April 2010
45 posts
Ryan is (un)officially mobile. Tonight, he learned to crawl backward, pushing off with his palms. He really got around, though it was aimless. It’s hard to go after a toy when you’re moving in reverse.
I pray think that it’ll be a while until he truly learns to crawl, but babyproofing has me scared out of my mind. It’s impossible to keep him 100% safe all the time, and I...
The boys and I sat outside and sipped iced coffee at the Peet’s around the corner from us. Ryan arrived in style, in his big-boy stroller sans infant car seat.
Compliments were paid. He’s used to them by now.
Ryan tried repeatedly to get his hands on the goods.
So, Steve kept him otherwise occupied.
The sun joined us in a meaningful way today, at last.
We spent some quality time with our new neighbors. I vividly remember the babies hatching this time last year, as I grew my own little duckling.
We’ve had such a lovely weekend.
These two came over for homemade bagels and cardamom dusted strawberries.
Steve was so happy to meet baby Clementine! Unfortunately, Ryan took two naps in the time they were here, and Clementine slept for much of it. So, they’re not fully in love yet, but I know it’ll happen.
Tonight we embarked on our second date A.R. (After Ryan). Steve and I were frequent just-the-two-of-us date nighters prior to Ryan’s birth, and are making an effort to increase the frequency once again. I’ve been thinking a lot about the balance between enjoying every possible moment with Ryan for the next 16 or so years (I realize that once he gets a drivers’ license,...
I was taken aback by how grownup Ryan looked this evening when I walked into his daycare. He was sitting on the floor playing with a toy while the teacher read to him and a couple of toddlers. When I first brought him to daycare two months ago he could only sit up when propped with pillows, and now he’s very stable. Sometimes I wish I could stop time.
Thanks to a few days of rest and a couple of types of antibiotics, Ryan is well on his way to recovery. The weekend was a reminder of what it was like to have a newborn. The late night feedings (he wouldn’t eat during the day because it hurts too much, but was famished at 11pm, 2am and 5am), followed by bouncing and swaying (because he was in too much pain to sleep) all came back to me. I...
Ryan has become a tummy sleeper, just like Steve and me. Nature won out over nurture, I guess.
It’s been a miserable weekend for poor Ryan and I’ve just discovered he culprit. He’s only been awake for short periods, but at night doesn’t sleep for more than 2-3 hours at a time before crying out urgenly. He has a fever and hasn’t been eating well. Earlier today I noticed some yellowish gunk on his ear lobe, and figured I must’ve missed a spot when cleaning...
WatchAfter spending the day apart, Ryan likes to tell us what he did at daycare. This is what he had to say yesterday just before dinner time.
Speaking of Kathleen, one of the kindest things she’s done for me is co-host my baby shower. She and my wonderful sister-in-law, Jessica, threw a beautiful shower and I loved every moment of it. Even if I was a little awkward while opening gifts…I was so overwhelmed by my family’s and friends’ generosity!
A highlight was the game Kathleen planned. She didn’t want...
Sad realization today. We need to move Ryan’s bed time to earlier, likely 6:30. He’d been going to bed at 7 and it’s worked well, but over the past few days we’ve realized that he has trouble keeping it together that long. Bed time stories end up rushed as we hope he doesn’t fall apart. Given that I don’t get home from work with him until about 5:45, this is...
At half a year old, Ryan has developed quite the personality. He’s an easy-going, smiley baby who loves his family and just about anyone who’ll make eye contact with him. Some sweet things about him lately include -
-He used to try to hold the bottle while we fed him. He’s realized that helping is for suckers. Now while eating he uses his left arm to either feel his soft ear...
We all had so much fun swimming. Ryan wore himself out with all the splashing he did. He fell asleep on the way home and is now sound asleep in his crib.
There’s something especially delicious about acting like it’s the weekend when it’s not. I took yesterday off and my little family spent the day together, while most of the world worked. Ryan and I went to the baby music group in the Lake Oswego library between his first and second naps.
We hung around the house and played. Yes, I dressed Ryan to match Steve. Couldn’t....
Baby Smash!
For several months now, Ryan has been to the point where we can’t even have the TV on in the same room as him because he becomes mesmerized. We’ve really limited screen time*, but he sometimes watches me work on my laptop and I thought it couldn’t hurt to satisfy his curiosity a bit. For PCs it’s Baby Smash, for Macs there’s AlphaBaby. It locks out your computer so...
A few people asked for the chicken tikka masala recipe. I can’t take credit for this one, it came entirely from Food & Wine. It was my first time making it and I was surprised by how easy it was. My typical Indian dinner is lamb biryani, palak or muttar paneer, potato & pea samosas and naan - all of Steve’s favorites. It’s an all-day affair. This? Almost a weeknight meal,...
Can’t get over how beautiful Krysta and baby Clementine are. I got to meet C this weekend and took a few photos.
OMG we did it, Ryan is taking his second nap of the day swaddle-free! I was inspired by MamaLina, who helped baby Marcel kick the pacifier habit. We’d tried it before and he just wouldn’t have it. This morning when I could tell he was sleepy and ready for a nap, I brought him into the dark nursery, slipped him into his sleep sack, sang him our favorite lullaby and put him in his crib....
I feel like this photo was just taken.
It’s not secret that I’ve had a hard time watching Ryan grow up so quickly. Were it not for a calendar, I would think we’ve been his parents for two or three months, not six. Half a year sounds so…substantial. But, over the past few months, as the days have passed, I’ve learned to focus on his budding personality and the other...
Superstition
I now understand why athletes don’t shave during a season, or wear a lucky pair of socks, or whatever. Ryan has started really, truly sleeping through the night. Not just the 9-10 hours of sleep, up for 15 mins to eat, and then back down for 2-3 hours he’s been doing for months, but 12 uninterrupted hours of peaceful silence. Now I’m scared to change anything that might interfere...
