After the dust settles...

So I have been avoiding writing about the latest goings on in Domi's world at least until I could stop breathing fire. Anna came to me on Monday and said that she has to quit. She is apparently allergic to Oslo. She told me that she thought she was allergic to him a month or so ago, but then never said anything more about it, until Monday. She has been to the doctor and tried to get treatment, but to no avail.
I felt like someone had died. I really went through all the stages of grief. There was shock, lots of anger, denial -maybe someone will offer to take Oslo in, and maybe we'll be given a million dollars and a brand new car!; bargaining- maybe there is some way we can work it out? and then acceptance- I spoke with the agency, and they are sending over 2 interviewees tomorrow.
So we are once again in the process of looking for a new babysitter. This brings up a whole host of issues- again. This was plenty hard to deal with the first time. But we found someone that even if I don't always agree with, (I'm not crazy about her food choices- orange crush and fritos for lunch) I trust her without a second thought and that is something worth gold. I can leave and go to work and not worry for a moment that Domi is being well taken care of, with love and lots of attention. Now we have to start all over and there are all new problems, like Domingo's ever increasing stranger anxiety, my own retisence to leave him alone with someone new, and as always there is the whole issue of the dog. Will the new nanny be willing to take care of this old blind dog? He's really not that high maintenance, but I can see how someone would rather take a job where they don't have to deal with it.
We'll figure out something I know. Wish us luck!

A gorgeous day...

Can't you tell!
Today my sister and I had our big race and spa day, it was FABULOUS!! We had a terrific time running and did great, no problems at all. My knees are just a little creaky tonight, but a little advil and all will be right with the world. It was such a wonderful sense of accomplishment and we finished pretty much right when we said we would. I totally remember why running in races, and running in general is so addictive. I really want to find another race to run soon. An 8k (about 5 miles) is pretty much the perfect distance if you ask me (who did right?). It's long enough that you have to, or should at least in my opinion, prepare for it, but short enough that you aren't hurting to finish. So you get all the benefits of a little prep work, all the good feeling of reaching a goal, finishing a race etc. without all the pain and time commitment that comes from longer races like a marathon. That said, I think I might do the Chicago half marathon in Sept. but we'll see how this summer goes. I'm totally inspired to keep running though, especially now that the weather is starting to cooperate.
Speaking of, the weather could not have been more beautiful today. It was probably the nicest day of the year (so far). Domi got to go to the park and hang out in the swing, which he loves, and watch the primas spin around like pinballs, which he also loves, until he gets overwhelmed! It was good to see so many people (Leticia and family, my parents, Chris's parents and 2 different sets of friends) this weekend. Although it made for a very tired and crabby Domi after all was said and done, it was well worth it. I feel totally refreshed and renewed, spring is definitely here!

Check up!

We had our 6 month check up and shots today, and all is well. I really LOVE our pediatrician, she's terrific. The difference between her and our first pediatrician is like night and day. Our new doc is so supportive and great, she told us once again that Domingo is beautiful and doing great. She was asking about sleeping, and was again being very supportive and encouraging, trying to give us suggestions on how to get more sleep. She wasn't at all judgemental about our co-sleeping, and said to do whatever works. I think part of why she is so understanding is that she has a baby herself, so is going through a lot of the same things.
So all in all it was a good visit, until the shots! He was very brave, but screamed like a pig when he got stuck. It was very sad, but he got over it really quickly.
Anyway, here's the stats:
Weight: 21 lbs 7 ounces (90-95%)
Height: 29.5 inches (greater than 95%)
Head circ.: 18.5 (50-75%)
He's still a giant baby, but we knew that already!

To prove I'm not entirely heartless

See, proof I did feed my son those sweet potatoes.

Out of the mouths of babes

No new photos, but I'm afraid I've hit a new low. In a classic, "I have no idea what to make for dinner" moment, I decided to take the sweet potatoes out of my baby's mouth. I made a delicious, nutritious, QuornTM patty sandwich and mashed sweet potatoes. I had every intention of using the sweet potatoes to make Alice's patented, farm-fresh organic baby food, but I hadn't gone to the grocery store in a while, and I was running out of grown up food. So I ate my baby's FOOD! How could I? Answer: I was hungry.
In my defense, I did make him some sweet potatoes earlier this week, and he really likes them. I have some squash too, and if it survives my own desire for squash soup, (chances are good since the weather has been so nice recently!) he may get that next week. My only concern is how to save all the left over baby food that I make. I read somewhere to freeze it in ice cube trays, but that seems like kind of a pain. Hmm, then again I could just BUY baby food. Heaven forbid that I don't give in to my crushing mommy guilt and buy a preprepared jar of food. I mean I'm not making cereal. What's that? I could make my own cereal? oh crap. He also is much more into the oatmeal rather than the rice cereal, I can't grow my own oats people.

It begins!

It's not yet opening day and already little Domi super slugger is decked out in his best team's finery. Why does the heartbreak have to start so young?
Actually, when I saw Domi in his Cubs cap, I saw flashes of a little boy. It's exciting and a little sad at the same time. I know I'm not sending him off to college yet, but sometimes I get so caught up in "getting through" this stage, and looking forward to the next stage, that I forget to take a look at the here and now. And what a sight to see.

Another camera folly...

Chris left the camera memory card in my parents television this past weekend, (blame it all on him right?) so no pictures again. I'm doing kind of a crummy posting job lately, but I'll make it up to you internet, I promise.
In other news, this coming weekend is the big 8k with my sister. I'm icing up my knees as we speak to get through it. We actually had a really nice run outside this weekend and I'm convinced that we'll both make it through unscathed, or just slightly scathed at most. We actually have a really fun weekend planned, hopefully the weather will cooperate.
Speaking of, the weather is starting to get nicer, and as the days get longer my mood miraculously improves. It's still not warm enough to sit outside in short sleeves and bare feet(unless you are a nordic god, like my spouse), but all signs point to a change in the air. Ah spring, renewal, life actually IS worth all that bother after all.

Camera is still caputis

Our camera is still sans batteries, so no new pictures. But I do have an exciting bit of news on the Domi front... Another tooth is poking it's way through, and giving us yet another excuse for why sleeping has been not so hot lately. On Wednesday morning D woke up at 4 and didn't go back to sleep, pretty much the whole night(morning). He's been doing this half asleep/half awake crying-punching thing, and I think the red enflamed gum is the reason. I had that in the back of my head, but he had had that darn cold, so I wasn't sure which was the culprit. But thankfully the cold is pretty much on the way out. He just has the last remnants of a stuffy nose- "mocos" as the girls are always saying, it means mucus. Gross.
So now we just have the discomfort of the teething to deal with, again. How many teeth does a baby need?
In other Domi news, we fed him his first non-cereal today, sweet potatoes. He was only slightly more interested in the jar than in the cereal. He does however love spoons and wanted to hold it himself. We'll get some pictures up here soon, I promise.

A nice weekend at home

Our camera ran out of batteries, so I'll post some pictures from this weekend, later this week. We actually had a really nice weekend at home, it's the first time we've stayed home in a while. It was a decent weekend weather wise, and what that means is everyone and their mother is out and about in Chicago. You can totally tell the days are getting longer, and I think Daylight Savings Time will work in our favor sleep-wise with Domi. This morning he woke up at 7:00 a.m. which is now 8:00 a.m., and even if he wakes up at his usual 6:00 a.m. time, that's now a much more respectable 7:00, that is once my body gets used to it!
Speaking of bodies, I'm re-renewing (or is this the 4th renewal now?) my vow to get back in shape. I had a rather rude awakening (again, how many rude awakenings does it take?) dress shopping today. I'm still 2 dress sizes bigger than I've ever been and it's NOT cool. The funny thing is I don't feel like I'm THAT much bigger than I was before, and when I'm dressed, I don't look that much bigger (at least to me) but I just have all this extra flab all over. So, more salads for lunch and dinner and more workouts and pilates for me. I have 5 months to get into smokin' hot shape for tia Hez's and tio James' wedding, and I intend to do my darndest to get there.
Finally thanks to everyone who called/wrote emails/comments to show thier concern/give advice/love etc. about Domi's cold and the whole sleep situation. He's on the mend I think, and even though he's still coughing and stuffy, I think it won't be long before he's back to 100%. As for the sleeping, I'm totally not stressed about it, (one of the only things!) it'll happen when it happens. That or we'll move our family bed to the dorms when D goes off to college.

On being "the mommy"

My darling Domi, you turned six months old on Wednesday. I can hardly believe it, you are half a year old, where did the time go? You did so much this past month it's really incredible. You had a whole bunch of firsts (first plane trip, first glimpse of the ocean, first solid food, first cold), and continue to grow and talk and watch this crazy world around you. You are still getting used to eating cereal, and soon we'll get to try other things like fruits and vegetables. We made it to one of our "unofficial" goals and nursed/pumped for 6 months! You are a champion eater, so I know the solids will be no problem, and we'll just take the nursing a day at a time from here on out.
You are getting to be such a good sitter, and are rolling all over the place! You continue to amaze me with what a mellow child you are. (I shouldn't jinx us right?) During those first few months, I must admit, I thought you were going to be a very demanding and high needs child. But you shocked us all when at about 3 or 4 months you turned a corner and became this really mellow baby, especially when it counts. On the plane, in restaurants, when we are out with friends, and when we have people over, you are perfectly content to just look around and watch what happens. You don't fuss or cry when you take a tumble from sitting up to head on the floor, or if mommy accidentally pours water in your eyes at bath time (oops!). You really take it in stride, you blink the water away without a fuss, or roll to your side and find a toy to play with on the floor that you hadn't noticed until you toppled over.
I'm also amazed at how you've handled this cold. You should be miserable, you have every right to be. But you are such a trooper, you only complain when it's time for sleep and because you are having trouble breathing, and you get a little crabbier than usual. That and when ever the evil nose sucker is out. But usually you just play and laugh and cough and sneeze and take it all in stride.
That brings me to the title of this post. I know when ever I was sick as a child, and even often as an adult, and I'll have to say, that wasn't very often, I would only want my mommy. For whatever primal reason, no one else would do. Last night for the first time in ages, (maybe because the Notre Dame basketball game was on, who knows?) Daddy came out of the bedroom and said he couldn't get you to go to sleep. I picked you up and not 2 minutes later, you were sound asleep. You just needed your mommy. And that person is me.
This realization fills me with wonder and amazement and a little anxiety too. Yes, I realized it when we found out we were pregnant with you. Yes, I realized it when we thought we were going to lose you. Yes, I realized it the day you were born. But, now I know you, I know what you like, what you don't. I see your little face every day and every night. We play and sing and laugh. When you are so sick and helpless, I feel this overwhelming sense of love and need to protect you and make you feel better. You are so sweet even when you are crabby you just put your head on my shoulder and stroke my arm until you fall asleep. It's something about seeing you this way, and taking care of you as a little person, that it really hit me, again, I'm your mommy. I will always take care of you, when you're sick, when you're well, when you fall down and hurt yourself, when you run around like a maniac. It's a bit daunting at times, but well worth it. I'm your mommy, and I love you.

hate-hate relationship

Behold! The single most horrific infant torture device ever created. Or at least you'd think that if you were to listen to me try to aspirate Domi's nose with that thing. "It never loses suction!"
I've tried the direct, "this is what I'm doing, and I'm bigger than you so it's going to happen" route, the sneaky "look over there at that awesome toy while I covertly try to inch my way to your nose" method, then finally the "hold it yourself, see it's not so bad, make friends with the nose vacuum, please let me do this for your own good, try to use it" routine. NOTHING works. He sees me coming at him, then twists away with all his little might, and then wails like a banshee until I give up. The worst part is that Daddy says he can't do it, he's afraid he'll stick it up too far and suck out brains. So here is yet ANOTHER torture job that only Mommy will do. Look for me on next year's season of 24. Good thing I have some breast milk goodwill going for me or I'd definitely be the most unpopular girl in the house. But, I think I'm pretty close to spent on my edible capital.

A first I would have rather done without...

Domingo is sick. He has his first cold. It is really sad. Domi was such a good sport this afternoon, Ana said he cried a little bit to get to sleep for his afternoon nap, but when I got home he looked at me through his bleary little eyes and smiled the sweetest smile and laughed. I almost started crying.
Chris is in there with him right now trying to get him to go to sleep. He's so tired, but can't get to sleep because he's so stuffy. I'm ready to lose my mind. I have to keep repeating to myself, "it's only a cold, it's only a cold", "everyone gets a cold, he'll be fine", but it's hard to remember that when he looks and sounds so miserable.
It's so annoying! I feel like since he's staying at home and not in day care, and he only gets breast milk, I should be guaranteed at least one year without a cold. I want my money back! Oh, I guess it doesn't work that way.
Also out the window goes the plan of putting him in his own room, at least for now. This does bring up some interesting thoughts however. I realize that to make this transition, everything has to be ideal- no teething, no colds, no weird new situations. But I'm finding myself finding every possible excuse to keep him in the bed with us. At first it was his age, then it was teething, then timing, I started work, he got his shots, we'd be out of town to my parents' house one weekend, then the next we would be at Chris's parents', then my parents', you get the picture.
So when we decided we'd make the move after the San Francisco treat, it seemed like the right thing to do. But then in SF Domi was having a hard time sleeping one night, (I think due to the time change and the famous overtired theory), I thought to myself, "I am not ready to let him cry". I know that the older he gets, the harder it will be if we decide to do it. I also know that it works, it really works, and it will probably mean less crying in the long run, than going to him every time he wakes up. But despite all that I know, I still feel like I'm not ready. And I know that this is not something we can try and then not follow through, that would just be a nightmare.
I never, ever thought I'd be a family bed proponent, but here we are 6 months to the day that Domingo was born (happy birthday little one- update to come when I'm not pulling my hair out) and he is still snuggling up next to us to go to sleep. He still waking up a few times every night, but he's eating less and less overnight, and I think pretty soon he may not have to eat at all at night. So family bed by default may not be so bad. We'll see how the cold goes, maybe we'll make the switch the weekend after next, after my sister and her kids come to visit and spend the night and we run our big race! or maybe not.

Another first

While we were in San Francisco, Domingo had a series of firsts. First plane ride, first trip to the ocean, and most importantly (to him at least) his first solid food. It was really much closer to liquid, as the rice cereal was so diluted with breast milk that it was practically drinkable rather than edible. But that said, it was a momentus occasion, Domingo (no surprise) was not phased in the least, and we captured it on video, so enjoy!






cereal is yummy on Vimeo

Home again home again jiggity jig

We're back!! We had a such wonderful time. We left California this morning and it was sunny and 60s. We got on the plane and we were informed that it was cloudy and 30 degrees in "Chi-town". I couldn't help but wonder, why is it that we live in the frozen north?
Domingo was a super baby the whole trip. He was so mellow and calm on his first plane ride, I couldn't believe it!

The time change only got to him slightly on the second day, and he cried for maybe 5 minutes or so to get to sleep, and then once when we were in the car, he had a little bit of a tired-baby related melt down. I think the time change affected Chris and me much worse!


We got to spend some time with our friends, and Domingo made a new friend. Little Quinn is such a cutie pie!

Ok, I'm wiped, so I'll post more pics and more tales of the city next time!!

As promised...

They aren't new, but you haven't seen them, so these will have to do until we get some more from San Francisco! We are packing clothes and checking lists and packing dogs etc. for our trip tomorrow. Domingo is peacefully sleeping unaware of what's in store. Here's hoping for a fun,relaxing time to be had by all!

Sorry Mommy!

I promise I'll get a picture or two up here tonight! And then I'll definitely have a bunch from our trip to San Francisco. We spent the morning packing and getting things ready to go since we have to leave our apartment, bleary eyed, at a mind numbing 4:30 a.m. tomorrow. I think Domingo was preparing us for that event by waking up at 4:33 this morning. I sincerely hope that the weather is decent tomorrow and our flight leaves on time. It's one thing to get up early and go and sit in an airport for hours and hours when you are a swingin' single, or even when you are a young married couple in debt, it is something else entirely when you have to deal with a "sleep challenged" baby who can only fall asleep if he's held just so, with the white noise machine going, and it's completely dark. Hmmm, I'm beginning to wonder if we've bitten off more than we can chew...