Graduation

A couple weeks ago we drove to Davis for Bob to receive his PhD hood. Here are some pics to prove it.

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!

Packing

Some of you were curious so, for the two of us and Violet we had a day backpack, soft suitcase, and a roller. We did laundry once and bought diapers and wipes once (yeah no cloth on the go). We practice packed the week before and laid everything out. I didn't worry about a pump, we used the ergo non stop, and even had toys, books and blankets with us. We had an emergency/first aid kit in the carry on with Tylenol and teething gel, we had ear plugs, head phones, snacks, even a change of clothes for all of us in the carry ons. We brought Vi's soap, laundry soap and sunscreen because there are some things I didn't want to chance. She needed her sun hat more than stocking cap. It was warmer than expected so she went sockless, but didn't get to use her swim suit. She loved seeing the other babies on the plane. And little old ladies loved her! All 3 times we went through security were easier than expected and they opened new lines for us. We skipped a restroom line and used it for free at the leaning tower because of her. She was a trooper on the up and downs and ate when I thought it would help her, even sleeping through one landing.

Are we crazy?

Probably. We dragged Violet with us to...Italy for 10 days. Yes, our 7 month old who slept 11 hours in a row at night was forced to flip her schedule by her crazy parents. We also dragged her on trains, hiking trails, a boat, made her nap in the ergo, tried to dip her feet in the Ligurian sea and changed or fed her in the oddest of places. And she was a champ. She fussed on the plane only when she was tired and you know what, adults do too! We've been home 4 nights and she is back on track. She is better at jet lag then we are. I'll post more on what we learned and how to pack, but for now, here are some pics!

Daddy Time

This last weekend I had a conference at the coast and Violet and Bob joined me. He spends a lot of time with Violet, not just when I'm in classes and here is the proof :)

Happy Girl

 Just a regular happy day

 First day laying outside, in the shade of course.

 Chillin' with my dog

This is the tiny crib I used to sleep in!

6 months already!

Where has time gone! I can't believe Violet is 6 months already. Most nights she does a pretty good job and lets us sleep even. She has favorite toys, reaches for people, laughs, 'talks', tries to pet Lulu, but still does not want to nap! We've tried avocado and sweet potato and she makes terrible faces and pushes them out - we find it pretty funny. Last night I had to rock her to sleep, she had a stuffy nose and was very fussy, but oh how sweet she was falling asleep in my arms again.

Things I think about now

Some things I didn't ever think would cross my mind...That do now
Better go to the bathroom now, while she is asleep.
If someone broke into the house, would it wake Violet and would they steal my borrowed, but very expensive breast pump?
How long can a baby go with out pooing?
Why isn't there a drive thru for every restaurant, why just fast food?
How does ordering groceries online work?
Why is there expectant mother parking but not, 'small baby sleeping in a heavy carseat' parking?
Will I ever sleep in a t-shirt again?
Plus I think about my c--section and not so much the outside scar, but the inside one and wonder if it healed right and forever. (I recently had a friend that hers reopened after 4 years!)

And More Photos

Growing up a cyclist!











Got my Sheep Purse












5 months













Protect those ears!












Centering group!

More Photos

First Smile










Family Stockings









Family Photo











Hey Dog, Hey Baby













Go Ducks - 3 months

Waaay overdue!

I still don't have a new computer and Violet still doesn't have a nap schedule I blame the lack of posts on those two things mainly.
Ok here come a whole bunch of pictures of Violet..and if you've been on facebook, you've seen most of these already.










1 month

First Cloth Diaper




















My dad and Lulu at Thanksgiving

First Magazine (The Nation of course!)

Computer...

has given up. So for now I post from Bob's computer or my phone and that explains the lack of photos. Sorry!

I think I'm ready

To tell you about Izzy without balling.

Izzy was my calico kitty of 13 years, I'd had her since college. She was a nut! She loved stealing my hair ties and chasing bread ties. She loved catnip and people food. She broke several glasses in her life, simply pushing them off the table as if to see what happened. I always jept a purple collar and bell on her to know where she was and what trouble she was getting into . She slept in my feet, in Bob's chair or in her kennel. She made quite a few sounds from an almost chirp to a howl, but rarely just a normal meow. She snored as mych as she purred! She wanted to chew on plastic bags and always tried to run outside in the summer when you opened the door. Like most cats she loved laying in the sun and hated abrupt noises. She preferred to drink her water from a running source and ate diet food for years because she was a chunky house cat. She didn't care for other cats, ceiling fans or kids. She loved licking tuna cans and I wish I'd had the chance to put some on Lulu to see if Izzy would lick her. Lulu tried to lick Izzy on several occasions, some were tolerated, some ended with hissing. Lulu shared her water with Izzy which was a surprise and the closest they ever were to my dream of them liking each other. Izzy was an independent cat, didn't care much for interacting or lap sitting, but she kept us entertained, was a cutie and will greatly be missed. (this is from my phone, but I'll post pics soon)

Plugging along

Dear blog readers, the few of you that are still reading,

I will write again! I have happy posts, sad posts and milestones to imortalize here.

I had a wonderful birthday season. Someone special left me surprise gifts from afar, Bob and I went out to dinner alone and then we crammed 12 people around our dining room table (it has 2 leaves, but the room does not expand!) for a brunch. I love the holidays and I even love that my birthday falls in the middle if the chaos, so much so that I am almost sad I won't share that with my daughter. You see, my mom and grandma are also December babies. And the celebrating continues in Jan with wine tasting!

Coming soon: Christmas/New Year, Izzy Kitty, Violet is 3 months and Going back to work. happy, sad and milestones in that order.

Thanksgiving

This year there were two extra things to be thankful for on top of jobs, health, and all things good - Britta came to join us (we missed you Tobi) and Baby Violet. It was so amazing to have Britta here for almost two weeks and we packed in all sorts of things, the beach, Sunriver, cooking, eating, shopping, time in Portland...but it is never enough. I am always so sad when our time ends and it always goes too fast! I miss you middle sister! I am so thankful you could come and meet Violet. I look forward to the two of you getting to know each other as she grows.

She Smiles!

At six weeks she did it, gave us some glimmer of hope that we are doing the right thing - at least some times!

First bath at home

Here are some pictures from her first home bathing experience, she didn't exactly like it, that might just be a real tear!

Fall Days

Another couple of photos. She is still very serious, although seems to laugh in her sleep.

3am

After a feeding husband says, "Let me take her and put her back in her kennel, uh I mean crib."