The Number Two Bus

While Owen isn't quite two (I'm particularly sad to miss the proper day, as I head out to San Francisco tomorrow morning and don't get back until the day after his birthday), we celebrated his birthday today with family (mima, papa, grandma, and J were all in attendance!) and several of his young friends. As usual, Meh was amazing and outdid herself with incredible decorations, food (for both the kids and grownups), drinks (tea and even London Underground-themed labelled waters for goodness sake), activities (making jeweled crowns), little picnic lunches for the kids, and pretty much everything; even the invitation was amazing stuff, not to mention our sons' matching outfits. More pictures of the fun times can be found here.

Oh, and ever since his friend L's birthday party a few months ago, Owen has had a very specific request for his own birthday cake:

(If you're wondering, "minna" is what O calls nursing -- we'll pass on discussing that topic in this entry, though I was amused to discover that one of the streets/venues I'll be at this week shares the name.)
Anyway, more than a month later, and Meh fulfilled this 'red heart' request on the back window of her amazingly incredible double decker bus cake. I myself contributed some UK-based chocolates, a miniature pop-up book of London sights, some stickers, and a piggy bank shaped like a double decker bus from my recent trip.

O was particularly giddy with everyone singing happy birthday to him, getting a huge smile on his face. He also chowed down on the cake itself (occasionally with a fork, mostly with his hands), in addition to playing energetically, making a crown with his friends, and generally having a blast. Z did very well with the flurry of other kids too.

Grandma and J had generously wanted to offer us a date night, but between our activities (my orchestra had a dress rehearsal Friday night, a concert on Saturday night, and Meh had a meeting Sunday night) the only opportunity was after the birthday party wrapped up. Meh and I had a nice quiet tea at our favorite Seattle tea house - thank you grandma and J! The whirlwind continues tomorrow, with grandma, J, and me all driving to the airport to fly our separate ways. Again, huge huge thanks to mima and papa for supporting Meh and the boys while my work travel schedule goes through hopefully its craziest stretch of the year.

Make Room for Mommy

Scoot does an amazing job of keeping our readers up to date regarding Zachary's activities, vocal progress, bowel movements, etc., but I thought I would just chime in with some of the Mommy perspective.

On the weekends I work (every other weekend, for those of you who don't know) Zachary and Daddy have fun together. I miss them so much during these times. I'm so lucky that Scoot brings Zachary to work to visit me! They would stay at the library all day if I let them, but I think that's pushing it. Yet, there's nothing quite as soothing as opening the workroom door to see their smiling faces after assisting a patron in finding the next movie that stars Who0pi G0ldberg (for the third time that day). Sigh. I flatter myself that Zachary brightens everyone's day when he visits the library for a snack with Mommy. Luckily, my new 20 hour schedule kicks in tomorrow, so I will have more Zachary time!

I am trying to keep my foot in my more creative activities, as well. Dunava performed at a Baba Marta festival last night (I went straight from work and got home just in time for Zachary's bedtime snack), and we are working on recording a CD. I'm also joining a stamping/card-making club that meets monthly, and our monthly book club is back in session after a brief holiday season hiatus. Sometimes I worry that Scoot isn't getting enough "guy" time away from Zachary and me, but when I voiced my concern he responded with the ever-appropriate and comforting, "Meh-meh...meh-meh". Most of my activities take place while Zachary is asleep, but I felt bad leaving Scoot so often the past couple weeks. We made up for it by staying up too late watching Law and Order and our Netflix movies the past couple evenings.

What with my work schedule the way it was, I have been having a hard time pumping enough milk for my growing boy. It has been the cause of much anxiety for me that Zachary might (gasp!) have to supplement with a little formula. I was given only formula, and I think I turned out fine, but you just get so bombarded with "breastmilk is best" propaganda that it seems like the worst failure in the world to run low on milk. I did my best for months, pumping before bed, after Zachary's meals, whenever I could to get the bare minimum for him as my measly stockpile in the freezer diminished, but this week I finally ran out. Zachary had some formula with his nanny J last Friday, and a little before bed last night (though I made it home to finish him off before he fell asleep). Now, I have been told that it is a myth that giving formula to babies at bedtime will make them sleep longer (something to do with it being less easily digested, keeping them full longer). However, Friday night Zachary slept until 4:45am, and last night he slept until 3am. Normally, he is awake for a feed between midnight and 1:30am or so. Hmmm.