i'm not here for the broccoli

We teased E that we were heading to the Farmer's Market for the broccoli tasting. "I'm not here for the broccoli" was his reply - though he did locate the Staccato Gelato donuts within five minutes of arriving. It was our first market with the four of us together - and it was so great. To be at the market early on a Saturday with a cardamom donut, iced americano, an armful of peonies, and your kidlets is to feel "so Portland."
We came home with so many berries, flowers and best of all - fava beans! And E had a blast showing off his sister and playing with Moo.

love is in the air

The full blown lovey-doveys have hit pdxpishposh. Not an hour passes without me tearing up over some tiny thing - the way E told me a story before bedtime, the way Baby Em purses her lips, the way Tall House, Double Cup brings me a cafe au lait from Peet's Coffee. I am overwhelmed with emotions - I remember this happening right after I had E as well - it's so wonderful and refreshing and a little vulnerable. I am being reminded about what I care about, what I really value, and what I want to prioritize in my life.

This morning, E gave Baby Em a kiss goodbye on his way to school. He gave me a kiss then and whispered, "I am getting used to her." I like hearing from him what he thinks without us having to ask. He seems so matter of fact about Em but I know what a big change it must be for him. This picture is almost enough to send me over the teary edge.

So if you call to chat and I end up telling you how much I love you, be prepared. Sentimentality reigns at pdxpishposh.

sweet girl

Baby Em had her first little sponge bath yesterday. She didn't mind it too much but did fall into a lovely afternoon sleep afterwards. I am almost scared to put this in print - but she's up to sleeping 4.5 hours straight at night - whoo hoo!
We were back at the doctor's today - Em's jaundice is still around and we have to take her in each day for a blood test. Hopefully, she's on the down slope. It's a gorgeous, sunny day so she had lunch in the sun to help banish the yellow from her skin.

first visitors

Our first visitors with Baby Em were Aunt Jan (I didn't catch a picture), Marfie & Moo, and my in-laws. Moo really wanted to change her diaper and was VERY maternal!

My mil had two boys and always wanted to have a girl so she is over the moon with Baby Em.

We had a quiet day at home yesterday, just figuring out our schedule. E stayed in jammies all day. He was in heaven, getting turns playing with us, watching "Bindi: the Jungle Girl" which has to be the most charming kids' animal show around, and working on his basement club house. He's off at school today so Tall House, Double Cup and I are going to take Baby Em on an outing - maybe shopping, lunch or a movie. I am not up for all three yet. But we are ready for visitors if any friends want to stop by to meet Baby Em!

she's here! she's here!

Proving that being fashionably late can start at birth, Baby Em made her appearance three days late - 6.7.07 at 1:26am - weighing 9 pounds even and 21 and 1/4 inches long.
She had a rough first ten minutes - the nurses rushed her out of the room before I could even see her - Tall House, Double Cup right behind them. I heard a nurse say, "She's still floppy." Floppy? Floppy! After a few minutes of agony, I heard her cry, they got her stabilized, and then we got to meet - pure joy. I've sworn off reading or writing birth stories - but if you want details, I'll tell you in person.
E came to meet her later that day. He was mildly interested in her - gave her a kiss and calls her Sissy Sis. He was most interested in his "big brother" gift - a new LeapPad - and now, being three days into her life, he is going with the flow and seeming to tolerate her.
We are home, happy, and getting used to our new schedule. I can't wait for everyone to meet Baby Em!

kids and parents game

E had his last basketball class today and the big excitement was the kids-parent game. As Coach John told the parents, "The kids have never lost this game. NEVER." The point was well taken.
It was E's first real "game" ever and he caught on quickly and was a super fierce defense player. He made two baskets - including the final basket. By that time, he was exhausted - face totally pink and hair wet with sweat - but once he actually figured out that the kids beat the parents, he was thrilled. I was able to capture his final basket - I get tingles watching it - I totally understand if no one else does. Video link below.

keeping cool with the kidlets

We survived the week of heat and pregnancy. I had several lovely lunch outings with friends, caught a movie with Tall House, Double Cup and generally tried to remember not to get down on the floor (because it requires eventually getting up - no small feat these days).
Tonight the Cedros clan came over for strawberry mojitos, dinner, and play - bringing with them two amazing pies! I wish I had captured them with my camera. But I did get some fun pictures of E and Moo froclicking.

memorial day

We were on the run today but still no baby news. We did a zoo run with Moo in tow (she is such a good girl - totally goes with the flow and is E's biggest fan - he has no idea how lucky he has it).

We finally got a picture with the super cool R2D2 post office box. Moo has no idea what Star Wars is but because E loves it, she totally embraces it!
Later we went to our friend Henry's third birthday party - a strawberry picking party at a farm out on Sauvie's Island. It was such fun! We got to go on a hayride (now, shouldn't that make the baby come around?), strawberry picking and of course, cupcakes! It was a gorgeous afternoon on the farm and one of the most enjoyable kidlet parties we've ever been to. Happy Birthday Henry!

cheeky parade

The Cedros clan is saving our family - from insanity and famine. While we are still waiting Little Miss Sangria to show up, we spent the day weaving in and out of their lives - to our great delight and relief. I have definitely moved into mild insanity - 39 weeks pregnant and not fully "there" mentally. Tall House, Double Cup is being MOST patient with me - thank you, thank you! I now have a new appreciation for anyone I know who made it to 39 weeks or beyond. You sort of start to lose yourself - I had a moment yesterday when I really thought that this is it - I'll never have the baby and will live my life like this forever.

We did have a lovely time at the Farmer's Market - I didn't even get to the vegetables as I was so taken with the peonies and morning buns from Ken's Artisan Bakery. The kidlets frolicked and THDC got some good cuddle time with Sam the Man - I think THDC is in direct competition with Sam for best legs in Portland.

I spent the afternoon snuggled down for a long nap while the boys ran errands and woke up only to head up the hill for dinner with the clan.

The Cedros clan is taking amazing care of us - playtime for Moo and E, a dinner of delicious food, and great company. I can't thank them enough.

E loves to make Moo laugh and Moo is E's biggest fan - in an effort to be like Baby Sam, the evening quickly progressed to an underwear and eventual nakey parade. I did get video but to preserve an ounce of their privacy and dignity, I'll only share that with family - until Prom Night 2021 or their wedding brunch.

Again -thank you so much Marfie and Craig! You are so kind and dear to us.

INFJ

For the longest time I tested out as an ENFJ - and in many ways, I still think I lean to ENFJ - but I took this test last night that shows, at least in my pregnancy state - I've moved into the I category - INFJ - must be the nesting thing.

Your Personality is the Rarest (INFJ)

Your personality type is introspective, principled, self critical, and sensitive. Only about 2% of all people have your personality - including 3% of all women and around 1% of all men. You are Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Judging.

How Rare Is Your Personality?

next project

I am officially going to stop commenting on the fact that I am still pregnant until I actually have some news to report.

I just started this pretty lace cardigan - Reid from Knitty. I had some doubts after the first time through the pattern cycle but know that I'm three times through, it looks great. I've had to undue a bunch of rows - it's a bit complicated to knit while watching tv but totally worth it. I think I might edge it in pink. I love knitting these girl things.

rose festival onesie

We spent the weekend on the run - the more to do, the less to wait around for Ms. Em to show up. E took his first trip to Finnegan's - the ne plus ultra toy store in downtown Portland, we all went to see Shrek together - both Tall House, Double Cup and I took turns napping during the movie, and dinner out. Today, Marf and I went to Barefoot Sage to celebrate our upcoming birthdays. We indulged in the Foot Bath and Restorative Massage which was heaven on earth. The massage therapist really worked my ankles and labor trigger points. Let that be the trick!
I am so close to finishing the rose festival onesie that I feel like I can post it as "done". I bought some pretty rosy buttons to truly finish it off but the salesperson somehow missed them getting into my bag . . .
It's super soft and pretty. I can't wait to see it on my daughter in person.

time is moving very slowly

We had a blast with the Cedros clan at the syttende mai celebration yesterday. Anytime E can wave a flag, he's good to go. He had just come from a special party day at his preschool so he was flying a little high - that, plus he scored a pop with sugar - the last time he had that was Christmas Eve at his cousin's house and he's still talking about how great it was!

The highlight for me were the wieners wrapped in lefsa. All of the food served at the event varied in color between white, cream, light toast, and medium brown. That sort of palette just says "home" to me. More pictures and details at Marf's blog.

And I only say time is moving slowly because I am STILL pregnant. We are packing our weekend with fun outings so I can try and not obsess on having this baby!

still here, still waiting

I am officially more pregnant than I've ever been. E came exactly three weeks early - but this time I am 37 weeks and three days along. Luckily, I am feeling great with lots of energy - and I made it to the big Hanna Andersson outlet sale (pink! stripes! flower! smocking!) - which is almost worth still being pregnant for.

Marfie and I are taking the kids to the Syttende Mai festival and parade tonight. After I explained to E about Norway's Independence Day and how we were going to a party, he said, "It sounds a lot like Cinco de Mayo. I have Mexico in me, not Norway." Truth be told, there isn't a lick of Mexican in E but quite a hodgepodge of Finish, Irish, Danish, English and Norwegian. But he insists, "Mexico is in my heart." Viva la lefse!

peony heaven

My tree peony is in bloom - the happiest time of my gardening year. I found my tree peony as a tiny stick in the back of our yard the first year we moved in. We've nursed it to a solid, if flimsy, tree - with half a dozen gorgeous soft yellow and pink blooms. Peonies are my very favorite flower - I can't keep them on the tree - I have to cut them for the house.

And thank you to Marfie for the pretty pretty classic red and pink peonies she brought me this week from the peony farm. They made my week.

i am so ready to have this baby

I am not one of those pregnant women who takes pictures of her enormous pregnant profile - living it is nightmare enough. But E is a budding photographer who grabbed this picture of me yesterday. Now I can see why people I haven't seen for a couple of weeks take one look at me and say, "oh".

Yes, oh.

Everyone - keep your fingers crossed that I have this baby within the week - I'll be trying every trick in the book - with the exception of castor oil. That episode of the Little Rascals where they had to drink that did me in.

teeny tiny theater

E's school theater troupe - Teeny Tiny Theater - had their spring performance of Little Babaji. His troupe this season was made up of all boys. Their "director" said they were great to work with in rehearsals - but the day of the performance turned into pure giggles and showing off. I swear I heard E's voice say "pooh pooh" from behind the set at one point - and I know that isn't a part of the Babaji story.
The boys also made up their own story - each picking their own character - E was Theodore Tugboat and his best friend was Peter Pan. There was the planet Jupiter, Green Arrow, and a giraffe also appearing in the story. Ultimately, I think E loves performing and "acting" is a way to express his love of stories and imagination.

tram trip

We took E on a tram/streetcar trip . . . we rode the entire streetcar route and got off for a trip on the tram up to OHSU. I am a tram junkie - it really is fun and exciting and a bit thrilling - I can say all of that because I don't live underneath the tram route.

The view is gorgeous from OHSU - a place worth taking in over and over.

last beach trip before baby em

We spent the weekend at Cape Lookout - our last get away before the baby comes. I could feel the baby moving around, moving down down down. I think it was the s'mores.
E decked himself out in full explorer gear and took to the forest and beach. We explored Cape Meares and made time for ice cream in Tillmook. E got totally sticky, dirty, and delighted with himself. He taped a video message for his Nana:

Just in case you don't fully understand four-year-old E-speak, translation - "Nana, I need a bath."

the saga of Ice Boy

E has written his first story. He made sure to tell me it's not a chapter book or a picture book - but rather, a story book. He made up the character of Ice Boy about six months ago - he's a super hero who can turn people into ice. He has a long back story about his family and his parents being too afraid of his powers. Ice Boy also has a sister who I often get to play in our games - Tall House, Double Cup gets to be the sidekick, Bat Wing. All of E's friends know Ice Boy and often play make believe at school.
Here is the first story:


This is Ice Boy's house.
This is a big bad guy that Ice Boy has to fight with all of his friends. Bat Wing is helping him.
Ice Boy has to fly through all 4 bad guy ships.
And there's lots of seats in a rocketship.
He has to fly through this big ring of fire!
Ice Boy climbs to the top of the International Space Station to get a bad guy.
This is Ice Boy's other ship. And there's lots of seats in it too. Actually, this is Bat Wing's.
Ice Boy has to climb up Jupiter!
This is a big tree that is right in Ice Boy's house.
This is a water fountain in Ice Boy's ship. Four people can drink at the same time.
This is the fire coming out of Ice Boys' rocket. There's so much, I can't draw it!
Ice Boy see's the bone of the gun.
This can kill a bad guy. They dont' know it's dangerous for them.
This is the biggest ship in Ice Boy. It's Skate Boy's.
When his controller pulls his string up, Ice Boy blasts off! Faster + faster+ FASTER!! He passes outer space!
This is a big, humongous station for Ice Boy's humongous rocket!

back to the market

E's basketball schedule is getting in the way a bit of our favorite Saturday morning ritual - heading to the market for yum-yums, coffee, and fun with other families. We did manage it last weekend after E's class. There were already peonies at one stall - peonies!!!! There was just one batch left so we got some lovely tulips that were very peony-like.

happy day

Six years ago today, Tall House, Double Cup and I got married on the beach in Maui - surrounded by close family and friends. We had spent the morning snorkeling with sea turtles and reading on the beach. That night we had a long dinner party with lots of vino, toasting, and picture taking.
Instead of celebrating Hawaii in this post though, I want you to see where we got engaged - the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, Ireland - truly the most breathtaking place I've ever been. I woke up this morning to see Matt Lauer from The Today Show there on his "Where in the world is Matt Lauer" tour. I was so happy to see my favorite place in the whole world on my wedding anniversary - I want you to see it too.

Follow this link to see the whole Today show visit to the Cliffs of Moher and click on the video on the right.