Zora Travels

Quarantine

My familia is on lockdown.  And this is what it looked like today...day four of sequestering ourselves away from people to avoid spreading our germs.  My bff and I reading and soaking in the sunshine in our back yard.

The "Easter Bunny Flu" swept down upon our family with a wicked vengeance.  By far the most powerful stomach bug I've ever witnessed.  Of the 24 merry-makers at my dad's on Saturday, 19 of us have fallen down on our knees to the porcelain god.  Over and over and over.

Nora doesn't yet fall upon her knees...instead she sweetly projectile vomited my milk back upon my chest, down my legs, on Daniel's back, atop his slippers, all over the bed.  Again and again and again.

The joy didn't stop there...her other emissions were equally forceful.  Zipping out of nearly every diaper.  Gushing down my legs, across my bare toes, upon the floor, up her back, on towels, on beds, on rugs.  Again and again.

As Daniel finally succumbed to the bug, I was so exhausted from retching and nurturing and cleaning and fretting...that I poured him some ginger ale, kissed his clammy forehead and wished him luck as I closed the door.  Hours would pass before I would check on him again.  Keeping in my own fluids and that of our daughter became a labor-intensive adventure.

True love is when your child covers you in her barf and shit...when you are still dealing with your own...and you sit in this flu-rainbow as she sucks on a Pedialight popsicle, petting her head, kissing her hot cheeks, and singing a Beatles song.

It is my mission not to spread this bug here in Long Beach (apologies to the 100's exposed on the flight home from Washington...that was simply unavoidable).  I have canceled all our social plans.  I am craving my "Mommy & Me" friends and the interactions for Nora...but alas, Daniel and I are enjoying stomach-friendly meals, short walks, and the brilliant sunshine and gentle breezes of spring.

 

Easter Growls & Crawls

There is a plethora of memories, photos, videos and moments that I want to unfurl on this here blog...but alas, it is 9:35pm...I am ready to head to bed...thus it is yet another video installment.

Noodle had an entire growling conversation with her Grandpa today.  She also demonstrated consistent crawls on the carpet.  Over and over again she thumped unsteadily towards an object or a person today.  It was glorious.  My face hurt from smiling.  It was a magnificent day in so many ways.

Yesterday also brought the entire family of my dad and step-mom together...and there was a trip slipped in to have the long awaited meeting between the sweet & spicy Alice and Nora.

Several videos are below...the photos and stories shall come more in the future.  On a night when my stomach doesn't ache from chocolate, pie, chips, and cocktails.  Oh, vacation, vacation.  So good ---- and so very very bad.

Let the videos begin.

 

Fotos am Freitag: 31 Weeks - Evergreen Girl

A few days ago I flew to my childhood home with Daniel and Nora.  What is normally a routine flight to Seattle and a little hopper over the snow-capped mountains...transformed into an adventure of what to do about missed naps, forgotten solid foods, heavily-perfumed Russian grandmothers who want to hold the baby, filthy airport carpets that lure Noodle's attention like crack, and finally the glory of stepping off the plane into the crisp spring air...a bundled baby on my hip.

Her Godmother, Courtney, scooped us up after our journey.  Smiling and lamenting traffic circles and offering the best chewing gum.  Soon we were amidst her boys...Jonah (if you can consider a teenager a "boy") and Abram.  These sweet gents surrounded Nora with offerings of toys and swings and laughter.  Nora was bedazzled and instantly smitten.

 

 

 

   And soon it was Friday...and the weekly photo shoot was upon us. Where better than in the Snapdragon Coffee Shop...Courtney's warm caffienated paradise in Cashmere.  I swelled with pride as we drove up to the wood-shingled building.  A train chugging along the tracks, majestic mountains rising in the distance, the Wenatchee river snaking aside the highway. 

And then we entered.  Each amber-drenched nook filled with quotes, popcorn, espresso, Indian elephants, alphabet blocks, knotted wood countertops, and the most inviting moss couch.

Here is where Nora splashed her gummy grin and this week's photos were made.  I am so proud of my best friend...a business owner.  Her very own shop.  I loved her place.  We sent the boys away and sat on her couch alone.  Just the girls.  Nursing Noodle.  Sipping a chai latte.  Reveling in the moment I'd envisioned since last July.

Snapdragon Coffee - don't miss it when you're in Cashmere, Washington!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And soon we were rolling along the river in my dad's monster truck.  Towards his hilltop home and the merriment of a cousin reuinion.  My brother and his family soon arrived.  Giving Nora yet another glorious afternoon of fascination watching Sam and Rebecca hit golf balls, throw toys for Buddy, and create sweet chaos.

It is great to come home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My funk

I'm in a funk.  The kind of mood that puts me alone in the bedroom, typing on this computer, trying to not spread my dark cloud to the rest of the house.  Daniel is patient with this mood.  He gives me space and brings me water and lets the time pass.

Not sure where this funk is coming from.  I feel profoundly tired.  More than any of the past few months.  I have dark circles under my eyes, sinus pressure, allergies whipping my nose and eyes and skin into a frenzy.  It ain't pretty.

But then I open my email.  And my friend and favorite neighbor, Marisa, has sent me photos from today.  And suddenly I know that I'll go to bed having less sour.  I'll sleep away the bitter.  I'll feel less stupid for organizing Daniel to watch Noodle with pumped bottles...only to drive an hour up to Venice on the WRONG night for a fundraiser.  A fundraiser that will occur tomorrow night.  An event I may not make.  I sat in the parking lot, seeing incredible Ethiopian faces hanging on the walls, wondering how on earth I could be that stupid to have the wrong date.  Thinking there's no way I can pump enough milk for another night away from Nora.

But there's always these pictures. I was taking Nora for a swim on this gorgeous 86 degree day.  She does not like sunblock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then I got ready for my big night out...that ended with me eating a bagel in the parking lot and shaking my head.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fotos am Freitag: Week 30 - Pretty in Pink

Fluffy white chicks, roses, and a pink dress, oh my.  Get your pink fix because this will be the first and only such outfit that you see on Noodle this year.  Such a girlie girl.  Having fun at Grandma's house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whining (mine, not hers)

I whined last night.  I told Daniel that I needed to whine.  He said, "Okay, whine." And I did.

As much as I relish my hours with Noodle, there are still days when I crave Daniel's arrival from work with such zeal that I am sitting with her on the grass in the front yard as he drives up.  We are feigning an interest in the grass, the leaves, the sky...but really, the clock is ticking.  The minutes are passing until I will be able to share in her care, go to the bathroom with the door closed, and make a snack without simultaneously singing "Twinkle Twinkle."

It is on these nights that I lurk near Daniel, waiting for his chest to be flat and free...and once Nugglet is down, dinner is eaten, and teeth are brushed...towards him I fall.  Nuzzling into the crook of his arm, asking him to touch my hair, and so I can begin my sad sad tale.  It usually goes something like this:  "Nora didn't nap well today.  I just don't know why.  Nothing has changed.  Maybe she's teething or having a growth spurt.  She doesn't want to be put down.  I am so tired.  I don't get enough sleep.  I am so tired.  I want to go to bed early.  I have to pump now.  I hate pumping.  I feel like a cow.  I hope she sleeps for a while. I am so tired."

Then one of us reaches for the video monitor.  We stare at her sleeping.  We comment on how we love her so much that it hurts.  One of us imitates her sounds, her faces, her toe wiggles.  Daniel squeezes me tight and I soon I am falling asleep.

Nothing wrong with a good whine (wine) now and then.

One of my favorite videos lately...a freshly fed Noodle, showing her buttery sweetness...and never-ending appetite.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                           And here's a video of her laughing at her dad tonight while enjoying some pears. You can really see her two pearly nubs. Those sharp nubs make for interesting feedings at times!

Fotos am Freitag: Week 29 - Pot Stirrer

Noodle is up to no good.  Stirrin' her imaginary pot with her green spatula.  Fight the fight, my girl.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Und auch einen Video besondere an meine Freundin, Anna, im Deutschland! Freuliche Wochenende! Ich hoffe dass alles geht beser in die nexte Paar Tage.

Baby Aerobics

I'm not the only one on the move.  In these videos Nora shows off her "almost" sitting by herself and also her latest yoga moves.  She's taking her sweet time crawling...and we are grateful for it.  Downward dogs don't necesitate babyproofing!

Enjoy!

 

The question

At 6:00am this morning, my aging white sneakers were coated in red clay dust, my heart was beating fast, my hot face crimson and damp.  I had just rounded the high school track after finishing six sets of stairs, 50 squats, and various arm/back exercises, when the rock-hard trainer asked me a question.  A question that made me smile from ear to ear...as sweat dripped in my eyes and I caught my breath.  The glorious words that fell from the sculpted-cardio maven's mouth were:

 

"Do you work out?"

Yes, a little.

"I can tell.  You look strong and have good form."

Thanks.

 

And then she ordered me to climb the bleachers for another round of madness.  My mind savored every morsel of our exchange.  Chewing sweetly upon the question and the fact that this woman without any visible body fat could tell that I worked out.  Her words quickened my pace and soon I was lying on my yoga mat, crunching towards a ripening pink-streaked sky (having come in 7th out of 16 women on the gauntlet).  A faint smile still painted upon my beet-red face.

Today I started a new bootcamp (Groupon ROCKS, by the way)...new trainers to push me to a new level of exhaustion that I would not reach on my own volition.  Sure there are shifting numbers upon the scale but, more importantly, the loose waists of the only pants and shorts (two of each, to be exact) that I've been able to squeeze into since having Noodle, now fit comfortably.  No more buttons digging in and leaving their lasting impressions.  Perhaps a few more items can soon be pulled from the dark and dusty closet...they have sat draped upon their hangers since the first trimester of my pregnancy.  I miss some of their patterns and textures.  The four items that I switch each day are tired.

I am proud.  I am stronger...and I can tell. 

 

*A HUGE shout out to Courtney, my best friend, who exchanges emails with me each day to keep us both inspired.  And of course, Kathy, my sister-in-law and dear friend who ALWAYS answers every question I have about food, nutrition, diet, and life that I ask (with patience and no audible eye-rolling, since I've asked them all a million times).  You both will be seeing less of me in just a few weeks! :)

Fotos am Wochenende: Week 29 (oops, 28)

 

It's late on a Sunday night...or "late" for me.  8:30pm.  Another weekend has passed...another dinner eaten.  The bed calls my name loudly.  Bootcamp clothes and shoes are piled on the dining room table for a 5:30am adventure.  Like most of my posts that are written late at night, any clever ideas I had throughout the day or emotions that had attached to adjectives, have long since melted.  So, here's yet another photo stream. 

There's some:

Book reading (or gnawing)

Bathing with mama (there was also a video made of her frolicking...and once I had already uploaded it to youtube...for the world to see...Daniel mentioned that perhaps he had caught me in one of the clips.  I raced to the computer.  Much to my chagrin, the video already had two hits.  Two people in the world have now seen me bathing.  I deleted it.  Pisser.  Lesson "watch your videos before uploading" learned.)

A "29 week" photo (about to upload them when I realized it was only week 28)

Several "28 week" photos

Toodles.