Farmer Atticus

crazy weekend

Friday night, after spending several hours drinking and listening to music, Chris came down with what we think was the stomach flu. At first I wasn't exactly sympathetic to his complaints that he wasn't feeling so well seeing as he was staggering about a bit from all the vodka/red bulls, but then he started vomiting and getting chills, etc. etc. I quarantined him in the guest bedroom so that Atticus and I might survive the weekend unscathed. Poor Chris was sick all day yesterday. He consumed nothing but water and a tiny bowl of cereal (which I don't think stayed down). He was a smidgen better by the end of the day, but really perked up a lot today. He showered, even went to Target and Subway. Now he's watching Star Wars.

Meanwhile, Atticus and I stayed far far away from the guest bedroom and bathroom that Chris occupied, and I spent my free time going over the house with an antibacterial cleaner. I don't like using that kind of thing on a regular basis, but in this case, I had no qualms about it.

On Saturday, Atticus and I attended a memorial service for my dear friend Leslie who passed away last week from mesothelioma. It helped to have him there--a sweet, warm little body demanding to be fed and burped and cuddled; a reminder that life is constantly being given, as well as taken. Atticus enjoyed the singing and the stained glass windows.

Earlier that morning, I got baby thumb skin with the nail clippers instead of nail. It was awful. He cried, and I was sucking blood off his poor little thumb for several minutes, it seemed. Luckily, he's very forgiving. He nursed and seemed to forget all about it. And it was the thumb he sucks too. He doesn't seem to mind though, even though seeing that flap of skin still pains me.

I also startled him yesterday. I guess he didn't see me coming, and on top of that I accidentally bumped into his hug bug, which has several different rattles in it and was lying right next to him. He let out a good cry then too. But I made up for it by taking a two-hour nap with him. He loves napping with mommy.

Now I'm wondering if he might be pre-teething already. He's showing many signs of it (drooling; the sudden interest in his thumb, not to mention the rest of his hand; and biting me) but who knows. I'll wait and watch. I have some pics of his cute thumbsucking, which I'll have to post later because I'm feeling too lazy to go get the camera.

Oh, and Atticus slept more than 7 hours straight three nights in a row this week, but then not last night--only about 4 hours. hmm.

Webcam is working!

I have finally set up the web cam.  We are on Skype.  I am listed under Sonicmeltdown.  I am not sure if Michelle is going to have an account.  The web-cam is on Michelle's computer so she might answer if you were to call.  Skype allows for free video, instant messaging, and chatting.  Check it out. 

Atticus learns about veggies (video)

It's been a while but the videos are going to be returning. 

Atticus learns about veggies.

Almost Eight Hours!

The big announcement for today is that Atticus slept nearly eight hours straight last night! He awoke to nurse at about 4:15 and then was out cold again. I let him sleep in until a little after 7, at which point I had to wake him up or else I'd be late to work.

Also, it appears he is becoming a thumb sucker after all. He's taken a sudden liking to soothing himself with it, which works for me. Better than a pacifier, I think. He has more control.

Here he is studying one of his wee gallery cards, which he loves.


making a goofy face


getting some exercise, and emptying his esophagus while he's at it

long overdue update

I haven't even started working full time just yet (next week!), and already I'm lapsing. My lame excuse is that Chris has a backlog of about five videos now, and I was waiting for him to get a few of those posted before I posted something new. It looks like if I do that there may be nothing posted for weeks. So, not the best photographs in the world, but here he is, folks. I'll have to work on trying to get some photographs of his current activities. He's discovered that he can clasp his hands together, punch mommy, scratch mommy, and yank out her hair. Actually, he's been scratching me and yanking my hair out for quite a while now, but he only recently started punching me. He's egalitarian about it though. He punches himself as well.

Despite that he beats up on me regularly, when I ever so slightly grazed his lower lip with my fingernail today, he wailed. He did this after thinking about it for a few seconds--as if assessing whether or not he'd indeed been violated. No scratch, no blood though--I promise.


Look at that double chin.


As a bonus, you get this blurry photo of flying saucer squash from my garden.

Bear Suit

Well, Sara and Drew, Atticus too has a bear suit. It's still a tad big on him, and not at all weather appropriate, but he was a trooper for a quick photo session.