Making Music

A future musician? Or just likes to make a lot of noise? Time will tell.

Seven Months

Dear Diego: You are going to be seven months in two days. Boy, am I out of date. So much has happened in our life together I’m not sure where to begin. Your smiles have become giggles, your rolls have become stands and it seems every day you are less baby and more little boy. This month you are on the move – you haven’t quite figured out crawling yet but we are seeing lots of “downward dog” – and you do seem to get to the things you want pretty efficiently. If I was asked to hazard a guess I would say that you are going to walk early. You were sitting up on your own at 4 months and have, in fact, met most of your physical milestones sooner than expected. Will you be a sports enthusiast like your dad or a bit clumsy like your mom? We have also started giving you ‘real’ food. You have tried oatmeal, several kinds of fruits and avocado. So far we haven’t found anything you don’t like – except milk and formula from a bottle. Don’t you think you could try to learn to like a bottle? I love you very much but I’d also love an afternoon off. Well – as I said in my last letter, no one is perfect and you are awfully close, my wonderful, fun and smart little boy.
Your mom; Julia

Newer.. but not there yet.

OK - almost. Here is month four and five.

From the Archives II

Here is a video from Month Two... I'm slowly catching up.

Oh ya - and a Wedding

And amongst all the crazyness of the last two weeks we also went to a wedding. Congratulations to Tanya Parks (now Ligthart) on her beautiful wedding. We had a good time hanging out with Laura and Craig - and the baby did great till around 9:30 when he had had enough and we came home. The wedding pic is courtesy of facebook. Tanya already has her named changed on her profile. I think that is rather 'on the ball' of her.

Miami!

And now - our trip to Miami. We went to Kendra and Len's on Wednesday night and had a good visit. Arrived at the airport early in the morning on Thursday, parked the car in the extended parking lot and our adventure began. Arriving in Miami was a lot like arriving in Barranquilla, the humidity and disorder seemed very familiar. This was a great surprise for Rafa. We rented a car, which allowed us a lot of independence and turned out to be a very good decision. Trip highlights included:

LOTS AND LOTS of hanging out and visiting with family.

Thanks to Kendra's mom for this wonderful hat. Unfortunately (but fortunately for us) Adara never really got into it. We think it is superfly!
Three trips to the beach.
Another visit with some high school friends of Rafa.

And best of all. Lots of time with Diego's great grandmother - La Abuela Geca (pronounced 'Heca' short for Angelica). Deigo is her 15th great grand child.

Packing and Unpacking

Then back home - to unpack and repack. Traveling with an infant is different than traveling alone - for sure. I usually pack in about 10 minutes. This time it took 4 days. This is a great 'practice' trip however, as we are going to Barranquilla in January (Dec 29th to Jan 29th in the tropics!) so I tried to be as conciencius as possible. Good chance to find out what I wish I had on a short trip before our month long journey later this year.

Blue Skies Camp

We are very out of date and so here are a few updates - all stuck together. July 20-24. Diego and I went to camp! Every year, for the last three, I have been camp director for a summer day camp - associated with the summer music festival Blue Skies. It is an art and music camp - the children come during the day to the festival site, do some fun camp stuff and also take workshops from professional artists. I have lots of work to do to get camp ready but really the week of camp I don't have to do too much work besides be around, lead some songs and make sure everyone is having a good time. This usually isn't a problem. Good thing too because, as Diego still does not accept a bottle, he came with me. Truth be told he had a wonderful time and I had an assistant this year who took care of the afternoons so we were only at camp from 8-1ish. Here are some shots from our afternoons in Arden. A fringe benefit of camp was staying with my mom, brother and Sue for a week.
Organic, home grown peas!

Milestones

It's official - we've gone straight from boob to cup.

And in other exciting news... swings!!

More Sleep

We've been getting a bit more sleep in the last few days - which explains the flurry of posts. We have also had a visit from my Uncle Bill who was passing through on a bike tour. We are actually expecting him any minute on his way back through - this time for a sleep over. He is biking from Niagra on the Lake to Cornwall - and back!

A New Game

Faced with a giant, two load laundry to fold and a baby to entertain we invented a new game. Rather than taking the basket to the wash, I took the wash to the basket, where Diego "helped" me fold. Fun was had by all the the wash got folded. Win, win. In other exciting news, I raised the level on the Jumpero to 2. Babies are growing up - literally.

Beautiful Pics

These absolutely beautiful pictures are courtesy of Stephen Ruttan. He is clearly a genius. Thanks to Kendra and Len who lent us their house last weekend. I got to see "My mom's lesbian Jewish Wikken wedding" (BRILLIANT!) and Rafa went to a DefLeopard, Poison and Cheeptricks concert. Diego got to ride around in the stoller downtown and look at stuff - and to try out the swings in the park. We were all happy.

We went to the doctor today and Diego is weighing in at just under 16 pounds. That's the good news. The bad news is that he is teething and not sleeping well. It really is harder going back to no sleep after having tasted the fruits of REM.

Summer is Here

And I've made a new picnic blanket that Diego and I are enjoying. We are so happy playing outside. .. mostly. Today we've had an afternoon 'blessed' with regular, and unsolicited crying. I think it's teeth. Either that or he's hungry and Mom's milk just isn't doing it anymore. Time will tell.

Visits!

My very good friend Jenn and her son Griffin came to visit this week. And I didn't take any pictures! In my defense, I realized afterward, that neither did Jenn and she's the Blog Queen. Oh well, here's another great shot as a consolation prize. Thanks for the visits Jenn - it was lots of fun.

Jumping Jolly

Seems all the titles lately have had fun, joyous titles. Perhaps that is because Diego has discovered he can entertain himself - by himself. This wonderful independence is balanced with occasional screams of frustration when he realizes that he is on his own or can't reach what he is grabbing at or gets bored with what he has in his hands. Still - I feel like it is a great 'step' forward.

Enjoy! I call this "Jumping to Zerberts"

Sitting Pretty

This is our newest milestone (that and wet, spitty zerberts - but those, while fun, don't make as good pictures). Sitting up for a few secs without support. Oh, and Diego seems to have discovered the "temper tantrum" when I take someone away from him. Luckily he's still really little and so is the tantrum. He doesn't know what he's in for - I've been well trained. Today we spent the afternoon cuddled up and watching a movie. If I hold him and don't move he sleeps for a good hour and a half in the afternoon. We might just have to make it a habit - so if anyone has any good flick suggestions let me know.

From the Archives

Here is a video of Diego's first weeks, from the archives.

Baby Leech

Diego has gone back to only sleeping during the day while carried. We're fighting the good fight and working on developing new habits but so far it has led to cranky morning baby then exhausted (and carried) afternoon baby. We'll get there. For now - this is us.

In other news - we are mostly over being sick. Our patio door is coming on Tuesday and we have been outside a lot (and doing some gardening.) On Wednesday we're off to the doctor for 4 month shots, wish us luck!

A visit to the Park

My friend Melanie came by this afternoon and we (she, I, her sons Landen and Rylie) went to the park. She couldn't have arrived at a better time. Diego has decided, again, that he only wants to nap when he is being held or worn. I, perhaps ridiculously, decided I wanted to fight the good fight this morning and lay him down for all his naps. While I have great hopes that this will result in a child who doesn't need to be carried all the time (he's getting heavier) today it resulted in a cranky mom and baby. Diego came with us to the park, in the maitai (thanks Jenn!) and slept for an hour and a half. I was distracted taking pictures and was able to forget that I was tired and am feeling a suspicious scratchy throat (Rafa has been sick this week). We were all better for the walk.

And here is a little bit of other eye candy. Isn't he gorgeous?

Dear Diego;

You are three months old now, have been for a while actually and I'm just late about getting to this letter. Want to know why I am writing it today? Because you only woke up once last night! Thanks for that. Your mom and dad are feeling much more rested and relaxed. You have also learned to sleep your naps in your own bed, I am sitting beside your baby monitor right now. This has also been a blessing and a gift. These are only two of the wonderful gifts you have given us this month. Your wonderful smiles are now accompanied with a perfect little chuckle. You have learned to roll over onto your back (much to your own satisfaction as you hate being on your stomach during the day.) You are beginning to recognize and play with toys and other things in your surroundings. You have learned to use both your hands together and are using them to bring anything that comes within reach into your mouth. I promise that you will get your fair share of dirt, leaves, bits of plastic. Just don't swallow anything too big please. You are growing, it seems like every day. I am putting you in pajamas now that say 9 months...! I can hear you waking up now and so I am going to head upstairs. Happy birthmonth baby and thanks for all the smiles.

Mom