the little red king

3 years old

2011-12-08T18:12:00.001-08:00

Three amazing years. It's amazing to me to think about how far he has come! This is the guy who we were worried wouldn't be able to walk! Now it's hard to imagine him going anywhere slower than a run.

Golf

2011-12-08T18:07:00.001-08:00

Rory developed a brief but intense passion for golf. The clubs came with us everywhere. Yes, that includes the bathtub and the grocery store and doctor's office. Eventually they became just sticks without the golf club part and were good for nothing but poking someone in the eye or whacking them across the face, so that love affair came to an end.

Way too long!

2011-12-08T17:55:00.000-08:00

Since my last post. We've got to go back to summer to get caught up on the pictures. These are from our visit to Colorado to see cousin Lola. They had a blast together.

A great visit

2011-04-25T09:41:00.000-07:00

Rory's birth mom and brothers and sisters. He could not have had more fun with everyone! And no wonder he is such a cutie - check out this handsome family:

Arizona trip

2011-03-02T07:58:00.000-08:00

What happened?

2011-02-18T15:55:00.000-08:00

Wait, I just looked away for a second and it's already months since my last post. I've been distracted by work and a crazy busy little 2 year old who is trying out all his 2 year old skills: talking up a storm, carefully putting every shoe in reach in the toilet, unscrewing the lid of everything with a lid and turning the bottle upside down (shampoo, jelly, rice...). Rory has officially discovered that he has a will of his own. I'm told by those near and dear to me that I should be happy about this. Ok, yeah, it's great. Wanna come over and help clean up? I've got lots of pictures to post, but if I keep waiting until I can sort through them it will be another 3 months, so I'll just leave you with a few teasers:
This is from the 2 week period where Rory and a toothbrush were never parted.
Fun at the sink.
A dude doesn't really have to do anything to prove he's cool. If he's got it, you just know it, you dig?

what we've been up to

2010-11-12T08:50:00.001-08:00

Halloween was a little bewildering, but we made the rounds.

My least favorite new game:

When we stuck inside to play, Rory still likes to feel the cool breeze:

And then there is the all time favorite cardboard box. Hours of fun bumping into things.

Rory has embraced toddler-hood with open arms. No feeding tube for about 6 weeks now and he has energy to spare. Lots of talking, lots of exploring. I'm loving it!

Challenges

2010-09-14T07:39:00.000-07:00

Rory is hanging in there with his new feeding tube, although it has it's own set of challenges. He is up to 21 pounds, and is walking and exploring all over the place with all the new energy he gets from the overnight feeding. It's hard to get pictures since he is permanently on the move!

Our unfortunate tradition of visiting family in Boulder and winding up in the ER continued with a rough trip last month. Rory is finally doing better now, and it's making life with the nasogastric tube much better - he struggled with it when he was so congested and cranky: pulling it out, coughing and throwing up. He mostly forgets about it when he is feeling ok.

Rory is still such a cheerful and sociable kiddo. His favorite thing to do is follow big kids around on the playground with an enormous grin on his face and a constant stream of unintelligable chatter. I imagine it goes something like:
"what are you guys doing? Hey that's cool! I'm here with my mom, who are you here with? Wow, you can really climb! I tried that but it just wasn't for me. Oh, are we going over there now? 'Kay! Do you like cheesy noodles, I sure do! What's in your sippy cup? Gee, that stick doesn't taste so good, want to try it?: etc. etc.

Very Busy

2010-06-29T08:24:00.000-07:00

Rory devotes approximately 10 minutes a day to being mellow: the rest is spent MOVING! Here is run down of recent action:

Walking through the park with Mom

Going for a ride with some babies

Playing piano with Papa

Getting some good greens at the farmer's market

Generally looking adorable

Healthy

2010-06-08T12:02:00.000-07:00

We were worried. It looked like Rory was going to need surgery.

But we had fantastic news today. It looks like he is just fine. Growing well, eating plenty, on target to catch up about the time he's 3. No surgery, no feeding tube, just a healthy growing boy. God bless butter, olive oil, and cheesy noodles!

Go Rory Go!

Shopping list

2010-05-29T12:01:00.001-07:00

My recent trip to the store for Rory:
avocados
whole milk ricotta
butter
olive oil
peanut butter
almond butter
ice cream
king salmon
whole milk yogurt
1/2 & 1/2

Do you sense a theme? We've got two weeks before the gastroenterology appointment to see if they will put in a feeding tube for overnight nutrition to help him catch up. While we wait, I'm giving high fat foods their last big chance.

Rory, my happy little guy, had a great time exploring on Noel's porch the other day.

Road Trip!

2010-04-21T10:08:00.002-07:00

Hey, you just kick back and relax, mom. I'll drive.

Long wait

2010-04-02T10:42:00.000-07:00

So sorry it's been such a long time since the last set of pictures. We had a break-in, and they took my computer, phone and ipod! It has taken me a while to figure out some alternatives, but here are grainy pictures from my phone to tide you over.

So many new things: playing in the park, sleep battles at night, sippy cup mastery, and most amazingly, Rory has become an eater! He's chowing down these days, and I confidently expect that growth curve to be somewhere in shouting distance in the next few months.

Skills

2010-02-04T17:48:00.000-08:00

Amazing new things today. Rory has mastered pulling up to sitting (that's actually old news), but today he pulled himself up to stand for the first time. He also managed a hilarious all out exhausting effort and sort of belly crawled to get at a toy he wanted. Not a crawl so much as a seal-like wriggle, involving lots of toe flexing, but it covered some ground.
Go little one, go!

Funny boy

2010-02-01T07:40:00.000-08:00

Do we let rivers of drool and runny noses stop the fun?

No way!

Just don't come after me with a kleenex.

What to do on a snowy winter day

2010-01-08T12:25:00.001-08:00

Spend a lot of time looking out at the cold and the snow, and be glad we don't have to go out in it.

Then hang out somewhere cozy with a good toy

and make sure to tell Mom all about it.

Fool her into thinking you are getting sleepy and will take a nice long nap

Nope! Ha ha, no nap for you!

Spend a little time at your new table, sitting up like a very big boy

Good work, little one!

Winter fashion

2009-12-12T07:06:00.001-08:00

Rory is sporting two looks this winter season:

The 'all bundled up and ready for anything'

and the 'Why do we live here Mommy?'

Evangelina calls this last ensemble 'the robot'. Rory does move like a very stiff robot toy in it - it helps to crease the middle if he needs to sit up or fit in his car seat.

It's really cold out there.

Happy Birthday

2009-11-19T17:26:00.000-08:00

1 year ago today I met Rory for the first time, only a few hours after he was born. I can hardly imagine the time in my life before.
Rory has become such an amazing little guy - funny, sweet, moving and exploring. Everyone who meets him falls in love with him.

Today we went to the conservatory and Rory ran his hands over the moss and the ferns, and craned his head to look at the big palm trees.

It was good to see my little man among all the growing things. One week ago he had pneumonia, and I was as scared as I've ever been - all the feeding troubles and poor weight gain and struggles seemed to come together in one scary week. So today, one week later, waking up to his sweet little face, spending the day watching him explore the world, healthy, eating well: well, his birthday, but my present.

You are loved, little Rory.

Rainy fall day

2009-11-04T10:59:00.001-08:00

Rory and I on our afternoon stroll through the neighborhood.

Happy Halloween

2009-11-04T10:55:00.000-08:00

We had a great time trick-or-treating with Sadie and Nate. I in particular appreciated the Miller-Nichols tradition of accompanying the kids with a yummy cocktail in hand. Little cow was taking it all in with very big eyes.

SSR

2009-10-24T19:25:00.001-07:00

I recently learned that the education system calls this 'sustained silent reading' or SSR.

Of course, sometimes, when you are reading a particularly challenging book in the late evening, it's hard to stay awake.

Happy Tooth Day to All!

2009-09-25T19:22:00.000-07:00

Rory has been a cranky mucus-producing, spitting up, tummy-troubled kid for about a week now. Totally out of character for my little guy. Today I picked him up at Evangelina's, who was telling me more tales of his cranky mucus production, and we were trying to figure out what exactly was bothering him, when he turned his head and grabbed my finger and stuck it in his mouth. Bingo. Tiny little tooth coming up! Not really visible just yet, but if it were, it would be right here:

The best

2009-09-14T08:11:00.000-07:00

birthday present imaginable is waking up to this little fellow.

Whole Foods

2009-09-05T19:02:00.001-07:00

Rory thinks he is ready for the big time. Enough of this baby food nonsense.

Summer Harvest

2009-09-03T17:43:00.001-07:00

We went to visit Norma in Hyde Park today, and wandered through the community garden there. It was a gorgeous riot of colors - such a lovely early evening ramble. It's hard to believe that the University of Chicago is going to bulldoze the site after years of community plots, pot lucks, farmers markets, just for easier access to a building site. It's a magic spot in the city, for now.

Another concert...

2009-08-28T13:34:00.000-07:00

another attempt at ear plugs for the baby.

He looks so attentive, doesn't he? It's like he's expecting a quiz on the material later in the evening.

The chew

2009-08-24T06:42:00.000-07:00

Rory resigned to a long chew on a particularly tasty strap.

The Littlest Birds

2009-08-17T10:38:00.000-07:00

sing the prettiest songs

Let's read a book, Mom!

2009-08-02T08:36:00.001-07:00

2009-07-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

It's been a great week with the little man. All kinds of changes - he's figured out how to splash and play in the tub, so today we moved the show out to the deck in the goofy duck pool Tuwanda gave him. He's more playful, more alert, working hard at holding himself up when sitting. It seems like he's about a second away from taking off running. He is even, on occasion, when the mood strikes him and the moon is full and the I Ching confirms that it is an auspicious time and the wind is from the east and the dew point is at 53 degrees, eating! The great joke is that it is bananas that generate the most enthusiasm. I have managed to avoid being in the same room with a banana for most of the past 20 years, and now I'm not only buying them, I'm mashing them into a horrible, smelly glutinous paste on an almost daily basis.

It takes a pretty adorable baby for me to go mano a mano with a banana.

summer day in the park

2009-07-18T14:36:00.000-07:00

Highchair blues

2009-07-13T13:25:00.000-07:00

Rory had a little trouble avoiding a slump in the highchair:

We corrected the problem with a role of paper towels, which had the advantage of letting him wipe his own face with a simple turn to the right:

Babies at the beach

2009-07-11T06:36:00.001-07:00

Lola and Rory at the beach in North Carolina. Lola is fearless, loved the surf, loved sifting through the sand.

Rory took a more contemplative approach to the ocean.

Thanks to Lola for the loan of the pink swim diaper.

Grooving in the park

2009-07-01T12:30:00.000-07:00

Rory (with improvised ear plugs) chilling out to the Feelies in Millenium Park.

We've made the round of specialists to get Rory some extra help with his growth and development, and have a plan in place for some ongoing therapy to help him catch up. After all the evaluations and doctor visits, it's good to step back and remember what a happy, sunny, sweet little guy he is. The specialists always ask me to describe his personality, and I always have to search to find a word good enough: delightful? joyous? lovely? None do him justice.

Love

2009-06-15T12:26:00.000-07:00

I can't describe the feeling I get when I watch the people I love fall in love with Rory.

Is that bath ready yet?

2009-06-01T16:07:00.001-07:00

Rory takes it easy waiting for his bath.

Rory puts in some time at the office

2009-05-23T06:06:00.001-07:00

Happy baby

2009-05-21T09:48:00.000-07:00

6 months old, sweet, singing, smiling lovely little boy.

sunny day

2009-05-14T15:15:00.000-07:00

We spent the day with Gwennie and Amanda, and then Rory helped with a little gardening on the deck. He's contemplating the proper balance of color and texture - pink and red petunias merited squeals of delight.

Good Friends

2009-05-08T17:23:00.000-07:00

Bronchitis and back spasms hit me this week like a ton of bricks. I had to put the call out for help. I got it, from great calls with offers of help and support to Norma and Eric, who scooped Rory up for a sleepover. Amazing friends - Rory's extended family.

Today we are both better - I'm actually breathing, and can just about stand upright, and Rory is back to working on his bronx cheers. He's achieving impressive results.

Spring

2009-04-18T21:13:00.000-07:00

There was a carpet of blue flowers on our walk today.

2009-04-16T13:24:00.000-07:00

Last night I gave Rory a bath, and had a moment of feeling completely overwhelmed by how much I love this perfect tiny little boy. I'm so fortunate to have him in my life, and so grateful for every moment with him.
He is almost 5 months old, and remarkable in every way. He chuckles and wrinkles up his nose when he smiles, and he sings and coos so loudly that sometimes he cracks himself up. He is figuring out how to put things in his mouth, and can lift himself up on his forearms when he is on his tummy so that he doesn't miss anything that's going on. He is still the most mellow baby of all time. He cried once for about 15 minutes, which more than doubled his lifetime record for continuous crying, and it was only because we were stuck in traffic and I couldn't get to him in the car seat. Beautiful, beautiful boy.

Rory requests a hearing

2009-04-04T20:54:00.000-07:00

Up until this point, I think it's fair to say that our relationship is based on deep mutual affection, which you, mom, demonstrate by caring for my every need and showering me with adoration, and I express by being utterly perfect in every way. I trust that you have my best interests at heart, but would like to take this opportunity to voice my concern vis a vis your proposal of rice cereal. It seems extreme to me, and I would urge caution...

Mother, I think it is fair to say that you will have to earn my trust again.

Sunny days

2009-03-17T14:37:00.000-07:00

We've been visiting Scottsdale. The desert is in bloom, and we've spent every day walking and exploring, with plenty of time at the pool. Rory is in bloom too: smiling, laughing, grabbing onto things, kicking and cooing and squealing. Every morning and evening, right along with all the desert birds, Rory bursts into song.

Perfect relaxation in the desert.

Pockets

2009-03-04T09:24:00.000-08:00

I can't understand why all of Rory's clothes have pockets. Today's outfit features a total of four pockets. What do they think he should be carrying in there?

Right front breast pocket: sketch book and fountain pen
Left front breast pocket: money clip, reading glasses
Right pants pocket: house and car keys
Left pants pocket: handkerchief, peppermints

Happy Three months

2009-02-19T08:30:00.000-08:00

Rory is three months old, or as Norma said "Congratulations, Rory, you are a quarter!" It feels like he has been in my life for much longer than that. He is such a happy, mellow little guy, and I love every minute with him.
Gavin, Brian and Lola were back in town. We joined them at their hotel for a baby spa. Rory was a little unsure about the pool, but he really loved the rain shower and the warm towels.
Lola is getting a terrific, funny personality. Watching her play with toys and laugh was fantastic, and sort of amazing to think that in 4 short months Rory will be showing off just as much. Right now, he's just taking it all in.

Cooking

2009-02-14T11:56:00.001-08:00

Make it spicy, mom!

Good Morning Sunshine

2009-02-13T10:47:00.000-08:00

Winter

2009-02-09T13:28:00.000-08:00

Rory would like the public to know that he is completely over this whole winter thing. The clothes are cute, but by the time all the layers are in place it seems hardly worth it to go for the walk. Especially with all the photo-ops dragging the process out.

toes

2009-01-29T14:42:00.000-08:00

I was thinking today about when my sister was born. She came home from the hospital in our big green car, and I held her on my 6 year old lap, trying to sit very still in the back seat. When we got home and unwrapped her, I remember seeing her tiny little feet for the first time. Her toes looked like someone had lined up the world's most perfect little peas on a tiny little wall.

Now I have my own little one, and so does she. They ride in car seats, strapped and buckled within an inch of their lives, and I'm guessing Rory's feet are bigger than Gavin's were on her first day of preschool, but otherwise the amazement is the same.

Beautiful Boy

2009-01-19T19:28:00.000-08:00

Long and busy work days,
but how wonderful to come home to such a beautiful, happy, lovely little boy.

Back to work

2009-01-14T18:03:00.000-08:00

I've had the most amazing two months of my life. Rory and I have been in a perfect cocoon, just trying to get the very simple things done every day, like sleeping and eating and getting to know each other. The first night he was home with me I think I counted every breath he took, and now I know the sound of his breathing so well I don't even have to listen. We've had the luxury of settling into a routine together. I love that I know exactly what that little high-pitched coo means, and the fact that he'll wake up so happy and alert at about 10 in the morning, and be up for a few hours of lovely baby smiles and gazes. It's been wonderful.
The next phase started today, when I dropped him at Evangelina's for the day in the middle of a blizzard, having knocked the driver's side rear view mirror off my car getting out of the garage. Looking in the only remaining rear view mirror I also realized I forgot to brush my hair. Evangelina held him all day and I know was more than fine. I'm the one who is struggling with the separation. It was a short day today, only 8-4, but it was the longest stretch that Rory has been out of my arms since he came home.
I read today that in Sweden women get 16 months of paid maternity leave. With the amount of money I've paid to IKEA over the years, I'm surprised my Swedish maternity subsidy hasn't arrived yet. The second set of Billy bookcases, all those Akurum kitchen cabinets - that was me paying my Swedish taxes right? We call it FICA, they call it a Malm 6 drawer chest, but I understood it to be essentially the same thing.
Or did I get that wrong?

Smiles

2009-01-07T08:59:00.000-08:00

The other night, after cleaning up in the kitchen, I leaned over Rory in his little chair to give him a kiss. I was rewarded with the world's most beautiful smile. For now, you will mostly have to take my word for it, because when I get the camera out, Rory seems to prefer a more pensive pose.

When he does smile, I get so excited that I take a picture like this one. I seem to be unable to capture the full glory of the smile on film.

There are many more smiles to come, so I have hopes that I will catch one without having Rory half out of the frame.

Toasty

2008-12-31T13:14:00.000-08:00

Up all night

2008-12-30T16:20:00.000-08:00

How is it that he is even cuter in the morning after a very long night of almost no sleep? I, on the other hand....well, I'm not quite so chipper today.

Christmas

2008-12-26T07:56:00.000-08:00

Two brand new babies in our family for Christmas - what could be better? My house is full, with Gavin, Brian and Lola visiting. Rory and I have moved down to the downstairs bedroom, which is very cozy. Rory sleeps swaddled tight on a changing pad on a piano bench at the end of my bed, and seems happier there than in the little crib in my bedroom. Lola spends a lot of time talking and singing to herself when she is supposedly napping - it's like little bird sounds coming from the loft.
We spent Christmas cooking pies in the morning, skyping Grandma and Grandpa in Arizona,

and then spending the evening with Brian's family, who were so warm and generous. I loved it. This year is all about families expanding in expected and unexpected ways.

Lola was handed all around the table, which was hilarious: she had a very serious, slightly worried expression while she fulfilled her familial duty.

Rory slept like he had been drugged the whole time - a very mellow little cowboy. He got kisses from Aleta delivered via cell phone when he got home to make the day perfect.

It's cold out there

2008-12-22T09:53:00.000-08:00

We had to leave home this morning for an appointment at Children's Memorial Hospital. The high is 6 degrees today, and it certainly hadn't reached the high at 7:30 am. Luckily, Rory doesn't have to sacrifice fashion for warmth.

Terrell Family Visit

2008-12-20T13:47:00.000-08:00

Rory and I went to visit Aleta and her family today. I'll admit to being a little nervous about meeting everyone, but it was really wonderful. Aleta's family is so warm and friendly, and Rory responded by being his most alert and happy self.

I, on the other hand, still have some learning to do. What are the basics in taking care of baby? Making sure he is loved (check), warm (check), safe (check), clean (check), and what is that other thing? Oh yeah, fed! I managed to leave the house without a drop of formula. I was so worried about packing everything up, shoveling the alley to get my car out, keeping him warm and not slipping on the iced up stairs. I'm sure Aleta and her family were thinking who is this bozo? Poor Rory is getting hungry and I've got nothing for him. Packing a diaper bag should not be all that complicated! That is the first and hopefully last time I make that mistake. I felt so rotten about it that I called my mother, who said, well, at least you didn't drop him down the stairs. True, but really not all that comforting.
We made it home without either of us having a meltdown, and hopefully the Terrell's are not reeling in horror. It's going to be good to get to know them. Rory has two families who love him so much.

He's getting bigger...

2008-12-15T08:34:00.000-08:00

but he's still pretty little.

Grandparents

2008-12-15T08:07:00.000-08:00

It is so wonderful to have my parents here. I keep marveling at the total and immediate shift that has happened, and it seems even more real to see how that shift has happened for our whole family. I love seeing Mom and Dad holding and talking to Rory.

Watching them take care of him is wonderful, and makes me remember how loved they made me feel growing up. I remember crawling into bed with them on Saturday mornings, and how there was no warmer or safer place in the world. They could make an adventure out of everything, from making french toast to building a fort out of couch pillows for optimal cartoon watching. Gavin and I have talked about how we hope we have as much fun with Lola and Rory, and give them as many good memories.

bath time

2008-12-13T08:30:00.005-08:00

A little warm water in one half of a double sink seems to be recipe for total, complete, utter relaxation.

Cold Day

2008-12-08T09:07:00.000-08:00

Today it is 19 degrees outside, and Rory and I are camped out in the loft, watching clouds through the skylight. I have the feeling like we are on a long sea voyage together, and our house is our ship. Rory wakes up and is so alert, moving his hands and gazing all around. He changes every day. My life has compressed to a small radius around this remarkable boy. Sometimes I seem to forget that the world outside still exists. A friend told me last night that the first three months with a baby are just about survival, getting through the sleeplessness, but this is much more beautiful than that. This is the first part of our long sail together, through unmapped places.

Two weeks old

2008-12-04T20:41:00.000-08:00

Rory is two weeks old, and has many accomplishments. He is a talented napper, and looks good while doing it.

He made several outings, including the grocery store and the coffee shop. He met and charmed many very important people, including his cousin Lola.

He has developed a sense of humor - at least, I think it's humor that has him fill a diaper within two seconds of getting a new one.

He does a great impersonation of a burrito.
All in all, a talented boy.

Rory is home!

2008-12-03T17:58:00.000-08:00

Rory was born on November 19th. He was 4 pounds and 13 ounces, so little and wrinkly that it broke my heart to see him. He spent his first week in the NICU, getting some extra help with eating and a little oxygen. He came home the day before Thanksgiving, and I've barely put him down since

I spent that first week back and forth to the hospital, not entirely believing that this would really happen, that he would be my son. His birth mother, Aleta, and I held him together on the first day, and talked during that week about what her hopes for him were. She gave him his middle names: Manasseh, which is from the old Testament, and means 'he who forgets'. She told me that what she hoped for him was not to forget her, but to forget the painful circumstances of his start in the world, and to look forward. His other middle name is Terrell, Aleta's surname.

I'm so happy to have had the chance to meet her, and get to know her a little bit. I'm glad that Rory will be able to know where he comes from, and to know how much his birth mother loves him. She will always be an important part of his life, and Rory can never have too many people who love him.

He is home now, gaining weight like crazy, getting cuter and more snuggly every day. I'm in love! Every day is more amazing than the last. This morning he woke up and looked into my eyes for a long time, and I thought: We know each other, we are each other's family.