a measure of...

a soapy mess.

2012-02-13T04:03:00.001-03:00

recovering from a lovely dinner, game, and wine night with friends strolling the Palace of Fine Arts in grey, windy weather // first shoots of spring When we got home from San Francisco this evening, I decided to do some laundry. I left a bagful of dirty clothes and our huge container of Costco detergent by the door while I went to grab a sweatshirt to go outside. Can you tell where

learning to fly.

2012-02-09T03:37:00.000-03:00

the journey: that's a whole lotta hormones to stabilize // reminiscing at six months So I was reading this article about how it basically takes nine months to birth a mother. I'd never thought about it like that before, but in hindsight it makes so much sense. Sure, around six months I started to feel like things were getting easier, but at nine months I started feeling like, yeah, the

in a family state of mind.

2012-02-08T15:25:00.000-03:00

I wrote a full blog last night, Firefox crashed, and none of it saved. It's definitely time for me to change browsers. Sigh la vie. It's been a rough couple of weeks with a feverish baby, who needed antibiotics and then broke out with a full body rash allergic reaction to said antibiotics. Then I caught the bug. Add teething, familial sleeplessness, and some odd behaviors that can likely

happy birthday, my little heart melter!

2012-01-27T20:09:00.000-03:00

Dear Rowan Skye, Today you are one. I can't believe that you can reach the third shelf of the bookcase, that you take baby steps all by yourself when you're not thinking about it. I can't believe you've been with us for a whole year. I can't believe you've been with us only one year. How can you be so new and so forever at the same time? You'll surely hear me talk about the exquisite

nice surprises.

2012-01-18T04:50:00.001-03:00

This is the photo we used on Rowan's birthday party invitation. I had big intentions of printing invitations, but time was running out, so I just sent an Evite. Also, because I couldn't find a recent picture of him that I was happy with on account of its clarity. But the more I look at this photograph, the more I love it. You can see all six of his teeth. And he has that smile he has right

this insular life.

2012-01-16T20:39:00.000-03:00

You know what they say you should do when you don't know what to write about? Just give thanks. I guess that's about all I do on this here blog anyway. So here it is. I'm thanking my lucky stars for... my baby :: who is currently caressing a huge box full of speakers. He's palming the box and sliding up and down it while chanting oooweeoi oooweeoi oooweeoi, like it's giving him

happy new year, hello to you.

2012-01-09T03:32:00.000-03:00

The day after Christmas we visited my dad, stepmom, and brother in northern Wisconsin. (It's the first time my dad met S or his grandson.) They live on the outskirts of a tiny one-horse town with one stoplight, one Piggly Wiggly, and an ice cream store called Phat Ice Cream with a fat sign featuring a blissed-out pig diving into a triple cone. This is where life is

give your people smiles.

2011-12-25T17:13:00.000-03:00

Today we're celebrating our first Christmas with a baby, only he's 11 months old and baby hardly seems to describe Rowan anymore. He feeds himself food, climbs, flirts, elates in the ladies' smiles, problem solves, kicks and screams during diaper changes, throws himself on the floor in elaborate dramatic schemes, reaches high things on his tippy toes, reminds me of the pristine

spark of rightness.

2011-12-17T18:01:00.000-03:00

Do you ever have one of those moments where you breathe a sigh oh so sure that everything's right the way it is? I just had one of those moments. It's fleeting, because then you move on to the next thing and the feeling slowly glides away. This morning I pulled out the Moby wrap, which we never really used because managing it as a fumbling new parent with a fragile new baby was overwhelming.

a time of understanding.

2011-12-13T23:56:00.002-03:00

{thompson ave, where every house is lit up} On October 13 last year, I sat in the American Embassy in Santiago, Chile, watching the miners being rescued on CNN, feeling my baby hiccup and kick, and eavesdropping on the consul interviewing my husband for his visa. We were in between seasons, in between continents, in between imaginings. Within a month, we said our goodbyes, sold off bits of

patagonia in time lapse.

2011-12-03T19:30:00.001-03:00

Guys, this is where we used to live. Granted, it's only the pretty side. But it's all pretty in the end anyway. Sometimes I feel like I'm lost in a time lapse. Have you ever been to Patagonia?

an anniversary.

2011-12-02T22:30:00.001-03:00

It's our one-year anniversary of living back in the States. While I would thoroughly miss my friends and family if we weren't here, I find myself wondering why we are here. Not in an existential crisis sort of way, but in a 'life is really expensive and complicated here' sort of way. All is right with the world if I'm feeling the usual pull. Part of me wishes I was wearing my trekking boots,

autumn life.

2011-11-29T03:30:00.001-03:00

sunday laundry :: cranberry bread :: a journey of a thousand miles :: maple leaves what did you do this weekend?

give yourself a hug.

2011-11-24T03:19:00.001-03:00

I thought I'd go against the grain or at least be a little subversive this Thanksgiving. Even though today is a pretty great day, I know we all probably feel like we are swimming on the wrong side of the lighthouse sometimes. The world makes a lot of ruckus and our brains make a lot of blahblahblah. {sunrise by kitschy kitschy cool} Whenever all that noise gets to be too much, I try to

stacking.

2011-11-20T19:27:00.001-03:00

Today we're staying indoors to avoid the sog. This morning I went a bit crazy pureeing baby food and simmering vegetable soup, cleaning baby slobber off all the mirrors in the house and scrubbing toilets. Rowan's milestones continue to pour down, and I find it impossible to keep up. He's a great eater, though sweet potatoes are still his fave. He crawls like a racer, pulls himself up against

our life lately.

2011-11-16T02:53:00.001-03:00

big sur :: warm november days cold nights :: central heat sleep sharing :: and getting sleep baby sign language :: not touching banana slugs wine with friends :: movies with my husband big leaf maple leaves underfoot :: monarch butterflies aflutter it's a good life how about you?

adding a little space to my step.

2011-11-05T18:14:00.001-03:00

I feel thankful for. love songs :: Right before my husband left the house to play soccer, he turned on Pandora and found an alternative indie love songs to play for me. You know, so we miss him more. Rowan's theme song for cruising around the coffee table and chewing the foamy corner safety edges is Friday I'm in Love. autumn :: It's gray and moody outside. We went for a run along the beach

eating, singing, cherishing.

2011-11-03T02:24:00.000-03:00

{summer meadow by cottage light studio} tasting :: butternut squash soup with a dollop of parsley + sunflower seed pesto. reading :: that's not my dragon deciding :: on a big girl book to read singing :: hush little baby + too-ra loo-ra loo-ra + splish splash and rub a dub cherishing :: rowan at nine months old, giggles, kisses, crawling + crumbling block towers blogging :: a quickie, because

so much love.

2011-11-01T03:52:00.000-03:00

This morning I start working around 5 a.m. By 9 a.m., I cry tiny tear rivers after reading Mona Simpson's eulogy for Steve Jobs. His final words and realization: Oh wow oh wow oh wow. What did he see? At noon, my aunt comes over with her grandchildren. We stroll to the beach, picnic, the girls make sandcastles in the sand in weather so much sunnier than summer. When we walk by the hospital where

a moveable feast

2011-10-26T02:46:00.000-03:00

{view from land's end} Indian summer is in full swing here, so we dipped Rowan's feet in the Pacific for the first time. He was a little worried. {baby toes meet the ocean} But even though the days have been warm, the nights are chilly and crisp fall convinced me to wear a scarf and hat yesterday evening. I'm craving butternut squash soup and drinking lots of jasmine pearl tea. S bought a

and so we adapt.

2011-10-18T02:05:00.000-03:00

Dear Rowan, Lately we look at this every day. Puerto Natales, Chile, where you were almost born. I like to see this 10x20 print unscrolled in the kitchen, waiting to be framed. Of course it looks cold and romantic, quiet, a little bit sleepy. There's this emotive sky at dusk when the streetlights light up dimly. And you really feel like you're at the end of the world. See me? Wearing my

mirrors are the way to go.

2011-10-12T02:40:00.000-03:00

Not much going on in these parts. I've been working on a couple of mini essays for the blog, but nothing that I can seem to finish in the amount of time I have between working, caregiving, and nesting. After being on the computer all day for work and often not leaving the house at all, it's hard to sit at the computer even more. I already feel like I'm neglecting things as it is. After baby is

today i spy...

2011-10-04T03:51:00.000-03:00

Today we had our first rain in a while. The dwarf orange tree we bought a week ago is blooming its delicious scent, and we all love it. I know Rowan wants to devour the flowers, because his grabbing hands open and close like butterflies and he circles his wrists, reaching for the green leaves. But when I fly him over the tree and put his sniffer in the flowers, his eyes widen and narrow at the

eight months in photos.

2011-09-28T03:48:00.000-03:00

We spent a good part of Sunday morning and early afternoon on the couch piecing together a photo history of Rowan's short life. We've been pretty haphazard about taking a monthly photo, but it seems that we've managed to capture his monthly birthday on film. Here he is, month by month, if you're into that stuff. {you still sleep like this} {one month} {two months} {three months} {four

settling in.

2011-09-23T14:41:00.000-03:00

{world map collage by artandphilanthropy} A Friday thankfulness post, just like the good ole days. for having moved :: Now that we have more space, we're working on making our home more comfortable. This means an imminent couch purchase, a nursery for mama to slowly decorate, and, oh we have to do something about that kitchen table. It's bar height, and we only have two chairs. When we have

secretly glad.

2011-09-20T03:33:00.000-03:00

Our new apartment is less of a disaster every day after moving here last Tuesday, and that's about all I have to say for myself. We're on our way to finding our new rhythm. S will be here on the weekends now, and summer has finally arrived. So even though we're eating sweet potato with pumpkin ice cream and the leaves on the trees lining our street are threatening to fall, I feel like a sliver of

reconnecting my dots.

2011-09-10T02:15:00.001-03:00

Preface: In true mommy blog form that this is, I started writing this almost a week ago and haven't had a free minute since. A Patagonian friend is visiting us, and we are in the process of moving. Like we have to have everything done seven days from now. So, I had a little more time at the computer this weekend than I normally do, so I was catching up on blogs--which is what I normally do

time to be thankful.

2011-09-03T19:28:00.002-03:00

Time for a dose of thankful. I haven't done one of these posts in a while, even though I've really needed them in my life. Right now I'm thankful for... That monkey :: I love how Rowan welcomes the first toy we bought for him in Chile (and that I slept with for months) into his hug and into his mouth full of joy. {I think rowan was about a month old here} Fat juicy open mouth kisses :: It

2011-08-29T15:57:00.000-03:00

Life is getting back to normal. You know how sometimes it can feel like you're to busy to play? Well, play is an important part of my inner life, and I've been forgetting that lately. Rowan is a good reminder. But I need to get back in touch with my kidness even when I'm not with his royal chubbiness. We spent the past few days having fun. We invited some good friends over for dinner on our

happy anniversary!

2011-08-26T01:24:00.000-03:00

{next year i'm getting you this :: from jcjewelrydesign} Dear Dreamboat, Happy anniversary! Thank you for the flowers. They are delicious. Thank you for responding to my wish to have gotten you something by saying: don't worry; we'll have lots of these. I hope you know that I know how lucky I am to share my life with you. Grrrrrr...

end of summer sweat.

2011-08-23T22:13:00.000-03:00

{by katie quinn davies via creature comforts} I hope you are all enjoying your end of summer or the beginning of your spring. The evening air here is a different kind of crisp already. Nights are typically sweater weather, but autumn's wind has a different bite to it. Still, it's warm enough to enjoy drinks with ice in sweaty mason jars. And I intend to listen to the baritone clinks of

my friend, ikea.

2011-08-22T04:03:00.000-03:00

I think I must be the last person on earth to get the IKEA catalog. I've seen it on the top of friends' toilets for weeks now, but I was only able to start turning the pages of my very own catalog yesterday. {pjätteryd} And I'm smitten. The writers over there have turned the mass-produced, assembly-required furniture store into my favorite stylish yet practical Swedish friends with great

a night in the life...

2011-08-19T02:09:00.001-04:00

Warning: This is a full-on parenting rant about (not) sleeping. I understand that this is as mommy blogger as it gets, and that you might want to skip this one. Nighttime parenting is hard. Our baby doesn't sleep well. Obviously almost nobody's does; that's why there are so many books written about the issue. Maybe it's not really an issue at all, and we are forcing too much on little bodies.

how i got here: part i

2011-08-15T13:31:00.000-04:00

A few night's S+ I sat with our backs against the couch in the living room as the sun set. Rowan was sleeping. The light blurred from yellow to purple to dark, and I lit a a tiny trayful of candles. The room and my hands still smelled clean and sweet from Rowan's bath and massage. We weren't ready to turn on the light. Outside, the palms and sweetgums blackened. I thought about how--even

love yourself.

2011-08-11T01:32:00.000-04:00

Just a little reminder from me to me and from me to you- {love yourself by danita art} -and do it in color...

all over the map.

2011-08-06T16:25:00.000-04:00

Have you ever noticed how nearly all suffering begins with a thought? And that thought can probably be distilled to wishing you were somewhere other than where you are. I'm not just talking physical space. Wanting to escape even a moment can generate buckets of ooey-gooey scab-crusted angst. I have to get going on this road stretching out ahead of me, family in tow. It's just I see at least 10

six. months. old.

2011-08-01T12:33:00.000-04:00

Rowan is six months old! This happened a few days ago. Today I think he actually swallowed some of those sweet potatoes that I've been attempting to spoon into his mouth. He's starting to look like less of a baby and more like a little boy. It's hard to believe that this is all true. What's your true thing today?

appreciating our moments.

2011-07-23T21:20:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I wonder, where did all the moments go? Times like today when all I've managed to do is hang out with Rowan in my pajamas and eat a nutella-strawberry-banana panini (yes, topped with whipped cream). There was lots on my mental to-do list. But I think I need to start writing my lists out again if I want to get anything done. I used to be such a list-keeper. S used to add items to my

my last few pins.

2011-07-21T17:46:00.002-04:00

I've been a little sleepless and obsessed with the idea of night weaning. I made some healthy steps in my thoughts about it all, which I was going to write about. But then I plummeted headfirst into the rabbit hole that is Pinterest. Here are my last few pins instead. {chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake bars :: recipe by brandy's baking} {homemade play-doh :: recipe by an art nest} {

looking out.

2011-07-17T18:25:00.000-04:00

The good thing about imagination is, there is no wrong answer. I hope I can nurture Rowan in these terms. That could be us sailing out in the Monterey Bay. We'd start our morning ashore with bowl-sized lattes and zucchini bread. Soon we'd wave to the sea otters, swing our feet in the Pacific, and get a little sun. For lunch, we'd spread out wrinkled olives, green grapes and red strawberries,

a post-partum evening.

2011-07-13T16:02:00.000-04:00

Last night S was going to be back late after being away for a few days. R has been needing more care lately. I think he might be teething; he's fussy, not sleeping, nursing all night--and yesterday--suddenly a runny nose. (People always ask if he's drooling a lot and eating his fist, but he's always done both of those things to slurpy cute excess.) After an hour or so of putting pookers to sleep

perspective + new hair.

2011-07-10T01:30:00.000-04:00

Gee, you know the week breezed by too fast when it's Saturday and the last post you've written is about how great the last weekend was. Have you ever had one of those moments in your life, where you maneuvered a huge change or a huge move, looked around you and said: Maybe this is not for me? I've been having one of those weeks. Even though I underwent a huge makeover, courtesy of my beautiful

an amazing weekend

2011-07-05T17:28:00.001-04:00

While I'm not keen on the way we Americans so often wish our days away awaiting the weekend, I am in love with the weekend we just had. Even though I'm working during the week, I usually spend my weekends wishing my husband was here. Occasionally I have a full weekend planned, with friends who pick up Rowan and I to whisk us away from the house. I really do love you guys; thank you. Since S

run like a mother.

2011-07-01T14:43:00.000-04:00

Today I ran for the first time in, I don't know, maybe a year. I had always planned to be the pregnant lady who kept running right until labor. But I never imagined I would spend most of my pregnancy in winter snow ice sidewalks. So we bought a cheap elliptical machine that creaked a whole lot, and I caught up on This American Life and several seasons of Grey's Anatomy. When we finished winter

Dear Rowan, today you are...

2011-06-28T03:00:00.001-04:00

Dear Pookie, Today you are five months old. You have enough balance to sit up for minutes at a time. And you can even inch over onto your belly from that position. While on your back today, you picked up the baby beach ball to your right and moved it to your mouth. You dropped it and picked it back up, and you totally could not have done this a month ago. {a nap after you fell backward and

depending on the inversion.

2011-06-23T02:48:00.000-04:00

Happy summer or winter to you, depending on the inversion. Summer hit us whole-heartedly yesterday, and our house smoldered like an oven. We don't have A/C, and up until yesterday, I didn't think we would need it. Today is back to cool 70s, so I guess we really don't need it. But after wearing shorts for a day or two, I'm wondering... when will I feel comfortable in my skin again? {paso john

buddha baby.

2011-06-17T12:07:00.000-04:00

As I was doing laundry, I was interrupted by thoughts that required blogging. I know this happens to you guys too, which is why I'm writing about blogging itself. I mean we're all writing these diaries; we have topics to share and stories to tell. But we never really talk about the fact that we write these diaries. We just are what we are: bloggers. And I still think blogging sounds kinda dorky,

obviously I need a little pick me up.

2011-06-15T01:53:00.000-04:00

So let's talk about hair. I need a makeover. And it seems that I'm about to be hooked up with one by my cousin's beautiful wife. She's a masseuse, and the salon people she works with owe her various beauty favors for massages she's given them. And, bless her heart, she has offered to give those favors to me! I don't know what to do with my hair. I just know a.) it's been more than half a year

something invisible can make so much music.

2011-06-14T04:41:00.000-04:00

Is it wrong for me to not want my husband away from home for five days at a time? I have a full-time job. I'm lucky enough to be working from home, but when S is not here I'm working and taking full care of little Rowan too. It's after 10 p.m., and I'm just barely eating dinner. It's been eight hours since I last ate. To intensify matters, this bundle of sweetness puts on the saddest face--

father's day gift idea.

2011-06-10T16:33:00.000-04:00

To tell you the truth, I don't even know when Father's Day is. I just know it's soon. I've been swimming through words and work, too busy to bother to look it up. My brother just left this morning, and I swore he wasn't leaving till Saturday. The house is quiet. So, I steal a quick break to post some sweet poses. I think these would make fabulous framed gifts for Dad. I know I should just buy a

Bug Miscellany :: five word memoir.

2011-06-08T14:13:00.002-04:00

While I'm away, I invited some of my favorite, inspirational bloggers (read: my blog crushes) to post their five-word memoirs. It's surprising how intimate five little words can be. This one is from Bug Miscellany. I just can't stop wandering. sun in the woods. Wander on, fine friends! How about to... Kelli, the creative diva behind Bug Miscellany. Find more Bug on Tumblr, Facebook, and

Signe Pling :: six-word memoir.

2011-06-07T02:11:00.001-04:00

While I'm away, I invited some of my favorite, inspirational bloggers (read: my blog crushes) to post their five-word memoirs. Signe wrote six, but either way it's surprising how intimate five or six little words can be. This one is from Signe Pling. Go say hi to Signe, and wish her luck on her grand move above the Arctic Circle!

Village :: five-word memoir.

2011-06-06T02:43:00.001-04:00

While I'm away, I invited some of my favorite, inspirational bloggers (read: my blog crushes) to post their five-word memoirs. Let me just say, it's surprising how intimate five little words can be. This one is from Village. Better than I ever dreamt. It's pretty safe to say I adore this series. Only a couple days more before we return to our regular scheduling. I will continue to post your 5-

Design Addict Mom :: five-word memoir.

2011-06-03T05:15:00.016-04:00

While I'm away, I invited some of my favorite, inspirational bloggers (read: my blog crushes) to post their five-word memoirs. Let me just say, it's surprising how intimate five little words can be. This one is from Design Addict Mom. Life. Happiness. Delving right in. {by julia galdo} Go say hi to Stacey, and delight in the vibrant, happy world she's created. Check her out on Twitter and

OneCraftyFox :: five word memoir.

2011-06-02T06:44:00.001-04:00

While I'm away, I invited some of my favorite, inspirational bloggers (read: my blog crushes) to post their five-word memoirs. Let me just say, it's surprising how intimate five little words can be. This one is from OneCraftyFox. Certain coasts cry for shipwrecks. For whimsy, adventure and bits of the pretty life, visit Diana here. Check out OneCraftyFox's jewelry, accoutrements and dresses

& Baby Makes 3 :: five word memoir.

2011-06-01T05:30:00.008-04:00

While I'm away, I invited some of my favorite, inspirational bloggers (read: my blog crushes) to post their five-word memoirs. Let me just say, it's surprising how intimate five little words can be. This one is from & Baby Makes 3. I'm part of something beautiful. Visit Hollie here for some honest, funny, insightful and genius writing + photography. Impossible not to Want more? Twitter &

Lady of the Arts :: five-word memoir.

2011-05-31T07:05:00.017-04:00

While I'm away, I invited some of my favorite, inspirational bloggers (read: my blog crushes) to post their five-word memoirs. Let me just say, it's surprising how intimate five little words can be. This one is from Lady of the Arts. Lady Dreams Can Come True Visit Lady Ren for fabulous art, movie and book reviews--find art in everything, really. Not to mention travel, thought and mom

LatteLisa :: five-word memoir.

2011-05-30T00:25:00.002-04:00

While I'm away, I invited some of my favorite, inspirational bloggers (read: my blog crushes) to post their five-word memoirs. Let me just say, it's surprising how intimate five little words can be. This one is from LatteLisa... I did it my way. For some eye candy and a daily pick-me-up, visit Lisa here!Find more scrumptiousness on her food blog, Kitchen & Aroma. Or, if you speak Icelandic, say

my five-word memoir.

2011-05-27T01:31:00.000-04:00

Apparently there's this book of six-word memoirs. A while ago I read someone's five-word memoir (I'm so sorry, I don't remember who!), and I thought, hey, that's a good idea. I couldn't stop thinking of what mine might be. A few different options appeared. One night, while I was catching up on Grey's Anatomy, my five-word memoir threaded up into the air. I fell in love. Twice. {this hand,

motherhood is...

2011-05-26T03:01:00.000-04:00

{gettin' a massage} Seeing old pictures of yourself looking cute at your baby's age, and thinking: My baby is waaayaaaaayaaaaaay cuter. (Even in bad light.) Don't worry, you guys. I won't always write posts like this!

going back to work after having a baby.

2011-05-24T07:52:00.002-04:00

As I left the house yesterday morning, sniffling, I thought I might vomit. Driving south on the freeway, I wondered What the hell? I won't even be leaving R for that long? He'd been flat out refusing the bottle every time his dad tried to feed him. So, I did worry about him eating. But mostly I was just sad. I wondered if there was more to it than mere baby-momma separation anxiety. I'm also

life, seriously.

2011-05-23T08:39:00.011-04:00

It's really not that serious. It's just life. So don't take yourself too seriously. {+ focus on the important things} I thought this was good advice for me, since I feel ___i don't know how to fill in this blank___ about leaving R today to start my job--even though he'll be with his dad and I should be working from home after today. What advice would you like to give yourself (or me) today?

mush for the weekend.

2011-05-20T20:06:00.000-04:00

Just some things I'm thankful for this week (and pretty much all the time)... holding my baby :: while he sleeps. Even if it means being stuck and unable to turn down the music or eat breakfast. your comments :: seriously, i love learning more about you through tidbit stories and your sense of humor. You make me laugh; everyone needs to do that. And then to open the computer and find such

a letter to husband.

2011-05-19T16:18:00.001-04:00

After this little conversation between S + me, I remembered that I had written him a blog letter. I intended to post said letter after my dear soon to be mom post a while back. We didn't have internet back then though, and let's just say there was a lot going on. So here's a letter for you, S, back when we were still two, before we were three... Dear Soon to Be Dad, Three or four months

a plan for tuesday.

2011-05-17T15:18:00.000-04:00

So last night I'm talking to S... Me: I'm thinking of starting a series on my blog called Letters to Rowan, where I write letters to Rowan. S: Hmm. You'll write letters to Rowan... and then share them with everyone? That's weird. Me: Yeah, I thought it might sound a little weird too. But I still think it's a good idea. I mean, I can pretty much do whatever I want. Plus it forces me to write

monogrammatic.

2011-05-16T18:32:00.000-04:00

I have been thinking about monogram letters a lot lately. I think it has something to do with a delayed nesting instinct. We currently live in a one bedroom apartment, so all that fun nursery decorating that most mama's scurry to do is a no go. But it is on my radar, and I've realized I love letters for decorating everything, from soft items to rooms to bodies. After Rowan was born, dear

the sunday quiet.

2011-05-15T21:03:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I feel like I share a quiet secret (at least invisible) world with my son. When I break that bubble of contact by talking to someone else, he looks up at me like he's marveling at some magical thing--as if to say: Look, she talks in this other tone of voice too! Mommy is very talented. He stares and beams happy blue eyes and the biggest grin at me. And it's enough to draw me back into

elephants.

2011-05-13T19:35:00.000-04:00

I don't mean to be self-conscious here (in a literary/author sense), but not talking about how much blogger sucked these last few days is like not talking about the elephant--wearing a sparkling bright pink saddle with little sparkling men dancing atop it--in the room. {I searched for photos of Shakespeare in action, but they do not exist.} Wishing you a lovely weekend!

i'm addicted to cookies.

2011-05-12T02:39:00.000-04:00

Really. Somewhere in the second trimester, I started indulging myself. A lot. But I was still working out (on a cheap Chilean elliptical machine) every day. By the end of the third trimester, we hiked hilly hikes several days per week. A severe ice cream fetish set in. Now I've just finished the fourth trimester, but I haven't managed to kick the cookie habit. {cookie monster by the crafty

every day is a special day.

2011-05-11T20:06:00.000-04:00

It's cheesy because it's true. As the sun goldens half-chevron style slats of light across the living/dining room and across our baby, I'm reading about wedding days. I'm reminded of our special day not too long ago, and the small handful of photos we have from it. {remember back when we were warm and could go outside without sweaters?} For wedding factoids of me and some fellow bloggers, head

& the shabby apple giveaway winner is...

2011-05-11T14:26:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to Shawna from Poppies and Sunshine! She's won Shabby Apple's San Gabriel dress. winner chosen via random number generator: #22 Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway. Hope y'all are enjoying a lovely week!

this hairy life.

2011-05-10T16:35:00.001-04:00

Last day to enter the Shabby Apple dress giveaway! {hair embroidery by laura normandin} I've just spent a ridiculous amount of time researching dresses using tresses. When I was about 10 years old or so, I would stay up late on Friday nights and watch 20/20 with my mom. Sometimes we'd watch it upstairs in her bedroom, moments I absolutely relished. One episode has stuck with me: an old woman

just us peas in a pod.

2011-05-06T18:05:00.003-03:00

This week I'm thankful for... friends :: Those lovely people who come visit baby and me when we're stuck without wheels at home. Bearing gifts of conversation, food, rides to other places. You know who you are; thank you. Offering to babysit the babe so the adults don't forget what it was to love just each other too. I guess that's one of the reasons I moved back here. three :: Suddenly I

tire chairs.

2011-05-05T08:21:00.015-03:00

It seems that I like everything that has to do with sitting on tires. Millegomme upcycles spent tires by creating art installations. And they are huge: They describe themselves as "an international collective of tire crafters. [They] have our network in several countries. [They] love to solve local problems by using car tires." And I love them. Unused public spaces turn them into fun meeting

mother's day gifts.

2011-05-04T18:15:00.002-03:00

So, we needed random baby items from Amazon, when suddenly a you might also like... suggestion stole the show. {via} An interview book. Go dig up your mother's story. I know some families are good about their narrative and their stories really do stay alive through generations. But if you're like me and you have a horrible memory or morsels of your life--and the stories you've been told--are

it's giveaway time!

2011-05-03T17:05:00.000-03:00

The lovely ladies of Shabby Apple are giving one lucky reader of a measure of... this classic, flirty San Gabriel Dress. It's feminine ruffles, sash cinch and metallic gold military buttons make it perfect for spring. "After years of not being able to find stylish dresses that covered enough skin to make you really feel comfortable," say the owners of Shabby Apple, they decided to design

sun + flowers.

2011-05-02T16:03:00.002-03:00

{daffodils} While it's still extraordinarily windy, the temps are rising. Sun shine consistent. And flowers, flowers everywhere, even inside the house! I think it's safe to say it's officially spring (that is, in the northern hemisphere--wishing my southern buds a crisp, delicious apple pie, er, autumn.) What's your favorite spring thing?

wide open.

2011-05-01T00:52:00.000-03:00

...dreams are not a bad thing. - wcw What are you dreaming about?

santa cruz beach boardwalk.

2011-04-28T16:28:00.002-03:00

The Giant Dipper, so much younger (but still more than 80 years old!) and smaller than the Big Dipper, and yet... It's my all-time favorite roller coaster (and I do love a good roller coaster). I'm gooey sentimental over its red and white frame. I first rode this thing with my mom, more than a decade ago (okay, almost two, but that makes me feel remarkably old and I can feel it as though it

2 gargoyles + 3 months = 1 love.

2011-04-27T17:24:00.001-03:00

A few weeks ago, a busy girlfriend of mine penciled us in for a babysitting date. She's a teacher, pregnant with her second daughter, and even though she's exhausted she insisted on babysitting R one day during her spring break. She said it's good for S and I to spend some time alone together. It was my first time away from snickerdoo--who is three months old today! And the first time S + I

moetic moment.

2011-04-22T23:54:00.000-03:00

{gosh, a little over stimulation?} Every once in a while, I take a step back and see myself from afar looking at baby clothes hanging over the shower door, and I think: wow I'm a mom.

true dat.

2011-04-22T08:44:00.002-03:00

I'm writing an about page for this little blog. It's proven hard to do, what with a constantly nursing baby on my boppy and one-handed typing off to the side. But really, I can't blame sweet Rowan. The truth is I was feeling stuck. Suddenly I'm forcing myself to define my blog (+ myself). But I don't like being pigeon-holed! So much so that: during an icebreaker in college one of my professors

what's in a white shelf?

2011-04-20T17:37:00.001-03:00

{book case + baby gym} This is my favorite part of our house. And I love the fact that these bookshelves are white. I grew up around solid oak book cases, and I've always had some faux wood shelves in my own places. But why be tied to wood coloring when it's not even real wood? Sure, IKEA's stuff is wooden, but I wouldn't really call it wood; it's more like molten woodstuffs. Maybe I wanted

homebound.

2011-04-18T18:51:00.000-03:00

{enjoy the green spaces} This weekend we zoomed around enjoying the wide green outside. Today's grey and misty and I'm bound by home. S has the car all week, while he takes a rope access certification course in Santa Cruz. The walk score in our neighborhood would be a big fat ZER0. It's about a 40 minute walk to decent shops and groceries. A walk I'd planned to do before I tumbled out of bed

humble beginnings.

2011-04-15T17:57:00.000-03:00

This week I'm thankful these things. beginnings :: They are all new, if not particularly shiny. We've been in the States 4.5 months, yet I'm barely beginning to feel arrived. The heart of me has caught up with the body of me, almost. It's funny how often those two are out of sync. I am a poorly timed clock; tick tock. Yet here we are again, the pieces of me and my newly family. We get to start

time, i don't believe in you.

2011-04-13T22:08:00.001-03:00