Trendwatch continues

On Night Three, Dietrich only slept four hours before he needed a 2 a.m. snack. Last night, he logged 7.5 hours, however, so we're back to Trendwatch: Night 2 tonight. Eric's going to be his primary caretaker for much of the afternoon today while I go to a wedding shower, so hopefully daddy playtime will tucker him out.

Third time's a charm?

Hopes are high in the Oldenburg house tonight. For the past two nights, our son has logged first 9.5 and then 8 consecutive hours of shuteye. One more night, and it officially becomes a trend. Granted, those long stretches of sleep have started at midnight or so, but that works just great for his mommy’s schedule, since she’s a bit of a night owl herself. And for the first 30 minutes or so, we have to turn on the blow dryer and hang it from his door. That setup isn’t as handy as the heat fan in his grandparents’ bedroom, but it works. So, sleep well little D, sleep well.

Sad stroll

Just got back from my first stroll to the market with Dietrich. It didn’t go so well. I forgot my shopping list, Ukrainian money and my bag. Dietrich was screaming in the store, in the checkout line and while I went to change the $20 American that I fortunately had with me.

But the worst part was how lonely I felt. I must have passed 10 other women about my age pushing their babies in strollers, and not a single one of them did anything more than stare at me. I know that they don’t mean anything negative by it; it’s just such a shock after being in America where people are eager to ask about your baby. Americans tend to strike up conversation with people in similar circumstances – folks called for jury duty, people waiting in the long line at the post office, moms caring for their children. When we first got back to America, I remember being shocked, and maybe even a little offended, at how open people were – like, do I really need to know the medical history of the girl changing into her swimsuit in the same locker room where I’m changing into mine? But now I miss that transparency.

Hopefully tomorrow’s outing will be better.

Riding in style

It even comes with a cover to keep Dietrich warm!


Home from church and taking a snooze.

We took advantage of Saturday’s relatively warm weather to venture out on a shopping trip with, and for, our little one. At the central children’s market we browsed through about 50 stroller styles. This one lured us with its classy color scheme, its excellent shocks and its ability to change as baby changes. When he’s old enough to sit up, we can snap that bassinet right off and snap in a seat instead. Both options are quite adjustable, too – the bassinet can be elevated; the seat can recline. I’ll use the basket underneath and the matching bag to carry producti – fruits and veggies from the outdoor market, meat and flour from the grocery store.

Dietrich took his first ride in his new stroller when we took him to church yesterday. (He was very popular and even doled out some lovely smiles to a chosen few.) Evidently, he loves his new stroller so much that he’s too excited to sleep. Saturday night (pre stroller ride), he slept eight glorious solid hours. Sunday night (post stroller ride), he slept four and refused to go back down for a second round of zzzz’s. Probably the stroller people should not use that fact in any marketing campaigns.

Flying first class

We're back in Ukraine, which makes this blog's title legit again. The five months we spent in the States felt more like five minutes. And in those five minutemonths, our whole lives changed with Dietrich Mark Oldenburg's September 12 arrival. We are no longer a couple; now we're a group.

Unfortunately, time didn't fly during our flight back to Ukraine. In my old life, I loved long plane flights because of the movies. On overseas trips, you usually get your choice of five or more fairly current releases. But when you're locked with your baby in a flying machine with several hundred strangers, your priority switches from cinematic enjoyment to making sure that the several hundred strangers don't hate you and your child by the end of the flight. At the first sign of fussing, D and I (or D and Eric) were out of our seats, bouncing through the cabin.

Thankfully, D behaved quite well during our 24-hour (from door to door) journey. And he also got to enjoy something for which we grownups have to pay about $7,000: his own bed. I've never flown first class, and I doubt I ever will, but Dietrich made it look pretty comfy.

Introducing the newest Mr. & Mrs.

My little brother is a husband! Sam Miller (actual age: 26; age in my mind: 6) wed Jit Fong on July 15 under the huge oak tree in my parents' front yard. How to describe the wedding? It was beautiful, of course. The bride was radiant; the groom looked simultaneously shocked and satisfied. The Kiss was passionate (and looked quite well-practiced). But "homegrown" probably best captures the overall spirit of the day. My parents started making the house wedding-ready months ago, and their hard work paid off. They grew an arch in the middle of the lawn under which the bride and groom exchanged vows. Flowers bloomed in every corner of the yard. Mom made the cake and salads; dad set up tables and chairs, repaired the porch and ran innumerable errands. Aunt Judy served as florist. Eric and I decorated the getaway car. Jit Fong designed the programs. Sam made the wedding music mix. We all ripped up lettuce, sliced melons, set tables, folded napkins and completed the other tasks mom spelled out on the poster-size to-do lists that served as kitchen wallpaper in the weeks leading up to the Big Day. I can't recall our family ever teaming up on such a large project before.

But now it's all over. Visiting family members have headed home. Dad's back at work. Eric and I are focused again on SEND business, presentations, church visits and baby preparations. My mom's drifting in a sea of post-wedding bliss – and we can only hope that Sam and Jit Fong are doing the same!

Back from the (former) USSR

We’re back! Actually, we’ve been back for two weeks. Two reunion-packed, somewhat-chaotic weeks. Some highlights:

• We met with one of the three doctors who could deliver our baby, and we really liked him. There were some elements of the American medical system that we’d forgotten about (complicated insurance, long waits in the doctor’s office), but overall we feel pleased with the medical group we chose. The baby remains healthy and active, and the doctor was very impressed with the prenatal care we received in Kyiv. This means we won’t have to repeat any of the tests we did over there, which is great news.

• My little brother is getting married in 14 hours at my mom and dad’s house, which is where we’re staying at the moment. Naturally, these have been a hectic two weeks, but we can’t wait to see Sam and Jit Fong promise to have and to hold from this day forth. Family members (ours and hers) have been arriving all week, so we’ve enjoyed reunion after reunion. The groom, Eric, my dad and the best man are all at a Giants game tonight: Eric’s first baseball game in more than two years. I predict mass hot-dog consumption.

• We’ve already seen three movies! Two superhero movies and one wrestling movie – Eric’s clearly been in his movie-watching element. If only they’d release a baseball movie to complete the trifecta.

• We’ve enjoyed a very warm welcome at Morgan Hill Presbyterian Church, where Eric has already gotten the chance to give his testimony at a men’s breakfast, to preach and to hear lots of stories about me when I was growing up.

• We made our first round-trip drive down to SoCal and back last week, and the drive was much more comfortable than I thought it would be, considering the size of my belly. We crammed in lots of visits with family and friends. It was a joyful time, and I was so thankful to find that it still felt totally natural to spend time with old friends, despite the years of separation.

Overall, I’m surprised at how comfortable I feel in the States. Not much seems to have changed. Sure, there are lots of new Starbucks (two in Morgan Hill, and at least three in Whittier), but a Starbucks is still a Starbucks. I admit, I have forgotten a few things. For instance, today I did some wedding grocery shopping (the grocery stores – so big, so clean, so well-stocked!), and when I got to the register, I forgot what I’m supposed to do with the cart. Do I push it somewhere? Does the cashier handle that? We also got a little reminder of the joys of car ownership on Sunday when we rushed out to the car only to find a flat tire. Two months until Baby O arrives, and then life will seem unfamiliar all over again!