CHANGE-New President, New Year, New Direction

2009 is going to be all about change. Obama ran on a platform of change and he is facing incredible challenges as he and his administration looks to right the disasters that W has left to him. I am optimistic, yet fearful, as I realize that things are likely to get worse before they get better.

My life has changed dramatically and looks as though it will continue to do so. I am faced with challenges of my own as I was laid off from my job today after just returning from maternity leave only a week and a half ago. And I was just getting used to the whole boob pumping thing!So, in addition to being a new mom, I am facing unemployment. I will have to rethink my entire plan. I have been working in radio for my entire adult life and now have the opportunity reevaluate that career path. But, I love public radio! I hope to find a way to continue, maybe finish, the Master's degree that I started at Hamline University. My fears of returning to work in my previous post are at once alleivated and magnified. Perhaps I should go in a completely different direction - start my own business? Learn to tango? Do like every other unemployed and long cubeland-stifled creative person and pledge to write the great american novel?

Most of what transpired today hasn't even sunk in yet.

The End of Maternity Leave

I am filled with mixed emotions today as I face the reality of going back to work full-time tomorrow. It has been 91/2 weeks since Henry was born and it seems like it all took place in a thirty second movie montage set to lullabies. Blurry, quick-cut, short snippets - over fast - and not really a good summary of the plot.

Sigh.

On the one hand, I look forward to getting back to work. I love my job and my collegues and I miss the adult world. I look forward to having conversations about things other than diapers and milk production and the pros and cons of brands of butt paste. I enjoy being busy. On the other hand, it will be very hard for me to leave this beautiful little boy. I do not look forward to becoming best friends with my breast pump and I fear that I will blather on annoyingly to anyone who will listen about diapers and milk production and the pros and cons of butt paste. Will I become on of those moms who talks incessantly about her kid? Will my cube become a shrine to the baby, every inch of wall space covered in pictures and drawings? Will I freak out, quit my job, forget about my Masters degree, take the baby and run for the hills?

Maybe I'll be okay. Maybe this blog will occasionally once again feature posts on something of interest other than the baby. Maybe.

Henry's First Christmas

Henry's first Christmas was a good one! Christmas Eve and Day were spent in Stillwater with Grandpa Merald and Grandma Ann. We attended Christmas Eve service at Trinity Lutheran and then enjoyed a lovely dinner of Steak Diane. Everyone slept well and Christmas morning Henry got a bath in Grandma's kitchen sink :) We then had brunch with Great Uncle Maynard and Great Aunt Charlene before heading home.

View the Christmas bath video!

The Ness side of the family, minus Grandma Carol and Grandpa Lowell who are in Texas for the winter, gathered at our house on the 27th. Cari, Nathan and HenryBrent, DeAnna, Cari, Nathan, Rahul and Shelly all in our new vests from Mom!

The girls, youngest to oldest - Cari, DeAnna, Brenda and Shelly.

With Shianne and Nadine.Too much Christmas for such a small boy!

HeMan-Master of the Livingroom

Now nine weeks old, Henry has discovered his hands and proceeds to stick as many fingers in his mouth at one time as possible. He also raises his arm straight in the air with force and vigor as though to declare HeMan-style that he "HAS THE POWER!" Also, he often comically bonks himself in the head in the manner of a salute, earning himself the nickname "Sargent Bonk."

The kid's brain development is coming along. He continues to dig music and will now entertain himself for long stretches in his crib by batting at his toys. His breath gets quick and he wildly flails his arms and legs. He clearly sees across the room and will follow people and objects. He charmed the whole family over the holidays with lots of smiles, coos and giggles. Momma and Henry sing a version of a Police song, but our lyrics go "A goo goo goo, a ga ga ga..." and meander from there about poop and milk. It's Henry's first Hamster song!


Henry's 2 month check up was on Tuesday. He weighed in at 14 lbs 3oz and was 24 3/4 inches long, keeping him right in the 95th percentile for both height and weight. He also endured his first vaccines-three shots in the thigh and one squirt of vile liquid down his throat. The nurse was startlingly quick and ninja-like and it was over in an instant, but the boy still let out a significant howl of pain. I'm proud to report that neither Nathan or I cried, but held tough for our little man. We scurried home and Auntie Shelly loved Henry up with snuggles, kissed and baby Tylenol.


Hemangioma or port wine stain?

We continue to monitor the birthmark that's taking up quite a bit of real estate on Henry's left arm. The pediatrician is not sure now whether it is a port wine stain or a hemangioma. We have an appointment to see a Pediatric Dermatologist in January to get a definitive assessment and decide what needs to be done, if anything.

Coo coo ca choo

Milkalepsy

Milkalepsy is my made-up word of the week. It describes what happens to my son when he has a full belly of milk: he passes right out, without warning or any control on his part. It's cute.

New developments for Henry in the past week include real smiles and an occasional, actual, giggle sound. He is gaining more and more head and neck control and threatens to rear back and bonk Momma a black eye or a fat lip. His hand eye coordination is coming along nicely and he will now lay and stare up at the colorful toys dangling above him in the crib. He will do this for a long time before he gets bored. He enjoys tummy time and prefers the natural rubber German pacifiers to the plastic American type. This makes total sense given his parents affinity for German things, particularly bier :D

Henry has lost most of the hair on top of his head and looks a bit like a monk or an old man that is sadly attempting the comb-over thing. He also has very dry, flaky skin on his noggin' known as "cradle cap" so he really resembles a monk with severe dandruff that is prone to vomiting milk onto his robe...

We moved him from the bassinet in our room to the real crib in his room last night. It was scary for Momma to have him so far away, but successful. He slept 5 1/2 hours and we are praying for a repeat tonight. He digs the classical music lullabies and continually makes wild arm motions as though he is conducting the orchestra. He's obviously brilliant.

The kid is also growing like a weed. He's stretched the cotton fiber limits of the 0-3 month onesies and is rapidly outgrowing everything in the 3-6 month size range. We expect him to be at least as big as Grandpa Merald by the time he's twelve.

The boy is not showing a preference for one hand or another yet (c'mon lefty) but we see great promise in him already. Right now we are predicting that he will grow up to be a genius-scientist-athlete-gardener-tree hugger that will retire wealthy from a successful baseball career and use his MIT education to solve the global warming crisis. But, you know, no pressure.

Henry's First Thanksgiving