LJ Six Month Photo Shoot

Thanks to Jen Meneghin Photography for these great photos! And just for the record, it is my fault as to why LJ is so unhappy: I forgot to feed him ahead of time. Good thing he is cute when he is upset, too.

Restaurant Outing: Parma 8200

JLO and I have been slacking on the Monthly Restaurant outings. This is for two reasons: 1. We have a kid we'd rather spend time with and 2. JLO typically cooks better food than some overpriced restaurant. But we were able to check out Parma 8200 as part of Minneapolis/St Paul's Restaurant Week. I am glad we did. I really enjoyed the wine, salad, pork, and wine. JLO enjoyed a classic Chicken Parmigiana (with real glutened filled noodles for once!). I think the setting is a little odd--in the middle of an office building, but the actual atmosphere of the restaurant is good. We'd go back and recommend.

Who Needs a Diaper Bag?

LJ was probably four weeks old when I decided I didn't need a diaper bag. Keep in mind that I had three sitting in the closet, but I determined that they weren't necessary. My big ole purse would do just fine. Really all I needed to bring with on our trips were diapers/wipes and formula/bottles. Oh and a burp rag. Everything fit. However, today as I slipped a Ziploc bag containing a diaper with a stool sample into my purse, I realized this was a situation where a diaper bag probably would have been more appropriate.

Our little fish

We spent the last week in June at Breezy Point with my parents and niece. We had a beautiful condo and beautiful weather. We did the usual "Up North" activities like boating, fishing and eating! As you can see from the pictures, LJ's favorite event was swimming with the whole family. He lasted in the pool a lot longer than his daddy and even did some simple kicks!

Six Months!

Happy Six Month Birthday, LJ!

All is well with LJ! Yes, he is all cheeks, but really he is a tall (27 inches) and skinny (16.8lbs) little guy. He is eating (and spitting out) baby food and learning new tricks each and every day. This week, he enjoys sticking out his tongue and saying "dadadadada." Of course, JLO loves that :)

2010

Now that we are half way through 2011, I can handle writing/thinking about 2010.

2010--the year that my life changed drastically. I've always heard those words before, "this changed my life completely or drastically" and only associated them with things like death, disease, a major accident, something that would impact a person's daily life. I don't think I quite realized that is what 2010 did to me.

As many of you know, I was diagnosed with Celiac disease in February of 2010. Finally, after years of chronic health issues, I was given an answer to the alignments that were plaguing my body; gluten. The list of symptoms, blood tests, possible diagnosis (seed allergy? really?) were endless. On the eve of February 17th, I ate my last glutenous meal: an Angenos pizza. In the morning of the 18th, after a positive upper endoscopy, I ate gluten-free pancakes at the Original Pancake House and have never looked back.

And then in April 2010 we found out I was pregnant. Something I don't think could have happened if the above life changing diagnosis didn't present itself.

In August 2010 we were told that lil' buddy might have Downs Syndrome. That would've been a life changer for sure. Thankfully, he did not.

In December 2010, lil' buddy made a very dramatic entrance into the world. One that I missed. And one that I still tear up everytime I think or talk about it. I will get over this...someday.

And although LJ was born just as the calendar was flipping from 2010 to 2011...there was one more life changer instore for us: a positive Cystic Fibroris test (thankfully a mild version called CRMS in which, at present, he has no issues) for LJ.

The thing about these "life changers", although compeltely overwhelming at times, is that they are, for the most part, very positive things. Yes, my daily life is different now being a "gluten-free-ER-C-section-worrywart-momma", but the truth is I am one HAPPY "gluten-free-ER-C-section-worrywart-momma."

The Last Day of School. Again.

Maybe because it's 50 degrees out, or because I already had 15 weeks off this year, it just doesn't feel like the start of summer break. Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to complain, but I feel like I just got my groove back at work and now it's over.

Besides the amazing rendition of "The Gambler" performed by my TBF (Teacher-Best-Friend) and me at the End of the Year Party, my favorite memory of the last week of school is a quote from one of my students. He wrote in his end of the year evaluation "Mrs. Olstadt's teaching is like crack; we are addicted." Now, I am not sure what impresses me more: the appropriate use of the comma or the simile. What scares me about the comment, though, is I doubt he knew he was doing either.