winterizing

toy piano
Originally uploaded by anneke boudreau.

I have been journaling since 5th grade and every year around my birthday and new year's I used to read at least one journal. I stopped a few years ago when there were too many of them and I started looking forward more often than backward. Someday I will do something with them, but until then they sit in a box in the garage deteriorating.

This year, it's been easy to retrace my footsteps. At this time last year, I was letting go of work, this year I am trying to embrace it again.

Last year, I was shedding my "old skin" and preparing to be a mother - wondering who I would be, what my child would be like, how J would change. This year, I have been meditating daily for 3 weeks and am feeling the shifts in my awareness. I haven't been blogging much - I haven't found the words to describe the lint in my navel. ;) I have been joining the trees and plants in winterizing - slowing down for the winter, storing up energy for the dark days, and preparing for new blossoms...but I feel as if the blooms will come sooner than spring, I think they will show their color in the next few months.

Each day in my meditation, I set my intention as follows. It continues to evolve, but throughout my day when I find myself uncertain I go through these points and at least one of them helps me find my way forward:

• To create a kick-ass life for me and my family.
  
• To live without fear and judgement, especially of myself.
  
• To *enjoy* using my talents to serve humanity - it doesn't have to be everyone at once, one person at a time will do.

I'll give some examples soon.

In the meantime, here are some new photos of Z and his toys.

9 months

Z turned 9 months old today. He's been outside the womb as long as he was in it. Not sure why that's such a cool thing to realize, but I've been thinking about it all day.

We started our day walking in the rain around Green Lake with KMM. We decided to only walk 15 minutes then turn around, which was perfect timing for Z's tolerance of the rain cover over the jogging stroller. He fell asleep in the car on the way home, then slept for an hour.

After he woke, ate, and played for a bit, I packed us in the car to search for new toys and some clothes. We were wildly successful: a "walker," a toy piano, a xylophone, a couple of wooden castanets, 2 pairs of pajamas, 1 pair of pants, and 2 pairs of rompers. I also found a reasonably priced car seat (for the bruiser), some more child proofing gear, and a cover for the bathtub spigot, but didn't buy any of those. I didn't find mittens or a rain coat.

I felt like I was shopping for his birthday....not sure if it's because today's 9 months or because we attended his friend's one year birthday party...regardless, I'm feeling festive.

To add to the festivities, tonight is the season finale of Project Runway - one of two television shows that I obsess over (the other is the new Battlestar Galactica). I've been reading a few of the online disucssions analyzing the last episode and predicting the winner. It's also been fun talking with ED about the show since our return from Chicago.

I think Z is beginning to wave - he raises his arm in the air and squeezes his hand. He also seems close to clapping - which isn't surprising considering how much clapping happens during pre-pre-school...and I have to admit I'm encouraging it. It's totally cute when little kids clap in delight.

I can't figure out if he's teething or has developed more control over his tongue. He keeps running his tongue along his gums. I keep hoping it's because he feels something strange there - a tooth! - but...no sign of pearly whites, yet.

A random list of other news

• We bought a 1984 smurf blue toyota land cruiser, or as we've been calling it - a land bruiser. It's the dogs' new shuttle to the dog park and Z and my in-town car. Finally, a vehicle that comfortably fits us all! It has a huge steering wheel and the gear shifter has a ski pole as a handle. I've never driven a school bus, but when I get behind the wheel of the bruiser, I like to pretend I'm ferrying a crew to class.
• One of the most exciting aspects of the pre-pre school class is the scholastic book club! I have fond memories of those thin paper lists of books from my elementary school days.
  
• On the trip to Victoria we heard - from two separate sources - that the longer it takes for a baby to get teeth, the stronger those teeth will be. It is probably an urban legend that was floating amongst the ferry passengers...
• I said I would say more about the hippo. Z loves to play in the bathtub - all sorts of games that toggle between really cute and really scary. Also, with his skin, I'm not always excited for bathtime to go on and on, but he's not so excited when I cut it "short." Knowing that when the hippo enters the water Z will want to exit...is probably scarring him for life...I hope I don't have one of the only kids scared of hippos when his class visits the zoo.
• I went out for drinks at a bar with people and music. No husband, no baby, just me and my friends. I stayed out as long as I could stay awake - one-ish? It was awesome. Thank heavens for no more nighttime nursing.
• While in Victoria, J and I came up with some funny songs. My two favorites, "come be a bum" (victoria has an unusually high homeless population) and "monkey not a cow" (a song about z).
• My glasses found their way across the room at 3 a.m. the other night, so I ended up at LensCrafters the next day. Since they have a 30 day return policy, I tried red frames. Thank heavens for the return policy. Hopefully, I'll be back in black by the end of the week.
  

happy living

Last Monday, we left Seattle at 8 a.m. on the Clipper headed to Victoria, BC. We sat near a family from New York with a 3 year old son named Reed. He and Z "talked" and played with each other for a while. Around our usual naptime, Z settled down in my arms for a snooze.

We arrived in Victoria at 11 a.m. and walked around the bay to our hotel. At check-in they gave Z a book and cup and soon after delivered a portable crib to our room. We ate some lunch in the restaurant then walked back around the bay to downtown and shopped for toys for Z. He got a multi-colored football/soccer ball, a wolf puppet, and two wind-up bath toys - a freestyle swimming hippo and a boat.

I ate room service and hung-out with Z while J went out with work folks for dinner and drinks. I was super excited for bathtime - new toys! The hippo swims in circles and the boat goes straight. When I put them in the tub with Z, the hippo went right for him. Z wanted out of the tub - stat! I have never seen him afraid of anything. It was a cute first. More about the hippo later...



He didn't sleep well at all that night which was a real bummer. J had to be at the work meeting at 8 and Z and I were supposed to be leaving from the Empress on a shuttle to Butchart Gardens at noon. J didn't have a choice, but I wasn't sure we'd make it to the gardens. Z and I were both cranky. We had breakfast, I took him for a walk along the water in the cool morning air, then settled in for a nap. When I woke, it felt like I had slept for 3 hours but it had only been one. Z slept for another hour while I checked email and meditated.

By 11:15, Z had his lunch and we were both in good spirits. I decided to go for it.



It was a 45 minute, bumpy ride on a double decker bus. Z won over the couple from Tennessee (who called him "the boy in blue") and the two ladies from Florida. We had 90 minutes to explore. I went straight for the Japanese Gardens. I bought 4 heathers at Swanson's fall sale and wanted ideas for spacing them. In threes seems to be the key. Luckily, I have another one sitting in a pot that I can plant with the other 4.



We got back to the hotel at 3, packed up, and checked out at 4. We were back on the boat headed to Seattle at 6 and sat in front of Reed and his family again! It was fun to hear about his adventures in Victoria.

Along they way, nature put on one of the most spectacular sunsets I've ever seen. More photos are available.

As we left the boat in Seattle, Reed waved goodbye and said, "Happy Living." His parents, grandparents, and us all thought it was a great way to say farewell and wished each other the same.

the yogurt experiment

post yogurt 7
Originally uploaded by anneke boudreau.

I thought he looked cute with yogurt on his face. I didn't expect to capture such a variety of expressions. More photos available.

pre-pre-school

Today was our first day at the infant co-op - 25 babies ages 6-12 months and their parents. For 2 hours each week, we sing songs, have a snack, learn about child development and play...oh how we play. It was amazing to see Z interact with the other parents - mostly moms - and children. Watching him crawl into the laps of other people was amazing. Not many of the other kids were that...affectionate. Of course, after some love the parent would eventually pick him up, twist up their face in wonder, turn him around, point him in my direction and ask, "how much does he weigh?"

I think Z had a blast. There were all sorts of new toys and people to interact with. He really likes our teacher - dB. She is very animated.

I haven't found a sitter to hang out with him while I work and seeing how much he enjoyed being around other people, I started looking at our daycare options. I burst into tears when I read: "You will enjoy regular communication with teachers, including daily notes, so that you are informed about your child's day." (Knowledge Learning Corporation - Infants Overview) I can't imagine missing anything! ooo - how it hurts.

Thankfully, there are several promising leads for nannies on craigslist.

nursing

I've been feeling that our stint with breastfeeding may be winding down. The American Academy of Pediatrics (the all-knowing organization that is usually the "they" in any "they said" statement made in a parental discussion in our neck of the woods) recommends breastfeeding for at least the first year. So, I've been assuming if we make it 12 months, we're good to go. I've been looking forward to more flexibility, although I am not looking forward to the weaning process and I anticipate I will miss the quality time with Z even though I know we'll find quality in other activities.

Today, in the article "Breast milk 'does not boost IQ'," I learned two interesting things: 1. "Breastfed babies are smarter because their mothers are clever in the first place" and are likely to provide a more stimulating environment. 2. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for the first two years.

The finding is not surprising - I had suspected this was the case since several of my friends are adopted therefore raised on formula yet incredibly intelligent. The bit about being clever caused me to flash back to a trip to Australia where my hostess introduced me as "clever" and it made me feel like a rock star - not only because I respect her but I love the Aussie accent. The recommendation from WHO is interesting and for a moment caused me to consider going longer than a year...but only briefly. It's bittersweet. I'm looking forward to and dreading the freedom at the same time.

Say it with me: enjoy each moment while it lasts.