Revamping

It's been over a week since my last post. Not that I'm not thinking about posting, I'm just thinking about posting all sorts of things that may or may not be related to my baby. So here is the deal: I will continue to diligently post photos of Julian, and I will consistently update on his antics and growth.

And (not but) I'm also going to start to write about other things...things I find interesting...things I find funny...things I find horrifying. If you don't find my posts interesting or funny or horrifying, no problem- you can simply scroll past the words and look at the adorable photos of my son (and husband.) You'll know the post has something about Julian in it if you see the word "Julian" while you're scrolling. Sorry if some of you may find this disappointing, but the time has come.

Also, I'd love to know who is out there reading, but it seems some of you don't know you can leave comments! So here's the deal. At the bottom of the post in tiny type it says "comments." All you have to do is click on this word and a box will open up with a spot for you to leave a note. You know, kind of like how you used to write on the stall of the bathroom in junior high, but you actually sign your name, and you don't leave other people's phone numbers (Art, you got that?)

OK, now for the post. I'll put photos up first, so those of you who don't want to read about the really gross thing that happened to me a few nights ago will be able to just skip it...


My Grandmother (may she rest in peace) would be thrilled to know that the step stool she used to reach her bed, when flipped over makes an excellent non motorized vehicle for Julian.


Jon's fraternity made t-shirts for their "house" parties. At the height of the 1980s they had the "Postman party" and they made this particular t-shirt. Jon commented as he laid it on the 't-shirts to become rags' pile that it was supposed to be artsy but looking back it just seems kind of misogynistic...hmmmm.


Julian is NOT a misogynist. He just likes art.


These are my favorite Jammies.

Now, down to business- please close the page if you don't want to read anything that isn't baby related. Thank you.

So, we're all coughing over here. Fevers, phlegm, hacking, you name it. Monday night I woke up and was coughing and couldn't stop. We have this great Chinese cough syrup, and I went into the bathroom to take some. It was dark, and when I reached for the spoon it was a little sticky. No problem, Jon had gotten up to take some too. I licked off the spoon and brought it into the bedroom. Opened the jar and poured myself a dose. Mind you I was a little feverish and very tired. When I started getting that weird feverish feeling like bugs were crawling on my skin I took a moment to marvel at how strong the power of the mind is. Then suddenly the feeling is spreading to my face, and wait, holy crap, it's ANTS. I flipped the light on and they were teeming all over the bottle, my hand, THE SPOON, my pillow. I still hold that I don't know that I actually ate any ants. Let's leave it at that, ok?

My new best friend.

6 months ago today.

I was about to write that I can't believe it's been 6 months since JLEB came home, but actually, I can. We have a whole new life, and some days, truthfully, it is still surreal. Is this adoption, or do all moms feel that way?

Here are some photos of our trip home back in May.







Julian is doing just great. He is babbling a lot, and he is picking up new signs all the time. He knows: more, kitty, banana, all done, and water. Additional ones will come quickly now, as his comprehension is accelerating rapidly. He clearly understands when we tell him NOT to do things, and then, big surprise, he does them anyway.

The nanny is working out very well. She is sweet and gentle, and very laid back. The other morning she was in the bathroom flushing a diaper (yes, this was the correct thing to do, we use diapers that have a cloth outer and flushable inner) and called for Jon, "hey, can you please help me out for a sec?" The toilet was overflowing and both kids were feet away. What I would have done was screamed at the top of my lungs for help. Jules is very lucky to have a nanny and a daddy that will teach him that life isn't so stressful.

We finally got the stroller my parents bought for Julian for his birthday. It comes with an integral sleeping bag. Sooo cute. We love it. Thank you BB and BaBa!



The cute hat below is from a local store. My sister and hubby bought it for Julian back in June. Too cute.



One more piece of news...
We've got W A L K I N G!
Ok, not exactly walking, more like standing and propelling forward with steps, but we're well on the way. Congrats baby Julian, you're (almost) bipedal!

Snapshots by Aileah

Life when mom and dad are at work.

The Mountain House

We spent the weekend with friends up at Rob and Jen's mountain house (designed by the fabulous and amazing architect...my husband.)





Friday night it was just the 3 of us, then 2 other couples Lori and Greg and Lori and Greg (no, really) and their kids came up to join us on Saturday. BBQ on Saturday night with soy white russians (I passed, thanks), marshmallow roasting, hot tubbing, and a whirlwind brunch on Sunday.





Julian just adores being around all the other kids...



And...my boy had an extended snuggle with me for the first time ever on Sunday morning. This, in attachment land is a BIG step. I was beside myself.

Happy Halloween!

Thanks Auntie Sharon for the costume!


Julian and his friend Adrian in the zoo.


Jon made me do it.



Julian i-chatting with Grandma BB.


Julian asking for "more" i-chat kisses in sign language.

Men will be men...

So Jon comes home from music class with Julian tonight. Meanwhile I am at home slaving away, making cajun catfish dumplings and brown rice for us, kale, broccoli, butternut squash, chard, green beans, and carrots for Julian's food for the week (this includes cutting up some for later steaming, pureeing some in the blender, and packaging several meals...you get the picture.)

Ok, where were we? Right. Jon comes in and I ask how class was...

"Great!" He answered with a sparkle in his eye, "3 big things happened!"
"Did he walk?!" I knew it. Today while changing Julian's 4th diaper of the morning I thought to myself that it would be any day, and it would be for daddy.
"Unh Hunh...but know what else he did?" Before I could guess Jon proclaims with a giant grin, "He smacked the hot mom on the ass!"
My son took his first 3 steps and my husband is aflutter that Julian not only smacked a woman on the ass, but he even picked the hot mom.

Oh, the third thing was that Julian crouched in a squat during class- we've been hoping for this as it shows his balance is good and he won't be as likely to topple over from a standing position once he is walking. Apparently the walking in class today was an accident as Julian was being escorted back to daddy and just happened to let go before he toppled into Jon's arms. Maybe that's why the walking wasn't quite so exciting. The ass smack was premeditated and deliberate.

Sigh...





Jon high fives his very smart and capable son.

My Husband Mr. Poppins

Another busy week.

Julian is settling in with the new nanny, Aileah. She comes 3 mornings a week with her 16 month old Adrian. So far they have been here 3 times and Jon has been with them the whole time. This next week he'll start disappearing for an hour here and an hour there, and next will be Aileah trying to get JLEB down for his nap with Adrian in tow. Her son only does an afternoon nap so their naps will be staggered. This, I think, will be the trickiest part. We truly think she is lovely. Turns out she went to college for a few years at a school very near mine in MA. There were a few years between us though, cough cough.





Jon has started back at work on T/F, the days that Aileah and Adrian wont be here. Julian and I had a boat load of fun, although it looks like this means I'll have to be working doing paperwork, staffing, billing, etc at my office on the weekends again since I no longer have T/F to do that. I think after the new year some time we'll try to arrange some other help for a few hours on those mornings so the weekends will be exclusively for family.

The good news about my taking over on T/F though (other than, of course, I get to hang out with the cutest baby in the world) is that I realized that as a genetic XX instead of an XY I can hang with the baby and get the laundry done, house clean, food cooked, etc. Julian may get more undivided attention with his dad, but as my mother's daughter (sorry mom) I feel so much better with my house clean and tidy that being able to do this will help me feel more, well, sane.

The pot and wooden spoon kept him occupied for an entire sink and counter full of dishes. :) While carrying him in the sling I was able to get the laundry done for the house and my office. He found it hysterical, actually, when I pulled clothes out of the washer and threw them in the dryer. Anyone with other ideas for getting chores done with baby in tow, post a comment...I'm planning on elevating it to an art form.



Our morning activity today was Julian's 1 yr doctor's appt. His health is excellent, but the doc did give us a bit of a hard time regarding our choice to wait a bit longer before resuming his immunizations, as well as my desire to skip redundant blood work. She is pretty open minded but I'm sure it is a challenge to have a naturopath as your patient's mother so I'm trying to cut her some slack.



The wait was almost an hour after the baby was stripped down to his diaper so we did some playing in the hall. There was another patient there who was also waiting for her doctor and she was playing with Julian. She has a 6 year old and she told me that when she has another baby she wants it to be a boy because her husband is named Van. I looked at her blankly. She broke out in a huge grin and said, you know, we'll call him "mini Van." Hee hee. I love it.

Julian loved standing on the sill of this window...on the 9th floor of a building overlooking the river.





Two of my girlfriends from ND school were in town this weekend and we had a 4 hour dinner/chat fest last night. I woke up and my voice was hoarse. Debby gave Julian the cutest toy and new shoes, and Julian just plunked himself down in Laura's lap. That's new, the lap sit. We LOVE it.





And finally, Mr. Poppins...