Mama: Will you write in my blog? Please? Come ON!

Mama Neglects Blog: Poor Baby Xavi Suffers Big Letdown in Fame and Fortune

As the weeks rolled by with no blog entries Xavi began to wonder if something had happened.  Was he less hilarious as he bopped his head back and forth during breakfast?  Had his previous meter busting cuteness level waned?  Were his new guitar plucking and strumming skills not worthy of mention?  What could it be?

 "Xavi", Mama explained, "do you not remember the boxes, the packing, the late night painting of the 15 foot high new bedroom ceiling, the endless search for the other sock, the lost book, the best toy, and clean underwear in the new house, the sudden influx of job interviews and simultaneous financial crisis at the Tenants Union and the arrival of September bringing Mommy's return to teaching and the accidental erasure of an entire year of lesson plans from her computer?  Rest assured baby boy, your cuteness has not diminished, and has been joined by an astonishing array of new tricks.  All will be revealed on the blog in time."

Cake and Presents?  Ok.

With an intimate celebration at the local park, Xavi took a break from packing himself in a box for the big move to eat a cupcake as big as his head to celebrate turning one.  Delia and Sera brought their parents and their Grammy, and Xavi's own poet laureate Grammy flew in just in time, and the whole gang played with balloons at the park.  Lucky, lucky baby Xavi got great presents and summarily smeared himself with frosting, as required in the "I'm turning one" manual.  

 I Already SAID That.

Xavi baby is exhibiting some signs of frustration that his keepers do not seem to be fully fluent in the special language he has carefully developed.  To express his disappointment in our limited literacy, he has adopted a new, piercing, resonant howl.  How timely, think mamas, since we have just moved the family to a new house that shares close quarters with three other homes, all with open bedroom windows looking out on a shared yard.  Mamas feel sure the neighbors are impressed.

Out For a Walk in the New Neighborhood

Mamas were awash in sweetness last night when Xavi Baby took one hand each and all three embarked on a slow, happy walk two blocks to the little Ethiopian restaurant on the corner.  Xavi gave, big, toothy, whole face grins to each Mama in turn all along the way.  Mamas breathed a big sigh of happy.

Xavi Daily - August 7, 2007

Moments of Motherhood Hallmark Forgot

Below are some important statistics describing the previous week:

Number of nights Mama Siobhan was vomited on consecutively by XWRK: 2, plus once more the next day.
Highest level of fever poor baby Xavi was plagued by:  103.5
Amount of sleep had by mamas on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights:  Negligible
Number of times mamas had to squirt salt water up baby's nose, and snork out snot with snot sucker:  we lost count
Time fever broke, as evidenced by cold sweaty baby and sleep for more than one consecutive hour:  Friday, approx 2am:
Hours later it became evident poor baby Xavi had an ear infection (as evidenced by arching back, holding head, and sad, sad  crying): 16
Cars that broke down while on way to urgent care clinic to diagnose ear infection: 1 (we made it there and back...barely)
Number of Tenants Union 3 hour Board meetings to make decisions about new Executive Director Hiring process during which time Mama Erin was home with Xavi thinking SHE might vomit: 1
Number of important work meetings Siobhan completely forgot: 2

Xavi Daily - July 15, 2007

Complex Baby to Baby/Baby to Dog Relations During Journey to Petrolia

 I love you Ingmar.  I want to be your friend. 

But I want that red toy and I want it now.

Excuse me Agnes, I think I would like to take a closer examination of your nose.

Woah.  That is very close.  Let's see, my findings are as follows:  Warm, Wet, Sloppy.

River swimming is amazing. Tiny fish bite mama's butt.  The Ocean is Big.

 XW, Mom and Mama undertook a long journey to the wild, gorgeous lost coast of Northern California to visit friends Jen, Blase, Ossian (2) and Nola (3 mos).  Also in attendance were Ingmar (8 mos) and Soren (2) and their parents Val and Mark, and Aunties Jen and Dudley.  Baby Xavi's first trip to wild country was a fantastic success.  Daily swimming in the Mattole River, cool mornings on the empty coast watching crashing waves, long afternoons in the wading pool and watching hummingbirds, added up to near perfection.  Also, so many grownups around meant constant adoration and fun. The only drawbacks, from XW's point of view, were as follows:  having to go to sleep in a room with two other kids, and then being moved to a different bed around 11pm, and sitting in one place on the planes (although there were lots of people to smile at). 

Mobility and Sleep are NOT Friends

Much to Moms' collective discontent, crawling and pulling up have not ceased to cause major sleep disruption.   The last two nights said disruption included 4 and 3 (respectively) hour long periods of awakeness.  After a desperate, exhausted 2:30 am consultation, moms agreed that baby's gotta get a clue.  One hour of persistent putting back to bed, and very serious instructions ("Nighttime is for sleeping.  Sleep in your bed Xavi.") later Mr. XW went sadly to sleep, sighing pitiful hiccoughs of post crying resignation.   Today's first nap went much better, but second nap didn't go at all.  We shall see what the nighttime brings.  The editor thinks, but isn't sure, that once she thought about something else besides sleeping.

On a positive note, little Xavi's crawling self is full of wide eyed, persistent, curious, happy exploration.  He likes to chase moms,  pull up to peek over the table, and pull over the whole box of toys to get his pick.

Xavi Daily - June 27

Crawling appears to require diligent 24 hour a day attention

Terrifying the kitties, but impressing the mommies, Xavi mastered crawling in the past 10 days. Chafed knees are a constant reminder that mobility is the new reality for small Mr. Katz.

The resulting independence is alternately exhilarating and daunting:

"oooooh I'm going to get that (insert here - kitty, ball, stereo, vacuum etc)!"

OR

"Hey are you watching me? Um, did you see that? Could you notice me please? Um, I'm over here and I'm not sure about it, could you come get me please? Hey! YOU! Could you come get me out from under this armchair!"

Or, in some cases, exhausting. As when XW finds himself compelled to crawl deliriously round and round his crib at 3am, alternately snorting in delight and wailing in misery, unsure how to stop or what to do with himself.

All Moms know is that nowadays when the baby decides it's time to get up in the morning tiny eyes stare mercilously between tiny arms, gripping tiny crib rails, at sleepy one-eye-open mamas hoping for ten more minutes.

More on the unspeakable tastiness of plums, the agony of upper front teeth, and the ongoing love of all "B" sounds at a later date.

Xavi Daily - June 23

Baby to Baby Relations Under Consideration

Quote from the most recent summit:

"Hello.  Greetings Senorita Sera.  I hear that we are friends.  I think that means I should eat your head.  Tasty.  Thank you very much."