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We started this week with a really exciting triumph -- our first fun run!
Django had not been loving last weeks trials in the fancy jogging stroller. I didn't want to mention it here because the thought of him hating exercise was just too frightening to utter. So I was quite relieved when we had such a lovely time with MDN & friends on Saturday during the 25th Annual Run for the Seals (to benefit the Marine Mammal Center) in the Marin Headlands. It was a gorgeous day out there, and Dj was all snuggled in his little fleecey bag, reclining under the yellow shade of the stroller. He complained for about the first and last 2 minutes of the course, but the middle 36 minutes he was happily napping. And it only took me those three, prior, completely miserable jogging experiences to realize his head had been bouncing in between two hard plastic buckles with every step I took. Duh. Sorry, baby.
We went to Zeitgeist's patio to celebrate after the fun run. I was thrilled to learn we could be there, together, since it's one of my favorite places to drink, eat & people watch in San Francisco, especially on a sunny day. As you can tell, Django was all tuckered out from the run, too. I don't think I'd ever noticed the "BIKES.BABES.BEER" sign above the door, or at least not with double entendre attached.
The rest of the week I was a bad photographer. I didn't manage to get any pictures of Django meeting 7-month old Lera on our walk around Stow Lake with Charly, Magarita & Nona on Sunday. Didn't snap any of Joannie & Luna loving on Dj while making us dinner at their *new* (to me, since I think they've lived there 3 years) townhouse in downtown Oakland on Monday. Got no shots of he and 11-month old Zoe, when she and Tori came over to play on Tuesday. None of our Bernal Babies Gang that meets for Wednesday Wine & Whiners Hour at Vino Rosso, the neighborhood wine bar. Missed all the great ones at Book Club on Thursday, too, when Rebecca, Jessica and Jeanna took turns fawning all over him -- you should've seen him flirt! Likewise, no cute photos of Dj meeting my old friend Chris Ho on Friday, or volunteering at the SPCA with the bunny rabbits on Saturday. I did try to get a good shot of him on Julian's lap at their St. Patty's Day party as Saskya and Kate were singing and dancing for him, but I have to admit I didn't do such a great job.
There's always next week...Nana & Cousin Marin are here visiting now. Maybe we'll be able to make some Kodak memories together.
No problem. They've got a bucket of pre-owned ones at Chloe's Closet down the street from our house.
See, aren't these the cutest?
But "Mama Needs a Used Car" is a problem for which I have absolutely no easy solution -- especially since I was really hoping to get to the end of my days without ever having owned one. Thing is, in investigating childcare arrangements I've come to the conclusion that I'll absolutely need one, unless I'm prepared to send Django to boarding school at the ripe old age of 5 months and just limit my time with him to weekend & holiday visits. So, if anyone knows someone selling an old, reliable 4-door, fuel-efficient, compact/mid-size car for less than $4500, give me their number. I'm ready to wheel-n-deal.
People talk a lot about the moment your baby reaches 3 months old. There's definitely good reason for that. Django's eyes are brighter, he's bigger all over, he burbles is so many more voices, and his hands hold a whole new fascination for him -- and me. You should see the way he sticks his arms straight out and just stares at his own little fists. Maybe it's a mom thing, but it makes me laugh every time. Especially when he has them in the "gotch'er nose" shape, or attempts to bring one to his mouth but lands it in his eye instead. Loads of fun.
One thing for sure -- now that he has a lot more to say, do and feel about his world -- I think I'm going through a growth spurt, as well. I can do a lot more things one-handed: go to the bathroom, open the mail, eat a hamburger. (No, seriously, you try it; it's not easy, especially if it's not in a wrapper of some sort.) I can turn any chore into something akin to a Broadway musical. I also have the ability to get through a bigger checklist in the same amount of time. It's no longer, "Let me see if you're hot/cold/hungry/need to be changed/or burped." Now it's, "Oh, you must be bored/frustrated/annoyed/sore/tired/confused/
hot/cold/hungry/need to be changed/or burped."
I'm telling you, we both have mad skillz now.
Another change is that I have started thinking of 2:30-4:30a as good, productive hours. It's a nice time to tidy the house, catch up on my magazine reading, change the rabbits' litter boxes, send email, eat breakfast -- basically, a nice time to do anything that needs to be done and can be, without waking the baby. Really, you should try it.
Oh yeah, and I've started the search for daycare for Django when I have to go back to work in the beginning of May. Everything about that sucks ass, pardon my French.
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.
