Well, it's the end of November already! Edwin is entering his first December now. He is getting much better about rolling over to get toys, and he can stand supported by a small table for longer than I realized! Maybe half a minute or so??? He loves making sounds in the stairwell at work, and he's cute as can be! I have to get those cards out this weekend. blah. I'm tired. So is Edwin. Lots of love, goodnight!

So, I sit here in my livingroom with this totally gorgeous baby in my lap, sleeping. It often comes to this point. If I move, I risk waking him, so I go online and shop! ;) Or read the news, or Cecily's Blog, or whatever. Tonight at dinner, I played with him by wiggling my hand so it caused a shaddow on the kitchen wall where he was staring. Then, I brought the shaddow closer to him until he could see my wiggling hand. He giggled. I did this a couple of times. Michael came over and his body made a shadow, and Edwin turned to see Michael. I really think Edwin gets the idea of a shaddow. I'm not sure how well he understands what's going on in the mirror. I'd love to know how closely the idea of a shadow is related mentally to that of a mirror.

Oh, he also understands how voices echo in a stairwell. We have some at work, and Michael had told me before that Edwin loved the stairs. Today in the stairwell, I think I made a sound for Edwin, and he then copied me, making a huge smile. He knows. We stood there making sounds for awhile before continuing on our way. He's SUCH a sweet baby. Everybody tells me how lucky I am and that their kids would never be so cooperative at this age.

Two profs I had lunch w/today have 3 girls (10, 8, and 6). I asked them what the hardest time was, guessing it would have been when #3 was born, but they said it was when the first one was born. I thought that was pretty wild. I figured it's been easy so far...

Last night at LLL, the leader said the best ages for kids is 10 weeks to 3 years. She said after 3 years, they start to 'want your mind' in a way she didn't particularly appreciate. But, I'm thinking I just can't WAIT for that! Not to rush Edwin AT ALL, but it will only get BETTER when he can tell me what he's thinking!!! How cool is that?!?!?!

Oh, and just for the record, he totally pooped this morning in my office! What a total mess! So, we had to go for backup outfit. Glad I had a nice one on hand. :)

A first today... he found the button to turn on the music in his "gym".  It plays not one, but 3 annoying songs in sequence. YIPPEEE!!!!  I can't wait until he can do it repeatedly!  (Ok, there is an off switch for it!!!)

18 11

Daddy says, "Who needs floor polish when you have spitup? It works just the same, you smear it on wet, it dries, and then you polish it off".

18 8.5

Snow is now a reality and not something I can pretend I didn't see. Hasn't stuck yet, but will very shortly. So, I now consider Edwin to have seen his first snow this morning.

He's been saying "MA" alot lately :) I love that!

OH, and Yahoo seems to have lost ALL my photos temporarily....

18lbs 5 oz ;)

18 pounds 4 ounces!  Can you believe it! :)

He is getting better at sitting in those restaurant high-chairs, but he still can't sit in the one at home.  Soon.  He's starting to make the "maaaa" sound, but just randomly and not repeatedly.  He's begining to get the fact that not only Mom and Dad can cause a rattle to rattle- but he also can!  He's more aware of mirrors, too.  At home, we write dry erase markers on our mirrors (to do lists, etc) and one mirror is really full of writing currently.  So, Michael was holding Edwin up to the mirror and Edwin was fascinated by the fact that there was writing on the mirror.

Michael had a dream last night about HP and mice for some reason.  He dreamed we (him, Edwin, me, Robyn and HP) were outdoors outside some kind of museum and HP kept trying to eat a black mouse.  We (the adults) decided we should kill the poor mouse to make sure we could keep it away from HP I guess, and Michael had to use a stick and jab it like some kind of Japanese sword.  (We had Japanese food last night...)  Anyhow, Robyn, I assure you that Michael takes his promise seriously- to help you rid your home of these rodents ;)

For the record...  it turns out our town is one of the many towns which does not add flouride to water.  So, if you want flouride tablets, your MD can write you a script for them.  Just the same as if you had a well.  Michael had those growing up.  We have the script, but I'm not really worried about it.  I think *I* should take the tablets and let Edwin get it from my milk. hehe.

Forgot this.. . Sunday we bought Edwin his first sneakers :)  They're size 4, so hopefully they'll fit for awhile.  He isn't walking so big shoes are fine now.  They're really cute! :)

This email will be posted to Edwin's blog and also sent to a friend who asked for the recipe... I eat two of these every morning on my way to work.  At least, I *have* been and intend to continue.  It's his family's recipe.

Michael's scones:
1.25 to 1.5 cups white flour
1cup quick oats
0.25 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
0.25 cups melted butter
2 eggs
0.5 cups milk

Makes 8 scones
Bake at 12-14 min 425 degrees F.

Edwin attempted to eat some (vegan) thai coconut pudding last night.  We think that he got some of it down, making it his first food, technically, unless you count lime juice or onion juice or candy cane licks.  He was fed this from Dr. Hubbard.  Edwin's Daddy passed his A exam yesterday.  Edwin is such an awesome kid.  I think he's totally cool!!!

So, I took tons of photos of Edwin yesterday, attempting to get a nice shot of him in his Santa Claus hat. I wanted him to hold a Xmas tree bulb, but alas, he being 6 1/2 months old preferred to eat it. :(  So, I gave him a candy cane instead.  I wouldn't have cared except the paint was starting to come off the bulb and I figured sugar was less harmful than paint.  So, no, I'm *not* giving him candy now!  That was just for the photos! :)  Wow did he make a mess- and in no time flat!  He got a full bath afterwards! :)  But it was fun, I admit it!

Hey, Edwin went to see his very first play tonight!  I'm so proud of him!!!  He was an angel for the whole thing, which was around an hour and a half or so, with a 15 min intermission.  We have the best kid!  We ran into the parents of one of the kids from day care. ;)  They didn't have their kid with them.  I felt so lucky.  (They probably thought they were the lucky ones, hehehe...)  Edwin just rocks. 

Love Letters Link

goodnight

So, I only have about 5 pounds to go to get to pre-Edwin weight.  But, this weekend marks the return to my old wardrobe.  YIPPEEE!!!  I went shopping in my own closets!  I love my new clothes.  How did I know it was just what I liked????  And although I like skirts, I'm SICK AND TIRED of skirts.  So, I'm thrilled to have these perfectly fitting pants again!!!

 

A few days ago, Edwin managed to roll himself under his jumpy seat.  He likes to explore :)

Yesterday was a rainy election day.  I decided that I didn't feel like voting for Hillary (and there was no way she would fail to win anyhow) so I voted the Socialist Workers party just to say I did it!  Some guy named Roger Calero.  There was also a Socialist Equality candidate, William Van Auken running.  But I don't know who won for Sheriff.  I voted the Green party candidate on that one just because.  I suspect the Democratic incumbant won, but I don't care that much anyhow.  There was a woman running for County Clerk under both Dem and Rep tickets!  Ha!  How funny!  I wonder if she won ;)

Anyhow, Edwin has been passing items between his two hands for quite some time now, and I just wanted to say that. :)  He's SUCH a cutie and sits up fairly well for about 3 minutes or so before he falls down, usually sideways.  I need to film that.  It's funny how he does that!

Edwin got his 6 month-old shots today and we ran into the (male) OB who delivered Edwin.  We also got to meet the pediatrician's 6 month old son today.  I told the boy's grandmother that he had been there in the room when Edwin was born.  Both she and the OB seemed a little confused until I reminded them he was still inside his mom at that time.  :)  But yes, he really was in the room with us when Edwin was born!!!  I've been wanting to meet the little boy!  He was supposed to be born *before* Edwin, but Edwin came out 2 weeks ahead of him!  He's a sweetie boy, but not as cute or as sweet as Edwin. ;)  (That's just my own opinion, of course...)

We had a fun weekend.  Yesterday we spent 8 hours doing leaves.  1 hour for the backyard and the remaining time spent buying a leaf grinder/bagger and doing the front!  We went to eat w/Robyn and Edwin enjoyed sucking on some limes for the first time.  He would pucker up really funny and act like it was horrible, then he'd grab it again repeatedly!  What a blast!

Well, it's weird. Edwin seems to notice (or not) DST is over.  He makes these HUGE poops for me in my office now before he eats rather than after he eats or waiting for Debbie.  But he's fine with that, as am I.

He seems to have some greater awareness of the mirrors in the car now.  I saw his eyes looking back at me today when I was adjusting things prior to driving off from Debbie's.  I turned around so I could look through one mirror rather than two, and he was just smiling at me and looking directly at me as if he totally understood that he was seeing me in the mirror.  I am not sure if he totally 'gets' it yet, but if he doesn't, he's really close. 

Michael's advisor's best-friend-and-thesis-advisor died yesterday with some of Michael's advisor's grad students  (Michael's colleagues).  The guy (in his 80s or 90s???) was swimming in choppy water with lots of rocks along w/these 2 grad students and 1 former grad student.

Well, Edwin's doing fine.  Work not.  Last night the football coach told his team that this is probably their last semester together.  We are in such financial straits that they are seriously considering cutting out football.  There were many many cheers from faculty on this matter, but students are totally upset, in general.  I'm concerned it will hurt our student body more than the admin realizes.  Admin finally came out at 2:20pm today w/the official word that they are 'considering' cutting the football team for financial reasons.  I don't know any more than this, but just b/c it's about work, I won't post on this blog anything that hasn't been either widely known or officially stated.  If there is hushed rumors, I'll email you personally.  It's too late!  Goodnight!

17 9.5

Halloween here was fun last night.  We went to see a friend a few blocks away and then came home to give out treats. We were afraid we'd missed the action, but after turning on our front-front-door light, we got close to 80 between 6:00 and 9:00.  Other places have actual hours for trick or treating, but in Ithaca it's just a free for all!  The fact that DST will switch later next year is NOT going to be good here, b/c the kids will go out based on what the SUN says, not the clock.  Halloween here *starts* at sundown, so kids will just be out an hour later, not an hour lighter.  Hmmm....  I'll tell you next year if my prediction comes true...

But it was fun walking to our friend's house, because we overheard really "Ithaca" things like a mom telling her son, "You can't go out until you finish your trombone practicing!"  Our friend was giving out "healthy" snacks.  In fact, she was on some sort of official list for parents of "healthy houses".  Heheheh... so what's the point of THAT???  :)

It's nice to still live in a community where kids go out on Halloween.  I should've made a chart of time of night versus age of kids.  They got older and older as it got later and later.  Gimme was full of loiterers too.  The staff at Gimme! said the various kids came into the shop to use their table to work out their candy swap deals.  hehehe...  Lots of awesome costumes roaming around here last night.