the crib is up!

We put the crib up in E's room - well, actually it's about to become E and Em's room. E had said he was fine with it - and then we started moving things around and cleaning. He flitted about on the edges of the room while we worked and dropped little comments like, "I don't think my sleepy toys are going to like this" and "my sleepy toys might kick against the wall all night if their bed is moved." I started to worry a bit but Tall House, Double Cup and I stayed positive and cheerful.

By the time everything was arranged (and it's not ideal - the room is only 10x10 or so and has some window/bookcase challenges - but we'll survive) he came around and liked the idea of his bed moving and his sleepy toys taking over the crib. I don't know where those toys are going when Em finally moves into the crib - that's a challenge for a non-pregnant mind.

I've also been archiving several years worth of digital photos on my laptop and found a snap of the color scheme for E's nursey vs. our current color palette. My taste has definitely changed - though the slatternly d.i.y spirit is still present.

pea pods

E and I are growing peas this year. Around the country, most people plant peas on St. Patrick's Day. In Portland we are lucky enough to have the kind of weather that lets us do it on President's Day.
We celebrate St. Patrick's Day pretty low key this year. A bike ride, trip to the park, and a check on our peas. They are looking lovely! Hopefully, I'll get E to try eating them.

super puffy

We headed out for a long afternoon bike ride/walk around the neighborhood. When we bought E his bike last summer, he mistakenly heard it was called a "super puffy" instead of "Super Huffy" and so he took on the character of Super Puffy when he rides and does his "tricks". I've linked to a little video of him showing off his skills below.

sushi + gelato = happy friday night

E has been wanting to try sushi (or shoe-she as he calls it). A friend at his school told him there were "three desserts" at sushi - which was the main motivation. We went to Sushiland and sat by the sushi train. I think the process made the best impression - not the food. He rejected the scrambled egg sushi and shrimp tempura. He said yes to the edamame and a pre-packaged cream bun - what a healthy dinner.
We walked over to Mio Gelato and sat on the sidewalk tables - watching Portand walk by - lots of people coming home from work, tourists, and people getting ready for a night out. It was 70 degrees in March and the Pearl District was so alive with spring. Tall House, Double Cup put it perfectly in between his rice pudding gelato bites - "I love Portland."

crib bedding sweatshop

pdxpishposh sweatshop open for business.

The same thing happened the last time I was seven months pregnant with E - frenetic cutting, sewing, knitting and planning. It's hit again and this past week I found my self digging through the attic, going through every piece of E's clothing, bent over a sewing machine actually making my own crib sheets so they'll match E's bedding, and making "diaper stations" all over the house.
I still have a bit over two months to go but I am feeling very driven to get everything ready. I think we are going to put the crib up soon so E can get used to the idea of sharing a room.
I finished this blankie tonight but I am not crazy about how it looks with the bedding. I think I'll relegate it for the car or bassinet.

The blankie is soft and silky - made with Moda Dea Metro. I thought the red, pink, and orange would pull out the girlie colors in the bedding but it's off just a bit. It will jazz up my volvo instead.

roly poly bears

we went to see the new black bears exhibit at the Oregon Zoo last weekend. i am in love with our zoo - love. I feel absolutely no cynicism or dissatisfaction with the institution at all - and I can't say that about anything else except the public library. just writing that makes me think of a recent conversation i had with Tall House, Double Cup after some self-reflection regarding my work habits:

moi: i think i have really high standards - not only for myself but for others as well
thdc: silence
moi: i think maybe i don't give out praise enough
thdc: silence
moi: i think i need to show appreciation for others more
thdc: really? you think? (dripping with irony)
moi: silence

anyway - the new exhibit is lovely, perfectly executed and just the perfect feeling for a northwest woods exhibit (praise, praise, praise). and best of all, the bears are nice, fat tubby bears - just the kind you want. Their roly poly bodies make you think you can cuddle up with them -though the electrified fence separating them from the public does put a damper on this.

yeah to the zoo for doing such an amazing job. the new walking path is a real treat to enjoy. high compliments.

what's blooming in your yard?

little blooms are popping up all over our yard. Spring often starts in mid-February in Portland but the snow in January set us back a few weeks. I can't complain since my MN/WI friends are still buried in snow.


a bundle of crocus
this pretty camilla makes a huge mess in about two weeks when all the petals drop

light pink lenten rose that always blooms first each year. i like how they look like ladies in sunbonnets.

our daphne is also blooming but my picture seemed a little blurry.

hurry on spring!

mr. big goes to the symphony

I took E to his first Oregon Symphony kids concert. He's really into Little Einsteins and wants to be a conductor like Leo. He was pretty shy when we got to the hall and was nervous about going to check out the musicians warming up on stage.
It helped to have Leo along with us and after we posed Leo on stage, he warmed up a lot. He did get pretty antsy during the performance but some choice gummy worms got him through.
Highlights - I loved the piece by Grieg from Peer Gyant and we both loved the John William's March from Superman. The low low point was a deadly Tubby the Tuba piece by George Kleinsinger. He seemed pretty happy that we had attended. I don't know exactly what we got out of it but we will probably try again next season.

last beach pictures

A few more pictures from our trip . . .
E got to spend a lot of good time with his grandparents. He was terribly excited about eating dinner on a tv tray - only he and Nana got to do that.

Here is a shot of Jonesie on his lanai. We could see dolphins and whales jumping around every day from here - and of course, from the luxury of our chairs on the beach.

On our last morning, E and I took a walk down the beach. We made it all the way to the end and I got to show E where Tall House, Double Cup and I got married. Count about five palm trees from the right and you can see too.


One last shot of Mr. Big on the beach. I miss Maui already.

aloha, part one

Aloha! We are back from a week in Maui - seven days of swimming, reading, playing on the beach and snorkeling. It was E's first trip - well, first trip not in utero. Since I was pregnant with E on our last trip, going again for a week during this pregnancy had a sweet ring to it. We were able to show E exactly where we were when we got married (two trips ago) and exactly where we were when we decided on E's name (last trip). So while we had already made the big name decision with Baby Em, having a week in the sun was exactly what we all needed. Tall House, Double Cup treated us to leis when we landed - what a guy!

After this trip, my life has changed. I've experienced a Ritz-Carlton resort - I'll never be the same. Will I ever be satisfied at a pool where fresh pineapple wasn't passed out twice a day? Will I ever sit next to a pool without my own cabana and cabana boy? How will I survive without an endless supply of towels? I am in LOVE with the Ritz-Carlton! Not that we actually stayed there - Nana and Jonesie stayed there and we elbowed our way in from morning breakfast until sundown.
We lived by the pool for a day - Nana and Jonesie treated us to our own cabana - what a luxury! Here is Nana and E playing in the pool - I think they spent most of the day playing Ice Boy and Ice Sister. E liked getting dunked in the waterfall.

Here is our lovey cabana, steps from the bar. Our pool boy kept refilling our own cooler of water and soda and I became instantly addicted to fruity Lava Flows - even without the alcohol, I felt a little tipsy.

The guys tried out the mini-golf. E doesn't quite grasp that golf is played with a club only and that it isn't good golf manners to steal other players' balls while running away to hide them.

More pictures tomorrow - we are all tired and ready to turn in.