come undone

"Mommy...looook, penee"

Which translates to "Mommy...look, penis."  Yes, that is what my son told me the other day during a diaper change. Why not make it a post title? 

My son is spewing random words and phrases these days and I think it's hysterical. He is beginning to show an interest in all things associated with the bathroom: who's in there, what are they doing, why and when can he get in there.  Does he care about the Winnie the Pooh mini toilet seat he picked out? Nope...but he likes to put diapers on his stuffed animals. He's pretty good at the diapering process. Aunt J and I witnessed the czar wiping his bear's tail with a baby wipe saying "pee pee." 

His current bathroom fun consists of:
• climbing into the sink to play with the water
• accessing the medicine cabinet to search for his toothpaste.
• standing on the toilet to play with the light switch
• brushing his teeth with hand soap
• throwing toys in the enclosed litter box

Good times.

just because it's Monday

It is Monday, right? I have no friggin' clue what day it is.

(sigh)

As expected, my father in law pased away on Saturday afternoon.  The wake followed that night and he was buried today.  I didn't expect for everything to happen as quickly as it did, but this is just the way it is in Greece.  My father in law was alert until his last breath so that made things just a bit harder for the family...he knew everything that was going on. We are relieved that he is no longer in pain...but we are upset that his father didn't have the opportunity to meet Alexander. We looked forward to seeing the two stroll down the street in their town. My sister in law is expecting her third child this fall and she and her husband share the same sadness.  But this is life...this is how it goes and we'll learn something or realize something through this experience in time.

It's just been one crazy week...and I am exhausted.

Then there is my new little nephew...he just manages to make it all better. I have yet to formally introduce myself to him, but I vow to make a good first impression. And I promise to be the best godmother ever.

Czar Nicholas

OK, so he's not Russian, but I can't get the Nicholas/Alexander thing out of my head.  And in case you're wondering, yeah, I did name my son after Tsar Alexander because I'm warped.  My husband's facination with the Romanovs also contributed to the fire. But nevermind all this...here is my Czar Nicholas.

Beep Beep! Sheep in a jeep on a hill that's steep.

talking and talking
Alexander and I have been having many conversations. Half gibberish, half random words and phrases — my current favorite being "ah-be-back" (I'll be back) said with a hand in the air while leaning towards me.  We also create grocery lists and we discuss it in the car. Today he listed what we needed to buy in Target: apple, car, na-na (banana), breee (bread), baa-glll (bagel) and teh-tuh (Thomas, as in Thomas the Tank Engine). He's also memorizing Sheep in a Jeep...his absolute favorite book, courtesy of Kate: Beep Beep! Sheep in a jeep on a hill that's steep. Yeah, I bought the series tonight on amazon.

socializing and attching
I have had an awesome week with Alexander. Having papa away has actually been a good thing for us. He's had to rely on me for everything...papa wasn't around for that second opinion.  This week has brought us closer and we've made awesome strides in the attachment department.  He actually listens to me on occasion and we sit for hours in the morning cuddling and conversing.  No more diaper changing struggles too. It's pretty cool. Papa arrives home on Sunday and it will be very interesting to see how this little czar interacts with him.  The czar is good with grudges and can be downright bitchy. Very much like me.

eating
The other day the czar wanted to feed Zeus. "Cat treat" he says, so I give him a handful to feed the cat. He returns for more moments later. Then more. Then I see that the cat is sound asleep on my desk...Zeus was not eating treats. Alexander was...and I handed each one to him.  The big news is that he ate sausage and peppers tonight, and he finally will eat baked french fries...this kid HATES potatoes so I'm glad we have another side dish option. And no, McDonald's fries are not applealing to him. In fact, nothing there is appealing to him which is a good thing, I suppose.

My new nephew is still in the hospital under observation. I only got to see him minutes after he was born and I'm desperately waiting for that moment when I can steak him from my sister. Just for a few minutes. His name is Nicholas...My son is Alexander. Talk about a Russian influence...we just need an Anastasia.

I am an Aunt!

Two grandmothers, three aunts and five cousins invaded Labor and Delivery to see a beautiful 5 lb. 8 oz, 18.5" long baby boy.  My sister made it to 35 weeks and this little guy decided enough was enough.  We are over the moon!

I mean this is my little sister...my little sister is a MOMMY. I can't express how intense this day was for me...I must admit I thought a lot about my own journey to motherhood. No regrets here, but seeing how it can happen the traditional way really amazed me....seeing how it happened for my sister was just...just WOW.  Her experience was mine. Know what I mean?  I hope so because I can't properly explain myself.  I just feel so much joy for her and her husband and I can't wait to shower this little guy with love.

oh my god, oh my god

My sister is in labor!  It's gonna be a while, but still.  I feel like I'm having this baby with her.

sooo tired

  Trader Joe's is the perfect place to nap

so that's it

The czar misses papa.

For the past week he's been evil and refused to talk to his papa when he called. Today was different. He grabbed the phone and blabbered on to papa for almost ten minutes. There was lots of "Papa? PAPAAAA! Hi papa." and "ohhhhh." The czar understands that papa went on a plane and that's pretty much it. Today we saw many planes go by, and with each plane he yelled for papa. When we saw a black car, we yelled for papa as well. It breaks my heart!

***

In other news, my father in law was transferred from a complete piece of shit hospital in his small town in Greece to a competent hospital in Thessolaniki, three hours away. Thank God my husband and his brother flew over there. Seriously, the staff at that place smoked amongst the patients and family members were responsible for nursing duties.My father in law waited five days for an MRI. (WTF...) This new hospital is giving the family hope. Besides being clear of smoke, the place is clean and staffed with doctors AND nurses. His new doctor was trained in New York at Sloan-Kettering, so my husband is feeling really good about things. They'll be operating on Monday...something to do with the gall bladder and liver...I have no idea. While cancer of the liver is terminal, the goal is to give him some energy and some time. That made my father in law very happy...he's at peace with what's going on, but feeling a teensy bit better and having some extra time is a good thing.

love is

...when your son hands you a giant booger, fresh from the source, while emitting "oohHHHHhhh." 

...when your son smashes his mouth on the sit-and-spin and you're the one he wants to bleed on.

...when you get lots of hugs and snuggles only to realize later that you were his personal hanky.

...when you are the only one allowed to wheel him around the supermarket.

...pretty cool.