i!

Jeez, Louise, it’s been over a month. While writing this blog may be one of my favorite way to spend my free time, my free time is at an all-time low. But here I am for 30 minutes so let’s take advantage:

• E’s birthday was wonderful. It was a sunny day (in a month of cold, foggy, windy days), many dear friends and family showed up or facetimed in, and I tried to give a little speech pre-candles but got choked up and could not get the words out. Still, that’s probably enough for people to get the point. I’m so grateful for this amazing crew of people who have supported me in a million generous ways since E was a sparkle in my eye.
• The party itself was a metaphor for this, with a parade of friends carrying all the stuff from my car up a big hill in multiple trips and helping me set everything up in a not at all over-the-top but very sweet and dare I say Pinterest-worthy display of food and E celebration.
• People congratulated me. I didn’t realize how much the 1st birthday is about the mom. According to my midwife, in Japan, they bring gifts for the mom, not the baby.
• E is one. He is pure joy.
• Lately, he is doing these things:
  • Tonight at swimming class, he so loved the “sit jumps” that he signed for “more.” I do not have a photo of him in goggles but it is awesome so stay tuned for that.
  • He is almost-walking. Tonight he walked from my couch to the kitchen door, which is about 10 steps. He is still a drunken sailor, but each day he gets a little less wobbly. He definitely stands unassisted now.
  • He is also almost-talking. He’s go-to phrases are “gabagabagabaga” and “digadigadigadiga.” With a lot of Cantonese thrown in. He pants when he sees a dog. And he’s really verging on saying “Hi!” (without the H, so “I!”) and “baby,” which comes out “bapee” (but, so far, not when there’s an actual baby within sight).
  • Lately, when I pick him up, he pats my shoulder for a while, like “You’re doing a good job, Mom.”
  • We’re still nursing and co-sleeping same as ever. I expected something to change by now, but nothing did, so I’m sort of without a plan and no one in exactly my boat (except a blogger friend in Boulder 😉 )–so, I suppose my plan is just to keep going as long as we’re both enjoying the current set-up.
  • It looks like there’s going to be no self-weaning nor much of a decline in demand anytime soon. I’ll probably go another year. I was at the dentist the other day and she and the dental hygienist were going on and on about a patient of theirs still breastfeeding her 5-year-old and how weird/wrong/crazy that was, and I felt like–OK. I won’t be breastfeeding a 5-year-old. But isn’t this a very personal decision? And one that isn’t likely doing harm to anyone? Why do people jump in with how weird it is, really nice people who mean well? What button is this pushing for people? The WHO recommends going until age 2. I recently read that humans naturally wean anywhere from 2-7. Why would we deprive these little ones of their liquid gold?? Not to mention depriving the moms of their go-to soothing strategy when their child is sick or hurt or upset. I don’t get the backlash, I really don’t. Hoping we can all do what we can to #normalizebreastfeeding.
  • Co-sleeping is the best. I know I’m outside the norm here too, From my perspective, there are only benefits, like cuddling, nursing without fully waking up, and starting the day together with smiles instead of crying. He’s a great sleeper, basically from 7pm-7am, minus a few wakeups to nurse which I am sure are totally biologically normal, expected, and beneficial. I don’t know where the nighttime nursing is headed but I’m making an effort not to read anything written about it because this will just make a person crazy.
  • I’m doing a massive decluttering project based on what I’ve heard about the Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up–I don’t even have time to read it but just with the high-level principles it’s going really well. I gave away 5 trash bags of clothes and probably as many boxes of books. I’m clearing space. It feels awesome and is much easier to work on while my parents are here. But I’m challenging myself to take my productivity to the next level–not rest on my laurels with the basics. Let’s keep things moving forward–keep organizing, keep prepping, keep writing, keep dreaming.
  • My eyes are hanging heavily now… we were awake at 5:30am today due to me sneezing with an itchy head.
  • I went to an SMC meeting today. There were mostly moms of babies up to 2-year-olds, plus two twin moms, plus a handful of thinkers and tryers–the net result was that everyone was holding a baby. It’s crazy–no one can even help each other because no one has a free hand! Yet, these women are superwomen–we all get it all done. And a twin mom shows up with two babies and a homemade pumpkin chocolate chip bread. High five!!
  • OK, heavy eyelids and dry contacts are winning. Thanks for hanging in there with me, readers! I intend to be back with another post soon, mark my words. xo