What? I'm comfortable!

Blankets are ok at this age...

Self identity

One of the groups I'm a part of is for young architects. Last night we had a small event, mini golfing, but before when we were waiting for the rain to stop, we sat around chatting. This was a family event so it was not only great to have Violet and Bob there, but to meet other spouses and kids. Sure the golf was entertaining too. Afterwards some of us ate dinner and we did some more chatting (all this adult talk!) and how we introduce ourselves and describe ourselves says a lot about us. Think about when you first meet someone and you shake their hand, "Hi---" is it followed by, "My name is" or "I'm fill in the blank with your name". Even that small sentence says I'm called this or I am this, which are you? But take it farther and think of how you describe yourself, and not just physically, because that is the easy part. Sure, my blond hair, glasses and stature are a big part if who I am, but that isn't all. Where does my profession fit in my list? What about not just wife and mom, but daughter, cousin, aunt? What about my other interests, swimming, cooking, pet owner, fuzzy animal lover, frugal shopper, bike commuter, volunteer, where do they fit on my list.

Ways to hide a baby...

I've been thinking about how a year ago I was just starting to tell some people we were having a baby in October - yes I waited a long time, mostly because I was looking for a job! I'm a fairly small person and didn't have morning sickness to hide, but here is what I did...
Wear a coat, all the time, easy in the spring in Oregon!
Buy regular clothes one size larger
Order drinks that look like cocktails, before the rest of your group is there or directly at the bar
Excuses for not drinking include - a cold, antibiotics, new diet (sugar free, gluten free etc.)
Stay sitting, don't stand up and walk around, you can hide a lot while seated
Be the first to arrive and the last to leave
Hold your bag in front of you, maybe that was obvious.

Now ways to hide my 8 month old...
Just kidding.

Crazy take 2

We are back from Scotland. Yes that is right, two big trips, in one month, with a baby. We are officially nuts. Violet was a trooper again, at least on the flights! As for the time change, it wasn't so easy this time. And the ferry ride was at night so that also wasn't the best. But now we've been home almost a week and things seem pretty normal.
We were in the Orkeney Islands, very far north - 59degrees north! The farthest north we've been. The sun rises around 3 and sets around 11. Bob was presenting at a conference with two other Willamette profs, so I tagged along. We snuck in a day of sight seeing or site seeing of archaeological, stone age ruins - fascinating and incredible sights! I also made it to Highland Park and on the last day Violet met some of our friends!

Families

Family is funny, well maybe not family so much as life. We've been dealt our hands and although sometimes life is what you make it, sometimes it just is. So when I start thinking 'oh man I'd love it if my uncle was like that or my grandma did this', I then think, 'oh but I wouldn't trade my time with my dad or I wouldn't want a brother in law like that.' and the thing is we can't pick and choose which part of our family, our life, to trade with someone else. So if you start envying someone else, their family, their house, job, experiences, like i do sometimes, maybe remember they have bad parts too that you wouldn't want and the good parts you do have are just as good as theirs - just different.

Crazy sleeper

We have a camera on Violet because she is downstairs from us, and we find her in the oddest of positions!