Farewell to month number 10!

Here are some pictures to commemorate the last day of Nick's 10th month of life. Here's to all the fun month 11 will bring, as we inch closer to Little Man's first birthday ...

Back to work

The first day went well - felt like the first day of school when I was a kid. My mom was here and even took a picture of me before I left for the day. I can't believe I cleaned up so well, actually. One hour earlier I was in pajamas with my hair in a pony tail, no makeup, with spit and dried milk all over my shirt and arm. Such is the life of a working mama. But I'm glad to be back and missed my students very much. Today, for the first time in a long time, I felt like "me" again, although, if I'm honest, I do wish I could just be Nick's mom and nothing else until he's a little older. I feel like his babyhood is passing me by. I don't want to miss a minute of it. Ah, the conflicts I feel. I'm sure with time they'll be resolved.

So it's official

I've finally lost so much baby weight that I'm too small to wear the suits I wore to work before I got pregnant. All I can say is thank GOD for breastfeeding. How do women do it otherwise? Just for the record, I'm not bragging; I'm celebrating 10 months of hard, hard work that's paid off in more ways than one: I don't have to smell formula; my baby has been well for 10 months (knock on virtual wood); and my body bounced back rather nicely.

Could not have done it without you, Jacque. Now let's see if I can keep nursing Nick until he's 2. Then I'll start thinking about portion control, calories, and my long lost friend, Mojito.

Two on Tuesday ...

because I don't have time for ten.

1. I am putting finishing touches on my syllabi for class tomorrow night and Thursday night. I think both are going to be great.

2. My little man will only stand in his crib, for as long as you leave him in there. If the mobile stops spinning, he cries; but if the animals are dancing, he stands there with the cutest grin on his face. See?

And that's all I have time to write before getting back to Nick, work, Nick, work, Nick, work, grab a 2-minute snack, Nick, work, sleep for 10 mins, Nick, work, Nick, Nick, Nick.

On her way back home

My friend and former student Brigid is moving home, to Michigan, after being out here for a few homesick years. She stopped in to see Nick and me before she and her hubby hit the road (for a very fun and romantic roadtrip, I might add!). Thanks for visiting, Brigid.

We love you and will miss you.

Another first ...

He finally learned to "climb" the stair in search of his ball. Thank goodness we only have one step there. I know, in no time, he'll be trying to scale the "real" stairs. What then?

What's growing in your garden?

My little plant must be getting extra Miracle-Gro because he's growing so fast!

Valentine's Day - my little cupid

On Monday, Nick and I are headed for The Picture People because he just has to be dressed up like this:


Betcha can't wait to see how he looks with his bow and arrow! (p.s. that is not him in the picture - it's just an advertisement.)

Ten on Thursday

1. Nick has been wearing a shirt that I bought at Baby Gap last week (for way too much money). It says "Lock up your daughters" on the front. And given that he is now officially the world's biggest flirt - especially with waitresses for some reason - it seems appropriate.


2. I go back to work next week and I'm simultaneously sad and excited about my return.

3. I received two really nice compliments this week from two different people and they made me feel so good about myself! I needed that boost of self-confidence right before I go back to work.

4. Sometimes, like right now, I miss being pregnant. What exactly do I miss? Long afternoon catnaps (even though I had to lay on my left side, which I hate); feeling life inside me - the kicks, the turns, the occasional knee punches; having great skin and healthy hair; being treated extra nicely by strangers (who probably just felt sorry for me but so what); rubbing my belly, which I thought was the most beautiful thing ever; all the hormones, which made me feel happy and sexy and energetic from week 16 until about week 30. And you know what? I'd go back and do it all over again if I could (David says, you can! But I don't mean a second baby, I mean with Nick).

5. Speaking of my little man, he doesn't sleep much and I am E-X-H-A-U-S-T-E-D.

6. I have decided to vote for Barack Obama because something in me just doesn't trust Hillary all that much. And Edwards seems too Southern and Gentle for the job.
I would potentially vote for McCain if his stance on the war changed, actually.

7. My mom has been here staying with me for a few days so I can get work done and I am grateful for the help.

8. Nick has taken to screaming like a rabid monkey when you don't pay enough attention to him. He especially likes to do this in restaurants when it's quiet.

9. I went to Home Goods this week (OF COURSE) and once again, no crazies.

10. David recovered from his tonsilectomy with absolutely no trouble. He's like that - if it takes normal people 3 weeks to recover, he will somehow manage to bounce back in 3 days.

On lazy, sunny-but-cold winter mornings ...

I like to watch my baby sleep. Doesn't he look peaceful?

First visit to the beach

Today we went to Del Mar (Torrey Pines) and introduced Nick's fingers and toes to the feeling of sand and ocean water. It was just so beautiful outside and we've been meaning to take him down there for a while now. He loved it. He is such a careful explorer when introduced to new things. He spent 10 minutes just gently running his fingertips over the sand at the edge of our blanket before he got more adventurous and crawled off the blanket. He loved it when Dad held his hands and walked him to the water's edge. Both of us said today we can't wait to take him to Maui, to the beach where we got married. What fun to think about all the good times that lay ahead.

(Little) Man's best friend

Nick has really discovered Bella this week, wanting to play with her, smiling when she passes by, reaching out to pet her (read: pull her fur). She hadn't shown much interest until yesterday, when she started to play with him, too. She would approach him, he would giggle, she would lick his feet or ears (only two spots of interest she's shown), he would scream, then she would step back; she would wait about a minute, then come toward him again and they would then repeat their little giggle-lick- scream sequence. I enjoyed watching my two babies start to interact. My hope is that eventually they will be friends.

It's not that far down ...

So there were about 100 new baby developments this week. Nick is growing by leaps and bounds, eating non-stop, babbling (ba ba ma ma mawab ba goo ma goo) and almost crawling (I like to call what he does "slithering"). But today was just funny. He's not only moving, he's thinking. He got in his pack 'n play, looked over at me, scooted and slithered to the edge, got up on his knees, grabbed hold of the side with both hands, and looked down - then looked back at me as if to say, "it's not that far down." The camera was right there. I just couldn't resist snapping a shot of my little man trying to escape.

And this is why - for those of you don't have kids - you are never allowed to leave your baby alone in a room for 2 seconds. They are smarter than you think, and more eager to escape than you realize :0).

Congratulations to Kris & Tim, and Revival of Soul Impressions

Yesterday was a BIG day around these parts ... I got to see my sister's beautiful new house in Dove Canyon, and I was inspired to come back to my little blogspot and start posting again. How did that happen, you ask? Well, after we visited the new house and I took way too many pictures (more on that in a moment), we went to lunch at my all-time favorite restaurant, Woodranch Grill, and over lunch we started talking about blogs. Kristin has found someone's blogspot and become completely addicted. So then I said, "Well, I have a blogspot as a matter of fact," and Jeff chimed in, "I have one, too." None of us knew the others had them or were even interested. So I promptly came home and gave mine a dusting and polishing (i.e., a new template) and now I'll take it live, at least for the people who would be interested.

Now, you may be wondering, if I took so many pictures of her new house yesterday, why did I only post a photo of a bird's nest in a tree? Because it's the first thing I noticed when I walked up to her driveway - this tiny little nest, now vacant, nestled in the bare branches of a deciduous tree. Anyone can post pics of a house; but not just anyone notices the details that make a house a home.