08-08-08

Apparently, the Chinese consider eight to be a lucky number, so today is a very lucky day. Leo is 10 months old today. I don't know if that is lucky, but I feel pretty lucky to be his momma. It's strange to think that he's been in the world longer than he was in my belly. It's even crazier to think that he'll be a year old in two months! Yikes.

Tom and Leo reading books at bedtime.

World Breastfeeding Week

Today marks the end of World Breastfeeding Week. I haven't done much to honor it except nurse my squirmy infant whenever he needs it. We struggled so much in the beginning, but I can't even express how happy I am that I stuck it out and made it work. I try to encourage all the moms and moms-to-be I know to breastfeed without being pushy. It really is what's best for baby and an amazing experience for mommy too.

Nursing in the hospital, both clueless about what we were doing.
Three months old and we're pros. And today.

A good Italian boy...

loves his spaghetti!

"Hey, what is this slimy stuff?" "I guess I'll give it a try."
"That's a hellva lot of garlic, lady."
"But I'll give it another shot."
"It's pretty good."

"Yep, I like it."
"Have fun cleaning me up, mom."
Here's a shot of the sauce as it was being made. It is an assortment of heirloom tomatoes for our neighbor's and our gardens. I scooped out some for Leo and pureed it, and Tom and I ate the rest.

Abby & the Pipsqueaks

Leo and I attended "Music Fun in the Sun" at the Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose with the moms group. We sat in a lovely outdoor space, snacked on string cheese and listened to the musical stylings of Abby & the Pipsqueaks, known for hits like "Monsters", "Chugga Chugga Choo Choo" and "Don't Be a Litterbug". Moms and kids sang along and I helped Leo wave his arms at the appropriate times. But it was a new level of torture I've never experienced (and this is coming from a woman who endured 40 hours of labor). I felt a little sad for the performers who, while doing a great job of entertaining children, I'm sure had ambitions of a more glamours rock n' roll careers. The scariest part for me is the fact that this is only the beginning. I'll have a lot more of these to attend -- puppet shows, Elmo on ice, animal-abusing circuses. But Leo seemed to enjoy himself, especially watching the big kids, so I'm willing to subject myself to another chorus of "old McDonald".

Abby & the Pipsqueaks take the stage. Leo working a piece of string cheese and trying to decide if he likes the show.
Another awesome craigslist score. Leo is learning how to stand without realizing it since he is so interested in all the buttons, lights and noise.

On a side note, it is my brother Mikey's birthday today. He would have been 29. I think Leo looks a lot like him, especially the eyelashes. I know Leo helps fill the hole in my heart and I hope that's true for other people who love and miss Mikey.

Reunited

Tom got home long after Leo went to bed last night, but they got to hang out a little this morning. He came home from work just in time to give Leo a bath after a particularly messy dinner. (Leo is trying to hold the spoon himself more and more, but is a long way from perfecting this skill.) They got to spend some quality time together. I snapped a couple of pics.

Just the two of us

Thursday night Tom left for his annual backpacking trip, so Leo and I were on our own for the weekend. We did well, but we certainly missed Daddy. Leo is perfecting his throwing. He especially likes to throw his plastic balls and his sippy cup. Between the throwing and his habit of blowing raspberries with a mouth full of food, I'm thinking of investing in a haz mat suit for meal times. Here are a few pictures from the last few days.

Before he left, Tom posed with Leo and the giant zucchini from our neighbor's garden. Time to move that plant. Here's the new rug we got for Leo. We plan to create play space for him, so we can reclaim our living room (at least a little bit).
Bug likes it too. Munching on some mac and cheese. My happy guy.

Sometimes we get bored with the toys and find fun other ways...

With tupperware...
With a blanket...

Worry

Immediately after I got pregnant, I was excited and nervous. Miscarriages are more common than people realized and I couldn't shake my fears. My mom told me, "Welcome to parenthood; the rest of your life will be worry." Well, it's only been nine months and boy was she right. (I can't even begin to think about when he starts driving.) Is he eating enough? Should his poop be that color? Does he need another coat of sunscreen? Is he breathing? Ugh. Most of the time, I'm confident he's a happy, healthy boy, but recently, I've been plague with worry about the fact he doesn't crawl. I tell myself a million times a day: the pediatrician isn't concerned, so I don't need to be. I know every baby is different and develops at his own pace, but I just so want Leo to be normal. Maybe I'm a little over obsessed with "normal" because of Mikey (my brother), but my heart seizes at the slightest thought that there is something wrong. Look, I know he's normal. He's absolutely perfect, but it is strange to go on playdates with kids younger than him that are much more advanced in a number of ways. All the other moms are really nice about it, though.

Well, that's what's on my mind right now. I'm sure tomorrow I'll be worrying about something else and once he starts crawling, I know I'll be in trouble.

Here are some pictures and videos of my perfectly normal baby boy.

Modeling the shirt-bib thing I made for him when I was pregnant.
Playing with Billie.
I got this bead maze off craigslist for a steal. It's a big hit.
Billie scavenges for scraps under the high chair during every meal. She'll eat anything -pasta, pancakes, peas. Such a weird cat.
Video of Leo eating string cheese


Dancing with dad