I blog to remember…. my old friends know that I have decent short term recall, but lousy long term memory especially when it comes to playing the “remember when” game. So my blogging is two parts, one to empty my brain so I can sleep, another so that I can remember these fantastic (and sleepless) days …
Quack Ryan Update (that’s a typo made, and specifically left there – since my son for his first 26 days (today is day 27 I think) didn’t cry much) – he generally emits this quack like sound – it’s like a quack without the “qu” part – more ahhhhk, ahhhhk which at first will startle you and then make you laugh every single time you hear it – unless its for the 10th time at 3:45 am… has been so much fun. Even though our lives revolve around the every 3 hour diaper change/strip/feed/burp/feed/re-dress/re-burrito wrap/back to sleep cycle it’s amazing.
On the gosh, let me get teary I’m a mom front – I really really get choked up sometimes looking down at this fuzzy little guy who not only was in my tummy and made it out healthy and whole, but depends on us for everything, and rewards us constantly with big gummy smiles, or lifting his enormous head up to survey the scene, or providing us with full (diaper) indications that his plumbing is working as it should. No wonder new parents can’t talk about anything else but their kid. It’s endlessly fascinating and scary and funny and humbling that this little baby is their to keep and watch over and teach and grow.
Ryan is growing stronger and healthier everyday as specifically evidenced this morning as he let out the loudest wail to date because he woke up STARVING and he wanted to make sure we knew about it. Usually he doesn’t wake up his daddy during our nighttime cycles, but he was loud and proud this morning. Woo hoo. On the one hand I miss the quiet easily soothed preemie we had for the first 3 weeks, but on the other hand – boy has lungs and he ain’t afraid to use them. You Grow!
So the other thing I wanted to do was put some reminder laughing points about the various showers Ryan was blessed with. OK we have a lot of friends and family, I don’t know why I feel a bit defensive about having so many parties, but it was just easier to handle (and fit) everyone in sections. As it was, there were 4 and a half parties. Highlights to remember:
Oct 5 – Family and Renee’s Bridal Party Shower
This was the all filipino extravaganza. My favorite filipino foods – kare kare, lumpia and beefsteak courtesy of the fabulous Auntie Amie, Edna’s fruit salad, Auntie Toni’s (Grandma P’s original) baked ham and sauce that thickens on its own, white rice of course, and a ton of other yummies. Except for the fact that my mum was over an hour late with most of the food, the party was a success. Lu and Edna really pulled the party outta their behinds cuz we were so busy trying to get the house ready for RYAN let alone his party, that everything was a bit scattered. But the guests came in shifts, so the house wasn’t too full at any one time and games were played, gifts opened and food eaten and/or taken home in to-go containers. Yes, that’s how filipino a party it was that there were actual styrofoam to-go boxes there. Yeah! Two highlights – one when Auntie Toni was working on the name game – why did she add an “s” to Ryan’s name. Why was it Robert Ryan SHMARMIJO? or Robert RYANS Armijo or ROBERTS Ryan Armijo? Ahhhh to be filipino. The other was Uncle Alex and Auntie Meng coming late – even for this party – but bearing a ton of new food as well as the much anticipated Jeep playpen/changing station? Ahhhhh since my co sleeper hadn’t come in yet, we could actually put Ryan to sleep in that thing if we had to. But we use it every day now as a changing station and general supply holder, although I have to kneel on the ground to be at the right height to save my back. But it’s a nifty nifty thing. We adjust and make things work!
Oct 8 – The Bible Study Gals
Ryan came home earlier than anticipated. And thanks to the Gals we were actually able to take him home courtesy of the car seat that they got for us. We thought he would be home on the Friday (10/10) but ended up coming home on the Monday before this party. So we actually picked up the carseat from Traci before the party – first the kid before the party, and now the gifts too – but they understood and came on Wed bearing a huge chocolate cake and the most amazing Heather-homemade-chocolate-caramel-you wanna stuff them all in your mouth-brownies ever. Ahhhhhh. Those girls spoil us. There were still more gifts too! So generous and sweet. They truly are my FCC family.
Ooooh it was so good to see everyone, especially Sandy who make me feel all warm and fuzzy whenever I see her, as well as Traci and Heather’s little chunky monkeys. Love them! Can’t wait for Ryan to be as big as them! And Jonnie was able to come, so we could catch up with her after Logan’s bout in the hospital. The best part was, as always, the sharing. Everyone is a mom in that group from as young as Sue’s month old Samantha to Kim’s already in college Elizabeth with Sandy a Grandma too and I received much needed perspective and advice. Loooove them! Can’t wait for Cezanne’s shower on the 14th (why does she get to still look stylish and sweet in her cutie shorts and flowy top at 7 months preggers??) What a blessing they all are. The best moment for me was in opening the gifts, being so appreciative of those gifts but each package unwrapped or bag opened, just reminded me again and again that these women supported us through the entire pregnancy with their gifts of prayer. How blessed we are. EVERY TIME, every time I think about this, it makes me cry. And yes I’m tearing up again right now . . .
Oct 18 – the party and a half
The friends shower was a blast. I had a fantastic time, all the Edna and Jing prepared food was so good I ate it for 4 days in a row. I finally gave up on the bbq chicken drumsticks (that was from the after party) but yeeeee-uuum. Big big big props out to Jing-A-Ling and her amazing Fry Daddy (the deep fry machine – not John) This was another revolving door shower with people coming and going throughout the shower, but why did the gifts keep coming nonstop? Again, the generosity of people amaze and humble you as a parent. Veronica was the first one to show up – and she thought she was late – I shoulda warned her about filipino time …. but that was nice cuz we were able to chitter chatter as I like, and she got to see the “Brest Friend” in action as I fed Ryan while we visited. After everyone chowed down multiple times on the carb fest, we finally settled into a core group of a couple gals and were getting ready to play games – after an intensive revisiting of the entire Nick and Jessica season – come on, you gotta love “The Simpsons” you know it’s all about Jess and her craziness – and yes she’s dumb but I LOVE HER it was a riot. In between my ramblings of the absurdities of being a new mom who knows not a lot about babies we played the games courtesy of Lu’s great crowd control. OK I know – now – we got pretty bunk baby food for the game, but why weren’t people giving up the taste testing? Of course, Rommie ended up winning as she was brave enough to taste most of them – but why oh why did she think there was one that tasted like Argentinian food. Lu kept repeating they were all American type food. Makes me laugh to think about it. Cute moment when Daisy and Franny came bearing their adorable, almost-matching baby boys and we had to laugh when I said I’d come over to their place and we could sit around talking about our mestizo (half filipino/half white) babies. Ahhhhh. Ohhhhkay and I have to give Cyndi props not only for the gift but for the packaging. Why was everyone so amazed at the box that Cyn’s gift came in that I had to close it and open it again to another chorus of oooohhhs and ahhhs (BEFORE we ever saw what was in it!) Too funny. And trooper award goes to Grace and Gia who stayed for the whole party and mingled successfully with Chika in the early part of the party, Mel and the gals during the games, and Lu and Rommie during the after party? Big ups to the “socialites” I love people who can party with strangers. And Lu, two words – CUP CAKES. Bobby may be the mix master (he, of the soft and fluffy baking skills), but you’re the frosting-est bomb.
The after party was chill for me, and still a total surprise for Bob even AFTER Rex pulled up, his moster truck full with a bbq pit and a cooler full of coronas, pulled up IN OUR BACKYARD. Oh geez. If it wasn’t for Rex that party wouldn’t have happened and it really was a great gift for Bob. Na marinated the pork bbq, but Rex got the chicken and beef and ran around all afternoon picking up supplies and the nifty photo cake and then bbq’d through the night. My brother really rocks. The best, as always, when the boys are all together. Seeing Chris and Aaron cozy on the couch watching (I think) Game 1 of the World Series, Greg and Bob out by the BBQ pit – with Gabe toddling through the NEW screen door to kick it with them, makes my heart happy. Cutiest moment was when Miss Ava started dancing to Justin on SNL (Lu taped last week’s episode) and it was waaaaay past her bedtime. Way past mine too! But Bob kept the party going, he even went to see Kill Bill with Rudy after the after party. Woo hoo for him. I’m so glad he had a grand time. And Mr. Ryan made a few appearances throughout the night. And if you were lucky – and washed your hands – you could perhaps, touch Lil Ry’s blanket as he passed by …. Lu and Paulie kept me company after the crew had left and I was poured on the couch in exhaustion – wait I just remembered – big props out to Piia who is a total mom and gave me the best gift ever – a clean kitchen before she left the party a SECOND time!! oh so back to me, my son (you’ll be hearing that nonstop as long as you read this blog from now on!!) …and Lu and Paulie. They scrubbed to a new layer of skin and each got to hold him. Paulie, held him for almost an hour as I drowsed on the couch and Lu got to snuggle up to him as the ultimate thank you for all the work she had done for multi-showers. But wait there’s ONE MORE TO GO ….
Oct 19 – Los Armijo’s
A small and cozy shower to be had at la casa Armijo. Which was exactly what I needed after Saturday’s massive festivitas. Why did I eat two sandwiches and two helpings of everything at the table? Ah the simple joys of life. Although I missed the tamales. But that’s OK, there’s always Christmas. Lu added a new game to the shower repertoire – the playdoh make a baby. Those were too cutie. There were far more gifts than guests again, and we really were showerd with gifts. It’s amazing how much gear one little being can acquire. YIKES! My personal high point – I was wearing regular clothes, granted they were my sister’s, but still. No stretch pants and no flumpy polos or bell shaped t-shirts. Ahhhhh, what a feeling. RyRy made a visit to the house and hung out with the guys and watched football. He’s so funny. Bobby came late with him after giving him a sponge bath and washing his ducky hair. When he came to the house,his hair was all ruffled like the little duck he is. Tina did remind us that there is baby hair gel available. She makes me laugh. The best of course, was the yummy yummy cake custom baked and sweetly decorated by Aunt Rhonda. So yummy I ate that for three days too. After a visit to Maria and Miro’s to drop off some of that cake, we finally drew to a close the ultimate party weekend. So Baby Ryan is destined to be a socializer himself. He targeted his arrival perfectly so that he could attend a wedding (well, he stayed at the resort in the upgrade room) and 3 and a half parties. Talk about timing!
Speaking of, it’s a good thing it’s Daylight’s Saving Time. As Bobby just reminded me the clocks may go back an hour, but your son doesn’t. If I hurry I can get in a half hour nap before he wakes up again. Woo Hoo! Wouldn’t trade this for the world, or even a full night of sleep.
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