Fruit in my dessert

Convention Highlights

On a more personal note, here are some of the highlights of my experience in Denver this week:

Meeting Anderson Cooper and having him chat with BH and me about HD. We waved to him from afar and told him that HD was his biggest fan (HD was sleeping and in fact has never seen Anderson). He came down from the CNN building and out into the fray to say hello to us. He even said, "He is tall for his age, isn't he?" to which BH proudly replied, "96th percentile, thank you for noticing." Then, under my breath to Anderson, I mentioned the possibility of the need for a blood test soon. Aside from being the prettiest man on television, he could not have been friendlier. I saw him many times throughout the week and he literally had to walk around with his head down so as not to be accosted by his crazed fans.

Being greeted by Senator Clinton at the WomenCount event and modeling their clothing on stage with HD.

Dennis Kucinich's speech. Simply amazing. (I was breastfeeding HD in the darkness of the very last row behind the stage during the speech.)

Doing actual work by helping the NEA blogger with one of her video posts (I held the Flip Video for her and HD managed to stay calm and steady in the Ergo).

Chatting with Donna Brazile, former Gore campaign manager, and introducing her to HD, one of the latest positive results of the campaign. She talked to HD about becoming President some day and suggested we have a Gore 2000 reunion.

Exploiting HD (without even trying) on a number of occasions to get preferential treatment, including being taken to the front of the security line at the Pepsi Center because the Secret Service agent wanted to, "get the baby out of the sun." We were also able to successfully break the no-stroller rule at Invesco. The TSA official was the only one who questioned us in a field of police, Secret Service, and other law enforcement officials...maybe because we were at the staff/press entrance?

Riding in a freight elevator with half of the Senate and Governor Gray Davis (D-CA) at Invesco.

Running into old friends from Gore, Clinton, and NBC days, including a friend of mine who now works for IAVA.

Other star sitings: Katie Couric (chatting with followers in the hallway), Ann Curry (on her cell phone in the hallway), Andrea Mitchell (walking and talking with her "people"), Charlie Gibson (smiled at HD), Bif Henderson of Late Night with David Letterman - BH saw him at a different time making delegates do push-ups, James Carville wearing black Pumas (not PUMAs) with bright yellow accents.

Seeing diversity of all kinds at the convention on all nights, especially the last night at Invesco. It was certainly a different crowd than LA or Boston - and it was awesome to be a part of it.

Shawn Johnson, Sheryl Crow, and Jennifer Hudson on stage.

Meeting so many wonderful people in Denver, my new favorite-nicest-people-in-the-world city. Everyone I met and/or asked a question of, from random vendors on the street, to armored police, was friendly and genuinely helpful. Two quick examples: a pedi-cab driver and a volunteer policeman independently gave me the correct cross streets of the closest drug store - can you do that in your city? Two guards helped me carry HD in his stroller down three flights of stairs (they relayed it). It is also a beautiful city with tons to do for adults and children.

Having our family together.

Seeing BH in action.

Being there to see and hear history being made.

Knowing HD won't remember it, but being so glad we brought him anyway.

Favorite lines of the week:

• "Wake up, America!" - Dennis Kucinich
• "It's not because John McCain doesn't care, it's because John McCain doesn't get it." - Barack Obama
• "No way, no how, no McCain." - Hillary Clinton
• "With an agenda like that, it makes sense that George Bush and John McCain will be together next week in the Twin Cities. Because these days they’re awfully hard to tell apart." - Hillary Clinton
• "Einstein said a definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. If we elect John McCain, then, according to Einstein, we surely would be insane." - Monica Early ("real" person)
• "Republicans talk about putting “country first,” but tell that to Marion, Indiana. They sent my job overseas. America can’t afford more of the same. We need a president who puts the Barney Smiths before the Smith Barneys." - Barney Smith ("real" person)
• "And now is the time to keep the promise of equal pay for an equal day's work, because I want my daughters to have exactly the same opportunities as your sons." - Barack Obama
• "If, like me, you still believe America must always be a place called Hope, then join Hillary, Chelsea and me in making Senator Barack Obama the next President of the United States." - Bill Clinton

Proud to be a DEMocrat

It has been a crazy week. HD and I decided to join BH out in Denver for the Democratic National Convention. As a former (President) Clinton staffer and a woman, I was soundly in the Hillary camp during the primary. Since Obama became the nominee, I, of course, have planned to vote for him for a number of reasons, but none of them were the personal, warm and fuzzy reasons that I wanted them to be. I've seen the ads and the snippets about his life and I think he is an intelligent and wonderful man, but I wasn't sure where he stood on so many of the issues that are important to me. Beyond being a parent, I didn't identify with him as strongly as I easily could with Hillary, a brilliant woman like myself. I wanted to love him, but I wasn't there. Now, I am.

Here are some of the reasons (scientific and emotional) why:

1. He promised a college education to young people who commit to serving their country or their community
2. Equal pay for women
3. He promised to eliminate dependence  on oil from the Middle East in 10 years (will we still be allowed to drive our SUV?)
4. He mentioned toy safety in his speech (e.g. phthalates)
5. He picked Biden as his VP - I didn't know much about him before, but so far, I haven't found anything not to like about his lifetime of public service, his dedication to his own family, his experience in Washington, and his seemingly true connection to and ability to communicate with "real" people.  Oh, and I totally think he could fulfill the duties of President if ever necessary.
6. He has young children.
7. Michelle Obama is brilliant, strong, protective, and fierce. I won't even mention that she was once his boss and emanates sophistication and style.
8. "It's not because John McCain doesn't care. It's because John McCain doesn't get it." - Seriously, folks. Sarah Palin? That's an insult to women everywhere.
9. Senator Clinton told me to.
10. President Clinton told me to.

I've been around long enough to know that campaign promises rarely turn in to real, live policies, but I finally know what his campaign promises are, and I like them, and I like him and I will leave Denver tonight with the hope and optimism that he will become our next President. And, I would be prouder to be an American than I ever have been before if the people of this country would elect a person of color to be their leader.

Nine Months

We had our nine month appointment for HD last week - no shots, no blood, very exciting. And I definitely had fewer questions this time (they weren't even listed out in my notebook in advance) than the previous appointments. The conversation mostly revolved around HD's physical and mental development, food, and sleep. She continued to be proud of me (I need her recognition) for breastfeeding when I've wanted to give up since he was a few weeks old, and gave me the clear to move to milk any time after 10.5 months if he decides to wean before a year...I'm already plotting. And, of course, as always, BH proudly charted his (HD's, not BH's) height (at this rate HD will be taller than us by age 5) and weight gains. There was only one slightly scary moment:

Pediatrician: Is he waking up at all in the night these days?
Me: Yes, actually. It started a few weeks ago.
Ped: Yeah, this is a big time for that.
Me: Any suggestions?
Ped: Do what you can to help him get back to sleep. You'll get through
it. [Inaudible] a year, he won't do that anymore.
BH: IN a year or BY a year?
Ped: BY a year.
Us: [audible sighs of relief]

.....

We installed HD's big-boy car seat today. Another moment that totally unexpectedly made me quietly freak out about how fast it is all going and how he'll be going off to college soon. Can I still blame this kind of emotion on the hormones or has the statute of limitations run out on that excuse?

All in a day's work

Yesterday

3:30am: Work with BH to figure out what is ailing HD, if anything. Go back and forth between HD's room and our room with and without HD to try to help him back to sleep. In between crying jags, he crawls on our faces and tries to climb up the headboard (more on that later) and giggles. Is he playing us or himself or both?

6:00am: I'm not feeling well - is it allergies or a cold? Regardless, BH lets me sleep in and gets up with HD. He doesn't only do this when I don't feel well.

7:30am: I scramble out of bed (been half-awake for a while) to the sound of HD screaming. He's taken to tumbling over and banging his head quite a bit this week (See 3:30am), including one trip to the pediatrician on Monday after a particularly scary fall, lump, and *different* sounding crying.

8:00am: Again, BH comes through, staying home for a few more minutes so I can shower, and he puts HD down for an early nap after feeding him breakfast. I panic that the early nap will throw him/me off for the rest of the day. Maybe I need to practice the Secret more.

9:00am: HD begins two-hour confusion session - confusion for me, confusion for him, sadness for both, playing, falling, not sleeping, both of us unsettled and tired and not feeling our best. On phone with friend who has just returned to work this week and put baby in daycare. I'm jealous and glad to be home at the same time. HD climbs to headboard and starts grinding his teeth on it. Tell her to "listen to HD grind away" and then see white paint flecks in and around his mouth. He's stripping the headboard. Bye to friend. To sink with HD, my fingers in his mouth, scooping out white flecks and flushing with water. He is annoyed with me, but tolerating my invasive behavior. Quick call to poison control: "Should be fine since the bed is pretty new. The paint shouldn't have lead in it." I pretend not to know that the bed was made in China. Wonder if Poison Control logs my calls? Does it say this is the third time I've called in nine months? Will DSS be here soon?

11:00am: One hour nap for HD. I have no idea what I did during this time, likely email, some laundry, eating, paralyzed by the free time and not knowing when it will end.

12:00pm: Lunch for HD.

12:30pm: Pack up for trip to post office. Quickly obsess about which bag to bring, which stroller, carrier, form of transportation to take.

1:00pm: Bus to post office. Meet up with friend and her baby. Day looking up with happy baby, happy mommy, nice weather, feeling better, someone to talk to...someone I like. Lunch for me (grilled cheese, my ultimate comfort food), long walk with friend capped off with sleeping baby.

6:00pm: Drop BH off at train for overnight business trip. Blow tire on highway on way back home. Wait for state trooper. Nervous that we'll get hit. Keep HD in carseat in car even though he's not happy because I think it's the safest place for him to be. Give him teddy bear that we were bringing to Goodwill that still had the tag on it to keep him busy while I talk to trooper and tow truck guy who actually changes the tire so I don't need to be towed. Bring the car to the shop. See mutilated tag on teddy bear, part of which has surely been ingested, and walk home with HD. Decide that calling Poison Control twice in one day isn't a good idea necessary.

8:00pm: HD has been fed, bathed, and put down with little fuss. He reminds me that he is my angel. I am too tired to do the things I want to do like read, write, and change the world. Instead, I indulge in Wife Swap and a phone call with my sister.

10:30pm: Sleep begins to take over....

11:00pm: HD is up and screaming. Repeat of last night's performance (see 3:30am). I medicate him, obsess about whether he is in pain and what kind (teeth, tummy), needs me regardless, needs more sleep training (for my sake). Eventually decide to keep him in bed with me. We sleep, but it's not our best. We both miss BH.

Every day is different and the same. And even the bad days are good. I love him so much it hurts sometimes.

Don't Give Up The Good In Search of the Perfect

I just finished reading, The Dinner Diaries: Raising Whole Wheat Kids in a White Bread World, by Betsy Block. I wasn't sure if I'd like it or even connect with it, given food and cooking are not (yet) passions of mine and that my child is not even eating anything other than mush yet. I am, however, concerned about food safety and sustainability - although admittedly more about safety. Well, thanks to Betsy's amazing writing style and fabulous descriptions of the emotions around food and the details of family dynamics with food, I LOVED the book. She is passionate about food and very badly wants her family to eat more healthily and more variety, but understands that they may not be as passionate as she is, and comes to realize that's okay. Her family loves her and even the children do their best to humor her throughout the process. Her strong relationship with her husband, a hater of many foods, is refreshing. The picture she paints is not a perfect one, which makes the stories she tells that much more compelling.

In addition to all of this, I learned so much about food choices, including that I'm not crazy to think that the information out there about what's healthy and good to eat vs. what's not (e.g. types of fish) is confusing, complicated, and conflicting. Instead of throwing up her hands and giving up (like I am sometimes prone to do when it comes to making good food choices), Betsy trudges on and comes up with things like the Everymom's Middle-of-the-Road Fish List which I will actually reference when buying seafood from now on. No matter where you are on the spectrum of feeding yourself or your family, this is a fabulous book full of great information within even better stories about families, love, and the trials of every day life. Maybe some day, when HD is refusing to eat more than bread, and I can't figure out how to eat more green things (my palate is only slightly more adventurousness than Betsy's husband's), I'll even make one of her suggested recipes at the back of the book. Oh, and the title of this post, a quote from her friend in the book, applies, of course, to more than just food.