Leo is 6 months old!

I say this all the time, but I'm once again flabbergasted... dumbfounded... and stupefied at how fast children grow up. It seems as though just yesterday morning Greg and I woke up in a hotel room at 4 am to drive across highway to the hospital for my 5:30 am C-section. I can even feel the butterflies I was feeling then. I was so so SO nervous about that surgery and was mentally rehearsing a speech in which I professed my undying love for Greg and Annika, and how I wanted him to find a good mother for our kids if I didn't make it, and how he should never ever wash whites and colors together. I know! But what can you do when you are 39 weeks pregnant in the middle of a very hot summer and it's 5 am and you haven't eaten nor are allowed to eat for the foreseeable future? Pregnant + hangry+ no coffee. A gallon of fluids via an IV did little for me, except maybe made me so swollen that even my ear lobes looked pregnant.

Then they made me walk to the operating room in that gown that had no back. But at 5:30 no one cares (a little part of me did though, no coffee and all). The OR was so cold, my top and bottom teeth couldn't find each other, much like my thoughts. I was so nervous I could barely talk and I kept asking if it was normal to feel so nervous and if I was going to die. Then the anesthesiologist gave me the spinal block and it worked before I even counted to three (mississippylesly). And I repeatedly asked if I was very exposed and if everything was going according to the plan.

I knew I was being cut by the smell of the burning flesh. Awesome! To keep my mind off of the smell, I asked Greg to tell me about work, because that always makes me snooze:) I didn't.

That part was quick and then the doctor and the nurses started pushing on me something awful to get the baby to come out. I thought a car was driving over my chest and all of a sudden I couldn't breathe and once again started asking what was going on and if I was dying. I wasn't. Praise the Lord for the most comforting anesthesiologist who stood by my ear and told me things like, "this is supposed to feel that way... your O2 levels are perfectly normal... it will be over in just a couple of minutes". And it was and we heard a tiny squeal and then it was all a blur of people spilling out stats, one of which stood out the most  - A BOY! 

And I did die, of love and admiration. And I die every time I look at his sweet face that I kiss a million times a day.

Little 6-month stats:

He is a very chill little mister, much like his daddy, who loves observing everything around him, adores his sister (and has a healthy fear of her too:)), sleeps very well (7:30-7:30, sometimes with a little snack once + 2 one-two hour naps), and is a champ eater (95% for size). He sits up and grabs everything in his sight and promptly puts it in his mouth. He can roll, but doesn't like to, much rather prefers lying on his back and chewing on his own toes:) 

the one with the cute naked girl

Like in "The one with the ugly naked guy", only not?
(You get it? My anti-Friends husband didn't get it, so I have to ask...)

And no, by the cute naked girl I most definitely do not mean myself. (If my jelly belly had hands it would have slapped me on the face and ordered to get over yourself, Lena!)
The other night, after putting Leo to bed, I found Greg sitting on the floor of our bathroom with a drink in his hand, keeping Annika company as she was going potty. The two were having a grand time talking all things farts, poops, and politics. When time came to get into her jammies, Annika informed us matter-of-factly that she had to run around naked for a bit. O-kay! She was totally serious and when we asked her why, she said, "Because I said I have to run around naked for a bit." Duh! And so she did for 10 minutes. 10 glorious minutes complete with little feet making circles around the house, happy squeals, and oh my gowsh, the cutest joggling buns I ever did see. Then, panting and with rosy cheeks, she was ready for her diaper and jammies. She was satisfied and ready to hit the sack. She was out in no time.
We have much to learn from that girl. She knows how to unwind for the day. All we do to unwind is watch some Netflix over an alcoholic beverage. Surely not as fun. Unless it's Jimmy Fallon that we are watching. Hashtag old farts, hashtag couch potatoes, hashtag quit spelling out hashtag...
So anyway, as soon as I finish typing this and take a shower, you know what I'll be doing. 

the one with random numbers and random pictures

6 children, 12 adults, 5 hours, and 4 total naps. 3 cartons of eggs, 24 french toast slices, 24 tart shell desserts, 5 cartons of strawberries, and cups of coffee too numerous to count. Zero meltdowns. Several dirty undies, though.
Nope, not a week's worth of life. Just a Sunday brunch at our house. I live for these brunches, even though every time I confirm to myself that I'm a terrible hostess.
I forget to introduce people who don't know each other. I never have enough plates/forks/glasses/coffee mugs. I had napkins today and I considered it a success. I put people to work. Thanks, Kirbs, for making all those toasts. Thanks, Linds, for making the sausage links. Thanks, Aaron, for making bread. So basically I just provide the house, the table and the chairs. And I don't even have enough chairs for everybody. Somebody send me to an etiquette school!
People continue to accept our invitations though, so it must not be as bad? Or maybe it's just my husband's charm and free coffee? I don't know, but I'll take it.
I love having people at our house, whether it's just a couple of friends, or a group so big, you aren't sure you've had the chance to chat with everybody. As we were sitting at our table today, chatting, too full to get up, I caught myself listening into several different conversations. I wasn't particularly following any of them, because it's kind of impossible with several topics going on at the same time. Or simply because I'm just such a lousy listener? Scratch that, let's go with the first excuse!!! So I just sat there, smiling and feeling happy, like a fool:) I thought  to myself that I should really try to stay in touch with these people forever. I thought that I should be a better friend to all of them. I thought that I should probably be a better listener. I thought I should check in with friends during the week too, to see how there jobs were going or just to say I miss them. I thought I should probably stop eating. And for heaven's sake, I should definitely buy many many more chairs.
Some more random pictures, why not:)

Chicago Weekend for the Win(n)

As I was nursing Mr. Leo before bed tonight, I was browsing my phone (I usually read some smart book during nursing... no I do not!!!), I looked at my photo stream and was disappointed at the number of photos I took while in Chicago this weekend. My first thought  - fail. Because we all know that the level of success of a certain endeavor is determined by photo documentation of that endeavor.   No, it is not. Because yucky weather notwithstanding, it was a positively successful weekend not without some new experiences.
First, there was the "almost bribery" of a Chinese consulate worker, who helped us out with my brother-in-law's passport situation. We didn't intend to bribe at all, just wanted to thank the guy and make it "worth his while" for coming into work after hours. But he refused our Target gift card. He may have been worried about getting caught on tape accepting something, but I'd like to believe he was just acting out of the goodness of his heart. Ashley and Weishan should be about an hour away from Shanghai as I type this, thanks to the honest and kind Chinese consulate worker, who probably got a lickin' from his wife.
Then there was my first ever bathroom nursing. Standing up. My arms were shaking , but it could have been worse actually. Thank you Mr. Leo, for being a speedy eater. And thank you, Target, for your semi-clean spacious family restrooms. (Would you put a bench or something in there though?) I don't know about you, but this seems like a big deal to me.  Is a "Seasoned Mom Club" a thing? 'Cause I feel like I've just become a member.
One of our goals for the weekend was to get Greg a new wardrobe. I was planning to not shop for myself, but to help him. But you know that feeling when you walk into a clothing store and everything goes blank in your mind and all of a sudden you come home with a bunch of crap you didn't need? Yeah. Me! Neither!

So yes, two and a half iPhone pictures only, but we came home from Chicago with some money to spend at Target,  a new-found level of motherhood, and bunch of clothes that we don't need, but must have if we don't want parenthood and small town living to completely turn us off fashionability... Fashionhood? Fashioning? Agh... too late...