A Birthday and a Trip to the Doctor

                                   Brennan is riding front-facing more & more

I had a birthday on Friday - we celebrated by walking down the hill to have dinner at Zazie.  Luckily it was warm enough to sit outside, and we lucked into one of the few sidewalk tables.  This came in handy when Brennan decided it was Screaming Time.  (Screaming Time happens every night, but he likes to surprise us as to when it starts and how long it goes on.  Don't worry, it only lasted through the appetizers.)  Bren and his daddy gave me a pretty ruby ring (the Leo birthstone) that was custom made by our favorite jeweler in Mexico.  It's going to engraved with Bren's birthdate and initials.  Then summer went away for the weekend, so Sat. & Sun. we napped a lot, while Daddy did a great deal of laundry and watched the The World's Longest Football Game.

more beautiful October weather at Ocean Beach.

another goofy smile


 

a handsome fellow in the Mission

Brennan had his 2 month check-up Monday.  I actually managed to get there early, so we had plenty of time to get settled and look around the exam room.  After I changed his diaper, I noticed a sign on the door, reminding me to take all soiled diapers with me.  Oops.  And this is the third time I've been in that room - but only the first time I've taken the dirty diaper with me. So after I pulled the diaper out of the trash, I began to wonder about it.  Is it a health concern, or just a practical way to avoid full, stinky trash cans?  From my experience in animal hospitals, I know it doesn't take long in a tiny exam room to realize someone's thrown away cat poop.  I also wonder how a similar sign would go over at the veterinary clinic - "please take all dog/cat poop with you".

I was interrupted from my musings on poop to complete my transformation into The Meanest Person in the World.  Not only is Brennan not gaining enough weight, raising the specter of Evil Formula, but I had to hold him down for 4 vaccinations. I'm not sure what was worse, the shocked look followed by the scream at the first injection, or the continued wailing for the remainder.  Then, once home, I sent a email to my job to arrange my return to work.  All in all, I felt like a very bad mommy, so I don't think I put baby B. down for the rest of the day.  But after a dose of tylenol and a good night's sleep, we were in better spirits the next day.

First Flight

Except for one night of rain two weeks ago, the San Francisco summer is still going strong. Every day

is absolutely beautiful, sometimes even bordering on too hot (especially when I'm running at Baby Boot Camp). It didn't really happen the last two years, so I was beginning to think everyone who said, "fall is warm & sunny" was absolutely full of it. Brennan's mostly wearing his summer clothes - what still fits, anyway. There's been no fog the past two nights, and the moon is full, so when I'm up for Bren's 2 am feeding I can admire the strange blue light and eerie shadows from the moonlight.

We survived our trip to Atlanta for Kris & Tim's wedding. The airport experience was a little unnerving for the rookie parents - babies without a seat still need a boarding pass, who knew? But the flight wasn't bad at all - he was asleep for most of it. And I have successfully changed a diaper in the sky. We stayed at the W hotel in midtown, which is far too hip for people with babies, but we took him to the bar anyway so he could meet his "aunties" - Kris, Birgit, & Andy. He actually had a pretty good time, but this was only picture where none of the girls was making a weird face.

He was also a good boy at the wedding, except for missing the ceremony. I don't know if he was crying because Kris was marrying someone else, or because he wanted to make sure that Kris & her mother weren't the only people crying through it. Anyway, it was a lovely night, Kris looked beautiful, Tim looked nervous & happy, and thanks to the fine people at Spanx, I looked like I fit into my dress.

I don't have many photos - I was a little busy, and I'm sure Dong Soo will send me more than I know what to do with - but here's one of Bren sharing a beer with his daddy in the little room for brides to get ready and hide from the groom before the wedding. (Also - his couch photo at 8 weeks) We had time for one other important thing on Saturday - scattering some of Kip's ashes in the garden at my house on Glenwood. I also buried some at the base of Bandit's rose - a climbing rose given to me by a client after she lost her border collie. It was just a foot tall when I planted it, and now it reaches up to the porch roof. So now Kip can be back with her flowers and watch over her block.

Week 7

Not a lot of new stuff to report this week. Brennan did ride facing front in the Baby Bjorn for Laika's walk tonight, and that was a big success - he seemed to really like looking around, and his head didn't flop forward at all. We went to BabyBoot Camp again on Monday, and I'm not quite as sore this time. I plan to try Baby Yoga again tomorrow, hopefully with less crying this week. And we're off to Atlanta Thursday, for Kris & Tim's wedding and our maiden voyage with baby - I'm dreading the flight. I hope he doesn't scream the whole way. Or at all, really, but that's a lot to ask.

So here's what you're really interested in: new photos, including our first smiling on purpose pictures. I get at least one play time a day, where we make little owl noises back and forth, and I can force a little tummy time on him without a meltdown.

Mommy Takes a Break (week 6)

Guest Blogger: Brennan

Mommy has had a lot to do recently, so she asked me to take over. My most important news is: I'm bigger! Last Friday, we went to Mommy's doctor for her 6 week check up (everything is fine). I hung out at the front desk with the nice receptionists and admired the ceiling lights. Then we went across the street to the newborn center next to the hospital for a weigh-in. I was 9 lb. 12 oz! So that explains why half my outfits feel so tight. There were a lot of other mommies and babies at the newborn center for some sort of get-together, Mommy said it was a "white women complaining about doctors" group.

I met even more people Friday night, when Dr. Haviland and Dr. Sierra came over for dinner and brought a bunch of yummy Thai food. I was sooo excited about all the new people I didn't take a nap all day. Mommy said she needed a drink.

Saturday Daddy put the sunshades up on the car windows and a seat cover under my car seat. Thanks, Daddy!

Monday, Mommy & I went to Crissy Field for Baby Boot Camp. Mommy ran with me in the Bugaboo, ran away from me and back again in the sand, did pulling motions on a stretchy red band, and laid down on ground and did something called "core work". Also we had our pictures taken by tourists, who have probably not seen anything so crazy looking back in Kansas. I liked most of it, but when she ran away I cried, so the instructor held me. Mommy says she is very sore. Then we stopped by her work, and I met more people and admired more ceiling lights. Then I was sooo excited about all the people I met that I didn't take a nap. Today we're going to try a mommies & babies yoga class. I have a feeling about that afternoon nap...

I've been wondering a few things -

Who is Howard Hughes, and why does Daddy say he has to wash his hands more than him?

What is a cat, and why does Mommy say dressing me is like trying to put a t-shirt on one?

Why do my pants have pockets?

Here I am at the park with Laika

OK, it's time for me to get dressed and fed and ready for the day. But I want to say hello to my new friend Grace in Colorado - I can't wait to meet you! I bet we're going to have lots of fun.