Thursday 13

Hey kids,

It's hard to blog lately. I keep thinking I'll post something when you go to sleep, which has been earlier and earlier these days, but then I either fall asleep myself, or find something funner to do. Not that blogging isn't fun, it's just... hard... lately.

So I present to you: 13 interesting things that have happened to one of us in the last few weeks.

1. On Cinco de Mayo, Waverly sat up by herself for the very first time. I'll post pictures later. I begrudge you every little milestone, baby, as they mean you are growing up and I want you to be my little baby forever.

2. I saw Nickel Creek at the Grand Sierra. Sometimes they sound more like Sarah McLachlan than bluegrass, but there towards the end, they got their twang on, and even did my favorite, a cover of Britney's "Toxic", all fiddled out and 10 times better than the original.



3. On Saturday, May 19, Jake rode his bike under his own power for the very first time. We've now made it a daily thing: Jake biking, me walking, sometimes Waverly's in the sling, over to the park for a couple runs down the slide, a sip at each and every drinking fountain, a try at the exercise course. And by daily, I mean four days in a row so far. We'll see.

4. Last week we met with Jake's teacher and speech therapist. We honest-to-god thought that perhaps she had called us in to tell us that she was expelling you. Ha! You're actually doing quite well, and are not the nightmare in class that I imagine you to be. You've made amazing progress in the last six months, and (drum roll, please...) according to both, you have fallen completely OFF the autism spectrum. Sorry, dear heart, but that school PSYCHO-logist can eat doo-doo.

5. A couple weeks ago, Wavy had her six-month checkup. 15 lbs, 9 oz. Everything is in working order. That dark patch on your back? It's fur. You've got a big fur spot on your back that wraps around underneath your arm. Apparently it is not something that you will grow out of. It's a "birthmark," says Doctor S. Me, I think it's where a werewolf licked you. Howl at that moon, baby, and be proud.

6. Bath time is now a family affair:



The sacred mother-son bonding ritual (no, we don't bathe together... you bathe and play, I sit on the edge of the tub and try to stay dry), has been intruded upon by your sister, who daddy brings in for a dunk and a swish.

7. Your Auntie L came to visit a few days ago. She can't figure out how to leave a comment (pfffft!), but she said it was okay to post this adorable photo of you guys:



There are many, many reasons why I love your Auntie L, but here's two of them: we read the same books, and we are both completely ga-ga over the same stupid brand of chewing gum. And whenever we get together, we eat really, really well.

We went four-wheeling for maybe half a city block on that road off of Monitor Pass that I've been wanting to take for years now. From far away, the road looks smooth and blemish-free, but when you're actually on it, it's a chassis-ripper. Feckin' hell.

Some other fun stuff from that weekend:




8. I met Willy Vlautin! He was in town to read from this:



And I got him to sign it, and managed to blurt out a few words to him, none of which were "uummmmmmmm..." or "eeeerrrrrrrrrrr"

9. Freakin' "check engine" light came on a couple weeks ago. Took it to the dealership and paid them around $500 to turn it off. I'm sure they did some other stuff, too, but the upshot is, the light is off and the world is safe.

10. Mother's Day! You kids and daddy bought me a DVD that I didn't particularly want. But that's okay. It's the thought that counts. Puts me in mind of the dozens upon dozens of things I got my mom over the years that she probably didn't want nor need.

11. I found the baby sling! I spent close to $100 on the ZoloWear sling that I really didn't like that much, and was ecstatic to find the New Native Baby Carrier in the no-man's land between the back of the closet door and the wall. It's this one:



I love it, I love it, I love it. It's comfy, it looks good, it's 10 times more flattering than the Baby Bjorn or the Zolo sling. I slipped Waverly in it, and she was asleep in seconds.

12. C'mon... I can come up with two more... Hmmm. I shook the hand of a homeless man who goes by the name "Mark the Harelipped Wonder." A seriously nice man, who advised me that unlocked Porta-Potties are a great place to sleep in a pinch, but it's best to get one of the larger handicapped units, as you can actually lie down almost horizontally in one of those.

13. I'll save the 13 Spot to say goodbye to Sawyer, Kate, Jack, Sayid, Hurley and all the rest until next February. Rest in peace, Charlie...

As for you two, goodnight, sleep tight and love you.