Sasha

One year ago yesterday, my baby boy was born. In the past year he has learned to roll over, sit up, crawl, pull himself up, and take steps. He has gone from whimpering to babbling to saying "woof." He used to be happy to be held, but now only mama and dada will do -- sometimes. He would sleep through church, then flirt with old ladies, then tried to play the piano throughout Sunday school, now can't get through a meeting.

I remember the tiny "honking" baby of 9 pounds, 2 ounces who really did look so small and defenseless in the big baby crib at the hospital. I can't imagine where he went.

I remember feeling so relieved that he was going to be born. His due date was the 12th, and the 13th was a very depressing day for me. I didn't even try to look cute. No, the husband's old t-shirt for me that day. Fortunately for my sanity, Thursday the 16th was chosen for his birthday. Despite my easy birth with Sabrina, Sasha needed a c-section. Or, as Shakespeare put it, "Ripped untimely from my mother's womb." Extra credit if you can name that play.

I feel so lucky to have this boy. He sleeps well (at least until 5 am, when he wants MOM!), plays well with Sabrina (except when I'm holding them both, when he wants just me), and loves his daddy (which is the best of all sometimes!).

Happy birthday little one. I love you so much.

Daddy?

At church yesterday, I was substituting as Singing Lady (this is the official title of the calling, even if a man holds it. Children's Chorister my !@%$). Therefore, Sasha went to Priesthood with Daddy. Ergo, Daddy had to take Sasha home after Priesthood. Was Sasha really being inconsolable? Maybe. He did fall asleep on the 4-minute drive home.

So, Daddy was not in Sacrament Meeting. However, a bald man with glasses facing away from us WAS. Sabrina called out "DaddyDaddyDaddy!" and ran to him, putting her head on his lap. It was not Daddy. She did not realize it for a few moments, then looked up. Then she was as eager for Mommy as she previously had been for Daddy. Bwaaaahahaha! Sorry, baby.

I did the same thing when I was about her age. My own Daddy took me to his school, West High, and was standing around talking to his basketball players. Let me tell you, when you are only three feet high, all denim-clad legs look the same. It wasn't my fault that the leg I grabbed was some sophomore jock. Anyway, Sabrina, I totally relate!

School, Gardening, and Leaving my Kids

Today, I harvested my potato crop. If you can call it that. The grasshoppers have decimated the tops of the potatoes, leaving them wilted, with just the veins in the leaves still extant. So, I dug up eight potatoes, the largest of which was the size of my fist, and the smallest a bit smaller than a large marble. I think I planted more potato mass than I harvested. Oh well. My mother-in-law will provide with garden produce. I think I need more fertilizer. However, I did make tacos with my own, home-grown onion yesterday.

On Wednesday, I started school. Since I'm teaching Wednesday, Thursday, and some Fridays, the kids had already been to school for two days when I started. I have to say, I loved it. I think my students will be really fun, although there's a lot of Boy Energy (BE) in my afternoon class. BE is great and fun, but a little goofy, and let's be honest, a little goes a long way for a teacher. Still, it should be an adventure.

In the grand tradition of Salt Lake Arts Academy, however, a student was transferred from my class on Thursday, and I wasn't told. I didn't THINK he was sluffing on the fourth day of class, but you never know with BE. I emailed the office, who called him down to the office, who then sent him to tell me he'd been transferred. Honestly, I can't think that the BE in my class will diminish much. My other class doesn't have much BE: there are 18 girls and 7 boys. Poor things.

Sabrina was happy as could be both when I dropped her off at my cousin Allison's for babysitting and when I picked her up. I think she has a cousin crush on Harmony. Sasha, though....But remember, he's 11 months and has been babysat about five times total, including twice this week. I'm sure he'll be fine. He just has to start taking naps longer than ten minutes for Allison.

Overall, a successful, productive (ha!) week.

Growing up

Sasha is getting so big! In the past week or so, he has started to say, like, three words! Not a big deal if you're 30, but when you're only 11 months, it's a big step into the brand new world of communicating! So, his first word was "woof." And he says it when he hears dogs, sees dogs, and even occasionally on command. Just not when anyone else is around, of course, because no kid performs on command. Sasha can also say "boom" as in "boom, I just knocked down another tower and so now I'm going to laugh maniacally," and he also does a sort of "hchchchc" growl thing when he wants another bite of food. Sparticus taught him the first word, Grandpa Joe the second, and he learned the third from Mommy. Because I'm verbal like that.

Sasha has also started taking steps. He lets go of stuff and takes about one step before a) falling, b) dropping to his knees to crawl, or c) leaning forward, head first, and expecting to be caught. So far we've caught him every time, but I'm not looking forward to the betrayed wail of the uncaught, crashing baby.

So keep it up little man! Before I know it, you'll be running away from me, taunting, "You gotta catch me" like your big sis. I love you forever.

First word

Sabrina's fist word was "quack." And her nickname was T-Bone. Sasha just said his first word, and it is "woof." And his nickname is Sashimi. I'm sensing a pattern here!

Sasha can also wave, stand up, and just took his first step. I'm not quite sure where the time went. I swear, I had had Sabrina a lot longer when she was 10 months than I've had Sasha! Also, I'm starting to think about future kids, but I feel Sasha was just born! And he's still a baby! I can't want another one, can I?

Sasha has also learned to climb down stairs the right way (backwards, that is), but he can only do a stair or two. On Sunday we were at Mom and Dad's house, and Sasha went off exploring. After a few minutes I heard him crying. Oh, whatever, I thought. He's fine. Turns out, he wasn't fine. He had climbed up their stairs and was sitting at the top, unable to get down. Poor thing!

Happy Birthday Baby!

I can't believe it's Sabrina's third birthday today. She's getting so big, but she's still my baby! I've been telling her the story over and over about the day of her birth. Tonight as I put her to bed she said, "Tell about Brina as a baby."

This year Sabrina (aka T-bone) got a little brother, Sasha (aka Sashimi -- do I have a thing for food? Yes). She's been a great big sister. She shares and loves and worries when he cries. She also takes things from him and hits him sometimes, but hey, we can't be perfect ALL the time. Overall, though, she has handled the addition of a brother with sweetness and love.

Sabrina is able to do so many things now. She ran all the way down to the end of the street today, ate her spaghetti by herself (I made her take off her clothes first), and even used the potty several times this week. I'm happy, and sad. I never thought I could love someone this much.

Spencer's New School

Spencer did not do well the last half of 4th grade. But, because he comes from a stable home and is a good kid, the teachers, principal, and school didn't care that he basically failed almost every subject. Well, darn it, we care! All four of his parents care! Therefore, we have enrolled him at a charter school, Quest Academy, in Roy. Quite a few of the local kids go there, and it will go up to 9th grade starting next year, so he can stay there until high school.

Mari, Spencer's mom, and I went to visit the school. I'm really excited about a lot of things. It has certified teachers, a new building, two computer labs plus four mobile computer labs, and a bunch of other cool stuff. They are very focused on academics as well, with specific reading and math strategies to help both low and high kids. I feel good about it.

While Mari and I were there talking with the principal, though, she introduced us to one of the 5th grade teachers as "Spencer's two moms." I had to quickly jump in to say we were not gay, or polygamists, but mom and stepmom. Phew! Glad THAT got cleared up!