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.

mad skills

He did it! E did it! He made his first basket ever! Tall House, Double Cup and I were beyond ourselves - nearly crying - all while trying not to be obvious about it. E was quite happy with himself. He really needed to have some success at basketball practice. You can see in the video how dribbling is a challenge. I didn't get the basket on video but it is a moment I'll never forget. I felt true joy - and I don't even care about basketball- imagine how I'll feel when he wins the Newbery Award!

take a bow, tall house double cup

My partner in crime, wine and parenting, Tall House Double Cup, possesses something I don't - an entrepreneurial spirit. Part of that spirit is channeled through his outside-of-work project - Safe Sax. Safe Sax was one of twelve Portland designers recently chosen for the Mercury fashion show last Sunday night. He had a fabu model - absolutely perfect - pictured right.

It was an very glam and exciting event - especially for Tall House, Double Cup. We've been such homebodies since E was born so getting out and about with this crowd was v.v. cool. I was so proud and excited for THDC.
There was one or two other accessory designers also in the show. Most of the designers seemed well versed in showing off their work. Here are a couple more pictures of my favorites in the show.

tiptoe

Marfie and I took the kidlets to the tulip festival in Woodburn today. E and Moo tiptoed through the tulips while Sam the Man got a bundled ride from Marfie.

They rode on the cow train all by themselves and posed for endless pictures. Snacks and the promise of a turn in the bouncy castle kept them motivated to say "cheese" over and over. E held Sam the Man for one picture - the first time he has ever held a baby - it was all squeezing of the tum-tum but luckily Sam has a solid middle and went along with it.
The colors were so fantastic - I loved the orange best. E decided he liked pink and purple since those were Moo's favorite. E loves to be with Moo - he mugs so hard to make her laugh - just like Tall House, Double Cup does with me. And Moo is an adoring audience! What a great day.

care packages from Nana and Jonesie

E got two Easter packages from Nana and Jonesie - one filled with yummy treats and toys and another with . . . . a bow & arrow set (plus bubble gum!). E loved learning how to shoot a bow and arrow in Wisconsin and has been asking if Jonesie could send it to Oregon - now, he has two sets. We need to get a target other than our cedar fence . . .

On the burn front . . . my second degree hand burns are much better. I iced them for 24 hours which took all of the heat away. I'll have scars on the inside of my hand but all of the pain is gone. No more puffy pancake baking for moi.

the bunny path

E and I dyed eggs - though we waiting until the day before Easter - his afterschool time is packed right now with swimming twice a week and basketball once a week so we slipped in our crafty time as we found it.

E loved his Easter presents - his own basketball, race track, gallon of bubble mixture and a giant stuffed Peep. The whole family got new beach towels too - even Baby Em.

I had a baking catastrophe while making our special Bananas Foster puffy pancake - I forgot I had just taken the pan out of a 400 degree oven and grasped the handle with my bare hand. I ended up at the emergency room with second degree burns and a very weepy attitude. As we were waiting to see the doctor, E told me, "I didn't really like that pancake very much." So my efforts were a bit wasted. No more puffy baked pancakes at our house. I am handing the griddle back to Tall House, Double Cup.

I was in too much pain to insist E wear his special Easter outfit so he got to dress himself for the family party - not very springy - but he really liked his choice.

E was thrilled to have another egg hunt and Easter dinner with his cousins. There were 19 of us at our aunt's home - tons of cousins - E loves his cousins very much though takes a while to get warm up to their boisterous playing. He cried just a bit on the way home because he was going to miss them so much. He is just the sweetest boy.