Stampede!

I figure these ought to be good for at least a year on a therapist's couch...Miles' First Halloween Costume

Beloved Boy

Dear Miles,

I can't stop thinking about you this morning.

Your perfectly clear face as you sleep, arms thrown up overhead...the smile that sometimes passes across your features in dreamtime...the coos and goos and almost-giggles...the way the light goes on in your eyes when you awaken...the expression that plays across your face as you try to figure things out...

I love you, little boy, in a way that no one could've described to me. I love witnessing you moving into this life and I want to savor every sweet, succulent moment because I know the time is fleeting. Know that your mere existence brings me more joy than I can express in words--I only hope you can feel it in your flesh and bones, even when I'm not with you.

Love,

Mommy

frustrations and babies love babies

Miles was supposed to have doctor's appointment yesterday, so Guy got up (after working all night) and drove Miles in to meet me at the office where we discovered, once again, the office f*#%ed up so we arrived for an appointment that wasn't happening (their mistake not ours). This is not uncommon. I love our doctor and there aren't many like her or I would've already gone someplace else. We're weighing it out now. If I can find someone else with acceptable approach, etc., we're done. Yesterday I got a bunch of excuses about why each segment of the practice wasn't responsible. Didn't sit well with me at all. A lady stopped me in the parking lot because she's had similar problems. So has everyone I know who goes there. Why is it that cool, crunchy docs often can't keep it together in the business realm? Argh. And I realized just how badly "it's not my fault" plays. Don't even waste my time...

New kitten has declared herself a queen...seems to be very comfortable, even with the big dog whose head is bigger than her body. She's taken to sleeping near Miles. I expect she's claiming him for her own. Babies do love other babies.

easy overnight trip

So, I loaded Miles up for an overnight women's retreat (since he's under 2 and I'm breastfeeding, he got to attend) on Saturday morning. Other than the juggle to 1) pack everything we *might* need, 2) cram it into my tiny car with the car seat and stroller, and 3) keep his royal highness happy while I attempted to pack the car (with no help), it went amazingly well.

He would grunt and start to slightly fuss when he got hungry. I fed him. Problem solved. Mostly he hung out on me in the Bjorn or in the stroller. I managed to do everything that I wanted. He just took it all in, then snoozed when he felt like it.

How lucky is that? I know. At four months they're portable. It won't last. But he was so happy, so easygoing and completely mellow. Yay, little man! He even did well sleeping in a strange place bundled up like the kid in "A Christmas Story".

I'm even more in-love.

monkey toes in the mouth...

Miles has now started grabbing his toes. It's completely adorable. He reaches out his very long fingers on his pretty-big-for-a-baby hands and grabs his toes and feet, kind of like a little monkey.

He coos for extended periods. Friday evening I took him with me while I ran errands and, when we returned home, his dad held him and Miles seemed to be telling him all about our adventure. (He rode in the Baby Bjorn so he could see everything from a normal person's vantage point.)

We made our trek to the farmers' market on Saturday. Listened to some great bluegrass...M dozed off, but I think he likes the banjo...at least it seemed like it.

After our travels this weekend I've become convinced that the Baby Bjorn makes all the difference in the world. If he's riding on me he's happy, forward or backward doesn't seem to matter as much. Now if I can just get my upper body strength to where it needs to be so I don't end up quite so sore...

blissful times

Spent from 6 p.m. Friday until 7:30 a.m. this morning with my little boy. It was heavenly. He travels well. I took him with while I ran errands, wore him in the Bjorn, talked to him a lot and we had a fine time. We basked in the hammock where he annointed me as I pointed out how pin oak leaves "shimmer". We smiled and cooed. I sang him the "Ballad of Pancho and Lefty". We grooved on the music at the market--bluegrass/folk this weekend. M seems to like the banjo.