Thanks Grammie and Grandpa!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Some proof of his Greek heritage
Nick does not look Greek; and yet he has what is perhaps the most Greek name a man can have: Nick Perrakis. His whole life, people will make assumptions about what he will look like before they meet him. And when he shows up, all sandy-blondish-brown haired and blue-eyed with pale skin, I think most will be surprised. Of course, he looks just like me, and people have always said that I have the most Greek name and that I don't look Greek either. Go figure.
But one sure sign he's Greek is his hair. It's as curly as you can get, especially when it's wet. Did he inherit his father's nice straight fine hair? Nope. He took after me in that regard, too. Here are pics of his hairline over the months, as it receded (read: fell out) and then came back. Kind of a fun, if weird, way to track his development, from full head of hair to bald and back again. He was born with so much and it just fell out in clumps after a few months. Poor little guy, he was almost completely bald by 6 months. In one specific area, at the very back of his head, I swear he lost every single hair at one point. Look - it's almost all grown back now!
1 WEEK OLD:
3 MONTHS OLD:
6 MONTHS OLD:
9 MONTHS OLD: 
10 1/2 MONTHS OLD (TODAY):
But one sure sign he's Greek is his hair. It's as curly as you can get, especially when it's wet. Did he inherit his father's nice straight fine hair? Nope. He took after me in that regard, too. Here are pics of his hairline over the months, as it receded (read: fell out) and then came back. Kind of a fun, if weird, way to track his development, from full head of hair to bald and back again. He was born with so much and it just fell out in clumps after a few months. Poor little guy, he was almost completely bald by 6 months. In one specific area, at the very back of his head, I swear he lost every single hair at one point. Look - it's almost all grown back now!
1 WEEK OLD:
3 MONTHS OLD:
6 MONTHS OLD:
9 MONTHS OLD: 
10 1/2 MONTHS OLD (TODAY):
Friday, February 15, 2008
Teeth update
Here are some shots from this morning ... and two additional pics: One of him using his crib as a teether (word to the wise: don't buy an expensive crib because your baby will bite on it and ruin it), and one cutie shot of him just sitting in his crib, reading his book, because it made me smile.
Happy weekend!
Happy weekend!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
My valentine - The tiny man who stole my heart
One year ago, he was karate-chopping me all night long, my little friend who lived inside my belly. I talked to him constantly, sang to him occasionally, even read him my favorite Beatrix Potter stories. Now he's my valentine, and to me he's as beautiful today as he was that first month of his life. The Valentine's Day card I bought for him says, "Before I held you in my arms, I held you in my heart - That's where you began, and where you will always be." I wrote him a note inside, sealed the envelope, kissed it to leave a lip print, and placed it in his little box of special things I've saved since he was born.
Oh, how certain days and moments take you back. I spent time this morning going back through digital photo albums of his first weeks at home and found the two I posted below. Don't you love his outfit in these pictures? Yes, those are little cows. My sister bought it for him because none of the 0-3 month clothes from my baby shower fit him yet; everything was too long, too baggy, and just plain huge on his tiny frame. The tag says size P for Preemie. I keep this little sleeper in my closet so that, whenever I want, I can take it out, hold it, smell it, and remember just how tiny he was when he was born. In these pictures he weighed just 6 pounds - hard to believe.
Anyway (sigh, sniffle sniffle), today, on this rainy Valentine's Day, I'm reflecting on the fact that this is my first Valentine's Day as Nick's mom. It's an important day for me, and for my mom, who also has a new valentine in her life to be thankful for.
Oh, how certain days and moments take you back. I spent time this morning going back through digital photo albums of his first weeks at home and found the two I posted below. Don't you love his outfit in these pictures? Yes, those are little cows. My sister bought it for him because none of the 0-3 month clothes from my baby shower fit him yet; everything was too long, too baggy, and just plain huge on his tiny frame. The tag says size P for Preemie. I keep this little sleeper in my closet so that, whenever I want, I can take it out, hold it, smell it, and remember just how tiny he was when he was born. In these pictures he weighed just 6 pounds - hard to believe.
Anyway (sigh, sniffle sniffle), today, on this rainy Valentine's Day, I'm reflecting on the fact that this is my first Valentine's Day as Nick's mom. It's an important day for me, and for my mom, who also has a new valentine in her life to be thankful for.
Happy Valentine's Day!
There will surely be more where this came from ... hope your V Day is extra special.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Teeth: Before and after
Here was the top gumline last week:
And here we are today, a little more than a week later:
While I was taking these closeups, he made some other funny faces. He's been making this weird snapping/snacking/sucking sound and when he does it, the expression on his face is hilarious. Here's a picture of that:
A few other outtakes:
Happy Tuesday!
And here we are today, a little more than a week later:
While I was taking these closeups, he made some other funny faces. He's been making this weird snapping/snacking/sucking sound and when he does it, the expression on his face is hilarious. Here's a picture of that:
A few other outtakes:
Happy Tuesday!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Mama, my teeth hurt!
Want to see how Nick's been looking at me this week? It's a pretty intense little expression that, I think, is born out of pain (teeth), frustration (I can't walk but I'm so close now ...), and endless hunger (growth spurt). Poor little guy - did everything have to strike in one week?
What I like best about the faces he's made this week is that, in them, I see a bit of his future self. Don't you kind of see what he'll look like as a grown man when you look at this picture?
What I like best about the faces he's made this week is that, in them, I see a bit of his future self. Don't you kind of see what he'll look like as a grown man when you look at this picture?
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Seven on Sunday
1. It's so beautiful outside that I feel stupid sitting indoors writing this list. So I am going to stop and come back later.
2. So glad I did that - even if only for a few minutes. I cannot WAIT for summer.
3. Yesterday we took Little Man to the Wild Animal Park for the first time. It's literally 15 minutes north of us, and we have free passes, so I don't know what took us so long. But we had fun. He wasn't very interested in the animals, except for a pair of ducks who were wandering around and came up to see him in his stroller. Other than that, the gorillas, the elephants, the birds, he could take or leave them really. Next time we go and he's a little older, I think he's going to be able to take more in.
4. Speaking of Little Man and animals ... he's growing by leaps and bounds and acting kind of nutty and animal-like himself right now. This weekend he started to stand up by himself without holding on to anything or anyone (and scared his mama half to death because now that he can do it, he wants to do it all the time), and he has learned to blow bubbles (it's so cute ...) and wants to do that all the time. He's just a standing-up-alone, blowing-bubbles kind of guy today.
5. This week will be my third week back at work and I've found my rhythm. I am so lucky to do something I love for a living.
6. My wrist is hurting a LOT and I'm thinking that I'll have to have surgery this summer, like it or not, risky as it may be. My question is: How will I possibly live my crazy life if I can't move my hand for 2 months? At least I'll be off work.
7. Next week is Valentine's Day and my mom's birthday. I am excited about both. My grandma's birthday is on the 13th. She would have been 91 this year, rest in peace.
Have a good week - the sunshine isn't going anywhere, say the forecasters, so enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
2. So glad I did that - even if only for a few minutes. I cannot WAIT for summer.
3. Yesterday we took Little Man to the Wild Animal Park for the first time. It's literally 15 minutes north of us, and we have free passes, so I don't know what took us so long. But we had fun. He wasn't very interested in the animals, except for a pair of ducks who were wandering around and came up to see him in his stroller. Other than that, the gorillas, the elephants, the birds, he could take or leave them really. Next time we go and he's a little older, I think he's going to be able to take more in.
4. Speaking of Little Man and animals ... he's growing by leaps and bounds and acting kind of nutty and animal-like himself right now. This weekend he started to stand up by himself without holding on to anything or anyone (and scared his mama half to death because now that he can do it, he wants to do it all the time), and he has learned to blow bubbles (it's so cute ...) and wants to do that all the time. He's just a standing-up-alone, blowing-bubbles kind of guy today.5. This week will be my third week back at work and I've found my rhythm. I am so lucky to do something I love for a living.
6. My wrist is hurting a LOT and I'm thinking that I'll have to have surgery this summer, like it or not, risky as it may be. My question is: How will I possibly live my crazy life if I can't move my hand for 2 months? At least I'll be off work.
7. Next week is Valentine's Day and my mom's birthday. I am excited about both. My grandma's birthday is on the 13th. She would have been 91 this year, rest in peace.
Have a good week - the sunshine isn't going anywhere, say the forecasters, so enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
Friday, February 08, 2008
Love and mashed potatoes
My mom is an amazing grandmother, and that comes as absolutely no surprise to anyone who knows her and who understands how long she waited for the opportunity to arrive. Nothing, however, prepared me for the joy I'd feel when I saw my mom in her grandmother role. It's a sight to behold. What's especially wonderful is how much Nick loves her back. I knew she'd be crazy about him; but I didn't anticipate that at such a young age, before he could even talk, he'd be able to reciprocate so fully. When he sees her he lights up with an almost silly grin, and I've been able to capture it on film. He doesn't smile this way for just anyone. These are Grammie Smiles.
Do you want to know why this week, in particular, reinforced Nick's devotion to his Grammie? Two words: MASHED POTATOES. He's had them before, but never with cream of chicken soup gravy on top. He ate two bowls full in one sitting.
Cute, huh? The love of a grandmother is something special and Nick is, I think, blessed beyond belief to have this lady's heart in his hands.
Do you want to know why this week, in particular, reinforced Nick's devotion to his Grammie? Two words: MASHED POTATOES. He's had them before, but never with cream of chicken soup gravy on top. He ate two bowls full in one sitting.
Cute, huh? The love of a grandmother is something special and Nick is, I think, blessed beyond belief to have this lady's heart in his hands.
Winter fruit
I have always loved fruit trees - something about the fruit-bearing process, the way spring brings the trees to life, and the excitement of watching fall and winter buds turn to blossoms and then to long-awaited fruit. The best part of all? Fruit you grow at home tastes nothing like fruit you buy at the grocery store; there's a sweetness, a softness, a buttery-ness to the flavor. Since my homegrown crops are always small I like to savor the few of each kind of fruit we produce (except kumquats - we have 1000 of them - please come and take some home!). The whole experience makes you slow down and appreciate each bite of what you're eating.
I also love the winter garden, and the image of young fruit not yet ripe, so full of promise.
Here's our fuji apple tree - aren't the apples beautiful?
Our very mature kumquat tree that, in the fall, smells like heaven. Every one of those fruits was once, back in August, a sweet-smelling flower.
Here's a (not-so-great) view of all the trees: Persimmon, peach, apple, kumquat, orange.
And here's Nick (what's a post without a picture of him?). I take him outside every day to "visit" our trees - otherwise they get lonely!
I also love the winter garden, and the image of young fruit not yet ripe, so full of promise.
Here's our fuji apple tree - aren't the apples beautiful?
Our very mature kumquat tree that, in the fall, smells like heaven. Every one of those fruits was once, back in August, a sweet-smelling flower. 
Here's a (not-so-great) view of all the trees: Persimmon, peach, apple, kumquat, orange.
And here's Nick (what's a post without a picture of him?). I take him outside every day to "visit" our trees - otherwise they get lonely!
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Super Wednesday
I know, it's Super TUESDAY, but since the democratic primary results are still being ironed out as I write this, I figured I'll carry over the theme into today.
I voted, did you?
The truth is, it doesn't matter who wins the primary. I mean, it does. But IMO anyone is better than Bush. McCain will do a fine job. I would just really, really like to live to see the first black president in office, or the first female president. Given what I teach - and the fact that I research white male identity development for a living - I just think we need something, someone, else to look at for a while. The data say that if a person of color, or a woman, is in charge of a university, you see a dramatic difference in the academic and social development of students of color and female students. It's about role-modeling and identification.
Imagine if a black man or white woman ran this country?
So if it's McCain, that's okay with me. But I am hoping to see the day - not just for myself, but for so many people who need to see themselves reflected in their leaders - when a non-white-male president stands before God and country to take the oath and pledge his/her service on a winter morning in some future year. And I can say to Nicholas, in a quiet but steady voice, this is the moment mommy has waited for. This is history being made. This is change. This is a chance for people to fully deploy themselves and rise up. This is it.
I have hope.
I voted, did you?
The truth is, it doesn't matter who wins the primary. I mean, it does. But IMO anyone is better than Bush. McCain will do a fine job. I would just really, really like to live to see the first black president in office, or the first female president. Given what I teach - and the fact that I research white male identity development for a living - I just think we need something, someone, else to look at for a while. The data say that if a person of color, or a woman, is in charge of a university, you see a dramatic difference in the academic and social development of students of color and female students. It's about role-modeling and identification.
Imagine if a black man or white woman ran this country?
So if it's McCain, that's okay with me. But I am hoping to see the day - not just for myself, but for so many people who need to see themselves reflected in their leaders - when a non-white-male president stands before God and country to take the oath and pledge his/her service on a winter morning in some future year. And I can say to Nicholas, in a quiet but steady voice, this is the moment mommy has waited for. This is history being made. This is change. This is a chance for people to fully deploy themselves and rise up. This is it.
I have hope.
Monday, February 04, 2008
A full day
Two big things happened today:
1. Nick's two front teeth have broken the surface. All you can see in this pic is swollen gum, but if you look veryveryvery closely you can see white enamel and some dried blood. So that's why he hasn't been very happy or sleepy lately!
2. Candi and I took Nick and Hudson to the park today and Nick rode an infant swing for the first time ever! It was so much fun! He really seemed to enjoy it.
So much fun to watch them grow together and think about the days when the two of us sat around, big and pregnant, looking forward to these moments.
Have a great week!
1. Nick's two front teeth have broken the surface. All you can see in this pic is swollen gum, but if you look veryveryvery closely you can see white enamel and some dried blood. So that's why he hasn't been very happy or sleepy lately!
2. Candi and I took Nick and Hudson to the park today and Nick rode an infant swing for the first time ever! It was so much fun! He really seemed to enjoy it.
So much fun to watch them grow together and think about the days when the two of us sat around, big and pregnant, looking forward to these moments.Have a great week!
A not-so-smooth transition
We've been cosleeping with Nick since he came home from the hospital. He was one month premature, only 5 1/2 pounds when we finally brought him home April 2, 2007, and I was breastfeeding, so cosleeping - the "family bed" - just seemed right for us, and especially for me as a new nursing mom. For the first 4 months of Nick's life he was so congested every night that he could hardly breathe. The doctor said he just had tiny nostrils and that, as he grew, he would breathe easier. That was true - but for 4 months I held him somewhat upright in bed all night long, every night. We tried everything, putting him in his carseat inside the cosleeper, you name it. Holding him (and not sleeping myself) pacified him (along with nasal aspiration every few hours and LOTS of Ocean drops to his chagrin). A friend of mine told me that when your baby is small you "do whatever works" and, well, she was right.
Here we are at 10 months, and Little Man wants nothing more than to cuddle with me all night long, every night, nursing at will (which tends to be every 2-3 hours). He has even learned how to pull up my shirt so half the time I tend not to wake up. But he's very mobile - crawling, almost walking - and last week while I slept he awoke, crawled to the edge of the bed, and rolled off with a THUD. I almost passed out with fear. Now, keep in mind, almost every seasoned mom I know has told me that this has happened to them. And Nick was fine - after he got over the initial shock he was his usual, happy self. But it was enough to change my mind about sleeping with Nick. So what have I done?
That very night we took the top portion off his cosleeper and lowered it to a level where he can stand up and hold the edge but he cannot pull himself up or out of it. I nurse him when he wakes at night and then, once he is almost asleep, I put him in the cosleeper. I leave a blanket that smells like me in with him, and you know what? He's doing just fine. I am getting more sleep, I don't have to worry about bedrolling accidents, and we are making progress.
In the mornings I now wake to him standing up inside the cosleeper talking to me: ba ba, ma ma, da da, mawang, bagoo. It's cute, and he seems happy enough. Except yesterday, when he woke up, he was very scared for some reason. I gave him a pillow to snuggle with, which he likes (don't worry - he doesn't sleep with all that stuff in there, it's just for mornings when he's awake), but that didn't help his mood. The camera was right there. Even though I prefer smiley pictures, I just had to snap one shot of his "help me, mama!" grimace.
A not-very-happy-and-quite-lonesome camper. But it's better than an I-just-rolled-off-the-bed-and-injured-myself camper, right? I think so.
Here we are at 10 months, and Little Man wants nothing more than to cuddle with me all night long, every night, nursing at will (which tends to be every 2-3 hours). He has even learned how to pull up my shirt so half the time I tend not to wake up. But he's very mobile - crawling, almost walking - and last week while I slept he awoke, crawled to the edge of the bed, and rolled off with a THUD. I almost passed out with fear. Now, keep in mind, almost every seasoned mom I know has told me that this has happened to them. And Nick was fine - after he got over the initial shock he was his usual, happy self. But it was enough to change my mind about sleeping with Nick. So what have I done?
That very night we took the top portion off his cosleeper and lowered it to a level where he can stand up and hold the edge but he cannot pull himself up or out of it. I nurse him when he wakes at night and then, once he is almost asleep, I put him in the cosleeper. I leave a blanket that smells like me in with him, and you know what? He's doing just fine. I am getting more sleep, I don't have to worry about bedrolling accidents, and we are making progress.
In the mornings I now wake to him standing up inside the cosleeper talking to me: ba ba, ma ma, da da, mawang, bagoo. It's cute, and he seems happy enough. Except yesterday, when he woke up, he was very scared for some reason. I gave him a pillow to snuggle with, which he likes (don't worry - he doesn't sleep with all that stuff in there, it's just for mornings when he's awake), but that didn't help his mood. The camera was right there. Even though I prefer smiley pictures, I just had to snap one shot of his "help me, mama!" grimace.
A not-very-happy-and-quite-lonesome camper. But it's better than an I-just-rolled-off-the-bed-and-injured-myself camper, right? I think so.
Addendum/update
So I had not planned to watch the Super Bowl. But I am a sucker for stories, as you know. Once I learned Tom Brady's story I did kind of want him to win (even though I don't think he's a great man per se); then when I found out our own Steve Smith was playing for the Giants, and they were the underdogs, I kind of started to pull for them, too. Thus, the game was, for me, slightly less fun because either team could win and because both had compelling people and stories associated with them, I'd be happy.
Dave, on the other hand, was much more biased. And ELATED when Steve Smith helped win the SB for the Giants.
At the end of the day, we're just a couple of hardcore Trojans screaming FIGHT ON to any former player, no matter whom he might be playing for now.
Dave, on the other hand, was much more biased. And ELATED when Steve Smith helped win the SB for the Giants.
At the end of the day, we're just a couple of hardcore Trojans screaming FIGHT ON to any former player, no matter whom he might be playing for now.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Six on Sunday
1. I don't watch the Super Bowl, and that's okay (self-affirmation).
2. Nick is refusing to take a bottle, and it's making it really hard on everyone for me to be away two days a week. He nurses for about half an hour straight when I get home, poor little guy. And on Thursday he also nursed all night long.
3. But my classes went really well this week, and I was so glad to see everyone - I'm trying to focus on the positive and know that we will get through the rough patches.
4. I can't believe Angeline Jolie is pregnant with twins. How on earth does she balance all those kids and her career and her marriage and all the traveling they do? I can barely keep my little life together sometimes - ONE baby, working PART-TIME outside the home, NO travel, NO marriage to a megastar, NO pressure to be amazingly attractive all the time. Ugh! Makes me tired just thinking about it. She either has a staff of people who help with eve-ry-thing, or she's just a much more able woman than I am. Or both.
5. Speaking of tired, I am too wiped out and busy to add a photo to this post right now - might do it later, though.
6. I made BBQ beer chicken in the slow-cooker today and it was yummy! Here is the recipe:
2 lbs chicken tenders
1 cup dark ale or beer
1 1/2 cups good quality BBQ sauce
1 onion, sliced into wedges
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
soft sandwich buns
Brown the chicken in the oil, season with salt and pepper. Place in slow-cooker, add onion wedges. Combine beer and BBQ sauce and pour over chicken and onions. Cook on high 4 hours. Serve on buns. Makes 6 small sandwiches or 4 extra-large, Super Bowl Sunday-size ones.
ENJOY! Happy Sunday to you.
2. Nick is refusing to take a bottle, and it's making it really hard on everyone for me to be away two days a week. He nurses for about half an hour straight when I get home, poor little guy. And on Thursday he also nursed all night long.
3. But my classes went really well this week, and I was so glad to see everyone - I'm trying to focus on the positive and know that we will get through the rough patches.
4. I can't believe Angeline Jolie is pregnant with twins. How on earth does she balance all those kids and her career and her marriage and all the traveling they do? I can barely keep my little life together sometimes - ONE baby, working PART-TIME outside the home, NO travel, NO marriage to a megastar, NO pressure to be amazingly attractive all the time. Ugh! Makes me tired just thinking about it. She either has a staff of people who help with eve-ry-thing, or she's just a much more able woman than I am. Or both.
5. Speaking of tired, I am too wiped out and busy to add a photo to this post right now - might do it later, though.
6. I made BBQ beer chicken in the slow-cooker today and it was yummy! Here is the recipe:
2 lbs chicken tenders
1 cup dark ale or beer
1 1/2 cups good quality BBQ sauce
1 onion, sliced into wedges
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
soft sandwich buns
Brown the chicken in the oil, season with salt and pepper. Place in slow-cooker, add onion wedges. Combine beer and BBQ sauce and pour over chicken and onions. Cook on high 4 hours. Serve on buns. Makes 6 small sandwiches or 4 extra-large, Super Bowl Sunday-size ones.
ENJOY! Happy Sunday to you.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Model release!
Yesterday my mom and I took Nick to the Picture People for his Valentine's Day shoot. He was in such a good mood - he had napped, eaten, then napped again. When I woke him up to take him into the mall his cheeks were bright red, as if someone had been pinching them (that's how they always look when he just wakes up). He was flirting with the photographer, and, if he hadn't peed all over the set, I think he would have wanted the photo shoot to last forever. Talk about some serious smiles! When we finished, we waited the 30 minutes it takes for the pictures to be ready for viewing and when we sat down, the woman helping us asked me to sign a Model Release waiver so Nick's picture could be blown up and put on the wall in stores. She said her manager had selected him, and that it doesn't happen very often. My Nick? A Super Model? Well, not quite. But I was honored. I've actually thought about taking him to Los Angeles to pursue baby modeling because people are constantly telling me I should, but now he has made it big in San Diego.
I can't share my favorite photo from the shoot because it might be coming to your home mailbox any day now inside a Valentine's Day card! But here are a few of the other pictures they selected (excuse the watermark - I try to honor copyright):
I'm so proud of him. The best part? He's beautiful on the inside, too.
Happy Hearts Day to you!
I can't share my favorite photo from the shoot because it might be coming to your home mailbox any day now inside a Valentine's Day card! But here are a few of the other pictures they selected (excuse the watermark - I try to honor copyright):
I'm so proud of him. The best part? He's beautiful on the inside, too.Happy Hearts Day to you!
Friday, February 01, 2008
My first baby
Sometimes she feels pushed to the side, like she's in the way; sometimes she feel sad, because she's not number one anymore; sometimes she feels jealous, because Nick gets all the toys, treats, and special foods. But in my heart, she's still my first baby. I lay with her and stroke her fur while I tell her the story I've told her a million times before, about how David and I picked her out at the shelter. Her whole litter was there, under quarantine because the staff thought she'd been exposed to Parvo. We asked to see them anyway and said we'd wait for the Parvo results to come in while we played with the puppies. There were 7 of these German Shepherd mixed babies - 3 pure-white, 2 black, and 2 something-in-between. We decided on a white one, and then had to choose between Bella and the others. I chose Bella because she was sleeping on her back and with her little pink potbelly exposed, she looked like a piglet (didn't she?).
I had no idea then, when she weighed just 6 pounds, that she would end up being the 90-pound girl she is today. She has no idea how big she is; she still wants to lay on my lap and sleep in the bed next to us.
But Bella is my baby - always will be. She taught me how to be a mom, really. And for her love, her loyalty, her fierce devotion, and her patience during this first year of Nick's life - her willingness to (albeit reluctantly) take second place at times - she has my heart.
I had no idea then, when she weighed just 6 pounds, that she would end up being the 90-pound girl she is today. She has no idea how big she is; she still wants to lay on my lap and sleep in the bed next to us.
But Bella is my baby - always will be. She taught me how to be a mom, really. And for her love, her loyalty, her fierce devotion, and her patience during this first year of Nick's life - her willingness to (albeit reluctantly) take second place at times - she has my heart.
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