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It's been another busy week--including more dinners and visits with more of my fabulous friends in San Francisco (like Rebecca & Monique, each pictured here holding the baby), a wedding in Novato, a field trip to Ikea in Emeryville, some Save-A-Bunny volunteering on Market Street. We've also started getting together with a half-dozen other neighborhood moms who, as it happens, all have baby boys within a few weeks of Django's age. But we made plenty of time for laying around, too: resting, trying to learn how to work hands, and just plain recovering from that god-awful cold. In fact, it's been over 24 hours since I've had to shove the snot-sucking bulb up the boy's nose, and I think it's safe to say neither of us are missing that particular activity-time together.
The San Francisco weather has turned gray and wet again, and Django & I have found ourselves under it. If you've never heard a congested 2.5 month old attempt to continue breathing, trust me when I say you don't want to -- especially if it's your own 2.5 month old. Very Scary. But the Kaiser advice nurses are Very Nice, even at 1a.m. And when they suggest you essentially water-board your little one with saline drops before shoving a suction bulb in each nostril to manually vacuum out the snot, you can almost imagine that they are empathizing with you. Almost.
Still, Dj & I have managed to avoid a panicked trip to the ER (where the germs are no doubt even scarier than the ones running rampant around here.) I've found looking through photos from healthier days gone-by to be a good distraction. These two -- taken during his first lay-down in the grass/staring up through the trees at Dolores Park last week -- have brought me particular relief. They remind me of the incredible sense of appreciation and wonder that this baby has brought into my life. It doesn't at all keep me from worrying or fretting. It may, in fact, deepen my troubles by giving them purpose. But it also gives me every reason in the world to be brave, remain hopeful & believe in the power of love.
In honor of St. Valentines Day, Django and I decided to go share the love with the Valley Power strikers of the Operating Engineers, Local 3, who've been out protesting unfair labor practices for 220 days already. Yup, it was baby's first time walking the picket line. After all, you're never too young (or old) to learn that there is power in a union.
They say it takes a village to raise a child -- or, in my case, sometimes even to get pregnant. I don't know about the WHOLE village, but it definitely takes at least one Super-Nana and a dozen other Super-Friends & Family. Django & I are lucky enough to have just such people in our world.
My mom (Super-Nana) took care of us 24/7 for the first 8 weeks, except for the week my dad (Super Poppa) and stepmom (Super-Laura) took the reigns. My sister (Super-Aunt-Jenny) was always there for a spontaneous visit, or a theraputic phone consultation -- and her kids (the Super-Cousins) just heaped us with love & affection. And as already noted, my brother (Super-Jon) got us a kickass video camera for capturing the most exciting moments.
Since we've been home in the Bay Area, Super Mike Nelson has cleaned our house, fixed our dryer duct and taken us to a Super Bowl Party. Super Elizabeth has made us one gourmet meal at her house, and then another one along with Super Michael Greenberg here at ours! Super Andi fed us lunch and let us admire her amazing Point Richmond view for an afternoon. Super Judy Rummelsburg invited us out to dine at her house in Martinez and then sent us back with a ready-to-bake lasagna. Super Mike Dragovitch took us shopping at Costco. Super Brad spontaneously dropped by while in the neighborhood and walked the baby around the apartment so I could finish the dishes. Super Julian & Jill offered us lots of comforting parenting advice over a glass of wine. Super Jeanna & Ale cooked us a fantastic meal, and even bounced the baby so I could eat with more than one hand!
Unfortunately, I didn't remember to pull out the camera and snap photos of everyone, so here are just a few. But the truth is, I couldn't be being a good mom to this beautiful little man without you all. So thanks & love, on this here eve of Valentine's Day, from the big, beating fullness of my heart.
