Top 10 things I couldn't live without: 0-2 months

1. Halo Swaddlesack/Miracle Blanket: Great alternatives to "freehanding" with blankets in the first months.
2. Nuk silicone pacifier: Sucking is a natural reflex and good for their development and it doesn't hurt to have a plug
3. Hush Baby CD: It's magic - especially in the car
4. Happiest Baby on the Block DVD: Tools that REALLY work
5. Fisherprice Swing (the good kind that swings both directions)
6. A nightlight: So you don't have to turn the light on every time you get up in the night
7. Jungle Mat/Tiny Love Mobile: Things that dangle for when the ceiling fan grows old
8. Baby view mirror in the car: For when he's too quiet
9. About 100 burpclothes: They never seem to be handy when you need one
10. A really good carseat: Its worth the money - both for safety and baby's comfort. They spend a lot of time there. A comfy baby is a sleeping/happy baby.

Sawyer's Tiny Love

This is the BEST mobile I've ever seen. A gift from Lynne - the thing is truly trippy. So much so that last night when I put Sawyer down to bed he cooed and giggle wide awake under it for half an hour before I finally turned the lights off so that I could sleep. Did that stop Sawyer. NO! Once his eyes adjusted, the nightlight was enough to keep the mobile illuminated. When I fell asleep, Sawyer was still jiving and laughing - eyes wide open. He must have eventually fallen asleep because he didn't wake me up to eat until 5 am. But this morning he is cranky as get out. That thing is like a drug, and we are going to have to regulate.


IN OTHER NEWS: Sawyer's been working hard this week. On Saturday and Sunday he went with me on assignment and hung in the Bjorn front carrier while I shot photos. Yesterday he went to work with me and chilled out in the sling, silently focused, during our staff meeting. He was doing so well that I stayed and got some work done. What killed me is that he was in such a good mood sitting there in his bouncy chair staring at me while I worked. He kept flashing me little smiles, and I felt so guilty ignoring him when he seemed so ready to interact. So far, though, work is going well. We'll see how poor dad holds up though. Scott has to watch Sawyer three nights this week while I am at meetings. I hope Sawyer goes easy on him.

Back to Work

I left Sawyer- looking cute in a surfer dude outfit - with his nanny (aka Ashley - Scott's secretary) for the first time today and headed to work. Back to the grind! Most days I will be working from home, but I still have to put in time in the office for layout and staff meetings. My schedule will remain pretty flexible since I will still have to cover government meetings at night and weekend events. I guess it's easier to get back into the swing of things now than it would be in another six weeks, but I sure do miss my little guy and its only been three hours!!

Scott risks life to save boat

Scott had to save his boat five times during Hurricane Ernesto when lines broke. Go figure - today he's sniffling. Sorry the clip is so short. That's dial-up for ya.

Baptized in Ernest

Rev. Kate Welcomes Sawyer

The Godparents

Madeira Moms

Dueling Aunts

Addie and Sawyer

Nobody saw it coming. The weathermen even stopped tracking Hurricane Ernesto – now a tropical depression – once it hit the Chesapeake Bay. But as dawn struck the shores of Glebe Creek Friday morning it soon became apparent that we were in for a whopper of a storm. At 6 a.m. Scott woke me up to inform me that if he wasn't back in 10 minutes, something had gone wrong – he was headed out to save his boat. The lines had snapped in the wind and surf. I, of course, got up and watched through the window to make sure he didn't get swept away. Oak trees were bending in the wind like palms in a hurricane; and five foot waves were crashing over the dock, which was buried under two feet of water at high tide. By 6 p.m., Scott had been swimming five times trying to save his boat and the dock. Each time the lines had snapped. 60 mph winds knocked down trees all over the Northern Neck and our power went out before noon. Meanwhile, 16 people arrived at our door for Sawyer's baptism. As folks showed up two by two, we all sat in Florida room gazing out the window in awe. There was nothing else to do. Hopes of a Club Med weekend playing croquet and boating were soon dashed. Without power, plumbing or water, we were roughing it. Nothing left to do but crack open the beer and wine. My biggest fear was losing the 35 bags of breastmilk I had frozen at home. That stuff is like liquid gold. All that work – I wasn't about to lose it. I sent Scott and Brian out in the worst of the storm to retrieve the generator, ice and the precious breastmilk. Our house guests braved the wind and rain to dip water out of the swimming pool with buckets so they could flush the toilets. We brushed our teeth en mass by the kitchen sink with a jug of water. We ate cold cuts for dinner and passed away the evening hours talking by candlelight. My poor parents were on the verge of short circuiting, but – to their credit – held it together. I was not about to call the baptism off. Six people had flown in from California for the event and Jen, Johnny and their two toddlers had driven SIX HOURS (on what should have been a two hour drive) to get here. It was Baptism or Bust! For some reason, Armstrong events are never without a crisis. I like to think it makes them memorable. With the help of our good friend Betsy Woods who lent her showers and oven when her power turned back on before ours, and Susan Faulkner who also let us come take showers and baths, we made it through a long weekend in the dark. We still managed to have a crab feast on a lovely and clear evening Saturday. Sunday morning arrived and we were still without power. The priest and my godparents left at dawn from DC for the ceremony. People shaved their faces and legs on the dock by the river before slipping on their fancy duds. Scott drove Sawyer's godparents to the ceremony in his boat – which didn't sink (the dock, however, was looking a little worse for the wear.) We set up a makeshift alter by the water. Sawyer was a perfect angel through the baptism. He slept through the whole thing. He was baptized with river water and welcomed into the world by a group of the most dedicated friends and family anybody could ask for. He's a lucky young man. Godmother Sarah Q. said on Sunday that she had noticed a change in Sawyer in only four days, and I think she's right. He smiles and coos and laughs now. He's more alert and interactive. He can entertain himself under the playgym for an hour now. It's like somebody flipped a switch and suddenly he's interesting and interested. He realizes I'm more than just a boob, and he can chill out with his dad without crying. He's sleeping for five hour stints (and that has been going on for almost a week now). I believe that all the interaction with his grandparents, aunts, uncles, godparents and future wife (Addie) helped. My little tree frog is clinging to me right now as I type this. We miss everyone already, and for those who couldn't make the trip: just be glad you had working toilets!
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