Adventures in Being Myself

Okay, our kid is SUPER smart. Even when he is asleep. Check it: when I put him down for his morning nap today, it was our usual routine: lots of kisses and crooning, pacifier and my blankets (yes, Mama, you were right. Zane loves my blankets, and I happily give them over to him when he needs them.) As he fell asleep, the pacifier was firmly suctioned between his lips and his tiny little hand was grasping the blue blanket to his nose. When I went in to check on him 45 minutes later, the pacifier was gently placed on the blue blanket that had been pushed away slightly. That was no big surprise. A fun fact about Z is his very judicious use of the pacifier. He frequently falls asleep with it, and will either spit it out or pull it out of his mouth when he no longer needs the comfort for restful slumber. The big moment happened during my second check of my sleeping genius. This time the pacifier was back in his mouth . So, without waking, he had grabbed the pacifier from its spot atop the...

It's summertime and the living is easy! Zane has discovered one of the greatest pleasures of summer: kicking back in a hammock.

This is Hayden. Hayden is 7 weeks younger than Zane, born on February 4, 2008. His parents are our good friends, Jeff and Jen Gallo. We met Jeff and Jen when PG bought his motorbike. Jeff's family owns the local BMW Motorcycle dealership and, in the process of acquiring "Tigger" ( yes, the bike actually has a tail...don't get me started.. .), PG learned that Jeff and Jen live in our neighborhood. Soon after we learned Zane was on the way, we learned that Jeff and Jen, too, were expecting a baby boy. They are our kind of peeps, and we've become fast friends. And we just know our boys will be buddies. Hayden has started eating cereal and, clearly, enjoys the oatmeal. Isn't he just the cutest?

My talented PG captured the very elusive open mouth happily and eagerly anticipating a delicious bite of finely pureed apples, pears and bananas. He is gaining weight already. I'm SURE of it.

I took Z to see Dr. Landefeld yesterday for his 6-month checkup. Our boy is healthy and growing and he got an overall good report. I say "overall" because there is one area that needs substantial improvement: his weight. He weighs just 12 lbs., 11 oz. As Dr. Landefeld said, "he sort of fell off the charts for his weight." Sigh. We just presumed - because until yesterday there was never any mention of concern about his weight - that he was just a small kid. Both PG and I were small kids, and we're not big people now. Plus, we tend to eat healthily. We don't overstuff ourselves; we stop when we're full. That's the pattern we've noticed with Z, so we had no concern - especially since he is super happy, super healthy and SUPER content. The news was a huge blow to me since I am breastfeeding. Most every book - even the book published by the American Academy of Pediatrics - says that breastmilk is sufficient to meet all nutritional needs of babies unt...

Half-birthdays are HUGE in kids' lives. I remember being very proud of my "halfs" - as in, "I'm free and a HAFF." Yesterday marked the 6-month point in Zane's first year of life. Our boy is a whole HAFF old! We have enjoyed every single second with our little buddy, and it just gets more fun every day! In the picture below, he was less than 1 minute old. He had us at hello, or "waaaaahhhh." Now, he looks like this: His 6-month checkup with the pediatrician is not until next Tuesday; but, here are some fun facts about Zane: His "Peter fingers" are the yummiest fingers ever made! We are supremely blessed that he is willing to breastfeed. We are not, however, thrilled that he vehemently resists a bottle, even a bottle filled with Mama's milk. He is eating "solid" foods once daily...so far he likes pears, peaches, prunes, applesauce, bananas and butternut squash. He is not so fond of the rice cereal. When he starts eating...

One of my favorite blog authors, Epiphany , recently posted about her domestic prowess: according to one rubric that tests a woman's mettle as a 1930s wife, she is "very superior." From what I read on her blog(s), I would concur: she is smart, witty, an excellent mother, an inspiring cook/baker, socially conscious (she composts! AND she has a green house!), and she keeps it all going while her husband travels extensively for work. I consider myself to be a pretty good "wife" (even though PG and I are not married). I am better than average as an amateur home cook; I actually enjoy doing laundry, planning meals and shopping for groceries; I love throwing parties; I take the lead in caring for Zane; and I take great personal satisfaction in making sure my home is clean and tidy and comfortable for my family. I do all of that - and more - because it makes me happy (and because I am, quite possibly, touched by a bit of OCD...). Here are my test results: 81 As a 1930...

Check out the tonsorial stylings of my men: Zane at 5-1/2 months. PG at 42 years.