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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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. 
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. 
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.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. |
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 . . . 
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.
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!
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.
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".
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.
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.
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:
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.
This is Ice Boy's house.
There's so much, I can't draw it!
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.
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.
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