Camera Fail

So I've been trying for some time to provide some pictures of something other than Miles, at home, and thus prove that Jon and I do other than to admire Miles, at home. Several gatherings have had me smacking my forehead (forgot the camera AGAIN!) and shrugging it off. On Saturday, I came so close to being able to provide evidence of Other Activities when, on the way to the National Book Festival in D.C., the camera made it all the way to the car! and then, didn't get into the diaper bag. It was almost funny. Not quite, though; I take these things personally.

Said festival was AMAZING, though. I wish so much to have been able to absorb more than we did. As it was, I heard Lois Lowry, author of favorites such as The Giver and Number the Stars, tell stories and free-associate about her childhood and her creative process (she's so witty!!). Later, I heard Azar Nafisi, author of Reading Lolita in Tehran (I enthusiastically recommend that one) speak movingly about the role of literature in allowing people to speak to each other across time and culture. My WORD, she was inspiring. Highlights: Don't pidgeonhole her to Islamic Studies and Women's Studies just because she's an outstanding woman from Iran; she's a literature professor who taught The Great Gatsby and Pride and Prejudice as well as the works of Rumi. Also, don't let Iran be only known to you as the land of Islamic extremism unless you want the U.S. to be only known as the land of slavery and Jim Crow. Finally, I got to hear most of Judy Blume's presentation (imagine children asking her questions about Fudge's character and Are You There, God? It's Me Margaret's content and adults asking about the inspiration for Summer Sisters). It was glorious.

That said, what an effort it is to do anything with a baby! I've given this a lot of thought, lately: we take Miles with us everywhere. We kind of figure that, given the complications associated with breastfeeding and the fact that I sometimes have trouble concentrating when Miles is away from me for long (sounds counter-intuitive, I know), it's easiest and best just to bring him. But... oh my, everything was so much more difficult on Saturday, braving the unprecedented crowds at this event, in the cold-ish rain, with seating nearly impossible to attain and shelter only an occasional luxury! Having to search for changing tables and struggling with the conflict of Miles needs to eat vs. I really want to hear this speaker made this our most challenging outing with him. Still... I am a determined person. We MUST go out, we MUST do at least some of the things we love post-baby, and so far I'm still resolved to bring Miles with us, most of the time. He's just too much fun to leave behind, anyway.

We had a little encounter with a stranger that got me thinking, and I'd appreciate anyone and everyone's comments about this. We had a woman INSIST on covering his stroller with her spare tarp, and she was none too nice about it. "Uh-uh," she said, when she saw how we had him covered with the canopies of the stroller and the jacket he was wearing. "That's not going to work. I'm a scientist," she assured us (??), "and I get kind of upset. This is not safe. How old is he?" and when I answered, I got another, "Uh-uh. That's not safe, honey," and she installed the tarp herself, checking it briskly for air flow and water tightness. I did thank her, though her behavior made this feel a bit forced, and accepted for Miles' sake. This got me thinking, because I was, of course, irritated, BUT.... Miles was drier.

I kind of concluded that, though I am inconvenienced by having a baby on me sometimes, other people are also inconvenienced by his presence in many ways. It occurred to me that this is a hospitality issue. If other people have to wait for me, offer me a seat (one lady finally did, Melissa!), get out of the way for his carriage, and bear with me feeding him in public, standing up, I can probably take people's well-intended, if pushy and rude, ways of trying to help. I mean, many people require hospitality when they go out in public: people with babies, people with dogs, people who weigh three hundred pounds, people in wheelchairs, people with bad breath, people who are old, people who are new drivers, from out of town... it goes on and on. We HAVE to extend hospitality to others, whatever that means, if we want to receive it ourselves.

Thoughts?

Anyway, here are some misc. Miles-at-home pics

Milestones: Month Three

Last Tuesday began the third month in our life with Miles! We cannot believe that we have only known this little chap for going on ten weeks. I'm staggered when I imagine us a few years down the road with a toddler, a preschooler, a kindergardener... and sometimes I am overwhelmed, but most of the time, I can't wait. It will be such a joy to watch his personality emerge. So far, we've made the following observations:

1. Miles has a gorgeous smile and a good attitude. When fed and rested, he is an affable, affectionate, curious and attentive little fellow.

2. Miles has inherited his mother's disinclination to nap, or really to sleep, at all. Not that he doesn't do these things (I wouldn't be writing this right now if I hadn't finally started to get more sleep :-) ). He just is rather disinclined to lose consciousness, a propensity which worsens the more tired he is. Many people have witnessed Miles' valiant struggle against the downward pull of his eyelids. Watching this makes me realize my own pathology... I'd insert some profound insight here, but I'm really too tired :-)

Fortunately, Miles' cousin Abigail has recently come to the rescue and taught Miles how to nap: on his side. He is MUCH more willing to fall asleep in this position. Hallelujah! (Abby has also slyly taught Miles the art of spit-up, but we won't dwell on this).

Miles had his last week appointment. New data: 11 lbs, 4 oz, and 24 inches tall. He is now dead average in head size and weight and in the 75th percentile for height... I must say, not what I expected to come from my short, big-headed stock. He also had his second round of shots (ouch) and spent 24 hours with a mild case of what seemed like everything (double ouch). He recovered speedily, however.

Jon has all but recovered from a nasty cold which hit him hard last weekend. He is now enjoying good health and a fairly good start to the school year. Here he is enjoying some evening quality time with Miles (the Moby Dick readings continue, by the way) while grading at the same time. We are learning the true meaning of multitasking...

I... I am doing rather better for many reasons. One, I have made a new friend, another teacher taking a leave of absence to care for her newborn (just a month younger than Miles!). She and I have had one daytime coffee and stroller-walking date in which we talked ceaselessly. She is a Godsend, who came, from God, by way of Prague. I love learning about the various cultural and social differences between Czech Republic and the U.S. I was bored at home all day, but I was also lonesome, and it's good to start to befriend other homebodies.

I won't call myself a stay at home mom, because as of tomorrow, I am not. I Work tomorrow, home-teaching for a 13-year-old who's had surgery in his feet. We begin with Algebra and Social Studies tomorrow. Miles will be babysat for five-six hour sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays by his grandmother. Once we get used to it, I think we'll all be very, very pleased with the arrangement. It will be REALLY good even to take a little break, even if it is just to do a different kind of work. I think I'll be a better parent for it.

And really, I work hard (and clean up a lot of poo and spitup and cat poo and cat vomit and pee and drool and hairballs and so on), but this little guy has the advantage of being unable to talk back and and being way, way cuter than my students were. Check him out:

The little Captain Shrimp has also endeared himself lately by sleeping more and better at night. It's over a week now that he's slept in his crib without problems, and twice in the past week he's slept the night only waking up ONCE. BIG improvement, little buddy. Bravo!

Smitten with the Holy Spirit

A long awaited day has finally come (and gone): the day of Miles' baptism. At the 9 o'clock service last Sunday Miles became sealed by the Holy Spirit in the presence of a whole CREW of family: His Grandpa and Grandma Grunert, Uncle Ninja (Tim), Tita (Michaela), Grandpa Jim and Morai (Kate), Amma (Eileen) and Cappy (Chris), Mike, Stef, and Godparents Uncle Matthew and Aunt Leah (um.. you figure that one out) and (not to forget) Cousin Abby! Miles marked the occasion by giving his first sponteneous smiles before the service began. That means he just looked at folks (including Pastor, Tita, and Aunt Leah) who were not already smiling and initiated smiles at them! We are sure the Holy Spirit arrived early.

The service went without a hitch, and witnesses can attest that Miles was awake and yet hardly made a peep, even when water was thrice poured upon his head (I suspect that Pastor keeps it warm). Afterwards, most of the family made it to a special brunch prepared by Grandma Grunert and supplemented by various contributions from family, including a couple of vats of coffee that Uncle Matthew and Cappy practically had to wrestle out of the befuddled Dunkin Donuts staff and prepare themselves in order to bring (they advertise these hot and ready gallons of coffee but they don't really seem to expect people to take them up on it. Watch out). This was a REALLY meaningful event for our family. I kept having flashbacks to my wedding, which was the last time so many people have assembled for such an important spiritual event in my life. God was really present. We are so grateful.

Let the games begin

(Look how much better he is at Tummy Time!)




I'm reporting live from the starting line of a new school year for Jon and a new way of life for all three of us. I suppose that's what's kept me from updating. I've been preparing myself, mentally and otherwise, for my new M.O. Last week was kind of like warm-up week at Jon's school, and we had an enjoyable time introducing him to various and sundry faculty and staff at Jon's school- and at mine. I made a trip to my old workplace last week to find them all preparing for the new year, and there was a pang at not being a part of it.

This week, I've learned a lot. Some are encouraging discoveries: I can take a shower, make myself food, go to the store, and otherwise manage with the baby and without Jon home! I can get up and take Jon to school and back on very little sleep! One time I even napped successfully! Napping's... kind of a

struggle for me. However, I also learned that I will miss teaching and that I want to go back to it eventually; I also feel a need to work. I'm not sure I'll be content until I do. Until then, my work is to be unapologetically and unashamedly domestic. That's going to keep me busy physically, emotionally, and spiritually for however long this season lasts.

BUT you all need some pictures, don't you? How about Miles' best new trick, acquired in the last two weeks: real SMILES!

We've also been enjoying bathtime a great deal, now that we discovered a cool washcloth maneuver that keeps Miles warm:

(This is a yawn, by the way)

Addendum

We've fallen behind. Perhaps this is because, as the school year approaches, we both feel increasing pressure to do things we perceive to be practical and productive. Perhaps I've just been too busy learning verses from Tolkien's songs. In any case, we've had a lovely time introducing Miles to everything and everyone within our reach. Leah and Matthew hit up Annapolis on the way back from Abby's baptism. Behold the evidence:

Check out how Abby and Miles look like twins.... and further check out Chris double-babying!

Let's see.. Oh yes. I have officially taken a year's leave of absence from my job, just in time for the new year to begin. This was both a difficult and yet, not very difficult decision to make. It was difficult in that it is so dramatic and will be such a challenge to change our lifestyle... it was not difficult in that... well, I couldn't face putting Miles in anyone else's care besides Papa's if it wasn't absolutely necessary. And, we determined, it isn't.

Miles has also had a pediatrician visit recently where we learned that he is in the 50th percentile for weight (a solid 9lbs 5 oz), around the 49th for height and the 25th percentile for head size. So he definitely does NOT have either a Grunert or a Revell head. Must have inherited a McManus or a Cornell head.

We've also received visits from Karlene and Justin recently, who are just back from Guatemala. We got stories from their trip, laughs from their daughters (ages 3 and 1 year) and the gift of a well-fitting sling! (see left).

You should also know that we plan to have Miles baptized on September 6 at 9am at our home church down here, St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Crofton. Contact us if you want more information and would like to attend! Exactly what will be the nature of the brunch afterward (in a home or out at a restaurant) is uncertain. More information and pictures to follow!

Milestones: Reading already?

"Call me Ishmael."

We've begun what a friend of ours calls "the parabola of reading" with Miles.

The idea is relatively simple: We start Miles off by reading to him out of great works of literature. In his case, this includes Moby-Dick and the songs from The Lord of the Rings (in lieu of traditional nursery rhymes). The purpose of reading to him out of these more-complex writings is twofold. First, it gives him a sense of the rhythm of well-constructed, creative English. Second, it provides a base for his subconscious understanding of literature.

As he grows older, we'll make the readings simpler, largely due to his increasing ability to understand and process the words read to him. During this time, we may read books like The Little Prince or Aesop's Fables--books that rely primarily on plot.

When he's old enough to converse about the books, we'll be reading such works as Dr. Seuss or Dick & Jane books, ones in which he'll start recognizing letters and words, encouraging him to become an independent reader.

Once he starts to read on his own (which, of course, will be supplemented by our reading to him), he'll have this base already laid, and when he reads Moby-Dick on his own, he may somehow remember what we've read to him.

Of course, this is all conjectural, but it's certainly worth a shot.



We're working on getting Miles on a schedule--learning that day is for playing and night is for sleeping. So far, two good nights in a row!

Milestones: The Other Babies

We introduced Miles to three other babies, one right after another! This seems like it should be overwhelming, but Miles took it all in stride and is now celebrating with a growth spurt. Yay getting up multiple times a night again! Yay hard work just to get him to sleep in the first place! When, exactly, do babies become somewhat predicable? We had a tough one last night but fortunately, it is summer, so Jon was home to take over in the early morning and let Mummy get some necessary sleep so she could rediscover her sense of humor.

We're getting ready for a big change in our lifestyle in this school year; please pray for us as we adjust and learn the steps to this new dance. No doubt we're already measurably less able to visit with loved ones this summer [No dump tour :-( No Barker :-( ] but we hope not to utterly disappear from your lives. We will have to scale down some, but I really hope not to be completely isolated.

So far, so good! Leah and Matthew were so generous as to visit us a SECOND time this summer, this time with the added bonus of being able to introduce Miles to his cousin Abigail, much to our delight, Abby's curiosity, and Miles'... indifference. Well, he's new here. He doesn't understand what an important relationship he's just begun.

It was a rare joy and satisfaction to introduce Miles to his godparents, to see Abby again and mark how much she looks like her mother, and to encourage each other through this new shared adventure.

The next day we were able to have the Rezendes family for the better part of the day! Theirs was also a good long visit in which we were able to swap stories and anecdotes and in which we Grunerts were thoroughly encouraged in this

new life by how far

the other family had come through similar struggles and how much fun they are having with their little creeper. Ben's smile is a golden reminder that babies do love their parents in return.

Finally, I enclose ANOTHER video (we can't help ourselves!). Yay for one-handed typing