Lots of social activity. Here's what we did:
--Saturday: Let Rachel sleep late (as did I, although I can't seem to sleep past 8 even if I force myself to. This is a worrisome trend; I hope it changes when winter comes and/or Drew returns), so we missed the Multnomah Days parade, a cool event in Multnomah Village in Southwest Portland. We did, however, make it down there to browse among the food stands while visiting our friend Amy and her two sons Jake and Tony. Rachel actually ate some chicken and tortilla, which I considered a victory.
--Saturday afternoon: Left the parade and went back to Amy's house, where the boys immediately took Rachel upstairs to show her their toys. Tony, who is at Maplewood Elementary, was wonderfully gentle with Rachel; he carried her down the stairs when she was afraid to go down and patiently played "chase" with her on Sunday morning when she started running up and down the living-room hallway.
--Saturday night: Rachel can finally get to sleep in a Pack-n-Play! We set it up in the guest room of Amy's house; Rachel fussed a little when I put her down for bed and cried for about a minute or so. Then she was out. I crawled into the bed next to her at 1 a.m. -- Amy and I had a lot of catching up to do -- and found out that Rachel is quite a restless sleeper. At 4 a.m. or so she started talking in her sleep, but then we both slept in until 7:30 or so! I woke up to hear her say cheerfully, "Good day!" and play quietly with her rubber duckies. Then she stood up in the Pack-n-Play; I opened my eyes and said, "Would you like to cuddle in bed, sweetie?" She said yes and it was so fun to cuddle and fall back asleep for a half-hour or so.
--Sunday morning: Said goodbye to Amy, Jake and Tony -- "I like Tony!" Rachel exclaimed as we left -- then grocery shopping, then on to our friend Jeanette's house. Jeanette lives in a large aerie in Northwest Portland with her 10-year-old daughter Berrit. She immediately took a shine to Rachel and they sat at the dining room table playing with stickers and coloring with washable magic markers. I made some pasta with basil and cherry tomatoes which unfortunately we didn't get to enjoy much because the neighbor kids came over and Jeanette had to take an important call.
So then we went home and Rachel took a late nap while I unpacked everything. I desperately wanted to nap, too, but I didn't have the time. For dinner, all I had the energy to do was re-heat some chicken. Then I gave Rachel a bath, cleaned up the kitchen, cut up berries for breakfast this morning and collapsed in front of "Mad Men" -- my one guilty pleasure of the week.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Dinner with Nikole, Faraji and Nadja
I was supposed to bring Nikole and Faraji a dinner when their daughter Nadja was born in April. But the weekend I was supposed to deliver it was the weekend before I was fired so....THAT didn't happen.
We made up for that tonight when Rachel and I met them for dinner after work. Right as I was getting onto the highway to see them, Drew called. Rachel indicated she wanted to talk on the phone, so I just handed it to her, not caring if she was traumatzied when I took the phone back. And she was great! She was chattering away about daycare, and pointing out things she saw on the way, and then she unexpectedly shrieked with laughter. Turns out that was when Drew was blowing her kisses into the phone! Then, matter-of-factly, she handed the phone to me and said, "here you go, Mommy." I was flabbergasted; maybe it's OK for her to talk to Drew after all?
Anyway, Rachel took a real shine to Faraji. When we walked to a pizza place near their house, she reached up to him, he picked her up and CARRIED her eight blocks or so without her fussing at all. She was very patient as we waited for our pizza (probably because she had filled up on peanuts after daycare), and even ate a little bit of the tomato sauce before demanding crusts only. So, I gave my daughter a dinner of pizza crusts. I'm a bad mommy.
Then on the way back she held my hand and Faraji's. And when we returned to the house and Nikole began nursing Nadja, Faraji offered to read Rachel a Dr. Seuss book. With only the tiniest bit of hesitation, Rachel climbed onto Faraji's lap and sat very contentedly while he read to her. At the end of the night she tilted her head toward him for a kiss!
I thought Drew would be very jealous but instead he was gratified to hear she is getting more and more comfortable and affectionate with people other than Mommy and Daddy!
We made up for that tonight when Rachel and I met them for dinner after work. Right as I was getting onto the highway to see them, Drew called. Rachel indicated she wanted to talk on the phone, so I just handed it to her, not caring if she was traumatzied when I took the phone back. And she was great! She was chattering away about daycare, and pointing out things she saw on the way, and then she unexpectedly shrieked with laughter. Turns out that was when Drew was blowing her kisses into the phone! Then, matter-of-factly, she handed the phone to me and said, "here you go, Mommy." I was flabbergasted; maybe it's OK for her to talk to Drew after all?
Anyway, Rachel took a real shine to Faraji. When we walked to a pizza place near their house, she reached up to him, he picked her up and CARRIED her eight blocks or so without her fussing at all. She was very patient as we waited for our pizza (probably because she had filled up on peanuts after daycare), and even ate a little bit of the tomato sauce before demanding crusts only. So, I gave my daughter a dinner of pizza crusts. I'm a bad mommy.
Then on the way back she held my hand and Faraji's. And when we returned to the house and Nikole began nursing Nadja, Faraji offered to read Rachel a Dr. Seuss book. With only the tiniest bit of hesitation, Rachel climbed onto Faraji's lap and sat very contentedly while he read to her. At the end of the night she tilted her head toward him for a kiss!
I thought Drew would be very jealous but instead he was gratified to hear she is getting more and more comfortable and affectionate with people other than Mommy and Daddy!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Wonderful weekend with Angela
Forgot to write about this past weekend, my second as a single mom and the first without family around.
On Saturday morning we went grocery shopping, an exhausting process because to save money we have to go to several low-priced places to find what we need. And just FORGET about the farmer's market -- too much of a hassle.
Overall, it wasn't as bad as I feared. We got home just in time for nap, and I got a chance to unload groceries and re-organize the refrigerator. Now Drew will have to organize it HIS way when he's back for Labor Day weekend. Tee-hee!
Then we went to the second block party of the summer, three blocks away. We arrived around 5, which turned out to be way too early, but Rachel definitely kept herself amused. Dogs roamed everywhere, a couple sniffing at her legs and she screamed in terror. I finally sat her down and explained that this was THEIR neighborhood and she had to respect that. She tried really hard but it was a struggle.
Toward the end of the evening, though, she had a great time. She grazed, food-wise, and when the fire truck came she was thrilled! She got a red plastic helmet and got to sit up front for a long, long time -- way after the other kids had left. She also got a popsicle.
We left after folks started lighting sparklers and setting off fireworks. Rachel did NOT like that AT ALL.
The next day we met up with our friend Angela and drove to a gorgeous swimming hole at a state park in Washougal, WA. It's right on the Washougal River. At first I was skeptical -- the path down there was really steep and Rachel was frightened after she slipped a little in her crocs. And when we got down to the bottom, all we saw were rocks and sun -- no place to set up a picnic blanket in a shady spot. We finally found a muddy spit of land under a tree.
And the folks there were all drinking beer and smoking and a fair number had tattoos.
But you know what? We had fun anyway. Rachel refused to go into the water (icy cold on contact but very refreshing once I swam around a bit) and spent time on shore in my lap (or Angela's or her friend Taylor's) tossing rocks into the swimming hole. We left just after the mid-afternoon crush started arriving and setting up propane-powered grills, ugh.
Rachel insisted she got wet "all over" like Mommy did, but that's not true so please don't believe her if she tries to tell you that.
THEN we delivered a late birthday gift to the daughter of a friend of ours and ended up staying for dinner. Meaning, I ate the delicious baked salmon, tomato and cucumber salad and rice, and Rachel refused all food. She's no fool - she was holding out for the food SHE wanted at home. And, yes, she got it.
Whew! I'm exhausted just writing this. We have another busy weekend ahead but I'm looking forward to it -- it helps remind me that Rachel and I are not alone.
On Saturday morning we went grocery shopping, an exhausting process because to save money we have to go to several low-priced places to find what we need. And just FORGET about the farmer's market -- too much of a hassle.
Overall, it wasn't as bad as I feared. We got home just in time for nap, and I got a chance to unload groceries and re-organize the refrigerator. Now Drew will have to organize it HIS way when he's back for Labor Day weekend. Tee-hee!
Then we went to the second block party of the summer, three blocks away. We arrived around 5, which turned out to be way too early, but Rachel definitely kept herself amused. Dogs roamed everywhere, a couple sniffing at her legs and she screamed in terror. I finally sat her down and explained that this was THEIR neighborhood and she had to respect that. She tried really hard but it was a struggle.
Toward the end of the evening, though, she had a great time. She grazed, food-wise, and when the fire truck came she was thrilled! She got a red plastic helmet and got to sit up front for a long, long time -- way after the other kids had left. She also got a popsicle.
We left after folks started lighting sparklers and setting off fireworks. Rachel did NOT like that AT ALL.
The next day we met up with our friend Angela and drove to a gorgeous swimming hole at a state park in Washougal, WA. It's right on the Washougal River. At first I was skeptical -- the path down there was really steep and Rachel was frightened after she slipped a little in her crocs. And when we got down to the bottom, all we saw were rocks and sun -- no place to set up a picnic blanket in a shady spot. We finally found a muddy spit of land under a tree.
And the folks there were all drinking beer and smoking and a fair number had tattoos.
But you know what? We had fun anyway. Rachel refused to go into the water (icy cold on contact but very refreshing once I swam around a bit) and spent time on shore in my lap (or Angela's or her friend Taylor's) tossing rocks into the swimming hole. We left just after the mid-afternoon crush started arriving and setting up propane-powered grills, ugh.
Rachel insisted she got wet "all over" like Mommy did, but that's not true so please don't believe her if she tries to tell you that.
THEN we delivered a late birthday gift to the daughter of a friend of ours and ended up staying for dinner. Meaning, I ate the delicious baked salmon, tomato and cucumber salad and rice, and Rachel refused all food. She's no fool - she was holding out for the food SHE wanted at home. And, yes, she got it.
Whew! I'm exhausted just writing this. We have another busy weekend ahead but I'm looking forward to it -- it helps remind me that Rachel and I are not alone.
um, I didn't think we'd have to deal with this for a while
I'll get right to the point, folks: Rachel has a boyfriend.
His name is Declan.
No, I've never met him. No, I have no idea if he's from good people. I don't even know who his mommy is!
Her take-home report the other day said Rachel enjoys spending time with Declan, one of the Toddler 2s. "Lots of talking and laughing," the report said.
Hmm.
What did you do today at school? I asked Rachel when I picked her up tonight.
"Declan gave hug," she said.
"Declan gave you a HUG?" I asked.
"Declan boyfriend," she said. (To be fair, I had asked her 15 minutes earlier if Declan was her boyfriend. She said yes).
One of the Toddler 2 teachers said the other day that when Rachel and Declan sat in her lap, Rachel leaned onto Declan's back as if to say, "ooh, I love you."
Her world is rapidly expanding. This boyfriend stuff...should I be worried??
His name is Declan.
No, I've never met him. No, I have no idea if he's from good people. I don't even know who his mommy is!
Her take-home report the other day said Rachel enjoys spending time with Declan, one of the Toddler 2s. "Lots of talking and laughing," the report said.
Hmm.
What did you do today at school? I asked Rachel when I picked her up tonight.
"Declan gave hug," she said.
"Declan gave you a HUG?" I asked.
"Declan boyfriend," she said. (To be fair, I had asked her 15 minutes earlier if Declan was her boyfriend. She said yes).
One of the Toddler 2 teachers said the other day that when Rachel and Declan sat in her lap, Rachel leaned onto Declan's back as if to say, "ooh, I love you."
Her world is rapidly expanding. This boyfriend stuff...should I be worried??
Friday, August 13, 2010
Shabbat on the plaza
I had a fantastic day at work today -- topped off by an invitation to drink wine in the Dean's office with a bunch of colleagues; I really think I'm going to like it at Willamette -- so it was a great time to celebrate Shabbat outdoors. Even though I left Salem relatively late (4:45) I made it to daycare 15 minutes early. Yay!
As we neared the synagogue, I got frustrated because I couldn't find parking.
"Rachel, do you think I'll find parking?" I asked.
"Yes," she replied confidently.
And what do you know -- about 2 minutes later I was easing myself into a free, on-street parking space! No doubt because I am a parking goddess, which means I can find parking anywhere. It's a matrilneal trait among Lednicer women. And it increases in intensity when several of us are together. When Mom and I are in the car, we can find a space in front of Lincoln Center on a Friday night. It's very impressive.
Shabbat was nice but I didn't tune in to much of the service because I was too busy feeding Rachel, shushing Rachel, or sweeping her up and carrying her someplace away from the crowd when she got too fussy. I will be very glad when Drew returns so next year I can get more out of these services.
As we neared the synagogue, I got frustrated because I couldn't find parking.
"Rachel, do you think I'll find parking?" I asked.
"Yes," she replied confidently.
And what do you know -- about 2 minutes later I was easing myself into a free, on-street parking space! No doubt because I am a parking goddess, which means I can find parking anywhere. It's a matrilneal trait among Lednicer women. And it increases in intensity when several of us are together. When Mom and I are in the car, we can find a space in front of Lincoln Center on a Friday night. It's very impressive.
Shabbat was nice but I didn't tune in to much of the service because I was too busy feeding Rachel, shushing Rachel, or sweeping her up and carrying her someplace away from the crowd when she got too fussy. I will be very glad when Drew returns so next year I can get more out of these services.
Bad words
So, we were driving home from Paige and Ryan's and I was suffused with a glow of neighborliness, the feeling that really good friends are looking out for us and taking care of us while Drew is gone, when all of a sudden I heard from the back seat:
"Dammit."
"Rachel," I said sternly. "That's a bad word. You really shouldn't use it. Mommy shouldn't, either."
She was quiet for half a minute and then said, "fart."
I had to suppress my laughter and tell her that was a bad word, too.
"Dammit."
"Rachel," I said sternly. "That's a bad word. You really shouldn't use it. Mommy shouldn't, either."
She was quiet for half a minute and then said, "fart."
I had to suppress my laughter and tell her that was a bad word, too.
Dinner with Ryan, Paige and Parker
On Wednesday (yes, folks, I'm just catching up -- ever wonder what it's like to be a single mom responsible for not only feeding, amusing, dressing, cleaning and putting to bed a 2-year-old and paying the bills and keeping the house running? If these two weeks are any guide, I will be dead of exhaustion by the time Drew's fellowship ends -- but I digress).
ANYWAY.
On Wednesday, we were invited to our friends Paige and Ryan's home in North Portland. They have a 2 1/2 year old son, Parker, who is a very nice kid but didn't say a word the whole time we were there. However, I did note that he ate everything Paige and Ryan gave him, which in our case was cold noodles and pork dressed with green beans, carrots, cucumbers and turnips with a vinaigrette. Really, I'm not doing the meal justice -- it was fantastic.
Rachel picked at the pork (which I, in a brilliant flash of insight, called chicken), tried a carrot and made a face, and proceeded to eat one jar of pureed carrots. This is why she's an air fern, folks. Where she gets the energy to tumble about the way she does, I have no idea. When I looked over to the miniature table and chairs that Paige and Ryan had set up in the kitchen for the kids, she and Parker were playing peek-a-boo. That is, Parker ducked his head under the table and Rachel followed suit, then he popped his head up and Rachel did, too. They were smiling and giggling; it was so cute!
Poor girl was terrified by the dog, Murphy, so they locked him up in a room. Otherwise, we all ended up having a fractured conversation while Rachel and Parker went out onto the porch to play with toys -- mostly kid-sized cars they rode up and down. At the end fo the evening, Rachel reached out to Ryan to hug him, and then she gave him a kiss on the lips.
And then the cutest thing happened: Paige urged Parker to kiss Rachel goodbye -- which he did! On the lips! And then he wrapped his long arms around her and gave her a hug!
As we were walking down the stairs to our car, Rachel said, "I like Parker!"
Maybe in oh, 12 years, they'll be dating??
ANYWAY.
On Wednesday, we were invited to our friends Paige and Ryan's home in North Portland. They have a 2 1/2 year old son, Parker, who is a very nice kid but didn't say a word the whole time we were there. However, I did note that he ate everything Paige and Ryan gave him, which in our case was cold noodles and pork dressed with green beans, carrots, cucumbers and turnips with a vinaigrette. Really, I'm not doing the meal justice -- it was fantastic.
Rachel picked at the pork (which I, in a brilliant flash of insight, called chicken), tried a carrot and made a face, and proceeded to eat one jar of pureed carrots. This is why she's an air fern, folks. Where she gets the energy to tumble about the way she does, I have no idea. When I looked over to the miniature table and chairs that Paige and Ryan had set up in the kitchen for the kids, she and Parker were playing peek-a-boo. That is, Parker ducked his head under the table and Rachel followed suit, then he popped his head up and Rachel did, too. They were smiling and giggling; it was so cute!
Poor girl was terrified by the dog, Murphy, so they locked him up in a room. Otherwise, we all ended up having a fractured conversation while Rachel and Parker went out onto the porch to play with toys -- mostly kid-sized cars they rode up and down. At the end fo the evening, Rachel reached out to Ryan to hug him, and then she gave him a kiss on the lips.
And then the cutest thing happened: Paige urged Parker to kiss Rachel goodbye -- which he did! On the lips! And then he wrapped his long arms around her and gave her a hug!
As we were walking down the stairs to our car, Rachel said, "I like Parker!"
Maybe in oh, 12 years, they'll be dating??
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