4 Months

Month four is upon us. With apologies for the altered background blanket, we present to you Basil at 4 months (approximately 17.5 weeks). He appears his happiest yet, though it’s actually a smile squeezed between moans and other unhappy noises.

He’s been learning to read with his mama.

And brings things to his mouth little by little.

He enjoys tummy time a little more,

but the jury’s still out on bath time.

He’s good at turning from his back to his front and has actually started sleeping on his tummy (we haven’t told his pediatrician yet!).

And his neck control is good enough to start enjoying the world in a forward facing position in the carriers.

Thanks so much to Tara for letting us borrow her Bjaby Born – he’s enjoying it very much.

(Special note to any Facebook users – we have very limited access and aren’t able to respond to messages. It’s best to comment on the blog, send email, real mail or call like in the old days!)

Happy to hear from any of you whether you use Facebook or not.

~Eric

Update

What’s been happening?  We’ve been slow on putting things up – mostly because we’ve repeatedly forgotten to add photos to the computer!

Earlier this month, Evan, Tara, and Madison came to meet Basil.  Basil is Madison’s only cousin, and she is the first (of two) that he’s met.  We really enjoyed seeing them together and hanging out with Evan and Tara again.  Thank you so much for taking the trip up to Chicago.

We look forward to seeing them in Mom and Dad’s new house at Christmas.

On the 20^th was Elizabeth’s birthday.  I had tried arranging some babysitting, but she wasn’t yet comfortable with that, so we ended up taking Basil with us to Nuevo Leon in Pilsen.  Later in the week we had Claire and Mark over for dinner and practiced leaving Basil with someone just long enough to get some dessert at the Florian Café.  Elizabeth had a vanilla milkshake and mine was Moose Tracks.  I had lots of fun, and Elizabeth pretended to, as well!  When we returned, Basil was indeed still intact, as was the house, and our dear friends had not only cared for our son but washed the dishes, too!  Thanks, friends.

In Basil News, he has begun training for a new Guinness Record – hand eating / mouth stuffing.

He has also been increasing standing time and tummy time along with expected cuteness increases.

(<– posed)  

He’s also greatly increased his vocalizing and we think he has begun giggling occasionally with his frequent smiles.  Unfortunately, you’ll just have to imagine the sound with these pictures.

Over and out!

~Eric

Month three

Here’s Basil’s photo at three months.  It is closer in position to the first month photo.  Pay special attention to the changes in his face; also note that he is mid-smile and finally facing the camera.  He is much more perceptive than he used to be, and the personality is growing as he continues to vocalize.

(month 1 and 2)

(month 3)

~Eric

More Minnesotans!

This past weekend we were happy to receive Kath and Richard into our house to meet little Basil.  During the visit we enjoyed local food from the Med, Swedish food from Ann Sather, butter pizza from Lou Malnati’s, and Irish breakfasts at Macnamara’s.  Now we’re starting a diet and exercise routine!

Kath brought along her camera and took some fantastic shots of Basil, so I won’t keep you waiting.

Indianan Apple Adventure

On Saturday afternoon we made a somewhat spur of the moment decision to leave the city and pick some apples in Hobart, IN.  Two years ago, we ventured to County Line Orchard.  That is where we returned.  The orchard extravaganza had changed significantly in two years.  The gigantic parking lot had been paved over, the kiddie farm was greatly expanded, and they had built a new barn to be used for events with seating for 1,200 people.  The tractor rides remained the same, and the apples are still delicious.

When we arrived, Basil enjoyed a tasty, milky meal, and we ran into our neighbors.

They made their way to the petting zoo, and we hopped a tractor

and found ourselves deep within the orchard.

The solid food eaters in our trio tasted Honey-Crisp, McIntosh, Gala, Jonagold, Jonathon, and Golden Delicious.  Some of the apples were decidedly not ready yet, but the Gala were absolutely delicious and singly populated our returning harvest.

After picking, we enjoyed apple donuts and Basil had one more milky meal before we left.  He spit all of it out on the way home, but we’re pretty sure he still liked the apple orchard.

~Elizabeth

White Guys

Things have been happening at the Saathoff household, and you haven’t been informed!

Let’s go back.  A few weeks ago, Basil made his first out-of-womb visit to US Steel Yard in Gary, IN, to see our cherished Gary Southshore Railcats.  We left while ahead in the 8^th inning, but unfortunately the Fargo Redhawks came from behind in the 9^th to win the game after we left.  The Railcats finished the season with the best record, but the Redhawks beat them again to win the playoff championship.

Lizzy found a more secluded spot for breastfeeding.  The game was NOT this sparsely attended.

Basil also visited the pediatrician, our dear Dr. Osta.  There, she informed us that our then-10 week old weighed 12lbs 10oz and had achieved something between the 50^th and 75^th percentile (for weight).  We will do everything to push him to 100^th!  Lizzy says, instead, we will do everything we can to keep him average.  I guess a normal baby has an easier time than a super jumbo or a skinny minny.  Average ho!

He also loves getting visits from Claire, who is newly chrismated.

Yesterday I made my first visit to my new doctor at UIC, Dr. Potter.  I am already impressed and pleased to have made the switch from Dr. Grant in Oak Park.  He was very knowledgeable about things from the top of his head without typing things up on his iphone in front of me (as Dr. Grant had done).  As far as the Lupus Anticoagulant, he said he would find someone with more knowledge in the university to help us think about how long I should be on the blood thinner Warfarin.  It appears that my condition is a bit rarer and more confusing to doctors than I knew.  Lizzy’s previous doctor told her one never wants to be “medically interesting” to a doctor, but I think I fit that bill with Dr. Potter.

In another aspect of the visit, I discussed with him some white patches I discovered on my hands during our trip to Washington, D.C.

(this last picture is my elbow)

I’ve been asking people lately if they’ve been wondering – “what else does Eric have in common with Michael Jackson?”

Well, I didn’t have to suggest anything with Dr. Potter.  He was the one who said it looked like vitiligo.  After my flu shot, he did a little biopsy on the white spot on my elbow so they can check the skin for melanin.  I’m turning white!  Oh wait…

It turns out that the affected skin looks about the same color as my shirtless top.  Oh well.  It’s really hard on guys like this.

Here’s another white guy striking some poses:

~Eric

Two month’s growth

Here are two pictures for your viewing pleasure.  One is of Basil at right around one month, and the second was taken yesterday at two months.  A month is such an imprecise measurement of time…

Look closely at his legs, his chin, and his chest.  He has definitely grown!  In about a week we’ll find out how much he weighs.

~Eric

Great Big Grins

Recently Basil has learned to smile (not just for digestive purposes).

But what is he smiling about?

Cousin time!

Congratulations to Katina and Jeff!  Healthy little Stella Jean was born 8/26/09.  Since she arrived two weeks early, she and Basil are only 8 weeks apart and will probably be in the same grade.

Now that is some news to smile about!

~Elizabeth

Not Amish

(written yesterday)

Today was the third day of work since summer break officially ended.  Elizabeth has been getting used to being home alone with Basil.  It is also the second complete day without Internet in our home.  We have made the transition to not only save some costs (small) but also to improve quality of life (i.e. so I waste less time reading about politics and become a better husband and father).  I will have Internet access at work (sending my emails and hers), and Elizabeth will have access at the library and coffee shops.  One may think that she is getting a raw deal because of her lack of direct access, but she jumped upon the suggestion, valuing the greater benefit mentioned above.

I arose at 6:00am and finished the homework I hadn’t yet completed for this professional development week.  I packed up my lunch of leftovers from last night – tuna pasta salad plus a banana.  My car was parked on a two-block long side street beside the apartment.  As I pulled the key from my back pocket and approached the driver’s side door, I saw it.  Glass cube chunks lay all over the street and, as I took another step forward, covered the seat I wished I were sitting in.  I stood looking at the whole in the side of my car for a few moments, letting the reality of the situation settle into my mind.  What’s done is done, I decided.  I unlocked the door and opened it to see the dashboard console open.  The GPS navigator was gone, but the old ipod nano sitting next to it remained.  The GPS mount and power cord were missing, but the many quarters and CD player faceplate were safe in the lockless glove box.  The thief had obviously seen the empty GPS mount on my dashboard, guessed where the rest was hidden, and made a very targeted and fast collection of goods.  I unlocked the back door and put my bags in the backseat, as is my routine.  Then, staring at the glass-filled driver’s seat and realizing there was no way I could go to work, I took them back out again and returned to the apartment, leaving everything else behind.  As I walked away, I was reminded of Deacon Theophan’s homily on Sunday about Amish families who set up donations for the family of the man who killed their daughters, and I realized the wrong done to me was so minor that it was not even worth a “dang” (my usual response to sudden frustration).  Rather, it was worth two prayers:

Troparion

Thou who didst pray for them that crucified thee, O Lord, Lover of the souls of men, and who didst command they servants to pray for their enemies, forgive those who hate and maltreat us, and turn our lives from all harm and evil to brotherly love and good works:  for this we humbly bring our prayer, that with one accord and one heart we may glorify thee who alone lovest mankind.

Kontakion

As thy first martyr Stephen prayed to thee for his murderers, O Lord, so we fall before thee and pray: forgive all who hate and maltreat us and let not one of them perish because of us, but all be saved by thy grace, O God the all-bountiful.”

Subsequently, I have really appreciated private insurance companies lately.  Full Coverage at State Farm means that I have a $100 deductible, the repair was done onsite by 2:30pm today, and the stolen GPS will be replaced (actually upgraded, I believe, since it is no longer sold).  Those GPS companies must be doing really good business since at least one other person in the neighborhood got a shiny new window for the exact same reason.  The repairman said, “It’s never just one – usually four or five at once.”

No work for me today.  No work means no Internet – my first full day without it.  It’s like we’re Amish or something.  Except for that car, that ipod, that GPS thingy, and that Orthodox thingy…

~Eric

Capital Capitol pt. 2

After our visit with Big Muskie, we decided that since we were in the neighborhood we might as well visit our good friends, Lila and John.

After consulting Basil we were off.

Although it wasn’t really planned, most of the stops for breastfeeding along the trip were in grassy patches outside of Bob Evans restaurants.

We thought it was strange until we found out they were an Ohio restaurant.  We decided to investigate more into this establishment, on whose fumes we had already begun raising our child.  We soon found out that it is an elderly Mecca of sorts.  If you have any lingering worries that your baby is ugly, take it here to find out.  The food was, appropriately, soft and bland.  In the end, we decided it was better for breastfeeding than solid foods.

While in D.C. there were three main things happening.

1. John and Lila met Basil

2. Basil met Abraham Lincoln and Korean War Soldiers

3. We met the Stiffs! (and the Umhaus)

Unfortunately we don’t have a photo with the Umhaus, but we very much enjoyed spending time with them in their home, and it was fun seeing the enthusiasm of Lila’s father to hold and cradle Basil.

Our visit to Washington D.C. was nothing but pleasant.  Despite worries that something awful might happen or that it would be too difficult to travel with and feed Basil, things went very smoothly.  It was great seeing John and Lila creating their home together, and I was happy to be able to contribute and help putting up a knife magnet.  I must say, however, that in addition to building general communication and financial management skills (like all of us newlyweds), the Stiffs need to work extra hard on their Bananagrams skills – without question, the success of their marriage depends upon it.

~Eric