Asher turned 2 moths old last week. Just as I had thought last month, things are going much smoother around here now that our guy is getting older. The biggest adjustment is after 6 weeks off Matthew has gone back to work. Sob, sigh (but also YAY, money). Having major alone time with the little dude is definitely less stressful than I expected it would be. I was completely petrified that first week but its truly in my nature to assume the worst so it can’t be helped. I’m just a worrier that can worry about being worried. I always enjoy being pleasantly surprised!
Milestones and other novel things:
Asher…
Recognizes both of our voices and faces, sits up really well, loves music, Won’t stop talking and thinks everything he says is funny, laughs and smiles at the following things: me, Matthew, his mobile, being swaddled, the camera, everything all the time. Dislikes: the sun, the car seat, missing out on stuff during naps. Verdict still out on: showers, outside in general, the cat. Stats at 2month appt: 13lbs (75%) 24.5″ (90%).
Me…
Have made it to mom’s group almost every week, took Asher to his first movie (All About Steve, sorry dude), walked all over the neighborhood 972 times, found a bench in the park where we like to sit and enjoy the day, managed to finish my photography assignment 2 weeks in a row, Introduced lots more friends to Asher, took tons of videos in the hope of catching his laughter on film.
Outtakes from our photo shoot – too cute to post just one
(especially after he fell over and kept smiling, what a pro!)
As I sit here writing this I am tearing up and wishing I was in San Francisco. My very good friend Ramona has suffered a great loss, her mother Barbara passed away and today (at this very moment) is the memorial service celebrating her life.
It was quite sudden and shocking, it’s been almost 2 weeks and I am still completely stunned and saddened multiple times a day when the thought comes to my mind.
Barbara was a magical woman, and very spiritual. She ran a soup kitchen for 30 years. She was passionate about learning about people’s lives and just had a way that made you feel loved moments after meeting her.
Even if you were not the Dalai Lama.
I am sad that I could not manage the trip alone with the baby to stand with my friend as she cries. I am sad Asher will never meet her mother, and her him, knowing she would adore his outgoing personality. I am sad for Ramona and her sister Camila because although the entire world will be forever changed in Barb’s passing, they have suffered the greatest loss one can imagine.
The neighborhood has been up in arms all week because the fools from the Westboro Baptist Church decided that they’d proselytize their hate in Brooklyn this weekend. Okaaaaaaaaay.
Apparently they feel that the residents of Park Slope are all going to hell or whatever so they planned on coming all the way here from Kansas to stage a huge protest in front of a temple.
I mean really, it is sort of ridiculous.
We didn’t go over there even though we do have ties to the temple (I mean, my weight watchers meetings take place there!) and we all know how much I love the Jews, the Gays, the General Brooklyn Pride – W00T! not to mention my complete and utter awe of ignorant midwesterners, but big crowds with a baby are just not my jam.
I guess about 6 Kansans showed up. Wow. And around 200 Slopers. The highlight was when Andy Bachman, the Rabbi of Congregation Beth Elohim went out on the temple stairs to spread the word of love. What a concept.
Now I wish we went, I would have killed to have been a part of that flashmob Horah. But most of all, I am yet again so proud to be from Brooklyn. I am so happy that we have chosen to stay here, and raise our son in a place that not only embraces the differences in others but will get in YO FACE if you try and tell us not to.
I am in love with the chairs in this photo. Well, I’m in love with the window, the wall color, the table and that storage solution on the left side as well. I’m willing to settle for just the chairs.
I have no idea what they are or where they got that fabric but I think I need some yellow in my life.
I’m sure most of you do not remember but back in February I heard about a product called VIA by Starbucks. Its their new instant coffee.
I signed up on their site for more info and last week they emailed me asking if I wanted to try it out.
YES PLEASE!
So they sent me a big box.
In the box was coffee, a flip video camera and a tumbler along with instructions to get the word out to people about VIA and to get them some feedback. A beta test if you will.
Of course I immediately tried it and decided not to bother having anyone else try it thank you very much because it is AWESOME.
I think it’s made for me.
You put the powder in a glass with 8oz water, and voila – delicious coffee in 2 seconds.
The crazy super fantastic wonderful marvelous part is you can do this hot or cold and its equally as good.
And I mean good.
Now love iced coffee like nobody’s business but cannot stand hot coffee. In our house Matthew makes a big old press full of coffee then I get to drink it the next day. Its completely annoying so I usually prefer to go out and buy some on my own. But that’s all OUUUTSIIIIIIIIDE. Used to be an adventure, now is just a hassle. I usually want my coffee way before I am ready to get Asher all up and at ‘em. I told you it was made for me.
So here’s the deal…
Do you want to try it too??
If so then comment on this post and I’ll get in touch with you about it.
The only catch is this…
I NEED YOUR FEEDBACK. I like told Starbucks I’d get it for them and stuff. If you have a blog that’s great, just post about it and link me back. If not then that’s ok too. Take pix or a video. Videos of what? I have no idea but I’m sure you’ll think of something! If you live near me I can drop off the flip they sent me but if not I’m sure you can figure out how to take one and I’ll let you know how to get it to me.
I guess if it’s all too much and no one is interested that’s ok too. More for meeeeeeee!
This week I learned about the “Av” knobby. Its called Aperture and it allows you to choose to make objects crisp while having a blurry background, or have everything crisp. That’s basically the jist.
My shots above aren’t perfect but you get the point. I definitely need to practice more. This week we are doing “m” which is scary. Its controlling both “Tv” and “Av” at the same time. No more point and shoot for moi.
*I definitely recommend this class if you have a DSLR and no idea what it can do. Here is the link.
I never realized so much of my life would be devoted to getting Asher to sleep. Even if it takes a minimum of 10-15 minutes each time thats what? 8x per day?? Its maddening! So this month I really just can’t get enough of the stuff I need to make that happen.
(since its a little too early for baby tylenol)
(kidding)
(kinda :/)
#1
The miracle blanket – This is the single item we cannot possibly live without. I have learned that if you think your baby does not like to be swaddled you are just doing it wrong. Honestly. At first we used blankets and no matter how tight, he got right out. I bought this on a whim before he was born and tried it out of desperation. Guess what, It really was a miracle! Yes it looks like a straight jacket but whatever, after a couple nights of no sleep you really stop caring. At some point we swaddled him in this then a regular blanket on top because we thought he was cold. Guess what we are stuck doing now.
#2
The swing – This is the second thing we are so glad to have around. He hated this at first. Once we realized to swaddle him before putting him in the swing it was great. So great in fact that he slept exclusively in this swing until last week. I definitely had thoughts that my 5 year old son would be sleeping in a swing but all of a sudden he kind of likes to sleep without moving so we’ve been transitioning him to the co-sleeper. Go figure. He still sleeps in the swing 1x-2x per day – usually at night when he is wide awake and we are not, or on a particularly fussy afternoon. This one was borrowed from friends so its awesome a++++ but if I had to buy one now I’d probably buy this crazy thing. When it comes to newborn related items the more crap it does the better. That’s my motto.
#3
Video Monitor – Speaking of doing more than one thing, I cannot imagine having a monitor without video. I use this for every nap and very rarely turn the sound up, do you know why? Because babies make tons and tons of noise. I originally thought video is a novelty I didn’t need. Then I heard of people with 2 and 3 year olds using the video part to make sure their kids were in bed. Not to mention people with 1yr olds telling me they regretted not buying a video monitor and buying one now. Hmmm, so there you go. Babies make noises in their sleep. If you can’t see their eyes or if they need their soother put back in you will drive yourself crazy(er).
#4
Light Thingies – are these not adorable! I got them figuring that we’d use them as night lights at some point, never realizing that we would start on day 1. We each keep one on our respective nighttable and use them when we need to see what’s going on in the middle of the night. They charge up really fast and hold it for 8 hrs or something insane. We put them back on the base every few days. They are LED and never get hot. Just perfect in every way.
I know people are going to think I’m crazy but I am kind of happy the summer is over. This summer in particular was a blur of being super immensely pregnant and then having a newborn right in the middle. We didn’t get to go on vacation like we always do not to mention the weather here was so weird it added to the feeling that summer just didn’t happen.
The real reason I’m so happy to wave goodbye to the non-summer of aught -nine is because I really love fall. Even without that fun back to school feeling its still pretty great. Sweaters, corduroys, caramel apples, leaves changing color. It all makes me jump for joy.
Mostly though. I am SO EXCITED for TV. Seriously. People get embarrassed because loving TV is very lowbrow. Especially when you consider just how much I love it I should probably be a little embarrassed but I am not. Well, not entirely. I do watch the Ghost Whisperer, it’s my secret shame.
Figuring out my fall line up is one of my favorite things to do all year and this year is no exception. Luckily due to the multiple Tivo action we can tape and watch whatever we want. I usually make an excel spreadsheet to organize it all including dates shows start back up again but this year I just don’t have the time so I’m kind of winging it. Scared I’ll miss something (I already missed the premiere of the biggest loser) but not really caring all that much. Lack of sleep will bring on the ennui faster than anything.
Feel free to chat me up about any of the following
Existing Shows
How I Met Your Mother
Heroes
Gossip Girl
One Tree Hill
90210
Americas Next Top Model
Bones
Greys Anatomy
The Office
30 Rock
Supernatural
The Ghost Whisperer
Ugly Betty
Brothers and Sisters
The Amazing Race
plus: Mad Men, Top Chef, Project Runway, Army Wives
New Shows I Am Going To Try Out
The Biggest Loser -maybe, if I can get the 1st episode
Mercy -a doctor show. Might not like it
The Beautiful Life – Mischa Barton and models. as Matthew says, every show on the CW is exactly the same. Which I think is their hook.
Modern Family – looks cute, we’ll see. not expecting anything
Cougar Town – Sure I’ll try it
Melrose Place – Maybe, the pilot was v boring. It is on the CW though…
Glee – delicious fun, love it already
Flash Forward – Will try it once.
Eastwick – Totally in
Vampire Diaries – of course. (CW!)
Thankfully they are never new on the same week cause whoa, I do not have time for that. Sure, sometimes things sit on the Tivo for weeks or months but eventually there will be nothing to watch and I will have 11 episodes of Brothers and Sisters to get me through the week (that totally happened once) Considering I rarely put the TV on during the day its a lot of pressure but somehow I just power through and make it happen. I’m good like that.
With Matthew back at work full time I’m trying to make sure that Asher and I have a full schedule. Every day we try do something fun.
Tuesdays are the mom/baby movie at the local theatre where they open up one movie to people with kids.
(note to self: Asher is not charmed by Sandra Bullock)
On Wednesdays we go to lunch with some of the neighborhood moms. We try to pick different places each week and it’s been working out quite nicely.
Sometimes friends visit us and we go for a walk or out to lunch.
All of the other days we have options like mom/baby yoga or pilates, story time at our choice of spots around town, and there is even a music class for infants that we have to check out at some point.
Once in a while we just like to hang solo.
Then there are those other days.
Ones where maybe the weather isn’t that great or someone didn’t get their morning nap in (me) and we just don’t bother getting dressed or leaving the house at all.
Last Christmas morning Matthew surprised me with a new laptop.
(pardon the dark purple nail polish. I have no idea what that’s about)
It really was a huge surprise. I even whined that my present was too “heavy” and I didn’t want anything heavy before I opened it. Seriously! Welcome to life with me.
It then spent 3 months in the box because I was traveling and too busy to move everything over. Once I booted this bad boy up I could not believe I had waited so long. It’s about 7 billion times better and faster and prettier than my old laptop. I lurve it.
Sunday night I was reaching for the baby monitor and I knocked an entire glass of seltzer into my laptop keyboard. My virtually 6 month old computer.
The one with 1,174 pictures taken since July 22, 2009
OF MY BRAND NEW BABY
We quickly shut it down and removed the hard drive and battery. Then Matthew put it in a box layered with paper towels and lots and lots of rice.
He took the box, taped it up and put it in the kitchen to dry for 3 entire days.
Meanwhile my brain went through plans A-D
a) buy a new computer and transfer the drive (sounds expensive)
b) buy a bigger hard drive for my old computer and transfer the drive (cheaper)
c) buy Matthew a new computer, buy a new drive for his old computer and transfer the drive (more expensive but inevitable)
d) WE HAVE NO MONEY FOR ANY OF THESE THINGS, YOU ARE SCREWED YOU CLUMSY MORON (truth!)
We opened the box Wednesday night and started it up
AAAANNNNND it works. So far. Enough that I backed up all my pictures. It seems totally fine. So far. Shocked that the keyboard works but it does (so far)
