Sam's New Tent

I think Sam will be incredibly creative (hopefully), and lately I'm afraid that the first book he writes may be titled: Mom never sterilized my bottles.

His follow-up book will be called: Mom used the wrong amount of Tylenol when I had a fever, therefore negating any relief.

Of course, the appropriate words will be capitalized.

Sam currently has a double ear ache, which makes me wonder exactly what is a double pneumonia? Both lungs? Two colds? Twice baked potatoes?

He's wasting away. He's only on the 75th percentile for weight now, 85th for height. I'm worried.

He sure likes his new tent, though.

End of Birthday Week

I just took a run at Butler, past the Persephone (Queen of the Underworld) fountain, past the turtles swimming in the canal, past the elderly Asian women fishing in the canal. Eek!

We had a great birthday party yesterday for Sam ... and me. I planned everything down to the most minute detail, and still had fun!

Matt got me great seats to Ryan Adams, so I am definitely looking forward to that date. It was a great birthday; Sam ate his cake and his birthday hat!

Sam received WAY too many presents, but he sure doesn't mind.

I love birthdays because everyone you once knew comes out of the woodwork. I have so many fantastic friends, and I appreciate them so much.

Painting I bought at Penrod

No Foot Fetish

I blew up a bunch of balloons today and hung them in the dining room. I was practicing. Matt said, "Those will be limp by mid-week." If they are, I'll blow up fresh ones before he gets home, because I cannot lose at balloons. (If Matt reads this I guess that plan is blown to hell).

Sam loved the balloons and we've been talking "birthday" a lot. It's a week-long celebration.

I ran today in the rain/wind combo, tree limbs falling at my feet. Cool! I stopped at the corner grocery, where they stack everything a la Sleeping With The Enemy. It's perfect, not one single can out of order. I could take a nap in one of their aisles.

My right foot is killing me because of running hills. I've been making Matt push it and stretch it. The first time he did it, he washed his hands afterward. Tonight, he said, "Are we doing your foot thing tonight? I'm over here mentally preparing for it."

Hilarious.

Back to the Books

I've been reading a lot, again. I finished Loving Frank, about the torrid affair between Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Borthwick Cheney. So good (and it was) that I had nightmares for two nights afterward. The "surprise ending" was quite a surprise, indeed.

Right now (and with this I mean 2 minutes ago), I'm reading Eat Pray Love, which is apparently written by my soul-sister, except she has no fear and she's published 3 books and used to write for GQ.

Do I have fear, or am I just too busy (and with this I mean too lazy)?

Sam was sick all week, including fever. Karis is dead meat. I witnessed E.B. biting Sam right in front of me too. E. B. will not be around long. I took Sam back to school Friday and he did great. Karis still had a runny nose, so I made sure to say loudly, "Oh, look, Karis, you still have a runny nose." The teacher said, "Oh, I heard that Sam was sick...I'm so sorry." Yeah, whatever.

When I picked Sam up, he smiled at me and ran (and with this I mean ran) across the room to a little sink in the wall. He looked at me, putting his hands into the sink with no running water, showing me his new skill. Hand washing. That's great, sweetie (heart beats faster because I'm so in love).

He'll be one this week, and I'll be 29 again. That is so weird. I was almost too young to have a kid.
I have his birthday party planned from start to finish. I'm actually taking a night off with my girlfriends the night before and heading to Lake Monroe, near Bloomington, for some wine and conversation. My friends are all readers, and they love wine. Can't beat it with a stick.

Matt is chatting with his best friend Christian in California right now. Christian's father and I have a mutual crush on one another. He owned a French restaurant in Orange County, and I'm the only woman among Matt's friends who could talk some smack with him (with this, I mean French cuisine). ; )

Breaking out the Nikon

We went to Penrod this weekend with Matt's folks. Saw lots of good art, lots of interesting people. I bought a new painting...it's so gorgeous and I pick it up this week. Took lots of good photos, too.

Great weekend with the in-laws, and my brother Jason came in 309 (out of over 2,000) in the Ironman triathlon in Madison, WI today. Our family tracked him online all day! : )

Sam is sick for the first time! He started school Friday at the church down the street, and this little snot-nosed girl, Karis, breathed on him. I'm so pissed. I whispered to Karis when I met her: Hi. I'm keeping my eye on you. Matt said he has his eye on "E.B."

Parenting is a blast!

The Gardening Set

Today, after Sam's meet-n-greet at his new school (Fridays only), I bought him a gardening set for $1 at CVS. I showed Matt tonight and he said, "Jill, the boy already has a vacuum, and now a gardening set; we're starting him off on the wrong foot, wouldn't you say?"

Laughter.

New SLR

I bought a sweet new camera this weekend - a Nikon D-60. I know, I know, I spoil myself.

Matt was walking down our wee side street this weekend with Sam. He stopped and bought chocolate somewhere, and shared with Samuel. He said that he kept seeing Sam's little arm coming up, out of the stroller, wanting more pieces.

Mmm, mmm, love.

I've kept a journal of pretty much every major life-moment in Sam's first year. I'm so bloody organized.

I ran this morning before Sam (and Matt, ahem) got up. I love running in the early pre-autumn mornings, when the wind is cool and the leaves are heavy with dew. Our neighborhood is full of hills, too, which is a bonus.

The Wit

My dad visited my grandmother in the nursing home last weekend, and apologized for not having stopped at the bank before he got there. Their conversation:

Dad: Mom, take this $10 - I forgot to stop and get you more cash.

Grandmother: No, no, I'm not taking your money, sweetie.

Dad: Please, take it; it's no big deal.

Grandmother: No, honey, I don't even need money here.

Dad: Please take it.

Grandmother: Oh, all right. Next time don't forget to stop at the bank first.