Inauguration Party!

It was an exciting time for the Dutton family. We are located minutes away from all the inauguration hoopla and we were invited to a very fancy ball. So, Maya Wendy and I dressed in our Sunday best. Well, not really. We were however going to the Mehnert Inauguration Party a few blocks away. Their daughter is a month or so older than Maya. So, we packed up the family and drove over to the party site. There was food, drink and even a chocolate capital building! Wendy and I were planning to head over to Costco that very morning and buy one to bring to the party but we ran out of time. Good thing too because one chocolate capital is enough to feed a crowd. Anyways, I am on a drinking freeze so Wendy was able to enjoy a few glasses of pundit punch. Maya was showing her support with her "My Mama's for Obama" shirt. It was a hit at the party. I think Maya will enjoy seeing these pictures when she is older. We have a fun family story to tell about this historic moment in our lives.

First Kiss

I imagine 2009 will bring us a lot of things. So far it has brought us an emergency room visit for mama on Jan 1st, then a doctor visit on the 5th and then a surgery to finish it off on the 6th. For me it brought the flu on a business trip after a night of boozing with some clients last Monday. Luckily (not so lucky for Bruce) I was sharing a room so I had my ol' pal taking care of me. picking me up off the bathroom floor and 4:00am ginger ale run, thanks buddy. Then the fever hit on the train ride home, ugg. When I slugged through my front door after the night of living hell, 2 presentations, 5 hours on a train and a long drive back through DC during rush hour...I found a note on the kitchen table. I had been banished to the basement to wallow in my sickness. Lucky for me my loving wife prepared the area with chicken soup, vitamin water, Popsicles and a few netflix movies. I spent 2 nights in the hole. No kisses from the wife, no touching of the baby. Anyways, Wendy's story is much crazier than mine but she will have to tell you herself. So, 2009 came at us like a kick in the groin but Maya once again saved the day. Along with her loving smiles and crazy cute giggles, she learned how to crawl! Yes we are mobile. Last weekend, Roman Jenny and Preston came over to celebrate and visit. Maya and P-Sids are the best of buds. I really look forward to watching them grow up together and take care of one another. I plan to have many man to mans with P-Sids. Another funny thing we noticed was Maya's new trick. One evening, Wendy was trying to make Maya do her cute little sniff and the strangest thing happened...

The Washington Times Headlines Maya Dutton

The article below is cut and pasted from the following URL... http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/dec/28/babies-comforted-through-massage/



Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times (Maya's foot, Wendy's hands) Wendy Dutton of Arlington massages her 8-month-old daughter, Maya, earlier this month during an infant massage class at Hela Spa ... Massage therapist Mary Szegda (middle) uses a doll to teach infant massage during a class at Hela Spa in Georgetown. ... Massage therapist Mary Szegda demonstrates infant back massage techniques. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times) Sunday, December 28, 2008 Babies comforted through massage Gabriella Boston (Contact) Maya Dutton has that trancelike look in her eyes that only a massage can elicit - utter relaxation. But Maya is not your typical massage client. She's wearing pink bloomers and is only 8 months old. And her masseuse is her own mother, Wendy Dutton. The two are enrolled in an infant massage class at Hela Spa in Georgetown where they're learning to give and receive massage. "It's comforting and restful for both of us. And it allows for focused attention," says Ms. Dutton, adding that infant massage is a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the big city, perfectly illustrated by M Street, the District's premier retail corridor, just outside the spa window. Inside, however, warm natural light dances through the window along with New Age music flowing from hidden speakers. Seated on the floor on a white, fluffy comforter is class instructor Mary Szegda and three mother-infant pairs. "Breathe deeply and place your hand on your baby's tummy," Ms. Szegda says in a calming voice while illustrating on a baby doll. The real babies are lying on their backs, stripped to their diapers and bloomers. As Ms. Szegda shows the mothers how to do the "Indian milking stroke" - moms gently but firmly grab and embrace one ankle and move up baby's leg - it is perfectly quiet, harmonious and peaceful. "It's a kind of hug-and-glide stroke," Ms. Szegda says. And then one of the little ones - ages range from 8 weeks to 8 months; the class is geared toward pre-mobile babies - starts whimpering. The tenuous silence is broken. Ms. Szegda reassures and says babies and mothers are welcome to take a cuddle break whenever it's needed. "One of the most important things we can do in this class is to listen to the baby's cues," Ms. Szegda says. Infant massage is not about replicating adult massage, she says. It's true that it's partly about improving blood circulation and relaxation, which can lead to improved sleep and digestion, but it's primarily about creating a strong bond between child and parent. Suzanne Reese, author of "Baby Massage - Soothing Strokes for Healthy Growth," echoes the sentiment. "The key is that infant massage is baby-led," Ms. Reese says on the phone from San Diego. "It's not a doing 'to' the baby. It's a doing 'with' the baby." In other words, when Maya rolls over or whimpers or protests in some way, her mother has to back off and try another approach. "We have to step out of the task-oriented role that we're so used to," Ms. Reese says. "Let the baby tell you what he or she wants." Throughout the class, Ms. Szegda follows the ebbs and flows of the babies' moods and activity levels. She shows on her doll how different strokes can be done whether the baby is lying down or sitting up. "Just massage in the direction of their body," she says. "Not against their natural inclination." As she moves from massaging baby's legs to massaging baby's back - using two fingers to make little circles on either side of the spine - she says dads can feel free to use this technique on moms. "This feels good on adults, too," she says, seemingly intending the words for Philip Wright, who's watching while wife, Natalya Scimeca, and their 8-week-old son, Simon, participate in the class. Mr. Wright is planning to participate in infant massage classes in the early spring. "It's something I can do with him that's not at 3 a.m.," Mr. Wright says and smiles. After about 60 minutes - although only about 10 minutes have been devoted to actual massage as the babies have been busy nursing, cuddling, sleeping and squirming - the class winds down. But no one's upset that every single second wasn't used to learn massage techniques. On the contrary. "Mary's great about giving guidance while making everyone feel relaxed and comfortable," Ms. Dutton says. "We're all in the same boat, and the last thing we need is to feel stressed out about our baby crying in infant massage class." In the end, comfort is what it's all about. Comfort with oneself and others, Ms. Reese says. If the infant feels that his or her needs - even at a pre-verbal level - are recognized and respected by the parent, it helps build lifelong trust and comfort. "It's basic human virtues in action," Ms. Reese says. "My needs are being recognized. I'm important." For more information, visit www.helaspa.com or call 202/333-4445.