Reality Check

I think I had a mid-mid life crisis last night- might still be having it.  Nothing too serious; there's no sports car parked out front, no hair plugs implanted, or any other traditional sign of anti-aging.  But aging does factor in.  Since the birth of my son, I am feeling much, much, much older.  My eyes are a bit baggier, my boobs are a bit saggier, my hairs a bit frazzlier- that's not even a word, but it describes its current state.  I've always been a pretty low maintenance lady- opting for flip-flops, a pony tail and a pair of dark shades to look cool.  However, the prospect of make-up seems necessary.  As for the mid-mid life meltdown, I decided that Jesse and I should get tattoos for our upcoming 4th wedding anniversary.  If you know me, you know I hate three things on this planet: (1) snakes, (2) needles/ shots, and (3) snakes carrying needles and administering shots.  What would be more ironic is if I wanted to get a tattoo of a snake- but since this is only a crisis, none of the inking will ever happen.  

Part two of the mid-mid-meltdown, I made Jesse promise to go to a Metallica concert with me.  Prior to the procreation, I was a major concert junkie.  Nothing beats the excitement of a live show.  My best friend and I even travelled across country to see Widespread Panic at the Greek Theater for three nights in Berkeley to celebrate our college graduation.  I don't know what was more rock n' roll, the band's amazing performance or the super sketchy Green Tortoise Hostel we stayed in.  You needed a tetanus shot just to open your room door.  Ahhh, the good old days.  It just dawned on me that what might be the catalyst is my 29th birthday, still safely on the horizon, but the date is hurtling at me like a piece of blazing hot Space Lab shrapnel.  Frankly, I'm shocked that I even care.  Numbers like 29 or 30 shouldn't make a difference, but "should" is an utterly fruitless and annoying word. 

Luckily, Miles is shaping up to be a very hip kid.  Music seems like something he readily connects to.  Currently, we are playing "BA/BY- Lullaby interpretations of AC/DC."  It might be the most soothing album ever; I keep repeating track 5- "Back in Black."  It not only reminds me of the rockin' original version, but the song is so beautiful.  Miles also has what we call "The Wild Hair."  My parents will know exactly what I mean.  He's got a feisty and adventurous spirit that I cannot wait to see blossom.  I remember reading that children with Down Syndrome are typically low key and mellow- think it was from that parent handbook.  This was shortly after we got the diagnosis.  I was left with the false and sad impression that my son would be unresponsive and placid.  

Praise God- the kid is a spitfire.  I have had people, with the best intentions, tell me that "at least Miles will always be happy."  Ummm... that's not even true now.  What an awkward stereotype, and it certainly should not be bandied about as some sort of consolation prize for parents.  Regardless, Miles is a wonderfully wild child.  See for yourself!  (Hair styling courtesy of Daddy; tangle removal courtesy of Mama.)  He's also got a good dose or rebellion in those genes... 

             

More Christmas pictures to share

My favorite gift of all... Miles.
Miles and his cousin Windsor sharing a book and some snuggle time.
Cousin Kelsey was our official babysitter; I'm putting her on speed dial! Our professional package opener; he must take after me.
Santa Baby- too cute!  What you don't see if the chip clip gather all the extra fur; it was to only way we could see his face.

First Christmas Ever!

Miles tackling a Miles-sized box at his Great Aunt Marsha & Great Uncle Richard's house
Christmas tastes good, even the cards!
Multi-tasking: Miles just had to play with both at the same time!
Miles at his first Christmas morning at home.  We got a start to the morning around 9 am.  Both sets of grandparents came over and prepared breakfast for all.  Miles, as seen above, shredded through paper and ribbons.  Jesse and I convinced that we could have wrapped wrapping paper, and the kid would still have gone bonkers.  
Grandpa George and Miles caught in the act- trying to sneak a present before breakfast!

Last one for the night- I promise

What spending the holidays on the road looks like... notice the palm trees in the background.  We were a long ways from home.

A few more photos from the road trip

Time-elapsed photo taken on the ride down/ what my eyes were seeing around two am (see written post below)
Great grandfather and his oysters... The Old Man and the Sea(food)
Miles monkeying around during his nap time/ captured mid-raspberry 
93 years old meets 9 months old- and the similarities are striking!
A sweet smooch for a sweet kid

Favorite pics from FLA

Daddy, Miles and Uncle Clark outside of a Florida Steak 'n' Shake
Miles looking cheeky in the hotel room
We opted not to take the pack & play, and decided to let little man snuggle with us.  
Miles and the oyster bar Santa
Miles and his great grandfather

Howdy Strangers!

I've been absentee by choice.  My glorious school division has given us a two week winter break.  I am now half through my time off, and I couldn't be happier!  The last thing I've wanted to do is type; can you blame me???

Okay, here's the update:  We made the trip to my grandfather's in 5 days- there and back.  Jesse and my brother shared the driving, and Miles and I chilled in the backseat.  The drive, which typically takes an infant-free car about 15 hours, turned into a 20 hour drive.  We did the trip down in one day, arriving at the hotel around 4:30 am.  We were doing fine until around 10 pm- when Miles decided he no longer liked his car seat, but by that time we hadn't cancelled the room reservation.  After weighing the options (and the hefty room price), we decided to power through.  Let me tell you- that final leg of the drive was painful for all.  Luckily, we wised up and stopped mid-way on the return trip back.  The visit was amazing; my grandfather got plenty of Miles time in.  Watching those two together was absolutely magical- pictures to come in the next post.   Oh, Miles did end up meeting Santa- in an Oyster Bar!  We originally opted not to take Miles to see Santa because we thought he'd get freaked out.  However, Santa found Miles in Florida, in 70 degree weather, looking as authentic as possible.  Not only did this guy agree to take pictures with Miles, he gave Miles a parting gift- 2 gold coins.  (Not really gold, but they are dollar coins- very cool!)

Other interesting Miles facts: he's almost crawling!!!  He'll either bend up on his arms as if he is in the cobra pose (think yoga), or he'll scoot around face first with his arms by his sides.  Very soon, we're hopping, he'll do both at the same time.  Miles can also officially clap- and clap hard enough to hear.  I might have mentioned before that he sits unassisted now- this is a couple of weeks old.  And he's quickly working on pulling himself up.  Most of his new IFSP goals focus on walking.  I've asked for a speech eval- just to make sure he's making the necessary progress.  The babbling has kicked into high gear.  He's making every consonant + A sound: da, ba, la. . . but no ma's yet.  

Details from Christmas to follow in a later post...

Writer's block...

...I'll let Miles do the talking, so to speak.  These snowmen not only sing and dance; they vibrate!  Now after two weeks of acclamation, Miles and the snowmen are chummy.  However, their relationship hasn't always been rosy- refer to the evidence above.  It's just too funny not to post.  

another post on the run

I'm skipping the dishes tonight to say a quick hello here.  Actually, it doesn't take much to talk me out of dish duty.  New developments- looks like we will be driving to Florida sometime during the Christmas holiday.  16 hours.  OMG.  We have to go, though.  Miles has to meet his great grandfather, who has been amazing supporter of Miles from the start.  Granddad called constantly following Miles' surgery; he was so worried about the little one.  Now he needs to see the marvels of modern medicine in person.  Hopefully, Miles won't yack on him.  

zombie mama & healthy boy

I have been too tired to type.  School is winding down to winter break.  With each passing day, the students get a bit rowdier, and I get a bit more frazzled.  Think I might have sprouted some new wrinkles in just the past 4 days.  Don't the kids know that Santa is watching?!?  Regardless, the finish line is near, and I am blind with exhaustion.  Truthfully, I am waking up too tired to brew coffee, too spent to properly match my socks with my outfits, too zombified to type much more...and my right eye lid has twitched all day long.  All.  Day.  Long.

But seeing that this site is about Miles and not a venue for me to whine about my woes, I'll get to the good stuff.  Little man had an excellent 9 month check up today.  He's got a little eczema on his cheeks, but that is our main concern.  Nothing that a little Vaseline can't fix (I hope).  He weighs 17.5 pounds and is 27 1/2 inches long.  Everything looked good, sounded fine, and felt soft.  Hip, hip hooray!  

What almost 9 months looks like...

No news is good news & better nights all around

A quick post before I conk out.  Miles' innards look a-okay according to the Upper GI.  Everything is there, and it's in the right spot- thought the GI specialist says that doesn't mean that he doesn't have acid reflux.  Okay, so then what is going on?  Being the crafty and meddlesome person that I am, I put Miles back on rice cereal.  Having been whole grain free for over a week seems to have made a difference.  As I mentioned before, if he does have a wheat allergy, and the doctor blew me off for being over-sensitive, I am going to be one hot potato.  

No wheat has lead to a drastic reduction of early evening screaming.  Before the switch, Miles would writhe in pain, arch his back, refuse his bottle- from about 6pm to whatever time he passed out, which was always after 9pm.  Now the pain seems so much better, and the same for the spit-up.  Miles does still have spit-up, but much, much less and more infrequent.  Makes you wonder.

Update from the sleep battle lines: I put my size 9 1/2 foot down on driving Miles to sleep this weekend.  It was getting ridiculous- every single time the kid needed to sleep, we had to schlep him to the car.  Not just for a quick drive, mind you.  We'd cruise around for 30 minutes to an hour- and most of the time was filled with screaming.  Then it dawned on me- it'd be a lot cheaper to let Miles scream at home (and better for the environment).  However, the screaming factor has been almost eliminated.  He's going to bed beautifully!  He'll chatter for 20 minutes and get a tad fussy.  At that point, either Jesse or I will pop in and give Miles his binky- the soother of all woes- and snugly swaddle him.  TADA...that's it for the night.   

I just couldn't have the only teenager who needed to be driven to sleep.  Yep, that was my main motivation.  Honest!

Finally, in less than a week, Miles is going in for his 9 month check-up.  I know, I can't believe it myself.  He's growing up so quickly!