At Home

I am home now! It's been great, so rewarding but so tiring! We have been out and about a little bit, with some hikes thrown in during the week. I have cooked every night I've been home, which has been awesome. I am so sick of take out! We are getting into a good groove, and I can't wait to grow with my son!

Family hike on the Charm Bracelet Trail around Westborough, Easter Sunday. Didn't see any bunnies.

I forgot the best one!

One more picture - it's the best of the bunch. Uli at his 6 months check-up: 17 lbs, 26.5 inches. What you can't see in the picture is that it was really warm in the exam room, and apparantely my son was very comfy. He peed all over the scale. :)

It's Official

My stint as a Project Manager in clinical research ended peacefully and without much ado yesterday, which was exactly how I wanted it to end. A peaceful transition into SAH-motherhood is what I need, although the peaceful part is in question as I listen to my son sadly moan upstairs as he drifts off for his morning nap.

I have a few pictures to post today, here they are:

Momma, LaLa and Uli playing around a few weeks ago. (2/25/08)

Uli and I went hiking last Friday (3/7/08) in Upton State Park since it was so gorgeous out. The snow was melting, and most of the trails were in awesome condition (some were a bit swampy, and some were still icey, but I had my spikes on my shoes and poles to keep us stable). Uli loved being outside and was particularly intrigued with the running streams.

And, oh yes, I turned 30 last week. I still am having a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that I have been tormenting my parents for 30 years now. Hardly seems like a blink of an eye. My lovely husband took me to a fabuluous Italian bistro for dinner with my dear friends Virg and Natron, and bought be the much coveted Henry Cuir bag and PS Teslar watch (He listened to me!). My mother bought me 30 irises and took me for a luxurious spa day and wonderful dinner with my sister. It couldn't have been a better celebration.

Awww....

Me and my man at my holiday party early December. We're so dorky we're cute.

Good News!

I have finally made the decision to be a Stay-at-Home-Mommy (SAHM). My tentative last day as a Clinical Project Manager is March 13th, unless I can finagle it to be earlier. I am so happy I get to spend more time with my son. It will also be nice to spend some real time with my mom, and not to be so stressed out with work.

BDP got a new camera last week. Here are some new pictures of Uli-Man.

Uli eating his lunch. (2/10/08)

Preparing for food... (2/10/08)

I took this one. My two dorks. (1/19/08)

Two Posts in One Day

Well, I also have new pics of Uli, so I have to post those as well. Brian and I are both hiding out in the office as we listen to our son 'cry it out' in the bedroom. This is apparantly where I will diverge from attachment parenting. The boy needed to sleep and I need some autonomy. So far, its working. Not fun, but getting better.

This is how things look while I am at work. LaLa, Uli, and the Pud-cicle. (1/21/08)

This is Uli's new trick. He loves to drink out of other people's cups. He actually drinks the water pretty well! (2/1/08)

(1/21/08)

Bike Porn

Okay, I need to stray from the family posts and post a picture of my trusty steed. My wonderful husband bought I9 wheels for me for Christmas, and he finally intalled them for me. I also have pink cable housing to compliment the pink ano wheels. It's hot.

Oh - and for those of you who know me to be a macho "I'll do it myself" person, I don't do bike maintenance anymore because I can never find the tools. If BDP kept the tool bench clean and the tools where they belong, I would work on my bike. Since only he knows the organization within his mess, his punishment is to work on my bike. Probably not punishment to him, and I can't say I miss getting greasy.

Here's my Lovely:

The Business of Being Born

This is a new movie that was released into theatre's recently. I've not yet seen it, but I am already pre-ordered for the DVD. My midwife (I LOVE you, Nancy!) was interviewed for the movie, so I know there will be good stuff in it. I cry every time I watch the trailer.

Link is to the right. Watch the trailer. Beware, have some tissues handy.

The Pud Fights Back

Nemo has been quite good with Uli since his birth, and with the exception of Nemo's habit of talking too much, everyone gets along well. Nemo cleans up after Uli, plays with him, and is even somewhat protective.


Until yesterday...

I guess Nemo decided that it's never too early to start teaching the munchkin how to share. Nemo hopped up into the Uli's bouncy seat yesterday afternoon and made himself quite comfortable. (1/18/08)

Hiking!

We went for a nice hike this morning and were able to take the baby back pack out for its maiden voyage. It was so good to get outside and reset the brain and body. Uli loved the whole thing - he chattered to his Daddy most of the hike.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

It's been an awesome start to the new year... Uli has stopped sleeping at night and now resists naps. Needless to say, we're all sleep deprived in this house, even without attending a New Year's Party! Here are a few pictures from Christmas at the Pierce house...

Have you seen the Jumpin' Man? (12/31/07)

Melanie's Opa flew up from North Carolina for Christmas. Uli and Opa loved each other! (12/25/07)

First night sitting in a high-chair at the dinner table. He played and watched us eat! (12/30/07)

Back to work

now I really have no time. here's some recent photos... more to come soon.

Turkey Day 11/22/07

12/13/07

12/13/07

Oma's Christening Gown

Well, the little man may not be subjected to the formality of a traditional christening, but he will have to suffer the tradition of wearing the gown. Lala got him dressed this morning while Mom was showering and unable to protest.

The gown was handmade by my great-great grandmother, Emma Gregory. My Oma and all her siblings wore the gown for their christenings, my father and his siblings all wore it, and my sister and I both wore it. It's a beautiful gown and really shows how much love and care used to go into clothes. The picture doesn't show detail of the gown, but the detail of Uli's awfully cute.

Right on with traditions.

Can you believe Papo wore that once? (11/25/07)

Toys for Christmas

So, it may be tough to get toys for Christmas for the Uli man. We just watched the news and the recommendation from several groups was to not buy any toys from China that a child under 2 would put in his mouth. Guess we're going to have to get old fashioned and buy wooden toys and paint them ourselves. Or... buy American made - does the good old USA make toys any more???

I think I'll just get him a carrier so that we can start hiking with him after Christmas.

We're also all organic now for the munchkin's clothes. Trust me, I did not make this decision, although I was probably the catalyst for my husband's newest neuroses. Baby skin is apparantly significantly thinner than adult skin, and therefore absorbs a lot more chemicals than adult skin. No chemicals for the Uli man. We didn't have a homebirth to avoid drug exposure only to allow for chemical exposure through his clothes. Oh, and just in case you were wondering, he isn't exposed to chemicals through his food either - I only eat organic foods. Only chemicals Uli man gets is from the air... considering we live in a fairly rural area, I am thinking his exposure is not too bad.

Picture of the cutie:

No caffeine in the house...

There are no caffeinated coffee beans in the house. This is a tragedy, and frankly, its dangerous to those who come into contact with me. I should put a warning sign out front to warn visitors: uncaffeinated, sleep-deprived Melanie on the loose...

Luckily, we just got a Starbucks that's a five minute walk from my front door. The world is safe for another day.

Uli and I made our coffee run this morning at about 9 am. It was near 40 degrees out. He got to wear his new Capilene. Here's how cute we were:

For tonight's entertainment...

We have the amazing Daddy!!! Not just for bath time anymore, he's now playing at changing tables near you.

Night time bath and massage (10/25/07)

I know I'm cute

Blue Steel (10/18/07)

Whatchya lookin' at? (10/18/07)

Rejuvinated

After a few looong nights with Ulric, Brian and I decided to put the wolf cub (a.k.a. monkey) back in bed with us. Mind you, he was in bed with us all this time, but we tried to put him in the SnuggleNest in order to protect him from our comforter. Uli knew the difference and would have none of it. The last two nights he's been back nestled beside me, and we are sleeping much better - about 6 hours straight last night. Go ahead and make your comments about our parenting, but this is definitely the way to go, and I know many people and many docs that encourage 'co-sleeping' or 'sleep-sharing.' Now the comforter is tucked in tight at the bottom and only comes up to our waists. Poor, skinny BDP might freeze, but Uli will be safe...



I like it best this way. The bags under my eyes may actually go away now.



On another note - I did my first yoga practice today since I had Uli. It was HARD! My balance is off and I am not as strong as I was. It's amazing what a month will do. I will probably go back to my pre-natal DVD for a while until I am feeling a little more confident, then I will head to Shawn's for a proper class.



Finally - the last bit of good news: I was able to put my pre-preggo jeans on today! They are still tight and my loose belly still folds over the waist, but at least I can get them on! PROGRESS! BDP's setting up the bike on the trainer tonight - I can't wait to take an indoor spin on the old steel monster!

Nap time on Mom's favorite pillow. (9/28/07)

I am tired...

Having a newborn is finally catching up with me - I am tired. I still think I have it better than most, as Uli is sleeping pretty well, and I am trying to take it easy while he sleeps. The interrupted sleep is finally taking its toll though, and I am barely able to keep my eyes open at this late hour (it's not even 9 pm yet).

I am not feeling quite myself yet, my body is not what it was before I got pregnant, and I am a little bummed out about that. I didn't expect to just bounce right back, but I also didn't expect to have a bruised tail bone or to have the hormonal changes keep coming in high gear. I feel very matronly right now. I like being a mom, but I could really use a day of feeling pretty again.

Anyway, enough whining. More pictures of the cutie I made. He really is wonderful. He's starting to work on holding up his head, he spends a little more time awake now and he's starting to get an attitude. I do enjoy him, and he is worth the temporary ugliness I am experiencing.

Brian as a Buddhist Monk...

So, if you've spent any time with me these last few days, you know what an advocate I am for cloth diapering, homebirth, co-sleeping, and now... the Moby Wrap. It's awesome. Probably the best invention ever. I knew I would like it before I even had Uli, and that's why my second Mom bought me one. Little did I know it would be this great. Two friends went out and got themselves one after listening to me go on and on and on...

The Moby in action... Brian likens himself to a Buddhist Monk in saffron robes (9/7/07)

A pic of me and Uli the first time I went downstairs after the birth (9/7/07)