Weekend Pics! Part 1: Out to Lunch!

We had a great weekend out and about around Portland town. We found a great new little restaurant, heard some great music at the Cathederal Park Jazz Festival in St. Johns and got to spend time with my uncle John and his fiance Shanti (which you'll see in my next post!) Gotta love this town.

Toast. A little breakfast type place. Yummmm.

Cuteness.

Brunchtime beer? I think yes.

Oh hey, baby!

Summer salad with flowers!

Little Frida Kahlo

What's Going On Around These Parts...

Baby birds are tweetin' outside our door...

With mama bird standing by.

Our living room has been turned into a baby proof play pen!

Poetry, poetry everywhere! 

Tomatoes are growing...

and babies are singing!

And look whose standing! Too much.

Apartment Love

I've always tried to make wherever I'm living nice and organized. Over the weekend Wes decided to turn our dining room into a little eating/reading nook, and I have to say, he did a great job!

Everything moved out, floor clean, and Deedle stakes her territory!

Ta Da!

Our unique table centerpieces. My wedding bouquet, a ceramic skull from Newport and an antique jar.

New houseplant and a reflective Deedle cat.

Two cuties in a cute nook!

Time to Myself

Yesterday evening I decided to go to Target to pick up a few things. I was driving and thought, "something feels different". Than I realized what it was. I was alone. Not with the baby, not with Wes. By myself. And I couldn't remember the last time that had happened. Before getting married and having a baby I was alone all the time and I loved it. At 18 I moved into my first studio apartment and lived alone through college. I loved living alone; my house was my little sanctuary. I definitely needed that place to go where it would just be me, myself, and I. No thanks, roommates! I also loved doing things by myself. I saw movies alone, took myself to dinner, whatever I wanted. I had and have a social life, too. I'm not shy or reclusive, I just really saw the value in being alone.

Now I have a little family who makes my day everyday. And somehow during all the transformations of the past few years I've forgotten to occasionally and purposefully be alone. And yesterday on the drive to Target I realized that I really missed it. It's hard to constantly be taking care of a baby. Even when you're doing something fun like going for a walk or playing on the floor, there is still that feeling that you're responsible for what's going on. And as much as I love talking to and spending time with Wes when he comes home, it's either dividing my attention even more or focusing it from one person or another.

So what to do? Obviously, I need to say "see ya" to the family once and a while and head out on my own. I had my yoga class until I sprained my wrist (try healing that with a nine month old) and my arts writing class turned out to be a bust (long story), but that doesn't mean I should stop getting out and finding solo things to do. It could even be as simple as a drive to Target :)

Weekend Pics!

Well, we wanted summer and we got it! It is HOT. I am dripping with sweat as I write this at almost ten at night and we had to wet Seeley's forehead with a cold washcloth to help her get to sleep (poor baby)! To cool off we decided to head to the beach. Wes and I have been going to Sauvie Island since we moved to Portland three summers ago (what?!) We were super excited to take Seeley there for the first time since it's a special place for us and was Seeley's first time at a beach! I didn't know how Seeley would like it but she had a blast! She's really turning out to be a water girl and she loved digging around in the sand. Hopefully we'll be doing more fun stuff like this to get us through this hot summer!

Sauvie Island!

Taking everything in with a frozen teething ring.

Only at the beach.

And into the water we go!

Ooooooooooo

Ahhhhhhhhhhh

Sand! I wanna play with this!

Uh-oh! Sand doesn't taste good. The lip!

Time to rinse off!

And have some cold water.

What a happy little beach bum :)

Freedom

In the spirit of Independence Day, the day in which we celebrate the freedom and independent spirit of our country, I've been thinking of my own independence and freedom. Being a mother definitely takes away one's freedom and independence. But when I'm not dancing around and making weird noices like a crazy person in order to make Seeley smile or telling Wes not to move or talk or look at anything because the baby's sleeping, I've discovered a new, deeper freedom and independence. First, I've given birth and am raising an infant which makes me feel capable of anything. If I can find it in myself to do that than my abilities are limitless! Second, I want to give Seeley the best and be the best for her, and having such intense motivation has freed me to challenge myself in new, creative ways. Lastly, I know what's important in life, and that's love (I know, sooooo cheesy). Feeling so much love and happiness in my little family brings me the most amazing freedom imaginable.

One free mama.

Hoopfest!

What a weekend! Wes, Seeley and I went to Spokane, WA to meet Wes' parents and brothers at the Hoopfest basketball competition. We watched Wes' brothers play on a family team and Seeley got to spend some much needed time with her grandma, grandpa and uncles! We all had such a blast. Seeley is quite the traveler and loved spending time with her family. Enjoy the pics!

We took our time getting to Spokane. We even stopped for a dip in the Columbia river!

Hoopfest! All of downtown was transformed to basketball courts!

The main court where the reaalllly good guys play.

Grandma!

and Grandpa!!

Seeley had so much to tell grandma:)

Game on!

Wes' dad watching Wes' brothers.

Annnnd boom goes the dynamite!

First time in a high chair! Wes and I both get to eat at the same time now!

Even with all the noise and people, she's out!