The Summer of My Discontent (and Other Stories)

Sorry it's been a while since I've had a chance to update this here blog, but you must forgive my lateness, for I've had one CRAZY summer!

It all began with a long awaited trip back east to finally meet those grandparents and relatives that I haven't had the chance to meet face to face. It was great!-- loads of attention, being passed from person to person--- I was eating it up! I had a great first four days or so. Then mom got sick, then others on her side of the family became ill, and finally I woke one morning to find dad laid up on the couch for a full day, whimpering. Needless to say it wasn't the happiest of times.
The following day dad felt an enormous lump below my ear. That little discovery sent me on a three week long series of doctor's visits, antibiotics, hospital stays, and even two surgeries. By now you understand that I meant it when I said this has been one CRAZY summer! Here's how the doctor's broke it down for me:

• I caught what my family had: flu (perhaps Swine??).
  
• The resulting infection overwhelmed my lymph nodes below both ears, as well as one on my collarbone.
• They swelled up, died, and gradually became a haven for puss to set up shop.
• Anti-biotics didn't work.
• They then needed to drain the lymph nodes through two separate surgeries (one of which they put me under for).
• Now I've regained my health and have two really cool scars to make up stories about for the rest of my life! (Dad's already coaching me...)

But getting sick was only part of my summer. There were some other big milestones and events that helped make my summer a good one after all.

1. After my 1st hospital stay, my Uncle Tony and Aunt Carrie invited us to Maine where they were renting a SWEET house on an island in the middle of a lake. Nothing like the North Woods and the sound of Loons in the morning to help convalesce.
2. I became mobile! I had no idea learning to crawl would open up so many doors for discovering cool things to play with, and put in my mouth. For some reason my mom still won't let me put electrical cords in my mouth. I think she's a bit up tight...jeez, I'm 9 months old mom! Stop treating me like a newborn already!
   
3. I got two teeth. Now I'm chewing on solid foods which has led to whole new categories of taste and texture. So far prunes, Pirate Booty, and pureed chicken & vegetables hit the spot. I'm now growing back my double chin...
4. My parents took me on my first international trip. Down to Costa Rica we went! It was HOT! Spent a few days exploring the cloud forest before we went to the Caribbean coast to surprise our friends McQ and Karen for their wedding. I helped make McQ cry...

Now summer's over and my parents are back at work. Mom's only gone four days a week, but it's been quite a change. I've started hanging out with a Russian lady named Luba (Landon's daycare owner) who makes some wicked awesome Russian soup. She's also been shoveling spoonful after spoonful of the stuff in my mouth--- super good and I'm super happy it's not borscht! Luba's also been helping me bone-up on my Russian. You know, a few words here and there...

Well, that's all for now. Hope all is well and I hope to see many of you over the winter holidays.

Dasvidania!

Landon

Pictures from the Summer

The Big 6 Months

I've been dreading this day... but, you know, I have to face reality and go ahead and say it...., "I, Landon Bollino, am 6 months old." (shudder) No longer am I that cute completely helpless infant that mom and dad dragged around everywhere. The days of them responding to my every beck and call, hand delivering anything they thought I would need, are forever over. I have to admit it was nice laying back, making a few grunts or a barking cry, and seeing them pick up toys, books, or bottles and bring them to my feet. Those days are long gone now that I can move around a little (not crawling yet) and reach out and manipulate all sorts of objects. I knew I was in trouble the day after my 6 month b-day when dad actually said to me, "You can get it yourself you know." The nerve of that guy! Completely devastated, I reached out and picked up my book all by myself --- ouch --- he was right! So now there's nothing left for me to do except cowboy-up and grow in my independence.

In other news:

• Mom and dad took me camping for the first time! Two awesome nights in a tent up in Olympic National Park. I'm happy to report I slept like a baby! Fresh air will do that to a person. Dad keeps talking some jibberish about backpacking and heading out into the mountains this summer-- have no idea what he means by that but he gets excited all the same.

• For weeks now I've sat by and watched mom and pop eat incredibly delicious looking meals. We're talking cheeseburgers, ice cream, spaghetti, and fruit. I've been dropping hints that I want to partake in the feast by reaching out and grabbing at their food, occasionally knocking over a glass or plate just to make my intentions crystal clear. So, finally the day came--- I was gonna sink my gums into some of that delicious food they'd been eating. I was excited to say the least. Mom got the bowl out, mixed some things around, dipped the spoon into, and brought it toward my mouth. Soon, the moment I'd been waiting for would become reality--- hamburger! Mmmmm-mmmm, ice cream--- woah yeah!! Then the spoon was in my mouth and I waited for my taste buds to be bedazzled. But....nothing... except for a faint bland taste I later learned was called rice cereal, mixed with a healthy dose of water. What's this! This isn't a cheeseburger! What a complete letdown! I wanted salt and fat and sugar and sauces and any food with color just like they always have. But NOOOO!, they gave me rice cereal--- correction!, watered down rice cereal. Great... just great.... thanks mom and dad..... really, thanks.....pshhh...
  
• Next up is my first flight--- back East to introduce myself to family I haven't met in person yet. Charm, class, and charisma don't fail me now!
  

Are you looking for photos? New photos are found here!

Spring Break Road Trip!

Several weeks weeks ago I repeatedly heard my parents mumbling something about spring break this and road trip that. I just ignored them and continued on my merry way, mouthing my fist, drooling all over my shirt, and playing with my two new friends: Left and Right Foote. I thought maybe my parents blew a shock and had to take the car into the shop, or some business such as that. Either way...I paid them no attention. Then one morning pop starts loading up the car: bags, gear, cooler, clothes, heaps of diapers, food, maps, yadayadayada. I coolly pulled my attention away from playing with my feet just enough to keep one eye on the proceedings. That's when I saw him do it-- he picked up my precious bouncy chair and threw it on top of the whole pile of gear! Something serious was up! Soon enough I found myself strapped me into my carseat, the engine fired up, and we sped down the highway. On principal I couldn't allow this sort of action to go unchecked, so I gave them my usual fifteen minutes of screaming bloody murder before my oversized head eventually lost the gravity war and I ended up sleeping for the next three hours.

I woke up just as the car came to a screeching halt. My parents swung open their doors, picked me up, and rushed me to this crazy view point. And before me was this enormity... Now, before I go on I just want to assure you that I truly am not crazy... I am not some delusional four month old or anything of the like. But please believe the thing I'm about to tell you. Before me-- spreading from horizon to horizon-- was....wait for it..... WATER! I know! Nuts, right?! But there it was for as far as I could see! It was like the earth just stopped! You believe me, right? How could a fourth month old make something like that up?! Mom said is was called the ocean. Well whatever it was it was incredible. I saw waves crashing, and seastars hanging on to cliffs, and sand dunes, and seals, and birds cruising by overhead, and these enormous sea stacks jutting out of the water. The whole place sort of smelled like fish, but that's alright....

For the next several days dad steered the car along curvy Route 101, my head roll back and forth and back, until we reached a place called Cauliflower-fornia, or something like that. In what's quickly becoming a ritual for me, my parents strapped me into the baby backpack, then hoofed it down a trail a few miles, passing a sweet river and spring flowers, until we came to these enormous trees. Dad kept calling them Redwoods, but there wasn't anything red about them-- just these incredibly tall broccoli looking things. I don't know why they call this place Cauliflower-fornia. If they left it up to be I'd rename it Brocoli-fornia.

Well my first spring break has come and gone. All and all I think I performed rather well on my first extended road trip. At times I needed to cry and get it all out, but I think I handled myself just fine overall. I might just take after my parents and grow up to be a travelin' man.

Here's a link to a few new shots, case you be ponderin'

7-Week Check In

Alright.... so.... I now have just about seven weeks of life under my belt, so I'm starting to get a handle on a few things. Although I must admit there are also things about being alive that leave me more than a little puzzled. First up, things I know:

• I know that if I fart Dad can hardly control his laughter...
• That if I want to be bounced on a therapy ball all I need to do is cry just a little bit louder, add a touch of vibrato, and hit the next higher note...
• I know that as soothing as white noise is, what really mellows me out is loud music and the rhythm of being danced around the kitchen (Vampire Weekend works the best)....
  
• My hometown of Portland is one cold and snowy place! (editor's note: Although Portland has experienced the longest stretch of cold and snow in decades, it in fact remains mild, gray, and rainy....sorry Land)
• My favorite places for a late afternoon nap are table tops at various area coffee shops and brewpubs. Lay me on my back spread eagle and I am out!
  

Now the things that have me scratching my head a bit:

• Zits (?!) What's that all about? Dude, I'm 7 weeks old! During life-preview school they lectured about the social pitfalls of pizza face when you reach the 7th grade, but this is a little ridiculous!!
• Why is it every time I reach that blissful state of a post-feeding milk-coma, my parents feel the need to rip off my clothes and rub a cold, wet cloth over me! Lawdy!
• What's with all the facial contortions my parents make? They make googly eyes, stick out their tongues repeatedly, wiggle their heads side to side, and speak in high pitched voices. Just to mess with them I periodically stick my tongue back out at them and they absolutely freak. If I'm feeling overly generous I'll give 'em a half smile. You can only imagine how crazy they get then....
• Lastly, I've figured out that laying on my tummy not only feels good, but gives my neck and back muscles a great workout. Because of this I can now lift my head up and check out my surroundings whenever mom or dad carry me around.
  

So that's it for now.... it snowed another inch in Portland this morning! I'm really digging the crisp air and white of living in such an icebox of a city.

New pictures are in the slideshow. Or click on the link to my Flickr site.

More later...... Land

I have arrived! Landon Graham Bollino, 11:19 pm December 7th, 2008, 8 pounds 9 ounces, 22 inches long. So far life has been a blast! Lots of feeding, excercising of my lungs, and being passed from mom to dad. Other than that I just sleep, mostly during the day, but mom and dad are on a mission to change that pattern.

Just a quick update for today but I'm sure I'll have more to say once my brain synapsis have a chance to connect! In the meantime enjoy the slideshow on the right, full of photos from my first few days on the planet! For a better look check out the larger version of the slideshow by clicking here!

My next new experience is meeting Grandma later tonight! Hopefully I can win her over with my charm, class, and charisma!