Sofian's New Tricks

He's doing his best ab crunches to be able to sit up on his own, but Parie has also been putting him in her favorite chair so that he gets used to sitting upright.





And he's becoming more and more of a boy, not a baby, with a desire to move around and fling things whenever possible:

New Superhero Nickname: The Flinger

 

Some Pictures from the Day

Woke up this morning to find Sofian and Parie reading the latest issue of Natural Home in Mama's chair (and joined by Wompus):



And when I got home, Parie was going through Sofian's clothes and weeding out those he was no longer fitting in. This Yankees shirt from Adam and Jessica just barely made the cut for keeping, but it's not long for this growing boy.

 

The Day I've Been Waiting For

Last summer, when we first learned that Parie was pregnant, I was buying myself the newest Chelsea replica shirt... and I decided that I'd get a wee version as well (we didn't know the sex, but that really didn't matter). I bought the 6-month version, and today, while I was on my own taking care of Sofian, I decided it was time to see if it fit. It's still a bit big, but that's OK. I can't wait to get the shorts and the socks on him for the complete look -- maybe next week.



Here's also a vid of the our tiny hooligan in training:

Our Lil' Hooligan

Today was my day to take care of the boy as Parie went into work for 5 hours. We had a good time doing some errands up at the West Seattle Junction, and we tried a bottle when we got back. Still no luck. Happily for everyone, Mama came home just in time (well, maybe not just in time, as there was some screaming involved, but not for too long). With Sofian sated, he sent Parie back to work and we hooked up with some of the PEPS gang out for a walk on Alki (Sammy, Ayana, and Ellis, each with a parent in tow). Just about everytime we get together with folks from PEPS, Sofian is chill and usually pretty darn happy. We try to tell them that he certainly has his more vocal and disagreeable moments. But, you know, for the most part he is a happy lad and we're pretty lucky to have him around. Now, of course, as soon as I type this, the teething will start in full effect...

 

Early in the Morning

It was a bit of a struggle getting the boy down last night, but we finally got him to sleep a little before 10pm. Usually that means a wake-up call between 4:30am and 5am. But not today... 3:45am! And, based on my getting up for yesterday's early riser session, it would normally fall on Parie to get up with Sofian, but I had a feeling she wasn't sleeping too well with her cough, so I've muddled on through with a double shot of espresso. It's just a shade before 5am and it looks like Sofian is starting to get tired again (he's rubbing his eyes with gusto), and I've turned on the swing to promote some sleep.

To while away the time, I've done my morning stretches (as my back is a bit tweaky today) and I'm listening to some international news radio on KXOT, a local companion station to Seattle's KUOW NPR station. It was suggested by Charlie, Wammer's Dad, who has become a middle-of-the-night fan of the station due to the Sammy's sleep schedule. (You can listen online at the KXOT site, or go to the WRN site, which has a fuller schedule.) One of the things that I do a lot less of since I started living with Parie is listen to public radio, as she gets easily annoyed by the talk aspect of it. So now I've got something to look forward to on my early mornings.

Speaking of Early in the Morning, here's the Gap Band from 1982 with a tune to get ya going.

 

A Reminder of the Past

Last night's delicious meal for our PEPS group was highlighted by a buttery citron-infused pasta with red peppers and asparagus. Unfortunately, both dairy and asparagus have been known to agitate Sofian, which is why Parie has cut them both from her diet. And we've had a couple of months of Sofian happily free from severe gastric distress. However, tonight, after last night's dinner and leftovers from said dinner at lunch today, we have been reminded why.

The one unfortunate thing from this unfortunate screaming is that we double-dipped: it could be the asparagus or it could be the butter. (My vote is for the veg, not the dairy, as Parie has had some small amounts of dairy previously without too much effect. Well, certainly not the explosive vocal effect we've got on our hands now.)

[UPDATE] Luckily, Sofian's distress ebbed away and he was all happy-happy-joy-joy in time for bed. Parie has acquired a pneumonic cough in the past day and is very under-the-weather, so one less person under stress in the LD is good thing indeed.

 

PEPS Comes Back to the LemonDrop

After a 2-week break, the PEPS gang got together again (albeit minus Henry and his parents Beth and Pete, who are off on travels -- here's hoping things are going well with that) and the LD got to host the shindig. Despite the fun of having family in last week and going to the Youngstown Cultural Art Center's annual art auction, I really did miss having our weekly PEPS get-together and it was great to connect with everyone again.

Parie and I were able to work down some of the leftovers from last week's naming ceremony after-party (the dolmas seemed to be a hit -- for those wondering where we sourced those and the cheeses, olives, and red pepper, head on over to PFI). Unfortunately, Sofian, who's always up for a crowd, was a bit of a party pooper as he slept through the majority of the evening, only to wake up just as everyone was heading out the door.

Here's Wammer doing his usual flailing (I was worried that he might kick a hole into our floor with his pounding heel action) with Ellis demonstrating her standing ability:



Ayana showing off how much she's grown in the last two weeks:



Ellis showing off her ballerina socks (which matched her Mom's ballerina shoes):



And Sofian getting all nappy with Pappy (note - I didn't intend for Sofian to match my evening's couture, but this is what Mama put him in for his 5th change of the day just before folks showed up):

 

Someone's Finding His Voice

And yes, finally, Sofian acquiesces to being Papa's trained monkey.

Shrieks of Joy

 

Good News/Bad News

Here's the good news: Sofian is sticking to a fairly consistent 6.5/7 hours of sleep each night.

However, the good gets negated when he falls asleep at 8pm as he did last night. Thusly, he was up and flailing (something he must have been tutored on by Wammer) in his co-sleeper at 3am. The pain was compounded by the fact that neither Parie nor I could get to sleep last night, with both of us feeling the pressure to fall asleep quickly since we knew what was coming (we both finally drifted off after 11:30).

With Parie feeling a bit under-the-weather, I got Sofian duty this morning and I tried bouncing him back to sleep using the yoga ball. That seemed to work, but his slumber was not deep enough and he was awakened by our noisy door (fixing that has moved to the top of the to-do list). My back wasn't up for another round of bouncing, so I grabbed my robe, my wallet, and the car keys and we headed out for a drive around West Seattle/White Center.

We got home after about a 20-minute drive and I placed him and his car seat directly in the co-sleeper... where he snoozed for about 5 minutes before waking up with a cry. Now we're back in the living room, Sofian in his swing, wondering what to do with himself. It's going to be a long day.

[UPDATE] Thinking back on the night that was now that I'm awake and had a bit more sleep (though a much slower start to the day than I'd hoped for), I realized I should have done some riffing on the recent all-nighter in the Senate and framed the post as Sofian's filibuster against sleep. Oh well.

 

4 Months

Went in and saw Dr. G and his med assistant Val today on Sofian's 4-month birthdate, and he was:

• 18 pounds, 5.5 ounces
• 67.5cm (26.57 inches) tall
  

Not quite as heavy as I thought he'd be (cos man, he feels heavy!), but he's definitely lengthened quite a bit more than I guessed. Sofian will still be on the baby Zantac (we got an updated prescription) and he indeed screamed a bit during the 4 shots he got from Val. But he went into a deep slumber on his way home and has stayed in that happy place since. We'll see if that lasts...

Sofian's Crazy Grandmothers

Winding down after the ceremony with Mamalama and Tutu entertaining Sofian:

Sofian's Crazy Grandmothers

Sofian's Naming Ceremony

We had a great, long day yesterday celebrating our lil' guy. After having a pretty exciting day and dinner out with the two grandmothers and grandfathers, Sofian crashed early on Saturday night only to get up at 4:15 on Sunday morning (it was Parie's turn to wake up with him, which I was very thankful for). At around 9, we headed off for church, only to realize we'd left all the essentials for the naming ceremony in the bag that Parie had meticulously put together and left right near the door, so I was able to test out our VW's speed (turns out it kicks some serious rumpus), and got back to the church just in time.

We decided on a naming ceremony rather than a baptism because we felt Sofian can choose this path for himself somewhere down the line. And it was a great way to introduce him to our larger community here in Seattle and get to explain the meanings of his name. Sofian was fantastic during the entire service -- he really loves soaking up all the energy from a crowd of people. And he only melted down once I took him away from it all for a diaper change ("Where is my adoring public!?!?! I need them now!!!!") I'll be posting more on the ceremony itself once I have a chance to upload pics and video (which will probably require a bit of editing, so that might take a little longer), but for now here's an image captured by our PEPS pals Rich and Angie of Pastor Mark Travis carrying Sofian around to meet the congregation.



After the church part of the day, we returned to the LemonDrop and prepared food (well, opened a lot of cans and packages really) for the afternoon portion of the ceremony where we planted a tree in Sofian's honor (and read off blessings and good wishes that folks had written on small strips of paper, which were then planted with the tree -- much to the dismay of Finn Hammen).

More will be forthcoming.

 

Hot Hot Heat

Today's temp in Seattle might be a record breaker, with the forecast of 97 degrees beating out the 95-degree record from 1951. I guess I don't mind having that air conditioner installed in the bedroom after all.

UPDATE - 2:45: It's 94 degrees. Thank the heavens there's some breeze coming through the windows where I'm working in the home office while Sofian naps in the cool room.

UPDATE - 6:45: We got to 97 and beat the record. Parie, Sofian and I are holed up in the bedroom, the only place of comfort in our home, save for trips out to the kitchen to go another round with the ant surge (but I'm beating them back with my peppermint spray).

 

Sinclair Island Kids

Here's a parting shot from Sinclair Island, just before we boarded the boat to return home. From the left we've got Orlando, Grant, Clara, Sofian, Mari, Netty, and Tavio. You can see more pics from our island adventure via EO's Picassa photo set.

 

40

Yes, today is the day that I officially become a grumpy old man (though I've been working up to it of late). I'm not having a big celebration for this occasion, as I did on my 30th birthday (when the police came to shut down the karaoke party after some loud, after-hours singing of Bread songs). I'm not depressed about this turning into a new decade, but I'm frankly just more focused on this little side project that Mrs. F and I have been managing these past (almost) 4 months:



Plus, I had a great surprise party out on Sinclair Island with some of my closest friends just last week (complete with gnome candles, whole wheat shortbread cookies full of buttery deliciousness, and some of my favorite Belgian beer), so I feel satisfied on the party front.

At the suggestion of our pal The Velvet Bulldog, I've been trying to put together a list of 40 songs that have been either influential during my life or just constant favorites. I've got a fairly late stage draft, but it's not ready (that's what happens when you've got the aforementioned little project to deal with). I'll be working on wrapping that up and figuring out the best way to publish that here. But until then, here's a tune that's become one of my theme songs in life -- "I've Got a Plan" from the Aussie band My Friend the Chocolate Cake:



I also want to note some special people in my life to whom I'm very thankful for:

• Parie, the love of my life. I would be lost in a dreary, dreary haze without her. I truly am the luckiest man I know (and she would agree).
  
  
• Sofian, the new light to my life; here's to another 40 years learning how he ticks.
  
  
• Harry & Doris (aka, Babe), my paternal grandparents, who rescued me at a low point in my life and helped me to blossom by sending me to St. Olaf College. I also want to especially acknowledge Harry, the sole surviving grandparent, who turns 85 tomorrow. As I move forward through life, I find that I'm applying more and more of the lessons he doled out over the years. My grandmother would always say, "My Harry can do anything." I aspire to that for my own family.
  
  
• Charles & Ruth, my maternal grandparents, who were equally helpful in getting me grounded in high school and sending me off to college. My grandmother always worried that I'd never marry anyone because I was a rather picky eater as a youngin'. I just wish shee could see all the food I eat today, and be amazed by my lovely wife.
  
  
• Mom, the Reverend Dr. Ann E.P. McElligott -- a phoenix who rose to heights I'm sure she never thought she'd attain along with her husband Tom, one of the wittiest gentlemen I know. She's also one of my best friends.
  
  
• Dad, Jhanos of Arabia -- the wanderer who laid the groundwork for my roots; I'll take the best that I learned from him and impart it to Lil' F.
  
  
• Old Fogey (aka, my step-mother, Mrs. F's Mom) -- a good friend with a tireless energy to try to make the world a better place for all.
  
  
• Jeff and Judy -- my uncle and aunt, who truly are my siblings; they keep the Schmitz family glued together and I'm very thankful for that.
  
  
• The Canon Valley Guys, my roommates from later in college and great friends ever since:
  
• Wardo -- a traveling companion, fellow music lover, and a man who reminds me to be passionate about the important things in life (politics, art, The Police)
  
• DGA -- despite his Brussels address, it's like we still live down the hall from each other
  
• DC -- I think I still owe Pastor Dave some money from backgammon; I'll always be thankful for his introduction of Bruce Cockburn to my life
  
• Lapp (aka, Mean Old Uncle Louvis) -- everyone needs an arch-nemesis in life, and Kevin does a great job at it; the only man who could convince me to willingly fold myself into a sofa bed
  
  
• Sue -- with the smash of an alarm clock, she taught me that I'm not bound by time (thought I still have to occasionally re-learn that).
  
  
• Scratch & EO -- constant companions through my many ups and downs during my 15 years in Seattle; happily, they're very understanding when I get too hot and have to strip down to my boxers.
  
  
• Tina & Ryan -- the two of them have been a welcoming presence in my life for a good long while; DJing their wedding was a high point of my life.
  
  
• Our community of friends in Seattle: Keri (The Velvet Bulldog); Babu & Jeannette; Hammen & Forse; Jon & Becca; Megan & Lindsay; Tobin & Becca; Kat; Eric & Scott & Isaac; Mike & Richard
  
  
• Our community of Seattleite friends who are no longer in Seattle: Adam & Korey; Adam & Jessica (RovCo); Kari; Brad & Sarah
  
  
• Linda Strohmier -- a colleague of my Mom, she became a friend of mine while here in Seattle at St. Mark's Cathedral. Linda was instrumental in starting me down the road toward recovery from depression. She's now passed on, and both my Mom and I miss her much.
  
  
• Toby Malina -- she took a chance on me for a job (Thunder Lizard Productions), and it changed my life and fortunes in many ways.
  
  
• Jeff Carlson and Glenn Fleishman -- my freelance officemates (previously in the physical sense; now virtually through chat software), who have invited me along for work projects and helped me to become a better writer/editor/freelancer.
  
  
• The Thunder Lizard Gang, where it all started -- Steve Broback, Steve Roth, Brett Baker, Michelle Dionne, David Blatner, Ole Kvern, Dom & Suzanne, Marcy... heck, even Artis and Pearcy (wonder how long he had my old car)
  
  
• The Amazon Gang (some of whom were coworkers, and now they employ me) -- Cara (with whom I worked on many CTSU projects; aka, Clean This Shit Up), Hammen, O'Neil(!), Alexis, AraJane, Shane, Mikesell, Patricia, Mr. Brown, Jill, Molly, Riani, Creighton, McFadden, Trinen, Groebner, Brucia, Aric
  
  
• Burl Gilyard and Tony Dodge -- my musical mentors from high school; I'd love to find you guys again and talk tunes
  
  
• And finally, Craig D. Rice -- my freshman college roommate, without whom I would not have my name today
  

Photos from the Carlson BBQ

Jeff snapped some pics with his DSLR. Here's Parie and the boy:



And the Glenn and Lynn gaggle (Lynn with Ben on the left, Glenn with Rex on the right):



Rex is working on a good Beckham-esque faux-hawk.

 

Tidbits

• It's official -- we have an extrovert on our hands. Went over to Jeff and Kim's for a BBQ hangout with most of the old freelancing gang (Tolbert, Larry, Glenn), and Sofian was wide-eyed and loving being in the center of everything. Back home, he's nowhere near ready to go to sleep, he's so revved up. So Parie has taken him for a drive -- I'm guessing it'll be a long one.
  
  
• I would have gone as well, but my just-days-away-from-40 body is showing its age. After digging out a new planting section where we'll be placing a tree for Sofian's upcoming naming ceremony, my back started to go out. It's not fully horked, but I'm in quite a bit of pain. Maybe having a kid at this advanced age wasn't such a good idea... (I should talk -- my Uncle Jeff and his wife Jenny had a baby when Jeff turned 50, so I'm just a whiner).
  

Cutest Picture Ever

Well, at least for the moment. Parie caught this after Sofian decided to take a cat nap in the midst of some tummy time back home:

 

PEPS Gathering at Ayana's

It was a welcome return to our PEPS group this Friday (after having been in the wilderness that was the cushy environs of Sinclair Island last week), and we were hosted by Ayana's parents Angie and Rich. We got to tell our travel tale as well as hear how Ellis fared on her first trip with her parents, Matt and Amy (pretty swell it turns out; maybe we shouldn't be so fearful after all). Sammy showed off his rolling-over prowess next to Sofian (with the help of Tiny D's shirt sleeve). Here are the two of them in a very cute moment together:



Ellis blowing bubbles with her Mom, Amy:



Henry and his Mom, Beth:



And Sammy checking out Sofian and Henry during their tummy time:

 

A Trip to the Outhouse

Here's a journey I took many a time during my Sinclair Island excursion.

The Walk to the Outhouse on Sinclair Island

 

30 Seconds of Sinclair Island Relaxation

From the swing bench, with sounds of kids playing down on the beach:

Relaxation Time on Sinclair Island

 

Our Island Getaway

We're back from our excursion to Sinclair Island and we seem to have survived its rustic charms. Going into this vacation, both Parie and I were very nervous about the scaled-down features of the compound where we'd be staying on this private island in the San Juans. First off, there was no ferry service, so our group had to hire a boat to drop us off on the beach (and we had a lot of stuff to feed, water and outfit our group of 8 adults and 7 kids).



We were also faced with the prospect of no potable water (which was fine for cooking or washing dishes), very little electricity (supplied through a small set of solar panels), and no indoor plumbing.



Parie and I aren't campers, and we don't "rough it" that well, and we were having nightmarish visions of vacationing in a survivalist compound. However, everything turned out to be a lot less stressful than we were conjuring up in our swirls of worry. The main lodge, where the three of us stayed, was very comfortable. (The other three families had smaller cabins set around the lodge.) And it turned out that we had more than enough electricity to power lights at night and provide hot water for both dishwashing and showering(!).



We were also afforded some fantastic views of the Puget Sound from our bluff, including several absolutely glorious sunsets over neighboring Orcas Island.



And, of course, we communed with nature and the local fauna, which seemed to mainly consist of banana slugs (we had to be careful not to squish too many while traipsing back to the outhouse).



Sofian had a great time hanging out with everyone, though unfortunately he wasn't quite big enough to join in with the other big kids on the great Sinclair Treasure Hunt (led by Sue).



But he did get to have some hang time with his new soccer buddy, Tavio (Ward and Sue's new son).



But mostly, it was just a great time for the LemonDrop gang to relax.







Here's the full set of pics that we took, with videos to be posted a little later.