Planet Lu

"Do My Wrck Qiitly"

2010-02-06T10:30:00.003-06:00

Last week, we got an email from a parent of one of Lucy's classmates. The subject line was "Bite." I started laughing before I could even open the email. Apparently, there was a scuffle over a seat and some shoving and biting ensued.

Lucy came home with this note:

The note said "Please sign and return," but I asked Ms. P. if we could keep it.

Home

2010-01-27T21:40:00.003-06:00

I went on my first business trip since Milo was born and I survived. I pumped breast milk in an airplane bathroom, but I survived. We all did. Jason was Super Dad (with some help from Super Granny). Lucy was amazingly helpful and cooperative, and Milo was a peach, I am told.

While everything went very smoothly without me, I think they missed me. When I went into Milo's room to feed him at 2 a.m. he gave me the biggest grinningest "GUH" ever. Lucy kept wanting to sit or lie down next to me all tonight, stroking my arm. She even told me I was beautiful, which kind of made me want to cry. And Jason's been shmoopy too. I should leave more often if I'm going to get this kind of welcome home.

Whack-a-Milo

2010-01-17T18:09:00.003-06:00

I know it's wrong, but we can't stop laughing.

Did You Know...

2010-01-16T08:48:00.002-06:00

...that Milo is unusual? He is unusual because he is wacky. You know, he is always whacking everything! Maybe he is so unusual they will put him on the news.

Lucy Can Read

2010-01-13T21:29:00.003-06:00

Like, READ-read. Like sit-in-the-corner-and-read-herself-a-chapter-book read. Tonight she read us a book about polar bears that eat baby seals who have poked their tiny heads through the ice to breathe. She read this without horror, while Milo, my very own baby seal, looked on with wide eyes. She was all, "Mom, that's just what happens." Oh, and she knows the word "scavenge." We got a big laugh about the part where polar bears are so hungry, they are digging in people's garbage. Climate change is so funny [nervous laughter].

We have all been enjoying each other so much lately. Could be this new parenting model, which I will write about in more detail. Not sure if it has changed Lu, or us, or both, but if we can keep on having more of the fun where we laugh about marauding polar bears, we're gonna keep it up.

Milostone: Four Months

2010-01-11T22:52:00.003-06:00

He weighs 15 lbs. 3 oz., putting him in the 60th percentile for weight, and taking him off the "super-fat" growth trajectory, which, as his primary food source, I found very satisfying. Oh well. Now's probably an appropriate time to lose that third chin.

He's in the 90th percentile for height. Enjoy that, kid. This is the relatively tallest you will ever be, and you can't even stand up to tower over the other kids.

Head: 40th percentile. I attribute this to his unfortunate right-side flat spot. He's spent too much time with his head turned to the right, sucking his right thumb, being all good-natured. I KNEW there was something wrong with this whole "docile" thing: it will be his misshapen head. GOOD-NATURED AND CROOKED-HEADED.

Official diagnosis: perfect. The kid really is the happiest, smilingest creature you'd want to meet. Lowers blood pressure. Could settle a bar fight. Well on his way to the Nobel Peace Prize.

p.s. I promise not to belabor the "Milostone" device, except now I know Liz D. likes it...

Milostone: Flip

2010-01-09T23:39:00.003-06:00

Milo rolled over for the first time today.

We put him in Lu's room to be semi-entertained while Lu and Honour worked out intricate dramas with Playmobil (Lu's room is a guaranteed 30 minutes of happiness).

He's been close to rolling over for weeks now. We had kind of given up. A little while before he rolled over today, I summoned Papa Bear to witness a near-miss. Jason was nonplussed. "He does that all the time."

So we went back to doing what we normally do: ignoring him as he placidly flaps, while we occasionally smile and "guh" at him. During one of my drive-bys, I noticed he was ON HIS STOMACH. He saw me and squawked, as though to say, "WOMAN, I HAVE FLIPPED OVER. RECOGNIZE!"

New Year's Resolution

2010-01-03T21:36:00.003-06:00

Learn Portuguese? Write novel? Be more organized? ACHIEVE WILDEST DREAMS?

Have made and flubbed all those.

This year, my new year's resolution is to Be Happier. I will undoubtedly be discussing this in greater detail in some overly wordy and sentimental tome, but until then, I can only say, I am off to a good start. Why? Because I got a phone call from Pie on a Sunday afternoon.

"Come over for spaghetti!"
"But we are going to Annabelle's birthday and we won't be able to bring anything and we don't have any pajamas and I think we better go home."
"Why? It's just spaghetti. Frank is bringing some guitars and I have the cello and I already made the spaghetti and come over!"

So we did. After a perfect birthday party WITH A CLOWN AND BALLOON ANIMALS AND WINE, (thank you, Annabelle), we had a perfectly low key dinner with some of our dearest friends. Who played the cello and the guitar to some Avett Brothers songs (beautifully, but perhaps imperfectly?). And to think, I almost said no, because it wasn't just right. But I said yes, because Pie always says yes (for which I give her endless grief).

Resolved: greedily, mercilessly seek out those things that make you happy and DO THEM. But it might take some sussing out and seeking before you realize what they are.

Bad Mood Remedy

2009-12-29T16:31:00.003-06:00

Herewith, the cure for any post-holiday grouchiness:

Signs That I Am Doing a Little Too Much

2009-12-21T13:53:00.003-06:00

Yesterday, I found peanut butter in my eyebrow, presumably from my hastily-eaten breakfast.

I have taken to sleeping in my workout clothes in an effort to speed the process of getting to the gym before everybody wakes up in the morning. It is not working.

I have ordered all of Christmas off of Amazon. At least what presents I remembered to buy. I apologize in advance for forgetting you.

My lunch today? A brownie and a cupcake, both stolen from random boxes/trays of sweets I encountered around the office.

Ed. note: I wrote this post last Wednesday and forgot to actually post it. See what I mean?

'Tis the Reasoning for the Season

2009-12-14T10:14:00.004-06:00

One day last week when Jason picked Lu up from Crenshaw's, Miss Carol noted that Lucy told her we celebrated both Christmas and Hanukkah, which we, uh, don't.

Then we were reading this cute book called "Three French Hens," in which the three kosher chickens don't celebrate Christmas. She said, "Kosher means Jewish?" And I explained as best I could about kosher dietary rules that some Jewish people follow.

She then asked if we are Jewish. I said no, we are Christian. "What's the difference?" she wants to know. I explain that Jews and Christians have a lot in common, etc., etc., but that we believe Jesus was the son of God, etc., etc. I clearly need to be taking this child to Sunday school.

And then: "How do you get Jewish?" "You mean, how do you become Jewish?" "Yes." "Well, you can convert, by deciding to become Jewish, or you can be born that way."

Then she really stumped me. "But you don't believe ANYTHING when you're born, so how can you be anything?!" Rather than go into any detail about ethnicity vs. cultural identity vs. religious affiliation, I explain feebly, "Well, when you're born, your parents try to raise you to believe what they believe."

She thinks on this for a moment and says, "I'm ready for bed now." Thank God.

Phone Call with Nurse at Pediatrician's Office

2009-12-11T12:22:00.002-06:00

Me: "So, you're probably going to think I am crazy for asking this, but is it normal for a three-month-old to sleep 12 hours at night and go that long with out wanting to eat?"
Her: "Well, I wouldn't say it's normal, but I would say it's great. And judging by his weight, he can probably go that long."
Me: "So I don't need to be waking him up or anything to feed him?"
Her: "You can if you want to."
Me: "But I don't need to."
Her: "No."
Me: "So I am totally looking a gift horse in the mouth here?"
Her: "Yes, I think so."

SNOT

2009-12-08T09:09:00.002-06:00

We are living in a place I like to call BOOGERTOWN. Lucy and Milo are over this nasty cold, but Jason and I are still getting through it.

Also, I have been going to the office. With a snotty baby. Good times. Yesterday was actually fantastic, with lots of cooperative sleeping and smiling. Milo is very good at advertising.

I will tell more later, but did not want to go more than a week of radio silence from Boogertown. Over and out and achoo.

I Think I Can

2009-12-01T22:05:00.002-06:00

You know that feeling you used to get on Sunday nights? When the clock on "60 Minutes" would come on and you'd feel the weekend ticking sadly away from you? That strange mixture of dread and excitement?

I have it bad. Tomorrow is my first day back at work. Milo is coming with me, thanks to a great program that lets new babies come to the office until they're mobile (more or less). I did it with Lu and it was hard, but the juggling act seemed far easier than making the hard choice between dropping off a three-month-old at daycare and giving up my career.

The juggling act may be harder this time. I have more responsibility and am accountable to more people (read: more meetings). But we're going to do it. And I am hopeful that Milo's sweet disposition and my own calmer, second-time-around demeanor will help us out.

When I think about going to work tomorrow, I am reminded of when I was a little girl on the way to the doctor. My pediatrician's office was at the top of MLK Boulevard, up the very steep hill off Lamar. Every time Mom and I drove up that big hill, we'd talk about the Little Engine That Could and say "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can," which must have been some effort to make me brave.

Tomorrow, I will drive up that same hill to my office, chugging along pulling a baby behind me. I think I can...

Overheard

2009-12-01T08:06:00.002-06:00

This morning before school...
Lucy: "We have to bring the stuff for the gingerbread house TODAY!"
Jason: "We can get it and bring it tomorrow -- we don't have to bring it until Monday."
Lucy: "If we don't bring it today, I am going to be furious. I MEAN IT."
[Brief silence.]
Lucy: "WHY DOES EVERYONE KEEP LAUGHING AT ME WHEN I SAY THAT?"
[More silence.]
Lucy: "THAT IS NOT A RESPONSE. I NEED A RESPONSE."
Jason: "It's funny because you just sound so grown up when you say that."

In Appreciation of Milo

2009-11-30T09:54:00.002-06:00

I know I will regretting writing this down, but I just want to note, for the record, which I suppose this is since I have never done a baby book for Lucy and certainly won't for Milo, that Milo officially sleeps through the night! Multiple days in a row of 9+ hours of sleep. Oh, and I just put him down for a nap while he was AWAKE and he found his thumb and PUT HIMSELF TO SLEEP.

I know this may all go to hell, but I am just appreciating it for now.

Making a List

2009-11-21T23:46:00.003-06:00

As much as I reject the early arrival of the holiday season (and with it, all those smug announcements of "I've finished all my Christmas shopping" — no, I haven't bought your present, or any present), I do love the early availability of SANTA THREATS. I used my first one on Thursday: "Lu, what would Santa Claus think of that?" She made a funny face and said in a coy, babyish voice, "Um, I have no idea?" She has an idea, alright. 'Tis the season to be cooperative.

Mission Statement

2009-11-18T14:47:00.003-06:00

Over the past few weeks, I have had a series of conversations about the meaning of life. Not quite literally, but discussions with people I love about meaning and purpose, about the right way to be on this earth. I don't have the answer and I never will, but I was reminded again of my favorite poem, which as a clear a statement of purpose as I am likely to ever find.

Late Fragment
And did you get what
you wanted from this life, even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved, to feel myself
beloved on the earth.
--Raymond Carver

I promise to write something funny tomorrow...

Did You Know...

2009-11-16T21:34:00.002-06:00

...this joke sheet has "130 mistakes!!"?

Lucy was writing down some jokes she likes (with my help), and it pretty much fell apart after I misdirected her on "who's" vs. "whose" -- duh!! She disintegrated into hysterics and demanded that I write it for her. I did not. Boo hoo, indeed.

Sleeping Like a Baby

2009-11-12T23:08:00.002-06:00

I just peeked in on Lucy. Next to Milo, she is a giant, a person, a formed creature! And yet, in her sleep, she is as mushy and vulnerable as her baby brother. Her mouth puckers when I tuck the blanket around her, looking for a thumb that isn't there. When I lay my finger in her soft, open hand, she clenches it and rolls toward me. Fierce girl, surrended. She is not a baby, but she is my baby, at least when she sleeps.

Seen on Video...

2009-11-08T21:48:00.001-06:00

...(the video baby monitor, that is) Milo sucking his thumb -- on purpose! And smiling about it!

Milo at Two Months

2009-11-06T11:55:00.003-06:00

The little animal is big and healthy, tipping the scales at 13.5 lbs. (90th percentile). Go, milk! Met all his milestones, got his shots and is, as his mother already knew, perfect in every way.

photo courtesy of the amazing Amanda McGlothlin.

Halloween Screams

2009-11-05T21:26:00.000-06:00

We used to rage at Halloween. And apparently, we still do.

Where the Wild Thing Is

2009-11-04T08:07:00.005-06:00

Last week I went to see "Where the Wild Things Are," the movie adaptation of Maurice Sendak's book. I thought the movie was sweet and sad, capturing something about how damn hard it can be to be a kid. While I was watching the movie, I had this desperate urge to go get Lucy out of school just to hold her tight.

We've been having a hard time lately. The Major Life Changes of Milo and kindergarten have made her surly and whiny — sometimes angrily independent, other times desperate for our help and attention. She hurls herself at negative consequences, knowing better, but unable to stop herself.

As a result, I have to admit to not liking her very much. That's hard to say, but true. I'm exhausted, frustrated and mad. When it's time for her to come home in the afternoon, I steel myself: what kind of Wild Thing will we have on our hands?

Yet watching this movie has helped me remember how hard this must all be for her. She's a five-year-old whose life has been turned upside down. She's at the mercy of two tired, distracted adults. We are all adjusting to this new us, but the adults have better coping mechanisms and are in charge of the television. Poor kid.

So as she roars her terrible roars and gnashes her terrible teeth, I will remind myself to keep the place where somebody loves Lu best of all, where her supper is waiting for her...and it is still hot.

Overheard

2009-11-03T21:17:00.002-06:00

Milo won't sleep. Not in the screaming-as-we-pace-him-around-the-house way, just the dude-you-really-have-been-awake-too-long way. So after about half a day of various forms of working to get him to sleep (three shifts, including Granny on duty for one), we have given up. He is happily in his bouncy seat, cooing at Jason, who is killing mythical creatures online, when I hear...

FFFFLLLTTSPURRRRRTYSPAAAAATTYSPURRRTFLLLTT. (What is the onomatopoeia for Gigantic Wet Fart?)

Followed by a bunch more cooing. And reportedly lots of smiling. Maybe he will sleep now.