a couple of friends from the newsroom recently started blogging.
one, jess, is documenting a radical fitness routine she and her boyfriend are trying out. that's some pressure there.
another, cara, commutes from barboursville for work and finds plenty of time to mull on life, work and motherhood. she shares her thoughts at the bailey mail.
now you can learn a little more about the lovely folks who put out your daily mail.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
soul food
this lovely repast has many contributors.
our friend and co-worker cara made the entree, a hearty dish of baked spaghetti, featuring meat sauce and topped with mozzarella and pepperonis.
the wine was a nice chianti, gabbiano 2008, a label suggested to me long ago by my buddy curt, a self-described "wine pimp," also known as our local beverage and spirits distributor.
the yummy cheddar atop our salads was courtesy of our good friends heidi and jamie. the cheese was part of a great gift box from harry and david.
dessert was a slightly decadent chocolate-topped toffee/hazelnut candy, toffifay, from another colleague, george, our business editor. (themselves leftovers from a wonderful meal he and his wife prepared for us last week.)
i make note of this because we'd like to thank the folks who made a dinner break a real, nourishing respite.
we often take for granted in the rush of life and work a good meal.
too frequently, it's not much more than refueling -- strap on the feedbag, then go.
well, thanks to some good friends, we were able to take advantage of a well-timed nap from the boy to sit and eat like civilized people.
we had almost an hour to sit and talk and listen to some good jazz (ella fitzgerald and louis armstrong: ella & louis).
this great good gift was cara's brainchild, who enlisted our friends in the newsroom to make us some meals to help ease us into life with baby -- one less thing to fuss over as we scramble to keep up with the demands of a newborn.
(she herself is a new mother, so she knows that of which she speaks.)
the response has been touching and wonderful. the mere presentation of their offerings makes us feel humbled and blessed.
i know it's corny to say, but there's more than meat and starch in those covered dishes -- there's love. why else would they be going to all that trouble?
surely, such warm regard is as necessary for life as anything you can find in your pantry. and for this, we are grateful and give thanks.
bless these gifts and the hands and hearts that made them.
amen and amen.
our friend and co-worker cara made the entree, a hearty dish of baked spaghetti, featuring meat sauce and topped with mozzarella and pepperonis.
the wine was a nice chianti, gabbiano 2008, a label suggested to me long ago by my buddy curt, a self-described "wine pimp," also known as our local beverage and spirits distributor.
the yummy cheddar atop our salads was courtesy of our good friends heidi and jamie. the cheese was part of a great gift box from harry and david.
dessert was a slightly decadent chocolate-topped toffee/hazelnut candy, toffifay, from another colleague, george, our business editor. (themselves leftovers from a wonderful meal he and his wife prepared for us last week.)
i make note of this because we'd like to thank the folks who made a dinner break a real, nourishing respite.
we often take for granted in the rush of life and work a good meal.
too frequently, it's not much more than refueling -- strap on the feedbag, then go.
well, thanks to some good friends, we were able to take advantage of a well-timed nap from the boy to sit and eat like civilized people.
we had almost an hour to sit and talk and listen to some good jazz (ella fitzgerald and louis armstrong: ella & louis).
this great good gift was cara's brainchild, who enlisted our friends in the newsroom to make us some meals to help ease us into life with baby -- one less thing to fuss over as we scramble to keep up with the demands of a newborn.(she herself is a new mother, so she knows that of which she speaks.)
the response has been touching and wonderful. the mere presentation of their offerings makes us feel humbled and blessed.
i know it's corny to say, but there's more than meat and starch in those covered dishes -- there's love. why else would they be going to all that trouble?
surely, such warm regard is as necessary for life as anything you can find in your pantry. and for this, we are grateful and give thanks.
bless these gifts and the hands and hearts that made them.
amen and amen.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
bigger than a status update
the whole point of social media, i think, is to be social.
and part of being social is responding to communications.
i've been very "one-way" lately with a steady stream of photos and video, thanks to the facebook's ease of sharing info and receiving feedback without ever entering the site.
but i've fallen way behind on my acknowledgments from friends and relations on the site; far enough so that, given the new premium on time, i may never catch up.
for all of you who "like" the updates and posts or took the time to compliment or josh me about kris' and my recent entry into parenthood, much love and thanks. your comments are greatly enjoyed and appreciated.
(and you kind folks complimenting my mom, she thanks you, too, but can't possibly make enough fried lumpias for you all.)
i hope all of you and yours are doing well.
and part of being social is responding to communications.
i've been very "one-way" lately with a steady stream of photos and video, thanks to the facebook's ease of sharing info and receiving feedback without ever entering the site.
but i've fallen way behind on my acknowledgments from friends and relations on the site; far enough so that, given the new premium on time, i may never catch up.
for all of you who "like" the updates and posts or took the time to compliment or josh me about kris' and my recent entry into parenthood, much love and thanks. your comments are greatly enjoyed and appreciated.
(and you kind folks complimenting my mom, she thanks you, too, but can't possibly make enough fried lumpias for you all.)
i hope all of you and yours are doing well.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
ridiculous cat
all things considered, the cat's adjusting pretty well to sharing her turf with the small being who's taken the spotlight from her.the first few days kind of flipped her out as she only seemed to venture from her lair in the den for food and water -- and maybe not even then.
otto jumped up on the upholstered chair behind kris and watched as she tried nursing the boy the night we brought him home.
kris nervously demanded i take the cat down, which sort of set the tone for the ensuing days. (otto actually hissed at the boy when i picked her up to look at him.)
the next day, when we took felix for his first doctor visit, otto sniffed around the car seat we'd put him in, but didn't investigate further.
the day after that, she actually sat next to him, warily eying the boy as he lay in his swing.but it wasn't until the end of the week that the cat started actually hanging out in rooms with us again -- rubbing against my leg, sitting on her buffet perch to look out the window, even napping on our bed -- the way she used to when she ruled the roost.
meantime, i'd started letting otto sniff the boy's head, and she's gradually begun rubbing her little noggin against his. now i'll occasionally let her touch his head with her paw.
she's even worn down kris into allowing the critter access to the baby's room.
she's sort of reclaimed her old wicker chair and doesn't even move for diaper changes.
(she used to sit a safe, respectful distance from the changing table, off in a corner, far from the screaming child.)
i'm wondering, though, how she's fighting the awful temptation to nap in the nice, soft, boxed-in crib.
the doof now curls up every so often with kris and me for the night as the babe sleeps in the bassinet, so it sure feels normal.
it remains a little early to declare an end to hostilities, as she just might be sizing him up, but it's nice to see a thaw in the relationship.
on the other hand, this just might be a long, uneasy truce between the two that will last all their lives.
the finger
i've gotten pretty good at typing with one hand occupied.i'd probably be doing both the baby and me a favor, though, if i'd be more confident letting him lie down in his bassinet to sleep.
safe and sound
looking down at my boy while he sleeps, nestling him in the crook of my arm, it dawns on me this is the best protection he may ever know.
he is sheltered, warm, clothed and fed.
he has no enemies, no rivals (except possibly the cat). no one wishes him personal ill will.
he owes no debts.
no harm may reach him from the outside world unless it goes through me first.
i think ahead 20 or 30 years, and consider what situations and conditions he might experience that could make him feel vulnerable and anxious.
i can only hope and pray that his mother and i will have equipped him by then with the means to rise above or ride out whatever storms might come his way until he is again safe and sound.
may the good Lord bless and keep you, little man. and may He help us guide you in His way.
he is sheltered, warm, clothed and fed.
he has no enemies, no rivals (except possibly the cat). no one wishes him personal ill will.
he owes no debts.
no harm may reach him from the outside world unless it goes through me first.
i think ahead 20 or 30 years, and consider what situations and conditions he might experience that could make him feel vulnerable and anxious.
i can only hope and pray that his mother and i will have equipped him by then with the means to rise above or ride out whatever storms might come his way until he is again safe and sound.
may the good Lord bless and keep you, little man. and may He help us guide you in His way.
Friday, February 12, 2010
triumph
seriously. nearly three weeks with baby and i call this a little victory.
normally, i return from work for the night shift with the boy so kris can get some sleep.
he usually dozes in my arms after feeding and i'm so fearful of having him awaken, i hold him until i conk out.
kris then has to wake me when her shift arrives.
tonight, he was fussy.
he wasn't having any of that post-feedbag slumber and writhed about, restless and balky.
at the end of the workweek, i must be tired, because i didn't have it in me to walk him to sleep.
the burps didn't help, he'd just had a diaper change and he still wouldn't settle down.
turns out he was still hungry.
another ounce and he was drowsy, but not passing out. and he didn't seem happy with me holding him.
so i laid him in the bassinet, stuck the pacifier in his trap and, sure enough, he started drifting off.
i waited until the gnawing on my finger mostly stopped and transferred him to the bedroom.
success! (though i'm not sure if this will work the next time i try to put him down.)
normally, i return from work for the night shift with the boy so kris can get some sleep.
he usually dozes in my arms after feeding and i'm so fearful of having him awaken, i hold him until i conk out.
kris then has to wake me when her shift arrives.
tonight, he was fussy.
he wasn't having any of that post-feedbag slumber and writhed about, restless and balky.
at the end of the workweek, i must be tired, because i didn't have it in me to walk him to sleep.
the burps didn't help, he'd just had a diaper change and he still wouldn't settle down.
turns out he was still hungry.
another ounce and he was drowsy, but not passing out. and he didn't seem happy with me holding him.
so i laid him in the bassinet, stuck the pacifier in his trap and, sure enough, he started drifting off.
i waited until the gnawing on my finger mostly stopped and transferred him to the bedroom.
success! (though i'm not sure if this will work the next time i try to put him down.)
Friday, February 05, 2010
baby pictures
all i can say is everything everyone said about having a baby is true, in exhausting and glorious ways.i would like nothing better than to wax philosophic on the changes brought on by a 7-pound youngling entering our lives, but i can't count on having the time.
a couple of images will have to suffice before going back to the laundry. (this kid goes through shirts and blankets like no one's business, what with the peeing and spitting up.)
mama and her boy.
wide-awake, sort of.
felix. the cat.and finally, to see it all in motion . . .
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