Transformative Moments

From Erin:
1) Age 1 second- when I learned what love and family was
2) Age 5- when I learned I was smart, and liked learning
3) Age 8- when I felt hate for the first time
4) Age 11- when I realized I didn't actually care if absolutely everyone liked me
5) Age 12- when I started running with my Dad, and realized I was strong
6) Age 16- when I realized I didn't *have to* be what other people expected of me, and was free to make my own choices and mistakes
7) Age 16- when I fell in love for the first time
8) Age 17- when I started reading John Steinbeck and Ayn Rand
9) Age 18- when I met the man I knew I would marry.... someday... and when I realized our worst day would be better than a day without him
10) Age 23- when I got married, graduated university, drove accross country, got a job and bought my first home: In short- when the world finally acknowledged me as an adult
11) Age 30- when I found out I was pregnant, and when I found out I'd miscarried
12) Age 32- when I met my first child, my son, my Sunshine.  When I learned a heart can break a thousand times from a love that has no boundries and yet be all the bigger for it, and when I finally really understood my mother, and how much I owe her.

The inevitable choosing of favorites

When I became pregnant, the dogs knew.  I'm not sure how they knew, but they became so much more protective (much to the chagrin of the mailman, various neighbors, and any lurking evil-doers).  I became the one they clung to, hung out with, and wanted attention from, much more than from Jake.  When Xander was born, Blitz got jealous, but Otto transfered all his protectiveness to the little guy, going so far as to race to his side whenever he cried, sit as near to him as we'd allow (and once sitting on him by accident) and sleeping in his room during naptime.  As for us, we found quickly that the dogs simply were not as important to us as they once were.  Not that we didn't love them, and not that Jake and I didn't take Blitz running almost every day, and Otto too if it was a shorter run, and not that they didn't still sleep in our room even after Xander started sleeping in his own room at night, but well... sometimes we forgot to feed them in those first few weeks.  Okay, sometimes, not often, we still forget to feed them.  And sometimes they are in the way, and are told to go away.  And the protective barking at the mailman wakes up the Baby, and we scold the dogs about that...often.  And of course, they don't get nearly as much cuddle and lap time as they used to.  You see, we have a baby now, a real live human being that looks like us, and smells sweet and is amazing and awesome and we haven't even ruined him yet, and as it turns out...dogs are, well, dogs.  Who would have known?

So it should come as no surprise that another shift in the hierarchy of favoritism has occured.  Yes, Xander has started eating "O's" today and that means that they dogs have quickly learned that Xander's highchair is THE PLACE TO BE and Xander is THE ULTIMATE FOODSOURCE.  Well!  At least if we forget to feed the dogs, Xander will take care of it for us!

Happy Halloween- take 2!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone!

We've had Gran Jen, Jake's mother, here to help us celebrate both Jake's birthday (Today! Happy Birthday Jake!) and Halloween. We were able to get a huge, 70+ lb pumpkin through Nicole DeBacker and her neighbor's farm.... and *of course* we had to get photos of all the kids!

  

The end of nursing...(?)

After struggling hard the last several weeks, I think we are giving up on nursing. The goal was always to go as long as seemed right for both Xander and me, and at least past his surgery. That goal has been met, and Xander is now refusing to nurse so often that my supply has dwindled to next to nothing, which only makes him less inclined to nurse, and both of us frusterated.

It's really too bad. I was actually really happy that now that I'll be home for a little while that I could nurse him more and longer than we might otherwise have managed with me working. Alas, it does appear Xander has other ideas.

On the bright side, I'll never have to experience the otherwise inevitable first "bite" now that Xander has teeth coming in!

So congratulations to Xander and me for making it this long, and here's to being able to poke Jake more often and say "your turn!"

-Erin

A second tooth

Xander has a second tooth coming in right next to the first!

Enjoying the Fall Leaves

Fall is one of our favorite times of the year. This year fall is bringing Jake lots of running (me, not so much because of my calf injury) and lots of time with good friends and family.

This fall I am also taking some additional time off thanks to being laid off from GE- but there are already interviews scheduled, so it may not last! One day into being a stay at home Mom and there is lots to do! Household projects, job hunt, play with Xander....Halloween is coming soon but first we wanted to get in some good fun with the falling leaves. This was not something that Xander especially loved- maybe he needs to be older, or maybe he just wasn't in the mood. I did get a couple of good photos of him though! This kid can laugh through anything!

The lamp

We're going to work on getting the uncropped version of this old picture of me as a 6 month old next to the orange lamp. The lamp is important because my very Catholic, very proper grandmother liberated it from her old office long long ago and always felt guilty about it, even though I think it was destined for the trash there.... she loved this photo but could never show it to anyone! Anyway, the other reason this photo is fun is to compare me at 6 months vs. Xander at 6 months.... next to the same lamp! My boy is starting to look more like me now!

-Erin

Bathtime is Fun Time!

Requisite Baby Bath Pictures


Xander absolutely LOVES bath time. He will play in the tub for as long as we let him. We're hoping this is a sign of a love for swimming.


Even better is bath time with his buddy Leah. Remember the binkie incident? Apparently so does Xander.... but no hard feelings :)

First Tooth

Xander is officially "toothed" with his first tooth coming in on the bottom right (his) side. So lucky (?) that he is on pain meds for surgery and hasn't complained much about the teething. So far he's been gentle to me... but on a related note, seems to be weening himself. He occaisonally refuses to nurse with me even when hugry and really prefers the bottle at this point. Between the two challenges, I'm not sure how long breastfeeding will continue, but I do know for sure we'll keep at it a few more weeks while he heals from surgery! Right now we are both enjoying the comfort it gives us.

-Erin