Almost 11 Months

We've had an interesting week. I had two trainers flake on the fitness class idea, Felix was sick with a virus that caused a fever, rash and blisters in his throat, and I finally finished writing my adoption guide. It's in the hands of four prospective adoptive families for feedback and (hopefully) positive reviews as soon as it's available for sale on Kindle and Nook, as soon as this weekend! I already have an idea for a second adoption-related book, but it can wait.

Felix's illness was minor and just kept him out of daycare for a day and a half due to fever rules, so I was able to work from my parents' house while he wreaked havoc played in the family room.

I found a third promising trainer - we're meeting for coffee tomorrow - and posted the job on the local university job board, as well. It would be so easy to just give up on the whole stroller-friendly fitness class idea, but I'd regret it if I didn't give it a chance to be successful.

Felix will be 11 months on Sunday and still only has two teeth, but he's officially in 12-month clothing and has started walking while pushing furniture across a hard floor. He's ravenous when he wakes up in the morning and wants dinner the second we get home, so I've had to rethink our eating schedule a bit. Our kitchen is on the first floor and he takes forever to eat breakfast, and I don't have time to sit downstairs every morning before work. The obvious answer is to get a second high chair so he can eat breakfast upstairs while I get ready for work, and we'll pack a lunch for daycare so he isn't starving by 5:30. (Instead of the current plan, which is one jar of fruit at daycare each day.) The baby food jars aren't very satisfying any more and he tends to want what's on my plate, whether it's spinach salad or Indian food. Late last night I made him his very own cream veggie sauce with whole wheat pasta spirals, and I'm anxious to hear if he willingly ate it for lunch today. His doctor wants him down to two bottles per day by the time he's a year old, and I'm fine with that, so that's our goal.

Pretty proud his hoodie covers his belly.

Cornbread and chili - yum!

My sister-in-law and brother have started their own daycare search with about as much luck as I had last summer. We started venting about pathetic maternity leave policies (in the US and especially Idaho) and may form a group to raise hell about it next legislative session. We'll see where that goes. Currently no leave is required for any employer with fewer than 50 employees, and while most offer something, it's usually not much. Our conservative legislature tends to think that weak maternity, daycare and pre-K policies will encourage more women to stay home and raise their children instead of working.

On that note, it's Friday and I'm outta here. :)