Get Your Groove On

I have watched this about 4 times in the last few days, and every time I laugh..... It is kind of long, but try every time it starts to get monotonous something new and exciting pops out. I'm in the background watching, and although you wouldn't know it from the video, I'm silently laughing so hard there are tears streaming down my face. I just didn't want to cramp the boy's style, so I hid it. Unfortunately, my view was the best, and Kim got mostly the rear view, but it still does justice. Enjoy!

Swept Away

This one's not so happy. I am so emotional after finding out that a 3 year old boy- a friend of a friend's son, just went to heaven. He had leukemia, and he was absolutely beautiful. I went to his website, http://www.getwellsebastien.com/ and watched him grow from a newborn. I can't stop crying, even as I write this. It just seems so unfair. I don't understand why this happens, why people have to suffer through these things. Watching that beautiful tiny baby grow and wrap his arms around you each day, with his bright smiles and angelic eyes..... only to be swept away.

I had to go pick up my sleeping boy, and hold him. I kissed his face a million times and held and rocked him.

Lucky me.

*Edited to Add* After I pulled myself together, I went over to my friend's blog. There's always something there that makes me feel good. (Lots to make you cry too - so watch out! But it's always good.) Anyway, I cried again, only this time it was from laughing so hard. Thanks P, it was just what I needed. A pee in your pants kind of laugh. http://sojourner-ephraim.blogspot.com/2009/03/my-husband-is-never-ridiculous.html

Baby Day

I saw my baby today! Aaaaahhh such a beautiful thing. I saw tiny arms and legs, flailing away, cute little spine, and nice big head (takes after Daddy!) Babe was flipping and flopping and dancing away. It was just a quick minute - I'm not much for ultrasounds when they're not really necessary - but I asked for one today. I just ached to see that little baby, for the confirmation that it is in fact a baby, he he, and for my own selfish peace of mind that everything looks okay in there. I love my doc, he didn't blink an eye when I asked, "Ok, come on, let's go take a look. I wouldn't want you to be depressed over the next few weeks." Not that I would be depressed, but maybe just a teeny bit worried. Now I can relax, and I feel such overwhelming excitement, and love for that sweet little babe tucked safely in my belly.

When we were done, I begged Kim to come have coffee with me before we both headed back to work. At first work won, but I tugged a little harder and he agreed to come. (How does work know he's at the coffee shop and not at the Doc's office?) It was sooooooo nice. We talked about Portland, about him getting into the Illistration program at Art Center, and about how far his art has come now that he has a studio. He looked so handsome, his hair, his hoody, his shoes. He's cute. When we were done we went out to our cars and he said "Wow babe, I can't remember the last time just you and I had coffee together." It's true. Life with work and kids is hectic. But it's fun.

One Happy Mama

13 weeks, on 11.15.09

Ok, so I like to think I know myself pretty well. In my last post I predicted my next one would be in 2 months, but wouldn't you know it's three months to the day! I also said I may be complaining, but no, not today. Today, in fact, has been another one of those magical Sundays with my favorite people. What I could never have predicted is a beautiful life growing inside me, and once again the sheer bliss of being a new mama. Life's little surprises are just delicious.

This is my absolute favorite time of year. 'Tis the season..... and I love every minute of it. I love the crisp, clean air outside, I love a latte in the morning and a chai tea in the afternoon, I love shopping for Christmas presents, decorating, seeing family and friends, wearing my Uggs (yes, I admit it) and eating yummy food. And I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE having a baby in my belly. Anytime I get to be pregnant during the holidays, which has been all 3 times *lucky for me* I feel so extra warm and fuzzy inside. Being pregnant is like an intoxicating dose of euphoria and peace for me. Just knowing I have a little bundle of sweet love with me everywhere I go is the most calming feeling on the planet. Mmmmm.

So back to today. We got back from another wonderful trip to Utah yesterday. It's always so nice to see my family, and I really enjoy watching the kids just run, hike, and play in pure nature. Zyan had another one of her memorable hikes with Grandpoppy, baked apple pie with Granny Em, made necklaces with Aunt Shannon, snuggled and watched movies with Aunt Jessie, and went to Uncle Beau's soccer game. Adlai mostly enjoyed playing with Bryce and Roxie (the dogs) and was running all over the house saying "Rice! Rice!" (calling Bryce) when he wasn't spending time going in and out of the dogs crate. That boy truly is an animal lover! I enjoyed relaxing, cooking, relaxing, playing Clue and Trouble with Zyan and the family, and relaxing some more. Kim did the same.

K, so I'm really going to tell about today now. I promise. So last night,...... just kidding! I crack myself up. This morning my Zyan woke me up with a latte she made me. It was delicious. Then she and Kim washed both the cars while I cleaned a bit and did some chores I've been putting off for years. Then Adlai cut his finger really deep and I still have no idea how he did it. He HATES Band Aids of any kind, so Kim went on a store hunt for some Sesame St. ones to see if he would keep them on. No luck, so he bought the Cars (like the movie) Band-Aids, and then went to rent the movie and bought popcorn so we could have a family movie night. Then Zyan transformed our house into a movie theater!! It was SO awesome. She made a ticket booth and had signs of all the movies playing: Sleeping Beauty, Elf, Harry Potter, and Cars, he he!! She also made a sign that said "Free Tea!" and served us all tea with our ticket. The tickets said "Thank You for Choosing the HA Theater" and then CARS underneath with a drawing of a car. Then she hung a rope to divide the room and hung blankets from it like curtains. We unfolded the futon and made a bed, and watched the movie all together with popcorn and tea. Sooooo nice. Adlai loved the movie, and kept clapping at the racing scenes and saying "Vroooom! Vrooooom!"

When it was over, I showed him the Cars Band-Aids and tried to put one on his finger. "NO MOMMY!! NOOOO!!!" Oh well, it all started with the Band-Aids, and took us on an afternoon adventure, so by that point his owie had stopped bleeding and we'd all had a great time.

We ended the night with a delicious 17 bean soup, and Zyan put a pair of my heels on to dance to Beyonce's "Put a Ring on it." Adlai liked her style, so he went and put on a pair of my heels too. Silly boy. They danced and danced and made us all laugh.

So that was my magical day. Oh, and I forgot to add that my yummy husband was such a perfect gentleman today, and even gave me a massage during the movie. I love that man.
Zyan at the top of the mountain in Utah.

All the Leaves in my China Teapot

My son is running around with a plastic strainer on his head and he thinks it's the funniest thing. Actually, it is. Zyan has been spending time making delicious Red Pheonix tea in her little ceramic tea pot. It's a little house, and there's a cat sitting on top. Kim is doing his favorite thing- taking care of his family. He's making something, I don't know what, but it's making the whole house smell delicious. What am I doing? Enjoying this time with my family, drinking in each moment. I love this family, I love these kids, I love my amazing husband.

As I look out my window and see the billows of smoke from the fires just miles away, I am so thankful for what we have - each other. I am often surprised that I have it so good. This life is so much like a dream sometimes, it's eerie. I know it's hard, and I know it's scary, and unpredictable, frustrating, and sometimes you just can't catch your breath. True. But when I do get to stop and smell the roses, boy do they smell good.

Now don't be surprised if my next post is in 2 months and it's one long complaint, he he.

Self Indulgent

I can't believe I'm doing this. Really. I always thought it was a little rediculous, self indulgent. I mean, who is really that interested in my life? I would hear the word "blog" and think to myself, "Doesn't that person know we all have better things to do than read their blog? Surely they must be starved for attention, or just really, really bored with too much time on their hands."

But then a funny thing happened. I started reading some blogs of friends of mine, a little out of curiosity, and a little out of guilt. I figured if they are my friend and they sent me their blog address, I really should read it. I'll be honest here - I only read about five, and each time it was just a one time visit. I never felt captivated or moved, just that I had fulfilled my duty of visiting the friend's blog in the first place. That is, until recently, when I visited the blog of a friend I've never met. Was I captivated? YES. Was I moved? TO TEARS. Did I go back for more, and more and more? TILL ALL HOURS OF THE MORNING. This persons blog has single handedly changed my perspective on so many things - for the better.

I remember a specific conversation I had with my Poppy in the car one day. We were driving to Santa Barbara, and he told me one of the things he always wished he had done was write more. "Write in a journal," he said. "Every day, just take some time to write. Time goes by too fast, and when you look back, you'll be glad you wrote things down, because if you don't, you might forget."

I was a teenager at the time, but it stuck with me. And here I am, married with two kids, and the days go fleeting by. I haven't written in a journal even close to as much as I want to. I love my life and my family so much, and it makes me sad to think that as the days go by, I haven't saved the memories for my kids, or theirs. I feel like I'm taking it for granted - all of these wonderful moments are here before me, and yet it's like holding a butterfly. You just have to let it go.... Or do you? After reading the above mentioned blog and bawling my eyes out, I realized that this person has passed something on, for her kids, and their kids, and amidst it all, I am better for it. ME! Imagine that!

So here I am. I am giving in. It's no secret that I'm what they call a "Late Adopter." Hopefully, not too late.