It's a bird, it's a plane...it's SIMON.

When I haven't been blogging, which is approximately 6 days and 23.5 hours of the past week, here's what we've been up to:

1. Simon had an ultra-sound at Children's Hospital for a potential spinal issue, that turned out to be all normal. He's got a little patch of hair at the base of his spine that concerned our pediatrician so we got an ultrasound at one of the most somber places I have ever been: a children's hospital. We are very grateful all is well with Simon's spine.

2. Mommy got a little cyst on her breast that hurt like the Dickens and got to take some antibiotics while trying to still "nurse around it." Won't be sad when that goes away.

3. Sadie got her first ever ear infection, which landed her in the after-hours clinic at 8:30 p.m. on Monday night. More antibiotics for Team Ellis.

4. Jeff had his first overnight trip for work and Mommy did some solo parenting of two. OMG, please send chocolates and sedatives...single parenting is not for the weak of heart. Thank god it was only for a few hours each day.

5. Go ahead. That's what the OB/GYN said to me about running, lifting Sadie, taking a bath, moving furniture. Anything I want. Time to say goodbye to the period of recuperation-- we are in a new phase now. (I think we can call it exhaustion and freak out.)

6. We saw a Montessori school in our neighborhood that we absolutely loved. One downside is that it's easier to win the Illinois State lottery than it is to get in. Another downside, once we get in, it's not cheap. Ahhhh, life in the city.

7. Mommy went to an attachment parenting meeting and walked away thinking she's a horrible mother because she is not rocking the "family bed" or wearing her baby from dusk til dawn. There are so many beautiful principles of attachment parenting. Unfortunately, my charming personality will only let me focus on the ones that Jeff and I believe are not right for our family. This mothering-competition-inadequacy cycle is a real noose around my neck. I hate it. And, I can't stop.

That's pretty much it. Simon is almost 6 weeks old. I am officially out of maternity clothes and into my "fat" pants. Jeff had a birthday that we acknowledged with a nice breakfast with friends. We are one toe removed from pure survival mode. It feels good.

Now, please excuse me, I have to go do something motherly.