astonishing

This article reports that homocide is the 2nd greatest cause of death of pregnant women. It is the cause in 31% of deaths of pregnant women. Pregnancy-related complications are first. I had heard (on Oprah) before that homocide is first. Whatever. It's probably pretty close for first and second since car accidents and suicide are pretty high up for non-pregnant women.

I really wish it became standard practice to report absolute risk in such articles. Michael Evans wrote an article about that in the Globe not that long ago. I can't link to it because the Globe's website is very miserly about letting you read the Globe online without registering or paying or something.

Ch-ch-ch-changes....

I admit it, I stole the title from Kevin. Friday, I accepted an offer for a new teaching position at Jarvis Collegiate. I'll be teaching three sections of Gr. 9 Math starting in September. It's a half time (mornings) timetable.

The previous Friday at 10 am, I logged into the board network and checked the postings - really just out of curiosity. Was AY posting any? Which subject areas seemed to be posted most often? that type of thing. But I spied the o.5-time Math/Physics posting at Jarvis. I mentioned it to Dion, who was very clear: "Do it!" How could I not apply? I called Sai (my department head.) "Uh, Sai. There's a posting at Jarvis."
"Damn you! I'll be your reference."

The deadline was noon that day, so Dion took the morning off to take care of Adam while I focussed on putting together my resume and cover letter. Well, I interviewed Monday morning and it went quite well. In my own mind I messed up one question but the post-interview chat was good. I got a feeling that I would like working with this principal and department head. Having sat in on interviewing for my mat-leave substitute at AY was a learning experience. I realised that if they've ruled you out, there is no post-interview chat. People are just too busy. They'd let me know Friday probably, Monday at the latest.

Wednesday afternoon, I got a big hint that I was the candidate. Someone at the board office called, asking me to put it in writing that I understood the implications of going to 0.5 full-time-equivalent status.
"Isn't this premature? I haven't even been offered the position."
"Uh. We just need to know."
The principals have to forward the name of their preferred candidate to the board before offering the position.

So last week was very anxious for me. I had been planning to return to work in February, not September. Adam won't even be 5 months old. OMG childcare! It's a jungle out there to find any childcare. AY is a great school, with model students and a fun, talented, and supportive staff. I must need my head examined. No one leaves "the country club," as the Als call it. It's a half time position. There's no guarantee that I'll be able to go back full time at Jarvis when I want to. My retirement gets delayed.

But despite all that, I knew that this would be the right move. Jarvis is an exciting school. Half-time, 5 minutes on foot from our home works so much better for Adam and by extension our family. Dion's mom, aka Poh-poh, expressed some interest in doing some childcare (who knew!?). Dion could change the start and/or duration of his leave, which he had planned for maybe Jan/Feb/Mar. All of this shifted through my mind and by Thursday night, I was trying not to get my hopes up.

Friday, AY science staff had an end-of-year lunch out at Jane's farm North of Uxbridge. It was a gorgeous day and a beautiful setting. Jane's horses were really interested in Adam. I think it was the fragrance in the diapers. And the phone call came while I was there. Of course, I accepted. Sai got on the phone immediately with our principal to talk about what to do with my position at AY. Sai might have a coronary at the ripe old age of 28 (I think he's 28.) Glad it's them not me. Positions of responsibility - too much responsibility!

My new department head has already been in touch with me electronically. We'll be teaching the 9 Applied together. I love a department head who teaches Gr. 9 Applied.

this weekend

This was a beautiful weekend to be outside playing ultimate. Maybe a tad warm. We were also able to enjoy the weekend with Dion's parents (Happy Father's Day, Gandalf!), who were able to enjoy some time with Adam in the shade while we sweated it out on the field. Adam was finally awake for some quality time with Poh-poh. She's been waiting eagerly for that, I think. He cooed for her and I'm sure he showered her with smiles, too.

Play Anything had lots of fun. Here are some shots taken by Amanda Osmond (or at the least with her camera). She posted more at http://picasaweb.google.com/amanda.osmond

Dion's pretending to be short or tired.

Unfortunately, I end up marking much more often than I would like. At least the practice has made me pretty effective at it. I'm also pretty good at calling a switch. :)


I'm looking long. I doubt I did it though.


#1 Fan


Who's the goof in long pants and a floppy hat?

I get a lot of questions about the pants. I feel cooler in them, thermally cooler, that is. They are really lightweight, they keep the sun off, wick sweat away, and dry in a flash. Furthermore, my legs are pasty white. It's not vanity to cover them but laziness and parsimony. Who wants to spend all that time and money for sunblock? And I don't care how stupid that hat looks. It stays on really well and does everything for me that the pants do. This is the first full-sun weekend in my life that didn't end in a sunburn on the face and/or neck. I've played in visors before but they just don't do as good a job.

Adam's growth

It's no wonder that all I want to do is eat.

0 months	1 month	2 months
20.5 in 75th pctile		24 in 85th pctile
7lb 1oz 25th pctile	9lb 11oz 50th pctile	13lb 4oz 84th pctile

Percentiles obtained from http://www.mybirthcare.com/favorites/babygrowthchart.asp

The bassinet is only rated to 17.5 pounds; so, we'll have to assemble his crib before we know it.

Good Morning!

this weekend

We were lucky enough today to spend some time with the Tsang family. They are amazing! Pam and Jesse make it look easy but I'm not fooled. Two babies are undoubtedly more than twice the work. But they're doing something right because everyone looks happy and rested - including Pam and Jesse.

Moms and babies.

Nathan was doing a thorough two year old job of exploring the world but only as much as mom and dad wanted him to. He was also very helpful with putting away toys and he got in all the appropriate "thank yous."

Saturday evening, Adam wanted nothing but company to settle. He has been an eager listener to several short stories in a collection call Island by Alistair Macleod.

Saturday afternoon, Dion and I went out "a deux" to take in the PushPull annual performance. It was really good. Dion's dad, aka gandalf, was kind enough to offer his services and he did a good job looking after Adam for us.

these photos and a couple more in print quality at http://picasaweb.google.com/dion.lew

Speaking of "Mcleod": Adam's baptism has been scheduled for July 15th at Mcleod-Stewarton United Church at 507 Bank Street in downtown Ottawa. "McLeod-Stewarton United Church is located at the corner of Bank and Argyle, one block north of the Queensway." ALL are welcome. No need to plan ahead but do let us know if you are certain that you're coming so that we have an idea of numbers for munchies afterwards.

Make that thrice.

As in: made a liar out of me thrice. My most recent entry explained how Adam had made a liar out of me twice. Moments later, it became thrice. It's now four - not three- times in the last seven days that he has vastly over-eaten.

I was carrying Adam to the car seat for the trip to our ultimate game when he brought up a small amount of milk, maybe a tablespoonful. But I knew that there was more to come. What to do? Well, I just happened to be standing outside the bathroom. Some quick thinking led to this:


I was just quick enough. He proceeded to empty his stomach - but not on me, just himself and maybe the sink a little too. He sat there very contently while I finished getting ready for the game and found him a new sleeper. We still made it to pick up Marnie and Dion at 6pm sharp. He looks very comfy; so, I think I'll give him his next few baths like this. After that, he'll probably be too big.

A snap from a couple of days ago. too cute!

made a liar out of me - twice!

I think I might need to retract my statement about our having the most beautiful baby in the world. The evidence is now inconclusive. I know passport photos are about as reliable as jailhouse snitches or K-cars but here he is:

I also need to retract my statement about holding up his head when awake. Only when he's WIDE awake. His drowsiness was part of the problem with the photo. It was pretty hard to keep him upright. I had to stick my hand inside his sleeper to prop him up. He was still so happily drunken and floppy that the photographer and I were in stitches watching his antics.

Adam has been pretty clingy this week. He has figured out the concept of "alone" and sometimes he's just not in the mood for it. Part of his trouble is that he now has a third state of consciousness: "awake-not eating". Before this week, his only two states were asleep and awake-eating. This third state is a little frightening, he thinks. He, therefore, seeks frequently to enter the state of awake-eating. Three times in 7 days, this has led to substantial vomitting, which of course leads to more of the awake-eating state. Adam might consider this a virtuous circle. I, of course, consider it to be a vicious circle. The cure is walking. Not ambling around the apartment, but at a pace that could induce sweating in conditions above room temperature.

On the very positive side, Adam seems to clearly understand the difference between day and night. At night, he only eats or sleeps, which allows us to sleep quite well.

Adam and I attended the Ontario Association of Physics Teachers conference at the Ontario Science Centre Thursday evening, Friday, and Saturday. I don't know how much he got out of it but I don't think I got much. Except that Bob Macdonald's presentation was entertaining, of course. And I learned about two-observer space-time grids for solving special relativity problems. They're pretty neat but it'll be hard to fit them in to an already jam-packed unit.

As of Saturday, bathing Adam just got MUCH easier because he consistently holds his back and head straight when awake. He couldn't do this on Wednesday, when Dion bathed him.

photos

No offense to any other babies,

but I think we have the most
beautiful baby in the world.


Full sized, these photos show the golden brown
sweeping into his iris from the pupil outward.

Everyone has many looks but this one, minus
the tongue, matches my mental image of Adam.


Adam's still not that into tummy time.
He's got to be in the mood for it. My camera
did an amazing job with skin tone here.

Mom finally assembled a baby chair for me
because I'm actually awake now and then.
I'm not so sure about this chair.


It can definitely be fun.

Or overstimulating and scary.
I don't think I've ever lasted 10 minutes in it.


Tighter fits:
the onesie on Adam and Adam in the bassinet.

LOL

These and a few more at http://picasaweb.google.com/dion.lew in print quality. There are 10 here. 15 there. 33 on my hard drive from 60 or so that I shot.