Stream of Conscience

On our last day of living in Seattle I discovered three things:

1) The fastest way home from Costco. 

2) There was a Bank of America less than a mile away from our house the entire time. 

3) It's a huge relief to move out of the inner city.

Do you like how I did that? Just slipped in that we moved from Seattle? We did. We live in South Carolina now.

Speaking of not living in Seattle...the other night Joe and I left to go pick up BBQ take-out while Joe's mom watched Zeph. I was already in yoga pants (it was Saturday, so by already I mean I probably wore them all day) and was planning to put on my Chacos and call it good enough. I asked Joe if it was ok and he said something like, "ummm...you're in the South. People don't dress like that here." 

Oh that's right. I left the birthplace of grunge for the land of Belles. Real pants are no longer optional. 

Speaking of welcome to the South...our first week here Zeph got himself 12 mosquito bites. At the same time. All on his head. I hope he can survive the loss of blood to the brain...and inhaling Raid. 

(Zeph's stroller is especially attractive to the mosquitoes. It now permanently smells like repellent.)

Speaking of Zeph...you'll be hard pressed to find a happier baby.  He smiles and giggles all day long. If you look at him, he thinks its hilarious. You touch his belly? Peals of laughter. Bite his fingers or toes? Gleeful hysteria. In this video he is just plain manic.

Speaking of a laughing baby...When Zeph wakes up in the morning he stays in bed for 10 minutes laughing and talking to himself, just happy to be alive. Sometimes I hear him laughing and talking to himself in the middle of the night. This kid is something else. 

(This is how I find Zeph every single morning.)

Speaking of something else...something else Zeph does that's adorable is he beams and thumps his right leg and flails his arms whenever someone gives him attention or he sees a full bottle. Ol' Thumper here especially loves to kick is foot against the hard plastic of his car seat. His heels are constantly bruised and cut from all of his kicking antics. 

(Beaming.)

Speaking of a bottle of warm milk...A sleeping baby is one of the most content feelings in the world. At night when I've put Zeph into his crib sometimes I think, "There. I did it. I kept another human being alive and happy for another day. Good work." 

(Both asleep. I thought I was the one who needed a nap.)

Speaking of work...I no longer have to work as Joe's secretary. Lets all breathe a sigh of relief. 

Speaking of sighing...have you ever seen the Redwoods? They are definitely one of the most incredible sights I've ever seen. When I was a kid we had a set of children's encyclopedias and I remember seeing a picture of a car driving through a hole in the trunk of a tree. I was so amazed and wanted so badly to see those giant trees. This summer we went on a little road trip and saw the redwoods. Truly, I was in absolute awe.  I've realized the last few years that I feel the presence of God through nature more so than almost anywhere else. I guess its because in places like an untouched forest, His presence is still whole in His creations. 

Speaking of Zeph...oh we weren't speaking of Zeph? Funny how that happens. We go to the beach once a week to go on a walk, because why not? Going on walks is one of Zeph's favorite things.

Speaking of Zeph's favorite things...I was going to post a list of all of his favorites, but it deserves a post all it's own.

Speaking of blog posts...this one is long. And overdue. Long overdue and long, overdue. 

Speaking of babbling...I think the thing I miss most about Seattle is having great friends and family close. I read somewhere that women use, on average, 20,000 words a day. I can only use up so many of those on Zeph repeating the same things again and again. I very much miss having good friends to talk with.

(Our favorite Seattle friends got together for dinner and games and were kind enough to Face Time us to say hello. That's why we are friends. I cried and cried when we hung up. I wish I had a picture of Face Timing with Cali, Levin, Atlas, and my mom today.)

Speaking of saying the same things over and over...I already have my first children's book mesmerized. Dr. Suess's Circus McGurkis (the world's greatest show, on the face of the earth or wherever you go).

("Reading" books together. Actually Zeph is playing with the tag.)

Speaking of a circus...we are buying a house. Enough said.

Speaking of enough said...

If you don't find him helpful, find him funny

Zeph has had croup for the last week. If you're ever unsure just how long a week is, take care of a baby with croup. The first few days were all cuddles and naps, the last few days have been all crank and fits. 

Croup has brought back the midnight (read: 3am) feeding and I indulge because he hasn't been eating or drinking enough during the day--in fact I'm pretty sure Zeph learned to arch his back (away from a bottle or spoon), shake his head emphatically, and block his mouth with his tongue all this week. Brilliant, my child is. 

So with the second round of midnight feedings--absent the euphoric hormones--I'm noticing someone is sleeping right through all the crying (not mentioning who, exactly, is doing the crying...as it's usually a toss up). 

Last night, however, after Zeph had been crying for 20 minutes I finally went to rescue him. Zeph cried until I pushed "start" on the microwave, and like magic, he stopped. Then from the other room, muffled by the whir of the glowing microwave, I hear a voice from our bedroom that I could have sworn said, "I'll help." 

I pause the microwave and say, "What did you say, Joe Dear?" (Because when stress is high and sleep is low our sweetest dispositions come out and I become "Darling," and he becomes "Joe Dear.")

Dear repeats himself, "Pavlov."

*Joe Dear insists I say some creative liscence was taken during the writing of this blog. But that would be lying. Silly Joe Dear. 

Charlotte

It's spider season in our house and they are busy weaving inside and out. I've left their webs in place and have been checking them periodically because I'm just sure I'll find, "Some Woman" written in spider silk. "Terrific" or "Radiant" would also do.

No luck yet. But I'm keeping the webs around just in case a spider starts feeling complimentary.

Which really just means I haven't cleaned my corners in while.

Life in My World...

...Is basically trying to keep that hat in place.

Mom's Visit

My mom left yesterday after spending a week with us. She was amazing. She cooked, cleaned, organized, did ALL of my laundry, did months worth of ironing, and brought me water every time I sat down to nurse. She burped, held, bathed, rocked, and loved Zeph. She even slept on the floor of his nursery his first night in his crib because I was nervous. She woke up with every feeding and kept me company. She visited and visited and visited with me. She hugged me when I cried and told me to take a nap. She showed so much love through her service. Zeph is lucky to have her as a grandma. I'm incredibly lucky to have her as a mom. I have finally started to understand just how much she loves me. I'm blown away that I get to be to Zeph what she is to me.

An Introduction

Introducing Joseph

March 27, 2013

6lb 9oz

Perfect.

All Aboard!

I'm a riddle in nine syllables,

An elephant, a ponderous house,

A melon strolling on two tendrils.

O red fruit, ivory, fine timbers!

The loaf's big with its yeasty rising.

Money's new-minted in this fat purse.

I'm a means, a stage, a cow in calf.

I've eaten a bag of green apples, 

Boarded the train there's no getting off.

-Sylvia Plath

That last line, "Boarded the train there's no getting off," has been running through my head over and over the last nine months; when I was morning sick, when I get overwhelmed, when I think about the pain that is coming, and especially when I realize I have a lifetime of service ahead of me. There are so few decisions to be made that can't be undone that it's really quite frightening to realize that there really is no getting off of this train. 

Here's to hoping that everyone else on this ride that swears by the journey and destination aren't crazy.

Chinese Food

Joe and I were just having a discussion about one of his favorite Chinese restaurants that went something like this:

J: "That place is so delicious."

A: "That place is gross. The meat is shady...call me crazy, but I'm not a fan of chewing on pieces of neck, gristle, and giant chunks of unknown fat."

J: "Whatever. You wouldn't know good Chinese food if it hit you in the face with a rat."

A Dose of Cheerful

If you read this blog, you might know that my blogger friend, Charlotte, drove up to Seattle with the sole intention of us meeting after years of mutual blog stalking and commenting. Nothing puts a spring in your step like someone who wants to be your friend even before they meet you.

Charlotte and Asher were absolutely delightful.  Charlotte is an easy and pleasant conversationalist. It was so nice to have girl talk with someone who enjoys Harry Potter, marriage, family, great writing, good TV, stretchy pants, and being a home body just as much as I do—kindred spirits indeed. She was incredibly gracious and kind, and cheered me up considerably. And Asher smiles and peeps every time you even glance at him--it's hard to not love a baby like Asher.

Staying in and chatting for an evening and then taking a stroll around the market (while eating treats of course) with a friend like Charlotte was just what January ordered to help beat the blues. 

Don't Be Our Guest

It's a guest who comes to your house and:

:: points out all of the corners that need swept

:: reminds you the garage isn't organized

:: leaves the door open and makes the entire house cold

:: says things like, "Are you sure you should eat that?"

:: draws attention to your shortcomings

:: forgets to mention that you're at least trying

:: gives you judgy eyes

:: has a gloomy aura 

:: tracks mud and water onto your floors

:: and on top of everything else, is ugly

Which is to say, "January, you've overstayed your welcome."

Speaking of...

• Oranges and milk have been my only legitimate cravings. I had to start limiting myself to two oranges a day.
• Speaking of limiting...I thought I had pretty good self control until Joe put two pounds of Lindor chocolates in my Christmas stocking. Turns out I was wrong.
• Speaking of food...over the last year I happened to read quite a number of food related non-fiction books. My favorites were (click for reviews): The Dirty Life: On Farming, Food, and Love by Kristin Kimball, Knives at Dawn: America's Quest for Culinary Glory at the Legendary Bocuse d'Or Competion by Andrew Friedman, Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl, and My Life in France by Julia Child.
• Speaking of books...Joe and I have been reading a myriad of children's picture books. I don't remember how this started, but we've had a great time reading a few before bed each night. Joe reviews them faithfully on goodreads (he was born to be a critic) and frequently goes over the borrowed-book limit at the library.
• Speaking of critiquing...we went over our 2012 goals tonight and began finalizing our 2013 goals. We gave ourselves a grade for each goal. I got more than one D.
• Speaking of D...I will never again underestimate the power of a good bra.
• Speaking of being pregnant...I'm pretty sure baby boy likes to do jumping jacks.
• Speaking of boy...sometimes I still think I'm having a girl. And then I look at the ultrasound pictures and am reminded it is very clearly not a girl.
• Speaking of pictures...this post needs some. 

(Here is proof I was inspired by Julia Child, especially given our limited fridge space.)

(This is the awesome pillow Joe got for me when sleeping became an issue.)

(This picture kills me. Chewie came back from the groomers with a handkerchief and a doofy looking haircut. We called him Mr. Fancy Pants for a while.) 

• Speaking of posts...did you know I write a business blog for Joe's company? I may have gotten the job out of nepotism and my mom and Cialis may be our only commenters, but, well, I do it.
• Speaking of accomplishments...I've now completed four years worth of NY Times Monday crossword puzzles. A healthy number of Tuesdays are scattered in there as well (a puzzle any later in the week and I have to start cheating). I picked up the habit when Joe and I were in Hawaii last year and his grandfather "Pop" passed away. I'd just met Pop six months before and only a few things stuck out from that visit: watching baseball while he yelled at the TV, eating sugar free Worthers, and being amazed that Pop could do the Sunday crossword without breaking a sweat.
• Speaking of Hawaii...did you know we went last year? We decided to sweeten the deal and go skydiving over the North Shore while we were at it. 

  

• Speaking of things you might not know...I have a craft room.

• Speaking of running out of things to say...