Thrice Melted

Caution: today's post is intimate and sentimental.  I use the word "little" unabashedly.  If you're not interested in this sort of post, but still have a yen to read something, try this, it's mathsy and fun.

There are cracker crumbs between the keys of my keyboard.  Evidence that my son is an aspiring blogger.

Last night was a long night for Team Pagan.  We're all recovering from a very throat-centric and slow-moving upper respiratory virus, and our little boy, who is usually not one to snuggle, wanted nothing more than to be held between coughs.  So pitiful to watch him wake himself up, frustrated and coughing, but so sweet to feel him nuzzle his little face between my neck and shoulder and find comfort in the curvatures that I'm convinced only mothers have.  

Some time around 2:30 a.m. he finally fell asleep and I was able to rest for a few hours on the couch with him.  He kept one hand on my face at all times.  It was adorable.     

And then around 5:00 a.m. he stirred and sat up (eyes still closed).  He sat bleary eyed, waking up and realizing where he was and who he was with--touching his blanket, the couch, my arm...then my face.  And then he immediately made his baby sign for "more food."  It looked something like this:

If there had been a baby sign for "one million fluffy puppies" or "all the happiness this world can offer," and he had signed it, I would have done everything in my power to respond.

Later that day we had to visit the pediatrician to investigate the lingering virus and get a flu booster.  Insult to injury, right?  

While we were waiting for the nurse, we were counting items in the exam room, identifying objects and colors, looking out the window, etc.  And then I thought I would ask for a kiss, since we had had such a snuggly start to our day.  

Ask and ye shall receive--multiple, slobbery kisses.  Again, not at all typical of David P., but my heart nearly exploded in my chest.

Afterward, we went home and played/rested until Jon returned from the hospital.  We had dinner, then bathed and jammied our kiddo.  I read David a story while Jon got milk and medicine ready, and then he came in to say goodnight.  

As Jon was telling David that he loved him, David moved his little hand to his mouth and blew Jon a kiss (a skill his cousin Charlotte taught him last week).  Both of us were agape.  

This is the type of love that makes me ache.        

Say What You Will About Work-Related Productivity, Readership is Up in Slovenia

This weekend has been wonderful, and it's not over yet.


Technically, I'm supposed to be finishing up some work to better posture myself for a short, but intense week.  Technically.


Instead, I find myself reviewing my stats on blogger.  


I'm not sure if you're familiar with the stats feature that Google offers, but it's kind of great for curiosity and ego, although it has a built-in *reality widget* to help keep things in perspective.  For small-time bloggers like me, it's always fun to look and see which twelve people in the world have been visiting my blog.  

Illustration:

Oh look!  In the past week I've had 17 hits from Slovenia!  Is this more significant than work-related spreadsheet?  You bet.  My boss would probably disagree.  And what's going on in Japan?  I'm not sure, but I'm thrilled.  Japanese friends, I love you and think of you often:) 

And in the past month?

Alright Slovenia, you're being edged out by the UK, but there's still a few days left in the month.  Germany, France, India, Netherlands, Russia and Latvia, welcome welcome!  So nice of you to drop by!

So what could possibly explain the international presence on my tiny space on the internets (*cue reality check widget*)?  I'd like to think that people just enjoy watching my son do cute things like wield sticks or brooms.  Or that they feel like they can identify with our family.  These are potential explanations, but I think a more likely one is that people just really want to find images of Bjorn Borg and cicada killer wasps.  Fortunately for you, gentle reader, this blog has both.  You're welcome:)


This theory is supported by the "traffic sources" feature that allows you to see key words that people are searching for on the internet that can be found on your blog:

It has been my experience that Bjorn is still provoking a lot of interest out there...

Whatever the reasons, I've really enjoyed watching new countries pop up on our traffic source; even if they're simply looking for action shots of former tennis pros or prehistoric-looking insects.  Our international reader-friends are welcome any time:)  

Had I Been Live Blogging through Tonight's Workout...

In an effort to minimize holiday weight-gain, I took the shallow, financial plunge and invested in a work-out DVD and a set of hand weights (also a great excuse to run to Target during my lunch).  My, how things have changed since 2008:)

You don't have to have experience with one of these home work-out programs to know that it's impossible to live-blog while you're exercising, but while I was supposed to be focusing on engaging my biceps, I thought, oh how I wish I could be blogging my inner thoughts right now...  

They would have sounded something like this:

Workout DVD: Alright, let's get right into it with a warm up...

Jenn: Alright!  This feels good!  This isn't so bad!

[A few minutes pass]

Workout DVD: Ok!  Warm up over...

Jenn: Well that was great for me!  Let's call it a night.

Workout DVD: ...let's move right into cardio!

Jenn: (Sigh) Ok, this is what I paid for, and this is what she's known for.  Man, when was the last time I did a jumping jack?  What is that snapping?  Are those my ankles? (Starting to feel winded).

Workout DVD: Ok, now let's make every minute count.  We're moving straight into strength...

Jenn: (Panting, even in her thoughts) Ok, this chick doesn't mess around.  Right. (Pant).  On to strength.  Good call on the lighter weights, Jenn.  Don't be a hero.

[Several minutes pass]

Workout DVD: On to abs!

Jenn: (Thoroughly winded) WHEN IS THIS THING OVER?!?  WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS WOMAN AND HOW CAN SHE CONTINUE SMILING WHILE DOING THIS?  I hope my neighbors can't see me right now...

Workout DVD: I know you're tired...

Jenn: What a smug thing to say.  You run on a treadmill of lies.

Workout DVD: (workout jargon)... butt kicks!  Come on!...

Jenn: Why does it feel like I'm trying to run, waist-deep in sand?  Come on, quads!  Almost done!

[Several more minutes pass]

Workout DVD: Great work!  Now it's time for a cool down...

Jenn: YES!  I can't even lift my arms to fix my crazy, Beethoven-esque ponytail right now.  I don't care--I made it to the end!  Where is my water bottle?

Workout DVD: (calming workout jargon)...legs in extended v....

Jenn: Danger...

Workout DVD: You've just completed session 1!

Jenn: (still lying on the floor next to my embarrassingly small hand weights) Victory!  Done!

Until tomorrow:)

The Traditional Birthday Run-Down

Still playing catch up from last month, but here is a look at the week leading up to, and including David's birthday (in traditional, pictorial run-down style):

The week leading up to David's first birthday was fun and introspective.  Upon realizing he would be turning one, David decided to step up his personal fitness and do some yoga in the park with his dad. 

This was followed by lunch with mom and dad at one of our favorite sandwich places.  No evidence of a sandwich?  The soup and twice baked potatoes are also good.

The next day we went to look for fall decor things at Hobby Lobby.  We didn't end  up getting the giant pumpkin, but it was definitely fun for climbing and pointing.

Then my mom rolled into town (hooray!) and got to witness David's first haircut.  By that, I mean the woman with the scissors trimmed his bangs while I kept him from resisting.  I don't think I need to tell you how much he disliked getting his hair cut...

Reigning over his leaf empire with what the National Toy Hall of Fame calls one of the best toys to foster a child's imagination:)

"The yelling will continue until morale improves!"

We met the Hills for dinner at our local pizza place, where Keith and D engaged in a most serious staring contest... 

...that was short-lived:)  They do have fun together.   

The morning of his party, Jon and David went back over to the Hills to put David's wagon (gift from mom and dad) together.  Keith outfitted him with the proper tools.  David was all about helping.

While the men were hard at work assembling wagons, my mom and I were busy tidying and making food!  She is so creative--alien cupcake toppers made out of fondant!

And before we knew it, we had friends over!  Meet Nathan, our super-verbal, fellow-med-student-kiddo friend.  

Friends helping us open presents!

You had to have been there to really witness the cuteness.  I will say that there were a lot of tiny plaid shirts in our house that afternoon.  Like a convention for tiny lumberjacks--SO cute!

David's smash cake.

Birthday cake:)

Birthday cupcakes!  Success!  To go along with our space theme, my mom made spaceship cupcakes (complete with aliens).  They were as tasty as they were cute.

Mom and the birthday boy right before cake.

My lovely mom, myself and D preparing for cake.

Cake noms.

Miranda showing David how it's done.

He caught on quickly...

Jon and my mom taking pictures.

I'm not sure where I went, but Jon was kind enough to help clean things up, post cake.

The aftermath...

Our tired little host--he did a great job, though.

Post-nap, playing with his new gift from Grammy and Pop with his dad!

Then we all went for a wagon ride through the neighborhood.

Our happy kiddo:)

I can't believe I didn't do a better job of documenting my mom's visit here.  We had such a great time with her and I hardly have any pictures to show for the week she spent with us.  This is one of the few pictures that we did get during one of the last days of her visit.

All in all, a wonderful birthday!

On: Science fiction, Stargate SG-1 and my son, David.

Last night, my son and I finished what will be the first of many series enjoyed together when we watched the final SG-1 movie.  It was bitter sweet, as finishing a wonderful television series always is, but especially so this time.  During the first few months of David's life he was a very particular, nay, fussy baby.  He was very specific with his requirements: Up and down bouncing, full stomach, dimmed lights, standing, (wait you thought you could sit?), more standing.  I had been wanting to dive into some more science fiction and for whatever reason decided that I would tackle Stargate as my next series.  It was then, in the wee small hours of the morning, that David and I began our Stargate adventures.

Over the next 12 months we went through 10 seasons and two movies of Stargate SG-1.  When David was  really little, his favorite character was Colonel Jack O'neil.  Everytime he was on the screen, David loved it.  

I'm not really sure what it was about Jack that he loved, I like to think it was charm, and wit.  

As he grew he found a new favorite character, Colonel Samantha Carter. With her, he was of course drawn to her mastery of wormhole physics. (Right!)  Thats what I like about her.  David, on the other hand, loves the blondes.  

This explains his current favorite character, Rapunzel from the movie Tangled.  

In all honesty in those early months David didn't do as much watching of SG-1 as he did sleep peacefully while I bounced him and watched.  However, as he got older he started to enjoy watching with me!  (Necessary disclaimer: Jenn had a very strict 15 minute television rule, which we followed to the letter.  Most of the time)

I remember when I was young, science fiction was one of the things that my Dad and I shared that I thought was special.  When Dad's find out they are going to have a son many things go through their head: playing catch, riding bikes, shaving, etc. etc.  For me, add on to that list, watching sci-fi.  Its still too early to tell if David will truly be a fan of science fiction.  However, I cherish this last year of enjoying SG-1 with him.  Twenty years from now when I catch an episode of SG-1 I will instantly be transported back to the first year of David's life, and the time we spent pretending to travel to other worlds together.  I love you David, thanks for being a better son than I could have wished for.  

I think its appropriate to close with the words of David's favorite character when faced with certain doom:

"Then I suppose now is the time for me to say something profound... Nothing comes to mind.  Let's do it." 

David pretending to be Jack O'Neil running through the Stargate.  (He would of course want you to ignore the help he is receiving from Mom :-)

The Non-Traditional Birthday Post

Two weekends ago we celebrated our son's first birthday.

I've thought for two weeks about how I wanted to describe it on our blog, and, being the indecisive soul that I am, I decided I needed two perspectives: the traditional birthday run-down, and the non-traditional, honest recount of a truly wonderful and significant day with good friends and family.

This post gives you the latter perspective (thanks to Keith, our dear friend and trusty camera man).  These are a few meaningful pictures that I don't have the heart to clutter with captions:

 

 

 

I am so proud and thankful for this little boy.  I love reflecting on the past year and how he has brightened our family.