Chicago Trip

Little and I had a wonderful trip to Chicago last weekend to visit my good friend, Lauren, and her husband, Ken. We escaped the oppressive 95º+ heat in Portland and the music festival bender that consumed the weekend for Jesse and our good friend, Tyson. I was pretty nervous about the 4 hour flight to Chicago, but Little (all things considered) was a pretty good traveler. I won't go so far as to say I had a great time on the plane (who does, really), but it could have been worse. Way worse. 

It was wonderful to visit with Lauren, since I haven't seen her since Little was just a few weeks old. She and Ken purchased a wonderful old house in Evanston and we fully utilized the screened in porch for breakfast and dinners, as well as the back yard for happy hour bloody mary's. Mr. M loved the stairs and terrorized their two cats, Simon and Louisa, every waking moment. His growls of "kittay kittay kittay!" could be heard all over the house as he tried (in vain) to get his mitts on one of the cats as they scurried around trying to escape. 

We took an afternoon drive over to Wagner Farm, just a few minutes from Evanston, where he ran around looking at pigs, cows, and giant farm equipment. I'd like to say that the animals were the object of his affection, but it was the blue tractor that gained his love. He was incredibly excited about the giant wheels and spent quite a bit of time inspecting the rims and tires. 

We also took a walk over to Lake Michigan and spent a lovely Sunday afternoon watching the waves lap onto the beach. Tons of kids and parents were playing and swimming in frigid water -- I know this because I only allowed my big toe to get wet. Little was a little unsure about the sand between his toes and refused to leave the beach blanket. I could tell it was a tough decision for him, because the lure of kids and beach toys would otherwise be too much temptation to resist. He happily barked orders from the safety of the green sheet and finally lost patience even for that. We put him in the stroller, brushed off his feet, and he happily cooed and dozed until we were ready to head home. 


I arrived in Portland Monday evening exhausted, but happy. It was a great trip and I'm so glad I decided to visit. 

Summer Saturday Evenings

You could say this is part two of our great Saturday on one of the hottest days of the summer. The temperature got up to 95º yesterday, which doesn't compare to the scorching temperatures other parts of the country, but was pretty huge for us. We went to the park with Miles in the morning, but by 10:30am we knew it was time to close down the shades, turn on the fans, and move like turtles, so not to work up a sweat. Miles took a two hour nap after our romp in the park, which left him with a hollow leg. He proceed to eat anything put in front of him (with bamboo fork in hand) -- a scrambled egg, some watermelon, 4 or 5 silver dollar pancakes, blueberries, and some graham crackers. 

We were a little nervous that he might have used up all of his nap time in this early long spurt, leaving him cranky and restless for the BBQ we wanted to attend in the afternoon. So, after the large lunch and reading A LOT of books, we took him out to a different park for about 30 minutes before nap time. He ran around again and by 3:30 he was exhausted and happily went down for his afternoon nap. He woke up cheerful and ready to party. YAY!

We arrived at the BBQ around 5:30 and our friends Rhiannon and Josh had set up a kiddie pool for the boys. The water was a little cool for Miles to take a dunk, but he happily played on the edges as Ethan and Daniel happily splashed around and handed him any toy that he wanted. Miles ran and ate like he had a second stomach to fill (growth spurt maybe?). The weeks leading up to his first birthday have maybe been the best yet. He's happy and playful and seems to get smarter by the minute. This week alone he's started to use a spoon, learned to drink from a straw, and learns new gestures almost instantly. 


My mom is coming into town tomorrow and my dad is soon to follow. I can't wait for them to see what a different baby he's become! 

July 4th Home and Away

The weekend leading up to July 4th was packed with activities. Friday night after a stroll in town, we stopped at REI and checked out the backpack style kid carriers. Along with another family (who had a toddler that was not very impressed by the backpacks) we peppered the sales associate with questions, had her help us get fitted and J walked around the store with Little harnessed in a backpack. We were a little worried about how he'd react, given that it was nearing bedtime and we were all a little tired, but felt a huge relief when J hoisted him up and he immediately called out "oooh oooh ooh!" For any of you who have spent even a small amount of time with Mr. M know very well that this was his seal of approval -- Little loved the backpack. After thinking about it for just a short while, we went back to REI and picked up the carrier as an early birthday present for J. Little cooed and shouted and smiled the whole way home. He loves sitting up high and having a great view of what's going on in the world. 

To really test out his tolerance for the new pack, we headed down to the waterfront for the Portland Blues Festival. It was a pretty warm afternoon, but Little bobbed along to some Zydeco music in the shade and really only fussed when we took him out of the backpack (notice how stoked he is while we pose for a family photo). Also, look at how long those legs are these days. Geez, he's starting to look more and more like a little boy.

As if one adventure wasn't enough for Saturday, we took Mr. M to his first Timbers game and sat right in the action with the Army. I was a little worried about the noise, but Little actually liked all of the waving flags, balloons, and chants (he even bobbed his head when he heard some familiar ones). Unfortunately, he only made it through the first 30 minutes of the game. However, if we didn't have general admission seats, we wouldn't have had to show up 107 minutes early and he might have lasted well into the second half. 

On Sunday, we packed our things and headed to Hood River for the night and spent the afternoon with friends and her family. Joanie's parents have two dogs, Sadie and Minnie, who were very sweet to Little. Sadie loved bringing him toys and Mr. M would grab on so they could play tug of war. Then, Sadie would give him a million kisses on his hands and face and in his ears. Little hated the ear licking and would run away, but then come right back and start the game again. It was pretty great. On Monday morning we claimed our spots in town and watched the Hood River July 4th parade and picnicked in the park afterward. Tired and full, we drove home Monday night and I crashed at 8:30pm. Little was pretty tuckered out too and slept nearly all night.

Project Birthday

My friend, Elizabeth, arranged a Project Runway themed party for her birthday this weekend. It was brilliant and the most fun I've had in quite a while.

About twelve of us were invited to her place, where we spent the evening competing in PR-style challenges that led up to the final challenge of the night -- remake a hideous Goodwill dress into something that you'd wear today. Everyone was instructed to bring a pair of heels, three of their favorite accessories (to populate the "Bluefly Accessory Wall"), and a tank top/spandex in case we were chosen as models. 

There were five models, five designers, and four judges. At random (and with some trading around) I ended up as a designer and was charged with remaking this dress (well not this exact dress, but something pretty identical) into something more modern. My model, Margaret, and I were charged with making a split-second decision between five equally hideous frocks and opted for this one instead of a leopard print house dress. We had a few minutes to confer and she was sent to the workroom to stake out a table while I visited "Mood" (Elizabeth's guest room) to shop for fabric. I wish I had brought my camera, because there would have been a lot more documentation. 

Once in the workroom, Margaret and I decided on a converting the dress into a short jumpsuit with puffed sleeves and a collar. We paired it with pink pumps and hat from the accessory wall. Elizabeth had a sewing machine on hand, but it was missing a foot petal for about 1/2 of the challenge, so I ended up sewing the sleeves in by hand and safety pinning the dress hem into shorts. Thankfully, Margaret was a natural on the runway and made our outfit look awesome. In the end, we made it to the top three, but the judges were divided on the use of the pink hat. Regardless, it was an amazing party.

I was exhausted when I got home at nearly 1am -- by far the latest I've stayed out while having fun in quite a while.

Easter Tart

We went over to our friends' house on Saturday for an Easter party, which included a Peeps art contest and an egg hunt around the house for the kiddos. Little was a little to young to get the egg hunt part, but did a top-notch job of playing his part in our living art piece -- Peepzilla. He first picked off the Peeps lounging around on the landscape and moved on to banging on the buildings and swaying them around. It was a lot of fun. My contribution to the party (aside from the afternoon entertainment) was something that I've been aching to try -- a grapefruit tart. We have two bakeries in town that make their own versions of this seasonal treat, so after sampling both I decided to give it a try. 

I couldn't really find an exact recipe, so I decided to go to my favorite cookbook, The New Best Recipes by Cooks Illustrated, for inspiration. I settled on their recipe for pastry cream and sweet pastry dough for the shell and filling and surfed the internet a bit for instructions and photos on slicing and arranging grapefruit. The tart has several steps, but they were surprisingly easy and can be done ahead of time, so you don't have to spend all day in the kitchen. My food processor made the dough a breeze, and I found out (thanks to Cooks Illustrated) that the secret to a silky custard is straining it while hot through a fine-mesh sieve. Brilliant!

For this tart, I used four grapefruit: three ruby red and one pink for color variation. The pink grapefruit was definitely more tart, so it was a nice flavor contrast too. In order to get the fleshy slices, you have to peel and segment the fruit. Basically, you cut off either end down to the flesh and run a very sharp paring knife down the sides in curved slices to remove the skin and all of the pith (preserving as much flesh as possible). Once you remove all of the skin, you then segment the grapefruit according to the natural divisions. Run the knife along side one of the paper thin membranes to almost the core and then use the knife to sort of pop it out of the skin. Then, you move on to the next segment until the entire grapefruit is sliced. Oh, and don't forget to gently press the slices between two paper towels before placing on the tart -- you don't want vanilla custard soup from all of the extra juice. I practiced arranging the slices on a plate before actually topping the tart, which really helped the presentation. The only detail I left out was sprinkling coarsely chopped pistachios on top (a garnish used at St. Honore's bakery) because I ran out of time. I will opt for this next round though, because the bright green flesh of the pistachio nuts looks so pretty with the red grapefruit.

This particular recipe for the tart shell and cream called for a 9 1/2" tart pan with removable bottom. While the sweet pastry dough was sufficient for for the tart size, there was a lot more cream than I needed. I think next time, if I'm bringing this to a party, I'll make 1 1/2 times the amount of tart dough and use an 11" pan. The tart is ideally eaten within a few hours of preparation, so don't fill the shell until you're ready to serve (or leave the house). Due to time constraints, I filled the tart and topped with the grapefruit about an hour before we ended up leaving and stuck it in the refrigerator. It held up well, but started to get a little loose after sitting at room temperature for a few hours. Although Little was a little skeptical, the tart was delicious. I think I'll have to make another while the grapefruit are still juicy and sweet.


Tart Recap:
9 1/2" tart pan with removable bottom
1 recipe of Cooks Illustrated Sweet Pastry Dough
1 recipe of Cooks Illustrated Pastry Cream
4 grapefruit, peeled, segmented, and blotted dry
coarsely chopped pistachios for garnish (optional)

Holiday Party

The Mad Men style holiday party was a success. Fun was had by all as you can see from the array of bottles, dishes, and glassware in the background. I realized last night after everyone went home that we didn't take one single photo together. So, I set up the Gorillapod and we posed for the camera before collapsing on the couch. Jesse had already removed his tie, but you get the idea. I'm pretty sure I also forgot to take photos of the food and drink, but maybe there's a stray shot of the nibbles in the background here and there. 

With J at the makeshift bar whipping up champagne cocktails, martinis, gimlets and sidecars, it was practically a crime to walk around with an empty glass. One of our friends had the brilliant idea of bringing a case of candy cigarettes, which were quite a hit. I initially thought they'd be great Bah Humbug props (for those who chose not to dress up), but everyone came dressed to the nines. It was awesome. I'm pretty sure we'll be scrubbing simple syrup, Creme de Casis, and those little white sticks of sugar off our floor for months. However, as a good friend of mine recently said, "The floor is disgusting. That's the sign of a good party." 

As for Mr. M, he slept like a charm through the party, hence the lack of photos. After such a good night's sleep, he was happy and alive at six o'clock sharp. I brought him into bed with us and he thrashed around until I relented 45 minutes later and decided to let J sleep in. I popped two Advil and a Lindt truffle, chugged a glass of water, and waded through the kitchen to find the french press and coffee beans. As I waited for the kettle to boil, I dreamed of bagels and leftover smoked salmon that we talked about before bed. For a split second, I thought I'd head out to the bagel shop with M and surprise J. Then, I saw that it was 35º and decided that another truffle and some stale popcorn sounded like a perfectly reasonable breakfast. I think I will definitely need two cups of coffee to make it through the day, but it was totally worth kicking off the holiday season with a splash.

Status Update

I'm always surprised when I look at the calendar and find that nearly two weeks has gone by without me even noticing. It seems like Halloween was just yesterday, but now Thanksgiving is just two weeks away and Christmas is just around the corner. We will set out on our maiden voyage with Little to San Francisco and Santa Cruz in exactly nine days! I surveyed our trunk the other day trying to figure out how exactly we are going to pack in all of the baby stuff necessary for nine days away from home -- stroller, infant carrier, portable crib, swing, enough outfits for the two day car ride without doing laundry, and a cooler big enough for all the Corralitos sausage we'd like to bring home. We still haven't planned our exact route. I mean there aren't an abundance of options, but taking 101 for a portion of the trip instead of I-5 all the way down is a possibility. 

I had every intention of scoping out potential hotel stops, organizing the things we'll need, and running errands this week. However, our sweet, dear, adorable Little has had quite a stretch of incredibly cranky days. I'm thinking that he's going through his stormy period just before Wonder Week 12 and is wearing me and J thin in the process. Naps are erratic, night sleeping is spotty, and he gets incredibly angry at the things he can't do like rolling over and crawling. His brain keeps telling him go go go, but his body has yet to catch up. At points I feel bad, because I can't even imagine how frustrating it must be for him, but it's hard to feel sympathy for too long when he doesn't just demand to be held, but entertained for every waking hour. Luckily, there are a few bursts of sunshine during the day and it helps to remind me that he's learning so many new things in such a short period of time. For instance, tummy time is no longer torture. In fact, he loves his new view of the world.  

As for my errands and chores, well, they can wait for another few days. Our friends Ben & Daphne are in town for the weekend and I intend on making the most of their time here. We are going to bundle up this afternoon and take a walk downtown to enjoy the crisp fall air. 

Online Dating

While reading a chapter of the Wonder Weeks aloud to J the other morning over breakfast, we found out that around this M is really starting to see colors and patterns more clearly. He also is starting to enjoy movement more, such as rustling leaves on the treetops and shiny clothing or jewelry. Before J left for his business trip to D.C. (and before the weather abruptly changed from warm sunny days to cold and rainy) we had been taking afternoon walks with M in his stroller. His eyes would stay wide open, taking in all of the scenery, and then about 10 minutes from home he'd fall asleep and nap. So, I feel that we've done a pretty good job of exposing him to new objects and places. 

It's people that we've left out of the equation. Yes, we've introduced him to many of our friends, but it's been in the comfort of our apartment -- a very familiar setting. He's definitely starting to take interest in people walking by and facial gestures, but J and I were struck by the fact that by 8 weeks, M will start to enjoy watching other children play. It was one of those "oh crap" moments, because we know very few couples with babies. Our friends Anna and Brian are our closest friends with a little one and Elliot is quickly becoming a little boy and is sort of indifferent towards M (I don't blame him...J is much more fun at this point in time). We love our friends here in Portland and have every intention of attending many more happy hours, camping weekends, and birthdays, but it's time to expand our social circle -- we need to start putting ourselves out there to meet more people in our neighborhood with kids. 

So, Operation Find More Friends has commenced. J and I joked that it's like dating all over again. We both managed to avoid doing the online dating game the first time around, but this time I think it's inevitable. Don't worry (moms) we're not posting creepy Craigslist want ads or anything. I'm going through completely respectable channels to pick up other couples with babies. I joined a group of ladies called the Super Strollers who go out walking on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and the weekends. There are only 3 or 4 in the group, but they all live in NW Portland. I haven't actually gone out with them yet, but making contact and setting up dates is the first step right? I'm also going to join a parenting group at the local hospital that meets once a week. With M as my wing man, how could I go wrong? M is already honing his Blackberry skills for all of those phone numbers we're going to rake in.

Cooked Medium Well

I reached the 37th week on Monday (going into my 38th week), which according to some books is considered full term. Of course, it's better for the baby to hang out for a little while longer to make sure his lungs are fully developed, but he's officially allowed to arrive anytime now and still be okay. I like to think of him as cooked medium-well. He's not terribly comfortable in there and rolls and stretches all day. He also gets pretty darn pissed when he gets the hiccups, which leads to leg and elbow thrashing until he's done. 

I, on the other hand, am the picture of grace, waddling and wheezing from here to there. In order to relieve my arms and legs from the crushing weight of my body, I also do a bit of leg and elbow thrashing at night. Sometimes I don't even think I realize my struggle until I find J looking at me with a concerned face and asking if I'm okay. Bottom line? I am gigantic. I didn't truly realize the enormity of my midsection until I looked at a photo from an outing to the Pittock Mansion with good friends this weekend. Watch out, Kyoko! The belly just consumed your right arm! I'm surprised they even let me out of the house. 

I did get out of the apartment quite a bit this weekend though, both with Kyoko, J & Naomi and for the baby shower thrown by our great friends here in Portland. It was so nice to have distractions from the nesting that's kept me scurrying around like crazy. Sunday was a scorcher, getting a little over 90º so we did a lot of lounging in the back yard around the BBQ while taking breaks to stick our feet in the kiddie pool. 

We also feasted on delicious kebabs, grilled naan, and peach cobbler. And of course, a baby shower wouldn't be complete without games! We kicked off the afternoon with an amusing round of trying to figure out which candy bar had been melted in the diapers. I got 3 out of 5 correct. I believe Jesse had a near-perfect score. I think maybe I'll use his abilities to decipher poop as a good reason for him to be on diaper duty! 

Overall, it was a great weekend, but now I'm back to grind, making sure everything is ready for when the baby decides to make his appearance sometime in the next 3-4 weeks. There's still so much to do! 

Exciting Weekend

The camping trip this weekend was great. We enjoyed the cool weather, played croquet on the beach, and ate s'mores by the campfire. The sunset Friday night was pretty spectacular and did I mention the cool weather? I was so happy to escape the 90º+ temperatures that plagued Portland and came home to a much more pleasant July. Sunny and 70º is much more my speed, especially since I am now carrying around a 5.25 pound baby who really has no consideration whatsoever for my personal space.

We had some very disappointing BBQ on Saturday afternoon while the rest of the group went hiking, but really, that was my only complaint.  I have to say, sleeping on the ground wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, although being in my own bed again on Sunday night was nice. However, being in my comfortable bed Sunday night convinced that I was going into labor was not all that great. And yes, I'm pretty sure it had nothing to do with our camping trip. 

I called the midwife this morning with my symptoms -- lots of pressure and pain with "practice" contractions about 10 minutes apart -- and she scheduled me for a visit about an hour later. Her diagnosis over the phone was that I probably had a bladder infection, but wanted me to come in to rule out other things like the dreaded pre-term labor. I shuffled to my appointment, had the appropriate tests and an exam. She determined that there's absolutely nothing wrong with me except that I have a very active baby. My determination? John Braxton Hicks is an ass, because his "practice" contractions do in fact hurt. I think when the midwife saw the look on my face that read "you've got to be shitting me" she explained further. 

Apparently, Baby G is now settling in a little lower in my pelvis and since he's still pretty wiggly he's putting a lot of strain on the ligaments and joints and organs down there. In fact, I had a contraction on the exam table and she noted how he actively fought against it with his knee or elbow. In other words, my baby is all "Oh I'll see your Braxton Hicks and raise you two elbows right in your damn round ligament." I am effectively experiencing a fetal smackdown that will not relent until this child is out in the world. But he better not get around to that for at least another two weeks!

In an attempt to alleviate my disappointment (that there's no real fixable reason for my pain) and my aching belly, the midwife suggested that I get a maternity support belt that will help distribute some of the weight. I drove immediately to Babies 'R Us and tried on the most hideous contraption right in the middle of the aisle because there are no dressing rooms (as if pregnancy couldn't get anymore awkward or genuinely unattractive). It was like a Christmas in July miracle. I seriously thought about wearing it around the store over my clothes until I was done shopping. While it hasn't eliminated my pain completely (and the baby truly hates it), I can once again walk upright without taking pauses to catch my breath and renew my will to live. I am also relieved that there isn't really anything wrong with me and that I will be able to survive the next 5-ish weeks without having to spend most of it laid out on our couch. 

I'm Still Around

I'm turning in my final paper for class tomorrow morning and my mom has been in town, so life has been super busy lately! I'll have lots of updates on friends, projects, and of course Baby G as soon as I have time to breathe this weekend.

For now, a photo from Memorial Day Weekend will have to suffice.

Photo Update

Yikes! The last time I updated was over two weeks ago! The lack of posting hasn't been for lack of good material, but I've been super busy (and without a functioning camera). So, here are a few photos (taken exclusively by others) to get you up to speed.

Chicago was amazing. For once I brought good weather with me on vacation. I had such fun catching up with Lauren and exploring her neighborhood. We stopped in for the afternoon at the Chicago Botanical Gardens and admired all of the early bloomers.

This variety of Ranunculus were absolutely gorgeous. Definitely on my list of must have garden items when I get that patch of grass someday.

J's parents were in town for the weekend and we caught the first Timbers game of the season. It's a good thing we got there early and secured good seats, because the Timbers won to a sold out crowd. I celebrated by inhaling a giant hot dog. I can't wait for the rest of the season!

On Sunday, we all took an epic hike up to the Japanese Garden, then on to the Pittock Mansion, and back down to the city through Forrest Park. I'm guessing it was in the range of 6-8 miles (with lots of uphill climbs) and we were all happy to land at the final destination, St. Honore's Boulangerie for sandwiches and pastries.

I had another prenatal group meeting with the midwives yesterday and all seems to be going well. I got to hear Baby G's heartbeat again, which is always a nice treat, but not without some difficulty -- he kept kicking the dopplar before the nurse's aid could get an accurate count. Finally, he played nice and let us document the 150 beats per minute. He then settled down for the afternoon, but started up again right around bedtime so J could feel his bumps and rolls. J's finally been able to understand what I mean when I say "the baby is going nuts right now."

One More Day...

...and I'm off to Chicago for a nice long weekend. I never thought I'd escape to Illinois in April to get away from cold, rainy weather. Well, in truth, the nice weather is just an added bonus to the fact that I get to spend lots of quality time with my best friend, Lauren.

Today is going to be a busy day with work to finish up before heading out of town, a short paper to write, and of course packing. I guess I could have taken care of some of those things yesterday, but after class I took the afternoon off to run some errands. While out, I picked up a couple of new shirts and cardigans so I can wear an entirely different outfit (except for pants) every single day of my 4 day vacation. Having more than 3 shirts that fit feels very luxurious. How will I ever fit them all into my suitcase?

After dinner, Jesse and I took a walk around the neighborhood and decided that cookies would be a nice evening snack. So, he got to work creating some of the tastiest oatmeal raisin cookies that I've had in a while. Yes, I even requested raisins (pregnancy really messes with the brain). There's no secret to the greatness of the cookies, it came from our favorite cookbook,The New Best Recipe by Cook's Illustrated. The only modification that Jesse made was to add raisins AND chocolate chips instead of just one or the other. Mind-blowing.

I tried to capture his creative process in action, but our camera has been acting up lately and this was the only photo that was somewhat decent. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that it has one screw holding it together or that I dropped it on the floor the other afternoon and the lens got stuck open for a few minutes. I think it's time for another point and shoot. Any suggestions?

Easter Weekend in Photos

With the leftovers from our nacho happy hour, J made migas for second breakfast on Saturday. I think migas means "crumbs" and is basically an anything goes kind of meal. Ours consisted of leftover beans and corn, tortilla chips, sharp cheddar, and was topped with delicious fresh avocado.

Fueled on migas, we got right to work on our Peeps art project to bring to Dan and Joanie's Easter party. The competition was quite impressive, with vignettes from the Easter pageant (the Last Supper, Crucifixion, and Resurrection), the Leaning Tower of Peepsa, a flowering Peeps Cactus, among others.

Our creation was a gladiator scene (later named "Sparta-peeps") and won the Peeples Choice award, which will be prominently displayed somewhere in our apartment very soon.

This morning, I went out to Easter brunch with the ladies and had a great time getting dressed up. Here's me capturing my profile progress with my new spring/summer dress. I'm officially in my 6th month (21 weeks) and over half way there. Apparently the baby now weighs about 3/4 of a pound and is 10 1/2 inches from head to toe.

Weekend Fun

I mentioned earlier that our friend Ed was in town for a few days to do a couple of comedy shows. J was excited because he had a drinking buddy for the weekend and a very willing concert partner. I was excited, because Ed cooked us french toast and indulged with me in cupcakes and cookies after every meal. Thursday night, we went to see Ed's opening act for a friend, Wyatt Cenac, who was doing a stand-up show at Reed College. Any of you Daily Show fans might recognize Wyatt, who is a writer and a news correspondent.

After the show, we attempted to take them out for an evening in Portland, but ended up first at a bar that was closing up for the evening (at 10:30 on a Thursday night) and a gay bar in Old Town. Clearly, J and I are not as familiar with the downtown night scene as we are with our own neighborhood -- I certainly hope he doesn't hold this against Portland. Next time, we'll do a much better job of hitting the hot spots.

Since we stayed out until 2am, sleeping in was on the menu for Friday morning. Pine State Biscuits was also on the agenda, so we rolled on over to the east side and waited in line (in the rain) for a delicious breakfast/lunch. This is Ed's selection, a biscuit with fried chicken, egg, and cheese. I had a special menu item, which consisted of a biscuit, fried chicken, bacon, cheese, and apple butter. It was amazing. I had a hard time deciding between the special and the Reggie (bacon, fried chicken, cheese, and homemade sausage gravy). The sausage gravy smelled so good that I'm pretty sure we'll have to go back very soon so I can give it a try. After Pine State, J and Ed took a long walk around town while I passed out for a couple of hours in a food coma.

Even though Ed had been to Portland a couple of times before, he'd never really ventured outside of the city limits. So, he packed up his suitcase, threw it in the trunk of our car, and we headed out to Multnomah Falls for the afternoon before dropping him off at the airport on Saturday. It was a beautiful day in Portland, sunny, but still a little cool. The falls were spectacular and the moss was electric green because of all the rain that we got on Friday. I probably should have worn one more layer, but I always forget how it's usually 10 degrees colder than at home in the city. We didn't hike up to the top, because none of us were really dressed appropriately for the temperature. Also, we had delicious sandwiches waiting in the car (and I was starving)!

It felt great to have a guest in town again. It's one of the things that I truly miss about D.C. -- we always seemed to have visitors. I can't wait for the next couple of months when we'll get to have lots of friends and family visiting, which will make Portland really start to feel like home.

** Thanks, Ed, for taking a bunch of great photos this weekend!

It's a (wiggly) Boy!

Most of you who read my blog already know that on Tuesday afternoon, J and I went in for my second trimester ultrasound. Just in case you missed the excitement, we're having a boy! I have to say the anticipation of the appointment nearly killed me, since watching our baby up on the screen at 12 weeks was like crack -- I couldn't wipe the silly smile off my face for days. I'm still getting used to the idea of inserting "he" in all of the places where I've been saying "it" for the past few months. This makes the baby seem so much more real now. Oh crap! We're going to be parents!

Tuesday's ultrasound was even more amazing, because we could see the baby's bones and organs and it looked less like a blob and more like a human being. We also found that his activity level hasn't changed much since that first ultrasound. He rolled and kicked for nearly 45 minutes straight, to the point that the technician was thinking of scheduling another appointment so they could find a few more measurements on a (hopefully) less active day. The doctor came in and was able to coax the little guy to roll his head around (by gently jabbing and poking at my belly) for just enough time to find the elusive right hand, which was busy going in and out of his mouth. His left foot was found way over his head wiggling around. It's pretty cool that I can now picture what's going on in there when I get thumps and pokes in the afternoon. A good friend of mine suggested that we invest in a baby hamster wheel when he arrives. I'm starting to think that's not a bad idea.

The only disappointment from the day would be the set of photos that we got to bring home. The technician only loaded nine on the CD, four which were images of his lips and nose. Aww, his lips and nose, sounds really cute right? Except the rest of his face isn't in the picture. The screen capture resembles the print you would make if you mushed your face against the bathroom mirror after a shower. At the very last second, we were able to get a good profile shot though, and naturally, I think he's the cutest baby in the world.

The guest bed finally arrived on Monday, just in time for one of our first house guests in the apartment. Our friend, Ed, is in town this week from Los Angeles to do a couple of comedy shows, so I was relieved that he didn't have to sleep on a mattress on the floor. However, I was not able to assemble the guest bed without an extra set of hands, so Ed generously pitched in when he got in from the airport. As a note to any potential visitors, I will not make you build things upon your arrival (unless you really want to). It feels good to be one step closer to having that back bedroom in order! Now it's time for the fun part of figuring out colors and bedding!

Christmas 2009

Christmas this year, just the two of us, was a lot quieter than usual. I was thrilled at the prospect of not having to travel this year and eager to try and establish a few traditions of our own. We decorated the tree, played holiday music, and pulled out our warm socks to fight off the cold temperatures here in Portland. When we moved into our new place in November, I had grand plans of making a huge holiday meal, eating lots of Christmas sweets, and drinking spiced cider next to the tree. However, as the big day crept closer, my grand plans got derailed a bit. I was finishing up my class earlier this month, Jesse and I took a quick trip to D.C. shortly thereafter, and somehow in that time, the apartment never quite got fully unpacked. It was a bit overwhelming trying to think about decorating for the holidays when my towels, toiletries, and clothing were still floating around in mystery boxes scattered throughout the rooms. Jesse has been a huge help in getting things going and I'm happy to say that our living room and bedroom are finally starting to feel like home.

As for the huge holiday meal and lots of Christmas cookie eating, I have been feeling a under the weather and scrapped cooking almost entirely. We did manage to have a great Christmas morning, opening gifts and talking with lots of friends and family. Even as an adult, I can't help but open my presents and leave a giant pile of wrapping and boxes in my wake. After a nice leisurely morning, we got dressed and headed over to Anna & Brian's for an afternoon of games and Christmas dinner. Anna made a delicious ham and lots of yummy sides.

With Jesse's help, we were able to contribute to the Christmas party spread. He and I whipped up a dessert that we invented back in the summer time for a friend who couldn't have dairy (except for goat cheese). The crusts are made of pecans and dates and the goat cheese is sweetened with a little honey. We altered the original tarts, which had peaches on top, to include seasonal kiwis and pomegranate seeds that were juicy and delicious. The end product is not too sweet and actually quite healthy. The tarts also happened to be just the right colors for the season! I was glad that we had several kiwis and a whole pomegranate left over from the project, so I plan on having special toppings on my yogurt and granola at breakfast time.

Weekend in D.C.

Last Thursday morning at 6am, I hauled my suitcase to the MAX station down the street in 13º weather to make my 8am flight to D.C. J had been in Maryland most of the week for a business trip, so we extended the stay through the weekend to meet up with friends and relax a little.

Our good friend, Kyle, defended his dissertation that evening and a bunch of the GW gang got together at a local bar for a celebration. I was happy to discover that Dr. Kyle did not let his new status go to his head, keeping conversations firmly in the gutter. As for the rest of the gang? I was pleased to find that we all just picked up where we last left off with relentlessness harassment, embarrassing story telling, being first-rate busybodies, and laughing until we cried. My ribs actually hurt when rolling over in bed that night. It was such a great evening.

On Friday and Saturday nights we got a sweet deal at the Churchill Hotel in Dupont Circle. Since J stays there often when he travels to D.C., they upgraded us to one of the king suites on the top floor with a view of the city. I swear the hotel room was almost bigger than our last apartment! Since J had to work on Friday in the morning and early afternoon, I went and had lunch at my old office and had a great visit with my coworkers and former boss. In the evening, J's office had its yearly office party and followed it up with a visit to U Street with Kyle, Sally, and Kevin.

Saturday was a little more low key, we slept in and had breakfast at the Florida Avenue Grill with Kurtis and Amanda. I opted for sides of macaroni and cheese and collard greens instead of the standard breakfast fare. The collard greens were mind-blowing. I couldn't finish them because they were so rich, but wow! Outstanding. On Saturday evening, we met up with Dan and Lydia, good friends and J's former co-workers. This visit felt like a true vacation and left me smiling all the way home.

This week is going to be pretty busy. I have a lot of things to accomplish before Christmas rolls around in just 11 days! Yikes!

No Inspirado

I haven't posted since before Thanksgiving. Where did the time go? I had a great visit with Jesse's family last week and got to meet The Crane Wife & Ancient Indian Wizard's awesome baby boy. Despite my great time in Santa Cruz, I did not take a single photo. So, what have I been up to you ask? Well, sorting out the tedious details of moving, like transferring insurance, calling around to find out where the heck our mail has gone for the past two weeks, and general sorting through piles of crap to find underwear and my toothbrush. I also have that pesky class to finish with a paper/presentation that just won't write itself.

I have made progress though. I unpacked the kitchen and was able to cook an actual, wholesome, delicious meal on Tuesday night -- black-eyed peas with sausage and roasted carrots with a balsamic glaze. Yum! It's been pretty cold in Portland lately, only getting into the low 40s during the day, so the beans were a nice stick-to-your-ribs meal. I was thankful for the leftovers, since I really didn't feel like cooking yesterday after preparing all afternoon for class. I am actually counting the hours between now and next Wednesday when I will finally be finished with school work for a few weeks. Winter quarter doesn't start until January 4th, so I'll have a bit of time to really get into unpacking over the next couple of weeks.

Also, I'm heading to D.C. next Thursday to meet up with Jesse for a long weekend. Our friend Kyle is defending his dissertation and we're going to spend a frosty weekend in our old home town. I'm excited to meet up with friends and kick off the holiday season!

Taking it in Stride

Sharon's wedding was awesome. She was beautiful, the food was spectacular, and we got to meet (and re-meet) some Sharon's close friends. I gained quite a few more Facebook buddies Saturday evening. I also ate solid food for the second time this weekend (the first was the dinner that Graham cooked us on Friday night after a long day of travel). After dinner and dancing, my Christmas Sockets were not very happy, so we had to leave a little early. By early, I mean midnight even though the party was still going strong. I later learned that the bride and groom didn't get to bed until after 3am. And of course, a photo of me wearing the dress. Not the greatest picture I've ever taken, but you get the idea.

In other news, yesterday I signed the lease for our new apartment. After a few bumps in the road, I came to realize that the property management company is largely staffed by giant asswipés (pronounced ass-wee-pay). I hope our contact is minimal after we finally move in. I woke up this morning and decided that I'm not going to dwell on the events that took place yesterday, for fear of tainting the whole process of moving that was exciting until twenty-four hours ago. So, no recounts of yesterday's activities, which are minor really. Moving on.

And moving in (YIKES) four days. I will start to shuttle odds and ends throughout the week so that we're hopefully left with only large items, such as our bed, bookshelves, and random furniture. Jesse walked over to the apartment with me yesterday evening and was struck by the largeness. Our meager belongings are going to look very lost in all of the space. We're also going to have to invest in a few rugs to absorb some of the sound! I am also going to have to buy a jumbo bottle of laundry detergent to get me through all of the loads of clothes that I plan on washing in my very own full-sized, front loading washing machine.