Thursday, April 8, 2010

Week of February 15, Altadena




Learned to paint from George


Learned how to sew from Kathy


Learned how to critique from Sam


and was thrilled and overwhelmed by the love and generosity of friends from way before his time and from so far away.

Week of February 9, Palm Springs

On his first poolside holiday found a fantastic lounge

to stay cool in the shade

had room service

and poolside cocktails

Friday, January 29th



Today he reached out and repeatedly punched at the toys dangling overhead. He had hit them before, somewhat by mistake, but today he really sparred with them! Val laid nearby watching over him waiting for an invitation to join in.

Wednesday, January 27 almost 6 weeks old

This week has been momentous. Arlo really has it down now! As of Monday he’s full of smiles and coos and knows exactly what he wants and when. He is locking and tracking his eyes on us when we move around, and with all the wet spots on my shirts, knows where to go for food. We are into a bit of a day and night sequence now and he’s getting into naps as well. He has graduated to sleeping in his hammock this week after his head cold has him needing to sleep more upright, even in his car seat one night. We were all a bit sniffy this past week and were house bound during a tremendous week of rain. Arlo still has the sniffles and Markus and I have been playing bad cop/good cop as to who has to use the suction ball to de-snot him. It is the worst, as it gets the most screams and tears ever from him.

I took in my first work meeting today- very easy, fun and close by, so I am transitioning slowly back to work on a good note. It feels good, and after only 2 hours I couldn’t get home quick enough to my guys, both in smiles on my arrival. Yeah!

The last 2 weeks were a bit rough as the Haiti earthquake (Jan 12) seemed to make everything that much more precious and emotionally heightened. It truly made all my problems disappear in perspective to the absolute devastation and loss. I have now signed on to donate part of my breast milk supply to the cause as any amount of money just won’t impact as much as I would like it to.
At his 1 month check up on the 15th, Arlo was a cool 24”L and 11lbs 4.5oz, the size of many 3 month old children. He is not fat at all though, just really long and proportionate. The hammock won’t last the 1 year + as I had hoped as his growth at this rate has him out of it in 6 months. We’ll have to cave and buy or borrow a crib. I’d love for him to just go into a toddler bed instead. We’ll see. Meanwhile, his formal announcements are all just about in the mail now and are a huge hit. Friend JP did an amazing design job on them and I was so glad to give her the work. She’s an outrageous talent and without insurance is having a time paying her bills from her MS. Again. Counting my blessings.

I am excited as we get into February as it is all filled up with a lot of fun. I have the TED event I am helping with and attending in Palm Springs. Markus and Arlo are coming and we’ll make a vacation of it at the Riviera for the week. Afterward, we will pick up Kathy and George for a full week of fun with them visiting and remodeling the nursery. I can’t wait to see what they come up with! We then have Erin and PJ visiting for a week, along with Mom and Dad for a few nights. Markus and I will head to Vegas for my Elvis opening while Arlo has a fun time here at home with the family. If we are lucky, the 3 of us will get out to Mexico by the month’s end for 2 weeks to see the Durans and show off the new addition. I am expecting that Arlo will like all the activity as he did in utero. He is fully equipped with his passport, ready to take on the world now.

Monday January 4th, 2.5 weeks old

Our first Christmas, dressed up at 9pm and took a pic to commemorate the very quiet sleepy day.


A few days old in Japantown after a Dr visit.


A thank you to the Elvis Team


Fantastic growth, eating and sleeping has Arlo pulling me this way and that with hands and mouth, really trying to take control, but not really knowing how. On tummy time today and yesterday he managed a small push up and is turning his head from side to side. It all seems to be going so fast!

We enjoyed a relaxing feeding in the tub this morning and then paid Killie and her boys a visit, and somehow left with another carload of gear. We have been so blessed with a ton of hand-me-downs to where we really haven’t had to buy much. In fact, we already have donated some extras as we are overloaded with gear at this point. Arlo already doesn’t fit into some of the newborn wear at over 9 pounds, possibly 10 by now.

Erin and Rick and PJ all came down this past week and we had a wonderful relaxing time with them. We babysat on Friday (New year’s eve) and they sat for us on Saturday night. Feeling crafty, I made a few bear hats for PJ and Arlo- very cute. Mom and Dad came down and spent a day with the cousins in action, a lot of fun, and we had a nice trip to the Observatory. We’ve been adventurous about getting out, almost every other day in fact, out to some restaurants, Japantown, and Markus even took Val and Arlo on a walk together. Looks like a very mellow week for us this week. Perhaps more silly art-directed pictures.

Up till now...


... I had been keeping a neat-o private diary of my pregnancy through Arlo's birth. I hadn't made too many more entries into it since his birth as it has been much more fun to engage with him and others. I thought it would be fun to share the pics and stories rather than loose them to my bad memory. A majority of our friends and family live outside of LA, so we thought this is a fun way to peek into our little world once in a while. I'll have a few postings to bring this blog up to the present since December. Cheers!

A fantastic team 12/17/09.