Jackson Update

Been a while since my last blog. So much has happened - mainly with Jackson!

First, he is five and a half months old. WHAT? How did this happen?

Currently...

- he eats 6 oz of formula in every bottle

- he loves applesauce mixed with oatmeal or rice cereal (we tried butternut squash and sweet potato, but he does not love that as much...unless it's mixed with applesauce).

- he is between 6- and 9-month clothing - right now, my favorite outfit of his is a Christmas onesie with an elf-like hat

- he is starting to sit up on his own - still topples over from being top-heavy, but he is trying

- he LOVES his jungle gym - looking up, giggling, cooing, and interacting with the animals and music

- he kind of blows rasperries at you if you do it to him

- he wears Size 3 diapers

- I am guessing at this time he is around 20 pounds

- We bought him this Swedish gadget called the NoseFrida. It sucks the snot out. Well, I suck the snot out. Gross but effective.

As I've written before, being a mom is so awesome, but I've never been so tired in my life. Jacks is currently teething (?) and he likes to stay awake and be held. We can NOT sit with him - he likes to stand.

Alright - enough for now. More observations later. Heading to Ohio on Saturday for a whirlwind trip - 10+ hours in a car each way with a baby - YAY!

24 Hours to Process

I need 24 hours to process things. 

This means that I should not make any major life decisions without taking 24 hours to let the thought/idea/anger/energy high settle. Maybe my "problem" is that I initially react emotionally (hey, I am a Leo/fire sign!) and then need to cool off. Because too often my intense happiness or extreme anger cloud my good judgement.

In the last week I have found myself really angry one day, but more focused and calm the next day. Maybe my opinion has not changed, but my emotional response has. I also got overly emotional over n issue at school, but the next day I was able to see a more clear image of the bigger picture.

All I know for sure is that sleep helps and that I am still figuring out things about myself.

Jackson found his hands!

In the past few days, my son has found his hands.

It's hysterical.

He looks at one hand while the other encircles his head; during this process, he usually smacks himself in the face. He then mashes both hands on his cheeks and nose until they find each other.

Sometimes one hand hitting his mouth will result in his sucking that hand's thumb; this is usually the right one - is he right-handed?

He continues to smile a whole lot - his eyes sparkle when he does. There is literally no better feeling in the world.

We've moved to Size 2 diapers - 12-18 pounds. Wow!

I love being a mom.

Please do not make my sensitivity wear out...

Please do not make my sensitivity wear out.

This can occur when you continuously do not meet my expectations.

I try my hardest to be kind, polite, clear with my instructions, attentive to details, and aware of the fact that there are things that go on in people's lives that they may not advertise or wear on their sleeve.

But after feeling slighted, mocked, whispered about under one's breath, and ignored, my sensitivity begins to wear out.

And this makes me tired, irritated, and a little sad.

Just BLOG about it!

Having a good day? Just blog about it.

Having a bad day?  Just blog about it.

Need to vent about your parents, classmates, or Creative Writing teacher? Just blog about it.

Tired of reading the same old stuff because you think your own words are more interesting? Just blog about it.

Enjoy cooking and want to post a recipe?  Just blog about it.

Visit NYC and see a celebrity walking down the street?  Just blog about it.

Ever eat something that was so amazing but you were alone and were without your phone so you could not tell anyone about that incredible soy burger with sprouts, wasabi, and chocolate? Just blog about it.

Drop your book on your foot and break your foot resulting in an overnight stay in the hospital where you were on heavy pain meds, had multiple x-rays, and find out you need surgery? Just blog about it.

Change your son's diaper only to realize that in the midst of changing said diaper he has, in fact, urinated all over himself? Just blog about it.

Think your friendly neightborhood librarian is funny, smart, AND cool? Just blog about it.

Have an hour-long conversation with someone only to realize after you are done that you've had spinach in your teeth?  Just blog about it.

Enjoy watching people eat their ice cream, observing moments of pure, unadulterated bliss? Just blog about it.

Tired of reading this blog? Just blog about it!

Pleasure Reading

I need to read more for pleasure.

Bucket List books:

- finish the OUTLANDER series by Diana Gabaldon

- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

- East of Eden (Steinbeck)

- more Sophocles plays

- Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

- the Mindy Kahling biography 

That's it for now. Need to finish Gone With the Wind before I start something new...

Journal #4: Sitting Outside

How often do we have the chance to simply sit outside and "be"?

The answer is not very often. 

It is actually quite luxurious outside today.

It is interesting to watch my Creative Writing students sit around and write.

I wonder if they are able to turn off their school brains and soak in this weather, this amazing land upon which they go to school, this sunlight, this solitary moment of potential zen?

More often than not, I don't even allow myself this time lately.

I should take some time - even if it is just 20 minutes.

TGIF

It is so interesting that the acronym "TGIF" has had such a different meaning for me throughout the years...

TGIF itself means, obviously, "Thank Goodness It's Friday!" For me, Fridays represent the end of what usually is a long work week, a brief reprieve in what is otherwise a hectic schedule, a time to relax and get ready for the weekend.

When I was younger, probably in elementary school, TGIF was actually a two-hour TV show slot on ABC. I remember first watching TGIF at my friends' house (they were twins) in their guestroom (I also swallowed a mosquito that night, but that's another story). I remember watching a show about a nerdy black kid named Steve Urkel. It was funny. It took place in Chicago. The next week, I asked my parents if I could watch TGIF again, and they said yes. We actually all watched it together. Family bonding.

From then on, Friday nights were full of ordering Pizza Boli's pizza, snagging a Heath candy bar from the candy stash, and snuggling up together on the couch watching TGIF.

In high school, Friday nights meant playing in the pep band for my high school's football games. These were the BEST nights. All of my friends were in the band (I played in the percussion section) and, after school, we headed over to someone's house where we would hang out, eat pizza, and then head back to school to play. Since I lived so close to school, everyone would often come over to my house, and I thought my parents were totally cool for letting everyone come over (I later learned it was because they could more easily keep tabs on all of us, even though we never did anything "bad"). These were really, really fun nights.

In college, people went "out" to celebrate TGIF. I did, sometimes, but not frequently. I was usually so exhausted after a long week that I stayed in a did laundry. Going out was expensive and, even though I did go out sometimes, I much preferred staying in with my friends.

I am going to skip TGIF for the years between graduating from college and getting married...but for the most part, TGIF included happy hours, dinners out, concerts, movies, shopping, and the like. Apparently I had a TON of money to spend in those years...

Today, my perfect TGIF is staying in: making dinner, spending time on the couch with my husband, son, and dog (as well as various and sundry family members and close friends), and going to bed early. The real reason for my "thanking goodness" for Fridays is that these end-of-the-week days now mean just quietly observing the most precious, treasured moments of my life.

A lot of everything...

Back in the swing of things, for the most part, but thank heavens for the weekend! Jackson actually slept from 11pm-7:30am last night; I slept, too, but I will admit I did get up twice to make sure he was breathing. He was.

During the week, I think we've figured out getting up (I need to get up earlier), going to daycare (which will be its own post someday soon), arriving at school, working all day, and then...the best part of the day: the hour in which I pick up my son and get to see my husband after a long day. These days, our evenings are filled with baths (Jacks gets one every day because of daycare), feedings, figuring out something healthy to eat for dinner, and working out (if possible - sometimes it is really not).

I am LOVING my new prep this year: World Lit II. We are getting ready to start Sophocles' Antigone this week, and I am pumped. I am teaching it against the backdrop of MLK's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" to give the whole idea of civil disobedience a more contemporary context. I also get to go over the history of theatre (originating in Ancient Greece), and you know I just love that. Creative Writing is also equally as fun - lots of good brains in there. I know they will come up with some really interesting stuff this semester.

I also want to post things about Jackson on here - my dad suggested I write things down since he is two months old and really starting to change on a daily basis. Here are some observations:

- Jackson is a really wonderful baby. He sleeps really well, eats well, and only cries when he is hungry. He's pretty relaxed, and turning out to be a lot of fun. Don't get me wrong, he has been fun since Day 1, but recently...
- He has started to smile. This is seriously the best thing in the world. It doesn't matter that I have over 500 pictures of this kid (mind you, he is only 2 months old - how many does that average a day?!), but even though I can capture this on camera, I cannot capture how his smile makes me FEEL. And then I realize words cannot describe this feeling, so, you know. Or maybe you don't.
- Jackson has also started to "talk" which is also the best thing ever. More to come on that soon, I'm sure.

Right now, he is 12 pounds/6 ounces, is 23 3/4 inches long, wears 3 month size clothing, is in size 1 diapers, and eats 4 oz at a time.

Alright - time to get caught up on laundry and get ready for the Ravens/Browns game at 1:00pm.

School Year 2013-2014.

So hard to believe it is finally here. Also, a bit embarrassing that I have not blogged in a long time. In my defense, I did have other things going on.

My summer was magical. I gave birth to my son on July 3, 2013. His name is Jackson. He was 7 pounds, 7 ounces, and 19 inches long. I always knew that becoming a parent would be amazing, but this experience has been truly AWE-some. The strangest part is a) he was a major part of me for the better part of a year and 2) he looks like me. It is so wild to look down and see parts of yourself looking back.

Not to gloat, but my kid is cool. He is mild-mannered, sweet-tempered, inquisitive, and calm. He sleeps (for now); he eats well; he is healthy. Jackson is one cool cat, and I cannot remember my life without him. Also, my husband rocks; he is one fantastic father.

I am looking forward to this school year, especially this class, my new prep (World Lit II), and getting back into some sort of schedule.

Bring it.

PS - Ben Affleck just announced as the new Batman. Thoughts?

PPS - Good luck to all the newly-moved in freshmen in college! Enjoy the journey!

Stolen (again) from Katie B

What is your favorite kind of weather?

What my dad refers to as "open window night" weather. When it is warm enough to have the windows open, but cool enough to still cuddle up. The best.

Dream occupation when you were little?

I wanted to be either a teacher or dermatologist. Go figure.

What was your favorite toy from your childhood?

I remember the character's name was Patty Rabbit, but I cannot remember what show she was on...I thought she was cool because she wore a bracelet? necklace? anklet? around one of her big bunny ears.

What is the best thing about your family?

I can turn to them for absolutely anything. Also, we all genuinely like each other, which, as I have come to realize, is a rarity in most families...

What’s your favorite album for a rainy day?

Probably some sort of Broadway musical album, but I'm not sure which? OBC Les Mis? Maybe Rent.

Do you prefer texting, emailing, Skyping, or old fashioned mail?

Texting is quick and works for short conversations.

Emailing is great because I can really think about my words and use them wisely.

I do not Skype, but I FaceTime; does that count?

Old fashioned mail is awesome. One of the reasons I love Christmas so much is because of all of the snail mail that comes every day - it's better to get letters from loved ones than mail from credit card companies!

If you could change one thing about the last movie you watched, what would it be? 

I would change one thing in Django Unchained, even though I know why Tarantino did this. Won't discuss here because I do not want to spoil it for anyone!

 Who do you consider to be the greatest fictional villain ever created?

While I'm on the topic of Tarantino, probably Col. Hans Landa from Inglourious Basterds. He is so evil, but so calm and collected. Gives me the shivers.

From literature, probably--not to be lame or surface--Voldemort from the HP series or Alexander Zalachenko from the Dragon Tattoo trilogy. 

What’s the one TV/movie/book series etc that you see all over and are sure that you will never, ever get into? 

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe series by C.S. Lewis. Couldn't do it.

A band/ singer/ artist decides to write a song about you; which band/singer/artist would you like that to be?

Adele, just because I LOVE her voice.No, strike that. Julie Andrews, because she is a diety.

What’s one book you wish you could have written?

One of the early Tracy Chevalier books (Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Virgin Blue, Falling Angels, The Lady and the Unicorn). I love those.

What was the most memorable book you read in 2012?

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Love the time travel. Love the kilts. Love the love. Mmmmm.

What did you find was the biggest let down of 2012?

I cannot say that I really had a let down in 2012. I got married, went on an amazing honeymoon, was able to get pregnant quickly, and just generally have a great time doing it all. No complaints, but am excited for what lies ahead!

What did you find was the biggest pleasant surprise of 2012? 

Learning that I was pregnant in October. Other than that, getting tickets to Wimbledon Centre Court and watching my husband in a state of giddyness for 8 hours straight!

What is one thing you’re planning on doing this year?

Becoming a mother. Woah.

What do you want to achieve this year?

I want to have a healthy baby and a smooth pregnancy and delivery. But more than anything, a healthy baby. It's really crazy to think about, even though I am almost 14 weeks pregnant. Wow!