A Boy and his Dog

Xavier loves dogs! His first words, and only "words" at this point, are "Woof, Woof!" It is so adorable! He has a little stuffed dog that he LOVEs, and every time we pass a dog in the stroller he cranes his head to follow it until he can't possibly turn his head anymore. Though sometimes people out walking their dogs will stop and let him pet their dogs briefly, Xavier has never really had a chance to play with a dog until today. Arlen and Tashina brought their dog, Remy, to my parent's house. Xavier LOVED it! He played and played!

J'aime Skype

With Cherry & Xavier off adventuring in Idaho for 10 days the house feels rather empty. It's amazing what a boost it is to see her though, even if it's only virtually. Skype might just be one of the greatest things ever invented for bridging distances. Talking on the phone isn't nearly as rich as actually being able to see.

Xavier, like many kids, doesn't particularly understand speakerphone yet, but pull up my voice and image on the screen and suddenly you get this:

He's watching me, playing gleefully and just being adorable. When I call out, "Xavier, Je t'aime!" his face lights up even more.

He recognizes me and that I'm talking to him! And hopefully he knows what is more important: that even from over 2,000 miles away, I love him dearly.

I've had a good day, but this is by far the highlight.

Back in the Saddle

Yesterday I had my long-awaited 6-week post-surgery follow-up appointment. (How's that for a string of hyphenated words!) Ever since my operation I've been under restriction to lift no more than 15 lbs (Xavier excepted) and to avoid bending, twisting and among other things, biking. This means that I'd rejoined the masses on the Metro, which isn't bad, really, and there was a certain novelty to it.

Each day I'd pass my bicycle coming and going from the house. Sitting at the table from inside I would sometimes see it through the glass, idle and forlorn. In six weeks I'd settled into a new routine and it was easy to forget my former exhilaration racing down Connecticut Avenue. But following this last appointment my restrictions were lifted and at last I could pick up cycling again!

It was a bit strange at first, I'll admit it, getting dressed back up in my tights, jersey and reflective gear. I had to charge my headlight, oil my chain and pump up my wheels a little to get going, but I did. Soon, instinct took back over and I was on my way as usual.

Except that while my SmarTrip card has been getting a lot of exercise recently, my legs have not, despite climbing the escalator each day and walking more. It was almost like my first day biking in, and I was shocked that I was just a tiny bit winded after my generally downhill ride to work. My speed was a few MPH slower going and coming, and my gearing lower. I'm supposed to be slowly ramping back up, so this isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it was an stark reminder that, yes, our bodies change slowly and exercise really does make a difference.

The 32 degree temperature when I left was also a sharp reminder that time has passed and Fall is rapidly descending into Winter. Classes are finishing up and exams are nearly here. Yesterday I dropped Cherry and Xavier off to Idaho for 10 days, and when they return Christmas will be nigh. It's hard to believe the semester and the year are coming to a close, but I'm excited.

Excited for new beginnings. Excited to have my health and activities back. Excited to be alive.

Mom! I'm Hungry. Get Up!

For the second middle-of-the-night in a row, Xavier has gotten up and headed straight for the highchair. Last night he ate and went right back to bed. Tonight he straight away drank two Xavier-sized cups of water. He is now eating some bread smothered in Almond Butter. ...and dancing around to the electronic music version of "Old MacDonald had a Farm," triggered by pushing the button on his little toy John Deere).

We do feed this kid during the day.

oiy!

Xavier at One Year, in Four Perspectives

Your milk mustache is no match for my yogurt goatee. (But don't let that stop you from supporting Movember!)




When the lids on the plastic tubs contained a warning about not closing babies inside them, it seemed a bit ridiculous. At the time.

The One-Shoed King, with his scepter upon the throne.

On May 19, 1984, when I turned one year old, my mother recorded the following about me in her journal:

"Pots and pans are still favorite toys and he regularly empties the cupboard of them. I find lids in every room of the house, so cooking becomes a treasure hunt."

Well Mom, my boy is just like me.

The Good Stuff in Life

After catching a good sale on them last week we bought for the first time what seems to be a staple of childhood: Goldfish crackers.

To say that Xavier likes them is an understatement.



Not even the siren call of the once-formidable computer can compete anymore against the crunchy orange aquatic creatures. A moment ago he climbed on my lap looking to bang on the keyboard, but promptly turned and reached for the bag the moment that it caught his gaze, as if the small orange and white paper sack was a beacon whose brilliance wholly obscured the light emanating from the 15-inch screen beside it.

Thank goodness they have them in whole grain, at least. While Cheerios are still our snack of choice for him, due to their lower sodium content, I suppose mixing it up a bit is inevitable (and not wholly undesirable). Let's face it: humans like variety and while children have a high tolerance for repetition, they're not an exception. To wit, another recent introduction, Kix, is both kid-tested and approved.

In other snack-related news, it's Tuesday, which at SAIS means it's Cookie Hour come 4 o'clock. Today, however, following a heavenly full-body massage (thanks to Groupon and Serenity Day Spa) I came home to spend the afternoon helping Cherry, who's still feeling sick from something she caught over the weekend. Of course, this meant that I missed out on the weekly cookie and coffee free-for-all that lifts spirits to continue studying afresh through the hump of the week.

Not to be thwarted however, I took matters into my own hands, whipping up some chocolate chip delicacies whose warm, fresh-from-the-oven gooey-ness paired with milk more than did justice to the Cookie Hour name. (Although, let's be honest, "Cookie Hour" is a bit misleading since the hour lasts a good 3-4 times longer than do the cookies in the face of a hoard of ravenous grad students.)

Xavier, always happy to play with kitchen utensils in bowls, helped me to stir up the dough. He was also happy to take a couple of licks off the spoon afterward, though despite his accompanying me to class yesterday, he's going to have to wait a while yet to partake in the other joys of grad school, like cookies.

Not that he won't enjoy the pleasure of cookies until then (making them with the family is a rite of childhood as well, after all), but we'd like to keep the general sugar ban going for a good bit longer.

It's a Thankless job.

Sigh...

At dinner I gave Xavier some mixed veggies. He usually LOVES these and shovels them in his mouth like candy. But not today. There were raspberries on the table, a definite favorite. So, instead of eating the veggies, Xavier promptly grabbed a fist full and showered them deliberately on the floor. I was irritated, but cool at that point. Then, in a greater effort to keep food more picked up off of the floor, I bent over to pick up the discarded veggies. Xavier immediately grabbed a fist full of my hair and yanked out a handful! It hurt so much! I was livid! and all he could do was laugh.

sigh... motherhood--a thankless job. One Mother's Day a year just doesn't cut it.

Rest Well, My Love

Today, Spencer came home a few grams lighter than when he left. It’s only a few grams, but I think it will make his life—and all of our lives zillions better.

Today, my 27 year-old best friend had the first, and hopefully last, major surgery of his life. This was major surgery, but luckily, the risks were minimal. Even so, we debated about having it done for a couple months. After all, it is major surgery.

Today, my husband of 3 years had surgery on his back. And I think we are going to wish we had done this a long time ago. He already looks better.

Right now, my sweetie is resting peacefully with our son, sound asleep.

Dors bien, mon roi!

Curious Geo

For Xavier’s 1^st birthday our landlord, Robbie, gifted him a stuffed Curious George. He instantly LOVED it! He even sleeps with this curious monkey, sometimes. Well, it was a very fitting gift. Xavier is such a little explorer. Like George, he is so curious about everything! And with that curiosity, he is in to EVERYTHING! And, though only 12 months old, he runs and climbs, hence, he gets into trouble very fast these days!

Please enjoy the videos below. The first two are of the same thing, it is just that the video got cut off. This was when this climbing phenomenon was new. This happened at Xavier’s and, consequently my, first time to Chuck E. Cheese.

The last video is Xavier at the house--showin' off his skills!

The 12th month in pictures!

It's here! Pictures of Xavier's final month of his first year of life.



What a cutie!

One Year Ago

We have come a long way from one year ago. I am not even sure what it is that I want to write, but I feel I should write something. I have been thinking about last year at this time for the last several days. One year ago today I entered into motherhood—a busy, giving, crazy, caring, selfless sorority. Xavier has moved through so many stages so quickly I don’t even know where the time went. –and at the same time I guess that is good. I mean, each stage is intense in its own ways. I guess it is good that they come and go with relative speed. But at the same time I can’t believe that the tiny baby curled up on my lap in a ball is now nearly running down the street and spoon-feeding himself yogurt and applesauce. Wow. Time has flown!

Spencer and I have changed a lot as people too. I can’t really go into all the ways—I still have mommy brain and can’t think of them all right now, but I know that I have. I am a better person now, that I know.

Reflecting back on how we choose to give birth and how we are raising him, I am still happy with our choices. We had a birth center birth—completely unmedicated. I know at the time I was rethinking the decision. I mean, it was the hardest thing I have ever done. Afterward I wondered a few times if I was just doing things the hard way. We also co-sleep, which has its pros and cons and is a bit controversial in pediatric circles. Overall, however, I am happy with the choices we have made so far. Strangers and friends often comment on Xavier’s cheery disposition and temperament. I love this! I realize that part of it is just his personality, but I do think that it also has to do with the way we gave birth to him, and the way we respond and listen to him throughout the day and the way we parent at night. I realize that his second year of life will bring joys and challenges we haven’t seen yet, but we plan to approach these stages the same way—lovingly.

Today I read something interesting on the AnthroGrad listserve that I want to check more into. It was a website for a non-profit called “birthingthefuture.org”. This organization seems to link gentile birthing with the creation of a non-violent world. I really like that! This is the poem at the beginning of the site:

A Handful of Hope

If we hope to create
a non-violent world
where respect and kindness
replace fear and hatred

We must begin
with how we treat each other
at the beginning of life.

For that is where
our deepest patterns are set.

From these roots
grow fear and alienation
~or love and trust.

Poem by Suzanne Arms

I just really love it. I really want the world to be at peace. I really believe that it can be. I want to have a hand in helping the world get there. Raising babies this way is not the easiest, and sometimes I do think it is the hard way—at least in the immediate term—but I truly feel that it does make a difference. I want my house to be so peaceful, so tranquil, that it will be a haven for me and my family and all who enter.

Sigh... I bet get to bed. I have a lot of work to do!

A Couple of Videos

Yesterday and today we captured a few very short videos of Xavier that I just love. They showcase three of the zillions of reasons I just LOVE this kid!

He knows what he wants:



His Laugh:



His overall silliness!:

Upward Mobility

Xavier has been getting much more proficient at walking over the last two days. It started yesterday evening. We all went out to celebrate Xavier's mobile achievements with a little ice cream from Giffords (Xavier has a banana I brought along). Spencer and I sat outside on an artsy slab of granite, warm from the heat of the afternoon, and watched Xavier play in the fountains located just outside of Giffords, near Clyde's. (The same fountains as in this picture taken today). It was so cute. Xavier just kneeled near the fountains for the longest time watching two other children play. Then, he began to play in the water himself. He alternated between crawling and standing. He loved just putting his hands in water spray and getting wet on such a warm evening. Then, he started to walk around. It was so adorable to watch. He was shaky, as was to be expected, yet so determined. He fell over a couple times, but managed to catch himself, all but once, before he hit his head on the unforgiving stone. Spencer took his hand and followed him around the area as the night drew more dim. Xavier seemed so compelled to keep going, keep walking, keep moving. He didn't even want to hold Spencer's hand all of the time; he wanted to be independent exercising his new strides. It was so sweet to see Spencer and Xavier just playing and walking together. It was a tender time they shared together--just loving being together, just loving each other.

As summer draws to a close, forced by the starting of school, I am a little sad because I know that with his school- and work- load, Spencer and Xavier won't get to spend as many tender moments together.

But oh! I should be thrilled! I have a wonderful husband who works to keep us out of poverty. He works so that I can be home with Xavier. He goes to one of the best schools with a top-rated program so that he can increase his skills and career potential. He does all of this for our whole family. I am so blessed; I know this. Yet, my heart yearns for more of his time. More moments like last night. More chances to see my two boys hand in hand.

At Work with Daddy

Back in June I went to visit daddy at work. It was great! Here are some pictures to tell the story of the day.

First off, mom was the one who brought me along to daddy's office. Daddy's office is really great because he has a basket ball. I love balls!

Oh don't mind me! I am just taking the ball out for a spin around the office.

I better tuck it in really tight so i don't loose it!

Don't worry, I'll get it. It just rolled under the chair.

Hummm. Who is this? I wonder if she has a keyboard for me to play on?

Back in dad's office--nice and safe on his lap. So... what do you do around here all day dad?

"Well son, have a listen to this. Right now I am watching the the World Cup. It's football"

Wow! What a job my daddy has!

And that was my day.

Xavier

The 11th month in pictures!

Summer Time

Awww... Summer time! I really love many things about this time of year. Something I love, and is reminiscent of childhood, is going to the local farms to pick fruit. On this particular day we are picking peaches and blackberries--delicious! Especially if you pick them yourself!

We came with friends who also have a little boy. It was really great to get out of the city and into nature. There was also a small petting zoo at the farm. I have included some pictures.

Ye-Haw!

Look at me cow! Look at me!

You been farmin' long?

The 10th Month in Pictures

Another month!

A day at the pool!

Back in June we took Xavier swimming at the Wilson Pool. We love this pool! It is so much fun! There is a great place for lap swim, a stellar "therapy pool" and, of course, a kids area. We had a lot of fun playing with Xavier and testing out our underwater camera case! Please enjoy the photos!

The 9th month in pictures

A bit late in coming, but here nonetheless!

First Steps...

Xavier took his first steps today! Yeah! We are such proud parents! I will try and catch it on video next time.

This kid is so funny. I think all of his major developmental achievements have come about because he was angry. This is no different. Today he was mad because we wouldn't let him in our room and the door was shut. (Spencer was working in there putting up our new bed!!!). Anyway, Xavier was playing with the bed risers and really fussing about the situation. Then suddenly, he stood up, a riser in each hand, and took two steps towards me and landed in my lap! I was so proud! I cheered and cheered. He just fussed and fussed. I guess he doesn't know that he just hit a major milestone.

I have a feeling, though, that he won't really walk proficiently for a while still. I am assuming it will be like his rolling. He rolled two times at 9 weeks, and then not again until nearly 6 months. (He was just mad that we had put him on his back). With walking, he hasn't even walked holding our hands. He has great balance. He stands without pulling up. He stands with objects in his hands. He stands and picks up things. He cruises furniture. Once or twice he has almost "ran" for the door following Spencer, but of course fell flat. (See, I think he thinks he can run). Anyway, I think he will still be a while before he is a proficient walker. I actually think he will skip walking and go straight to running. We have a focused boy!

**Spencer Opines:
Actually, I think Xavier is well on his way to walking. He's got a walking toy and has been pushing it around more frequently and for longer periods of time. While he still loves his speed crawling, I see him getting up more and more and taking more tentative steps. He is going to be a runner!

Chil-laxin'

Our neighbors down the street are moving to Cairo! Now, I didn't really know them, but they just happen to have a toddler and need to get rid of quite a few things. So... Xavier is delighted to be the recipient of a plethora of things we would likely not have purchased for him. This chair is one of those goodies. He loves it! he crawls into it and lounges throughout the day. It even rocks! Yeah for generosity!

I lost my son...

...and found him in daddy's tools!

His grandpa will be proud!

Whole Foods. A Whole Lot of Goodness

A couple of days ago Xavier and I shopped the new Whole Foods in Friendship Heights. I love this store! Just walking in is an experience! I mean, every detail about were the product is from is written on huge signs; most, if not all, of the food is grown using sustainable practices; most is organic; quite a few things are even grown locally; and there is an array of health items.

This particular day I was there to purchase hormone free yogurt, powdered kelp and 100% whole wheat crackers for Xavier. I really just love this store! Anyway, we were in the store and Xavier got a little fussy. He was a bit board. So, I grabbed a banana and handed it to him to hold, thinking this would occupy him. And I was right. He held the banana through our whole trip; and on the way home he started to nibble on it. Soon there was a hole and then he started eating the banana right out of it. It was so funny! By the time we got home he had eaten nearly one third of it.

Oh! He makes me smile!

Drink Up!

Xavier has been learning to drink from a cup. He doesn't do too badly, but the water on the table indicates that he is not quite there yet! He will get it soon enough. He is so determined!

Juicing

Xavier discovers the joys of food... and feeding time just got a lot more, em, colorful.

The Original Dance Party

Xavier learns to dance!

Bubbles

Yesterday I had one of the best swims in a long time.

After the "slow" lane was turned into a "reserved" space for the water aerobics class I migrated to the "medium" lane. I knew it was gutsy of me but I didn't want to swim all the way down to the opposite end of the pool where the other "slow" lane was. I thought I would take my chances.

AND... I am proud to report that while swimming in the "medium" lane, I passed someone! It was the most exhilarating moment of my swimming history. I am not going to tell you that he was doing the breast stroke, which is naturally slower than the front crawl, only that I passed someone. Sigh... what a thrill!

New Reaches

The Shoes...

sigh... I guess the comment for this is the same from the entry before. Xavier in shoes, sigh... He just turns into a little boy with these on!

The Shoes Make the Boy

In this picture I have put real shoes on Xavier for the first time. He didn't know what to think. In the end, I think he hated them. He looks so grown up with them!

Xavier's Great Great Adventures

I've been wanting to post this since May and am just getting to it! It kind of goes along with the last post. Basically, in May Xavier and I spent about two weeks visiting my grandma in Minnesota. We really had a great time there and everyone got to meet Xavier. It was really nice. A couple of the people we were able to visit were my grandma's brother and sister, my great Aunt and Uncle. It is incredible to me to think that so many of my great aunts and uncles are still living. It has really been wonderful to me, and such a blessing for me to get to know them, even though I grew no where near them. And I LOVED introducing Xavier to them! Here are some pictures.

Xavier and his Great Grandma Stevens

Xavier and his Great Great Aunt Elfa

Xavier with his Great Great Uncle Gerhardt and me.

Great Things

Dear little Xavier is at my great aunt Elfa's house rocking in a little rocking chair that originally belonged to my grandma's grandparents. (I think that is how it goes). So, this makes it Xavier's great great great grandparents. Could that really be right? It may be one more great. Anyway, I am just amazed thinking about what that chair must have seen.

It is of good construction! One can even see where the chair arms have been worn where, in the past, it had been turned upside down and pushed around as a walker.

Xavier looks like such a little man in this picture--complete with his 1920s hair!

The eighth month on pictures!

So... there are a few more than just one a day, but Xavier is SO SO cute that I just couldn't help myself!

Enjoy!

The seventh month

Sigh... I realize this has been a long time in coming! Thanks for your patience!

A Week of Birthdays plus New Adventures in the Great Lakes

May is always an exciting time, as Cherry's and my birthdays are four days apart on the 15th & 19th, respectively. Traditionally, we've taken a trip somewhere to celebrate. Two years ago we took a trip to New York City (for both business and pleasure). A year ago we drove to Pennsylvania where we toured Dutch Country, took in the beauty of Longwood Gardens, did some spontaneous baby clothes shopping at the OshKosh B'Gosh outlet and had a blast at the Rhubarb Festival (even though my over-engineered rhubarb derby car suffered an undercarriage failure that sent it careening off the track, and thus eliminating me from competition at the hands of an 8-year old).

This year, we took off for the shores of Lake Superior in Bayfield, WI, via Minneapolis for a long weekend with Cherry's sister Tennille and her husband and youngest son. It's perhaps the first couples getaway that I've ever been on and it was a lot of fun. We had the most gorgeous condo on the lakeshore within a block or two of all the great little shops in town that honestly made us all feel spoiled (let's call it "pampered"). Everyone else loved that I did all the cooking, and I enjoyed planning it all out and having people to cook for. A highlight was definitely the 3-hour boat tour through the Apostle Islands that shed light on the history and economy of the area as well as its immense natural beauty. I'd read about the sea caves while planning the trip and upon seeing the ones at Devil's Island I really wished that I was out in a kayak paddling around them, rather than just observing from the ship.

While we were out exploring town the day before I stumbled across a little bakery around the corner from our place and ordered a heavenly raspberry rhubarb pie for Cherry's birthday. It sure beat the heck out of a cake and from the first bite it was clear that the pie stood no chance of surviving to see the next day. The weekend was also punctuated with a great nature hike, scenic drives and several rounds of Ticket to Ride: Europe, which I had just ordered before the trip. (Thanks Shannon & Marc for introducing us to the game! We've won it some more converts.)

Having two babies in tow did up the stress level a little, with Zach running over to the gas fireplace and burning his palm literally minutes after we first walked in (a rough first night, but he was great the rest of the time) and Xavier getting sick and throwing up the night before we left and generally not being happy in the car for our drives too and from Minneapolis. I'm now convinced that traveling with babies from about 3-6 months of age is the ideal. Xavier was awesome during that period, and we got around a lot.

Speaking of which, it's time once again to update the "Where Xavier's Been" chart, seeing as this was we added several more states since our last big trips in January.

It was both Xavier's and my first time to Wisconsin, and he also added Minnesota to the list, along with weaker claims to Illinois and Missouri during airport layovers in Chicago & St. Louis. Having now bumped up the total to 13 states plus the District, Xavier's now been to a quarter of the states in his first 8 months. Not bad at all. Any guesses on where we'll hit next? I've still got four left to visit myself (the Dakotas, Alaska and Hawai'i) although I have doubts that those will be in the too-near future. Then again, before Tara graduates we may have to take advantage of our excuse to fly out to the middle of the Pacific for a little experience in paradise.

We'll add more pictures and details of the Bayfield trip in the near future, as well as the two "Month in Pictures" for which we're overdue! We had a scare coming home where we thought we lost the camera, but fortunately crisis was averted and the pictures are safe. Did I mention that we also saw the cherry and spoon sculpture in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden? Fun times!

Three Things at Thirty

Now that I am 30, I have decided that I need to make some significant lifestyle changes. No more making the decision about it time after time. The decision has been made.

1) I always have good posture--shoulders back, head up.
2) I only eat sweets when there is something to celebrate. --and even at that I am reasonable and responsible with my sweet intake.
3) Dishes are always done after super and before bed time.

The month in pictures: The sixth month

My baby is six months old today!

Picking your friends nose

We all know the saying: You can pick your friends; you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friend's nose. Well, I used to think the same thing applied to pants wetting.

Today, Xavier demonstrated that apparently you can wet your mom's pants.

How it happened: Well, we were sleeping all cozy in our bed (yes, I am admitting it. We are one of those crazy families who sleep with their babies--it is just so fun to have him cuddle up next to me and sleep so well!). Xavier woke up and wanted to nurse. I picked him up and nursed, laying him across my chest so that his bottom was resting in my arms just over my lap. A few minutes later, I felt warm wetness. He had peed and leaked all over my lap! When I moved to set him down I realized that I had been sitting in a puddle of his pee, too! AAHHH and so then my bottom was also wet. I was wet front to back!

Yoga Baby

Cherry took Xavier to a "Baby and Me" yoga class several months ago at our awesome yoga studio a few blocks away. From time to time she still does some of the exercises with him that she learned there. At this age, they don't really do poses, but that hasn't stopped us from catching Xavier trying a few:

Downward Dog

Plank


We're still working on Warrior and some others. ;-)

Now if only he'd get Corpse pose down more consistently, and preferably in the 9pm hour...

Learning Virtues: Patience

We've been impressed with Xavier's growth and development, which seems to be skyrocketing. (We'll post shortly some photos and clips of him starting to crawl.) However one of the most intriguing developments we've been noticing is that of patience.

Most noticeably, if he's hungry and fussy but sees that we're prepping a bottle for him, he'll often calm down and just watch while we finish. He's made the connection that we understood and are working to address his needs, and so he doesn't have to cry in the meantime. It's a surprising (and encouraging) little bit of patience from a 6-month old.

He's certainly teaching us patience in many other ways too, but it's nice to see that we're all learning to better communicate and understand, and thus are more able to deal with the situations that arise in our lives.

Have Passport, Will Travel

Despite all our preparation, it still ended up being a slightly frustrating ordeal when we went to apply for Xavier's passport. Nonetheless, the document arrived today, shiny and new (and in under two weeks)!

He's now set to jet off with us on some future foreign adventure! Congratulations, my little boy!