ma ma da da

Omar: bbb-bba-ma
Art: Da-da
Omar: ma ma
Art: DA DA DA DA
Omar: (claps) ...ma ma
Art: da da! come on, Omar, da DA! (to me) you suck.

Favorite song

Wilson Phillips #1 fan:

Almost crawling...

It's funny to see shades of Art and me in Omar as he tries to crawl. He has a smile on his face, even when he's complaining (Art), and he really doesn't like doing things he's not good at yet (Lisa).

Music to my ears!

Neat

Hello, Christmas spirit!

I was having a hard time getting into Christmas this year...too much to do at work can make all the fun things like buying presents, decorating, making treats, etc. feel like chores.  I want Omar to feel the magic of all the fun holiday stuff, though. I want him to enjoy the songs, anticipate the presents, get goosebumps when he sees the pretty lights...and I felt like I was letting him down. Part of the problem is that we're not going to be here for Christmas, so I don't know how I'm going to make all this happen in a place where he's not very familiar, and I haven't had time to figure out what I want to do with our decorations and look into what songs I like, so I was hesitating to do anything...

Then a CHRISTMAS MIRACLE happened! 

We came home from Art's work holiday party, and found a package on our doorstep from Mrs. Claus (aka Aunt Tina Penn) - wrapped perfectly and in perfect condition. We opened it, and it might as well have had pixie dust...

There was Christmas music, a Santa suit for Omar in just the right size with an adorable Christmas tie onesie, Christmas treats (Art: "Oh look, she even sent some crack"...that's what he calls the chocolate covered chex stuff), an ornament made by Logan, and an ornament with a picture of Grandma Betty and Grandpa Ray (this really brought tears to my eyes), etc. etc. I just felt the Christmas spirit that had been eluding me hit me full force and the three of us started dancing around our tiny tree to the music. I could tell Omar felt the spirit and I know Grandma Betty is alive in Tina's generosity and kindness. Thank you so much, Tina!

In no particular order

~Things for which I am Thankful~

1. Omar.

2. The experience of being born into motherhood.

3. Arturo and how he lets me be me and how he helps me be who I want to be and how he is himself, pretty much full time.

4. Existing in this generation in this country, benefiting from the work of feminists and the music of Pearl Jam and being educated both in the public school system and by some dedicated, open-minded nuns.

5. My parents and brothers and sisters and grandparents and niece and nephews and how our family is flexible about taking on different 'roles' - mother, father, brother, sister, parent, child - as needed for the good of our family team and each other.

6. My substitute 'families' all over the country at different times in my life - I owe my life to the people that I love.

7. My opportunities - I am lucky - it is SO LUCKY - to have encountered these situations in which  work I did in good faith was actually rewarded.

8. My training and education - how my teachers and mentors have opened my eyes to the truths in life, at the same time humbling and emboldening me.

9. Yoga.

10. Health.

11. Having ever lived in San Diego.

12. Having ever lived in Boston.

13. Having ever had hard times.

14. Being able to live a life that is of my choosing.

15. My In-Laws.

16. My memories of Grandma Betty and Grandpa Ray.

17. My sisters being here for Omar's birth.

18. My parents being so real and honest and growing so much as people and spiritually over time.

19. Omar's daycare provider.

20. That I am in a position in life in which I can fail a little bit without being a complete failure.

21. Wilson Phillip's song "hold on" - and the look on Omar's face when we play it.

Omar...the next Shaq?

For some reason, this video reminds me of what it feels like nursing Omar nowadays... :)

Beautiful Boy

Just a normal wonderful Wednesday

ps...Omar is getting his first tooth!!!!! I felt it poking through the gums! No wonder he was up all night...

Awww...C'MON!

This post is to celebrate the grant making it in just before the deadline...for better or for worse.  I hope it doesn't come to this:  Applying for funding a la "Big Bang Theory"

Off the charts!

Omar had his 6 month checkup this week and he is seriously off the chart on height - almost 30 inches. They said he is in the 99th%ile, and when you look at the growth curves for kids his age he is really pretty high above even the tallest curve. He's also 95th%ile in weight at 22 lbs. We had a conference with his daycare people and we asked if we can start sending baby foods in addition to bottles for him; they were totally in agreement that he is needing to start working in other foods (even though I send 20 oz of milk with him per day!!!) How big is this kid going to be???

ps...No formula yet, either! I am kind of proud of this, since it's no small feat to keep up with this baby's appetite and still get some work done. O-baby-Mar!!!

Daddy's boy today

Missing them without feeling guilty

My first overnight trip without Omar.
Here is what he did:

Here is what I did: