2 Months**

Dear Otto,
This week you are 2 months old. Its really hard to believe and yet it seems like you've always been here. We went to the pediatrician yesterday and you are a big kid!! 13 lbs 4 oz., over 25 inches long...wow! Obviously, you love breastfeeding! Also, both of your parents are very tall so I think you will be too.

You have some of the bluest eyes I've ever seen. Those, you got from your Momma. You got your dad's nose, though, for which I am thankful.



Every day you get more expressive- your face lights up when you see me or Dad and you gurgle and coo and have long "conversations" with us, especially when you are warm and happy and recently fed. You have started sucking on your knuckles (always the right hand) and you have begun to reach out for toys which is pretty neat. You have even rolled over from your tummy to your back twice...I can only imagine what it will be like when you are actually mobile! (Note to self: I should probably at least begin thinking about baby proofing...!)



One of your favorite times of day is evening when Dad is home. The two of you have a great time dancing and listening to Rock n' Roll records. You also really love your "gym," which is what we call the little Fisher Price thing that someone gave you.

I only have 2 1/2 weeks of maternity leave left which makes me sad. And as we are still waiting to hear about getting into a daycare, it makes me nervous too! But Dad is going to stay home with you the week before Xmas and then I will be off until after New Years so we still have a little time.

All in all, you bring us so much joy. And poopy diapers. But mostly joy.

I love you,
Momma

**Ok, so I am a copy cat. But I love how other bloggers, like Dooce and Cecily post monthly letters to their adorable children. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery...right?

Odds and Ends. Mostly Odds.

Thanksgiving was the typical family fest it is every year...food, loud talking, crazy hyper children, and a drunk grandma. Yay! The only difference this year was that Otto is here and he was constantly being stolen from me. I really don't mind other people holding him...really, I don't! But I confess that I like it when people ask permission..."can I hold him?" or "Ok if I see that cute little bugger?" I DO NOT like it when people simply grab him out of my arms with out a word. Does that make me a selfish bitch? Probably. Deal with it.


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


Moving on...we came into some money over the weekend, which was nice. So on our way home on Friday, we stopped and did some furniture shopping. Yay again! There is a leather recliner being delivered this Friday. I can't wait. The chair it is replacing is a relic from the Husband's bachelor days and has been serving as a cat scratching post for the past 7 years. So you can imagine how perfectly gorgeous it must be.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I'm trying VERY VERY HARD to make it through reading the Lord of the Rings. I love the movies and the Husband has read the 3 books, like, a MILLION times but for some reason, I've never been able to make it through them. I consider myself an avid reader and a lover of fantasy, so I'm not sure why I find this particular book (we have all 3 books in one volume- its over 1000 pages) to be so bloody difficult. Tolkien's style of writing is a little flower-y or something I guess and my father pointed out that the books (unlike the film version) lack any strong female characters. Maybe that's my problem...who knows. But I have vowed to get through it this time. We'll see what happens.


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

And finally, I'll leave you with evidence of how super cold it has been lately:

Apologies and HAPPY TURKEY DAY

Yes, I suck, suck, SUCK at posting. Sorry. Internet time is just very infrequent these days. Otto has been demanding more and more time as he transitions from that yummy sleep-all-the-time newborn stage to the HELLO!? -I- am -now- awake- and- a -real- actual -baby -who -needs -stuff stage. Still, he's not colicky or anything, just likes lots of attention- talking to, singing to, playing, being held, etc. The sling works half the time, the other half, only being held over a shoulder will do. He is also doing this thing where he wants to nurse CONSTANTLY. Growth spurt? Maybe so. Or a eerily organized effort to slowly drive his Mama crazy. You choose.

We're off to the Husband's Aunt's house tomorrow for the big feast. It promises to be long, tiring, and overstimulating. The food is always good, but its a trade-off, you know? The husband's folks are paying for a hotel room for us, so at least we won't have the late night drive back.

Off to go get some pies in the oven before the little dictator wakes up and demands more milkies.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Enjoyed Halloween, We Did

Now that the laundry is somewhat caught up, the dishes are done and the dog has been walked, I finally have time to post pics of our little Yoda...





As you can see, he was terribly excited about his costume. We had several trick or treaters, which is always fun, and Yoda enjoyed answering the door with Mama. If I'd had time, I would have found a gold bikini and dressed up like Princess Leah...now THAT would have been scary. Oh well.

In other news, I attended my second La Leche League meeting last night and it was lots of fun! I enjoyed the conversation topic (Nighttime Parenting) and the Q & A that followed. And it was just really cool to chill with some other bf'ing mommas. Maternity leave can be a little isolating at times and it was fun to get out and hang with some LWB's (Ladies with Babies). In conversation, it was discovered that at least 2 new mom's live within walking distance of our house so there may be some walking/tea/playdates to be had in the coming months. Yay for new friendsies!

Otto (or Autobahn, as we have been calling him..heh) is doing great. A little fussier but also more alert and awake during the day. And I'm pretty sure I've caught a couple of social smiles here and there...they are very fleeting but I have a hunch that they will become more frequent in the next few weeks. He's sleeping great at night (knock on wood). We go to bed around 11, he's up at 4:30 to eat and then back down until around 8:30 or so. This is a vast improvement from the every 2 hour thing we were doing in the beginning.

And now, suddenly its November...the holidays are fast approaching...I guess I should start thinking about gifts. I usually try to do something homemade or semi-homemade but I don't foresee having much time to knit/sew/make soap or candles in the near future. I'll have to do some creative Google-ing to see if I can come up with a cool project that won't turn my hair grey.