On Kindness

I'm late to the party with this speech, but George Saunders sums up so succinctly something we should all strive for in our daily lives: kindness.  He gave the graduation speech at Syracuse University back in the spring, and it definitely warrants a read.
Let's all remember to be kind to each other, and ourselves, throughout our day.  There are many virtues, but many harken back to this one.

The Weeks of Little Sleep

Common knowledge dictates that having a baby in the house results in very little consecutive sleep, if any at all, and I had somewhat come to grips with that when August first arrived.  He is incredibly cute, but is not one of those babies who slept 12 hours through the night at 3 weeks old.

At about 6 weeks, he started sleeping in 5 hour stretches at the beginning of the night, and 3 hour stretches after that; at 12 weeks, we had his sleep routine up to 7-8 hours of sleep, eating, then out for another 2-3 hours.

We just finished an 8-week spurt of visitors, and last week August had his 4-month check-up and shots, all of which contributed to the little man being very off his sleep cycle.  For about 10 days, he really made us question if we could handle having another kid in the future!  

It would take us up to 2 hours to get him to sleep, and he was up every couple of hours after that.  JP and I usually take turns feeding him at night, but at a certain point I had to take over all nighttime meals so that the big man could function at work the next day.  Combine this with me desperately trying to keep up with the housework during the day instead of napping, and I was going on a ridiculously small amount of sleep. 

It came to a head last Wednesday.  The two nights prior, August was fussy enough to warrant attention nearly every two hours, and I eventually gave up on sleeping between his spurts of screaming.  That morning, I was going on perhaps 5 hours of sleep in a 48 hour period.  I honestly can't tell you how awful I felt: snappy, headachy, endlessly frustrated, on-edge.  At 8am I went to change August's diaper and was so dizzy when I looked down that I had to do it one-handed while holding onto the changing table for support.  

JP knew how tired I was, and asked his mom to come over to relieve me so I could nap in the afternoon.  At 10, I had a small breakdown and called him in tears: I couldn't wait until the afternoon to get sleep, and August was so fussy and needy that I couldn't nap in the meantime.  JP rushed home and I burst into sobs when he walked in the door.  I've never been so happy to have someone else around to hold August.  

He held down the fort while I put on my sleep mask and slept.  I got 3 hours of blissful naps that day between JP and Patricia's visits, and, for whatever reason, August's sleep routine went back to normal that night.  He's now getting 8 hours of sleep, eating with me, and then sleeping again for another 3-4 hours.  

The reason I'm writing this story is because Patricia looked at me last Wednesday and said, 'I'm hurt that you didn't feel like you could ask me for help.'  In my quest to make it seem like life with an infant is easy and that things don't really change with a baby, I totally drove my body into the ground.  I was more focused on how things appeared on the outside (clean house, saying, 'Oh, he's sleeping well,') than how I was handling things internally.  That is an excellent way to cultivate dissatisfaction and misfocus.  Having a baby, and life in general, is a team effort; no one is expected to do it alone, and I have totally readjusted my daily schedule to make August and me the focus, and housework far behind that (don't worry- it's clean enough).  

I'm working on letting go of my pedestal of what super-moms do, and centering my thinking on what works best for me and my family.  It involves more time to myself, like napping when August naps and leaving him with JP in the evening so I can see friends.  It involves letting people see him cry and knowing that doesn't make me a bad mom.  It involves admitting I can't do it all, and allowing the incredible support group around us help out.  Most importantly, it involves looking back on the day and feeling like I gave the best of myself to the people I love, not the menial household tasks.  

If you stop by our house, you'll notice dog hair on everything and a bit of dust on the bookshelves, but I guarantee there will be smiles and honest conversation.  Which are you more likely to remember?

Beet and Citrus Salad

It's getting to be that time of year, when we have to balance our treats (Halloween candy, chocolate chai lattes, caramel apples) with our veggies.  But why should that have to be boring?  This beautiful  salad is the perfect combination of flavors to keep your tastebuds, and tummy, happy!  Think salty pistachios, tangy citrus, sweet beets, and a bright dijon vinaigrette to finish it off. 

JP and I had this for dinner on Halloween night, as I figured we would want to eat light with all our yummy candies waiting for neighborhood kids...and us.  The original recipe for this beet and citrus salad can be found here, though I made a few minor changes for this recipe.  With winter coming up, the best citrus will be here; enjoy this by itself, or the perfect side for a protein!

Beet and Citrus Salad (from Snixy Kitchen)
5-6 beets, peeled, sliced, and roasted (I used a pre-steamed package from Trader Joe's)
1 Valencia orange, peeled and sliced into rounds
1 ruby red grapefruit, peeled and segmented (I didn't do this, but will next time!)
1 fennel bulb, shaved
2-3 Tbsp. pistachios
4-5 c. spring mix
1 recipe of Martha Stewart's dijon vinaigrette (recipe here)

Layer salad with spring mix on bottom, topped with fennel, citrus, and beets.  Sprinkle pistachios on top, and dress with vinaigrette to taste.  Enjoy!

The Week in Photos

 August's first pair of sneakers!!  Nike Baby Force Ones.  Thankfully, they're velcro.

 When I look at this picture, I can see him 5 years old already.  Not sure if it's the light or the cute expression on his face, but something about him feels older than just 4 months.

 Enjoying some tummy time with soft blocks from his Hein.

 Sweet little man with his Auntie Haley!  They are very good friends.

 Grandpa Dave was on baby duty a few times last weekend; it was very sweet to see!  It's been a very cool and meta experience to see August interact with all of his grandparents.  He's lucky to have so many great grown-ups in his life!

 Tummy time before the big baptism last Saturday.
You can tell that Mia is continuing her duties as personal bodyguard and diaper sniffer.

 Mama and the little man.

 Biggest milestone of last Saturday: no spit-up or stains on the white baptism outfit.  Score!

 Auntie Haley got August this onesie that says 'Mr. Fancy Pants,' which he is so nonchalant about wearing with leg warmers.  My little hipster.

 Mia snuck in a little kiss!  She's too quick for me to stop sometimes!

 She is 'ever vigilant,' as my mom says.

 We're listening to a lot of The Okee Dokee Brothers these days; this one won the Grammy for best kids' album last year.  It's so good!  These guys spent a summer canoeing down the Mississippi, and wrote some awesome songs about it.  'Can You Canoe' and 'Thousand Star Hotel' are my favorites to sing to August.

 Happy Halloween from the sleepiest skeleton!
P.S. I went as Rosie the Riveter (no photos-sorry!) at our neighborhood Halloween block party, which was very fun/difficult to explain to a 6-year old.  'Well, Avalon, Rosie the Riveter was a proponent for women helping build weapons and other war supplies during World War II.'  Obviously.

They're going to be best friends if it's the last thing Mia does.

And, last but certainly not least, a very happy birthday to this guy- my wonderful Dad!  I am constantly amazed his depth and thoughtfulness.  When I called him 3 weeks ago to tell him about August's baptism, he said he would be there automatically; he drove through the night, arriving at 2am, to see me after August's birth; this photo is from when he and Haley surprised me in DC when I couldn't afford/didn't have time to go home to Florida for a whole year.  Dad, you're a wonderful father, and an awesome namesake to your grandson.  I love you and hope you have a great time at dinner tonight; I wish I could be there!

More Easy Wall Art

While my mom was visiting a couple of weeks ago, we planned an outing for the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.  I woke up, excited to try a 'grown-up' outing with August, but was met by a truly rainy, overcast day.  Bummer.
Rather than just sit at home and bemoan the weather gods, we decided to whip up a quick piece of wall art.  I pinned this saying a couple of weeks ago, and knew I could paint it in about 10 minutes for August's nursery.
To make this wall art, you'll need to follow these incredibly detailed and precise instructions:
1. Find blank canvas in basement and unwrap it.
2. Pour some leftover chalkboard paint onto a paper plate.
3. Trace saying in pencil on canvas to make sure it fits.
4. Paint over pencil with said paint and thin-ish brush.
5. Wait to dry.
6. Hang with thumb tacks.

It couldn't be easier.  What saying would you put on your walls?

Netflix Entertainment

The breastfeeding continues here in Roswell!  August and I have both gotten much better at it, and each 'meal' takes less time (about 30-40 minutes).  Let's be honest, though- it is still a time-consuming task.  I know I should be focusing solely on my handsome little man, but I have gotten into some great TV series on Netflix and Hulu over the last 13 weeks while nursing him.  If you're looking for some new television inspiration, take a look at what has me laughing, crying, and rewinding these days.

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The Good Wife started airing a few years ago, but it's just been added to HuluPlus.  Usually I can't get behind shows that center around infidelity, but this seems to portray it in an honest light (so far).  Julianna Margulies plays the titular character, Alicia Florrick, whose state attorney husband was busted with prostitutes and using government funds for his own purposes and sent to prison.  She stands by him, and also returns to the workforce by taking a job as an associate at a law firm.  The show is both a courtroom procedural, so each episode focuses on a different case, and a study into a marriage that has been truly tested in the media.  It feels like a grown-up drama.  All seasons available on HuluPlus.

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Let's remember that this is a judgment-free zone!  This CW comedy is mindless entertainment with great wardrobe choices.  Zoe Hart is a doctor leaves her NYC home to be a general practitioner in the small town of Bluebell, Alabama.  There are love triangles, truly mediocre actors, and corny plotlines involving an alligator named Burt Reynolds.  The first two seasons are on Netflix, the current one is on Hulu.

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How I Met Your Mother is my go-to show these days.  Ted Mosby is narrating the story of how he met his wife to his children, so the whole show is told through 'flashbacks' to the 2000s and 2010s.  His core group of friends are there for him throughout all of his misbegotten adventures in dating, and sometimes add to them.  There are 9 seasons, 8 of which are available on Netflix, and each one is better than the last.  Admittedly, there are a couple of long-standing plots that I could do without (Robin and Barney have never felt right to me, and Ted can be a bit 'woe is me'), but Lily and Marshall are worth watching.  I'm a sucker for anything Jason Segel (Marshall) does.  

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Yeah, this show about a fantasy football league may not seem like my cup of tea, but the humor slays me.  The League follows single man Pete, plastic surgeon Andre, married couple Jenny and Kevin, lawyer Ruxin, and deadbeat Taco through 5 seasons (four of them available on Netflix) of crude and lewd shenanigans, with a side of football.  It's on FX, so you know some of the humor may be a bit out of line, but that's the best part!

August's Baptism

On Saturday, we baptized David Augustine Diego into the Catholic church.  Oh my goodness, he could not have been a better behaved kid during the 20-minute service, which took place at a church close to his abuelos' home.  The same priest who married us led the baptism, which was intimate and lovely. 

Belen took some wonderful pictures of the ceremony, which I'd love to share with you!

 We prepped the little man with a quick bottle before and during the beginning of the service.  I love that he's started guiding the bottle with his own little hands; it melts me.
PS How adorable are his pudgy little fingers?!

 Proud parents.  (We're just glad there's no spit-up involved, and we're wearing matching shoes.)

 August's godparents are the very excited Pablo Diego (JP's dad), and Auntie Haley, who took over some of the feeding duties.  He will be a lucky kid to be spiritually guided by those two.
And how cute is Haley's face here?  She looks very matter-of-fact.

 You can barely tell, but Haley is holding August's hand while he checks out his godfather; it was an interactive service!

 Sticking his tongue out; what a lovely child.

August loves his baths, so we weren't concerned with the water portion.
On another note, I want to frame this photo and hang it all over our house.  Love it!

A little unsure of the oil on his head, but holding it together for the camera.

 How sweet is that little face?!

 His papa took over some of the carrying duties, as well.  It was a team effort!

 The whole service was lovely.  We had close family friends and some family there, and Msgr. Maron had everyone stand around the font.  It felt like a little campfire, only a baptismal font instead of s'mores!

 We're so lucky to have people in our lives who care about being at our son's baptism.

 Such a good-looking group!

 I die.  This kid has me wrapped around his fingers.

 Looking like parents again...

 These wonderful folks drove all the way up from sunny south Florida (and missed the FSU game!) to be here this weekend.  Thank you so much, Daddy Man, Auntie Haley, and Karen!  It was great to have the Shelton family represented.

The Diegos welcoming another sweet baby into the church.

And, ahem, totally not a big deal (yes it was), but I ordered the first cake for my son last week.  How adorable is it?!  It was two layers, one chocolate and one vanilla, with chocolate buttercream between and vanilla buttercream on top.  You can't see, but there were also blue polka dots on the side.  It was so delicious!
I felt like a mom while placing the order.  It happens.

My Week(s) in Photos

 Such a sweet little pumpkinhead.  We've been getting a lot of use out of this beanie during the fall weather!

 I love this photo of JP reading a book in Spanish to August.  Such literate men!

 August now has a stuffed panda named Pogo.  His abuela got it for him when she heard how much he loves his painting of a panda.  So cute!

 August getting some lovin' from his Hein during her visit in mid-October.  They are quite a pair.

 The babygirl still gets cuddle time on the couch, generally while August naps in the pack-n-play closeby.

 It's not always smiles and giggles; August really did not like the trip to Home Depot for paint supplies. I'll post pictures of the painting project soon!

 His sweet cuddles in the mornings make up for it, though.

 My handsome men at a family lunch for Olga's wedding.  They are too much for this girl to handle sometimes.

When I saw this photo, I turned to JP and said, 'Well, we look like parents.'  Fitting. 

Post-Sunday morning run meal and catch-up time in the living room.  August looks like a little koala bear, doesn't he?

 Whereas here, he looks like a teddy bear.

 Oh my goodness, just a copious amount of Diegos at Olga's wedding last weekend.  It was so lovely!
P.S. JP is kneeling in the front row, and I'm wearing a blue knee-length dress on his left.

 Practicing his hand-eye coordination on the playmate.  He's getting good.

Sleepy little man in an adorable cardigan that is quickly getting too small.  I don't want to part with it yet!