Brrrr...

The weather has taken a turn for the worse. The bay area is experiencing about the same temperature as Pittsburgh right now--warm for a Pennsylvania winter. This has me very worried... if I can't get out of the house to walk or jog in a relative heat spell, then what are my prospects for next winter?

But that's my mind getting ahead of itself, as it often wants to do. My thoughts and I have not been friends these past few days. My thoughts have been preoccupied with domestic tribulations: who knew that an apple-juice soaked down comforter would require two hundred minutes in the tumble cycle in order to dry? And, why oh why did we spend $25 on Chinese herbs that our immune system-challenged toddler refuses to take? The putrid smelling herbs may, in fact, be a healthier alternative to antibiotics, but how are we ever to know if we can't get Andy to take them?

I guess we'll just go back to the acupuncturist next week. Andy will exercise his lungs for another hour, while she (Chinese acupuncturist) bribes him with sweet herb candy and pokes him with a few more needles. We'll drive home, and put the exhausted boy to bed. He'll pass out for over 3 and a half hours.....! And Mike and I will agree that was the best money we ever spent.

Beach Day

It sure didn't feel like the middle of winter last Saturday in Santa Cruz! Andy spent the afternoon at Natural Bridges State Beach with his grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousin.

Mike and I gave up the paperback novel in hand, relaxed day at the beach of times past, in favor of chasing our sand-throwing toddler. When will he sit still long enough to make a sand castle?

Andy's Twin

Andy with his Pop at the wharf in Monterey. The fogginess is from a yogurt smear on the camera lense...


Helping Mommy make breakfast yesterday.

Don't Call CPS

Mike is returning home from Orlando Florida late tonight. He's on his last official NASA speaking engagement. Is it a bittersweet moment for him? Nah--he's relieved to get out of there. NASA Ames is a sinking ship, he tells me, and we have this administration to thank. Bush wants to go to the moon, but won't invest in the science that would make the endeavor worthwhile.

Anyway, Mike's gone. Andy is asleep (yesss!) So what's a lonely gal to do?

It was a toss-up between watching the first season of The Gillmore Girls on DVD, and catching up on my favorite mommy blogs. I chose the latter, and now have to add my own two cents on the experience of mothering.

Here is the diaper changing trick that has changed our world (please don't call Child Protective Services):


That's right, no more somersaulting toddler catapulting himself from the changing table! He is helplessly pinned beneath the weight of Dad's thigh; it is useless to resist! Useless!

Mike really likes this technique; he thinks it's some sort of ancient Judo hold. I'm happy to have both hands free to do the dirty business. I can't take credit for the maneuver, however. Thanks go to Kristin from the Boulder Creek Walking Moms.

More excitement regarding Andy's language development... A few days ago, when Mike asked Andy if he was ready to turn around after a long walk, the little guy pointed down the road and signed "more". After such a display, what could Mike do but keep plodding along?

And...today, after Andy and I played "This little piggy" with his toes, he looked up at me with a grin, signing "more"! We must have played about a dozen times before I passed out.

He's an awfully persuasive little signer.

The Boy who would live in a bubble

Our three weeks of wellness and fairly decent sleep came to an end last night, when Andy was overtaken with yet another cold and fever.

In his brief span of good health, he enjoyed many baby and toddler visits: seeing baby Hayley, hosting baby Cayenne overnight, attending 2 year old Olivia's birthday party, and hanging out with Elijah, Alyssa and Avery. We had plenty of park visits and hosted our first playdate yesterday with the "Boulder Creek Walking Moms".

So, somewhere in this drool covered toy exchange, some kid infected my kid. And then, unknowingly, my kid infected other kids. We'd have to never leave the house again to avoid this cycle. And not leaving the house equals mommy in the loony bin. So, we'll take our chances with the cold and flu season.

On the bright side, Andy is getting better and better at communicating with us. Even though he can't ask us to take his temperature, he has no problem asking for his comfort items: "bi" (binky), "juice", and of course, "Elmo" (which is often the first word on his lips in the morning...)

Some other new words include "stick" (he's really fond of chasing our neighborhood cats with the fallen tree branches), "Cy-cy" (for Lucy the Pug), "Duck" (after a visit to the pond), and "moooon" (after being convinced it was more than a "ball" in the sky).


Andy's signs are more exciting for us than his words, probably because we made a greater effort to teach them: lots of "more", and "hot", and sometimes "cheese" and "hurt".

And I can't fail to mention the car, truck, train and farm animal noises. He's pretty good at them. He can even do an elephant. That's not a talent I can claim. He must have got that from his dad.

C is for Cookie

Our son is addicted to gingersnaps. They're the no trans-fat, Swedish variety, but still a cookie. Somehow, I can't bring myself to deny him this pleasure. Aren't they wholesome? They're brown and sweetened with molasses. A cookie my grandmother would approve of. So, when Andy requests gingersnaps for breakfast, lunch and dinner, he receives them. But when the bag is finished, I don't intend to buy more. We'll have to go the "Elmo" route, feigning a puzzled look: Elmo, who's that? Cookies, what cookies?

(I haven't posted in several weeks, and this is what I come back with...gingersnaps...)

Since my world is about to be turned completely upside down in a few short months, I've been trying to focus on the little pleasures in life. Those pleasures that will stay the same. There will be plenty of gingersnaps and Seseme Street in Pittsburgh. It's not as if we're moving to Antarctica (although the winter wear would be the same.) And Andy would love those penguins.

The truth is, I'm excited to experience the seasons, and life on the other coast. With housing prices among the lowest in the nation, we'll be able to afford a lovely home. Our own home! To become homeowners in the bay area, I would have to work full time. And all we can afford is a one bedroom condo in East San Jose. (No thanks.)

In the meantime, Andy is my example of living in the moment. In his world, there is no shortage of love, Elmo and cookies.

16 months old today!