Sunday, July 31, 2011

Day 308

July 31, 2011

Who said July could by so quickly? I know I spent the last two weeks on vacation but still, what just happened? 

Jacobisms:

Fraser was outside about to start the lawnmower. Jacob runs inside and tries to shut the sliding door, saying, "Go inside. I'm gonna get freaked out."

To me while giving me a big hug, "I love you so much." 

 This morning in bed after we've been cuddling for awhile, Jacob says to Fraser, "Let Mommy sleep awhile longer. Time to get up now. Daddy too." Fraser and I gave each other the most surprised looks. I pretty much had my breath held until they'd gotten out of bed, Jacob had given the most adorable smile as he waved to me on the way out of the room and Fraser had closed to door. Unreal.

The boy slept great last night, got up (kind of) around 5 but went back to sleep with us until 7:40! The only aspect of his room and his bed that he mentioned at bed time was that he wanted to door open a crack like at Mimi and Pop's house. Fingers crossed that his crib still works for him. For a little while longer, at least. The last night at Mimi and Pop's house, he actually didn't come out of his bedroom once after Pop put him down on his blanket bed. That was the first time. So, I suppose there is some hope of him staying in bed once he does transition to a big bed. Still... I like the crib.

Beautiful day here. Fraser was super busy with work but still managed to watch Jacob a lot while I went to pilates and did some errands (one of which involved getting some Nature's Miracle which is supposed to get rid of cat pee - which is all over our couch and futon). He also made a delicious homemade chicken pot pie casserole. Wonderful! I have some sort of sinus headache, stuffy nose thing going on which is dragging me down a bit. Just dealing with a constant headache is not fun. Hopefully just a small cold that passes quickly.

 

Day 307

July 30, 2011

Yesterday, Mimi and Pop took Jacob to the carousel at the mall. He had a total blast. He rode the lion, tiger and horse. I got to go to the pool by myself and read and relax. Wonderfully blissful. Then Cynda and I went to a little tea house for some lunch, tea and girl time. That was also fantastic. The food was delicious and the time together was wonderful too. I am so grateful for marrying into such a great family. Finding someone to be your partner for the rest of your life is hard enough. Getting a great extended family is even better.


Today was the sad day of leaving. Always, always sad to leave loved ones. It was easier for us, probably, because we got to go home to Fraser. Jacob was amazing on the plane. He is such a good traveler. We sat next to a really nice man, Jacob played and hung out for most of the 4 and 1/2 hour trip, taking a nap for the last hour and fifteen minutes of it. He said to me, "It's nap time now." I read him a book, sang him a song and he was out. I couldn't ask for it to be better. 


Fraser was very happy to see us as we were to see him. Jacob leapt out of the stroller with a huge smile on his face and gave Fraser a huge hug. We left Georgia at 10:30am and got to Oregon at 12:30pm. I felt like I was in a strange time warp all day. But Jacob was really good; we got him to bed around 8:30. Pretty darn good, really. 


It's definitely.... a bit of a bummer to be back here. Mostly just the oddness of the house we live in. I still struggle with it not really feeling like my home. Coming from a very homey, beautiful house it looks even more stark to me. Alas, I'll get used to it again. Hopefully make some improvements along the way. 


Stopped over at Karen's to get the mail key which Fraser hadn't had time to get yet. That was nice. We got to catch up on things while having a little moscato on the back deck in the sunshine. Nice to have a friend to come back to who is so close by.

Day 306

July 29, 2011

As I relish the last full day of our vacation, I'm also preparing myself for the re-entry into regular life. This break has been much needed for all of us. It gave Fraser and me a chance to reconnect after 10 intense months in a new place with a new job and no breaks for either of us. It gave me a break from the planning and getting and cooking of every meal, for which I am so grateful. It gave me time to just relax and not be so consumed with my "should do" lists. And of course, it gave us a chance to hang out with loved ones and to build a stronger relationship between Jacob and his extended family. 

I think I'm ready to dive back into cooking. I'm not feeling it entirely yet, but I've eaten really well on this trip. Lots of delicious dishes. That has reminded me what eating well can be like. I want Jacob (and Fraser and myself, also) to eat good, whole foods. I want to make home cooked meals part of our life. That is important to me.

I want to do more crafting with and without Jacob. More sewing for me and more... whatever I can find for him. There are lots of blogs and inspiring books to go to for... inspiration. I'm excited to get back to all our friends in Portland, especially all those little ones of Jacob's. He'll be excited to get to his favourite museums. 


Above all, I am recharged in my efforts to make our home feel like a home. Things can get very routine being an at home mom which makes it easy to forget how special and important the job is. I wouldn't trade my job for the world and am so very grateful to Fraser's hard work that makes my job possible. And when dealing with a whiny, bossy, strong-willed two and a half year old all day while figuring out dinner, laundry, errands and other household jobs, while my husband and partner is out all day for many hours in a world I can't relate to, it's easy to get bogged down and worn out. Making a home is important to me, though. Important that Jacob has that stability and important for it to be a place of comfort and joy for all of us. A place that we can carry with us when we leave its boundaries and think upon during moments of stress. A place that feels good to come back to. I don't necessarily think the house we're in now meets all those criteria yet, but it's a goal and a work in progress and something I'm motivated again to work on.

Day 305

July 28, 2011

My sister's birthday today. How very, very excited I was all those years ago to finally get a sister! And how very excited I am, today, to have one also. 

Jacob's been a cross between super adorable and super cranky today. He'll have spectacular moments on each side. He's usually great when he's just with Mimi and Pop. He mostly just puts the show on for me.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Day 304

July 27, 2011

Jacob slept all night last night on his little blanket bed on the floor. He asked to be there. Deep breath...

I got to sleep in this morning thanks to Mimi and Pop. Jacob came in to cuddle with me a little bit but then headed upstairs to find Mimi and Pop so they could play trains. Apparently there was time out in the garden with Mimi and then train time with Pop. Sounds like fun. I was enjoying the blissful opportunity to sleep. Wonderful!

Jacob and I went with Pop down to a branch library this morning. Pop had a class and we just went to read some books. It was fun. Enough of an outside-the-house excursion to last me awhile again. And now the boy is sleeping in his new "bed" for naptime. 

Spent our afternoon playing trains, running after Lucy (inside and out), eating a delicious chicken piccata dinner and having some two year old moments. We also got our family pictures that we had taken last week. Very exciting!









Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Day 303

July 26, 2011

Jacob's bedtime situation has been... changing a bit on this trip. Not by my choice but because of circumstances. He's been sleeping in a pack n' play but does know how to get out. So, of course, bedtime has now become a series of trips back to the bedroom. Sigh. Last night, he fell asleep on some blankets outside of his bed. I put him in his crib for the rest of the night but today, he asked to take on a nap on the blankets. Thus begins a new phase. I'm not sure how things will go when we get back home to his real crib. Maybe the pack n' play is just too small and he likes more space. Maybe he'll ask to be out of his crib now. Maybe he'll just go back to it with no questions asked. I'm hoping for the latter. We'll just see, I suppose.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Day 302

July 25, 2011


Mimi and Pop broke out the train set today. Jacob loved that. It's a great set, too. He was engrossed for a long while, several times during the day. Yay, trains!

Fraser's last day here :( He has had a nice, relaxing and enjoyable vacation, though. Just what he (and all of us together) needed. It has been really great to have all this time together and to reconnect after such a stressful (almost) year. I think we will go back renewed which will help us as we get back into the busyness of regular life.  

It's nice to have a bit more time here with Mimi and Pop. Of course, we'll miss Fraser but it eases the separation a little too, to let Fraser go first and then us. Not so traumatic :(

Day 301

July 24, 2011

The big boys went to play some golf this afternoon while the rest of us had a lovely picnic in a backyard fort. 







 We've had some really nice times with all the kid cousins together. It's been nice to see them get to know each other a bit more and be able to play together. There were lots of really adorable moments that I've shared in these pictures. Of course, there were also plenty of moments that looked more like this:







Ahhh.... good times. All's well that ends well.



Sunday, July 24, 2011

Day 300

July 23, 2011

Whoa, Day 300 of our first year in Portland. Even though we're not actually IN Portland right now, still.... it's crazy to think it's been almost a whole year.

Lots of fun hanging around the house today with the little cousins. It's very fun to watch Jacob and Hudson together; they encourage the craziness of the other. Most times that's good. Sometimes things get a bit testy. 

There are so many fantastic pictures. I've probably gone a bit crazy here, even. I'll try to put a regular album together on Facebook so I can get more in. But these capture some of our good times.











Saturday, July 23, 2011

Day 299

July 22, 2011


Jacob was asleep for nap by 11am this morning. Of course, he was also up around 5am. I think he dozed a bit in bed with us between five and six, but he was exhausted. Crazy boy.

Got to ride the tractor with Daddy. 

The cousins came over again tonight for the weekend.





Looking at some fireflies


 

Day 298

July 21, 2011


Another chill day. Went to the neighbours' pool - the only place to be in the heat of summer. You know you're in Georgia when you get out of the pool and don't feel cool at all. In fact, you can barely tell you've gotten out of the water. Ahh... humidity.


We've been having some awesome food on this trip: Bengali shish kabobs, Alabama BBQ chicken, grilled salmon with a wonderful mustard/almond/shallot sauce that was incredible, plus fresh squash, tomatoes, green beans, more squash, fresh blueberries, peaches. Yum. And one of the best parts - I haven't had to plan it, go get it or cook it! I am so thankful for that :)


Friday, July 22, 2011

Day 297

July 20, 2011


Today we hit up the Georgia Aquarium. Such a beautiful place. So much to see: whale sharks, beluga whales, seals, otters, fish of all sorts, albino alligators, penguins, and much much more. There was a little play area with a tunnel only for toddlers. It was on an upper level so Jacob could see below to the people below. He loved that. He loved the whole thing. He was totally wiped out afterwards and took a three and a half hour nap. 
















Hung out with the cousins in the evening: dinner and playtime. He was worked up when we got home. Another late bed time. This has definitely been the most wacked out sleeping schedule of any vacation so far. I'm not loving it but am trying to go with the flow as best as I can.