Anders has developed a new trick. He can turn on the music box in his mobile by just kicking it. Last weekend, we had to take "his guys"--the small stuffed animals that rotate in the mobile--out of crib because he is too old for them. We left the sound system and the projector, which now projects onto the ceiling rather than to the umbrella to which his guys were attached.
On a non-Anders note, please keep Kjersten Hanson-Smell in your prayers. She was a classmate of mine at good old DHS and we were confirmed together at First Lutheran Church in Decorah. She was a pediatric/NICU nurse at Gunderson Lutheran Hospital in LaCrosse, WI. Kjersten has been fighting esophageal cancer (a form of cancer that old-guy smokers usually get, not healthy 25 year old women) on and off for the past five years. Her time on earth appears to be ending. Kjesten's battle with cancer has been inspirational. Here is her caringbridge website: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kjerstensnell
I have been thinking about her a lot since her condition took a downward turn. I have been hugging Anders tighter, and Anna. The means of expressing one's feelings about profound trauma are riddled with cliches. One of those cliches, that resonates with me most of all during this time is that "each day is a gift."
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Another Thought
I think that having Anders mix it up with older kids helps his development. He was the youngest baby at the library yesterday. He tried to keep up. As a result, he sat up unassisted for far longer than any other time.
Today, he is getting into crawling position. He can't put the parts together yet, but he is figuring out how to get into position to crawl. Meanwhile, he rolls all over the floor, over his mat, the rug, and onto the hardwood floor. I couldn't be prouder!
I might hazard a stroll out into allergy world tomorrow. I'm feeling a little cooped up in here, and probably Anders is too. Well, we better finish this feeding, enough blogging for now.
Today, he is getting into crawling position. He can't put the parts together yet, but he is figuring out how to get into position to crawl. Meanwhile, he rolls all over the floor, over his mat, the rug, and onto the hardwood floor. I couldn't be prouder!
I might hazard a stroll out into allergy world tomorrow. I'm feeling a little cooped up in here, and probably Anders is too. Well, we better finish this feeding, enough blogging for now.
Anders on the Town
Anders was on the receiving end yesterday at Baby Store Time. He was in the circle with Felix who is 13 months old and in a throwing stage. Anders was grabbing and dumping the lego bucket, while Felix threw those legos, one of which hit Anders in the head. In the words of Sarah Palin, Anders didn't flinch. I pretended like nothing happened and Anders didn't react at all! A small victory for Team Peterson. Anders also saw his girlfriend Anna, whom he met over the weekend at the Village Bakery. She is an older woman, she is 2. She remembered Anders, but he didn't remember her. He played it cool.
Anders went with me to the grocery store today. Half way through Kroger, I was sure he had pooped his pants. Every time I put something in the cart, I got a nose full of poop. I was embarrassed to check out because we were stuck in one place. I thought the cashier would notice or give me a look. Anders Dutch Ovened me on the car ride home. I couldn't open the windows because we both have allergies to the national forest around us. So, I finally got him home, took him right to his crib to change him. I preemptively took off his onsie. Before cracking his diaper, I would have bet $1,000 that there was some poop in there. Nothing. What we have here is an apple-tree situation. Meanwhile, Anna gently weeps on her car ride home. I think it was his new exposure to sweet potatoes.
Time to eat again, more later.
Anders went with me to the grocery store today. Half way through Kroger, I was sure he had pooped his pants. Every time I put something in the cart, I got a nose full of poop. I was embarrassed to check out because we were stuck in one place. I thought the cashier would notice or give me a look. Anders Dutch Ovened me on the car ride home. I couldn't open the windows because we both have allergies to the national forest around us. So, I finally got him home, took him right to his crib to change him. I preemptively took off his onsie. Before cracking his diaper, I would have bet $1,000 that there was some poop in there. Nothing. What we have here is an apple-tree situation. Meanwhile, Anna gently weeps on her car ride home. I think it was his new exposure to sweet potatoes.
Time to eat again, more later.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Anders goes to Easton
I think we have a mall rat. We took Anders up to the other Columbus mall we frequent, Easton. We needed to get out of town because our spring allergies had become unbearable. Spring is a little later up there and they don't have as much bad stuff blooming up there either. In our haste to leave Athens, we forgot our stroller so we had to carry Anders everywhere. He loved every minute of it.
I also defended my dissertation on Friday. It went well. It is a relief to have that done. Now, all I have to do is make minor edits and formatting changes and then turn it in by May 7 to the university.
We had a nice visit from our friends Jeff, Andrea, and Renee who came hundreds of miles to see each other and celebrate with the rest of the Ohio Gang.
I would type more, but I truly feel awful. The allergies started earlier this year, while snow was still on the ground. This peak period, of which we probably have a week and half left, is worse than any I remember. It has been cool and rainy today, two things that usually mean much relief, but not this year. I'm arbitrarily saying that by Mother's Day things will be much better.
I also defended my dissertation on Friday. It went well. It is a relief to have that done. Now, all I have to do is make minor edits and formatting changes and then turn it in by May 7 to the university.
We had a nice visit from our friends Jeff, Andrea, and Renee who came hundreds of miles to see each other and celebrate with the rest of the Ohio Gang.
I would type more, but I truly feel awful. The allergies started earlier this year, while snow was still on the ground. This peak period, of which we probably have a week and half left, is worse than any I remember. It has been cool and rainy today, two things that usually mean much relief, but not this year. I'm arbitrarily saying that by Mother's Day things will be much better.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Baby Story Time
Yes, it appears that Anders matches the pillows in the pictures. That was just a happy coincidence.
Yesterday, I took Anders to baby story time at the Athens Public Library. It was interesting to see Anders interact with other babies and toddlers. A mom placed her Halloween baby, Max eyeball to eyeball with Anders. He was thicker and shorter than Anders. In theory, Anders is eight days older than Max. In reality, I think Anders' awareness is that of a baby older than six months, but probably less than a nine-monther. Both babies had white and blue socks on. Max sort of looked off into the distance, while Anders lunged at Max....or more specifically, his socks. Anders proceeded to try to pull his socks off. I apologized, but let it happen for a while to see what would happen. Anders then started pulling on his own socks, which made me think he was confused by the similar socks, but then he went for Max's socks again!
Later on, I had Anders on my lap as we sat watching some older kids play xylophones. An 18 month girl was using the stick to play the instrument, then out of nowhere Anders snatched the stick out of her hand. She took it pretty well, even offering him other toys. When another boy her age tried to take the wand, she did not take it so well. Meanwhile, another little baby girl about Anders' age, grabbed the name tag off her back, so this toddler was getting harassed on both sides by 6 month-olds!
I have to say, I was impressed with Anders out there. He kept his head on a swivel. He showed himself to be a little salty out there. My high school football coach always encouraged "salty" line play from us. I was never exactly sure what that meant, but I think that's how Anders was at Baby Story Time.
Anders slept til past 9 am today. I think that the high pollen count might be a factor. It sounds like he's not going to take his morning nap because he slept so long last night. I better go and appease The Tyrant.
Yesterday, I took Anders to baby story time at the Athens Public Library. It was interesting to see Anders interact with other babies and toddlers. A mom placed her Halloween baby, Max eyeball to eyeball with Anders. He was thicker and shorter than Anders. In theory, Anders is eight days older than Max. In reality, I think Anders' awareness is that of a baby older than six months, but probably less than a nine-monther. Both babies had white and blue socks on. Max sort of looked off into the distance, while Anders lunged at Max....or more specifically, his socks. Anders proceeded to try to pull his socks off. I apologized, but let it happen for a while to see what would happen. Anders then started pulling on his own socks, which made me think he was confused by the similar socks, but then he went for Max's socks again!
Later on, I had Anders on my lap as we sat watching some older kids play xylophones. An 18 month girl was using the stick to play the instrument, then out of nowhere Anders snatched the stick out of her hand. She took it pretty well, even offering him other toys. When another boy her age tried to take the wand, she did not take it so well. Meanwhile, another little baby girl about Anders' age, grabbed the name tag off her back, so this toddler was getting harassed on both sides by 6 month-olds!
I have to say, I was impressed with Anders out there. He kept his head on a swivel. He showed himself to be a little salty out there. My high school football coach always encouraged "salty" line play from us. I was never exactly sure what that meant, but I think that's how Anders was at Baby Story Time.
Anders slept til past 9 am today. I think that the high pollen count might be a factor. It sounds like he's not going to take his morning nap because he slept so long last night. I better go and appease The Tyrant.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Star Gazing
To say the last nine months have been challenging would be to engage in understatement. Yet, sometimes something very sweet happens. Last night as I was slogging through various and sundry forms that will eventually allow me to affix "Dr." to the front of my name, Anna called me into the living room. She and Anders were laying on his play mat (formerly his playpen) gazing up at the stars on the ceiling being projected by a mechanical turtle. I lay down next to Anders. He turned toward me, then toward Anna, then back to me, then back to Anna. Then he shook with the excitement of having both his parents flanking him and stars dancing across the ceiling. To see the genuine joy in his face and full body shakes was indescribable. I realize I sound like a letter to Casey Casem or a caller to Delilah, but that was an actual true thing. These little moments make me feel better about the challenges behind and in front of us.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Anders Causes Campus Riot
I had a loose end for graduation that I had to tie up (I have a feeling I will be saying this quite a bit in the next month), so Anders and I went on campus to get things back on track. I have had mixed results with the OU bureaucracy over my seven years here. Today, I had a great experience in large part due to the power of Anders.
First, one of our departmental administrators filled out the necessary paperwork for me. Then, I had to go to the graduate college to deliver this form and fill out more paperwork to add a second credit to graduate. Well, Anders arrived just ahead of me in the Baby Bjorn facing out at the world. As I was talking to the necessary administrator, a crowd of about half a dozen women gathered around Anders. Meanwhile, this person also filled out the necessary paperwork for me as Anders entertained his crowd. He expects everyone he meets to lavish attention on him and he was not disappointed!
He gave them all of Anders' Greatest Hits: Big Smile, Laughing Smile, Hands Flapping, and the Kramer Shake (he does a full body shake like Kramer from Seinfeld or it could be compared to former Iowa Hawkeyes and SF 49ers safety Merton Hanks celebratory shakes after an interception).
One of the women had twin great-nieces born at 28 weeks, one of whom who is blind and the other one who has trouble eating. Stories like that reinforce how fortunate and really how lucky we were/are. It's a good thing that I remained oblivious to some of the potential downsides of prematurity. I come by it honestly. There is a lot of stuff going on around me that I just don't notice. Anders' doctor told us not to go online and read blogs or chat rooms about premature babies. That was all I needed to hear. Everyone told us Anders would be fine and so far so good.
Anders and I also made a side trip to CVS and Walmart. These trips were uneventful. Oh, yesterday on our walk, we met a 4 year old girl and her family. Upon seeing Anders, she said, "I like your baby."
"Thank you," I replied.
"Your welcome," she said.
It's a windy afternoon, threatening to rain so I don't know if Anders will get his walk today. He's been sleeping for almost three hours. I'll have to wake him up in the next 10 minutes so that he doesn't go past four hours since his last feeding. He woke himself up a little earlier than usual today. He was having full conversations with himself in 15 second intervals. It was of course gibberish, but his tone changed from happy to sad to concerned to conversational all in that span of time. He is a fascinating little guy. After he finished his last bottle, he nestled into my chest and put his arms around me as if to say, "Alright, Dad, nap time let's go." Well, the Bear is stirring, so I best be going. Yes, he has many nicknames. Our latest and favorite is Mr. Bear, Ando-Bear or simply Bear. He looks a bit like a slumbering golden bear cub.
First, one of our departmental administrators filled out the necessary paperwork for me. Then, I had to go to the graduate college to deliver this form and fill out more paperwork to add a second credit to graduate. Well, Anders arrived just ahead of me in the Baby Bjorn facing out at the world. As I was talking to the necessary administrator, a crowd of about half a dozen women gathered around Anders. Meanwhile, this person also filled out the necessary paperwork for me as Anders entertained his crowd. He expects everyone he meets to lavish attention on him and he was not disappointed!
He gave them all of Anders' Greatest Hits: Big Smile, Laughing Smile, Hands Flapping, and the Kramer Shake (he does a full body shake like Kramer from Seinfeld or it could be compared to former Iowa Hawkeyes and SF 49ers safety Merton Hanks celebratory shakes after an interception).
One of the women had twin great-nieces born at 28 weeks, one of whom who is blind and the other one who has trouble eating. Stories like that reinforce how fortunate and really how lucky we were/are. It's a good thing that I remained oblivious to some of the potential downsides of prematurity. I come by it honestly. There is a lot of stuff going on around me that I just don't notice. Anders' doctor told us not to go online and read blogs or chat rooms about premature babies. That was all I needed to hear. Everyone told us Anders would be fine and so far so good.
Anders and I also made a side trip to CVS and Walmart. These trips were uneventful. Oh, yesterday on our walk, we met a 4 year old girl and her family. Upon seeing Anders, she said, "I like your baby."
"Thank you," I replied.
"Your welcome," she said.
It's a windy afternoon, threatening to rain so I don't know if Anders will get his walk today. He's been sleeping for almost three hours. I'll have to wake him up in the next 10 minutes so that he doesn't go past four hours since his last feeding. He woke himself up a little earlier than usual today. He was having full conversations with himself in 15 second intervals. It was of course gibberish, but his tone changed from happy to sad to concerned to conversational all in that span of time. He is a fascinating little guy. After he finished his last bottle, he nestled into my chest and put his arms around me as if to say, "Alright, Dad, nap time let's go." Well, the Bear is stirring, so I best be going. Yes, he has many nicknames. Our latest and favorite is Mr. Bear, Ando-Bear or simply Bear. He looks a bit like a slumbering golden bear cub.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Anders' Night In
Anna and I had our first night out since Anders returned with us to Athens. We heard Garrison Keillor tell stories of Lake Wobegon at Memorial Auditorium on the OU campus. It felt weird to leave him, sort of like we were fleeing the scene of a crime, but he was in good hands with our friends Paul and Rose. The downside is that Anders is such a welcoming entertainer that he refuses to take his rest while guests are around. Any time we have visitors, he sleeps a lot less than he should. Of course, that's good news for today because it means that he will probably be catching up all day.
I think April might be my new favorite month in Athens. Garrison was talking about this time of year back in Minnesota: "From the middle of March into May, those people who never drank can feel what a hangover is like." We have had a glorious April with sunny skies most days and temperatures in the 70s, with a few 80s and 60s sprinkled in, even one 90 degree day! Back in Decorah, it has been a different story. Here is a composite conversations with my mom about the weather, which we both love discussing.
Mom (reluctantly): What's the weather been like down there?
Me: Well, it sneaked up to 90 the other day, it was in the 80s yesterday, but now we are in the low 70s. How about in Decorah?
Mom: Well, I'm going out to the porch to check....It's 41 right now, its overcast, and the wind is blowing. I'm going to have to cover my flowers because they say it's going to be in the mid 20s tomorrow night. It did get up to 60 on Easter.
Me: It was in the mid-70s and sunny here on Easter. Have you mowed yet?
Mom: Mowed?! I don't mow here until my brother Jim's birthday, on April 29.
Me: I've mowed twice. The weather is supposed to stay like this for a while.
Mom: But you have to deal with allergies...
Me: Yeah, but claratin takes care of that, plus the flowering trees and bushes make this time of year so beautiful around here.
Mom: Well, it will get nice up here...eventually.
Me: Yeah, in May.
Mom: Yeah, by May it should finally be nice around here...
So there you have the real life difference between the season of spring in SE Ohio and hangover season in the Upper Midwest.
There is a tree out the office window right now that is a vibrant purple color right now. My favorite blooming tree is the one out our bedroom window. It hasn't bloomed yet, but when it does it has these big, heavy, white flowers that weigh down the branches. It looks like they will open by the weekend. It's a fun surprise because you go to bed one night with bare branches, then open up the blinds the next morning and there are huge white flowers right outside your window.
I could go on, but my mom is probably getting progressively more depressed by reading this. Well, she has her revenge in July when this place turns into canopy jungle and NE Iowa is crisp and sunny.
I think April might be my new favorite month in Athens. Garrison was talking about this time of year back in Minnesota: "From the middle of March into May, those people who never drank can feel what a hangover is like." We have had a glorious April with sunny skies most days and temperatures in the 70s, with a few 80s and 60s sprinkled in, even one 90 degree day! Back in Decorah, it has been a different story. Here is a composite conversations with my mom about the weather, which we both love discussing.
Mom (reluctantly): What's the weather been like down there?
Me: Well, it sneaked up to 90 the other day, it was in the 80s yesterday, but now we are in the low 70s. How about in Decorah?
Mom: Well, I'm going out to the porch to check....It's 41 right now, its overcast, and the wind is blowing. I'm going to have to cover my flowers because they say it's going to be in the mid 20s tomorrow night. It did get up to 60 on Easter.
Me: It was in the mid-70s and sunny here on Easter. Have you mowed yet?
Mom: Mowed?! I don't mow here until my brother Jim's birthday, on April 29.
Me: I've mowed twice. The weather is supposed to stay like this for a while.
Mom: But you have to deal with allergies...
Me: Yeah, but claratin takes care of that, plus the flowering trees and bushes make this time of year so beautiful around here.
Mom: Well, it will get nice up here...eventually.
Me: Yeah, in May.
Mom: Yeah, by May it should finally be nice around here...
So there you have the real life difference between the season of spring in SE Ohio and hangover season in the Upper Midwest.
There is a tree out the office window right now that is a vibrant purple color right now. My favorite blooming tree is the one out our bedroom window. It hasn't bloomed yet, but when it does it has these big, heavy, white flowers that weigh down the branches. It looks like they will open by the weekend. It's a fun surprise because you go to bed one night with bare branches, then open up the blinds the next morning and there are huge white flowers right outside your window.
I could go on, but my mom is probably getting progressively more depressed by reading this. Well, she has her revenge in July when this place turns into canopy jungle and NE Iowa is crisp and sunny.
Monday, April 12, 2010
17lbs. 9oz.
I had Anders weighed today and he's up about a pound since last time. It feels like more than a pound. I wonder if at some point the weight gain starts feeling exponential? If so, we are entering that range. On the bright side, Anders does not demand that I walk him around the house as many times as earlier to lull him to sleep. Perhaps he is taking pity on me.
Anders thought he was having a full doctor's appointment. I could tell that he was surprised when we left without a consultation or a shot or something. We also threw him off yesterday when we had Cita, his steady babysitter, over for supper. Anders thought we were leaving, but when we stayed that threw him off too. He picks up on things so quickly now that we have to vary our tricks to keep him guessing.
The routine is well established for Anders. Today, for example, he quickly settled in for his afternoon stroll. He didn't even get too bothered by the sun for the brief time it was in his eyes, as if he knew, "This only lasts a few seconds, then I'm in the shade." I know all parents say this, but I think he might be seriously smart. Of course I'm the guy who told the flag football team he coached in high school that they had a chance to be a great Decorah team, like our State Finalist team, and of course they didn't win a game their senior year. So, dash a grain of salt, but I think I'm onto something. That grain of salt reminded me of chocolate covered bacon from the MN State Fair last year, which I highly recommend if you get a chance. I think I'm going to start jogging again tomorrow.
Anders seems a bit frustrated that he can't move around more than sliding a few inches on his back. I'm also certain that he wants to eat solid food. He grabbed Anna's bread tonight. Of course, Anders would need more teeth than he has, which is exactly zero.
Anders' square of baldness in the back is s lowly closing as well. His hair looks brown in some light and blond in other light. In addition, during some parts of the day, he looks like Anna and then during other parts of the day he looks like me. He is an endless source of fascination and curiosity for us. Meanwhile, he laughs hysterically when he sees one of us for the first time in a long time, e.g. when Anna gets home from work. I have never experienced anything that makes me feel better than having my son convulse in laughter and joy at the sight of me. It makes me feel like one of the Beatles in 1964.
Anders thought he was having a full doctor's appointment. I could tell that he was surprised when we left without a consultation or a shot or something. We also threw him off yesterday when we had Cita, his steady babysitter, over for supper. Anders thought we were leaving, but when we stayed that threw him off too. He picks up on things so quickly now that we have to vary our tricks to keep him guessing.
The routine is well established for Anders. Today, for example, he quickly settled in for his afternoon stroll. He didn't even get too bothered by the sun for the brief time it was in his eyes, as if he knew, "This only lasts a few seconds, then I'm in the shade." I know all parents say this, but I think he might be seriously smart. Of course I'm the guy who told the flag football team he coached in high school that they had a chance to be a great Decorah team, like our State Finalist team, and of course they didn't win a game their senior year. So, dash a grain of salt, but I think I'm onto something. That grain of salt reminded me of chocolate covered bacon from the MN State Fair last year, which I highly recommend if you get a chance. I think I'm going to start jogging again tomorrow.
Anders seems a bit frustrated that he can't move around more than sliding a few inches on his back. I'm also certain that he wants to eat solid food. He grabbed Anna's bread tonight. Of course, Anders would need more teeth than he has, which is exactly zero.
Anders' square of baldness in the back is s lowly closing as well. His hair looks brown in some light and blond in other light. In addition, during some parts of the day, he looks like Anna and then during other parts of the day he looks like me. He is an endless source of fascination and curiosity for us. Meanwhile, he laughs hysterically when he sees one of us for the first time in a long time, e.g. when Anna gets home from work. I have never experienced anything that makes me feel better than having my son convulse in laughter and joy at the sight of me. It makes me feel like one of the Beatles in 1964.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
I'm Back...again
I had another week's worth of edits to do on my dissertation, but it is finally in fighting shape. I have sent it to the committee. I will defend "An Evil Empire": The Rhetorical Rearmament of Ronald Reagan on Friday, April 23 at 9 am in the conference room on the 4th Floor of Bentley Annex in Athens, OH. It's a public event, so I expect to see many friendly faces in the crowd. (Joke)
The point of saying that is that I have been lax on Anders-related stuff. When I emerged from the salt mines on Monday afternoon, Anders had to really study my face to make sure it was me. I had my haircut in the meantime as well, which probably also accounts for the confusion. I no longer look like an extra in a Bicentennial period piece.
I will be better now, if the computers cooperate. Our laptop pretends the pictures don't exist, and our ancient desktop is starting to fade away. And since I have the tech acumen of a man in his 50s...well...there will be more snags.
I will write more later, but I need to file some paperwork on campus, plus Anders is waking up.
The point of saying that is that I have been lax on Anders-related stuff. When I emerged from the salt mines on Monday afternoon, Anders had to really study my face to make sure it was me. I had my haircut in the meantime as well, which probably also accounts for the confusion. I no longer look like an extra in a Bicentennial period piece.
I will be better now, if the computers cooperate. Our laptop pretends the pictures don't exist, and our ancient desktop is starting to fade away. And since I have the tech acumen of a man in his 50s...well...there will be more snags.
I will write more later, but I need to file some paperwork on campus, plus Anders is waking up.
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