Ah...the boy is asleep. Time to catch up.
We've been busy, as always. Dad and Bobby returned from a whirlwind weekend at the Super Bowl in Dallas. They had a great time, and came back with all kinds of memorabilia including cowboy hats.
August is more interested than ever in animals and it's a constant barnyard chorus around here. My mom and I ran some errands together this morning and she bought him a toy horse and sheep at a little consignment shop in Sellwood.
His neigh-neigh's are morphing into "no-no's" more and more, as he imitates what we say constantly to Queets...
Even though it's still winter, our summer plans are shaping up. I'm giving a keynote talk at an event in Jackson, WY in early June, so we'll plan some fun around that. In late June, we're meeting up with Joy and family in Montana. Coyote Roadhouse cabins - love the fact that we can swim in the river. Plus it's close to Glacier Nat'l Park.
We're also trying to plan a family reunion on the OR coast in August (family reading this - how does the last week in August sound?)
Tomorrow, August and I are heading out to a friend's house on the Clackamas River. It's one of A's friends from daycare, and his mom and I have hit it off. They have a little farm, so A is going to be over the moon about real live goats, pigs, etc!
BAA BAA!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Seattle
We returned Sunday afternoon from a wonderful weekend in West Seattle. How great to be back in our old 'hood, where it still feels like home. Living there for five years, and having A. there, and bonding with my mama friends really connects us to the place.
We stayed with B & S, so we got to take several nice (drizzly) walks on Alki Beach. A loved playing with Jessie, the big two and a half year old. And A. loved their two cats - he did a lot of meowing, my absolute favorite of his many animal sounds. It melts my heart every time.
A highlight of the weekend was a party my friend M had for all of the moms who donated breastmilk to her son L, who is just two months younger than A. She wasn't able to breastfeed due to complications, but she was able to feed L on donated breastmilk for the entire first year of his life!
47 donor moms = 15,000 ounces of breastmilk.
How amazing is that? And how amazing is M for making that happen?
I only contributed a tiny fraction of what some of the other moms donated (I'd give M a bottle here and there when we met on dog walks in the neighborhood). But I told her, and this is hard to explain, that it was such a gift for me to be able to help.
M made each of the mamas a felted wool bowl. Green, with a little red heart at the bottom. She talked about the symbolism of a bowl: it represents abundance, nourishment. It's a vessel meant to be filled.
I think back to those early days when A was an infant and all of this was so new. The bowl now sits on my dresser. It reminds me how blessed I am to be a mother, to have this love in my life, to have such good friends, to be part of such a strong community that, when we come together, can accomplish pretty amazing things.
We stayed with B & S, so we got to take several nice (drizzly) walks on Alki Beach. A loved playing with Jessie, the big two and a half year old. And A. loved their two cats - he did a lot of meowing, my absolute favorite of his many animal sounds. It melts my heart every time.
A highlight of the weekend was a party my friend M had for all of the moms who donated breastmilk to her son L, who is just two months younger than A. She wasn't able to breastfeed due to complications, but she was able to feed L on donated breastmilk for the entire first year of his life!
47 donor moms = 15,000 ounces of breastmilk.
How amazing is that? And how amazing is M for making that happen?
I only contributed a tiny fraction of what some of the other moms donated (I'd give M a bottle here and there when we met on dog walks in the neighborhood). But I told her, and this is hard to explain, that it was such a gift for me to be able to help.
M made each of the mamas a felted wool bowl. Green, with a little red heart at the bottom. She talked about the symbolism of a bowl: it represents abundance, nourishment. It's a vessel meant to be filled.
I think back to those early days when A was an infant and all of this was so new. The bowl now sits on my dresser. It reminds me how blessed I am to be a mother, to have this love in my life, to have such good friends, to be part of such a strong community that, when we come together, can accomplish pretty amazing things.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
They're in!
Moving day was yesterday, and mom and dad slept in their new house for the first time last night. Here's a pic of the new digs!
Have I mentioned how awesome it is having them here in Portland? I am one lucky daughter, and August is one lucky grandson.
We're heading over to the house today to help unpack and deliver some odds and ends, including a batch of date bars and a roll of winter cookies.
Have I mentioned how awesome it is having them here in Portland? I am one lucky daughter, and August is one lucky grandson.
We're heading over to the house today to help unpack and deliver some odds and ends, including a batch of date bars and a roll of winter cookies.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Merry Christmas!
It has been a festive vacation! Decorating, cooking, baking, and taking after dinner Christmas lights walks. August loves it - the cheesier and more colorful, the better. He cried last night when we walked away from the illuminated reindeer and snowmen. We hustled down the block to the next display, and then he was happy again.
My parents are getting ready to move into their new house. Today they are meeting with appliance people and window-treatment people. John and I might take August to the zoo, depending on John's cold and the weather. Right now the boy is sleeping in the stroller, parked in the mudroom, after a frosty morning walk.
Here are some pics from Christmas...
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
December
How have I not posted anything since Thanksgiving? Lots going on. In addition to "fish" ("dish," "sshhh") August now says "ball" and "bubbles" -- and he makes the sign for "more" when enjoying delicious vanilla goat milk yogurt. The yogurt was inspired by his buddy Lucas, who made the trip with mama Mary Ellen this past weekend. So great to have wonderful West Seattle friends visit us. So much to catch up on and share. John said he has never heard two people talk more.
Thanks to advice from Mary Ellen, my mom, and great aunt Kaki -- I have some very wise and observant women in my life -- the new year for me is going to be more about ME. I have put myself 200% into motherhood, and now need to let go a little and nurture my own hobbies, needs, etc. So that means more running, reading, gardening, baking, writing, and maybe just DOING NOTHING, and... learning how to surf. I have wanted to learn forever, and now it's time. Bring on the cold Pacific water and wetsuits!
This is my last week at work before vacation. Mom and Dad arrive for good on Dec 23, and move into their new house in early January. They've been having a flurry of goodbye parties in NC. Hard to believe this is it! No more runs around "the loop" in their Raleigh neighborhood. We'll be starting new routines and traditions - all of us in the same city.
This is one of the most festive Christmas seasons - such fun with August. He points to the lights, and loves the Christmas tree (he sweeps it with the broom, one of his fave toys). He has only stolen a couple ornaments -- we keep moving them higher up on the tree.
For all of you reading this -- if you don't get a Christmas card this year, don't worry, you weren't dissed! It just means I didn't get around to making them. Not sure if it will happen or not -- just another way for me to practice "letting go..."
Thanks to advice from Mary Ellen, my mom, and great aunt Kaki -- I have some very wise and observant women in my life -- the new year for me is going to be more about ME. I have put myself 200% into motherhood, and now need to let go a little and nurture my own hobbies, needs, etc. So that means more running, reading, gardening, baking, writing, and maybe just DOING NOTHING, and... learning how to surf. I have wanted to learn forever, and now it's time. Bring on the cold Pacific water and wetsuits!
This is my last week at work before vacation. Mom and Dad arrive for good on Dec 23, and move into their new house in early January. They've been having a flurry of goodbye parties in NC. Hard to believe this is it! No more runs around "the loop" in their Raleigh neighborhood. We'll be starting new routines and traditions - all of us in the same city.
This is one of the most festive Christmas seasons - such fun with August. He points to the lights, and loves the Christmas tree (he sweeps it with the broom, one of his fave toys). He has only stolen a couple ornaments -- we keep moving them higher up on the tree.
For all of you reading this -- if you don't get a Christmas card this year, don't worry, you weren't dissed! It just means I didn't get around to making them. Not sure if it will happen or not -- just another way for me to practice "letting go..."
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