Where have I been?

I can't believe how long it's been since my last entry. Sebastian is almost eight months old. My hours in the evening when he's asleep are the uninterrupted time I have to read or watch a show or take a bath. Writing in the blog seems to fall pretty low on the list. Which is a shame.

This is going to be short this time. At least I wrote a bit. It's just, at this moment in life, I'd rather read someone else than write about what's up with me. Even though some cool stuff is happening. The current story is going well, although a writing group member told me to hurry up and finish it (so she could find out what happens) and I'm only on page sixty. If it's novel-length there's a whole lot more to go. That's okay. I'm glad she cares what's next.

I'll check in again soon.

Babies of the World, Unite!

There were seven babies here today! Our first play date went wonderfully. There were eight couples in our Bradley Birthing Class and seven of the moms and babies were able to make it today. Also, it's a beautiful, sunny day and not 100 degrees so it's the good side of Texas weather. We've made it to the other side of summer.

Some moms had to leave early but we got pictures of five of the babies sitting up together on the couch. So adorable. They're all so cute. There are three boys, including Sebastian, and five girls, including Kate who wasn't here today. We're hoping to meet every two weeks so I think it's going to be great. I'm glad my cousin Laura told me to reach out to other moms at the beginning.

Sebastian looks long (or is it tall) compared to the other babies. I think he also has the pouffiest hair! The youngest of them is two months old today. I think all but one were born in July.

We had a very busy weekend, with a baby shower on Saturday thrown by Georgia, Collene, and Sherry, and a going-away party for Harriet Saturday evening. Sebastian was fussy at the beginning of the shower, uncharacteristically so, but he settled down after he ate. Then everyone got to hold him and he was smiley.

Today he seems recovered from whatever he was going through for a few days. For about four days he was sort of languid and less perky than usual. Today he seems back to his old self.

I think the more of a pattern there is to our lives, with meetings like the play group and starting writing group again, the better it will be for us. I'm learning to love routine. I lived by a regular routine in Vermont last year and felt very fit in every way. I think it agrees with me.

Next Friday William's niece Destiny comes for a visit, which will be nice. With three younger brothers, she probably knows more about babies than I do! We'll have fun.

Get Well Soon, James!

Concerned for James, our friends Shannon and Blue's son who is in the hospital with a staph infection. He's having breathing problems. They were all here a couple of weeks ago for a swim party. Even though James is in a wheelchair for now he can swim like a fish. William and I both thinking of him and wishing him a speedy recovery.

The Portable Baby

Took Sebastian around with me today as I went to two doctor appointments. He behaved so well. Slept in the waiting room while I was filling out paperwork, calmed down with his pacifier when he got a bit fussy, rode well in the car, and when there was no time to feed him between appointments he hung in there until we could get home. We both took long naps later. It's fun to take him out and do things. I changed him on an exam table after one appointment, and he looked up at the ceiling like, "Hmm. I've never seen this one before." A connoisseur of ceilings.

He's getting so big and brawny his shoulders are snug in his car seat now. A burly two-month-old.

I had the strange sensation looking at him yesterday as he sat up looking around at things that I was looking at myself as a child. Something about his expression reminded me of me, which took me by surprise for some weird reason. I didn't expect that.

The September Issue

I saw The September Issue, a documentary about the production of the big fall issue of Vogue in 2007. To see behind the scenes of a magazine which is the arbiter and institution of fashion: the clothes, my God the clothes. Deeper, richer colors than gems, textures you want to swoon into, great art in three dimensions moving through space draped on the body of a beautiful woman. For the first time I felt like I really got it, seeing a glimpse of the alter people sacrifice their careers and back accounts upon. High fashion is art. Art that makes you feel and long for something indefinable, somehow encapsulated in things. And when someone with a brilliant eye puts it all together it's magical. The yin and yang of Vogue, embodied in the two women who drive the magazine, Grace Coddington and Anna Wintour. Women with great power, whose decisions, commercial and artistic choices begin and end careers, selling billions of dollars worth of merchandise through a trickle-down effect of influence.

Seeing behind the scenes it's at once more and less glamorous than one might think. Trips abroad, private cars, seats at the front. But not everyone who works there is a fashion plate; they're not all young, beautiful, and perfect. They're the people who can get the job done.

I've been interrupted twice as I was thinking about this and I can't seem to get any further with it now.

First Shots

The time has been flying by. Sebastian is getting so big already. His shoulders are wide enough to to reach both sides of the car seat now, and his feet are starting to hang over the edge. Yesterday were his first vaccinations. I was quite keyed-up about it and anxious. He was in a great mood the whole appointment (greatly helped by Daddy's silly faces in the waiting room), not crying on the scale like he had the previous two visits, and smiling at Dr. Spencer. He only cried for the shots themselves (I almost did too) but after they were done, he recovered immediately. We were able to put him back in his car seat and go home, rather than staying there to nurse as a comfort measure. Today he was in a great mood as well. The only thing out of the ordinary was that he took a three-and-a-half-hour nap.

I keep planning to write a long entry but it's bedtime and I have to crash. I shall return. Or as the French more mellifluously put it, "Je reviens."

Bulletin

Sebastian slept nine hours last night! And went down for sleep for the third time quietly and happily. I'm amazed this is working.