thematernalmoose.com

Deja flu

I’m taking a vacation day today since I’m out of sick days already. The winter has not been kind to me. I don’t know if I’ve had several bugs or one three-month long one, but my bronchial tubes need to give it a rest.

This latest bout comes hot on the heels of yesterday’s Manic Monday. I came home with Boo after dragging him grocery shopping only to be met by a rotten egg smell. Ryan’s been trying to turn on the oven burners for a while, and it looks like he succeeded. The stove was leaking from the time Gina left at 10:00 until I came home at 6:00.

I turned off the stove, opened the windows and got our air filter going. Then I foolishly stayed in the house long enough to give Ryan a bottle. After that common sense returned and we hung out with Gina in her office. By the time we left there and ate KFC, the house had aired out for three hours. But due to our impromptu quarantine, Ryan’s out of sorts today and possibly sick too.

Mental note: buy burner locks.

Is it Spring yet?

Vote of confidence

I’ve watched Ryan on my own before and managed to keep him intact. But for some reason, Gina sometimes forgets I’ve parented before. She’s on her annual overnight with four of our nieces, and before she left she gave me instructions I frankly didn’t need. Like don’t forget to feed the baby, change his diaper and give him a bath. I exaggerate, but not by much.

When I called the hotel she’s staying at to tell Gina goodnight, she asked how Ryan and I were doing.

“First we went and played at the abandoned nuclear reactor,” I said.  “Then we sorted through the garbage dump for discarded razor blades. After that we sat around and drank expired milk.”

I’d like to think she didn’t believe I would do any of that.

One year checkup

Hot on the heels of learning that Ryan is going to be a Duck soon (the rooms at daycare are named after animals, and that’s one of the toddlers’ divisions,) it was time to take Ryan to his favorite place: the pediatrician’s! Though he normally cries on contact with the examining room, he was in a pretty jolly mood for the doctor. He weighs a respectable 23 and a half pounds and is 31 and a half inches tall, and got a clean bill of health except for some fluid in his ear.

He had to have four more immunizations, including the measles/mumps/rubella shot. I was a little nervous about that one since I’d heard that some kids have bad reactions to it, like fevers and rashes. But Ryan, being a tough guy, took the four jabs to his legs like a pro and stopped crying as soon as I picked him up. It’s been two days since he got them and he seems fine. More shots in another three months.

Our pediatrician, like our daycare’s staff, is pushing us to ditch Ryan’s bottles and packaged baby food. We’re supposed to be offering him nothing but sippy cups and table food at this point. But we’re bucking the system and trying to ease him into the transition. We think it’s a conspiracy to make our baby grow up!

Turn the seat around

I’ve been driving Gina’s car for the last couple weeks. When she bought her Grand Prix coupe she wasn’t thinking about transporting infants. And climbing into the back of that thing is a big pain in the tookus. I’m sure that getting Boo in and out of her car didn’t help Gina’s back situation, so after her latest spasm we decided to switch cars. She’s driving the Malibu sedan and I’m tooling around in her ride.

After a couple weeks of ducking under the door-spanning seat belt, muscling a thrashing 24-pounder into his rear-facing seat, and climbing back out again, the upgrade to a V6 engine was losing its appeal. But with Ryan’s first birthday, the time has come to turn his car seat around. Hallelujah! I’ll still have to clamber in back, but now it’ll be a lot easier maneuvering Boo into place. And I’ll be able to see him in the rear-view mirror. Bonus points for cuteness!

So today I was stooped over in Gina’s car reinstalling the car seat. It was a bit of a pain, but considering the trade-off, it was worth every push and tug.

Sweet cheeks

Ryan was a little fussy on his birthday, and he took it pretty easy on his smash cake. He carved a little out of the side but left the top intact. But when Gina gave him a piece to play with, Ryan went to town. Here’s some pictures of the action:

Birthday news flash!

RYAN STARTED WALKING TODAY!!! On his birthday. How perfect is that? I had a feeling he’d be walking by now, as he was crawling at nine months and standing shortly after that, but he really made my prediction come down to the wire. As of this weekend he was taking “gap” steps, crossing short distances from one handhold to another, but tonight he literally turned the corner. Gina was playing with him in the nursery and I was sitting in the living room a couple yards outside his doorway, when all of a sudden I see this little one-year-old walking out of his room and right toward me! He had walked from in front of his crib, out his door, around the corner and to his daddy without falling once.

Gina and I were delighted and immediately made him show off again. I sat a few yards away from him, at a straight shot this time, and Ryan made his way toward me. There were a few times when he started to lean forward, but then he’d catch himself, straighten up smoothly, and start moving forward again. He looked impressively solid, especially for a baby who just started walking long distance.

Our little guy continues to be a super overachiever. Happy Birthday, Ryan! Your mommy and daddy are proud of you!

(Be looking for pictures of the birthday boy tomorrow or Friday.)

Of office chairs and delivery beds

As of the time I started writing this (6:00 p.m.), the three of us would have been settling into our delivery room a year ago today. But before I reminisce about the big event, let’s talk about our trip to Staples.

It was a long weekend leading up to Gina going into labor on Monday. We had the chance to be induced that Friday but decided we would wait, and by the end of the weekend Gina was coming to somewhat regret that decision. So we spent Sunday trying to keep her mind off of things and stay out of the house.

Gina was going to be working from home part-time during her maternity leave, and she wanted to get a new office chair to make her more comfortable. So that Sunday we had lunch and drove to Staples office supply. Gina had been having lots of early contractions by then, and as we walked through the store she’d occasionally have to stop in her tracks. At one point a young worker rounded an aisle as Gina was doubled over. I’m going to call her Amber, as in my mind I’m seeing this immature sales rep I used to have to work with.

“Are you in labor?” Amber said as the color drained from her face.

“She’s just having contractions,” I said, and after Amber said we couldn’t deliver on her shift she scurried away.

Gina and I settled on a chair and took the ticket to the register, but there was some confusion about the number on the ticket not matching the chair we wanted. So the cashier paged a manager, who headed with me to the back of the store. The manager solved our dilemma and checked the computerized inventory. She found the right box high up on a wall and rolled over a ladder to get it.

Meanwhile, Gina was having heavy contractions in the checkout lane. A support squad of cashiers rallied around her and commandeered a plush office chair. When I returned upfront they were flocked around her as she sat and waited in comfort. If there was a survey on our Staples receipt I would have given the help there high marks. Except for Amber the scaredy cat. But the cashiers took care of my girl.

Now a year later I’m sitting in our chair from Staples writing my baby blog, and thinking about what a crazy fast — some would say scary fast — year it’s been. My thoughts, and Gina’s, can’t help but turn to our memories of one year ago today. I’ve been thinking about the excitement, the stress and the nervousness that led up to the Big Arrival, but mostly I want to say what a joy Ryan’s been and how proud I still am of my wife. Forget about those overpaid whiny athletes and their so-called achievements. Last year I had a front-row seat for the bravest, most graceful, gutsiest performance I have ever seen.

You’re still my hero, Gina.

I hear the second time’s much easier!

It’s not a party until . . .

As our house is too small to accommodate both of our families, we decided to hold two parties for Ryan the weekends before and after his birthday. So, yesterday Gina’s family was over for party number one. It was a stressful week for Gina and I, as I’m having a bronchial relapse and she’s been putting in long hours at work, but the party went well. Ryan got lots of clothes and toys and was typically adorable.

The festivities went a long way in helping Gina and I relax. That is, until our nephew Andy threw up on the kitchen floor. My brother-in-law Jim had the genius idea of feeding him six pieces of pizza (that’s two-thirds of a large,) and right as Andy had his coat on to leave BLARRRGGGHHH! A half-digested pizza geyser erupted by the sink. The only saving grace to this otherwise disgusting affair was that at least Andy missed the carpet. And also, the pizza was cheese. I don’t think I could have dealt with more toppings.

“Party’s over!” I said as soon as the vomit comet hit, and as our guests departed I was on my knees scooping mushy Domino’s debris. It was enough to make me forsake our weekly pizza night for a while, but after three rounds of mopping and one vacuuming the floor was crawlable again.

But otherwise, a good time was had by all. Here’s Ryan on the rider his Nana gave him, one of his favorite new toys.

Ryan at 11 months

Ryan continues to pick up new tricks and show us more of his personality. He knows how to clap and is standing unaided for a few seconds at a time. He has discovered the lazy Susan in our kitchen and loves to empty it. He can turn the TV on and off and fights me for my Xbox controller. He likes to play guitar with daddy but often insists on a solo. One of his favorite spots is under our computer desk where there’s a wonderland of cables and lights.

He has discovered doorknobs, the lever on the toilet and the oven burner knobs. We’d prefer he didn’t know about any of these. He knows the sound of the bathtub faucet and makes a bee line for it. He has learned the maniacal delight of knocking over a stack of blocks. He’s not happy unless he’s pulling his socks off. Give him a shelf full of books or CD’s to demolish and he’ll make short work of it. He pounces when he knows the dishwasher’s open, so I have to take him into seclusion in his room until Gina’s done loading the dishes.

He holds the phone up to his ear and has interesting conversations. He surprises and scares us with his strength, like when he hoisted a full gallon of water. Ryan still prefers daddy when he’s upset, but mommy’s his favorite playmate.

He’s more willful now that he’s mobile, but he’s still a super good baby. He continues to humor us on long shopping trips and prolonged photo shoots. He loves to spot Gina when she’s stretching on the floor. He likes paging through his books. He contorts himself when we put him in his car seat but will fall asleep in it minutes later.

We can’t believe our baby is going to be a year old soon.

Happy Blogaversary!

Today’s the one year anniversary of The Maternal Moose. Hurray for me! I figure I’ve lasted about nine months more than a lot of people who start a blog, and all without the loss of my spelling and grammar skills! Anyway, I know that in the last month or so I’ve become that friend who doesn’t call or . . . um, write as much anymore, but I promise I’m going to have you over for dinner soon. So stay tuned! In the meantime, in honor of all those TV shows that pretend that a bunch of characters reminiscing about old footage somehow counts as a new episode, it’s time for

MY TOP TEN POSTS FROM THE MATERNAL MOOSE, YEAR ONE!

10. All Chocked Up

Already hobbled with bronchitis, can I survive a trip to the jewelry store?

9. That’s How He Rolls

Before and after photos track Ryan’s progress (or lack thereof) with tummy time.

8. As Young As You Feel

I get a little emotional at the thought that I’m a dad.

7. Desperate for Diapers

A few days until payday, out of cash, and in need of diapers. Uh oh . . .

6. Wine Corks, Weddings and Power Tools

Gina holes up with a drill in the wee hours a few days before our wedding.

5. The Family Jewels

In which I learn that it’s nigh impossible to smuggle anything past my wife.

4. The Night I Was Trapped At Nana’s

Which scares me more: driving Gina home in a blizzard, or having to sleep at her mom’s house?

3. A New `Do from Sue

Ryan’s first haircut ends with him trying to take a swing at his barber.

2. Hello. And You Are . . .?

My habit for not remembering faces gets me into trouble at church.

1. The Epic Arrival of Ryan James

I know this is a predictable pick, but come on! It’s hard to beat the story behind Ryan’s glorious birth and Gina’s white-knuckled, bleary-eyed heroism. Good times, honey!

So there you have it. A year in the life. Now on to Year Two!