"bah, blah, blah, gggahhh, gah"

Keelan has been experimenting with his babbling a lot more the last couple days (now that he's a whole 7 months!) saying "bah, blah and gah" sounds. A couple weeks ago he was a champ with the "da" and "ada" sounds but then stopped saying them completely. I'm assuming it's because he's so focused on learning how to crawl! He is basically crawling backwards and doing this awesome little head - dive motion that makes him look like he's doing a bunch of mini sun salutations to get around, it's pretty cute. He still isn't a fan of staying in a seated position for very long, he ends up rolling over and finding his way around the living room. It won't be long until I'm chasing him everywhere :-)

sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy

I feel SO wonderful when it's sunny and warm in Juneau! Keelan has been getting his vitamin D the last week because he has been outside constantly. We've been going on long walks on different Juneau trails, playing on the beach and enjoying family company every day.

home on the range

After 20 hours plus of traveling with Keelan and our two kitties (on the plane under the seat, ack) and two connecting flights, we made it back to Juneau. All things considered, the travel went VERY well! Even though Todd and I couldn't sit next to each other in order to have the bassinet seat, we had empty seats next to each other so we had space and didn't have to worry about bothering people as much. We had a wonderful welcoming party when we arrived in Juneau and felt very relieved to be back.
Keelan is learning all sorts of new skills including sticking his tongue out constantly, sitting for small amounts of time unassisted, rolling over both ways like a champ, and is starting to get in the "crawling position" on his hands and knees. He's slooowly getting on the right time schedule, but I definitely have big bags under my eyes right now. I'm looking forward to him being back on a normal nap/sleep pattern that doesn't involve as many late night wake up sessions.
Todd is working part time for Above and Beyond, a outdoors company that takes tourists up on the Mendenhall glacier. We're happy he has a bit of work here as he's looking for a teaching job. Anyhow, happy to be back :-)

first mama day

Every couple of hours when Keelan gets up at night, I usually nurse him back to sleep and sometimes Todd changes his diaper. But the night before Mother's Day Todd got up with me every time Keelan woke up and brought him to me, it was a wonderful first gift. This was followed by a lovely bouquet of delphinium and snapdragons and wonderful brunch at Element Fresh with one very well behaved and not fussy baby :-) Finally, when he was napping, I went off by myself for a massage! My first in a long time, and much needed. I find my lower back is always sore from carrying him around as he get's heavier and heavier by the day. All-in-all a fantastic first Mother's Day!

three in one kind of day

Although I wasn't there to witness the first two, Keelan had three "firsts" in one day. Sen Xi took Keelan on a walk around the Links (the housing compound that surrounds our school campus) in his stroller and because it's starting to get nice and warm, the bugs are out to play... so his first official bug bite! Yup, so exciting right? Not really, I know. It just strikes me as an important first for a little guy who will live a lot of his life in mosquito country, the great northwest. Then, after teaching a few rowdy third grade classes about improvisation, I came over to nurse Keelan on my break and low and behold... his first real booboo! Sen Xi had tried cutting his fingernails while he was asleep and I guess he moved quickly so she got him pretty good. Bloody and all, poor little guy. Glad it wasn't me, I don't have the guilt of his first booboo :-) Then after this truly exciting baby day for Keelan, we nursed, had a diaper change, got into our pj's and said our prayers. I put him in his crib with his pacifier and blankie and kissed him night night. And guess what? He fell asleep. First time! Usually there is lots of crying involved, and soothing, and carrying around, and rocking, and nursing. But there is a first time for everything and Keelan decided he would fall asleep in his crib today... at least until his next feeding in two or three hours :-S

dimples

 

can you see it? the dimple on his right? just like daddy :)

mary poppins

Sen Xi is AMAZING and we love her. Living in Shanghai makes it very easy to hire a full time Ayi (nanny) for while I'm back teaching full time. We are SOOO lucky (sorry for the all caps, but I can't emphasize enough how wonderful she is). We started out with another Ayi who wasn't really that into babies and never seemed to care much for Keelan, but Sen Xi adores him. She meets us every morning and helps take Keelan onto the bus to school. Once there, we get him all set up at our good friend Beth Tucker's house who lives across the street from the school (Beth is another amazing person worthy of her own post later). I spend the day running back and forth teaching classes and nursing and/or pumping, which is hectic, but worth it. Just to be able to hold him and be with him during the day and know that he is nearby and in safe hands, is a wonderful blessing. Sen Xi will play with him, take him on walks, walk around with him in the ergo baby carrier, give him a bath and just love him while I'm away. She even reads books to him in English. I've seen her using her translator to make sure she is pronouncing the words correctly to him! Initially I was very sad to be going back to work, but I feel he is so safe with her that I don't feel so upset anymore. I really have so much respect for ALL breast feeding/pumping working (and non) moms everywhere. It is such a big challenge and I can't imagine having to go back after only 6 weeks like most moms in the USA. I had 10 weeks paid and then took 4 extra unpaid weeks so was out of the new newborn stage when I started back. Even though it's great to be back at work and see all my 3-5th grade kiddos, I'm looking forward to being with Keelan full time again. I don't want to miss a thing :-)