PARTY!

December 28th my cousin Debs married Elio in the Salt Lake Temple. Let me tell you about the reception at the city hall:

Her family lip-synched and danced to "All I Want For Christmas Is You" and Debbie & Elio had a coreographed dance to "How Sweet It Is." (They were adorable.)
Then, when everything was calm on the dance floor, hundreds of balloons began falling from above. Loud latin music began and the wedding party came running out in masquerade masks and crowned guests with party hats, leis, noise-makers etc. The groom led the congo line and all my cousins, aunts and uncles packed the dance floor. By the time we left my heels were killing me but IT WAS SO FUN!!!

Side note: when the balloons first fell, all the kids ran out screaming and stomping on the balloons. In the middle of the children, stood my dad, the biggest kid of all, running after and popping balloons. He was jumping around and dancing all night.....I loved it.

Christmas: Part I a--Edit Slideshow

(Scroll your mouse to get the slide show moving...I couldn't figure out how to change the song btw.)
This Christmas was spent with my family in Texas. (The plan is to spent the first part of the holiday in Texas then fly to my cousins wedding in SLC and spend the second part of the holiday in Utah.) Bradshaw has been spoiled rotten with attention. He is constantly being held, entertained and kissed.
P.S. Do you prefer the slide show feature or images in the body of the blog?

Twenty-Six!

The Simpsons

3rd Street Promenade

This pedestrian only street is just a few blocks from our house. D & I love walking down third because of all the street performers. My favorite has been "Nat King Cole."

B & K

A Spit-Uppity Day

MAJOR AWARD!

When I was growing up, my parents presented a MAJOR AWARD each Family Home Evening. My mom would very carefully cover the printed award so none of the children would sneak-a-peek as it was brought into the room. All eyes would be on my dad as he said, "This week. the award goes toooooooooooooooooooo(he'd point his finger and move it slowly from child-to-child; I'd hold my breath during this part)oooooooooooooooo NELSON!" Or Lorin, Genny or Sera, etc. depending on the week.

The reasons for the award varied from "wearing big-kid underpants!" to "standing up for your values amidst opposition." This week the MAJOR AWARD goes toooooooo B.

His ferocious appetite returned yesterday. (In fact, he was staring very intently at D and the next thing we knew he had his little gums gnawing on the side of D's face. He pounced!)

But that is not the reason for the award.

Yesterday, December 11th, he monumentally progressed in cognitive development. He rolled over for the first time. He laughed for the first time. He slept through the night for the first time (10pm-7am). Needless to say, D and I could not be prouder parents.

Call the Nurse! Oh wait, ...that's me

No fever, no cough, no running nose, no stomachache...B just completely stopped eating. Every time I try to feed him he screams in pain. Also, he won't sleep more than 45 minutes at a time during the night. He wakes up crying but not wanting to eat, just needing comfort.

It is terrible to have your baby in pain and not be able to comfort him. He got sick over the weekend so I had D's support when I feel so helpless and nauseatingly worried. Daddy plays with and sings to B and makes him so happy.

Our wonderful pediatrician counseled with us on a Sunday afternoon and checked B out. His stomach, ear, nose, throat and mouth are fine. The jury's still out on why he's decided to have an eating strike. He's not dehydrated, so we are trusting the doctor that he'll be fine.

Why do you let Daddy dress me?

(Sidenote: I noticed some of B's clothes were 'abnormally' stretched. Then I watched the clothes changing process; before B's head, Daddy pulled the pants over his own head.)

The Getty

It's rumored that J. Paul Getty built The Getty art museum to avoid paying taxes. This museum is built up in the hills of Santa Monica and overlooks LA. Even though it's December the gardens are our favorite part!

Daddy's Running Partner

Dwight K. Schrute

Doesn't matter how I brush Beau's hair, Pierre always restyles it the same way.

Santa Monica Livin'

Let me tell you about how sweet my husband is....

B woke up this morning around 6am as usual. I pulled him into my bed to see if he could coo beside me while I'd get some more sleep. Dustinn got up and headed for the shower. About 10 minutes later he came back to our room with a plate of cheesy scrambled eggs and apple juice singing a mix of my dad's "Good Morning to You" and "Happy Birthday." (It's not my birthday--Dustinn just likes being jolly.) He said he had just turned on the fan in the bathroom so I would think he was showering so he could bring me breakfast in bed.

Well anyway he insisted that I blow out the (imaginary) birthday candles and that I could make three wishes. Well, I'm not going to share the first two (way too personal) but my third wish I said "Stay home from work today and play with me and Bradshaw." Dustinn said "Your wish is granted."

Last night, Dustinn's manager had told him that they'd worked hard and gotten it done and to take the next day off. (This is one thing I LOVE about Monitor. Everyone works really hard; but if the work is done they don't expect you to come in to the office just to serve your time like some companies do.) Hooray!

Today has also been the first day it has rained while we have lived in Santa Monica. But it was still a very nice day. Dustinn and I (plus Bradshaw in the stroller) ran along the beach in shorts and t-shirts. Due to the weather and it being a work day, the beach was completely deserted and silent except for the waves and the seagulls. The light was streaming through the clouds; it was very lovely.

-Valery

Folks who love Bradshaw

2 Months

Beau & his GoGo

napping with GoGo

Beau & KK

From about 2 weeks-2 months old Beau was very colicky. I didn't know anything else and assumed every newborn was that upset, that often.  (My mom had 2 very colicky kids and would've recognized it but unfortunately it hit only after she left.)

It seemed like the only time Beau wasn't crying was when he was eating. I thought other moms, with calmer babies, were just better moms.  (Horrible, erroneous thinking that, without intending any malice, someone fed me.)  In this time I scoured books like Baby Whisperer, The Happiest Baby on the Block & Becoming Baby Wise.

I was totally dumbfounded when we finally took Beau to church several months later and I witnessed all the newborns and teeny babies content in their parents arms. Anyway, if you have a colicky baby, let's talk. =)

In Beau's 2nd month of life, he met and was visited by many important people...kings, queens, presidents, noble-peace-prize recipients...just kidding but folks of equivalent nobility and value.

Beau's great grandparents

a BIG month for our family

In September we were blessed with a healthy baby boy.

We were anxiously hoping and praying that "Beau" would arrive before "Pierre" had to leave for new-hire training in Boston.  Thankfully, those prayers were answered!  I was so grateful to have Pierre by my side through the progression of labor and when they told us the problems and suggested the dreaded C-word.

Beau was born healthy and big (9 lbs; 22 inches).

"Pierre" had to fly out the next day but luckily my mom had already arrived in town. (Actually I called her on the way to the hospital and she got on the first flight.)

Upon hospital discharge, we (Beau, my mom & I) went to the family cabin to rest and recuperate before driving to California. Those first few days were some of the most emotionally poignant days of my life. (In retrospect I realize my behavior was quite annoying--yet no one conveyed this to me then.) Every time I'd go to pick him up, diaper him, or feed him, my arms would go limp and I'd start bawling, "he's just soooooo beautiful."  My life had been actualized in this perfect little being.   I spent hours staring at him and repeating how he was so perfect and such a miracle.

Cousin & Beau, at the cabin

Beau's 1st bath

But we had things to do and places to be and I could not remain in that heavenly bubble for long. The drive from Provo to Los Angeles was miserable! If Beau wasn't nursing he was crying. So we stopped a lot and tried many techniques to soothe him on the drive. My body was so physically responsive to him, that I felt like a voodoo doll being pierced with needles at each cry.

My mom was very patient with me on the drive.  I'm pretty sure I had multiple outbursts of, "we're never ever ever going to make it!  I'm going to bleed to death along I-15!" (I was having trouble with my c-section incisions.)  She repeatedly reassured me that everything was okay and we would indeed make it to LA.

Finally we arrived. Our apartment was empty from floor to ceiling other than a pile of boxes in the living room that we needed to unpack before we could shower or cook.  There was no furniture.  Of greatest importance, there was no bed and no fridge.

My mom was (and is) a superhero. She made a dusty, dirty apartment fresh and clean. She unpacked boxes night and day, brought me delicious healthy meals prepared without the use of a fridge, took sleep shifts with Beau, and always seemed to anticipate my insane thirst the moment before it hit. Our apartment didn't have air conditioning and we were sweating constantly. She was my cheerleader through sleepless days and nights and trouble nursing. She took us to Beau's first pediatrician appointment.

By the time Pierre returned, all of our boxes were unpacked, the kitchen was stocked, our fridge was in place, the necessary nick-knacks had been acquired and, best of all, I was well-rested in high spirits and moderately confident about my newfound role as a mother.

Daddy's happy reunion with his 2-week-old son

best feeling in the world

like father, like son