Michigan (out of order)

The day had come and we sadly had to leave.  I wanted to be with Rick and I am more than ready to settle down, but not into a temporary place, and we loved our situation; so I had a lot of trepidation. We got packed up slowly. I had to send about 4 boxes of clothes and miscellany ahead of time.  Then packed two 60 pounds suitcases, so mom will be sending another box along.  So I had one 47 pound bag, a 49 pound bag, the giant car seat, my giant jogging stroller and the umbrella stroller. But we got it all checked along for free, thank god.

I've never spent more than a few days up here, so it is interesting already.  Flying into Detroit over some great lake was cool. There are a bunch of islands in the middle of it.  Also, it is soooo flat up here.  We are about 45 minutes SW of the airport, through a couple small towns.  So I was viewing this trip as a big adventure and actually got excited in the last couple days. I want to go to Canada, and go kayaking, and boating, and biking and explore things I don't know about, now that Bobby is a little older.  So all that was a positive thing, but then I realize Rick is working 6 days a week and often nights and weekends.  So I'll probably have to do it alone.  If anyone wants to come visit me, I want to rent an RV!

I can't even describe this town b/c I've never been anywhere like it, but I'm sure there are thousands of them around.  Lots of Victorian homes, with sidings, lots of lattice and colors etc.  There is a couple blocks of "Main Street" then the more commercial end with the Family Dollar store (yuck), grocery, Walgreens and CVS and fast food.  It will do.  Also, the Rooneys are lending us a truck that we'll pay insurance on and then I'll have my car to use for aforementioned adventures.  There are lots of people walking around  the neighborhood.  And there are those walk up ice cream stores all over this area and they're packed at night.

Also it's light here until at least 9:30, close to 10pm.  A little disorientating at first.  I'll be in touch and document it all as we hit up all the parades, pig roasts, festivals and whatnot in the next month!  And if you have any rich friends, tell them to donate to Rooney!

The House

Ok, I'll try to keep this short.  Here is the condo! It is in a little community of 13 condos.  We have a stand alone garage and there is a swing set and slide in an open area.  So I posted photos on flickr, but it is a good find.  The Rooneys lent us a changing table and crib.  But they couldn't find the screws, so Rick called Pottery Barn looking for some info and they freaked out it was a drop side crib, so are replacing it for free.  Bobbys room originally had twin beds in it, so now one is on the floor and one is in the basement.  There are two sinks upstairs and lots of cupboards and two linen closets, plus lots of hanging space. 

So there is one for sale across from us for $110K (which now that I think about it, it may be over priced)

First Day

Still so many thought to share, guess I just need to start typing!  And since the boys have both been asleep since before 7pm, I might as well get to it!  I guess they wore each other out. 

So the place is great.  It's small but for our needs, it's good.  It's about 30-45 minutes from everything which is the worst part, but for a no lease, no security deposit, month to month, fully furnished, all utilities and cable included, we got lucky.  And everything is here, collander, can opener, oven mitts, trash cans, hangers, cleaning supplies, ironing board, etc. And lots of closets and cupboards, and they provided several dressers and shelves.  So having done this before, I appreciate this set up.   Rick had totally been living like a bachelor.  One plate, one fork, one pot, precooked food etc.  So he's glad to have it.  It is quickly becoming a home.  Anyway,

Rick had the day off, so he wanted to show me around, go shopping, go to the park etc, but we really needed to get settled and get our bearings.  So we hund out here in the morning, Bobby napped, we activated Ricks new Blackberry (woo hoo), had lunch, then got our act together.  We drove up to Ann Arbor to pick up a $35 rocking chair - which made bedtime a heck of a lot easier.  Then while there, we found a kid consignment store! And found some toys and a diaper champ ($13) which saved our trip out tonight to get the craigslist one. 

I realize I'm rambling, so I'll try to edit myself in the future!!  But oh yah =  we saw a BEAVER in the front yard when we were playing!!!  Just walking across the front like a cat or something, then scampered away before I could click it with my phone!

We made it

Lots to share, but I'm pretty tired. Bobby is still a good traveler, but oh boy,  is he (hyper)active!  Did not stay still, let alone nap, for 5+ hours.  We are settled in for the night, busy day tomorrow.  It is good to be with dad, but we miss Grammy lots and lots.   Hope I can find some time to recap all the thoughts about the new place, and getting four big pieces of luggage checked!  We are here though and the adventures begin!  Photos will be forthcoming so don't overanalyze this one ;)

Lean Little Guy

Weight:  21 pounds, 13 oz. (25%)
Height: 30.5 inches (75%)

Another reason, this isn't my kid:  he's tall and skinny.  Height measurements are pretty inaccurate however.  I guess he's doing fine. Motor skills are good, communication is probably average. He blabbers lots but says few words.  Doc says he's on track and nothing to worry about.  Not worried that he's a picky eater.  He got 4 shots and a finger prick for an iron blood test.  Iron is fine.  The shots were right leg, left leg, right tricept, left tricept.  OUCH.  First prick- nothing.  Second - a cry. Recover from that and she got him right in the fleshy arm.  Then again.  But he was a champ.  Then we walked home and he fell asleep right as we got to our street.  It was about an hour past naptime.

Karma

Okay, last post of the day, promise.

We went to Walmart this afternoon, breaking my "don't go on a weekend, or after noon in general" rule.  But I got zen and went for it.  So Walmart has the diagonal parking spots, meaning they also have one way rows in the lot.  I am slowly driving down my lane, and in zooms a car going against the arrow  (and me) and takes a hard left into a spot.  This is a good spot, about 3 from the store, and one that I hadn't even seen yet. But since the rows are one way, the spots are angled meaning she had to take about a 120 degree turn.  So she flies into it hard, obviously since I was 1. in the middle of the driving lane and 2. probably going to take it.  Totally cuts in front of me, you get the picture.  Point is: she hit the car in the space next to her.  HAHA.  Of course, I honked when she cut me off (it was sort of close, but very rude) but then she stops the car and I see her start to get out ("Oh shit") thinking she would yell at me but she was looking at the car she had just hit.  I guess there was a noise (or my horn)  b/c everyone was looking.  But then the lot security geezer came over and I went and calmly parked. With a big ol' smile on my face.

Weaning

So I guess when I'm alone, literally and with my thoughts,  my dear readers get a lot of entries.

So in his missing his father mode, Bobby bit me last week while going down to a nap.  He thought it was very funny, but now I have a lot of pain when nursing.  We were playing in my room today since it is so very hot out, and I have some bottles in a bin.  He seemed very interested in them and started sucking one.  Since it was approaching nap time, we ran down to the kitchen, nuked some whole milk and went to the rocking chair in his dark room (just like naptime)  He drank up almost 4 oz (in about the same time he would use to nurse) and then I put him in his crib.  3-4 minutes of crying later, he's sleeping.  He held the bottle himself and was wide awake the whole time, so I think this is good.  I didn't want to wean to a bottle, since he isn't on them currently, but we have to start somewhere.

I wasn't actively trying to do that (and 1 day does not a habit make)  but I think I'll continue to cut out that 2pm feeding.  We'll do this very slowly since he's a picky eater and I don't know where his calories are coming from otherwise.  I'm going to follow a "Don't offer, Don't Refuse" methodology.

He Walked!

Not just me propping him up a few steps away and having him fall at me.  Bobby planted his feet, planted his hands, stuck his butt up in the air and stood up.  Then I saw he was thinking about it, so I held out my arms and he came a good 6-7 steps towards me before buckling.   He is a lot more secure walking with help and will do it with one hand.  Guess I need to keep the video camera close.

Bobby is feeling better and acting like it too for the most part.  We went to the Little Gym and he had a lot of fun, but was still clingy toward the end.  Might have been hungry.  He napped for 1.5 hours.  I thought he banged his head really bad yesterday because he had a big red bump, but he never cried and I was on top of him all morning yesterday so had no idea how he did it.  But today it isn't bruised and looks more like two bug bites.  Guess he didn't need the ice on his forehead.  We do have his check up on Monday which is good in case his ears are bothering him (which today he has yet to touch so far)

I put Bobby on the scale at the vets and it said he was only 22.2 pounds.

Mother ... Nature

So Elizabeth noticed last weekend that we had some baby birds living in a potted fern on the deck and since then Mom and I have been keeping an eye out for them.  This is hard because of the hawks that live next door.  Their nest was out front, but our backyard seems to be their new hunting ground.  Often I see one sitting in the grass right out the back door, and 2 on the fences, and this morning there was one in the tree that Wiley always climbs! (very close to the nest)  Plus Sophie had sniffed around there once or twice and Lacey was supposed to visit, so these birds had the odds stacked against them.  But today, I just saw them hopping around the glass table in back.  They were pretty fuzzy still and more jumping between the railings and ground, instead of flying.  So I just hope they were practicing and will go back since the sprinklers had been on.  They seem to be hanging out under a bush behind the grill, which is a little safer from hawks, but not great being at ground level.  I'll keep you posted.

Bobby is standing a ton now

If this is separation anxiety, we didn't time it well.  First Rick leaves.  Then Grammy goes away today for a weekend trip. Then we take Sophie to the vet.  My normally independent laid back kid is gone.  He wants to be held and picked up all the time and is super cranky and needy.  Plus, he's pulling his ears a bit and has a snotty nose and woke up at 5:30am and his morning nap was only 45 minutes, so he's been a handful today.

ONE!

Bobby is going through something this week. It may be a cold, but it's more likely that he misses Rick.  He is super clingy and wants to be held all the time.

He is super good at standing on his own and squats down to get stuff and back up etc, but he hasn't really tried to walk on his on.  We can sometimes prop him up and he will take 2-3 steps/fall to get the thing in front of him, but if he's not in the right mood he will fall to his knees and crawl.

Rick left on Monday and has started working.  He moved into a little house in an Ann Arbor suburb.  I think it will be really nice and seems like Main Street, USA and all that small town goodness.  It will do for a couple months.  Then I want Target, a gym, a Little Gym and all that back.

Best place to live  93/100  Tecumseh, MI:
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2009/snapshots/PL2679120.html
We can get a four bedroom house for $103 K or less.

Longest Nap Ever

Granted, he did play hard outside in the water and the heat, and his morning nap was only an hour, but Bobby slept from 1:45 to 4:10 this afternoon.  He hasn't broken the two hour mark since he's been taking structured naps.  Unfortunately this is probably a sign that the morning nap might be on its way out within the month. 

Just becuase

Just because it still boggles my mind, and you all can appreciate:
My friend just had twins, due 6/1.  so 39 weeks
7# 15oz and 8# 11 oz twins born vaginally.

Sunday night

Rick refuses to watch Lost with me.  We considered going to a movie but could not agree on one.

The ACC baseball tournament is in Greensboro this week.  We are going to a few games.

It is Rick's 40th birthday this Saturday.  He says send your presents now.

Bobby is more and more like the dog every day.

He is also quite clever. He figured out at dinner to hold his sippy cup upside down then pinch the soft nipple so all the water ran out; he then could play with it all over his tray.

Dinner

Bobby apparently likes pesto and frozen blueberries. He is a bit of a picky eater though, anti-veg and pro-carb and sweets.

We are excited to see Grammy tomorrow!!!

Growing so fast!

Bobby is getting good at standing without holding on and often does it while clapping.  He loves to bounce and clap along with music.

He also likes to hold onto things and "jump."  He never leaves the ground but he will jump in his crib, or holding your hands or a table.  Pretty funny stuff.  He was also in a booth in a restaurant, looking over the back and would squat down and stand up quickly - playing peek a boo.

He apparently got his 7th tooth.  Lower right outside.  Just noticed today, don't know when it came in.  If you try to feel around, he'll bite, so i stopped looking in there.

Rick is probably going to stay here until Bobby's birthday (6/4).  We MIGHT have him baptized that Friday night. SUPER LOW KEY CASUAL. 5 minutes ceremony before/after/during? 5:15pm mass with his coffee friends. We don't even have godparents as of now, so it might not even happen. Same with his birthday party, we might celebrate on Saturday if Elizabeth and Emily can come visit.  SUPER DUPER NOT A BIG DEAL.  But Rick hasn't left yet and is not organized enough to leave yet and gets paid for a couple more weeks, so he's just enjoying his son right now.

Quick Trip to DC

Metro stop
Originally uploaded by sld78

More on this later. 30 hours round trip. Saw Kirin and GW rowing graduates and NCS sophomore rowers. Stayed in Chinatown with Kirin. Some walking, kept it simple, didn't do too much. Rainy on Wednesday, cold on Thursday, but still lots of fun and so far not disruptive. Bobby slept 11.5 hours last night and then a 1:45 morning nap. So recovering probably, but on schedule.

So cute

006
Originally uploaded by sld78

And

Bobby can go down the stairs backwards alone! Yay.

He also can blow on his hot food. Of course this means he also blows on his yogurt and applesauce!

He motions his palm to his mouth to blow kisses and has also been seen to pucker his lips once or twice.

11 Months

Wow, times flies.  No more talking today. but he is definitely in a copying phase.  lots of repetition will get similar noises out of him.  He has a blast walking behind his walker and he makes laps across the house all by himself - even on the hardwood.  He is really enjoyable to parent these days. Maybe b/c I'm not doing it all around the clock anymore.  Or maybe b/c i'm finally getting some sleep, but he is just a really good kid.  We've been shopping a lot lately and he's a super good sport, same with going out to eat.  We're having fun playing family. 

I am getting a sore jaw from feeding him since I apparently open my mouth every time I want him to.