Hi Blog!

Hi there!

It has been some time since I blogged regularly. I really enjoy Instagram, and use it the most, as a microblog, but more for images than the words. It might be great to rediscover a platform, more for words. So, hi again Old Blog.

September feels more like the beginning of a year than January. It's the teacher (and student) in me. It's a good time for new words and ideas and to start things.

Topics that interest me and might come up.

*City living (we just moved to Washington DC). We are walking a lot more. Andrew commutes by metro. There is a lot to see and do here and I love it so far. I love the old buildings, the leafy streets, and the interesting people. Also, people are really (really) smart here!

*Early Childhood education. I'm still on a break from the classroom, but have re-entered as a parent. We are participating in parent/child workshop three days a week. Two days a week in a gorgeous classroom (indoor and outdoor) setting in a national park and one day exploring the city. I'm viewing this as an important step for developing community for both Harvey and for myself. Also, it should be great professional development for when I do formally re-enter as an educator.

*Food. I still love it. I have a much nicer kitchen now which should help with big windows and a dishwasher. I very much miss my California farmer's market though.

*Harvey. I can't help it. He's my favorite. At 20 months old he's full of humor and personality and curiosity.

*Places. There are many places I want to visit in this region while we do this stint on the East Coast. We've been to the mountains in Virginia, the beach, and I'm looking forward to a trip to NY before too long.

*Fitness. Trying to find my groove again (beyond just walking, my body needs more). My sister Lantana is a fitness queen and definitely inspires me.

*Photography. My camera broke in April (during a luxurious visit to the Florida beach, that fine white sand!). I've been iPhone picturing only, which is kind of sad. My iPhone 4 is feeling slow, blurry,  and outdated, I'm really considering the 6. Yay, happy almost birthday to me.  Maybe this category should be called "Technology."

*Grief. I lost my younger brother over the summer, and my heart is broken. It's hard for me to talk about or even think about it without becoming a mess. I haven't really dealt with the grief yet because I'm not feeling brave enough yet, and just trying to get through life, but I know I have to go there. Not a fun topic I suppose, but very real and human. One thing I keep realizing when I look longingly at whole intact families, is that everyone will have a turn with this topic (unless, I guess, they die first, which isn't a great option either).

Any other suggestions?

Love,
Emily

DC Snow Day

I like snow. White and bright is better than muted earth tones. If there's no green grass frosty fluffy white snow is ok with me. Also, my husband is home: feels like a weekend on a Wednesday. 

Red pepper tongue. 

Also, we got a new big kid carseat. The diono radian rxt is working out just fine so far. 

Utah and Camping

Harvey is a terrific traveller so far. Baby Center recently sent me an email on 'Your 9 Month Old' saying this is the worst time to travel and take him away from the familiarity of home and routine based on his age. Luckily, it is as my mom said: we are his home.

He thought sleeping in a tent at Horsethief Campground in Southern Utah was amazing. The timing of this government shut down is kind if crazy: we had printed maps with plans to camp Zion and Canyonlands but our plans had to change since the national parks are closed. I called a State park and a helpful ranger said they were full but to check out BLM campgrounds which worked out.

H giggled and played in our exciting fort tent and the fell promptly to sleep. Andrew and I were so exhausted mentally and physically from moving. We both were awake and couldn't sleep. We were way too cold and uncomfortable. So we waited until 6am, while watching H snooze contently, packed up and headed out. 

We had breakfast at a funky cafe in Moab, before hitting the road for Denver, Colorado. This area of the country is full of outdoorsy looking folks. Fleece jackets, bearded men, bandana: they remind me lots of kids from my college era in Oregon.

Leaving Calfornia

We are about to leave our apartment in Santa Barbara and drive across the country. We'll try a stint as East Coasters in the Washington DC Area. Moving (a in breaking down your home and packing everything you might need into a few relo-cubes is way harder than I figured. So exhausted...

Excited about the journey ahead. More soon!

Also: time to change the byline of this blog?? I'm a little nervous because I fit in really well culturally in California. Also SB = So Beautiful. And I love beautifulness.

Baby Must Haves: A Good Ride and Places to Go

Driving around town with my favorite guys. 

I've read a lot of blogs with the the first part of this title and I have lots and lots of baby stuff that's made my life easier. (Though, the number one thing is boobs... Then next important thing to have is arms.) The consumption frenzy that comes with having a baby can be overwhelming. I plan to write a post on useful baby products soon, but in the meanwhile something I appreciate everyday:

MY CAR

Until recently we drove a 1990 two-door Toyota. It was red with flippy lights and went really fast with little effort. And it had incredible gas mileage 35+ miles a gallon. But, BUT, the trunk didn't open consistently and all sorts of things were going wrong with it. It was well-maintained and had a good run but we had started replacing everything on it (and normal things too, like locks, ignitions, etc). Also, I just really really liked the idea of having a car with four doors.

About a year ago, we got our 2005 Ford Focus Wagon on Craigslist.  I had decided to buy a car that day, and saw it the minute it posted and bought it about an hour later.  It was a great price and works wonderfully for us.

Things I love about my car: four doors, and a back seat you can access without acrobatics. It's so easy to get H in and out of the car. And to load the carseat in and out; (sidenote: we don't actually do this often as I thought we would, our guy doesn't like hanging out in his carseat when its not moving.) One of us usually sits in the back with Harvey when we are both out. I sit in the backseat, using the carseat and door for support and give my baby many-a-meal in that car.  I also use the Moby baby carrier we keep in the car (we now have two!) as a pillow to support him. I got the windows tinted when we got the car and am now extra grateful for the added privacy.

Harvey's first zoo trip. Napping while his mom checks out the giraffes.

We can keep his snap-and-go type stroller in the back and his medium sized Britax stroller in the back of the car AND groceries. And a beach bag. And a baby bag. I found it is easiest to keep a whole container of wipes and a big stack of diapers permanently in the car. This way I can avoid public changing stations: I used one once and it was trickier and dirtier than I thought it should be. Our car is my changing station of choice when out. I successfully changed him on the front seat a few times but it hurt my back. Now, I came up with the best solution for us: I fill his carseat with a blankey, moby, changing cover whatever until it is flat...then I put the changing pad from his diaper bag on top of it. I get the diaper and wipes ready. I lay him in there so he's flat.  He's now at a good level to be changed without hurting my back. I get a lot of smiles and coos: he seems to like being up higher.

My view from the beach parking lot.

PLACES TO GO

I get really stir crazy if I stay home for the whole day so I try to make one or two outings each day. I feel like Harvey appreciates the change of scenery and stimulation as well. He loves to sleep when we are out and not as much when we are home.

Places we go:
*Parent group #1. A whole variety of moms and dads with babies about the same age. We meet at the park and lay our babies together on blankets and sit around talking, and feed, change, and burp them together. They also plan happy hours, exercise classes, and a zoo trip that I've attended.
*Baby class through the city college: We sing songs and also learn about infant development. We keep skipping class but I plan to make it back sometime.
*Beach: I might meet up with other new moms from my parent group, or Andrew at lunchtime or post- work. Most often I just go alone with my baby. I get ready to go, feed him, drive five minutes to the beach, arrange him in the baby carrier and walk in the sand for about an hour. I love it because we tend do the same walks we did when he was in my tummy!  I recently tried wearing shoes at the beach once, on a particularly beach tar-y day and hated it (a SB problem). I had sand in my socks and sneakers. I would rather scrub tar off my feet.  Harvey sleeps the whole time at the beach. I will listen to music or call my sister, mom, or friend. Every other day I bring Andrew along so I can do my run while he carries baby in the carrier. I'm just finishing week 3 of the couch to 5k so my version of a "run" has BIG quotation marks. I've done the plan twice before and it worked well.

Harvey loves this time with his dad. I love being able to run and not have to leave them too far behind. 

*The Lake. It's called a lake but it's a reservoir in our neighborhood. We walk around it, wander through eucalyptus groves, and look at birds and the foothills and  mountains and just enjoy being outside.
*Parent group #2.  We alternate different mom's houses and have snacks and conversation, and speakers. This is an attachment parenting group (which is just pretty much what I thought parenting was) celebrating the mother-baby unit. A big bonus of having a baby is meeting so many amazing moms!
*Farmer's Market/ Starbucks  This has become a weekly date with Andrew. I used to walk there, but now if I walked there I'd have to feed and change baby bundle right when I got there. After a feeding we drive and buy things like avocados, cherimoyas, strawberries, and flowers. Afterwards we get large coffees and talk while baby sleeps in his carrier (and once in his stroller!). He wakes up at some point and we play with him in the coffee shop. I am happy to say he is quite well behaved for a baby.

Other places I'm thinking about going:
The library
A music class
To Los Angeles

Other parents: Where did/do you like to go with your baby?
Parents-to-be: Where do you look forward to taking your baby?

I really really am looking forward to taking baby Harvey to Hawaii!

Upcountry Maui: home sweet home. 

Songs for Harvey (Mom Ridiculousness)

Harvey is 12 Weeks Old!

I wish I were a great singer. I'm not, but I sing anyway.
I wanted to write some of the songs I sing to Harvey before I forget 

You can't Hurry Love
I need love, love
To ease my mind
I need to find, 
find someone to call mine
But mama said
No, you just have to wait
She said love don't come easy
It's a game of give and take
 
Rubylove Harveylove
Harvey my love  
You'll be my love  
You'll be my sky above  
Who'll be my light?  
You'll be my light  
You'll be my day and night  
You'll be mine tonight

Baby Mine from Dumbo
Baby mine, don't you cry
Baby mine, dry your eyes
Rest your head close to my heart
Never to part, baby of mine

I Want Candy  I Love Harvey
I know a guy who's tough but sweet

He's so fine, he can't be beat
He's got everything that I desire
Sets the summer sun on fire

I love Harvey, I love Harvey

Sung to the tune of BINGO
There was a baby who had a mommy and Harvey was his Name-O...
There was a Harvey who had an Auntie and Holly was her Name-O...
etc. Then we spell out the names.

Nicknames
 I am a life-long Nicknamer and make nicknames from my nicknames. I haven't really met one I haven't liked. So naturally, Harvey has many. Here are a few:

Butters  (His dad doesn't like that one, he thinks of the South park character. I think more of butterball. Sweet, smooth, and creamy like butter)
Lamb Chops
Love Chops my favorite
Chops 
Chubs now that he's filling out
Harv (of course)
Harvster  what his pediatrician calls him (!)
Harvester
Harvenstein
Harvard
Hearn my late grandfather's middle name/nickname

So now you all know what I'm up to these days.

Coal Oil Point

Right before I had Harvey, Andrew purchased an updated point-and-shoot. We call it our real camera and it doesn't get as much action as the iPhone. Still, I've made an effort to use it when I get outside. The hard part (compared to my phone) is pictures take so much more effort to upload and share.

I wish I knew this family so I could give them this picture. Frolicking on the beach, the place kids and dogs love best.

I love my community! I'm glad Harvey was born here: SB will always be an extra special place for us, no matter where we end up.

A question on my mind: Should I sell my surfboard and/or wetsuit? I got the wetsuit right before getting pregnant. The board has been used about twice a year...and mainly by guests-from-Hawaii. Also, I was swimming in the ocean sans-wetsuit a lot last summer but we had SO many shark warnings that I decided I better stop (Harvey was in me!). So, hmmmm...I know I ought to banish clutter but then again, what's a house without a surfboard?