First Flu

Max came down with his first flu last night. It came out of nowhere as I was laying him down to sleep the poor guy threw up all over his bedding. We ended up changing his sheets 3 times and his pajamas at least six times last night. He seemed ok for awhile this morning so I let him have a little water and nurse a bit, and then he ate some applesauce a few hours later. The applesauce was a big mistake. Everything came back up and we had to take a bath together to clean off. He's been asleep now for an hour and a half and I'm following Dr. Sears' advice and making a batch of organic vegetable soup that I hope he'll keep down for dinner.

Tomorrow is Shawn's 32nd birthday and I really hope Max is better so we can go out. I've lined up a friend to watch Max and everything. A new pizza place opened in our neighborhood and Shawn's been wanting to try it out. In other birthday news, we are going to buy Shawn an iphone on Saturday!

Fun Weekend

Our friend Mason is visiting us from Portland this weekend. Max has absolutely loved having a house guest. Mason and Shawn got back from dinner last night just in time to give Max his bath and read him bedtime stories. Max was delighted this morning to play with Mason on the hide-a-bed and show off his toys, and Mason made Max scrambled eggs for breakfast, his favorite. Then Mason and Shawn took him to the zoo this morning (his current favorites are the Toucans) so I could get some quiet time and get some things done around the building.

Tomorrow we'll be going over to a friends house in Ballard for brunch, hopefully Max will play with their 2 year old daughter. They've not really played well each other in previous interactions.

It's been a long, busy week and this relaxing weekend has been great. Not much else going on with us right now, just enjoying Max and all of his shenanigans.

The Big 34

I turned the big 34 today. I am feeling old. I guess it's that I can't say I'm in my early 30's anymore. Really, it's not bothering me that much. I've had a lovely birthday.

Last night we had a great dinner at Tawon Thai with Katherine, Alicia, Loren, and Isobel who is visiting from Santa Cruz. The food was delicious as usual and Max was extremely well behaved. He ate the whole time we were eating, downing amazing amounts of brown rice mixed with peanut sauce. Katherine gave me a really neat looking cookbook, all recipes are 5 ingredients or less, this will be really helpful during this busy time of trying to cook with Max underfoot! She also gave me a very cool calendar, all the pictures are neat things such as boats and airplanes made out of food. Perfect for where we hang a calendar in the kitchen. Alicia, Loren, and Isobel gave me a gift certificate to Fremont Place Books, I'm looking forward to picking some stuff out!

This morning was special, Alicia and Isobel took Max to the zoo and I enjoyed a brunch by myself at the Hi-Life in Ballard. I had an hour to read the paper, drink coffee, and linger over my food. Precious. This afternoon Max and I hung out with our neighbors, Max loves spending time at Jasper's and I love visiting with Sara and holding little baby Gideon. Shawn stopped by on his way home from work and we all walked home together, then he cooked up a really nice pasta sauce with egg noodles and my favorite rosemary bread, and there is strawberry rhubarb pie in the fridge for dessert.... Mmmmm.

I've also enjoyed several emails and cards from friends today as well as some nice gifts. It's the nicest birthday I've had in several years.

Sidenote: Max got his first haircut 2 days ago! Pictures to follow soon.

This week

When Max's sleep works, I take it for granted. When it doesn't, it's all I think about. Yesterday something magical happened and he took a nice nap. Maybe it was cousin Isobel being here and playing with him all morning. He napped so long that we didn't have time to make it to the zoo. Sorry, Isobel! We did get to enjoy some chocolate and an episode and a half of "Flight of the Conchords" during his slumber. This was his first nap in a week, so I was really thankful. This morning he was awake wanting to have milk and snuggle from 5-6, so it's just past 8 and he's still snoozing, I'm enjoying some coffee and quiet. Always a good way to start my day!

It's very blustery and rainy this morning, and we need to make our monthly errand down to the International District to drop off the apartment rents. I'm hoping Alicia and Isobel will want to join us for this quick errand and while we are down there we can load up on some groceries at the lovely Uwajimaya Asian grocery, and maybe hit the Aquarium or Pacific Science Center. I realized this morning that we would have had time to do that yesterday afternoon (they are open an hour later than the zoo) if I'd been thinking clearly. Both Max and Isobel love the science center, and Alicia told us yesterday about some human sized hamster wheel there. Sounds worth checking out! And a trip to the science center means meeting Shawn for lunch, always a plus :)

Sleep Challenges

Max is changing a lot right now. His verbal and motor skills are taking off with gusto. I think this has led to his sleep problems (and ours!). Two days this week he didn't nap, and tonight he won't go to sleep....his usual routines aren't working anymore and we're left perplexed as to what to do. Any advice from other parents among my readers?

He's still nursing to sleep, and this may be part of the problem. He wants to stay awake, and suckle and cuddle, even when he is done eating. Yesterday we introduced a warm cup of cow's milk, which he will take during the day but has refused last night and tonight. Shawn's reading to him now in his new comfy easy chair, I'm not sure what to do next. I guess we need to come up with a new bedtime routine.

For now I'll blog and self medicate with chocolate almond toffee.