All is well.

No new news other than we're heading to Ky, Pam, and Shay's house for a few days while Eddie the floor guy comes to refinish our cork floors (long story, but it's our fault...please don't ask.)

Hopefully Julian will enjoy the change of scenery. Tilly will not be pleased, I'm sure, to have a baby yanking on her again, although she is the sweetest and most easy going dog so she puts up with it. I'll post some pics when we get home.

Elwynn the cat pictured below, is not quite as easy going. She wants to be where the baby is, but she seems forget every time that attention = having her tail and ears pulled. Then she gets mad. We're on high alert keeping an eye on them when they're together.



Oh, today is our 3rd anniversary. We celebrated by moving all of the furniture out of the addition, and by eating several things chocolate. We may even clean the kitchen after the baby's asleep.


Reading books before bed.


Truckin'

I'll post again after the weekend.

Very sad, sad, pizza day. NB this post is not about Julian, it is about dinner.

it seemed like such a great idea. simple dinner. no mess. frozen pizza and steamed broccoli. how wrong could that go?

now, everyone who knows us will understand that it's not real pizza we'd be eating, but some facsimile of pizza. we had actually found one that wasn't so bad, even with rice crust and soy cheese, it wasn't so bad. we've had it before. really, it wasn't so bad.

but tonight? it actually melted in the oven. not the cheese, the entire pizza. so much for our our simple dinner.

we ended up at the local health food store for a stir fry and the nice lady trying to make julian smile and laugh made him burst out in tears. i'm writing a letter to the pizza people...they better send me a flippin' coupon.

June 23rd post 2 of 2.

We had our "post placement" interview with Robin the social worker this week. She originally came to interview us for our home study prior to getting official permission to adopt. The juxtaposition between the last visit and this one is remarkable- the first time we were beyond anxious, and this time it was like seeing an old friend.





Also last week we went to a chiropractor named Amy Watson whose office is called Whole Mama Whole Child (www.mamababychiro.com). We loved her. The baby did great at the appointment and it may be coincidence but his mood, naps, and (I promised not to mention this on my blog but since it's a medical context...) poops were fabulous that day and for the several days following. Not that any of those things were bad to begin with, but the difference was notable. We plan to take him again next week then a month after that. She has us 'floating' him in the tub, and we've decided also to start swim lessons this summer at Petit Dauphin swim school. They use salt water in the pool instead of chlorine. Jacquie's son was swimming by 6 months when he took lessons there.

Julian is getting lots of yummy baby food himself (see post 1 of 2) and drinking his formula mixed with donated breast milk. We have been very blessed to have several women offer us pumped milk for the baby. A few small donations, and a weekly donation by a woman who meets us in the parking garage at the local mall for a transfer. I wonder what the security guards watching the monitors think we're doing...LOL. Seriously though, we are so grateful for the opportunity for Julian to get any breast milk at all.

We are looking forward to a mellow weekend as we head into my last week home before I have to go back to work. Things are ramping up with my new office (including word that it wont be ready when I am being asked to leave my current space) so I am trying to not get too stressed out as I am bombarded with decisions that need to be made. It always works out in the end...

Oh, and we finally have just about finished Julian's room. All that's left is some art for the wall above his crib. :)

June 23rd post 1 of 2.

Seymour and Brenda were here through yesterday morning. We had a lovely visit. I think they liked the kid. We learned a few things while they were here- some general, and some specific.

1. Julian can still handle a meal out without bothering any other diners.

2. If you baby proof a house, your child will make a beeline for the 2 things you decided to leave off of the list.

3. Brenda (Jon's mom) likes baby food. A lot. At dinner we found she would happily use her knife to clear out the last few bits in the jar- compliments to the Earth's Best baby food chef.

So Brunch Bunch, take heed, I think you know the menu for her next party.

4. The ladies room at Macy's in Portland is apparently way nicer than ladies room at Macy's in the Willowbrook mall in NJ. Maybe we'll get more frequent visitors now?

5. Our baby glows, from the inside out, see below.

Dinner out

Taqueria Nueve is my favorite restaurant. We got there tonight at about 5:30, and had a lovely dinner. Jules was easy and relaxed...ate his harvest veggies, had a bottle and played with some tupperware. He didn't start to get fussy for over an hour and by that time we were wrapping up. Lucky parents, we are! :)

Nana and Papa's first few days...

Jon's parents (Nana and Papa) rolled in yesterday. It is so amazing to see our family connecting with the baby. It's hard to live so far away.

Now, about the visit. The first thing I have to say here that it is like pulling teeth for me to get the baby to laugh. Don't get me wrong, he'll laugh, but it is sooooo much work. Then, Nana walks in and the kid cracks up. Good thing I'm not the jealous type. Go Nana!

Last night we brought the baby to shabbat services so the rabbi could welcome our newest congregant. Julian actually yawned when rabbi was talking. Nice. The cutest was someone waved at Julian from the pews and he waved back and then everyone waved to him. Super sweet.

Now, what's new with the baby? CRAWLING! Yes, that's right folks, crawling. Forward. On command, not so much- but leave a camera unattended? It's game ON.

Nana and Papa

Impromptu dinner

We were going to go to the farmer's market with Lori and Stella today but since Stella woke up on the wrong side of the bed, Lori invited us to come over instead. Jon, apparently starved for some adult company that isn't me, practically started salivating, and asked if they have a grill...

Lori was very gracious and ok'd our invitation to bring ourselves and our meat to her house. Greg was also very kind to greet his surprise visitors with a smile, even though Jon was drinking the last beer in the house. Julian was happy and easy going, and we had a lovely dinner of meat and meat. We then finished off with 2 rousing rounds of 'Ring Around the Rosie' before we left so the kids could both get to bed.

Couldn't have been a more perfect night.


Julian and Stella


Julian's new bib


Cutie Tootie


Obviously not at Lori and Greg's.
Had to post this though, as apparently Elwynn has signed up for a yoga class we didn't know about.

Just photos

helloooo!


what's better than having a bucket of toys? getting into a bucket of toys!


like i said...


happy clean boy

Sharon and Jeff's visit

So, jury is in, I'll keep blogging. Things may slow down a bit though as things are starting to ramp up with the new office, and I am getting ready to head back to work in 3 weeks. Did I mention I really like being home?

And for our update with the Boy...
Last Thursday we had an appointment with a specialist in attachment for adopted children. She watched us with the baby and we talked about his transition, and our experience so far.

It was very helpful for us to have some additional guidance regarding how to best assure he makes the transition from his first home to our home. We talked about all of the losses he has experienced...not only language, smells, people, sounds, foods, but also specifically how he is put to bed, how his diaper is changed, how he is bathed...everything. She gave us things to watch for, as well as some specific recommendations for how to encourage his attachment to us. She suggested that I do more of the nurturing (Jon has been bathing and napping with him most of the time) as this time frame is crucial for him to really connect to me as well as Jon, especially before I go back to work. We had been having Jon do most of this as he will be the primary care taker at least until he goes back to work in Nov. And, she thinks he is where he should be in the process of his ongoing attachment. That is great news.

My sister Sharon and her hubby Jeff have been here for the weekend. It has been amazing to have them here. I miss my sis.

For their time here, we have been following the recommendations of the therapist regarding visitors, which means them playing with him, interacting, etc. but limited holding, and no care taking (meeting basic needs...feeding, diaper, comforting, etc.) I look forward to their return once he is a bit more settled so he can experience all his auntie and uncle have to give.


we have julian on us when we can


the baby is waving for the first time...wish this shot was taken from in front!
btw- the trick is now firmly established
it is soooooooo cute


oops, overflow


absolutely entranced with the guitar (and uncle jeff)


we're taking bets on when he'll crawl. what do you think...?

Mama Feliz

I got a package in the mail (that I had ordered) and Jon reminded me we're not supposed to be buying stuff right now, certainly not without a family meeting. Well I opened it and showed him the 2 purchases. An "adoption rocks" bib, and a t-shirt for me. I got a dispensation.





We are also happy to announce that Julian is excited about learning to play frisbee. He didn't crawl for it, but close!

New Skills

Here is a series from this morning. First of all, we put him down about 3 feet from this basket. He butt scooted to it, and the photos follow. Please note when he was done with this he tried to stick his finger in the electrical socket in the background. Sweet.