Simon’s mouth is awake, thanks.

June 2, 2010

This boy. He’s been a little late with the milestones sometimes, but when he decides to go for something, there’s no holding back. We’re not sure if it’s been the cleft palate, the small jaw, or the low muscle tone (and associated low body-awareness), but the little man really wasn’t all that enthusiastic about eating […]

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Well, we know he can hear…

May 18, 2010

Before Simon had his ear tube surgery last month, he wasn’t hearing very well. His ears were filled up with fluid, and it wasn’t draining. As time wore on, we became more convinced that what originally seemed to be selective hearing (What? Exercises? I won’t acknowledge you because I’m playing with these…things.) was actually loss […]

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Some first-rate tantrums

May 17, 2010

Here at Stadler Headquarters, there’s at least one of us known for strong preferences, insistence on getting our own way, and occasional unwarranted stubbornness. You could say that what Simon inherited in appearance from one parent, he inherited in temperament from the other (or perhaps from both, but here at Stadler Headquarters we try not […]

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The Math of Food

April 30, 2010

After I’ve finished a meal and Simon’s still working on bite number five, I have some time to think. During yesterday’s snack of carrots, cheese, and crackers, I started noticing some strong preferences in what went into his mouth. Atypically, he was very consistent. So being the good science teacher that I am, I started […]

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A picky eater?

April 13, 2010

When I took Simon to his twelve-month well-baby visit, I spent a lot of time talking with the pediatrician about eating. Me: I don’t want him to become a picky eater. Dr: He is a picky eater. Me: Oh…I, um, don’t think…yes. Yes, I see. To wit: Simon won’t feed himself; Todd or I have […]

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A year ago today

April 8, 2010

A year ago today — to the hour — I was, as I am now, tired. I’m tired now because Simon woke up twice in the middle of the night last night, which is uncharacteristic for him. Suffice it to say that our little one-year-old is going through some “changes” (no, not puberty; no, not […]

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Julia’s Rules for Medical Professionals

January 28, 2010

Simon and I have both had more than an average number of medical appointments in the last eighteen months. Between pre-natal visits, gastroenterology, well-baby checks, and the cleft-palate team, I would say we’ve seen our fair share of medical professionals. Many times (but not all — we have some fantastic providers), I leave an appointment […]

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A trip to the pool, and beyond

January 14, 2010

Last weekend, we took Simon to the pool — that would be the Mt. Scott pool, for you Portlanders — for the first time as a family. And while the Mt. Scott Community Center has what we’ll call a normal pool, with the lanes and the staid, elderly adults serenely paddling back and forth and […]

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Maybe we’ll start referring to him as “I. Lewis”

December 23, 2009

Or you can watch it in slightly over-the-top video form:

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My rich inner life

December 18, 2009

We make up a lot of songs at our house. I often find myself pondering how the lyrics would translate to prose. To wit: Great Big Belly Your belly is large, and your tush is small. Your nose is smaller than the rest of your head. For the small size of your baby toes, your […]

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