hope the two of you will be lifelong friends.

One week before your brother’s early arrival you began your final year of preschool. You attend five days a week, from 8:30am – 12:30pm at a Montessori school that is very close to the house. They include a morning snack of cereal and fresh fruit, and lunch is also included. The school is beautiful – your classroom has beautiful windows with lots of natural light, a big playground, and very nice teachers. You have approximately twenty students in your class and three teachers. The classroom is filled with lots of interesting activities in areas such as math and language arts, but also science and geography. With so much to do and explore I thought you would just love it. But – no! I’m still not sure exactly what all the issues are, but you seem to be having a very hard time adjusting this year. It could be the five day a week schedule, it could be the Montessori environment, it could be the lack of a dress-up play area, or maybe that you just haven’t really made any great friends. Any way you look at it, it has been a hard few months for all of us where school is concerned.

Despite the fact that you aren’t always enjoying school this year, you have been learning a great deal. I’m amazed with the things you have learned! I try to make it a point each day to ask you what your favorite thing is about school and what is something you would like to change. Some of your favorite things have included: lunch, reading, playing outside, snack and various math games. You seem to be very drawn to all the math activities and you get your feelings hurt when your teacher tells you an activity is too difficult for you. You are now able to count to 200. You can count by 10’s to 100, and you are working on place value. You are sounding out words and recognizing some sight words. Most days when I pick you up from school, I find you snuggled into the reading corner with your nose buried in a book.

Speaking of books, you and dad have been reading some amazing books at bedtime. You are currently reading Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis. You have already read the first books in the series. You are also enjoying Magic Tree House books, Star Wars books, and Adventures with the Parkers – about a family that has adventures while camping. You also still enjoy your old favorites: James Herriot and Winne the Pooh.

A comprehensive overview of your last few months would not be complete without mentioning your love of all things Star Wars. Just a few days after Christmas we all watched the movie for the first time. There were a few scary parts that we fast-forwarded through, but overall you loved it. Much of your playtime is centered around the Star Wars universe. We battle droids, use our light sabers to fight the Wampa, and make plans to capture the sand people. Oftentimes you can be found sitting in the bathroom talking to yourself, making up fantastic stories of battles and duels all centered on Star Wars.

In coordination with Star Wars, is your love of Legos. For Christmas, you received the Star Wars Lego AT-AT Walker and the Portal of Atlantis. Santa also left a special scavenger hunt for you and daddy that led you to a Lego winter village set. What fun you have putting together your Lego sets. I’m amazed at the ease with which you put together sets made for 7 – 12 year olds. You have made friends with a little boy in the neighborhood, Brandon. Together, with his sister, Lauren, you love to play Legos and Star Wars. Brandon is nine years old, but you have dubbed him your best friend.

One of the ways you currently fund your Lego addiction is through your weekly allowance. A few weeks after your brother was born, you stared earning five dollars per week allowance. You have daily chores which include: setting and clearing the table for dinner, getting dressed in the morning and dressing for bed, and no teasing. That last one we use fairly liberally to include insubordinate behavior. If you elect not to do one of your chores you earn a white tile on your chore chart. Three white tiles in a week and you forfeit your allowance for the week. Each day that you complete all chores you earn 30 minutes of computer or screen time for the following day. So far, it is working pretty well.

For the past eight weeks you have also been attending gymnastics once a week. Your friend, Lex, from Classroom of Discovery is in the class, and you seem to have a great time. You are learning to do cartwheels and forward/backward rolls. You have the chance to walk on the balance beam and work on the uneven bars. You don’t have a lot of upper body strength just yet, but you sure seem to have fun. When I asked you if you wanted to sign up for another session of gymnastics you said no. There have been a few weeks at class where the teachers changed, and I think that has been hard for you. In February you are going to start Tae Kwon Do. Your dad and I are hoping that it helps you build some self-confidence.

The past few months have not been the easiest for you my dear one. As I mentioned at the start there have been lots of changes. Many days you have preferred your dad’s company to mine and I hope that is due to the combination of all the changes mentioned above. I know during this time that my attention has definitely been largely focused on your brother, and I look forward to the days ahead when he isn’t quite so needy so that we can spend more time together just playing and having fun. Some of my best memories of the past few months have been when you and I dance in the kitchen. We sing Rockin’ Robin and dance and laugh while we make little bird noises. I hope that you know that even though my attention may be drawn elsewhere, you are always in my heart. Wherever you go, whatever you do, whoever you become, I will always love you my first-born son.

All my love,
Mama

Christian's Four Month Birthday

2011-01-13T19:40:00.003-05:00

January 13, 2011

Happy four-month birthday!

Weight: 18lbs. Length: inches. That is x percentile for weight and x percentile for length. We go to the doctor on Friday so I’ll update then. You are wearing size three diapers and some 3 –6 month size clothing and some 6 – 9 month. I think we are about at the end of the 3 – 6 month clothes. I can’t believe you are growing so fast!

The word of the past month is BETTER! Everything is getting better. You are sleeping better, eating better (this means less frequently) and in general you are happier. While the past month hasn’t been without a good share of hard times, things are definitely looking up.

Since right before Christmas you have been sleeping through the night with just one wake up around 3am. We still have a hard time getting you to sleep at night, but waking just once sure is nice on ‘ol mom. I try to nurse you for the last evening feeding somewhere around 8pm. This generally takes about 40 minutes or so and then I try to put you down for the night. Most nights it seems you wake several times and there is walking, bouncing, or rocking involved. Last night you were up and down for almost an hour with a good bit of crying. Thank goodness for your dad! He is such a big help during this time of the evening. After he puts your brother to bed, he does things around the house and then he is always first up to take a turn when you need extra snuggling for bedtime.

Have I mentioned what an amazing dad you have? You and your brother are so very lucky. I can’t even imagine the ways my life would have been impacted if I had a father like yours. Your dad wrote you an amazing letter this year for Christmas. We’ll be sure to save all your letters for you to read when you are older.

Christmas was wonderful! Nana came to visit and even though she was sick, we all had a wonderful time. We made cookies and fudge and wrapped more presents than we could count. You received some lovely gifts! One of my favorites was the rocking horse from grandma. Other gifts included: little drum, CD player for your room, Star Wars/Winnie the Pooh pictures for your room, adorable clothes and your first little stuffed dog, courtesy of cousin Wil.

Perhaps it was the Christmas mojo or perhaps you are just growing out of some of the extreme colic that plagued us for those first three months. Right around your three-month birthday you started smiling and you haven’t stopped! I love to tickle your chin and watch your face light up. You have the sweetest little smile and giggle. Your brother loves to make you smile and can often be found giving you little belly pats and singing, “Brother, brother, brother” to you until you grace him with a smile.

In addition to smiles you are definitely having more happy times. You are enjoying time on your activity mat and you have just started swatting at toys on occasion. You love to kick your legs. We attached a new little wooden toy to the mat that Aunt Christy and Uncle Dennis sent you from Germany for Christmas – and you love to hear the little bell ring. You also like to spend a few minutes sitting in the high chair. You still flop over so we have to keep a close eye on you, but it is nice to wheel you around the kitchen while I’m cooking dinner, etc…

After the happy times come the sad times. The more I examine your moods throughout the day, the more I’m convinced that your sad times are simply tired times. As soon as you start being fussy we swaddle you up and start working toward a nap. During the day you will sometimes take a pacifier and that seems to help soothe you. You also seem to like your swing and can sometimes take a nap for 30 – 45 minutes. One day you slept two hours!

I just realized that I forgot to take your three month picture, sorry about that. There is a great picture of you in your bumbo seat that was taken just about on your three-month birthday so that will have to suffice. I’m excited to take your four-month picture tomorrow because I’m hoping I can actually catch you in a smile!

Well, I’m about to run out of power on my laptop so I better head off.

Love,
Mama

Christian's Three Month Birthday

2011-01-13T19:38:00.000-05:00

December 13, 2010

Dear Christian,

Happy Three Month birthday little one!

Weight: 16lbs. That is 93rd percentile for weight. We don’t go to the doctor this month so that is your weight from our home scale. You are wearing size two diapers and 3 –6 month size clothing. I think you will be moving up to size three diapers soon.

Some sweet things to share with you: You are making some happy baby noises! Not all the time, but enough a couple times a week. You also had your first smile just about a week ago. We have a couple of sweet little smiles when I kiss your cheeks or tickle your belly. I’m so happy to see you smile!!!!

Last month I wrote to you that you had very little active alert time. Well, that is starting to change. The past week and a half or so you are having some great periods of wakefulness. It doesn’t last long, but it sure is nice to see. During these times you enjoy laying on your activity mat and waving your arms and legs around. Your brother loves to crouch down next to you and shake toys in your face. This usually startles you and then you cry. Your brother is slowly learning to take it easy on you. He just loves you so much. He is constantly showering you with hugs and kisses and the occasional “firm handshake.”

Last month I also wrote about your intense crying. The past month has certainly had its fair share of crying, but you are making huge improvements. At your last doctor’s appointment the pediatrician labeled the crying as colic. She said that any baby that cries a lot and they have no explanation they call colic. You do have a herniated belly button, which I thought might be causing you pain and therefore crying, but the doctor said no. The hernia should clear up on its own by the time you are three or four. If it doesn’t then we need to see a surgeon. Let’s hope for the best. Speaking of crying, earlier this week we went an entire day until 4pm before I heard you cry. It’s a miracle!!

You are on a pretty steady schedule of eating every three hours now. You nurse for about 30 – 40 minutes, then have some kind of awake time (sometimes 2 minutes, sometimes 30 minutes), and then as soon as you start acting fussy or yawning I get you ready for a nap. This includes swaddling you and walking. You have been taking a pacifier more readily the past couple of weeks and it seems to help calm you down for sleeping. We have also found that once you are drowsy you like the swing. One day you slept two hours in the swing!! Another miracle!

Evenings are still really tough as this is your grumpiest time of day. We often have a two or three hour period where you nurse almost constantly. We put you down for bed around 8:30pm or 9pm. You have given us three or four nights of sleeping until 3am!!! These nights are fantastic! However, most nights you are up around midnight, and then again at 3am and then again at 6am – sometimes even more. Those are the not so great nights.

We have been able to get out of the house just a little bit this past month. After nursing, we can do a short errand like the grocery store, and we even went to the mall once to do some Christmas shopping. You still despise your car seat and the car, so the only way to get through the store is to put you in a baby carrier. The mei tai has been so awesome. I’m so happy we have this from when your brother was little. Both your dad and I enjoy carrying you. We also get lots of funny looks, but we don’t mind. We just like you to be happy.

On November 30th I went back to work part time at our church, Saint Matthew’s. You spend your days with a wonderful woman, name Lalie, who works in our church nursery. There are two other little girls there who are three years old. Everyone loves you!! The first couple days were a challenge, but Lalie just wore you in the mei tai and now you are doing fine. She has you on the same schedule I do, of eating, some awake time and then as soon as you are tired she helps you get to sleep. I’m so happy that you seem to like it there. The first week was so hard to leave you. The first day I cried all the way to work. I’m pretty sure I did the same thing when your brother went to day care as well. Maybe it is something most moms do.

Christian, these first few months of your life have been a far cry from what I expected. Before you were born I had this idealistic vision of the two of us strolling through the mall doing our Christmas shopping while your brother was at school. So far, your temperament has not really allowed for that. Aunt Betsy assures me that once you get a little older your sweet little personality will blossom. I’m often reminded of our cousin, Nicholas. He too had a rough, crying start to life. However after a few months, he turned into once of the sweetest little boys I know. I hope the same happens for you. I’m learning that I can’t force you into meeting my expectations. I just have to take one day at a time. Here’s to enjoying every minutes of our time together without regard to where we are, what we are doing, or what I’m able to accomplish in a day.

Love you tons,
Mama

Christian Is Two Months Old

2010-11-15T17:18:00.004-05:00

November 13, 2010

Dear Christian,

Happy Two Month birthday little one!

Weight: TBD Length TBD inches. Head circumference TBD inches. That is TBD percentile for height and weight and TBD percentile for head circumference. You are wearing size one diapers and 0 – 3 month size clothing. We go to the doctor on Wednesday this week so I’ll fill in the details about after the appointment.

Some sweet things to share with you: When I kiss the top of your head it feels like peach fuzz. Your nickname is Mo Mo. You have the most adorable little feet and hands. Your brother loves to give you hugs and kisses to the point where we sometimes have to swat him away from you. You also open your eyes now and I love to see your baby blues. I’m still hoping that perhaps your eyes will stay blue.

Right around your six week birthday we transitioned you to sleeping in your crib. You handled the move just fine. We don’t have much of a sleep schedule yet, but in general you go to sleep around 9 or 10pm. Most nights you wake twice – although we did have one night where you only woke up one time. That night was glorious! We have had some challenging nights where you have woken up almost every hour. Those nights are not glorious and I sure don’t feel glamorous the morning after.

Your favorite things to do are nurse and sleep. I have this little program on my iPhone that lets me keep track of how often you nurse and how much you sleep and how many dirty diapers you have each day. Typically, we spend between 5.5 – 7.5 hours nursing each day, and changing eight – ten diapers.

Speaking of diapers – boy did I have a crazy diaper experience the other day. I removed one diaper only to find I had gotten the clean diaper I had prepared dirty. So I place down a second clean diaper and as I’m wiping you more starts coming out. I quickly try to cover you with the diaper that second stand by diaper. That diaper is now dirty and as I’m removing it to place on another new one you go yet again! It was like four diapers in less than thirty seconds.

While your dad and I have certainly loved becoming parents for the second time, it has not been without its share of challenges. My dear Christian, you are not the happiest of babies. When we first brought you home you were so quiet. You literally slept all day and night except when we would wake you to eat, and it would often take 30 minutes or more to get you awake enough to eat. Now, I am pleased to say that you wake up all on your own when you are hungry. However, you also seem to cry for a good part of the day. While some babies have these active alert periods where they stare off and look at their surrounds, you simply cry. It is quite heartbreaking for all of us and many days I simply don’t know what to do for you. Thank goodness nursing seems to always calm you! You detest the car and begin a tortuous blood curdling scream as soon as we get the car seat out. You also dislike diaper changes, your swing and bouncy seat.

All that said, we have seen small improvements in the past week or so. I am hoping and praying and hoping and praying that this means that your disposition will improve as you get older. The past few days we have been granted a few minutes each morning (maybe 15 – 20) where you are alert and quiet. We have also had a handful of diaper changes and dinnertimes where you have been content. Let’s hope these times of contentment only increase as you get older.

Milestones this month include you lifting your head, looking around the room with your eyes, and moving your arms and legs.

My favorite moment this past month was about two weeks ago. You were nursing early in the morning just as the sun was rising. Your room is this beautiful blue color with yellow curtains. As we sat in the rocking chair the room just filled with light. It was the most peaceful, happy moment of the month.

This past month we had a good friend come to visit – Dallas Wisehaupt. He was just passing through town and needed a place to stay for one night. We were happy to have him stop in and meet you and your brother. He is the dad of twins, so he knows all about crying babies.

To celebrate Halloween we went to dad’s work for trick or treating. Your brother dressed up as a deep sea diver and you wore a little orange outfit. We received several little Baby’s First Halloween outfits so we figured that was better than trying to find a costume to wear for just one day.

Christian, I am anxiously looking forward to this next month of your life. I’m hoping and praying that your find more time in your day to be happy and content with our beautiful world. Perhaps you just came into this world a little sooner than we were all planning so it is taking you a few extra weeks to adjust? Perhaps this month you will grace us with a handsome smile?

I will be going back to work the end of November and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m scared. How I’m ever going to get everything accomplished at home and work seems to be an utter mystery to me right now. I’m saying lots of prayers for patience and energy to get through the long days and nights ahead.

With much love,
Mama

Christian - 4 Weeks Old

2010-10-19T15:49:00.003-04:00

October 13, 2010

Dear Christian,

Today is your four-week birthday! I think I still haven’t totally come to terms with the fact that you are even here yet, given that your original due date was October 17th.

We went to see the pediatrician today for your one month check up and got the following report: Weight: 9 lbs. 8 oz. Length 21.5 inches. Head circumference 14.25 inches. That is 50th percentile for height and weight and 25th percentile for head circumference. She was pleased with your growth. You are wearing newborn size diapers and clothing.

I suppose I should start at the beginning so you have a record of your birth story. I have been remiss in writing these past few weeks, so I have some catching up to do. The morning of Monday, September 13th I woke up around 3am to go to the bathroom. I was 35 weeks and one day gestation. When I got to the bathroom I felt like perhaps my water may have broken or had a small leak. However, since it was so early I figured it was highly unlikely. In all honesty, the same thing had happened the night before when I went to the bathroom and I ignored it, so it is possible my water may have broken on the 12th. In any case, I went downstairs and did a Google search on broken water. I called the nurse line from our insurance – which advised me to go to the hospital. Then I called my doctor who said that since I hadn’t experienced a huge gush of water that I could wait a few hours until the office opened and then stop in. Unless of course I felt a gush of water between now and then. This entire time I was pretty sure the water had broken, but I was just in denial! When I stood up after speaking to the doctor on the phone I did feel a gush so I woke up your dad and we headed to the hospital. Given that you weren’t due for five more weeks we were not prepared. We didn’t have a bag packed nor did we have the car seat in the car. Oddly enough, the car seat had just been returned to us the week prior from friends who had borrowed the seat for their daughter born in January. We sure are glad they didn’t wait until October to bring it back.

As soon as we got to the hospital they determined that my water had broken and the nurse said to me, “Well, looks like you’re having a baby today.” My first thought was – NO WAY! I’m not ready! Once you are older and understand my fascination with planning all things you will have a better understanding of just how traumatic this moment was for me.

I was hoping to have a VBAC, but that would no come to pass when my body didn’t go into labor. After almost twelve hours, I did not dilate or have contractions. So, off for a c-section we went. At 2:25pm, you were born! Your 1 minute and 5 minute APGAR scores were 8 and 9, respectively. Hearing those numbers convinced me that you were fine and I could relax. Little did I know what was in store for us.

While in recovery, I kept asking the nurse, Leah, to find out where you were so we could begin nursing. I kept asking and asking and time kept ticking by and nothing. She finally made a few phone calls and I was told that you were being taken to the NICU for some breathing problems. You were put on a CPAP machine for twelve hours. At this point is where I felt like the hospital did a very poor job of communicating with us. Your dad and I were under the impression that after the twelve hours on the CPAP machine that we would get to see you and all would be well. In fact, it turned out that you would end up staying in the NICU for six days before being released to us.

The week of your birth was the most emotional and stressful weeks of my life. We were so happy to have you here and healthy. Healthy being relative as compared to the other babies in the NICU. Weighing six pounds, fourteen ounces you were the largest baby in the NICU. On Monday, due to the epidural, I was not able to even see you. Tuesday morning at 3am I started calling my nurse to help me get out of bed so I could go see you. Around 6am I was able to see you for the first time and we were allowed to touch you, but not pick you up. Later in the day we were allowed to hold you. Unfortunately, by that time they had already given you a pacifier and were feeding you formula from a bottle.

On Wednesday, I was allowed to start nursing you, followed by pumping and bottle feeding. We did this round the clock every three hours. The first few weeks were so difficult. You were so sleepy and hadn’t really figured out how to nurse. Just in the past week or so have you started waking yourself up when hungry and you are much better at nursing.

The day after you were born you had an episode where your breathing slowed down to a dangerously low level, which made the doctors very concerned and also earned you a few extra days in the hospital. I was lucky that my insurance allowed me to stay four days in the hospital due to the c-section and then we were permitted to stay one extra night where you roomed in with us – so we could have a practice run. The NICU nurses checked on us every three hours and we had to take a CPR class before you came to the room. Saturday, September 18th, I was never so happy to go home with you in tow!

Since coming home, and while at the hospital, we had many visitors. Our wonderful friends from Saint Matthew’s brought us meals while we kept up with the crazy schedule. We also had lots of help from grandma, and nana came to visit for two weeks at the end of September. She had plane tickets for October, but was able to change them when you decided to make your early appearance.

Well my dear son, it has been a heck of a first few weeks. You are already keeping us on our toes. We are so happy to have you in our lives. Your brother is thrilled to be a big brother and I look forward to the days when the two of you can be the best of friends.

I’ll try to be better about writing these next few weeks.

Much love,
Mama

Christian Update

2010-09-21T21:58:00.001-04:00

Hello to all-

I know that I owe emails and phone calls to so many people, but the list is long and the tasks at home are overwhelming us right now, so please forgive me for this mass communication.

Old News:
Christian Pierce was born on Monday, September 13th at 2:25pm via C-secion at 35 weeks.
He weighed 6 lbs. 14 oz.
Immediately after birth he had trouble breathing and was put in the NICU for six days, where he was supplemented with formula and bottle fed. We didn't get to see him until the day after his birth, and we were able to hold him the afternoon of the second day. He had one episode on Tuesday morning where his breathing became very shallow and he needed some assistance to get back on track. This was a major concern and precipitated the need for him to remain in the NICU until Saturday.

Update:
We all came home on Saturday morning. His breathing seems to be stable now.
Christian is nursing well, but also being supplemented with additional fortified breast milk to help him get his birth weight back.
We are running a tough three hour, round the clock schedule of: nursing, supplementing and pumping. This isn't leaving a ton of time for things like sleeping or returning phone calls.
He had his first pediatrician appointment Monday morning and he had gained back five ounces - Very good news. If he keeps up this progress then we can discontinue supplementing after the two week appointment. The tough news from the pediatrician is that we need to keep Christian home for the next few weeks to help his immune system build up. She said we need to wait until at least his regular due date (October 17th) before taking him out into any sort of crowd.

This afternoon we got a call from the pediatrician that Christian had failed part of the state wide newborn screening for some very long disease that I can't pronounce. After going back to the pediatrician we were sent back to the hospital for a retest of the blood work. The doctor just called us about 30 minutes ago to let us know that the new test came back negative. They are running some additional tests, but she said we shouldn't have anything to worry about.

Several people have called and asked about visits. For now we are doing short visits with healthy adults only. We anticipate being able to have friends with children over in the next couple of weeks.

We continue to be thankful for our friends and family. Thank you for your prayers, phone calls, emails, visits and support. This has been such a difficult time for us, but know that the kindness and love from our friends and family will see us through.

Love,
Miriam

Haiti Reflections

2010-08-17T08:41:00.002-04:00

On Sunday, before church, we took a walk around the work site at Gressier. This is a small compound on the outskirts of Port-Au-Prince with a church, a school and a few shacks were the pastor and his family live. The schoolhouse was well underway, with all of the cinder block walls up and a few walls finished. When completed, the school would have twelve classrooms, a larger room, and four small offices. This is where we would spend the next three days working with a Haitian construction crew.
We helped with every station at the site. We sifted rocks out of the sand and black dirt. There wasn't a concrete mixer, so Father Rob spent hours mixing concrete by hand. Jody, Tegan and Hilary learned to bend small rebar squares that would be used to hold the larger pieces together. Mary and Fred helped pour concrete into the forms for the posts and headers. Lacey and Deanne spread concrete mud on the cinder blocks to form the smooth walls. And we all cleaned out debris from the rooms.
We did all of this work under the tutelage and supervision of the Haitian construction team. These are skilled men who take pride in their work. The concrete was mixed to just the right consistency, bricks were laid evenly, and the finished walls were beautiful in their own smooth, grey way. The foreman, or “Big Boss,” held his crew, and us, to high standards. When he found a wall that wasn't perfectly square, he had the workers strip the concrete and start over.

What amazed me is how they did so well with so little. Wheelbarrows, buckets, shovels, pick axes and trowels were our primary tools, but there were never enough to go around. Rebar was bent on a plank of wood with nails used as guides and a battered piece of pipe.
Cleaning out the rooms was probably the least desirable job. We wanted to be building, not cleaning. And constantly scrounging for tools didn't make it any more enjoyable. There was a rainstorm every night, so every morning we had to bale water out of the rooms: with a five gallon bucket and a small soda bottle with the top cut off. When we couldn't find the wheelbarrow, we'd haul the broken cinder blocks and gravel by hand, in buckets, or in a large tub made form the bottom of a 55-gallon drum. But, when a room was cleaned up, we would look it over and know we had actually accomplished something.
Wednesday afternoon, it struck me that I wasn't going to see the completed school. Only a fraction of the headers and posts had been completed, and the walls of only three or four rooms had been finished. In fact, I wasn't even going to see all of the rooms cleaned out. When our bus arrived to take us back to the lodging facility, there was still a room and a half full of debris. I felt incomplete.

We are so thankful that so many people wrote us notes of encouragement and prayed for us, commending our bravery for going to Haiti. But for me, it wasn't going to Haiti that took courage. Sleeping on the floor, new food and even the heat were easy for me. My challenge was listening to God, and trusting in what He asked of me. He didn't ask me to build a school, he invited me to be part His plan. He didn't ask me to do what I really wanted to do, which was tie rebar while standing on rickety scaffolding, He asked me to help the Haitians. And for three days that meant hauling construction debris. By cleaning the rooms out, we freed up the skilled Haitian labor to work on finishing walls and pouring the posts and headers.

Until this trip, I had never heard God. For me, this was not a voice, or a sign. Instead, I ran my experiences and feelings through my understanding of how Jesus lived, and how God asks us to live. I recognized that I was focusing on my own need for a sense of accomplishment instead of focusing on the privilege of serving God by doing what needed to be done. Wednesday evening, we had a closing ceremony were the pastor asked for two people to share their testimony of how the week had touched them. A gentleman from Middlebrook United Methodist shared how the community came together to form a bucket brigade. And then the room fell silent, waiting for the second volunteer. Surely, I thought, someone else has something to share. Then I realized, I had something to share.

We don't always get to see the results of our labors for God. In fact, we're lucky if we even know what part we are playing in His plan. But that doesn't make our actions any less significant. In everything we do, every decision we make, we are invited to be part of God's plan. Everyday, at home, work, school — and even in Haiti — it is up to us to set aside our own priorities and have the courage to follow God.

I gave this talk at St. Matthew's on 15 August. If you would like to support some great, on the ground work that is directly impacting the lives of Haitians, I encourage you to donate directly to Praying Pelican Missions. They partner with local churches who decide what work needs to be done to best serve their communities.

Five Years Old!

2010-07-26T15:00:00.006-04:00

July 21, 2010

Five year statistics: Weight: 50.5 lbs. Length: 45 inches. Clothes: 5/6

Dear Mason,

Happy Fifth Birthday! Wow – I feel like I don’t even know where to begin. I never intended for it to be a full year since my last letter. Not sure where the past year has gone. So many things have happened so let’s just do a quick year in review.

Last September we made our annual beach trip to Bethany Beach. We had one, just one, beautiful sunny day and then the rest of the days were rainy and chilly. Nana came with us and we still had fun – we even flew our first kite.

When we returned from Bethany Beach you started soccer on Saturday mornings. The team had practice for 30 minutes and then played a scrimmage against another team for the last 30 minutes. You seemed to enjoy the practice part of it, but didn’t much care for the game time. You spent most game time on the sidelines sitting with dad.

At the end of September, we were very blessed to have grandma come to live with us! What a treat! I’m not sure she knew what she was getting herself into by coming to live with us, but she has quickly adjusted to your early morning wake-up calls! You enjoy playing with her and we continue to reap the benefits of her amazing sewing skills. For some reason you love to tease her by saying “Cloud Car” all the time.

October and November brought cooler weather and we visited several local farms with friends. You also enjoyed helping dad rake leaves. Good thing we got all the leaves up before the snow came! We had several big snowstorms this year. December 19th we got over 24 inches of snow and then in February we got two more snows with another 15 -20+ inches each!

Christmas found us making our way back to Las Vegas to visit friends and family. We were hoping to get to meet your cousin Harry, but he decided to wait until January to be born. While we were in Vegas, we had lots of fun with our other cousins. You continued to love playing in Nana’s backyard with Mary Lynne and Howard IV. Uncle Dennis, Aunt Christy, Danielle, Kaitlyn, Cameron and Aedan stopped by one afternoon for a visit as well.

In March you started swim lessons again and you finally made some huge improvements. You had a wonderful teacher – Mr. Eric – who really helped you learn to love the water. The first day of class, he sat you aside the pool and then proceeded to do a huge back flip into the pool, splashing you to soaking. When he came up he asked, “Who wants to learn to do that?” Your little hand shot right up! Over the next three months, you would begin swimming with your face in the water. No back flips just yet, but we are so proud of you!

Springtime brought Easter, and Nana came for a visit. Your dad and I went on a short trip up to NYC by ourselves for two days while you, Nana, and grandma stayed home. We heard something about you taking a road trip to West Virginia, getting lost, and enjoying an ice cream cone. Sounds like fun to me!

May brought a very sad time for us, when our dear dog, Miss Bianca, went to heaven. Your dad and I felt like Miss B was our first baby. Losing her was much more difficult than I ever imagined. We had some sad days around the house as we talked about Miss B passing. We read a great book called Dog Heaven, which helped you to understand that Miss B was up in heaven now with Nanny, and that we will get to see her again some day. The book also describes how sometimes dogs come back down to earth to check on us. A few weeks ago you came running into the house declaring that Miss B had been back for a visit. Apparently you found a little doggie poo in our backyard (not really sure how it got into our fenced yard) and you just knew it was Miss B back to check on us.

In June, dad was part of the Tour de Cure bike race to support Juvenile Diabetes. The race started in Reston and you were so excited to see a local carnival opened after the race. For the first time you were thrilled about going on rides. You rode your first little roller coaster, which you later told us had some speed issues. You also enjoyed the little cars, Ferris wheel, and little motorcycles.

Also in June we started camping again. We went to Mathew’s Arm at the beginning of the month, with friends from church. We stayed two nights and in spite of some pretty good rain showers, we still had fun. That first night sure did see some rain though – we were ringing out our clothes we were so drenched. You had a great time with Betsy Pepper, exploring the surrounding areas, and Fr. Rob gave us a tutorial on how to identify and stay away from poison ivy.

Our second and final camping trip was to Bear Creek Lake with the Chamblin’s. A beautiful weekend filled with laughs and friends, but oh – so –very – HOT! Thank goodness we spent all day Saturday in the lake, but even the water felt really warm in most places. Dad had to buy us a fan for the tent and I decided that maybe it was just too hot to take a pregnant lady camping.

And that leads us to the biggest news of all during this past year – you are going to be a big brother! Sometime around October 17th, 2010, we are expecting a second baby boy in our house. We told you the news around Easter and you weren’t quite sure what to think of this big brother business at first. However, I think the idea is growing on you now. You are watching us get his room organized, and pretty soon here your dad is going to paint. About two weeks ago we went to the store and you bought your brother his very first lovie – a little white lamb. It is almost a miniature version of your own lamb. You love it so much you haven’t been able to let it go since we bought it. We know you will be an awesome big brother!

In addition to all the fun activities, you also managed to go to school three days a week at Classroom of Discovery. You really loved your classmates, especially: Lex and Kyle and Helen and Maddie. Next year, we have decided that you will do another year of preschool at Lola’s Place – a Montessori school close to the house. Your dad and I think you will benefit from an extra year of playing and growing before heading into kindergarten. You are already so intelligent – you know all your letters and most letter sounds, your address and phone number, you count up to 50 alone or 100 with help, and you occasionally sound out words. We are so proud of all that you have accomplished. Given all those feats, you are still very apprehensive about your writing. While some of your friends spend hours drawing, writing and coloring, you are much more interested in playing Legos or practicing your Jedi light saber techniques. In fact, you are so accomplished that you said if the ultrasound showed we were having a girl baby, you would simply use your Jedi powers to change her into a boy.

Oh, I almost forgot you have of course provided us with your choices for names of your sibling. If it was a girl you liked the name Betsy. Not sure if this is from your sweet friend from church, Betsy Pepper, your friend from school Betsy Welt or from your rocking’ Auntie Betsy, but that is the name you liked. If it was a boy you like the name …. Prepare yourself for this… Bread and Jam, Cheesy Noodles Turner! What a mouthful. I think your brother will thank us one day for making our own choice.

This past week you went for your semi-annual dentist visit. Dad has started to take you because you just seem to do better when he is around. You had a great visit. Your teeth were cleaned and you even let them take your first x-rays. We can see your two bottom adult teeth starting to come in. No loose teeth yet, but I’m sure that will be forthcoming.

Last weekend you had a wonderful fifth birthday party - with 100 of your closest friends. Well, not quite 100, but about 23! Lots of friends and siblings were there to help you celebrate. Once again, we set up the backyard for some water fun. You enjoyed the slip and slide and pool and we even had some water balloons and a sprinkler rescue. You received many lovely gifts including Lego's from mom and dad, and nana, and a magic set from grandma. You shook each present prior to opening and would announce if it was a Lego or not. You tried to skip the non-Lego packages, but we took this as a good opportunity to practice our manners.

I feel like there are probably other things I should tell you, but I can’t remember them all now. I’m sorry for going a whole year without writing. I’ll try to do better next time.

Much love to you my sweet little five-year old boy.

Love,
Mama

Preparing for Haiti

2010-07-14T22:49:00.002-04:00

It was only January 12 that an earthquake struck Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. Already one of the poorest countries in the world, Haiti is now struggling with forging a path for its future. While the government is doing its best to lay a new course, the people and children of Haiti struggle to find their own new normal. A normal that consists of few jobs and living in makeshift shelters in the ever-growing tent cities in around the capital.

In less than one month, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church will be sending twenty missionaries -- including myself -- to Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. Working with Praying Pelican Ministries, we will be help with construction projects and visiting an orphanage. In light of so much damage, and so many affected people, what can we hope to accomplish in just six days? What difference can we make?

While we won't know what projects we'll be working on until we get to Haiti, our coordinator says we can expect to be working on a temporary shelter for a school at the Mariani Baptist Church. Without the shelter, the children will have no place for school beginning in September. Many Haitian families see their children's education as the only way for them to escape poverty. By building a temporary school house, we can help make the dreams of those parents come true.

We have been told that the orphanage may have 75 to 100 children. For as little as many Haitians may have, these children have less. They may have friends, and a staff that cares for them, but they are missing a parent's love. Now, there is no way we can fill that void in one day of playing soccer or reading books, but we can show these children that there are people around the world that do care for them. It is an opportunity for us to reflect God's love on some of His most deserving children.

But shouldn't the Haitians help themselves? Aren't there hundreds of charities already in Haiti trying to help these people? Yes, I believe the people of Haiti are struggling to help themselves every day. And yes, there are millions of international dollars going into Haiti to help them emerge as a stronger, self sufficient country. But there will still be children that may not have a school building, and there are still children that won't have a mother or father to kiss them good night. We are blessed with both families and employers that can let us go for a week. For six days, we can be the the loving hand of God for some of these children.

The missionaries can use your prayers through the month of July, as we prepare for the trip, and August 7 through 13 as we travel to Haiti. Please also pray for the people of Haiti, especially the children, that they may know God's love in their lives.

If you would like to support this trip financially, you can make a tax-deductible donation by using the "Mission Trip Fund" field at http://stmtts.org/donate. These funds will be used for missionary air travel, lodging and donations to the Praying Pelican construction projects.

Tour de Cure

2010-07-02T21:57:00.002-04:00

Two weeks ago (yes, two weeks), I participated in my first Tour de Cure ride. I chose the 33 mile ride, from Reston out to Boradlands and back. I was worried I wouldn't be able to complete the ride, I had only been on my bike twice so far this year, racking up a pathetic 15 miles.

Miriam and Mason dropped me off at the Town Center around 8:00 in the morning, where I met up with Chris, Sabrina and Frederick. I thought we had to wait for the official start at 9:30, but Chris and Sabrina new better from their ride last year, so we started right away to beat the heat.

The ride started on the streets of Reston and Herndon. We were in a pretty big pack of riders, and traffic was light, so the ride was nice. We picked up the bike trail which took us through Sterling. I probably hadn't been on this part of the trail since we moved from Sterling Park in 2006, so it was nice to see the old sites, and hit the two great big dips.

We stayed on the trail out to Claiborne Parkway, pausing at the official pit stop at Carolina Brothers BBQ. There were tons of free snacks, including fruit, PB&J sandwiches, Gatorade and all sorts of crazy energy snacks (but no brisket, oh well).

The ride through Broadlands was nice, but a bit disorienting. Again, traffic was light, but the path wound through residential rods a bit too much; I was always surprised by an upcoming turn. While it was a hot day, the breeze was nice so I never really felt the heat.

By the time we made it back to the bike trail, I was starting to feel tired. We had another snack, watched a two bike and one pedestrian pile up, and got back on the trail. Luckily there were no more roads, we took the trail all the way back to the Town Center. And, we made it just in time to be at the front of the line for cheese pizza from Ledo's.

So, it was a great ride, for a great cause. I met my fundraising goal of $200, thanks to donations from Deb, Ben, Brad, Bobby, Dallas, AOL and Craigslist. I am also very thankful for Jim, Marjorie and the rest of Team AOL. I am looking forward the ride next year!

If you'd like to further support diabetes research, please support Brad's ride for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Four Years Old

2009-07-30T23:02:00.002-04:00

July 21, 2009

Dear Mason II,

Happy 4th Birthday! Holy cow, 4 years old!

Four year statistics: Weight: 44 lbs. Length: 41.5 inches. (This is 1/2 inch shorter than three months ago, but the 42 inches was me measuring at home, and this time the measurement came from the doctor.) Diaper Size: NONE! Woo Hoo! Clothes: 4/5

The past three months have been filled with good news and bad. First the good news: In your last letter, I wrote a private P.S. that a small pre-cancerous growth had been identified on my face. It was frozen with nitrogen and in late May was deemed to be sufficiently gone for the present time. The dermatologist warned me that it is only a matter of time before it is back and will likely be cancerous, but for now – no cancer! Please wear sunscreen every single day.

The bad news is so bad and still so painful that I have been putting off writing your letter because I simply don’t know how to describe how I feel. My nanny, your great-grandmother, passed away on Tuesday, June 9, 2009, at the age of 91. At some point I will write more about what happened around that time, but what I hope you will always remember is that she loved you. Some of my fondest memories of the two of you include:
• When she came to visit with Nana right after you were born. I adore the picture of her holding you when you were just a few days old.
• In August 2006, we all went to the Outer Banks for a beach vacation. Although she wasn’t feeling well, she loved to sit next to you in the car and play peek-a-boo. Forever more she referred to you as her little peek-a-boo.
• During that same beach trip, you had just learned to walk. You loved to push her wheelchair around, and she would laugh at your delight.
• Whenever I would speak to her on the phone, she would always ask how you were doing. She fondly referred to you as Mini-Mason. I can only imagine that 30 years from now when you are as tall as your father, she would have certainly still been calling you Mini-Mason.

I have so many fond memories of my Nanny that I don’t think I could ever tell them all to you. I will do my best to write some of them down so you can get to know her the way that I have known her. At night before bed, I have started telling you stories. Many of them are about the fun times and lovely vacations I shared with my Nanny. She was loving and kind, loved to shop, and had a voracious love of reading. She cared for me and was always teaching me something whether it was the state capitals or my spelling words. Several years after I married your dad, she told me one day, “Dear, your Mason reminds me of my Fuzzy. I know you will have a happy life together like we did.” I couldn’t help but agree with her. I am in deed a lucky girl.

One more thing about my Nanny was that she documented her life in journals. I certainly am not as prolific a writer as she was, but I hope that these letters to you will serve as a reminder of the many fun times our family will have over the years.

While in Las Vegas for Nanny’s funeral you and your cousins, Mary Lynne and Howard IV, became the best of friends. Watching you and Mary Lynne run crazy around the back yard, surely must have been like a flashback to my cousin Howard and I chasing and having fun as kids. Although we live across the country, I trust you will nurture your friendships with your cousins. Between Mary Lynne, Howard IV, Danielle, KK, Cameron, and Aedan, you will surely have fun places to visit for many summers to come.

During our trip to Las Vegas, we visited the Springs Preserve and the Children’s Museum. The Children’s Museum had fun exhibits on bubble making and an airport interactive play area. It also had an exhibit on bodily functions and you are still talking about the big booger exhibit we saw. Ewww – Yuck! The Springs Preserve had many fun things to see including a train exhibit, lizards, bats, a video game of a bee flying from flower to flower, and the scariest part of all – the flash flood simulator. Between the boogers and the flash floods, that is all you have talked about for weeks.

While Nanny’s passing has felt like a black cloud over these past few weeks, we have had some good laughs as well. You often say the funniest things. For example, on May 2nd, at dinner we ate pizza casserole: ground chicken, mushrooms, zucchini, tomato sauce and cheese on a crust. You loved it! In fact you said, “Next time we go to the zoo, I want zucchini with cotton candy.”

The past few weeks, you have been absolutely obsessed with fire trucks. Today you refused to wear shorts because, “Firemen don’t wear shorts under their bunker pants.” The other day I was trying to get you out of bed from your nap. I said, “What’s that? Do you hear the fire alarm dinging?” You jumped out of bed, got dressed in pretend bunker pants and jacket, and then took off running down the stairs. You even reached for the invisible pole and jumped off the last two steps. “To the fire truck!” you yelled as you landed on the ground. Then you took off running around the corner. I wonder if this will work when you are a teenager?

We were going to have a beach/pool themed birthday party for you. We were discussing what to put on top of your cake and I mentioned a beach ball, and you said, “And a fire truck, right mama?” So, a fire truck party it was. That makes three years in a row for anyone keeping track. Your dad outdid himself with an awesome Lego fire truck on top of your cake. You had many, many friends in attendance, and spent a fun morning swimming, playing on the slip-n-slide, and playing with the water table your dad made. We were so lucky to have Nana here to celebrate with us. The Sterling Fire Department also paid a visit. They let you sit in the driver’s seat and put on a real fire coat. What an awesome day!

Since I last wrote, we have been camping twice! Over Memorial weekend we organized the first ever St. Matthew’s Family Camping Trip to Mathew’s Arm in Shenandoah National Park. Eight families came along, and we had a great time. The weather was beautiful. We had a tough time on our hike because you refused to go to the bathroom in the forest, but 40 minutes later we were back on the trail. I’ll skip the horrific details of the bathroom episode. Then earlier this month, we headed to Bear Creek Lake State Park. What a beautiful place! This was our first trip to a VA State Park. The lake was amazing, and we enjoyed swimming, and your dad and I enjoyed the paddle boats while you complained that they were too noisy. The camping was great here, and they even had showers. A few too many flies, and you ran down the car battery by playing with the lights in the car, but overall we had a great time and found some friendly neighbors to give us a jump. Our next camping trip is just a week away as we head out to Westmoreland State Park with our friends, the Gentry’s: Annabella, Jen, Dave, and Gus.

I think I may have mentioned your extreme fondness for your dad in my last letter. Well, mama’s back! Snuggles at bedtime are now all with mama. I wonder if poor dad feels as left out as I did a few months ago? At bedtime, we read three – four books, and then you kiss dad goodnight. You and I then say prayers and you ask for an assortment of stories and songs. Oftentimes you have your mind made up for a certain story or song and nothing else will do until I figure out what it is you want to hear. Tonight’s song was All Night, All Day, Angels Watching Over Me. I love that one.

Here are a few other highlights of the past few months:
• First Vacation Bible School – Crocodile Dock
• Saw Rocknoceros in concert in April.
• Saw Mister Don in concert a week before your birthday.
• Been to countless birthday parties: Rachel Leary, Evie and Allie, Carter, Group birthday party, your own birthday party, and you missed Mia’s, Lex’s and Maddie’s parties for various reasons. You are quite a popular kid.
• LOVE your Lego’s.
• Birthday presents include: Lego fire truck, Lego helicopter, Lego Star Wars, lots of fun games like Hungry Hippo, Ants in the Pants, I Spy, and a light saber from Nana.
• You are asking how to spell words all the time now. You can spell your name and Nana. You also know your address. You love to play with your Word Whammer.
• Still not much interest in holding a crayon or pencil properly. In general you just aren’t that thrilled with coloring or writing.
• Narrating each day as if you are a fireman preparing to go on the fire truck to a fire. Bunker pants – check. Coat – check. Air mask – check. Hat – check.
• Went to the dentist in July and it was awful – kicking and screaming just to get you to sit in the chair. *sigh* What’s a mama to do?
• Your visit to the pediatrician was much the same as the dentist. You have never been so upset before. I had to hold you down just to get your temperature taken. I think this is due to the blood work we had done a few weeks ago. See story below.
• WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? Your very favorite word! Ahhhhhhhh! Your dad’s favorite answer is now, “It’s the circle of life.”

Let me tell the quick story of the blood work lest I forget what was likely the worst three hours of my life as a parent.
Your pediatrician requires routine blood work of all kids before their 4th birthday. I wasn't happy about taking you and of course, the blood draw was NOT fun. Called two days later for results and they didn't have them yet, but said they would call me. We went to Rachel Leary's birthday party that night, and when we got home there was a message from the doc. I thought just the nurse would call, but tried not to stress.

The next morning I'm at work and call the doc at 9am when they open. Nurse immediately takes my call. She says doc isn't in yet, but doc gave her my file to call me first thing in the morning. Then she tells me to grab a piece of paper so I can take notes. Blood tests revealed low platelet count, low nutrifills and low lymph something. She says that while the white blood count is good, these are all other signs of a compromised immune system and the doc wants to retest you. At this point, I’m worried, but just thinking we can take you in next week. Then she says, I've already faxed stat testing orders to the hospital, can you please take him immediately??? At that point, I freaked out. She was very nice, and gave me very specific instructions on where to go and who to ask for. Dad picked you up from day care, to hospital, then home. Doc called about an hour after leaving the hospital with the results that the re-test was all clear. What a mess, and what a horrible experience for all of us. At your four year appointment she explained in more detail. One of the scores they look at and like to see a measure of 1,500. She said they get worried when the score is 1,000 – yours came in at 800, which is why they wanted the immediate re-test. Doc said the first test results were indicative of a sick child with a compromised immune system. Ahhhh! Thank God the re-test came back clear.

This letter is already three pages long, and I don’t feel like I have covered a fraction of the things we have done these past three months. As I always say, you are growing by leaps and bounds. You are such a boy now, hardly any baby left in you at all. I tell you all the time that I will love you every day of your life. Your reply is always the same – WHY? However frustrating the WHY’s may be, I know that you are busy discovering the world around you. I love seeing you grow and learn, and I feel so blessed to be your mom.

All my love, and happy 4th birthday my son.
Mama

How Can I Make This a Reality in Loudoun?

2009-05-07T21:09:00.001-04:00

3.75 Years Old

2009-04-22T13:50:00.002-04:00

April 21, 2009

Dear Mason II,

Happy 45-Month Birthday! 3.75 years old!

Forty-five month statistics: Weight: approximately 43 lbs. Length: ? inches. Diaper Size: 6 (only at bed and nap time) Clothes: 4/5

The biggest news I have right off the bat is that you are starting to wake up with dry diapers at nap and bedtime. We really tried to not push you on this, and you have just come around all on your own. It may be that we changed diapers to a less supreme brand, and we also started giving you a nickel for each dry diaper this week. Your dad even made you a little bank out of his old shaving cream container to keep your nickels in. You like to count your nickels and then shake the bank. You tried hard to work me for a nickel yesterday when you woke up from nap saying, “I have a dry diaper! May I have my nickel?” However, when I went to check the diaper you stated, “It’s dry except for a little tinkle.” Sorry kid, no nickel.

The past three months have really flown by. You have been busy with Saturday morning swim classes. You seem to have really acclimated getting into the water without us. The first lesson was a challenge, but since then it is smooth sailing. We have been to a few birthday parties for friends (Annabella in the neighborhood; Hannah from preschool; Isabel from church; Colin from church). We went out to dinner with our friend Alice Otis, also from church, and your dad and I even managed to sneak away for a night out to see Cowboy Junkies.

The past three months we have played inside a great deal. It has been so cold for so long. We have had a few days of nice weather here and there, but in general we are still wearing coats and often hats in the morning hours. When spring has given us a sneak peak we take advantage and play on the swing set and grill on the BBQ.

Star Wars and Legos still seem to be the favorite toys. Although a few weeks ago I moved the Little People for a rotation in the family room, and you seemed re-inspired to play with them some. Most nights after dinner, you beg dad to take you into the basement to build Lego Star Wars ships of one kind or another. Once in awhile, we enjoy a game of Candy Land or Chutes and Ladders. The other day I made a domino line, and you were pretty impressed when they all came crashing down.

Your fine motor skills are really improving. You are really able to work with the small Legos now, and can make your own modifications to ships and such. You can easily write the letter “H”, although you don’t seem to take much interest in writing any other letters. You have also become interested in a Kumon book of mazes. We started with you using your finger to navigate the maze, but you have now moved up to using your crayon rocks, and are starting to understand about staying in the lines.

Along with the fine motor skills, your gross motor skills are also developing. When we visit Nana’s house, you love to watch her kick a big blue ball in the backyard. You are now able to throw your own large ball in the air and kick it. You are also getting better at catching. Dad is thinking that maybe soccer is in your future, we just don’t want to be stuck taking a three-year old to practice four times a week. We’ll see what summer brings. You have swim lessons through the end of May, and then we will re-evaluate.

As in past months, you totally crack us up with your funny little antics. Just this morning I took a short video of you dancing on our bed, completely naked, playing your little plastic trumpet from the carnival last year, and signing some song about a little bird named Ed. Too funny! You are also berating us lately with questions about a baby brother or sister. In fact, you have told us that you would like two baby brothers, Tiny and Bouncy. My response to this is that if you jinx us with twins (at some point in the future – no news here!) that we will strap one to your back in a baby carrier. You didn’t seem fond of this, and have decided that one baby brother is sufficient.

In other news, Nana came to visit for Easter. Nanny was also supposed to come, but she was recently in the hospital with pneumonia and the doctor would not allow her to travel. We missed her dearly, but had a wonderful time with Nana. The first day we went downtown to the Air & Space Museum. You adored seeing all of the rockets and space shuttles, and airplanes. We were hoping to see the cherry blossoms in their glory, but it was cold and windy, and we had just had several days of rain so they were mostly gone. Another day, dad joined us and we headed to the National Zoo. What an awesome day! The weather was perfect, and we seemed to time everything just right. We saw the elephant get his bath, the pandas out eating in the yard, the elephant training demonstration, and we even made it to lunch before the rush. By the way, lunch was $40 for two burgers and two hot dogs so next time we are packing lunch. Finally, we finished Nana’s visit with a wonderful celebration of Easter. As usual Jimmy, Alex, Missy, and Nikki Yarbrough joined us for egg hunting and dinner. This year we also invited two new friends from church, Deb and Joe Listopad, to join us for dinner. What a wonderful day filled with good friends and good food.

Easter seemed to be a great way to kick off spring and summer this year. We have so many exciting things planned including: Rocknoceros and other kids concerts at church, lots of camping, the beach, and birthdays! Let’s just hope the mosquitoes stay away. Oh, one last thing I forgot to mention is that you and dad planted a garden. That is another thing to look forward to in the upcoming weeks: Corn, cucumbers, snap peas, and peppers, plus, a few small strawberry plants on the deck. Delicious!

Well that wraps things up for this letter. Here’s looking forward to a super fun summer and watching my baby turn 4!

Love you very much,
Mama

3.5 Years Old

2009-02-06T13:13:00.003-05:00

Did everyone think I forgot? Nah, just busy. The letter is written, and was actually written on time, but I'm still deciding if I want to post it or just save this one for him.

This month's picture is so perfect. Most days this is where my Masons can be found - in the basement - surrounded by their Legos.

Advent Conspiracy

2008-12-15T17:48:00.000-05:00

39 Months

2008-10-22T15:30:00.004-04:00

October 21, 2008

Dear Mason II,

Happy 39-Month Birthday!

Thirty-nine month statistics: Weight: approximately 41 lbs. Length: 39 inches. Diaper Size: 6 Clothes: 4T

Fall is in the air! This morning was a chilly 30 degrees when we woke up. When we came home from day care this afternoon you proclaimed, “It is fall mama. The leaves are beautiful!” Then we proceeded to run around kicking up the fallen leaves in the front yard. Fun, Fun, Fun.

Since I last wrote, we have had some good times. In August, we went on not one, but two camping trips. Then, in September we took a wonderful vacation to Bethany Beach, DE. The first camping trip was a trip to Mathew’s Arm in Shenandoah National Forest. We weren’t exactly prepared for the 50-degree temperatures, so we had to make an emergency trip out of the forest to the nearest K-Mart to pick up sweatshirts. We had a great weekend: ate S'mores and made a three-mile hike to a small waterfall, and your dad and I were thrilled that you walked about 2/3 of the way on your own. We ended the weekend with a bear sighting. What fun!

Two weeks after the first trip, we packed up and headed to Pennsylvania. We spent the weekend at Camp Hebron and spent Saturday at Lake Tobias. Lake Tobias is the family owned wild animal park that we visited last August. Camp Hebron was great! The campground included a beautiful lake, and Saturday afternoon they opened the boathouse full of paddleboats and kayaks. No bears, but we still had another great weekend!

After two weeks at home, we took off for a week’s vacation at Bethany Beach. We figured that fun is always better with a friend so we asked your friend Sophie to come along for a few days. Sophie brought her mom and little brother, Grant with her for some beach fun. We stayed in a condo that was only steps from the ocean. What an amazing week! We had many days of sun and sand, and they were balanced at the end of the week with a few cooler days that we spent walking the boardwalks in Bethany and Rehoboth, and one fun morning at the Indian River Life Saving Station. We had such a wonderful time, I can barely write out all the fun things: playing on the playground by the Bethany boardwalk, eating ice cream after a delicious seafood dinner, digging deep holes in the sand, and just enjoying our time with each other. All in all – just a great week!

Your imagination continues to flourish. On walks you stop to pick up imaginary nails to add to your imaginary toolbox. When we are preparing to leave the house, you insist that we can’t leave until you click certain buttons, or you walk the house looking for your friend, Luke (Skywalker.) You have little Lego spaceships all over the house – ready to take off for a trip to the moon at a moments notice.

In September you started attending Classroom of Discovery on Friday mornings. Classroom of Discovery is a fun preschool with ten students that meets from 9am – 12pm in the nursery at our church. Your teacher’s Mrs. Gruehn and Miss DeLeo, work hard to make school fun. This week you played with play-dough, read books, played musical instruments, and came home with an apple and a pumpkin. Overall, you really love attending school.

We have had so much fun these past few months. In addition to the trips and school, we continue to have fun meeting with friends, going to the library, swinging at the playground, and some days we just play at home. You have recently been known to spend up to an hour buried in the basement playing Legos and fire trucks. I love to find you surrounded by toys and deep in your imaginary play land.

Your sleep of late has been changing again. Just a few weeks ago, you were rising at dawn, pre-dawn actually. 5am or sometimes 5:30am wasn’t too early for you. However, once the weather started changing, you began coming into our room (earlier and earlier) to continue your night’s sleep. Amazingly enough, you and we, actually all seem to get some sleep. You are so stealth like coming in at night, that we often don’t even notice you climbing into bed. We wake an hour or two later to find you snuggled in next to us. While we hate to start a bad habit, it is somewhat irresistible to wake up with you.

Well, that seems to be the news of the past three months. Lots of changes, but so many things are the same. If I haven’t said it before, you are a full-fledged little boy!

All my love,
Mama

New Room

2008-09-22T21:30:00.003-04:00

Time to upgrade M2's room to a little boy room instead of a nursery. Winnie the Pooh and Piglet are now gone in favor of fire engines and dalmatians. M2 seemed to be pleased with everything in the new room from the paint and curtains (compliments of grandma) to the firehouse mural on the wall and fire truck sheets. However, when we placed the nightlight in its new location - he had a fit. Go figure! Can't win them all I suppose.

PHOTO OF THE DAY: 1979-1997, 6,697 Polaroids, dated in sequence.

2008-08-15T13:25:00.000-04:00

Check out PHOTO OF THE DAY: 1979-1997, 6,697 Polaroids, dated in sequence..

Holy Bat Lint!

2008-08-07T22:42:00.004-04:00

When I pulled the lint screen out of the dryer tonight, I heard what I thought was a cricket in the lint trap. I looked down, and saw a dark blob. I thought it may have been some paper, or maybe that lost bluetooth headset, but it started to move. M2 was curious what the sound was, so he poked his head in the dryer to see. Ah, to have no fear of creepy crawly things in the dryer. I decided not to start the dryer.

Once M2 was happily playing in the tub, I headed back to the basement to take some pictures, and try to figure out what in the heck was down there. It surely wasn't a cricket. Bird? Bat? I decided to wait for Miriam to get home.

I talked to Father Rob, and he agreed that it was probably a bat. I was hoping he'd want to come over and rescue the poor critter, but he didn't seem interested. "Be sure to blog about it!" he said. Sure thing.

Once M2 was in bed, I headed down to the laundry room with what seemed like a reasonable plan. I taped a paper bag over the lint trap door, and used a skewer to pry open the door. I could hear the little guy clawing his way up, and eventually in the bag. I had no idea of what to do next, so I did the sensible thing and ran out of the room and closed the door.

Miriam and I could here him scratching in the paper bag ... and then we heard him flying around. Time to call animal control. While I was on the phone with Officer Franks, I open the back door to the laundry room ... only to watch the bat disappear into the rafters. I batted (ha!) at the rafters with a broom, but no luck. Officer Franks said she'd come out and see if she could find him.

We moved boxes and looked behind shelves without any luck. Finally, we could hear him behind some insulation. Office Franks reached in, felt around and pulled out the bat, wrapped in one of M2s hoody towels. Once she set him down outside and unwrapped him, the bat looked around, stretched his wings and flew off.

Quite an adventure for a Thursday night. I'm just glad I checked the lint trap before I started the dryer.

Happy Third Birthday

2008-07-21T21:53:00.002-04:00

July 21, 2008

Dear Mason II,

Happy Third Birthday!

Thirty-six month statistics: Weight: approximately 40 lbs. Length: TBD inches. Diaper Size: 6 Clothes: 4T

Hard to believe that three years ago you were just my tiny little baby boy. Where has the time gone?

The past three months have been a whirlwind of activity for me. I finished three masters classes, planned the PEO State Convention, and changed jobs. It has been quite an exciting time around here. I’m so glad to have most of that behind us now.

While I have been scurrying around, you have also been scampering about town. I mentioned in your last letter that your imagination has really taken off these past few months, and that has certainly continued. Everything you touch magically turns into a rocket ship, garbage truck, or fire truck. You constantly give us instructions on how to jump aboard to get ready for take-off.

In addition to your imagination, you love your musical instruments. The guitar you received for Christmas has been getting a good bit of use, as well as the bongo drums and other miscellaneous music makers. For your birthday, your dad and I purchased a harmonica, castanets, recorder, and a xylophone for you. They have become fast favorites.
Your birthday was such an enjoyable time. We celebrated on a Saturday morning with breakfast munchies that included Danish, muffins, yogurt, and bacon/mushroom and broccoli/cheese frittatas. We borrowed a small pool from our friend’s, the Leary’s, and everyone had a great time splashing in the water and playing in the yard. When all was said and done, we had almost 40 guests, including your Nana and Nanny, all the way from Las Vegas. You received many wonderful gifts including: books, crayons, makers and coloring books, a set of blocks, cash register, puzzles, and an airplane and other small vehicles that you can take apart and put together on your own.

Perhaps the best gift of all was the Sunday after your party, when you, dad, nana, and me went to the Frederick Keys baseball game in Frederick, MD. What fun! We had the best seats ever! We were in the second row behind home plate. We were so close we could hear the umpire make the calls. We ate hot dogs, popcorn, and of course, ice cream in a baseball hat cup. Nana bought you a souvenir baseball, and dad bought you a bat. After the game, all the kids were invite to the field to run the bases. You loved it. In fact, you were very upset when you had to leave the field. After running the bases, they had a beautiful fireworks show. It was so late, but we stayed and all enjoyed the show. It was such fun; we can’t wait to go back again.

Your daily routine hasn’t changed much in the past few months. Unfortunately, you seem to be waking up earlier and earlier. You are currently waking around 5:45 or 6am each day – sometimes earlier! Sometimes you will stay in your room and read books for a while, but most days you are right into our room. You are hard to resist when you wake us with your cheery greeting, “Good Morning, Mama! I had a good dream.” Then you proceed to tell us about the dinosaur or rocket ship or fire truck that you dreamt about.

Speaking of dinosaurs, we took dad on a special Father’s Day outing to the Museum of Natural History in Washington DC last month. Another spectacular day of fun. You were in awe of the giant dinosaur skeletons. We walked all through the museum and ended the day with lunch and a trip to the gift shop. You left the gift shop with a small container of dinosaurs that you now play with in the tub.

Speaking of tub time…. What a mess! A month or so ago, we had a bad situation one evening when you got soap – lots of soap, in your poor little eyes during hair washing. Ever since, you hate having your hair washed. As we walk up the stairs for “rubby-tub time” you begin begging for us to not wash your hair. Your dad has been working with you to practice putting your head back, and it usually takes both of us, but it is getting better.

When you exit the tub you absolutely love to run around our room naked. You sing and dance and do flips on the bed. Post tub time isn’t the only time you love to do this. Another morning ritual seems to be you taking a few turns on jumping on our bed. I view jumping on the bed as a rite of passage that all children should enjoy while they can. I know, I know, don’t hit your head on an end table! You have also recently taken to doing somersaults on the bed. So long as you tuck your chin and don’t fly off the edge, I think this is great fun.
Well, I thought this month’s letter would be short, but here I am going on two pages again. When I first started writing your letters I had this great vision of making a scrapbook for you with each letter and pictures to go with it. While, I haven’t totally given up on that thought, it does seem like a distant possibility at this point. I am going to do some scrapbooking in a couple of weeks, and I’ll be happy if I can just finish up to your second birthday. We also have some fun trips planned in August and September, including your first camping trip - more on that to come in the next letter. My dear little one, you are such a joy to me. I am so proud of you, and I can’t wait to see the man you will become. Just don't grow up too fast, okay?

Love, love, love,
Mama

Maggie Stewart May 9, 2007 - July 6, 2008

2008-07-10T23:57:00.005-04:00

I can only imagine that there are no words to describe the gut wrenching pain of losing a child. She wasn't my daughter, but still I weep that the world will never see her grow into the beautiful woman I know she would have become. I am short on words to describe this tragedy. Please keep Maggie's wonderful parents, Mollie and John, in your prayers.

War Games

2008-06-22T23:18:00.006-04:00

St. Matthew's was recently gifted a collection of history books and war games. We held a sell last weekend, that went well, but there are a lot of games (and books) left. I volunteered to get rid of them. So, they are indexed.

If you see any games on this list that you'd like to buy, leave a comment on this post, or send me some email. I'll be posting everything on eBay "soon."

What a Difference Two Years Makes

2008-06-21T21:44:00.001-04:00

MHA Welcome June 2008

2008-06-11T07:53:00.001-04:00

My name is Miriam Turner and you have found your way to my family’s website. If you search the site you will find random computer posts from my husband, and lots of pictures of our now 2.5-year-old son.

I am currently in class nine of the MHA program. I have been waiting to take this elective since I first saw it on the schedule last year. So far, I am really getting a lot out of it. The e-Learning book seems especially relevant.

I was born and raised in Henderson, NV, but have lived all over the country as I moved for various jobs. After earning a BS in Hospitality Management from UNLV in the mid-1990’s, I worked at the MGM Grand and then moved to Lexington, KY, San Jose, CA, and finally settled here in Northern Virginia. I am currently using my industry experience to teach Hospitality Management at a private university outside Washington, DC, called Stratford University.

It is my teaching position that has been the real push for me to earn a higher degree. In order to keep teaching at the current level, and to open up opportunities at other institutions, I knew that I needed to earn a masters degree.

In my free time…. wait – what free time? I like to scrapbook and make cards. I also like to travel.

I look forward to getting to know everyone else in the class a little better over the next eight weeks.

Weekend in Pictures

2008-06-02T22:56:00.005-04:00

St. Matthew's Summer Picnic

Baltimore Aquarium

Herndon Festival

Steampunk Sit and Spin

The First Day of My New Life

2008-05-23T07:17:00.004-04:00

I am enjoying the best cup of coffee I have had in sometime. The coffee to milk ratio is perfect.

Little Mason is running around like crazy acting out scenes from Harold and the Purple Crayon.He also ate, without complaint and some gusto, a spinach omelette for breakfast, and I am about to enjoy one myself.

We have a beautiful weekend in front of us, and Mason is coming home early from work so we can go see a movie. Any suggestions?

What more could I ask for?

33 Months

2008-04-21T14:46:00.004-04:00

April 21, 2008

Dear Mason II,

Happy Thirty-Three-Month Birthday!

Thirty-three month statistics: Weight: approximately 39 lbs. Length: TBD inches. Diaper Size: 6 Clothes: 3T – 4T depending on brand.

Here is a recap of our last three months:

February was definitely the month of make believe. Seems like your mind just opened to all of these new possibilities. Within a single day you can be the captain of a ship fighting pirates, a garbage man, or an astronaut. You love for us to sit on the couch as you make the space ship countdown: 3, 2, 1…. Blast Off! You madly press letters and pictures on the quilt that hangs on the back of the couch, as each one symbolizes a way to operate your space ship. You also love to use the dining room chair as a garbage truck. You use a toy bucket and pretend to dump the trash in, then stand on the side of the chair to imitate moving toward the next house for trash pick up. This past week, you and dad had great fun in the morning searching for a make believe “little mousey.” So sweet!

March was the month of songs. The ABC’s started in January, but in March your song repertoire exploded. You can and love to sing ABC’s, although you miss M and N. You even sign the part, “Now I know my ABC’s next time won’t you sign with me. “ Other songs and rhymes include: Itsy Bitsy Spider, Mary Mary, Quite Contrary, Teapot, and major portions of many others.

April has been the month for manners. While we still do lots of prompting, you have your own little sense of etiquette. You use please and thank-you in many appropriate situations, and we are working on “May I be excused please.” You still sign thank you, sorry, and sometimes excuse me. That sorry sign came in handy this past week when you took a bite out of poor Sophie’s arm when you refused to share your picnic basket. It has been months since you have resorted to biting so I was definitely caught off guard. After a time-out and an apology to Sophie, you were back to your old self.

During these past few months, your sleep has shortened. You take a 1 – 2 hour nap most days, but at least once a week you seem to skip the nap altogether. I do my best to make sure you still spend that time in your room reading books quietly. Bedtime seems to be getting later and later. The goal is still 7:30 – 7:45 in bed, but between bath, books, teeth brushing, face washing, and going potty, it is generally at least 8pm before you are in bed.

Starting in September you will be attending preschool one day a week at Classroom of Discovery. This is the next step of the mom and tot class that we currently attend. I am so excited for you to go to school in the fall. Although it is expensive, I think the exposure to new friends and new ways to play will be a great experience for you. I can’t wait to go backpack shopping.

Between work and school for old mom, the past few months have been very busy. I feel like I am spending too many mornings working, sending email, and talking to students, than having fun with you. Work is very challenging for me right now, and I am really trying to figure out the best plan for us.

In spite of all the work, we just had a fantastic weekend. Rocknoceros performed at St. Matthews and the concert was very well attended. You had a blast meeting Coach Cotton, Willie Bob and Boogie Bennie. Almost all of your friends were there, and after the concert you had a great time running like crazy chickens through the grass.

A few weeks ago we were lucky enough to spend Easter with Nanny and Nana, when they came for a visit. It was short, but you really enjoyed your time with them. You still refer to the little table next to the couch as Nanny’s table. Jim, Alex, and Missy Yarbrough and Heather, Sophie and Grant Kutz all came to Easter dinner. What fun everyone had hunting eggs in the backyard. You still ask for jellybeans, chocolate bunnies, and marshmallow chicks.

Just prior to Easter your dad and I celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary. While we enjoyed a glorious, although short, getaway to a bed and breakfast called L’Auberge Provencale, you had your very first sleepover at your friend Missy’s house. Her parents, Alex and Jimmy, are just wonderful people and we are so blessed that they looked after you. We then watched Missy a few weeks later while they went out on a date.

Although Spring has just begun we are definitely enjoying the fine weather. I sure wish our kitchen opened directly to the backyard instead of the high deck. You just love to play outside – running through the grass, kicking balls, sliding and swinging. You love to drag the rake around, and point to doggie diamonds in the backyard. Have I mentioned that we can’t wait until you are old enough to help pick it up?

Finally, you have been giving us a good bit of trouble at bedtime and sometimes in the afternoon for naptime. You throw yourself around on the floor and make comments like, “I scamper away. I do not go in my bed.” We try to encourage you to calm down, but some nights we have to resort to taking your books out of your room. I hate to do it, but it sure seems to work. In addition to the nightly tantrums, you have also started pulling the skin off your top lip and picking your nose. I try my best to ignore these new habits and hope they disappear before you go to high school.

What a fun summer we have ahead of us.

Love forever,
Mama

Striped Bass Fishing

2008-04-15T06:25:00.008-04:00

Yesterday I went fishing with some guys from church. There was a lot to do at work, and even up to the last minute I considered pulling out of the trip but, to be honest, I could really use the day off.

We had a charter scheduled for 1:00 PM out of Solomons Island, Maryland. We got there early, so we had a nice lunch before heading out. We were warned not to go out on a boat on a full stomach ... but the crabcake sandwich sounded (and was) wonderful.

The season doesn't start for another week or so, so we had to trow back everything we caught.

As we headed out into the bay, I realized that the last fish I caught, back in junior high, was only a little bigger than the lure's we were set to use.

Between the six of us, we caught 13 fish or so ... easily two each. Paul caught three: the first was a bait fish (about eight inches long), the second broke away right as he was realing it in, and the third made it into the boat. John caught the biggest fish of the day ... 45 inches, 43 pounds.

I think some of us, myself included, had as much fun taking pictures as we did catching fish.

Captain Greg and Mate Andrew were great hosts. They have an obvious love for fishing, and a love for sharing it with others . I had a great time relaxing and reeling in some nice fish. I can't wait for the next trip .. hopefully we can actually bring some fish home.

Links:

ABCs

2008-04-01T07:55:00.002-04:00

Mason signs the ABCs .. or most of them.

ABCs from Mason Turner on Vimeo.

MHA Welcome

2008-03-24T14:28:00.004-04:00

On Hulu

2008-03-18T06:14:00.004-04:00

Last week, I finished reading Evolution Man: Or, How I Ate My Father by Roy Lewis. I think this is the first non-picture book I have read in two years. It was a fun, fast read about a family of over achieving cavemen trying to get ahead of the evolutionary curve. I chuckled. I chortled. I needed another prehistoric fix.

I'm not sure exactly when Hulu came out of beta, but I noticed a few mentions last week in SXSW coverage. Sure enough, they had Quest for Fire. It was a fine film. Beautiful scenery and a soundtrack that spoke for the characters better than any subtitles could have. I will probably watch it again, and I may watch it on Hulu.

Overall, I was quite happy with using Hulu. The site is lean and fast: nothing gets in the way of finding videos. Searching was straight forward. Creating an account (needed to prove my age to watch a rated R movie) was a breeze. I would say I wish they supported OpenID, but I have yet to pick an OpenID for myself. The Flash player works great on my iMac, even in full screen. I was able to watch half Friday and half Saturday. Oh, and it was free.

Free, but every fifteen minutes I was presented with a 30 second ad spot. This first ad -- right in the middle of a scene of wolves chasing cavefolk across the tundra -- was for Cesar Canine Cuisine. The rest of the ads were for DirecTV. The video quality wasn't great, but I suspect that had more to do with the conversion from film to digital than with Hulu. 30 second adverts every 15 minutes and non-stellar video quality? Acceptable compromises for an on-demand, free movie. The fact is, I never would have paid to rent the movie, and even if I had added it to the Tivo wishlist, would it have ever showed up? Instead, I found it through Hulu, and in exchange I watch a total of three minutes of ads.

Whoever can bring online video the the couches of the masses will have a huge market. If Hulu were to partner with Tivo, AppleTV or a Cable/Satellite DVR, there could be the winning combination. The question is, do these prospective partners see Hulu as an opportunity or a threat?

I'm sure I'll be spending more time on Hulu. It's too bad they don't have Clan of the Cave Bear.

Computers are Like a Kitchen

2008-03-08T20:43:00.003-05:00

Whenever a non-technical person asks about the difference between RAM and hard drives, I could never find the right analogy, until now: Computers are like a kitchen:

Cupboards and drawers (hard drives) hold food (files), pots and pans and small appliances (applications). When you are ready to prepare a meal (use your computer), you pull everything out onto your counter top (RAM). The larger your counters, the more ingredients and tools you can have out at a given time, so the faster you can work. If you run out of counter space you can temporarily stick something back in the fridge (swap). If you're really clever, you can use a drawer as a counter (virtual memory), but it's messy and not nearly as efficient.

I haven't figured out how to extend the analogy to the CPU, network access or video cards. Thoughts?

Cheese!

2008-02-18T15:09:00.003-05:00

Seems like months since I have been able to capture a smile. Finally, when I asked you to say "Cheese" you responded with a great big smile! It's about time.

Nap

2008-02-17T22:07:00.005-05:00

When I went upstairs to put away some laundry, I found Mason napping is a peculiar position. Luckily, I was able to grab the camera (and tripod!) to capture the moment.

Strangely, I think this is the best nap Mason has had in two weeks. Normally, he is in a foul mood after waking up. But today, he was sweet and silly.

Now, I just hope he doesn't wake up at 4:30 in the morning ... another new habit we're trying to break.

30 Months

2008-01-25T13:59:00.000-05:00

January 21, 2008

Dear Mason II,

Happy Thirtieth-Month Birthday!

Thirty-month statistics: Weight: approximately 37 lbs.. Length: 37 inches. Diaper Size: 6 Clothes: 3T – 4T depending on brand.

It seems like forever since I have written you a letter. After your second birthday, my goal is a letter every six months. Let’s see how I do.

The past three months you have changed so much, I barely know where to begin. Let’s start with sleep. When we left off in October, you had just started crawling out of your crib. We went through a few horrible days and nights trying to get you to nap in your toddler bed. Unfortunately, you just wouldn’t stay in bed. About two weeks later, after talking and debating and reading, we decided to turn the doorknob around on your room and lock you inside. Lucky dad was away two nights in a row and missed the commotion that ensued. The first night you screamed at your door for what seemed like hours, but in reality lasted about ten minutes. However, you are so verbal, it was absolute torture for me. I sat on the floor outside your door, and cried right along with you. In fact, I think I was still crying when you finally decided to get in your bed and go to sleep. Two nights later, you were a great sleeper again.

In November, you attended your first concert – Rocknoceros. You had a great time clapping and jumping to the music. Your friend Ryan and his mom, Leslie, also joined us.

We had a glorious Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. Nana and Nanny came for Turkey Day. We had so much fun watching the parade. Your favorite part was the preview of the Broadway play, Young Frankenstein. Over and over you wanted to watch the monster break through the door! Our friends, Jimmy, Alex and Missy, were planning to join us until Missy got sick at the last minute. We still had a nice time, but missed their company.

In December, you had your first visit to the dentist. Ms. Gwen counted your teeth and put fluoride on them. You didn’t want to sit in the dentist seat by yourself, so you sat on my lap. Overall, better than I expected for the first visit.

Christmas was a whirlwind of parties, gifts, friends, and family. You received many exciting Christmas gifts like a rocket ship, huge fire truck, plus a smaller fire truck that goes with its very own firehouse.

After our Christmas morning gift opening, Aunt Betsy, Uncle Bill, Wil, and Nick came down to join us for Christmas dinner. You had such a fantastic time with all of them. Uncle Bill is always good for some tickles, Aunt Betsy is good for playing and reading books, and Wil and Nick are awesome for playing and tossing you around. It was such a great day!

Unfortunately, Grandma Kathie was very sick with shingles so we were only able to see her one-day when we first arrived. She was in a lot of pain, and it is pretty contagious so we felt it best if you weren’t exposed. Luckily, your dad was able to go over and spend some time with her.

We were also lucky enough to meet up with Uncle Dennis, Aunt Christy and your cousins for a few hours. We met up at the park, and everyone had a fabulous time playing, running, and swinging. It is so nice to be close and have them back in the US. Uncle Dennis left for his second tour in Iraq on January 9th. We are all hoping for his safe return.

You are finally starting to sing songs to us. The other day your dad mentioned that you were signing the ABC’s – not necessarily in the right order, but that will come soon enough. Just this afternoon you were signing a great combination of I’ve Been Working on the Railroad and Wheels on the Bus. You have also recently been requesting songs at bedtime. Right now the favorite seems to be Rudolph.

If just seems like you are growing right before our very eyes. You sit at the table for dinner, and refuse to wear a bib. You love to eat everything that we are eating: including shrimp, cauliflower, broccoli, black beans, corn, and cous cous. Like me, you seem to be developing a sweet tooth already. I have you convinced that prunes are candy, and you stand at the pantry asking sweetly, “Special prune goody, mama. Fason good boy.” You call yourself Fason instead of Mason for some reason. You can say Mason if I ask you to emphasize the “M”, but generally you fall to the F sound.

We are taking swim lessons again, and what a change! Last Spring you were so scared in the water. Not anymore! You can’t wait to get in and kick your legs and splash while we sing songs. You go under water with great coaxing, and are still trying to get comfortable on your back. After our lesson, you love to take a few turns down the water slide. It is always a nice way to end the week.

When we aren’t swimming, you have a cornucopia of toys that you enjoy playing with. Nana bought daddy a baseball glove for Christmas, and you love to grab your glove, bat and ball and practice swinging. You also love to recite portions of the book, “Stop That Ball.” In addition to baseball, you love to play with the new trains and guitar that Santa brought you for Christmas. The wooden fire station from Nanny and red rocket from Nana are also great fun. Finally, you love to sit on the floor and read books. Seems like this house is overflowing with books, but each one is special to you.

The latest addition to your fun is geocaching. Dad took you on your first treasure hunt a few weeks ago to find a cache in Claude Moore Park. While I was at a PEO meeting, you, dad and Miss B went on a treasure hunt. While you enjoyed looking in the box when you found it, you were not prepared to leave one of your little cars behind. Dad just signed the logbook and off you went. This was also your first chance to wear the awesome camel bag Nana gave you for Christmas. As you were exiting the park, you found a tractor show. What a great day!

Your dad and I are excited for this coming spring. I’m sure we will have so much fun playing baseball and going on outings.

Love,
Mama

Combat Medicine

2007-10-26T09:10:00.000-04:00

NPR just finished a three part series on combat medicine:

There are some interesting facts and statistics, that I won't rehash too much, but all quite amazing, really. A soldier will go from a battleground in Iraq to Landstuhl within 24 hours. Wounded soldiers have a 95% survival rate: the highest in military history.

My brother is an Army nurse anesthetist, having served in Landstuhl and Iraq, and currently at Fort Irwin. This winter, he'll be heading back to Iraq for six months. I know he's working hard, and that the work is hard on him (physically, mentally and emotionally), even though we don't talk about it. It's nice (not really the right word) to have a glimpse into his work.

27 Months

2007-10-24T16:22:00.000-04:00

October 21, 2007

Happy 27th Month Birthday!

Twenty-seven month statistics: Weight: approximately 35 lbs. Height: 36.5 inches. Diaper Size: 6. Clothes: 3T/4T depending on the brand.

Well I missed writing a letter last month for your 26th month birthday. Time just got away from me, because I was buried in work for my grad class. I will try to get us up-to-date.

You are officially potty trained during the day. You still wear a diaper for nap and bedtime, but you often wake from nap time dry. You have an accident every once in awhile, maybe once a week, but you are really good at telling us when you have to go potty.

You are so verbal these days, speaking in sentences to us.
• Apples, please mama.
• Dada, carry foo foo please.
• I eat apples.
• I wear green pants, not those pants, mama.
• I wear different pants.
• I race Uncle Mark (your godfather)

You are becoming quite opinionated. When I offer you something you don’t want, you wave your little hands like crazy saying, “no, no, no, no.” You are fond of pushing things away from you, which isn’t a habit I am thrilled about so we are working on that. I am trying my best to teach you to say, “No thank you.” You have please down really well. We have also taught you to say, “Excuse me” when you have a burp. You always giggle when I say the word burp.

Just last week, all four of your two-year molars came in. We had a really rough couple of days. One morning you just cried and held on to me for the better part of an hour. I think the Motrin finally kicked in and then you were ready for your sippy cup of milk and oatmeal breakfast.

You love to eat oatmeal for breakfast and yogurt for lunch. You also like to share cold cereal with your dad. This month you have developed a fondness for drinking the milk from the bottom of the bowl. It is cute, but messy when the milk dribbles down your chin. You also enjoy Asian Pears lately and of course your applesauce with cinnamon. When your teeth were hurting one night, you ate three bowls of applesauce for dinner.

The weather has been unseasonably warm, reaching into the 80’s almost every single day this Fall. We have had a few fun days out and about. We went to Frying Pan Farm Park and visited the animals and farmers market there. We also went to the Dinosaur Park in Ashburn. The Dino Park has a fire engine that you can drive. I think you spent an hour just driving the engine.

Speaking of fire engines, your grandmother made you a fantastic fireman coat to wear for Halloween. Unfortunately, you refuse to wear it. Just one more thing you have a strong opinion about. You scream like crazy whenever we try to put it in you. I have no idea what we will do next week if you decide you still won’t wear it. Luckily, it is big so you should get plenty of wear out of it in the future when you realize just how cool it is. Grandma also made you a cool Spiderman shirt.

Lately you have been a bear at any store we try to go visit. Trying to get through the grocery store seems to take forever. You detest, I mean absolutely hate with a passion sitting in a grocery cart of any kind. For about two weeks, you would tolerate sitting in the race car cart at the grocery store, but you quickly gave that up. You insist on walking or running through the stores, which just isn’t possible on a busy day. You also like for us to carry you, but at 35+lbs, that doesn’t last long. Just this week, you have developed a fondness for a special cart at Target that has a kid seat built into the back of the cart. You call it the Rocket car. You were such a good boy at Target riding in the rocket seat, that I am not dreading our next visit.

A few weeks ago we went to IKEA and bought you a big boy bed. It is a toddler bed that extends to a twin size. Your dad put it together in the spare room and we brought you in one day after nap to look at it. Your response, “Where dragon?” At the store, we briefly entertained the idea of purchasing a quilt that had dragons on it, but when we couldn’t find the matching accessories, we chose another pattern. Somehow you must have remembered those dragons and were disappointed they weren’t at home. Since then, you have refused to even touch the big boy bed. Ug! What’s a mother to do?

Well, my sweet son, it has been another exciting and busy two months. I wonder what fun the fall will hold for us?

Love Always,
Mama

P.S. October 24, 2007 – Today at nap time you decided you would crawl out of your crib for the first time. Looks like an exciting new chapter in sleep is about to begin.

Pointless Punditry 1: iTunes

2007-10-12T22:31:00.000-04:00

The landscape of digital media is changing. And how can Apple react?

I bought an album from AmazonMP3 they day it went live. The store is pretty easy to navigate, and the helper app didn't get in the way, although it also didn't add the album to iTunes as promised. But hey, its Beta, right?

Oh, and Amazon is cheap! "A Revision" is $9.99 on Amazon and $20.64 for the partial album on iTunes. "The Wall" is $8.99 on Amazon and $16.99 on iTunes

Now, I suspect the low prices on Amazon are part of a bait and switch. The Labels are giving Amazon lower wholesale prices now to help build interest, and they will raise prices later. But they have to at least appear price competitive. So, if I can save money at Amazon, and I can get the songs on my iPhone (or any device), why would I buy from iTunes?

Now we have Radiohead selling their albums on their own. And Madonna .. signing with a tour promoter? The point is: the industry has figured out that -- today -- if they want their efforts to succeed, they have to be interoperable with the iPod, which means either sells through iTunes, or go DRM-free.

When the majority of legal consumer downloads are DRM-free, it's going to change the ahrdware landscape, as well? Why not buy an iRiver something-or-other, if it can play most of what I bought from Apple, Amazon and eMusic?

So, back to Apple. What is my uninformed, unsolicicted advice? Make iTunes a platform. Turn it into a frotnend for any music store willing to build to particualr APIs. iTMS, Amazon and Ma & Pa Indy Records can compete side-to-side in the same app. Make it easy to compare prices between stores. Some stores may have rewards programs, while others give you a discount for annual membership (are you listening, Costco?). Apple can take a small cut from each transaction .. 1 or 2%. Or heck, just make money off search (it works for Firefox ... and Safari). In the end iTunes can be the easiest way to shop multiple vendors for music, and load it onto an iPod. Or any device? Is that a bit too ambitous?

Now, this goes against the "own the ecosystem" ethos of Apple, and maybe for goiod reason. Apple has tight control on the user experience which makes it, for the most part, not a total headache.

It is obvious that the music labels, movie and television studios resent having to go through Apple to get to the consumer. They'll keep trying (unsuccessfully) to avoid the iPod. But as they realize that DRM-free doesn't mean profit-free, We'll see Apple's influence wane. Unless Apple can get ahead of the curve.

Haircuts

2007-10-06T00:01:00.000-04:00

Miriam had to work tonight, so Mason and I went out for haircuts, a trip to Borders and then Ledo Pizza for dinner. Not a bad way to start the weekend.

We'll be at Sterlingfest tomorrow, mostly for the firestation open house ... Mason still hasn't outgrown the firetruck phase.

Nurse In at Applebee's Tomorrow

2007-09-07T13:26:00.000-04:00

Biologically Appropriate Raw Food

2007-09-06T08:58:00.000-04:00

BARF is either the worst product name ever, or pure genius. haven't had enough coffee to decide for myself.

I heart iStockphoto

2007-08-31T21:37:00.001-04:00

25th Month Birthday

2007-08-26T15:47:00.000-04:00

August 21, 2007

Happy 25th Month Birthday!

Twenty-five month statistics: Weight: approximately 35 lbs. Height: 36.5 inches. Diaper Size: 6. Clothes: 3T/4T depending on the brand.

What a busy month it has been! You are potty training. Three weeks ago, you walked into the bathroom and said, “I Pee.” We took off your diaper, say you on the toilet, and sure enough, you went pee. Since then, you have been wearing underwear during the day and going on the potty. You still wear a diaper for naps and bedtime, but you often wake from naptime dry. We still help you in sitting on the potty, but sometimes you use your stool all by yourself. We are simply amazed at this progress!

Sentences are another skill you are working on this month. “I like goats. I like bumpy bus. I drive garbage truck. I wait orange garbage truck. I like applesauce, please.” It is amazing to listen to your sentences grow.

Last week we drove to Pennsylvania for a few days. We visited Lake Tobias in Halifax, PA. It is a family owned wild animal park. You had so much fun. The park offers a safari tour on an old beat-up school bus. You didn’t much like it while we were there, but that is all you are talking about since we are home. “I like bumpy bus. I drive bumpy bus. I share crackers cow.” The safari tour featured many animals including elk, buffalo, llamas, and Texas longhorn cattle. Prior to the ride, they sold rye crackers. I asked if they were okay for you to eat, and the sales lady said, “Oh, they are safe, but no kid will eat these.” Sure enough, you loved them. We had to convince you to share with the animals. We also saw alligators, a bear and a tiger. They even had a petting zoo.

The next day we spent at Hershey Gardens. We got a late start because we actually got you to take a nap in the morning. You didn’t sleep well the entire time we were gone. Hershey Garden had a special children’s garden that we enjoyed. The butterfly house, little pig and boat were your favorite attractions.

The beginning of August, we were very happy to have Aunt Betsy, Uncle Bill and Cousins Wil and Nick for a short visit. We had a great time on a trip to the Hazy Air and Space Museum. Too bad you kept calling Uncle Bill, Howard all the time. We have it on video and it is quite funny. It was so nice to have them visit.

Since you have started potty training, I let you run around a few mornings with just a t-shirt on. This makes it much easier when potty time arrives. Somehow you have started to enjoy this time, and you now regularly ask us to take all of your clothes off so you can be – Nakie Baby. Of course, Nakie Baby has a special dance and it just cracks us up. We haven’t yet decided if we are creating some sort of future problem by allowing you to run around the house naked and dancing. In case you are wondering, yes we have video, and we won’t be afraid to use it when you are a teenager if needed. Consider yourself warned.

During the past few weeks, you have also started to jump and get both feet off the ground. I can’t wait to take you back to the pool so we can practice jumping in. When I was little, I have very fond memories of holding on to my mom’s back and she went swimming through and under the water. I can’t wait until you are old enough to try it.

Along with sentences and jumping, you continue to love time with your books! We are currently enjoying the following:
• Harry the Dirty Dog
• Anything by Richard Scarry
• Winnie the Pooh – the one about him getting stuck at Rabbit’s house
• Anything Clifford the Big Red Dog
• Be Gentle – featuring Bart the Bear and his little black kitty
• Magic School Bus and the Electric Field Trip – this book is way beyond your reading level, but you adore it.

Your dad and I are so pleased that you love reading. My mom tells me stories of how I would insist that she read the same book over and over again. I didn’t really believe her until now. Some nights, you will do just that. As much as it is frustrating, I love that you love to read. Reading has been a great joy for me all of my life. I hope that this love stays with you.

Happy 25th month birthday my little foo foo!

Love,
Mama

We've Moved!

2007-08-03T19:48:00.000-04:00

You can now find us at www.turnerville.us. No promise of more updates, though.

Mason's 2nd Birthday and Special Party Guests

2007-07-21T17:22:00.000-04:00

July 21, 2007

Happy 2nd Birthday!

Twenty-four month statistics: Weight: approximately TBD lbs. Height: 36 inches. Diaper Size: 6. Clothes: 3T/4T depending on the brand.

Wow! You are two years old already? This is just amazing to me. Seems like just moments ago you were the tiniest of little babies curled up in my arms sleeping. Now, you are a little boy that runs and jumps, laughs and giggles, blows kisses and asks for hugs. You are such a joy in our lives.

It is simply incredible the way your vocabulary has grown. Last month it was digger and hoop, and this month it is words like hungry and parties. You are even putting together short sentences like, “Parties, Fun!” You can say your numbers, and occasionally surprise us with unprompted announcements like, “Six, Seven, Eight, Nine” while we are walking up the stairs. You also love to talk about fire and garbage trucks, “fire, truck, hose, water, man, boots, coat, hat.”

You had the most incredible birthday party! Nanny and Nana were here to celebrate with us. We invited many friends and the local Cascades Fire Department even joined in the fun. The party began about 9am and the last guests didn’t leave until well after 2pm. We couldn’t have had a more beautiful day, with moderate temperatures and a beautiful sunny afternoon. You received many wonderful gifts including a Thomas the Train set and bat and ball from Nanny, a tricycle from Nana, bubble mower from the Chamblin’s, lots of books from many friends, your first backpack and tent from your Godparents, and Dad and I bought you a bead lacing set and a new construction loader.

Today is actually a few days after your second birthday and you have used the potty three times today. We went for an afternoon swim at the recreation center and you said potty a few times. Unfortunately, we didn’t believe you because you were telling the truth. Could this be the beginning of the end of diapers?

This past month has been a busy one. I finished my third of ten classes towards my masters degree. This particular class kept me very busy, so we spent a lot of time at the library, and managed to sneak in a few play dates. You loved the day that Amber, and her cousins, Travis and Claire, came over to play. Travis and Claire are almost four and you and Travis had such fun together. For days you wandered the house calling out, “Travis, Travis, Travis.”

We spent the fourth of July here at home. Jimmy, Alex and Missy Yarbrough came over for lunch and some fireworks. You seemed to enjoy the little snake fireworks the most. It was another beautiful day, although a bit warm, so we had a lovely lunch on the patio.

For awhile there it seemed as if you were moving past this biting stage that has been haunting us. Unfortunately, it is back. You have bitten another little girl at day care twice in the past two weeks. What are we supposed to do??? As if the biting isn’t bad enough, the other day in the car you said, “Bite, Claire, Yummy!” Good Lord!

Your schedule seems to have been the same for awhile now. Here is your average day, including some examples of food that you eat: 6am – 7am Wake up time. Cup of milk and breakfast (oatmeal, cereal, waffles, cottage cheese), Play Time, Lunch is at 11:30am (whole wheat pita with turkey and cheese or sunflower seed butter and jelly, and yogurt). Then nap time is about 1pm – 3pm. After nap time is another cup of milk and a small snack (fruit or cereal bits), then we eat dinner around 6pm. Bedtime is supposed to be 7:30pm, but that doesn’t always happen on time. You are still a great sleeper and unless you are scared, you easily sleep all night long.

Well my son, it has been another terrific year. I received an email detailing some of the differences that I can expect to see in you over the next year. It was hard not to get excited at the thought of you communicating in sentences, being fully potty trained, and having more advanced fine motor skills for play time. Sometimes the individual days seem to pass so slowly, but the years are flying by. Let’s slow down and enjoy each day of this next year together.

Love, love, love you,
Mama

This is me

2007-07-10T15:27:00.001-04:00

Scroll over each color, to find out more about me.

First Pic from iPhone

2007-06-30T12:04:00.001-04:00

Twenty-Three Months

2007-06-23T14:21:00.000-04:00

June 21, 2007

Happy Twenty-Three Month Birthday!

Twenty-three month statistics: Weight: approximately 34.5 lbs. Height: 35 inches. Diaper Size: 5 during the day and 6 at night. Clothes: 3T/4T depending on the brand.

Letters and numbers are fun this month. You love to repeat after us. You don’t seem to enjoy numbers in English much, but we still remember some French from high school, and you can repeat 1 – 15 in French. The number nine is by far your favorite. When we ask you how hold you are, or what how many of something we have, the sure answer is always, “Nine!”

We had a wonderful time in Blacksburg a few weeks ago. While I was in convention on Saturday, you and your dad went for a fun bike ride. Then dad thought he would take you to the mall, but you fell asleep in the car. Dad thought you would take another nap when you got back to the hotel, but no such luck. You did great in the car on the five-hour drive. We played with toys, sang songs and called out the names of passing animals. Some of your favorite songs include: Wheels on the Bus, If You Are Happy and You Know It, and Hokey Pokey.

Some of your favorites activities this month include the following: Hoop (your term for playing with your indoor basketball hoop), Flying (riding on our backs as we run through the house), Walks (around the neighborhood), and Swinging in the backyard on your swing set.

So many new and/or refined words this month. You still sign for please, but you also sign thank-you almost without being asked. Words include: dinner, fork, spoon, pool, hoop, beer (dad taught you this one), brownies (mom taught you this one), flower, and digger! Somehow you have developed a little drawl. It is hilarious to hear you say Baa and Cow with the added accent.

You continue to love books. You are very specific now about which book you want to read and when. Sometimes it is a book about bunnies, or perhaps the dog book, which is different from the puppy book. On a recent trip to the library we picked up a few books with diggers and other construction equipment, so they are often requested. You also enjoy the Mole Sisters. I think when I grow up I want to be a mole sister that enjoys a quite day doing nothing under a tree.

This past month continues to be challenging in the discipline area. We read a great little book called, “Teeth are not for biting.” I like to think on some level this has helped you not to bite so much. Unfortunately, hitting and kicking seem to have taken the place of biting. You find yourself visiting the naughty step on the stairs almost every day as punishment for hitting or kicking. We realize that this is a tough time because you aren’t yet old enough o articulate your words to tell us how you feel. I can’t wait for this rough stage to pass. I try to reassure myself that you won’t go to college flinging your little arms in the air saying, “Bite, Bite” every time you get upset.

Hard to believe that in just a month you will be two years old. Amazing how fast the time has flown. I love you so much.

Love,
Mama

But It's a Dry Heat

2007-06-14T22:26:00.001-04:00

Lots of things I'd like to blog about, including:

When did adults start to use the term bad guys?
Rumor versus Speculation versus Fantasy: what is wrong with the Apple Fanboy blogosphere.
Seen in Google Reader: US Falls to 24th Place For Broadband Penetration and Microsoft says HD-DVD and Blu-ray to be obsolete in 5 years, or how geeks need to realize everyone can't afford the cool new toys.

Instead, I'll share this screen capture:

We Are Virginia Tech

2007-06-04T21:19:00.001-04:00

This past weekend we attended the 58th Annual State Convention of PEO in Blacksburg, VA. Convention was lots of fun, but it was a sobering experience being on the VA Tech campus so soon after the tragedy. All the businesses had signs in the windows that read, "We are Virginia Tech." As a faculty member, it is downright scary to even consider the possibility of a gunman on our campus.

On a happier note, while I was in meetings, the Masons had tons of fun tooling around the campus by bike. They found the Dairy Science Complex and a Koi Pond. Here are a few pics.

Be Inflexible

2007-05-30T21:59:00.000-04:00

Will Shipley is a Mac programmer I'm growing to admire. Not that I write in anything besides Perl, but he has a fresh, simple approach to software design. As the amount of work increases in my group, and the more I am involved in early system design, the more I enjoy reading Wil.

The first thing I ever read of Wil's was his Student Talk from WWDC 2005 titled "How to Succeed Writing Mac Software: Or, How to Make a Zillion Dollars and Not Lose Your Soul". The PDF/Slides are great.

Today, he wrote about Brevity of code versus Flexibility. If you read nothing else, read this snippet:

In Delicious Library 2 we have a feature where we will automatically find the libraries of your friends if they have published them. Of course, with any matching system, the trick is, how do you know this is really *my* friend named "Mike Lee", and not one of the other 17 million "Mike Lee"s around the world (that whore).

So, I came up with a basic algorithm for pulling all Delicious Libraries by the owner's name first, then disambiguating within those afterwards. One of my programmers said, "Well, what happens if we get 1,000 hits for John Smith?"

And my reply, not at all tongue-in-cheek, was, "Well, then we would be very, very rich." Seriously, if 1,000 John Smiths had registered our program, think of how many customers we'd have total: millions. Multiply that by $40, and one possible response to the problem of "too many John Smiths" would be: "Who cares, let's all move to Tahiti and spend the rest of our lives on the beach sipping rum."

My take away: instead of spending time developing a robust system that can account for every corner case you can think of; build a lean, quick system that can solve the problems you have today, and solve the corner cases when you understand what they really are. Of course, that assumes that you really understand the problems at hand.

22 Months

2007-05-28T22:12:00.000-04:00

May 21, 2007

Happy Twenty-Two Month Birthday!

Twenty-two month statistics: Weight: approximately 33 – 34 lbs. Diaper Size: 5 during the day and 6 at night. Clothes: 3T/4T depending on the brand.

This month’s letter is a week late because we were in Las Vegas all last week. Your dad was attending a computer convention called, InterOp. We stayed with your nanny while dad attended meetings. He even had time to sneak in a trip to one of his favorite Nevada sights, Hoover Dam.

We had a great time on this relaxing trip - much calmer than our Christmas trips. We arrived on Saturday and hosted friends and family for a BBQ on Sunday. Monday was an extra special treat because you got to meet your cousins for the first time. Aunt Christy, Uncle Dennis and Danielle, Kaitlyn, Cameron and Aedan were en route from Germany to Ft. Irwin. They made a special stop in Vegas so we could all hang out. We spent the day lounging at the pool of Sunset Station, and then went to Grandma and Grandpa’s for dinner. What a fun day!

Each day in Vegas the weather was so lovely. You played outside each morning while we all enjoyed our coffee. Your favorite games include riding in the little car, that Bonnie loans us each visit, and playing ball with your Nana. “High! High” you would say. She would kick the ball up on the roof of the patio in the backyard. It has just enough f a slope to send it back down. You would giggle with glee each time it came down in a different location.

A few weeks before our trip to Vegas, we spent the day at the National Arboretum in Washington, DC. We met my friend, Dan, and his daughter, Abigail. It was a warm humid day, but we had great fun looking at the bonsai and marble columns.

Your vocabulary continues to expand daily! You can now repeat the ABC’s letter by letter after we say each one. You can also repeat after us 1 – 10 in French. You don’t much like for counting in English. Go figure. Tonight before bed you were looking at the box my new computer came in (that is another story). I asked you what each letter was. You got the “O – O – K” correct. Amazing! Random sample of new words include: puppy, boppy, mommy, daddy, beer (your word for berries). Seems like you are really discovering two syllable words.

We are still enjoying your weekly swim class at Claude Moore Recreation Center. We only have one week left and dad will come with us this week. You are able to go underwater and hold your breath. I am so proud of you! You still aren’t ready for the Vortex slide, but I am patiently waiting. You adore the kids slide, and I have taught you to raise your arms in the air and scream, “Weeeee!’ as you come barreling down. The other moms find this very amusing.

With the beautiful summer weather we have started riding bikes again. We bought a bike seat and helmet for you and we can barely keep you off the bike. As soon as you see it in the garage, “Bike, Bike, Bike. Go, Go, Go!” You also love to say, “Truck, Bus, Jeep, Digger, Tower (helicopter).”

This next weekend we are off again to Blacksburg, Virginia for your second PEO convention. I am the general chairperson for the 2008 convention so I need to see how it is done this year. Your dad is going to take the bike so you two can ride around town while I am in meetings. Unfortunately, a terrible tragedy occurred in Blacksburg just a few short weeks ago. While I am excited to go to convention, the events have dampened my spirits somewhat. I will spare you the details, but can’t help but wonder if you will someday Google to find out more information.

In the past month, your dad finished putting together your new swing set and spreading 9 cubic yards of mulch underneath it. You love to SWING! Some mornings you wake up saying, “Swing, Swing, Swing.” Only you struggle with the “s” so it sounds like, “Wing, Wing, Wing.” You are even learning to climb up the ladder on your own to get to the slide.

Once again I have managed to stay up past my bedtime. We have a fun day planned for tomorrow so I will get to bed. I am looking forward to a fantastic summer.

Love Always,
Mama

P.S. As I type, your dad is trying yet another contraption to keep the fridge locked so you can't open it and pilfer for cheese squares. :-)

Snippets

2007-05-15T22:27:00.000-04:00

First: The Wee Ride is pretty nice. Yes, my legs do rub on the outside a bit, but I hardly notice the extra ... 45 pounds or so. Mason II holds onto the handle bars and yells "GO GO GO" whenever I slow down. But its great that we can "talk" while riding around the neighborhood.

Second: Work is a whirlwind. Lots of architectural changes going on, and I'm lucky enough to be involved to some extent. Now I'm having a hard time with balancing "sys admin" work with all the planning, research and meetings.

Third: I have been teaching Bible Study to Junior High Schoolers for a few weeks now. The first week was horrible, but the past two weeks have been alright. The most difficult part has been adjusting my vocabulary. Me: "What are some of the traits you associate with marriage ... good or bad?" Them: "Huh?" At least I can kick their butts at hangman.

Forth: Dennis, Christy and the kids will finally be back in the states after six years (that long?) in Germany. They'll be flying into Las Vegas Sunday and staying for a few days before heading to Fort Irwin. Best of all, Miriam, Mason and I will be in Las Vegas for InterOp (well, I'm there for InterOp), so all the kids can finally meet!

Fifth: I'm trying very hard, but I fear not hard enough, not to annoy people with my anticipation for the iPhone. Man, I really hope the battery life doesn't suck.

My First Bike Ride

2007-05-12T15:39:00.000-04:00

What a beautiful morning we had today. We went on our first family bike ride today, as we received Mason's new bike seat yesterday in the mail. Isn't it cool? He loves to hold the handle bars and yell, "Weeeeee!"

Our Visit to the National Arboretum

2007-04-30T21:28:00.000-04:00

It was a beuatiful day for a trip to DC. Our first stop was the Bonsai garden. Some of the little trees have been in training since the mid-1600's! Amazing!

Busy Day

2007-04-28T20:45:00.000-04:00

We still have to add the slide, but in the dark Mason got the rock wall attached. Lots of fun to be had at our house this summer!

We also got the grass mowed and the front flower beds weeded and re-mulched. I suppose neither of us will be able to walk tomorrow from back ache.

21 Months

2007-04-23T12:05:00.000-04:00

April 21, 2007

Dear Mason II,

Happy Twenty-one Month Birthday!

Twenty-one month statistics: Weight: approximately 35 lbs. 8oz. Diaper Size: 5 Clothes: 3T and some 4T. The shorts are so long, they look like capris.

This past month has been very trying for us. These past few weeks seem to mark your official turn into a toddler. You have had a difficult time expressing yourself and so tantrums and crying are often the norm in the afternoon. Although, I tend to think this may also be caused because we have been getting you to bed later than usual. Perhaps you are just overtired? In addition to the tantrums, you are also trying to learn to share. So far, this isn’t going very well. When you feel threatened by another child over a toy you resort to biting. Last week, you actually broke the skin on poor little Carter’s arm. No bleeding, but you sure gave us a good scare.

The biting incident was not the first time I was unsure of my parenting skills, but it was the first time I was embarrassed by your behavior. I realize you don’t have much control over your behavior at this point, so it just further solidifies how important my role as your mom will be over the rest of your lifetime. I pray that I have the courage and strength to teach you the proper way to behave, to teach you compassion and most of all, how to share!

Your vocabulary continues to grow and I suppose I will say that every month for the rest of your life. It is fascinating to read books with you now. In some stories, you know a word or sound on each page. For example, in Brown Bear, Brown Bear you know the following: bear (growl), bird (tweet), duck, dog, cat, fish, sheep (baa), and even teacher. Some other interesting words include: waffle, rain, truck, prayer and boom boom for thunder. You also like to say the words: Go (followed by mad running through the house), Whoa, Ow and Two.

A few weeks ago we celebrated Easter with my mom and Nanny. Our friends, Joanna, Steve, Carter, Hudson, Jimmy, Alex and Missy all came over for dinner. Your grandma Kathie, made you a handsome, white corduroy Easter suit and my mom bought you saddle shoes to wear with it. (I just want to go on record apologizing for the saddle shoes. She used to make me wear them as well.) You were so sweet. Unfortunately, it was about 35 degrees outside most of the day. After some practice you got the hang of picking up eggs. I filled the little plastic eggs with graham and chocolate flavored bunny crackers. Ever since, you sign bunny all the time as a cracker request.

In addition to the bunny crackers, you have a few other favorite things. Every night before bed you must have your blanket, dog (little yellow stuffed one) and your baby lamb, that you affectionately call Baby. You also love to listen to your music or song as you call it. Your hammer (mammer) seems to bring you delight as you run around the house with it, always trying to shove the entire thing into your mouth. Other favorite toys include all trains, balls, and cars.

This past weekend we bought you a swing set from Toys R Us. It has a big slide, a rock climbing wall, two swings, monkey bars, and a sand area. It was on sale for $600. Of course, we had to spend another $300 on mulch so if/when you fall, you have somewhere soft to land. Is it outrageous that we spent almost $1,000 on a swing set? I realize that we are very fortunate to have money for things like this. I hope you get many, many years of enjoyment from it. Now we just have to get it put together.

I apologize for the slightly odd 21-month picture. You were not cooperating at all with the envelope. I hate to even mention that I may have to forgo the envelope for a few months until you start cooperating again. In any case, I love how adorable you are as you get ready to climb in the tub for your evening bath.

My little one, I hope this next month is filled with new wonders and delights as you discover your swing set and the beautiful Spring weather that we have finally received. May this next month bring me patience to continue to teach you important lessons about sharing and may you bestow a goodnight kiss on your dad and me.

With love, love, love,
Mama

20 Months

2007-03-22T21:14:00.000-04:00

Dear Mason II,

Happy Twentieth-Month Birthday!

Twenty month statistics: Weight: approximately 31 lbs. 8oz. Length: No idea. If I am feeling brave, I may try to measure tomorrow. Diaper Size: 5 Clothes: 24 months/2T, although you are quickly growing out of them and into your 3T and sometime 4T summer clothes.

We are still anxiously awaiting the Spring weather that I talked about in last month’s letter. We have had a few nice days, like today up to 70 degrees, but unfortunately, we have had more than our share of very chilly days. We even had more snow on March 16th! Amazing and cold for this time of year.

The past two weeks or so, we have been sick and stuck inside the house. It all started about two and half weeks ago, when you started having diarrhea. Yuck! The diarrhea continued every single day for an entire week. One day during that time you also were throwing up. It was a messy, yucky week. You were finally well enough to head back to day care for one day. That afternoon when I picked you up, Margo warned me that you were coughing and the other kids had been sent home with fevers two days in a row. The very next day you had a fever, and we were at the doctor’s office. This time it was RSV. RSV is a common, but possibly very serious respiratory infection. You were already wheezing so we had to purchase a nebulizer machine and give you breathing treatments. What a chore. You hated that awful machine. It makes a loud noise and blows medicine into your face. I’m sure you can imagine just how fun this was. The treatments also sort of gave you a buzz so you weren’t sleeping well. It has been a long two weeks.

You were kind enough to share RSV with your good ‘ol mom and mine has turned into a sinus infection. I finally went to the doctor yesterday and got a prescription. Hopefully, another day or two and we will both be feeling 100% again. Since we have both been so sick, we haven’t been out and about much this past month.

Your vocabulary continues to grow! You are able to identify the letters P and I from your fridge magnets. You grab the letter I and say “I” and then point to your own eye. It is hilarious! Let’s see, other words include: orange, door, tree, bye, key for kiwi, bread, and cheese. I’m not sure if I mentioned baby before. You love to point out babies wherever we go!

You continue to love playing with the many balls around the house. You are learning to roll, kick, and throw. We can sit on the floor and roll the ball back and forth to each other. You laugh and giggle and aim for my head.

The new Claude Moore Recreation Center is opening the end of this month. We went over on Sunday for a tour and signed up for your first swim class. The rec center looks like so much fun! I’m sure you will enjoy the rock climbing wall and totally cool pool slide (The Vortex) when you are older.

Here is a brief overview of your daily schedule: 6:30 or 7am wake up time. We eat breakfast and then play. Some of your favorite breakfast items include: shredded wheat cereal, cottage cheese with berries, oatmeal, or spinach and eggs. After breakfast we play or go meet friends. You usually have a snack around 10 or so. Lunch is early around 11:15 or 11:30am. You just this week started eating a little baby pita with cheese and turkey deli meat. You really just like the cheese and bread! You also still eat yogurt for lunch almost every day. Your dad has been making yogurt and this week is his best batch yet. After lunch we play and then it is nap time. You sleep from 1pm – 3pm or so. After naptime, you have a snack (apples or clementines!) and a cup of milk. Then more playing until dad comes home and it is time for dinner. You and dad love to read books while I prepare dinner. After dinner, it is bath time and more books with dad. Then I come upstairs, you nurse and fall asleep by around 7:30pm. My goodness you do a lot of eating!

My mom and Nanny are coming for Easter and I am so excited to make you another Easter hat. I will have to go looking for supplies this weekend. We are also attending the Easter Egg hunt at church on the Saturday before Easter. What a wonderful time of year. When my mom and Nanny are here I hope we can go downtown for a visit to see the Cherry Blossoms. They should be in full bloom. The bulbs your dad planted last fall are also just starting to come up. Once the weather decides to warm up, they will be beautiful!

This past month hasn’t been the easiest on record, but I feel like it is a gateway to the wonderful things Spring has in store for us. Here’s to good health!

Love Always,
Mama

Weekend Update: RSV

2007-03-10T13:50:00.000-05:00

Friday, Mason was diagnosed with RSV, a common, but highly contagious and serious viral infection. He's been wheezing, running a fever, and pumping out snot like Old Faithful. We have him on a Motrin and an Albuterol Sulfate breathing treatment. We need to keep him quarantined until the fever comes down, so no pointless trips to Target, no church, and possibly no work for me on Tuesday.

Administering the breathing treatment is horrible. Of course, he doesn't want to have anything to do with it, so I have to hold down his arms while Miriam tries to get the mouthpiece in his mouth. It took five to ten minutes for to finish the treatment and wipe away the tears.

It's such a beautiful day today, so we headed to the backyard. While I picked up after the dog, Mason would bring me rocks to put in the garbage bag. I'm glad he's trying to help, and I;m also glad he's picking up rocks instead of really trying to help. He ran around, and stared at the neighbor's dog before it was time to come in. I think we're going to have a lot of fun this summer, playing and running around.

Mason also has hist first chore: feeding the dog. I can fill a cup with dog food, and Mason will carry it across the kitchen the fill Bianca's bowl. He does really well, unless he drops some kibble. He'll bend over to pick it up, letting it all fall on the floor. And then once he filled but the kibble in the water bowl ... that was fun.

Miriam and I are celebrating our sixth anniversary today. The funny part is that, for the past few months, we both thought we were coming up on our seventh anniversary. We're keeping it pretty low key; mostly because we're trying to stick to a budget, but also -- coincidentally -- because Miriam is sick, too. So we'll be going out to dinner after we put Mason to bed. It's nice whne the two of us can get out alone every once in a while.

Tell me a story

2007-03-08T21:26:00.000-05:00

Just in time for SXSW, some folks at AOL have launched Ficlets. What in the heck are Ficlets?

A ficlet is a short story that enables you to collaborate with the world. Once you’ve written and shared your ficlet, any other user can pick up the narrative thread by adding a prequel or sequel. In this manner, you may know where the story begins, but you’ll never guess where (or even if!) it ends.

I also hope Ficlets is a harbinger of better things to come from AOL, but I'll hold back the optimism for now.

The site reminds me of LowBrow, without the voyeurism. But I can see that this could become quite a thing ... a lot more interesting than twitter.

My first (and possibly last) ficlet can be found here. If you write your own, leave a link in the comments.

A Couple of Links

2007-03-05T21:43:00.000-05:00

Over the past few months, I've been getting a kick out of BookMooch. Its a free book trading service. For every book you list to give away, you get 1/10 a point. For every book you give away you get a full point. "Mooching' a book costs one point, but you get 1/10 of a point back if you leave feedback. The only money you spend is to send books out; sending a paperback across the country costs about $2.00.

Another site I find interesting is Bikely. You can trace a bike (or walking) route on Google Maps, and share the route with others. This route shows the bulk of my commute. I just hope it warms up soon so I can put this route to use.

Unexpected Gift

2007-03-02T09:16:00.000-05:00

It seems like the past couple of weeks have been one challenge after another: first the condo fire, then my laptop died for the second time since Christmas, now M2 has been sick for over a week, and just this past weekend my mother-in-law had a stroke. As if that weren't enough to drive a person to drink, I have been feeling overwhelmed and under-appreciated at work. Today, I received this wonderful, unsolicited email from a student. It sure made my day:

"I can't tell you how thankful I am that I have been lucky enough to have you not only as an instuctor but as an advisor as well. You are TRULY amazing. Knowing that you are behind me has always given me strength even when I felt like giving up! Thanks so much for never giving up on me!! "

I feel better now. :-)

Fun at the Gym

2007-02-28T14:33:00.000-05:00

I have been taking Mason to open play time at a local gym. He really enjoys it and it tires him out for a good nap. For $5, you can't beat the price.

Above he was just getting ready to jump on the big trampoline.

Crawling through the obstacle course.

He always has fun throwing the balls. They have various sizes and weights to play with.

19 Months

2007-02-25T22:51:00.000-05:00

February 21, 2007

Dear Mason II,

Happy Nineteen-Month Birthday!

Your weight and height are unknown at this time. We don’t go back to the doctor until you are two years old. You are still wearing size five diapers and clothes in size 24 months. The pants that we were rolling up at Christmas now fit well, and some are too short. You may be ready for size six diapers soon and we are buying spring and summer clothes in size 3T.

Your spoken and sign vocabulary continued to grow this past month. New spoken words include: moo, ow (ouch), na (milk), and shhhh. New signs include: horse, bunny, ouch, books, all done, kiss good-bye and waving good-bye (on a regular basis), orange, blanket, quiet, chapstick and hairbrush. I’m sure there are more, but I can’t think of them now. I have a list going on my laptop, but it crashed again and is off in Cupertino being repaired.

Since you started signing book, it seems to be your favorite sign. When we go to get you from your crib in the morning, you are singing, “book, book.” You also say shi-shi while signing book. So that means you are looking for a fish book. We went shopping and bought you a wonderful book about Fish, by Lucy Cousins. You love it. You also have a big pop-up book of trains, planes, and cars. You ask for that one by name also. Books, books, books, you love to read your books!

You love to play in your room. You pull every single book off the shelf and sit and read. Your room recently got new curtains made by wonderful Grandma Kathie. She used the Winnie the Pooh sheers from your room in the old house, but made them thicker to block out the bright sun. You also love to turn on your CD player to listen to your music.

You are still the same danger mouse that I wrote about last month. In fact, two days ago you threw yourself off the couch and landed squarely on your back. It was not pleasant. I thought perhaps that you would have learned your lesson, but no such luck. The other night you were standing at the top of the bed and threw yourself back onto the bed. It was like one of those group trust exercises. When you landed on the bed you said, “Ow!” and signed Ouch.

This month we started going to Loudoun Gymnastics. A group of moms meet there on Monday mornings for open gym time. They have so many fun things to do. You love the bounce house and the super-long trampoline. The trampoline runs the entire length of the gym and you run back and forth, bouncing and giggling along the way.

Your schedule is still the same as last month. The only change is that you are getting ready to drop the morning nursing session. Some mornings you want to nurse and others you just prefer to have your cup of milk with breakfast. I think you will keep the bedtime nursing for awhile, and that is fine by me. It brings you comfort as you get ready for bed and also for those times when you hurt yourself by hurling your body off some random piece of furniture.

My dear son, we are both ready for the springtime weather to come so we can be back to playing outside. We have had more snow and ice that has kept us inside. Soon the sun will be shining and the temperature will rise above 32 degrees. I am so excited to think of the fun we will have in the coming months. In the meantime, snuggle up in your baby bag and get a goodnights sleep.

Love Always,
Mama

How I Feel About Work

2007-02-25T13:57:00.000-05:00

The list of the top 100 companies to work for came out this week. It is no big surprise that my employer isn't listed. I have longed to blog about work, but have held back since I don't want to end up like Dooce, fired for blogging about my place of employment. So, I will simply post this very telling Dilbert cartoon, and leave the rest to your imagination.

Special Day

2007-01-29T12:43:00.000-05:00

ER

2007-01-28T21:47:00.000-05:00

Does anyone know when ER will be back with new episodes?

I realize I may be the last person on earth still watching this series, but I have to know what happens to Abbey and the baby.

Teasing

2007-01-24T21:08:00.000-05:00

Tonight at church Mason II was subjected to teasing for what I believe to be the first time. It was certainly the first time I was a witness to it. From across the parish hall, I saw my son standing in front of two older boys. From my vantage point, it looked as if he was trying to grab something the boys were offering to him and then pulling it away from him. This continued for several minutes. I thought surely they would give in and offer him the toy. Surprisingly they didn’t. Not only that, they let him come to tears over it.

When I finally scurried through the crowd to the table of teenagers to comfort him, I asked, “Was someone being mean to you?” Several girls at the table immediately piped up, “YES!” Between that answer and the tears, I knew I had let it go on too long. I scooped him up for a quick hug and he quickly recovered and was off and running.

Here are some of my thoughts:
• Why would two teenage boys pick on an 18-month old boy to the point of making him cry?
• Why did the young women at the table, who obviously knew the boys were being too mean, let it continue?
• Why is this bothering me so much?

I can only speculate, but here are some of my answers.
• I can only hope the boys didn’t realize it would upset him that much. However, part of me thinks the boys just didn’t care and were just trying to see how far they could push him.
• Did the boys intimidate the young women as well? Do they not have the assertiveness to speak up and tell them to chill, why pick on a little guy?
• I am pretty sure it is bothering me for two reasons:
o Watching my son cry as I walked across the room quickly brought me back to fifth grade and Mario O. who used to call me four-eyes and teacher’s pet. I remember my mother saying, “Tell him sticks and stones will break your bones, but name will never hurt you.” Wow, was she wrong. The mean things he said to me in elementary school still haunt me.
o This won’t be the last time someone hurts his feelings on purpose. There are many more days ahead when I will need to comfort my son because someone in the world just felt like being mean. How do parents explain it? What do you say to your crying child when another child teases or bullies them?

Tonight was easy, because handing him the ball he wanted and giving him a kiss on the cheek made it all better. But what about next time, when he won’t be so easily distracted? Will I find myself telling him the story of the sticks and stones? Is there a better way?

18 Months

2007-01-22T15:14:00.001-05:00

January 21, 2007

Dear Mason II,

Happy Eighteen-Month Birthday!

Eighteen month statistics: Weight: approximately 31 lbs. ?oz. Length: ? inches. Diaper Size: 5 Clothes: 24 months or 2T. We go to the doctor on February 2nd, so I will have better stats then.

It seems as if it has been forever since I have written. I’m so sorry that I didn’t get to write a 17-month letter. The day before we left for Christmas my laptop died and it wasn’t returned until about a week into the new year. Work and travel also made life pretty crazy.

Your schedule seems pretty set now. You wake up in the morning around 7 or 7:30am. We nurse, and then you have a cup of milk and some breakfast. Lunch is at about 11 or 11:30am, and then nap-time is 12:30 – 2:30 (give or take 30 minutes). When you wake up from your nap you have another cup of milk and a snack of some sort, more on food in the next paragraph. We try to eat dinner around 5:45pm, and then it is time for bath, jammies, nursing and bed by 7 or 7:30pm.

The past two months have had some ups and downs with food. Some days for breakfast you will eat an entire kiwi and a one-egg omelet with spinach and cheese. Then on other days, you will only eat the kiwi. We really try to not stress over your food. We figure it is up to us when we offer food and what we offer. It is up to you to figure out how much (if any) you want to eat. We are still sticking by the plan to not become short order cooks. You either eat what we offer or you wait until the next meal. This has worked really well so far.

Your vocabulary has really started to come alive since Christmas. I made a rough list and you have about 20+ words and 20+ signs. It is amazing! I love the signs because you can sign words that you just could never say at this point. (For example: alligator) You often say the word and sign at the same time (For example: juice). You are starting to use the sign for apple when you wake up from your nap and are craving your little apple snack. Your dad and I need to learn more food specific words to teach you so you can tell us what you want.

You have become danger mouse! Somehow you learned the word “two”, as in one, two, three…. You only say the two part, and then you throw yourself off the bed or couch or some other tall object. So far, our reflexes have been up to the task of catching you.

We were lucky to spend 11 wonderful days in Las Vegas for Christmas this year. You immediately remembered playing peek-a-boo with Nanny and resumed your fun game. You also found all the television sets in the house and loved to turn them on and off. You received many wonderful gifts for Christmas including a sit and spin, several airplanes of various sizes, lots of little cars to vroom around, and your first huge Tonka dump truck. While we were in Vegas, you also swallowed a packing peanut and almost swallowed a Ny-Quil capsule!

Since we came home from Christmas, you have had a horrible diaper rash. As such we have tried to give you a good amount of naked time. Unfortunately, as soon as we take your diaper off you run into our closet and pee on the floor. I’m sure you will shirk with embarrassment when you read this in 20 years, but it really is funny. I have a hard time not laughing when you do it.

In the morning you are super hungry for breakfast so you drag your highchair into the kitchen while saying, “Eat” and signing “food”. Other times, you will try to crawl up and sit at the dining room table on a regular chair. At Christmas you sat in a regular chair at grandma and grandpa’s house. You also love all food that is round – mushrooms, olives, carrots, etc… You repeatedly ask for “ball, ball.”

I almost forgot to mention your teeth. It wouldn’t be the holidays if you weren’t teething. Between mid-November and January you got three canine teeth. That brings the total up to 16. That is all of them until the nasty, two-year molars start coming in. I’m not looking forward to that. It is so strange to see you with a mouth full of teeth. Last year at this time you just had two very tiny, very sharp bottom teeth.

You love to laugh and giggle. If I crawl on the floor and chase you, you will run into my arms laughing hysterically. You also love to tickle your dad. While you are having your diaper changed, you love to lift the side of his shirt and tickle his belly. You also love to hop on pop! He will lie on the floor and you jump on his belly. After a while you pause to take a little rest on top. It is so cute to see you flop down on him. The two of you also enjoy reading books at night while I am making dinner. Probably one of our most favorite things is that you have learned to give a hug and a kiss. You don’t do it on command just yet, but if we catch you in the right mood we might get lucky.

Today we celebrated your 18-month birthday with a beautiful snow shower. You had fun mowing the sidewalk while dad shoveled. This afternoon I also attended a baby shower for a dear friend, who has a baby your age and now her second one is coming in about a week. We talked about what a wonderful gift it is to give your child a sibling. Your dad and I certainly aren’t ready for that just yet, perhaps in another year or so. I hope that you are lucky enough to someday know the joy that comes from being a big brother. Until then, you are my one and only baby. Please don’t grow up too fast.

Love,
Mama

17 Months

2007-01-08T19:45:00.000-05:00

As all of my two regular readers have probably figured out, I didn't get around to writing a 17 month letter. It has been a crazy couple of weeks around here. My laptop broke the day before we left for our holiday vacation to Las Vegas, and it is still not repaired. That is probably my strongest argument for not writing this month.

We had a wonderful time in Las Vegas, but returned to a more than full schedule here. I attended the CHE certification class last week and I have three new courses starting this week. I hope to have an 18 month letter completed on time. Apple says that my laptop is in currently pending return shipment. Woo Hoo!

Secure Shuffle

2006-11-30T19:55:00.000-05:00

For a few months now, I have been using a secure disk image on my iPod Shuffle to transfer files between home and work. It's been working well enough, that I thought I'd share the procedure.

While I have an original 1 GB Shuffle, I only use about 512 MB for music. This is more than enough for mowing the lawn, driving or cycling to work. I configured the iPod to use the rest as data space.

I created a 100 MB encrypted disk image (Locker.dmg), and put it on the Shuffle.
Installed iPod Launcher on all of my Macs.
On my home Mac, I added an AppleScript that backs up the disk image to ~/Backup/YYYY-MMM-DD-TTT-Locker.dmg. I added this script to the iPod Launcher items. Admittedly, I didn't write all of this script, and I can't remember where I found it. (If you happen to know of the original, let me know and I'll give due credit.) I tweaked it quite a bit, so it will actually de-encrypt and compress the disk image.
On all of the Macs, I added Locker.dmg to the iPod Launcher items

So, I attach the Shuffle, the disk image auto-mounts, and I have access to my files. When I get home, the image is automatically backed up before its mounted (and yes, I backup ~/Backup, as well). Now, if my Shuffle is lost or stolen, I don't have to worry about personal or business data being compromised. For an added level of security, I only keep the password in the keychain of the backup Mac. I could be more secure and never store the password, but I'm more concerned about loosing the Shuffle than the iMac. And I change (and then forget) my password frequently enough that the backups would be worthless if they stayed encrypted.

I wouldn't mind finding a platform independent disk image format ... maybe PGP Disk?

I want a thrill, I want a wow

2006-11-30T14:49:00.000-05:00

Simplicity

2006-11-30T09:49:00.000-05:00

Was forwarded some great lego ads this morning.

16 Months

2006-11-27T20:53:00.000-05:00

November 21, 2006

Dear Mason II,

Happy Sixteen-Month Birthday!

Sixteen month statistics: Weight: approximately 28 lbs. 4oz. Length: 31.5 inches. Diaper Size: 5 Clothes: 24 months.

What an amazing month it has been! You have really started using your sings with us. This month you have started using the following signs: more, please, all done, train and your very favorite… airplane. You love to look up at the shy and make the airplane sign. At the same time you make a cute little vroom sound.

We celebrated your second Halloween a few weeks ago. Your grandmother made you an adorable scarecrow costume. It was a little on the small side, but it worked fine. We spent the evening sitting on the front porch handing out candy. You had such fun! We also took a walk through the neighborhood to look at decorations. A neighbor down the road decorates their yard with florescent painted animals and black lights. It is very cool.

One morning while I was out and about, you were hanging out with your dad on the front porch. He only took his eye off of you for a moment, but that was enough to send you tumbling down the cement steps head first. I didn’t get any pictures, but you had a good size, bloody scrape down the side of your face - Poor little guy. Just like with your other bumps and bruises, you healed quickly.

The past few weeks you haven’t seemed to be quite yourself. You were suffering from a persistent cold. It wouldn’t seem to get bad enough for medical intervention, but also wouldn’t go away. Saturday evening your eye started oozing some funky junk. I was afraid that it was pink eye, but your dad felt it was just the cold and so we went to Tyler’s birthday party. The next day your eye was huge and disgusting. We called the pediatrician and she suggested we take you to the ER.

The trip to the ER was surprisingly painless for all of us. 45 minutes later and we were in and out. The diagnosis was pink eye and cellulitis. We have two prescriptions for you that include oral antibiotics and some eye drops. The antibiotics are orange flavored and you love them. The eye drops are another story. We basically have to hold you down as you kick and scream. It is horrible! I feel bad, but it is the only way. By the time you are old enough to read this, thankfully, you won’t remember the torture.

The night before we went to the ER, we celebrated Tyler’s first birthday. Tyler is your friend from church. His birthday is November 18th and he had a fun Winnie the Pooh birthday party at his house in Leesburg. We left his present on the counter at home, so we dropped it off on Sunday on our way home from the ER. I called Tyler’s parents on the way home to let them know. We sure hope that Tyler doesn’t get pink eye also.

Since the cold came along, you haven’t seemed to be eating quite the same. A few months ago you would eat a spinach and egg omelet plus an entire kiwi for breakfast. Now, you sometimes only eat half of your omelet, and dramatically less at all of your meals. While you are eating less, you are eating a lot more on your own. We now serve your dinner on a little divided plate. We can give you your own spoon and you use it with some regularity. You still make quite a mess, but it is fun to watch. We try to work with you each night on using the spoon and trying to limit how much food your throw on the floor. It drives us crazy, but the dog is your very best friend!

In just a couple of days your nana and nanny will be here from Las Vegas for Thanksgiving. Oh, what fun we will have.

Love,
Mama

First Trip to the ER

2006-11-19T15:59:00.000-05:00

I knew it was only a matter of time before it was our turn for a trip to the ER. Growing up my best friend, Amy, was in the ER all the time - broken bones, sprained something or other. I, on the other hand, only went to the doctor on a rare occasion. My one trip to the ER was when I was in a car accident when I was four years old. I sort of figured I was destined to have a kid that was accident prone.

Yesterday afternoon, little Mason's eye looked a little swollen when he got up from his nap. He had a little discharge coming out so we grabbed our ancient copy of the Dr. Sears Baby Book and read up. Turns out that kids can have eye drainage for a variety of reasons including a stuffy nose which he has had for awhile now. So, we went ahead to the birthday party we were invited to as planned.

This morning when he woke up, his eye looked like he had gone 10 rounds with Rocky Balboa. It was all crusted over and it just looked bad. Mason called Dr. Fergusson and we expected her to say bring him in Monday. Instead, she said take him to the ER. I was in shock!

A few weeks ago, I heard that Loudoun Hospital added a ped ER unit and that brought me some comfort as we made our way the few miles up to the hospital. I had fears of them poking and proding him. I made sure to bring blanekt and bunny, but I think they were more for me than him.

Here is his eye this morning at breakfast.

My big boy waiting for the doctor to come in.

Now he is ready to leave. Where is that nurse with the prescription?

For an ER visit, it was very smooth. 45 minutes in and out. Everyone at the hospital was very nice to us. Turns out he has cellulitis and pink eye. We have two types of medicine and orders to see our regular pediatrician on Monday.

The only thing I couldn't help thinking "What happens to the people who don't have insurance and the $75 co-pay when their kids get sick?"

Goopymart, Updates

2006-11-10T05:58:00.000-05:00

teh internets-ftw
Originally uploaded by goopymart.

I have been annoying everyone at work with Goopymart. I really hope this guy starts selling T-Shirts, coffee mugs and what not. Check out the rest of Goopymart at Flickr.

Yesterday somebody at work chided me for not posting more frequently. I only mention it because it coincided with my inner chiding. Not that I have interesting things pent up waiting to share with the world. To the contrary, when I sit down and think "I should write a letter/e-mail/post/grocery list," I spend 15 minutes debating between paper and electronic, which paper or program, laptop or desktop, patio, familyroom or bedroom, coffee or tea. By the time I am done ~~procrastinating~~ figuring out the logistics, I'm ready for bed. I would like to write better, and, as they say, the first step to writing better is writing more. I need to journal more, blog more, and write more letters (digital and dead tree). So we'll see how that goes.

My stepfather is doing alright. He's still recovering from a lot of swelling, but, considering the circumstances, he seems to be okay.

Candice, our previous daycare provider, is still in the hospital, but conscious. She isn't being very cooperative, which is making the recovery more difficult.

Mason is doing very well at the new daycare, and I am mostly used to the new lady.

Work is work. Plenty to complain about, but even more to be thankful for. If there wasn't anything to complain about, I think I'd be awfully bored.

Up, Up and Away

2006-10-30T12:17:00.000-05:00

After a week and a half, we once again have Internet access at home. Thank you, Verizon. Good riddance, Adelphia. Now, when can we get FIOS?

15- Months

2006-10-26T12:07:00.000-04:00

October 21, 2006

Dear Mason II,

Happy Fifteen-Month Birthday!

Fifteen month statistics: Weight: approximately 28 lbs. 4oz. Length: 31.5 inches. Diaper Size: 5 Clothes: 24 months, although they are very long still.

This past month has been full of changes. You have dropped almost all of your nursing sessions. You nurse in the morning for just a minute or two and then again at night. Occasionally, you will nurse for two minutes around 5pm. It is an emotional change for me, but one that I know you are ready for. It means that you are growing up and gaining more independence. I am so proud that we have made it this far. You still receive some frozen breastmilk during the day at day care, but that will soon be gone. You are now drinking cow and soy milk just fine.

You have started a new day care with a provider named, Margo. I am very sorry to say that your previous provider, Candice, suffered a brain aneurism and is in ICU at Georgetown Hospital. At this point we do not know if she will even survive as it has been touch and go for several days now. Your dad and I are so sad to know that Candice is so ill. Although she didn’t have the cleanest floor or the most nutritious food, she loved you without a doubt! The new day care is very nice and Margo seems to enjoy caring for you.

This past week, while working the night shift at 7-11, your grandfather, Bill, was robbed and shot. We were in quite a panic wondering if he would even survive. Apparently he has a guardian angle that was sitting with him that morning, because the bullet did not penetrate his brain and he was out of the hospital within a couple of hours. Truly a miracle!

You have found some words this month! In addition to Mama, you are also saying the following: No, Ba (Ball), Da (Duck and Dad). While you don’t have as many words as many other children your age, the doctor isn’t worried. I think you will soon catch up.

Your play is changing so much. You love to vroom little cars around on the floor. This month you got your first set of crayons and enjoy scribbling on paper. You also seem to enjoy nibbling on the crayons, which we try to discourage. You love to play with the plug in the bath tub. You take it in and out of the tub water during bath time, giggling with delight. LeapFrog makes a talking book that you enjoying reading, and you love all books. Sometimes you will go grab a book and crawl into our lap so we can read to you.

Mealtime is changing as well. You are making a great effort to feed yourself with your own spoon. We help you get food on the spoon and then you put it in your mouth. You also like to take food from your tray and put it in a bowl. You are quite the eater. Some mornings you will eat a one-egg spinach omelet with cheese and an entire kiwi. You still eat yogurt, avocado and wheat germ for lunch most days. Dinner is comprised of whatever we are eating.

Some other games you enjoy include your slide in the backyard. We have some great video of you climbing the little stairs and then going down all on your own. You have found a little space behind the back of the couch. Your dad calls it your cave and you love to crawl through from one side to the other. It is so cute to hear you pitter patter back there. When you get to the other side, you squeal with delight.

The end of September you suffered what I would call your first major accident. While your dad was taking quiche out of the oven, you set your hand on the inside of the oven door. It was 450 degrees and gave you second degree burns on your right hand. You had us pretty scared, as blisters developed over the joints of your tiny hand. The doctor gave us some cream to use and we had to keep it wrapped, which was quite a chore. It healed pretty quickly, thank goodness.

Your napping is also starting to change this month. I think you are starting to move to just one nap each day. Sometimes you still take two naps, but it depends on the day.

So many changes this month that all point in one direction… growing up. We are so happy to have a healthy growing boy. I would be lying if I didn’t say that I cherish that night-time nursing when you fall asleep in my arms, and I remember all the fond memories we have created together over the past fifteen months. The only thing better than thinking of the past is imaging what the future holds for our family.

Love,
Mama

Fourteen

2006-10-23T06:35:00.000-04:00

If the point of this blog is to share what is going on in our lives, I'd be remiss not to mention what happened last Wednesday. Around 5 AM Pacific Time, while my stepfather was working the graveyard shift at the 7-Eleven, he was robbed, and shot in the face.

Thank God, he survived. He was actually discharged from the ER only hours after being admitted, with stitches and a fist-full of prescriptions. Luckily, Bill had his head tilted back, so the bullet skimmed across his forehead. Of course, with a face full of blood, the robber still made him empty the cash register. And then Bill was able to call 911 for help.

I won't write a screed on handguns, or how my old neighborhood continues to go downhill. I won't snark about how Bill had been working graves four weeks straight because my parents have an obsessive compulsion with running that store.

I just hope that guy enjoyed the burger he bought with fourteen blood-smeared dollars.

Daycare Changes

2006-10-16T21:15:00.000-04:00

Last Wednesday Candice, our daycare provider, was supposed to fly to Texas for her son's wedding. Instead, while she was packing, she collapsed from a brain aneurysm. Thankfully her niece was with her, so Candice was rushed to the hospital, and then another hospital, where she'll be in ICU for a few more weeks. Things have been touch and go through the weekend, and last I heard the doctors are giving her an optimistic, but cautious chance of survival. I don't think they are saying much about recovery, although, even if things go well, she's looking at about 18 months of rehabilitation.

I feel horrible for her family; for her son who had to cancel his wedding to come be with his mom. Her other son that was sharing the house with Candice, and who will likely have to move.

I keep thinking about how, even if she pulls through with minimal physical (and mental) damage, how her life will be completely different. The house she has been renting will be gone, all the kids she's been watching these past few years will have moved on to other daycares. She truly lves watching the kids. Sure, her house isn't the cleanest, but she makes sure the kids have fun. There is a TV, but I rarely see it turned on, becase the kids are too busy playing. And there is lots of junk food around, but Candice respects our wishes that Mason eat more healthy meals and snacks.

Miriam and I have been talking about how much it would change our lives if something similar happened to one of our moms, who are about the same age as Candice. Would we move them out here, or would we move back to Vegas? It isn;t a new topic for us, but to see someone close to us, close to our son, debilitated so quickly and without any warning has spooked us a little.

Of course there is the practical matter of finding a new daycare provider. Miriam jumped right into action, getting referrals from friends and mailing lists; grabbing listings of daycare providers from the state and county. Thursday and Friday she went by a few houses, and was less than impressed. Now everyone has their own idea of how to raise a child, but we don't want our son plopped down in front of a TV for eight hours. And breast milk doesn't belong in the microwave.

Anyway, in the end we (okay, Miriam) found a nice lady close to my office. She's more expensive than Candice, but she watches fewer kids, keeps her house considerably cleaner and has better ideas of toddler nutrition. I know Mason will be happy there, playing with his new friend and an old friend from Candice's. But I know I'll miss dropping him off in all of the clutter, I'll miss trying to squeeze his lunch into the tiny fridge, and I'll miss Candice's gravely, loving hello she gave Mason (and me) every Tuesday and Thursday.

Candice, Natalie, Mason and Alexi. September 2005

Fun Days in the Back Yard

2006-10-15T22:16:00.000-04:00

The past few days were just beautiful here. Chilly, but lovely. I picked up this fun slide at a yard sale a couple weeks ago. It was a steal at $5. Mason just loves it.

He has also discovered that there is a small opening between the back of the couch and the wall. He loves to take his toys and crawl back behind the couch into what we have deemed.... his cave. I worry that one day someone will come over and sit on the couch and squish him back there, but I am trying to not be a paranoid mother. Afterall, what kid doesn't want a cave to call their own?

Fall is here are we are sure enjoying it this year. So much fun to have our little boy running around the yard.

Miss B

2006-10-15T22:12:00.000-04:00

Even though the dog days of summer are long gone, Miss B still enjoys a spot in the shade while Mason plays outside. Not much of a guard dog exactly, but she likes to supervise.

Work

2006-10-11T21:47:00.000-04:00

I have been working for a great guy for the past few years. Luckily, he has started blogging. Its great to see him articulate his principles, far better than I ever could.

I recently transitioned from the "Portal Workgroup" to the "Platform and Publishing Systems" workgroup. Luckily, I still work for David. Unfortunately, I am going through my regular stress-out reaction to new projects. Why the panic?

I don't like not knowing what I'm doing: some of the problems and tasks are simple to solve, but I'm just plain unfamiliar with the technology involved: SANs, Veritas, and a bunch of old, propriety technology.

I have a new project, that is supposed to launch next week, that very will is going to have to slip, mostly because of the above issues.

I finally have some idea of where I want my career to go, and I thought that by changing groups, it could provide me greater opportunities to reach that goal. I'm afraid I may have been wrong.

Granted, it has only been three weeks since I started moving between groups, and I have one or two more weeks to go. And I haven't talked to my new manager about my goals (short or long term). Once I get this project launched, I should be able to breathe for five minutes and start to focus on my future.

I'm thankful Miriam puts up with the constant sighing, grumbling and moaning. I couldn't ask for a better chearleader.

14 Months

2006-09-25T15:13:00.000-04:00

September 21, 2006

Dear Mason II,

Fourteenth month statistics: Weight: approximately 27 lbs. 11oz. Length: 31 inches. Diaper Size: 5 Clothes: 18 months and some 24 months although they are very long still.

Summer has come to an end and this morning it was 52 degrees outside. I had to dig an old jacket out of the closet for you to wear. Luckily, Aunt Betsy bought you a big jacket last year and it still fit great. I have been buying your fall wardrobe and purchasing size 24 months or even a few 2T. We usually have to roll up the sleeves and the cuffs, but I’m sure they will fit fine in another few weeks.

We have been so busy these past few weeks. We took our very first family vacation to the Outer Banks in August. What fun! You got your tenth tooth, a molar on the top right while we were there. You didn’t much care for the beach. The first few days were so hot and humid it was almost unbearable! At the beach, you did okay in the sand after a little while, but you were very scared of the ocean.

Nanny did really well! She has so much fun sitting with you in the back seat of the car and laughing and giggling and playing with you. She now refers to you as her little peek-a-boo. You had great fun pulling your little blanket over your head and smiling at her. I am so happy that she was able to come and spend such glorious days with us.

When we got home from the beach, you got a third molar to bring the total up to eleven. It was a rough couple of days while you were drooling and nose running. You even woke up during the middle of the night a few times, just crying and crying. Your dad and I would take turns going in and rocking you. Luckily, it passed quickly.

Last month I wrote about your first bloody nose and this month I get to write about your first goose egg. We were all playing downstairs in the basement. You ran around the corner by the spare bedroom, when we heard a crash. You must have fallen and cracked your head on the door jam. You got this huge goose egg with a big bruise down the middle of your forehead. I’m sure it wont’ be the last, but you gave us a good scare.

You are a very busy boy! Running everywhere and into everything. You love to play in your kitchen cabinet with all the Tupperware. Thankfully, we have locked all of the other cabinets. You love to pull out all of your sippy cups and pretend to drink out of them.

This month we tried to give you cow’s milk for the first time. You took one sip and then threw the cup on the floor. After a week, we tried so milk. You aren’t loving it, but you will drink a few sips. At day care, Candice is now giving you one 5-oz. Bag of milk in the morning and then your sippy cup of soy milk in the afternoon. Oddly enough, you usually won’t drink the soy milk until we come to pick you up. I haven’t really figured that one out yet.

Lately it seems that you love to throw things. Trying to feed you in your highchair is like a game to you sometimes. You eat well when you are hungry, but as soon as you start to get full you throw your food overboard. The dog loves it. She sits patiently by and waits for the rain of food. Speaking of food, you are eating everything. I think the only things we aren’t giving you are things like peanuts and shellfish. The other night we had shrimp for dinner so I made you a tilapia fillet. You loved it. I couldn’t believe you ate almost the entire thing.

The big news of the month is your first word….. Mama! Yea! On September 17th you started saying it. Of course, you use the word for lots of things, not just me, but in any case it does seem that Mama is your first word.

Anther exciting month has come and gone. We love you!

Love,
Mama

Goose Egg

2006-09-09T20:21:00.000-04:00

One dozen electrical outlet covers - $1.99
Oven door lock - $2.49
Tot-locks for cabinets - $29.99
Strategically placed Baby Gates - $69.99 each
Running into the door jam- PRICELESS

Toddler Tag

2006-09-09T10:02:00.000-04:00

While we were on vacation, Karrie and Max tagged Mason II for a meme. After a week of catching up on things at work and around the house we've finally had time to respond

3 Things That Scare Me
1. Vacuum
2. Ocean
3. Being left alone

3 People That Make Me Laugh
1. All my buddies
2. Nanna & Nanny
3. Momma

3 Things I Love
1. Light Switches
2. Miss B
3. Watching everyone

3 Things I Hate
1. Naps
2. Face Washing
3. The Tub

3 Things I Don't Understand
1. Why I have to go to bed
2. Why Mom and Dad go to work
3. How to open a door

3 Things On My Desk
1. Drinking with a straw
2. Trying cow and/or soy milk
3. Deciding on my first word

3 Things I'm Doing Right Now
1. Resisting taking a nap
2. Humming along with my music box
3. Just resting my eyes, honest.

3 Things I Want to Do Before I Die
Dad's note: what kind of question is this? Are you trying to make me cry?
1. Meet my cousins
2. Eat peanut butter
3. Go to Disney World

3 Things I Can Do
1. Go up the stairs
2. Snuggle anything fluffy (the dog, dad's head)
3. Splash in the smallest ammount of water

3 Things I Can't Do
1. Go down stairs (safely)
2. Give Mom a kiss
3. Mow the lawn

3 Things I Think You Should Listen To
1. The choir at church
2. Mom and Dad sing
3. Other babies

3 Things I Think You Should Never Listen To
1. Anyone who says its naptime
2. Anyone who says its bathtime
3. NPR on the way to daycare

3 Absolute Favorite Foods
1. Baby guachamole (whole milk yogurt and avacado)
2. Fruit
3. Whatever is on mom's or dad's plate

3 Beverages I Drink Regularly
1. Milk
2. Water
3. More Milk

3 Shows I Watched as a Kid
1. Dad and I would watch Battlestar Galactica on Saturday mornings. Okay, I'd take a nap on his chest while mom slept in a little bit. I don't have the patience for dad's space operas anymore.
2. I sneak a peak of The Today Show nearly every morniing.
3. Who has time for TV? There's a dog to chase and light switches to flip!

3 Toddlers I Tag
1. Rachel
2. Who else hasd a blog? If you're under five, feel free to "tag yourself" in the comments