9.06.2008

Just a reminder...

all NEW photos + videos are on the Flickr site. I will still post pics here and there but the majority will be located here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/underneathmytree

xoxo
jmo

Ghost stories...(not a baby story...really)...

Jason and I both believe in ghosts and the supernatural. Hell, this would explain Jason's infatuation with Sci-Fi channels' GHOST HUNTERS and why we're going to Philly for our anniversary to relax, get pampered, thrift, and ummmm, visit the Eastern State Penitentiary? LOL.

Anyway, we have lived in our apartment going on four years now and sometimes wonder if our apartment is haunted. The building is over 100 years old located across the street from some of Hoboken's most historic houses. Anyway, it all started with what I like to try to say may be electrical 'glitches'. When our bedroom was located in what is now the den our television would do some strange things without the remote control. For instance, we would be laying in bed watching a show and suddenly the volume would go up and down...and the two of us would freeze knowing that the remote was by the television. Other times the channel would change or the power would shut off with perhaps the time we were listening the the NYC Marathon in the kitchen and Jason running to the set to view the winner and the set shutting off right when he rounded the corner being the weirdest!

So, naturally, the 'glitches' have followed us to our new bedding location (of which, this room NEVER had these problems). The first began with the cable box which has POWER light. Well, sure, the light remains on; however, how do I explain that the timeclock disappears at/around 4:00AM for five minutes several times in the past few weeks? I know this because Jason has to wake during this hour and and the cable box is the first thing I see when I open my eyes for a clock....OK, whatever.

Still not sold? I try not to be, too.
Until, little Bee arrives. Of which I try to explain her crying (which you learn to distinguish your own child's cries from others) outside my window in the trees at 2:00 AM on a Wednesday?
Or, on mornings when it is just me and Bee co-sleeping in dead silence...and the bars of her baby monitor are going berserk as if there is a raucous in her bedroom?
Probably the strangest was a 2:30 AM feeding...
Jason is holding Bee in his arms in the rocker just to the right side of my bed. Her eyes are shut and the bottle is still in her mouth. Suddenly we hear HER cry coming from her bedroom. Jason looks down, I look at the baby and simultaneous we look at each other with the WTF expression in our eyes.

And the most recent...
Jason's cat, Buddy, knows that Jason wakes up about 4ish - meaning he gets some love and food as Jason prepares and showers for work. Well, some mornings Jason is afforded some time to sleep in and Buddy, being a creature of habit, will meow until the cows come home in the kitchen. If this does not work, he goes into Bee's room to meow and wake her up (a smart and yet asshole move on his part in my opinion). Well, most nights we catch him when we hear the creak of the door opening. One particular morning, we both awoke to what we assumed was Buddy in all of his glory. It is dark and I see a shadow of a cat move in - but no meow sounds, the shadow is just sitting in the doorway. Jason does his normal cat call that Buddy responds to; however, the shadow does not move. Jason, grumpy from having to get out of bed, gets up (meanwhile, keep in mind that my eyes have not moved from the shadow)...and in pops Buddy's head from the entrance of our door to the rest of the house! Ummmm...WHAT THE HELL opened the babies' door HALF WAY.
You tell me...

As for me....as long as Bee doesn't get all creepy and starts crying staring off into the distance or, daresay, begins talking crazy talk to an imaginary friend about things she would never know about....I think we're OK.

The Secret Life of Bee's

STATUS: 15-1/2 weeks; approximately 23 inches + 12-1/2 lbs.

I know, I know....where the f*ck have you guys been?
Honestly? Nowhere special - and, yet, EVERYWHERE? We still enjoy our walks around Hoboken and even paid a special visit to NYC to meet Daddy and introduce Bee to all of his coworkers. We have been to Virginia to see Grandma, Great-Grandpa, and even a special visit to Grandpa at his house on the river. We have been to the mountains for some thrifting
...but mainly just enjoy our private family time here in our little city.

Olivia Bee is truly a pleasure and today on the cusp of Tropical Storm Hanna's arrival I lay here in bed and finally blog. Jason is actually up and in the den catching up on the old tube (I find nothing really interests me except the news and Jeopardy!...and the 2 movies I fit in while Jason is at work. Movies because they allow me to press PAUSE when the little lady needs to have her way).

The girl is sleeping through the night; however, I knock on wood at this since she has been going through a growth spurt - which means every two hour feedings. On the norm we have her in her Miracle Blanket (a TRUE must-have for any parent...along with a mei-tai carrier and Boppy feeding pillow). She still sleeps in the bouncer in the crib; however, has begun to sleep on her back when breastfeeding and co-sleeping with me during our early morning ritual from about 5:30 AM until about 7-8ish.

Other wonderful discoveries...
she is a talker, a squealer, a wonderful sense of humor...and truly gives out smiles to anyone who asks for one.
she is now fitting into her 3-6 month old clothes.
she LOVES to sit in her Bebe pod (aka: infant chair) and can for a few seconds sit by herself tripod style.
she loves stories, books and cartoons.
she hates the carseat and long drives because she can't see everything going on all around her at all times.
she loves mirrors.
she cries real tears (started after her 2-month appointment with vaccines which went off without a hitch meaning sans fever, irritability, etc.).
she, unfortunately, still naps 90% of the time in your arms and fights sleep because she's afraid she will miss something even if it's completely dark inside.
she is beginning to travel in her big girl MacLaren stroller.
she's extremely observant and emotional through her facial expressions.
she has no interest in tummy time and went straight to sitting up - also shows no interest in crawling, already wanting to get pulled up to stand....sheesh.

This month is her 4-month doctor's appointment and more vaccines. Yes, time does fly...and, yes, it does get easier. I think the most important thing for any parent to know is that with a baby - there is no schedule. One month they will sleep through the night or like to be carried and the next it's all out the window due to their teething or whatnot. Obviously, my OCD has gotten pretty toned down around the house but we're happy and the light at the end of the tunnel shows it's all working out and getting towards a balance.
Unfortunately, return to work on October 9th. This, I know, will be the most difficult time for me. Besides the adjustment of a new schedule (earlier waking, co-sleeping, get her to daycare, go to work, get home with an hour to play then bedtime...), I know it will be an emotional adjustment. Everyday I spend with her I discover more and more wonderful things about her and in many cases takes days sometimes weeks for her to share these special intricacies with Jason. Breaks my heart but I know that in the long run this is what is best for her socially, emotionally, and, of course, us - financially....hell, I know I'll even be able to begin to read again and catch up with the world.

Oh well, that's my rant and catch up. I did add a few posts that I had lingering in limbo from months ago....so holla back. I am here and hopefully back with ATLEAST one post a week. I am sure once I get back to work they will overflow with goodies about life with Bee (to keep me from missing her too much to the point of tears...and to show her, 18 years from now, that I never really left when I went back to work).

Good night.
m.

7.12.2008

A late night rant by a new parent. LOL

Now that I post this...a couple of months later, of course...it's funny how your whole idea of life, responsibilities and the 'essence' of who you are and what you care about changes once you have a child. This one still makes me giggle as I painstakingly recall that night and still silently say to myself when I see young singles or pregnant women graze our block....'Just you wait. And, yes, as I heard many times before the arrival of Bee - enjoy [the stupidity] now.'....

Hoboken, New Jersey is a really nice neighborhood with prices for rental or purchase is comparable to NYC's prestigious West Village or even Brooklyn's Park Slope. The city is peppered with lovable local shops, parks, and beautiful views of the city. The cohabitants; however, are of an interesting sort - one that Jason and I find ourselves not normally fitting into but enjoy it for the most part due to its safety. The smallest majority would be the original Hobokenites who you can still see from time to time - namely, the Italians or some Irish. The newest gentrification includes the usual...the soccer moms/dads (ie, young families), the yuppies, and sure, we have a college but its Stevens Institute for Technology (so, let's face it, the more behaved, sedated, intellectual type of college student - they tend to stick to their area on the cliffs anyway).

It's 2:45 AM on a Friday, nay, Saturday morning and we just put Olivia Bee to bed after her second feeding in the midst of a growth spurt meaning we will probably be up every 45 minutes to an hour after this (and were already thanking our lucky stars that this was only the second time tonight waking and we had a total of ABOUT 6 hours sleep...last night was 3). We were discussing whether to stick with the SwaddleMe's or to make a first purchase of the Miracle Blanket - for those not hip to the lingo these are brands of swaddlers, *ahem*,baby straitjackets, to aid in their sleep. We were exhausted...of course, this is not what Mr. newest-junior-analyst on Wall Street was feeling on a cool summer morning...

No, he was thinking more along the lines 'Whoooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!....(I make more money than I ever imagined, glad I majored in Psychology and Dad got me this job, time to do a mating call...hopefully she has really tight f*ck me pants on and no underwear - another college staple somehow recreated and desperately held on to during Hoboken's nicest of spring/summer weekends). In retaliation, of course, Olivia Bee thinks 'WTF?!?' and revisits one of her favourite crying spouts in the key of C.

So, THANK YOU, young twentysomething yuppie neighbor. I sincerely hope you are proud of yourself. I hope that you were able to bag the bird and, perhaps, by accident or grace of God, she becomes pregnant. Perhaps you two attempt a relationship and get married for the 'sake of the child'. By this time I would assume and hope that you have moved on to the Upper East Side where your concerns are not for any inconsiderate neighbors but whether your partner is loyal or not.

....as you can see, I never finished this post; however, have moved on from the bitterness due to lack of sleep. Now, I relish the time I have left 24/7 with our little Bee....LOL

7.11.2008

Fun/Not Fun, A Day in the Life, Random Update...

This may be long or short...I guess we will see how long Olivia allows me both hands to type...Right now, Jason is trying to get her 'milk drunk/stoned' so she will pass out until about midnight...well, preferably 1 or 2....and if we're lucky - all night HAHA!

STATUS: Olivia Bee is now 7 weeks and 1 day old + approximately 10 lbs.

FUN THINGS
smiling in response to you
imitating your faces and your 'cooing'
being able to wear your baby in a carrier or put her down for an hour
'war stories' (ie, explosive poop, vomit flowing from your hair down to your chest and not knowing it, etc.)
vintage dresses on babies
photoshoots + time spent with kirsten (!)

NOT FUN THINGS
growth spurts/growing pains that screw up the baby and everyone's schedule for a week at a time + not being able to comfort your baby knowing she's uncomfortable from growing
'war stories' when they happen

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A BEE
When we're not going through a growth spurt (which is normally every couple of weeks), our little Olivia Bee is a perfect angel. Here's our NORMAL schedule...
430-730/830 AM: Co-sleep/freestyle breastfeeding (Dad leaves for work by 500)
730-900 AM: Saying 'Good morning' to the world/morning errands; sing songs with Mom as she eats breakfast
900/930-1000/1030 AM: Morning nap
1000/1030-1100/1130: freestyle breastfeeding/light napping
1130-1230: sing songs with Mom while being walked around the house for afternoon errands; Mom eats lunch
1230-200: freestyle breastfeeding; afternoon nap
200-400: Daddy is home (!); Mom does more errands/showers
500: Dinner for the folks
600: walking around town (weather permitting)
700: Jeopardy!; bathtime (every other day); feeding and prep for bed
800: Olivia Bee to bed
1200/130: Olivia Bee wakes for first feeding (sometime within these hours)
230/330: Olivia Bee wakes for second feeding (sometime within these hours)
....and we do it all over again!!!

RANDOM UPDATE
We have been busy planning our little Bee's christening for the end of the month.

This week my friend August will be staying with us as he searches for an apartment for he and his lady friend as they make their big move back east from Seattle.

I still have about 15 lbs. to lose. Slowly but surely....just got the clearance from le docteur that everything has healed nicely and I can start working out...

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT is the BEST show ever!

Olivia's favourite lullaby songs:
ETERNAL FLAME (best to soothe)by The Bangles
ANGEL (best to soothe) by Sarah Mclachlan
MAYBE (best for sing-along/to get her to talk) from ANNIE soundtrack
SANDY(best to grab attention)from ANNIE soundtrack
PART OF YOUR WORLD (best for bath time)from THE LITTLE MERMAID
CLOSER TO ME (ballad version by Mom) (best to soothe in kitchen) by LoveApple
SIP YOUR CIDER (best for bath time)Girl Scouts campfire song

7.05.2008

SPEECHLESS

Well, Kirsten...you've done it.
I am at a loss of words and Jason is over here crying like a baby [and Olivia is really crying like a baby].

Now I have to live up to my writing skillz and entertain all of your friends, clients, and family who may stumble across our little world. Hahaha!

Seriously....I don't know what to say.
You've captured us in a way we could never have thought imaginable. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!
We CANNOT wait to have you up north. Our door is always open!

And...to those of you sitting here scratching your head in confusion wondering why this is my first post sans apologies for my absence...
Motherhood is cool.
Sleep is AWESOME.
We can talk later....instead, focus on the pictures below. Just a few samples of our DEAR FRIEND, Kirsten Lewis of Innate Photo, who also photographed our wedding + truly wins over our heart with every email, visit, and picture we are able to capture with her!
Also, check out her BLOG....we're featured today - with plugs for Jason's artwork, our music, and blog!

WE HEART YOU BIG TIME, TOO, LADY!!!

xoxo




7.04.2008

Finding a schedule.

Dear Friends,

It has been a month since our last post + please don't think we have been forgetting about you. It is just that we are working really hard trying to get Olivia on a schedule that works for us and "blogging" isn't on top of that list.

However, I do keep up-to-date with lots and lots of pictures and have been posting them on my Flickr site. So, I will leave you with that link below. ( You can just click on any image to bring you to the site)

Hopefully, ( for your sake) Melanie will starting writing again soon. I am a lousy blogger + I can only imagine what motherly scriptures she could conjure up on the things that we have been going through these past six weeks.

Till then,
xo
jason + melanie + little bee THREE



www.flickr.com








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