Technology is a beautiful thing

Hello, anyone out there?

I just downloaded a mobile blogging app, which should make it easier to post on the fly. Between raising 2 kids, working, and dealing with the kindergarten search there's been no time for attempting a thoughtful or creative post.

Pugawug is nearly 5 already. She's grown about an inch and a half since Labor Day, and uses words like "humongous.". She just started sucking her hair, as I did.

Mi is not quite a year old, but is walking as of last Wednesday!










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Today, two conversations

Pugawug has been riding an emotional roller coaster lately. One moment she's throwing a tantrum over wearing the wrong pair of tights. The next, she's sweetly assisting me set the dinner table or making sure Miles doesn't eat a dog hairball while he plays on the floor. Mornings and bedtimes are especially unpredictable. Some days she bounces out of bed and appears in our room, dressed and cheerful, before 7. On others, she languishes in bed past 8, and melts into a tearful, screeching mess when we try to dress her. By the time I roll into work past 9:30, you can just about see the cloud of AAUGH emanating from my skull.

Leaving school this evening, she was in a snit. I think it was because she left her bathing suit inside, and wanted to change when she got home. So, as we drove off, she said, "I don't like you any more, Mommy. You're old-fashioned, Mommy."

Old-fashioned?

"Old fashioned means OLD."

Old like grandpa Irv?

"Yes."

He's 103. This can't be good.

+++++++++++

A little later, we're driving up the hill to our house. She's in a much better mood.

"Mommy, where does the sky end?"

It doesn't end. You have sky, then space and stars. There are physicists and astronomers who study the sky, and it keeps going forever. You can go, and then go twice as far. It's called infinity. {As we approach the top of the hill, I think that's a pretty good answer.}

"Mommy, I've been thinking about that for a long time. But I didn't ask you because I thought you'd laugh at me."

Wow. In that moment, I felt my heart grow, and nearly burst into tears. Even a few hours later, I'm smiling a wry little grin and feeling a little tingly inside.

I did ask if she had any other profound questions she was thinking about (but worried about asking). She wanted to know why some houses have holes but others don't -- I think she's talking about detached and row houses, not garage openings. Any way, infinity and real estate. Quite a conversation for a four year old.

6 month update, part 2

As I started to write last night, I'm struck by the differences in Pugawug and Miles. They both smiled and laughed around the same time -- 6 weeks and 2 months, or so. But from that point, their paths diverged. Pugawug was remarkably interested in her fingers, and in her chupa (pacifier). She was thoroughly entertained by sitting in her bouncy seat, sucking on a chupa and interlacing her fingertips just beyond reach of her nose.

Miles could care less about chupas -- he bites them and spits them out -- and doesn't pause to contemplate his digits. Instead, he's all about motion. It began with lying on his back and kicking (actually, that began at about 20 weeks of pregnancy, when he began tap-dancing on my uterus). He also enjoyed standing on our laps as soon as his head became steady. Then he got the hang of rolling over, flying baby, downward dog, up dog, hands-and-knees, and finally sitting. He stayed still for about 3 days, then began to experiment with moving in a gradually-widening circle. That was less than 2 weeks ago. Now I can put him in one corner of the living room, and find him 5-6 feet away within minutes. He's not exactly crawling, but in his fluid, improvisational way he manages to get around (think bacterial chemotaxis). Finally, he managed to stand up in his crib this evening, holding on with just one hand, and stayed there almost long enough for M to grab the camera. Almost.

And Pugs? I checked her baby book tonight. She rolled over once the night before her 4 month vaccination appointment, and did it maybe once a month after that. She began sitting at 6 months, and was content to be a plump little buddha for the next month or so (when she got the hang of scooting backwards). Forward crawling happened at 8 months on the pool table at the Argus, at Friday happy hour, right around when she figured out how to stand up. So, looks like Miles has about a 2 month lead on her in terms of gross motor skills.

Over the last 4 months, Puga has become obsessed with ballet and flowers. She started dance classes in February


inspired by her visits to the Velveteen Rabbit, the Nutcracker, and Swan Lake during the winter.

She planted some flowers in our yard


and harvests them often, so she always has fresh flowers in her room.


We still have a snail problem, though.


She is very patient with Miles, and continues to have Great Artistic Vision (check out that Mother's Day crown).


We went cherry picking in Brentwood over Memorial Day weekend with some of our favorite friends




But the highlight of May was her ballet recital, and the big bouquets she received afterwards!

Miles: six months old

The other night, our favorite neighbors invited us to their home for a home-cooked meal, some adult conversation, and a drink or three. Our other favorite neighbors' 12-year old watched videos with Pugawug, while big M, little M, and I dined next door. At dinner, our host offered up an ultimatum alongside the homemade fettucini with minced arugula and preserved lemon: Update your blog, or I'll do it for you. Well, here goes. This one's for you, Strongbad.

Since getting an iPhone and FB account, it's become remarkably easy to engage in light conversation with neighborhood friends and college Loved Ones; why bother blogging? Especially when Miles decided to stop sleeping for more than an hour or two at a stretch, I simply didn't have the energy to tap out more than a bon mot or three. But as he's grown and changed, I've wondered how his trajectory compares to his sister's. As fun as FB is for catching up with old acquaintances and talking smack, it's lousy for anything but the Now. This blog is for the Now, but also for a look back when I'm ready.

Oddly enough, an anonymous poster commented today on a post I did ages ago, when our older dog snapped at Pugawug. It reminded me that there are still readers out there in the ether, not just family members and our close friends. So, welcome. I hope you enjoy it here.

Longtime readers know that I've avoided publishing my daughter's name on the blog, or sharing personal details. I'm generally a private person, and leery of folks who troll around the internet hunting for little girls. A surprising difference between Pugs and Mi is that I feel less cautious about sharing his details -- like his name -- in a public space. Is it our collective, Web 2.0 lack of privacy, or the Difference Between Boys and Girls?

Speaking of differences, I'm amazed by the differences between Pugs and Mi. When I wrote last, about 4 months ago, Miles was just beginning to crack his first real smiles, and was regularly losing his lunch down my cleavage. Since then, he's made real strides:

Laughing. He has a remarkable laugh, scratchy and husky. Miles has big dimples in his chin and right cheek, and he smiles with his whole face. If you gnaw on his neck and cheek, he collapses into hysteria.


Meeting great-grandpa Irv (they're 102 years and 11 months apart!)


and also hanging out with Grandpa Alan and Grandma Linda


and Anti-Kim, and Alice,


and cousin Vicky. All those pics were taken in NYC in March.


Then, Miles started day care, and I went back to work! A surprisingly seamless transition, until he decided to stop sleeping through the night. Here's his "first day of school":


In March, he figured out how to flip from his back to his belly ... and over again ... and again. We were astonished at how easy it appeared, and how enthusiastic Miles was about resting on his belly. By contrast, Pugawug rolled over just once between 4 and 8 mos, as far as we know.


Soon, tummy time was followed by downward dog-up dog-plank,


and sitting!


Here's Miles tasting a little cereal in early May.


And cuddling with Grandpa Bob and Grandma Loretta.



Next up: Pugawug update.

Two months later

A comment from a longtime reader (and writer of her own lovely, frequently-updated blog) spurred me to finally post something. So, with Papa off at "work" (in other words, watching the Superbowl at his office) and Grandma playing with Pugawug and Miles asleep for the afternoon, I've had hands free to catch up.

First, there are a kazillion photos up on Flickr -- birth photos (nothing graphic, duh), Pugawug's 4th birthday, visits from the family, our first vacation, and the last 2 months of Miles' growth. He looks like a baby now, not "larval" (in the words of my OB). Here is one favorite:



And here is another:


And there are many, many more on Flickr. So if you're family, or our favorite neighbor, or our friends who love CrabFest and nearly got M sick playing Halo, or our Blog friends, go check them out and see how our little guy has grown and changed. Oh, and thanks for checking in on this blog once in a while ... I know it's been a boring place lately.

Over the last 2 months, Miles has developed some semblance of a schedule, good sleeping habits (up to 7 hours, but more often 5 at a stretch), and puggalicious pulkies. He started smiling a warm, dimpled grin at 5 weeks, and makes delightful cooing noises too -- I'll upload some videos to YouTube soon. Around the 2-3 week mark we had some rather forceful eruptions; if you're connected to me on Facebook, you probably saw the status updates on Spitup in the Cleavage. That, thankfully, is mostly a thing of the past. Now he eats well and often, managing to keep all of it down most of the time. Miles also loves to wiggle and kick. He is happiest curled up like a koala on my chest, something Pugawug rarely did.

Pugawug continues to be an amazing big sister. She helps with changing, bathing, and dressing Miles, and is always affectionate with him. Sometimes, she's a bit too affectionate, getting up rightinhisface and kissing him all over. Still, I'd rather have that over jealousy and vindictiveness. We're seeing some tantrums and petulance, but it's directed at me or M, not at the baby.

Over the last few months, Puga has continued to enjoy "making cards" as her favorite activity. She's gotten pretty good at writing in capital letters, and sends drawings/collages/notes to her close friends and family. A card sent to an elderly neighbor after a hip transplant was, "The best card I've ever received," in Ellen's words. Pugs is also smitten with the ballet after reading "On Your Toes: A Ballet A-B-C" and seeing the Velveteen Rabbit and the Nutcracker with her grandparents.

And finally, last week we went to the California Academy of Sciences with a dear friend visiting from Chile. At the MUNI transfer station, Pugawug saw an L-Taraval street car with the sign "SF Zoo" on its marquee. She pointed and said "ZOO!," which either means that she remembers that the L goes to the zoo, or that she can read! Amazing.

Thanksgiving 2008: an 8 pound 2 oz turkey

Miles Mason was born on Tuesday at 5:04 pm. He is 21.5 inches long and weighed 8 pounds 2 ounces at birth. By contrast, the turkey-to-go we picked up on the way home from the hospital this morning weighs 11 pounds. Miles has fuzzy brown hair on his head and ears. Pugawug has been amazing.

We went in for induction on Tuesday morning. Dr Mandel broke my waters around 11:30 am, and he was born after a surprisingly fast and manageable labor. I will write a birth story one day, but for the moment let me say that Rachel Yellin is a remarkable Doula, and hypnobirthing relaxation really works.

We have a few photos up on facebook, and hundreds are sitting in the camera. I will update with a photo soon! For now, happy thanksgiving to you and yours.

Update 11/30: Here are those photos. For now, his nickname is still McLovin, although Mister Miles and Tortuga also seem apt. One thing is for sure: he is not a Pugawug.

Still waiting ...

I'm 41 weeks pregnant and feeling sorry for myself.

Too creaky for yoga, easily fatigued by a walk in the park, I'm spending a lot of time on the couch trying to quiet my mind. I'm also stocking up the freezer with good things to eat. With the help of our trusty CSA, here's some good things I've made this week:

- Spinach lasagna
- Lentil stew
(my old standby)
- Chicken soup
(a leftover rotisserie chicken boiled up with 6 cups water, along with carrots, onions, shaved corn, leftover rice, bay leaves, salt, and pepper; bones and nasty bits removed)
- Bacon, kale, and potato quiche
(saute the kale in bacon grease, put it in a thawed crust, add some potato slices on top, then pour over a mix of eggs, half-and-half, and emmenthaler cheese; bake until crusty and risen)
- Shepherd's pie - this was so good, it never made it to the freezer.
(braise a pound of cubed pork shoulder in a bottle of white wine along with sliced onions and a couple cloves of garlic. Meanwhile, boil some potatoes and mash, then set aside. When the meat is tender, remove fatty bits. Pour meat and gravy into an 8x8 pan, add carrot slices and peas on top, then spread potatoes on top of that. Add a few pats of butter and some pepper on top, and bake until the potatoes are crusty.)
- Dried persimmons
(thinly slice ripe Fuyu (round) persimmons. Place on a cookie rack or on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Heat oven to its lowest setting, then turn on the convection fan. Let persimmons dry, turning off the heat if they appear to be cooking. It may take several rounds of heating-drying to get the right leathery texture.)

Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment; I imagine we'll discuss the merits of waiting vs. inducing.

Puga's contribution to all this (aside from a Category 5 tantrum this morning over ... here it comes ... wanting a peppermint Trader Joe's oreo for breakfast) was rapping on my tummy the other evening, saying "McLovin! You need to get out now! Mommy is tired of having you in her tummy!" He isn't listening yet.

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This week, Pugawug has been wonderful about caring for Chess dog, who is mysteriously ill. We're trying to go on morning and evening walks together, including "journeys" to the closest park, where there is a "haystack" of mulch for climbing.