Julian at 11 months

Ugh 11 months! Eeva was just born and I look at her teensiness and am flooded with the feelings if Julian's birth and those first weeks. it's hard to believe that those moments are past. It's this really odd phenomenon that you know on our reality time moves forward yet it's so hard to believe that your child will never be younger again. I can imagine feeling like this when he's like 18… Nuts. This month has been quite eventful both in the good and bad. I have hit my winter blues and haven't been able to steer them away as I would of I wasn't a mommy. Let's be honest, there have been many bad moments and days. But Julian is walking so easily and quickly by just holding onto one hand! He's had some setbacks with being sick hence our canceled trip to Mexico. He is recovering from Roseola. First time he has been sick and got so on the day that I thought of how he is the only baby i know who hasn't gotten sick yet. Nice.

Now I am finishing packing to go to Naples, Fl which is our Plan B. I am so looking forward to spending quality time with my boys as it feels as though that has not happened much lately. For the past two months or so with my finishing NYU (straight A's I might add in my last semester and with a baby!) it feels like Julian has been spending way too much time with the grandparents which yes, I'm thankful for but I also feel like I'm missing out. And then with him getting sick when with his grandparents while I was packing for Mexico, he ended up there for the past 10 days while sick and recovering. I amso grateful to have my family who are so involved, caring and helpful with Julian but I can't help but feel that I'm missing out…

Well here is to Julian who will as I suspect start walking by himself in the next month especially when practicing on the sand in Florida, to Julian's last infancy month-I can't believe that you are 11 months my little boy. You are maturing every second and its crazy to witness. Currently your favorite activities are to pull all the books off the bookshelf (which I am in the process of now moving to higher shelves :) ), you love your new walker and crashing it into everything, you don't like sitting still my little explorer, and you are SOOOO GENEROUS! You share everything and especially since you've been sick and have not wanted to eat you take extreme pleasure in feeding everyone around you, very fairly I might add as you go around in a circle. But we must eat the food you give us to get your super pleased reaction.You do this gasp of excitement when you are amazed with something or open a closet door to see all the stuff behind, it's a shriek of amazement. You also love to show us how a plane flies as you woosh your toy planes through the air. You are very quick to learn how a toy works and you often show mommy before she figures it out. You want to sleep with mommy and daddy but beat us up in the process. You are an amazing little man.

Central Park Baby! Back in the warmer days...

 

Out Little Pianist-Julian at 9 months

Our l

Asking for your support in the Race Against Blood Cancers

Dear Friends and Family,

This year I have decided to challenge myself in a new way while helping support an organization which I am passionate about.  I am raising funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) as a participant in their Team In Training program for the Joe Kleinerman 10K race and I'm asking you to help by making a donation to my fundraising campaign.

Each donation helps accelerate finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. More than 823,000 Americans are battling these blood cancers.   I am hoping that my participation in Team In Training will help bring them hope and support. In order for me to run the 10K I need to raise a minimum of $500 by Dec. 1st but I know that with your generosity we can go way beyond that and make a difference together!

Please use the link in this email to donate online quickly and securely plus learn more about my progress.  You will receive a confirmation of your donation by email and I will be notified as soon as you make your donation.

http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/joekl10k09/elupyan

On behalf of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, thank you very much for your support.  I greatly appreciate your generosity.

Thank you,

Eleonora Lupyan-Ryvkind

P.S. I would appreciate it if you would forward this email to as many people as you can to encourage them to donate as well. Employers often match their employees' donations even though they do not always publicly anoounce this. Do not hesistate to ask them! Thanks again.

Julian at Ikea

Julian had his first adventure in a store yesterday. We took him to Lowes and Ikea, where else would we go? Ikea has become a second home you see...
Anyway, we are at our Swedish home of wood and cinnabuns and he LOVES it. He was so wonderful just hanging out on his Papa Kangaroo (that would be Yuriy with the Baby Bjorn on). He wanted to touch everything, he was amazed with all the bright colors and lights. He went on an escalator for the first time. I had a very hard time focusing on what we needed to get cause I was grabbing the camera every few minutes shouting things such as "Ohhh Julian's first elevator ride!!" and "Look at that big boy in the shopping cart!!".

After Papa Kangaroo's back was killing him and he handed me that heavy bundle of thigh rolls, I stuck the chubster in a cart I found. He was so happy, just holding on to the handle. I then raced him in the shopping cart like a juvenile delinquent in Walmart. We zoomed by in the warehouse and he was cracking up like crazy. When he laughs, China could hear. Its amazing and it makes you cackle like a crazy person as well.
All in all, a very successful and fun outing.

Photos to come.

Walking home with julian from central park. Hes sleeping, waKes up to smile at me and goes right back to sleep. I melt.

Julian at 6 months

Ugh! I am disappointed with myself. It has been so hard to blog and keep updated. Is anyone else struggling with this commitment even though they really want to do this with a new baby and all?

Julian has his two bottom middle teeth. They are so sharp!
At 6 months he is absolutely amazing. I never knew that an infant could have such a personality. He does not stay still anymore. He needs to move, roll over and squirm all over the place. If only I had that kind of energy....

Our typical day goes as such:
Julian wakes up at 7 and I try to get him back to sleep either by putting him in the stroller on the balcony or it used to be the swing but he is growing out of it.
-He has a bottle at 8 30 and then we play.
-Naps from 9 30 till 10 30 or sometimes later. I either go back to sleep or have breakfast.
-Play some more, I get ready for the day and see if the weather is ok to go out.
-12 30 Julian eats some fruits or veggies with baby cereal, it is entertaining and hilarious every single time. He opens his mouth wide enough to fit a football field even before he swallows his last spoonful.
-We go to Central Park along with the doggie Sasha or I just walk down the avenues and explore our new surroundings.
-4 30: Feeding again
-Julian plays and naps and I make some food or veg out in exhaustion.
-6 30: Yuriy comes home from work and we eat and then either go to the gym while the grandparents watch Julian.
-8 30: Bottle and bed time
-Some time to ourselves and getting to bed too late
Then all over again!