dating...

Daniel and I went out for a date today. It was very exciting to leave the house sans Rocco for a couple of hours. Lena and David took care of Rocco in addition to taking care of their 4 month old baby Lucas. We we all in the same berkeley parenting class and I have been hanging with Lena since we had the babies. It is good to talk to other parents with babies of the same age (ie, Amy and Set). At least you don't feel all alone and crazed since you know other couples are going through similar changes. We plan to take care of their baby soon to repay the favor.

So our date was very relaxing. Daniel and I went to Le Mediterranean in Berkeley. The food was so good. I ordered a chicken dish wrapped in phyllo dough topped with cinnamon and almonds. I devoured my food like the mama pig I am. Daniel had a glass of wine and kebab. We just took our time eating and talking. It was really great and time we really needed. Usually when we go out, we always have our eyes on Rocco and are always entertaining him so that he doesn't go postal on us. After our meal, we walked a bit around College and looked at all the fun gifts being sold in time for Christmas. It was just a reminder that we didn't get it together this year. Next year, we'll get a tree and put up lights and properly celebrate Christmas. For now, it's just us and a Santa's suit which is all we can handle right now. If time permits, actually scratch that - IF ENERGY permits we'll send out holiday cards. Maybe after the New Year's....maybe....

Ok, time for sleep.

Picture of Rocco and his very own sock puppet (made by Laurie Dahlgren)

My breastpump speaks to me

I have the Medela Pump in Style which of course is a totally ridiculous name. Is it EVER really possible to express milk from your breasts stylishly? I don't think so.

Sometimes I think it is speaking to me or really at me. Let me explain...

The pump in style is designed to offer a 2 phase expression motor to mimic a babies suckling. So when it is first turned on the motor makes a small humming noise but as it moves into phase 2 about 3 minutes into the process, the motor starts to get loud and the pumping noise is rhythmic - I guess the way an electric pump should sound. So from minute 3-12 or so it is this non stop loud pumping sound and I hear a number of messages. Lately it's been: "fuck off, fuck off, fuck off, fuck off, fuck off" over and over again. Say it out loud about 10 times in a dull and quick voice. This is the Medela Pump in Style voice. Sometimes I also hear, "wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake." The other one I hear is "You're fat, you're fat, you're fat, you're fat, you're fat, you're fat" and recently "shoot me, shoot me, shoot me, shoot me, shoot me."

After I hear the voice, I try to get it out of my head and try to "hear" positive messages like "you're cool, you're cool, you're cool, you're cool" but it's really hard to believe that when you have cups and tubes and a pump expressing milk from your breasts.

Ohhhhhhhhhh the joy of modernity.

After I pump in style, Rocco and I head to the kitchen where I put him in his Rainforest swing mobile while I make breakfast. I can't wait for him to outgrow it because at the moment, I have to hear the "itsy bitsy spider song" several, and i mean several times each and every morning. And sometimes I can't get the damn song out of my head. Luckily I found its antidote: Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne.

So this is my morning routine. Trust me, the afternoons and evenings are much much better and all the voices and songs go away.....I wouldn't be writing if..........

Oh no, the song is back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Pictures: Meg and Rocco on Sunday (we baked cookies) & Rocco in his Rainforest swing mobile.

busy busy busy

Sorry that I haven't blogged lately. It's been very busy. Rocco is up more and requires more entertainment throughout the day. He takes 2 short naps daily unless we go on a long walk in which case he gets even more sleep. In general, it has been very hard finding time to do anything until he goes to bed at 7PM.

So, things have also been very stressful because Rocco was experiencing food allergies. About 2 weeks ago he began waking me up every couple of hours at night and he was straining to poop (crying and so on). Then I noticed that he was pooping out little specks of blood. I was very concerned (actually I freaked out) and called his doctor who said this isn't all that uncommon and that unless I notice dark red jelly like blood and a fever there is nothing to worry about. He said that as long as he is eating and pooping regularly he is fine. Of course I was still very worried because I knew he was uncomfortable so I called my acupuncturist who works closely with infants around nutrition. She told me the same as the doctor - not to worry that the red blood specks because they aren't that uncommon. She recommended that I start removing foods from my diet. So I gave up dairy and upped my protein intake and within 24 hours there was major improvement. Within 48 hours he started eating a lot more (and trust me he was already eating well, however now it's a marathon fest) and he hasn't had anymore pooping issues. Feeling confident, I broke down and ate some dairy a couple of days ago and the red flakes came back. So now I'm just off all dairy. It's hard since I love cheese. I have to read all ingredients to make sure nothing contains dairy and whey. In the process I'm slowly trying to also eliminate soy since that is known to also cause allergy problems with babies.

I have a big block of manchego cheese in the frig and I can't eat it. It just stares at me taunting me with its cheesy goodness. In solidarity Daniel is also not eating dairy which helps. I purchased almond milk to add to my morning coffee. I actually took coffee out at the same time I gave up dairy but I brought it back into my life yesterday and Rocco isn't having any problems with my 1 cup in the morning. The almond milk isn't bad - it'll take some getting used to which I guess is what parenting is all about.

Santa Rocco

Today was day 1 of Rocco wearing his Santa's hat and pants. I didn't have him wear the jacket - thought it would be overkill (versus the red velvet pants with white puffy trim).

I think he is a 14 pound baby

These photos were just taken last Friday. He has grown so much and I had to get rid of another batch of clothes. He is very long and now fits into 6 months clothing. He has a doctor's appointment tomorrow which is when I'll find out how much he weighs. I'm guessing he weighs 14 pounds now. He is starting to put everything in his mouth so I'm super careful about what he has access to. At the moment, he is sucking on a blanket and he has a rattle. I tried to give him a pacifer but he won't take it. So for now, it's a little yellow blanket. It keeps him preoccupied throughout the day. I think he is trying to figure out how he can get the whole blanket in his mouth...

Blue Tooth Baby

Daniel insisted that we take photos of Rocco with the blue tooth headset.

Sell

Trade

Sell

Sell

Sell damn it, sell!

Thanksgiving weekend

wow it is kinda a blur writing about Thanksgiving now. But I haven't been blogging and I want to post some photos because Rocco has been growing so much lately. We spent Rocco's first Thankgsiving dinner at Lisa and James home in the Fruitvale. Amy, Setor, Deb, Seemi and Jerrod showed up. We had a lot of fun. It was a huge dinner party of 16. Lisa and James baked 1 turkey and the other they smoked outside. All the food was delicious and we left their home very very full. The next night we went to Deb's home for more food. We hung out and it was a nice relaxing dinner and the next day we caught up with Angeles who was in from NY. It was way busy and now everyone is gearing up for Christmas.

Speaking of - I think that they should ban christmas music. It is so horrible and I get so irriated when I hear jingle bells or any of the other horrible chirstmas music playing in the grocery stores. It's enough to drive someone postal.

1993-2008 - Woody Garcia

We put Woody down on Friday the 28th of November. It's been sad and I keep waiting for him to come out of Daniel's office for food or to poop in a corner and piss me off. But it's real and he is gone. For those of you who know about my ongoing battle with Woody - you'd think I'd be totally relived but I miss him. I'm even surprised by how much I miss him.
I lived with him for so long and now he's not here. He and Chili were a duo and now there is just Chili who has been looking for Woody and crying uncontrollably at 3 in the morning.

I'll post some photos of Woody soon.
There's not much else to say about it...
:<

Mr. Personality

Where did November go?

I can't believe tomorrow is already Thanksgiving. I'm bummed that we won't be with Andy, Jen and my mom but this year has been hectic for everyone. Instead we are staying local and going to James and Lisa's. They are going to be feeding 16 people, including a raw foodie who just happens to be bringing a baked ham. Go figure.

Daniel finally installed the lotus chandeliers that I purchased. I love them! They look really beautiful. We also moved Rocco out of disposable diapers and he is now using G-diapers which compost in 150 days or you can flush them down the toilet. They theoretically are supposed to breakdown in the toilet so that you can flush them but in our case, it clogged our toilet. We had to call Roto Rooter. From now on, we throw them in the trash and feel good knowing that we are doing our part for the environment. Did you know that it takes about 500 years for a regular diaper to decompose? Crazy but not surprising considering all the plastic that is used. I met this woman last week who already has her 8 week old baby peeing and pooping in a pot. She said she know when he is about to go, so she puts him over a pot so that he can eliminate. It's called elimination communication cues. Google it if you don't believe me - it really exists. It's actually very interesting but nothing I'm going to try...

So here are pics of Rocco in his new G-diapers and the lotus chandeliers.

Daniel and I are looking forward to a 4 day weekend to hang out. He has been working so much that I hardly see him, so it'll be super cool to just hang out with him and the baby. I'm thankful for a lot this year - that I had a healthy pregnancy, and ummm that I got through the birth and of course that I have Rocco and Daniel and family and friends and.....

there are so many things to be thankful for...

12 weeks and counting

Rocco turned 12 weeks today. Today he had his 3 month pediatric visit and weighed in at 12 pounds, 5 ounces. He is 24 inches long and is in the 75th percentile for weight, height and head circumference. He is now able to hold his head up for short periods of time. He is also getting stronger and longer. He no longer fits in his little bed and when he kicks his legs up, there is definite force. We are just so happy that he is healthy and doing well. It is great to watch him grow and see him change. It's amazing....and sometimes I wish Daniel and I would have done this years before because it is certainly one of the best things I've ever experienced and admittedly TOTALLY exhausting (and one thing is for sure, we aren't getting any younger).

These are pictures of Rocco taken today after his doctor's appointment and of our outside kitchen wall. Kevin put up new shingles, and before closing it up reinforced the wall with tie downs and sheer walling for earthquake safety. There is still a bit to do, but we are getting there.

Andy and Jenn

I can't believe that over a week ago we were in San Diego county (aka, McCain/Palinlandia) and that Obama won. Sorry - still not over it!

Andy and Jen had their ceremony at Leo Carillo park in Carlsbad. It was a really gorgeous location with wildflowers and wild peacocks, hacienda style buildings and beautifully kept grounds. I would have loved to walk around the grounds but it was difficult with heels and with Rocco.

Pic 1: Tia Chuy and Rocco

Pic 2: Rocco's 2nd cousins - Jayden, Chuyito and Christian

Pic 3: Andy and Jen pre-ceremony

Pic 4: Andy and Jen

Someone stole my sign

Someone stole our Obama sign out front. Daniel was even asking if we should take it down soon and I said, "naaaahhh - what for?" After it was stolen, Daniel told me he feared that might happen. Well we still have our No on Prop 8 sign but admittedly it is in our car, in a locked garage. Speaking of which, we went to an anti prop 8 rally on Saturday in front of the Mormon temple. It was a nice turn out, at least 500 were there and overall it was very pleasant. We ran into our friend Jonathan and agreed that gay rally's are the best. Folks were passing out Starbucks coffee, pastry's and chocolates. We are going again this Saturday and I plan on taking food to share. Overall the event was very peaceful. There were only a few angry white old men yelling obscenities. The majority of folks coming through were very supportive and very sad that voters voted "yes" on the proposition to amend the constitution to ban same sex marriage. I hope that with time (sooner rather than later) people get over their phobias and STOP using the "god" excuse to treat people differently. It's just such b.s.

Sammy Davis Junior

Rocco wore his Sammy Davis Junior suit to Andy and Jen's wedding. He looked so handsome in his indoor swapmeet suit. I will post photos of Andy and Jen soon.