Warming the House

Raine is snoring softly in his crib and Dan is multi-tasking cooking dinner and writing thank you cards to our friends who came to our housewarming party two weeks ago. There is laundry to fold and projects to attend to, as well as so much dust accumulating in those little nooks in each room... But! I would really love to sit and write just now. (Bless Over the Rhine and the double album that arrived by post today, for it moves me to relax and reflect.)

We found a perfect wreath for our front door the morning of the party at the Yamhill Lavendar Festival.

I was a bit caught off guard by how little I felt I had accomplished at decorating or preparing our new home after having lived there two months. A few days before the party, I felt the urge to drastically decorate! But really. There is no time! Putting up fences, hanging art, hanging curtains and painting walls will come eventually. That is the joy I look forward to in living in our home...Making it ours slowly as the days go by. The overall fact is that we are in what I like to call the "two full-time-working partner domestic marathon" and there are diapers to change, work hours to log, a high maintenance dog and cat to attend to, peanut butter to wipe off what seems like every surface, and a million errands to run in between. ;-) I have to thank Char for all the cleaning she did while baby-sitting Raine. And I did my best to make things look presentable: hang some art that had been sitting on the floor, tidy up, and put out some fresh lavender for our guests.

We were thrilled to have quite a few guests despite the fact that we now live a little further west than the rest! Standard commute for folks was 45 minutes, and one couple drove all the way from Sandy, which is at least an hour and a half. One particular guest I will refer to as "the guest of honor" because it was Dan's mom, Char, all the way from Chicago. :) We asked guests to sign our guest book in the entry. While unpacking from the move, I found our wedding guest book from 2004 and the empty pages in the last half seemed to be asking for fresh signatures... We received some cards and gifts, two beautiful orchids, and more than a few beverages to fill our fridge and wine shelf. Everyone was so sweet and generous! I have to say the most clever gift was from Josh and Mary. They brought a crumble pie and the pie plate itself was for us to keep. Great idea! And speaking of a crumble pie...The food was the best part! Another friend, Melissa, also brought a dessert, fruit salsa with baked cinnamon chips, and we savored those leftovers for a few nights after the party! :) The theme of our "spread" we provided for our guests was "Carlton." I really wanted to show off all of the fantastic artisan food and beverage businesses in our little town. We had bread from the bakery, handmade chocolates, specialty jams and sausages, and of course, local beer and wine! ;-) I supplemented some chips, veggies, cheese, and other items from Trader Joe's because I am not perfect and did not have the time to shop various farms or make my own crackers from scratch with local grains, thank you very much. We don't actually have a TJ's near Carlton, so I had to drive to the one in Lake O after work Friday afternoon. It made for an hour drive home, but it was worth it to know we were serving items that were GMO free and generally free of extra additives/preservatives etc.

*Chocolates and bark from Honest Chocolates*

*Pesto and heirloom tomato bruschetta made form baguettes from Carlton Bakery*

*Carlton Farms sausages with dipping mustards*

My favorite part was offering a little jam tasting. I bought some crackers and cookies from T Joe's and the lovely ladies at Republic of Jam gave Char proper pairings for everyone to taste. (My favorite was the tomato & fennel, and not only was it outstanding on its own accord with the pita crackers or pretzel sticks, it was fabulous with the spicy sausage!) See a complete list of jams with pairings and recipes below. Of course, Dan and Char did all of the actual prepping and cooking, while I made sure my overall concept was executed perfectly and presentation was *lovely* down to the last detail ~ cute little note cards to describe each offering. LOL.

*Dan's figs & goat cheese wrapped in Carlton Farms bacon. You wouldn't know it but we also had options for our vegan friends. ;-)*

The Spread (*Vegan):

Figs & goat cheese wrapped in bacon (Carlton Farms)
Assorted quinoa/bean and sweet potato/corn chips with guacamole*
Greek salad bites with feta, tomato, and olives
Assorted chocolates and bark (Honest Chocolates)
Grilled sausages ("Smoked Bratwurst" and "Louisiana Red Hot") and dipping mustards (Carlton Farms)
Pine nut pesto and tomato bruschetta - without cheese (Carlton Bakery)*
Fruit salsa with baked cinnamon chips (Made by Melissa!)*
Assorted hummus and pretzel bites*
Sea salt pita crackers & smoked tomato fennel jam (ROJ)* (No link to that jam...Sold out! Next batch up in 1 week! ;-)
Rosemary raisin crackers & rhubarb rosemary jam (ROJ)*
Ginger cookies & apricot reisling jam (ROJ)* (Jam is currently sold out!)
Coconut cookies & pineapple vanilla clove jam (ROJ)*
Assorted brews from Fire Mountain Brew House*
Assorted wines from Cana's Feast Winery*

And you can see all photos from the party here.

Currently

LOVING
My little work station at home. We have the desk in the dining area and hubby got me some shelves for Christmas that are great for all of my piles of crap. Lovely things I have found for my station are colorful notebooks by greenroom, a cheerful desk calendar and file box with bird folders from Paper Source, and the COOLEST fox metal sign by FluffyCo, a gift from Allyson. Aside from finding all of my neat little things, we put a TV tray next to my chair so that Hobbes can lounge next to me and purr in content at the fact that he thinks we are having quality time together. Without that perch, he thinks he needs to be in my lap or ON the keyboard. Anyway, the work station is because I am building my own freelance copywriting business. This was the first week of nearly non-stop work and I am exhausted! Getting up with Raine at 5 or 6 am and then working 9-6 pm, then playing with him until he goes to bed, and then sitting down and working MORE is one heck of a long day! But I feel it is completely worth it and I am so excited! I hope to share more updates soon about the projects I am working on and how my little business is progressing.

Lovely things for my desk.

THINKING ABOUT
We are in the early stages of potentially buying a second home. It is complicated and we are trying to figure out if we can do it and the best way to do it. So the chapter of our life that we have spent in our condo is nearing a bittersweet end. While a lot of our situation is stressful and scary, we are focusing on the end goal of that day where we will get the keys and open the door to a home that is everything we have been dreaming of for six years. I am dreaming about no stairs to struggle with, a yard and a designated place for our car, and maybe a fireplace! I am thinking about a little more space and something we can make our own over time. I am imagining a place where we can spend the rest of our lives and watch our children grow. It makes my heart smile and I am thinking positive thoughts. We can do it. (And while we aren't shopping yet, it sure is fun to look! Here is an example of a home currently for sale that we love!)

ANTICIPATING
Back up baby-sitters! Woo-hoo! We are interviewing several candidates this weekend. We found them using Care.com (which is how we found our primary caregiver for Raine.) When I was pregnant, the goal was to find her AND also a back-up person that we could call when we needed someone short notice. Well, we never got around to it and we have spent the last year and a half scrambling (and I will admit I am usually in a TOTAL panic when I scramble) to figure out how to watch Raine when our sitter is sick or otherwise unavailable. We have been fortunate to have GiGi help out when she is able, but other than that, we have no available friends or family in the area. Dan and I end up trying to take half days off work and splitting the time. We are fortunate that our employers have accommodated this, but really, how much is enough? I am tired of having to tell my boss that something came up and I need to leave, work from home, or miss a day or two altogether because we don't have anyone else to watch our son. It also really eats into our paid time off for trips to Illinois. So, we are finally finding someone! I am so excited to meet the three women that responded to our job listing. I think it is exciting to meet new people that share an enthusiasm for your child. I am hoping that the person(s) that work out will be long-term and have a great relationship with us and Raine, just like our super awesome primary caregiver does. Fingers crossed.

LISTENING TO
More radio (thanks to Josh M. for suggesting 90.7 KBOO - quite quirky and good) and Shazaming! I synced my Shazam to Facebook so I can see what my friends are Shazaming. I downloaded the Spotify app, per Corey's suggestion, but I have yet to start using it. Here are a few things I Shazam'd this week and also some tunes I discovered on Pandora (the app we use on our TV to listen to music in the living room.)

More Than Life / Whitley
Eyes / Rogue Wave
Michigan / Milk Carton Kids
Sleeping Sickness / City and Colour
Crave You / Flight Facilities (Radio version feat. Giselle)
Constant Surprises / Little Dragon
Essence / Lucinda Williams
Lover's Revolution / Iron and Wine

EATING
No appetite lately. Craving chocolate milkshakes. Stress diet?

WISHING
My mom was doing better. And that we could visit her. Since my last post, we realized she had been exhibiting symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy but they also had to also check her for stroke or any other brain damage because the symptoms are similar. They found her ammonia levels were elevated, so they are monitoring those and I guess considering an antibiotic for possible infection in her intestinal tract. Her specialist at Mayo isn't quite sure it is HE. Long story short, she isn't quite herself and we don't have definitive answers yet as to how to fix it or what "it" is. And although her spirits are high, she is struggling with cognition, judgement, speech, and some movements. We are waiting to hear more about a blood test this weekend and starting a new medication. Dan and I were considering a trip back to Illinois around Easter but I might just have to see if we can move it up.

Sorry to end this "Currently" on a sour note. How about some cute pictures of Raine? Sure! I have plenty of those. Let's take a look at what he's been up to currently:

Elmo slippers & Ernie on TV.

Playing with mama at the park.

At this point, I guess he's going right-handed.

Big fan of no pants playtime.

Obsessed with getting food out of the cupboards. Especially crackers.

 

 

Shazam 1.26.13

Recently on good ol' vinyl / Jared Grabb

Somewhere along the way (in between getting a full time job and having a baby, I think!) I lost my love for music. That love for music used to be so completely woven into every aspect of my day and now I can't even tell you what I like to listen to when I have the chance. I'm out of touch! I've lost track of the super lovely game of finding great new music! When Raine is in the car we listen to Dan Zane's. (I am fine with it but Dan can only handle so much. I think he reached a point where he wanted to poke his eyes out and hijacked the CD player tonight when we went grocery shopping. He introduced Raine to Elliot Smith. Raine was surprisingly into it!) At the office, I basically throw on Pandora with a standard comfort musician/band (The Lumineers for example) because I can't concentrate on it but I want something in the background that I know I'll like. When I'm alone in the car, I end up listening to talk radio. But I'm trying to change. So in an effort to get some exposure once again, I am trying to surf the radio and listen for new stuff and get a little more hip with the digital times. I have an iPhone but I hardly have any music on it! I also have an iPod shuffle but I only used it at the gym and ...well, that was two years ago. Honestly I find myself having a hard time navigating iTunes. Ugh. I need a tech lesson. In the meantime, help me out! What are you into lately? Have you discovered anything? Dan hooked me up with the Shazam app and I'm addicted. Do you use it? What other music apps/web sites/goodies do you like?

Here's what I Shazam'ed this week!!!
Sweater Weather / The Neighbourhood
Anything Could Happen / Ellie Goulding
Boom Boom Pow / Black Eyed Peas (Really? Hm.)
Your Eyes / Loch Lomond
Mercy / Kanye West Feat. Big Sean & Pusha T & 2 Chainz
The A Team / Ed Sheeran
We Are the Tide / Blind Pilot
Hold On / Alabama Shakes
Everlong / Foo Fighters
Little Black Submarines / The Black Keys (Shazam'ed it TWICE. Ha!)

What about you?

Currently

The Centennial of Independence, oil on canvas by Henri Rousseau, 1892, Getty Center

Loving 
1.) Rousseau. I've been looking at random art lately. It makes me miss Art History classes. And The Art Institute of Chicago.
2.) Our pool. We celebrated the summer solstice by taking Raine in the pool for the first time. He was totally weirded out by the flotation contraption we had to put him in, but he LOVED being in the water.

3.) Summer TV! Currently obsessed with: So You Think You Can Dance, Master Chef, and Around the World In 80 Plates. I am rooting for Alexa & Cyrus, Christine & Anna, and Nookie & Avery respectively. Wow. Look at me the reality TV junkie.

Thinking About 
Major blog overhaul. I want to change things up a bit to give ourselves a little bit more privacy/sense of anonymity on this blog and Raine's photo blog, which would definitely require the removal of our last name from the name of both blogs. I haven't changed them yet, though, because I am SUPER stumped on new names. I asked for advice from friends on Facebook and I got some great ideas but my favorites are already being used in the blog-o-sphere. The only nicknames I have ever had are "Bangs McGee" and "Loola," but I'm having a hard time coming up with some sort of spin-off of either of these. Christie reminded me of my blog "Loolababy" (chronicling cool baby stuff I came across while working in the industry) and that kind of made me want to resurrect it--but I should probably figure out what is going on with these blogs before starting another one. Raine's site could just be Blastonius.com, but now that he's approaching a year old, his in utero nickname of Blasty doesn't feel very relevant. His current nicknames are "Bean" (isn't that the universal baby nickname?) and "Sneaker Wave" or "Sneaker" for short. Because he IS a sneaker wave.

So anyway, much to think about for names and how much I am sharing, etc. My favorite bloggers use their own names and the real names of their partners/children, so it never occurred to me until recently to maybe use nicknames throughout the blog. If I do decide to do that, it would take quite a bit of time to go back and edit everything I have already done. Also with social media these days, over-revealing is tricky. I like sharing where we go and restaurants we try, but I'm not sure about all of the check-ins and such with Facebook and Instagram. I'm feeling it out...I'm curious what other bloggers think about all of this.

Anticipating
The 4th of July. I JUST. CAN'T. WAIT. to have an extra day off work. It has been absolutely bonkers lately and I have been really stressed. I'm looking forward to a random Wednesday away from the office with my family. We don't have plans but I'm sure whatever we do it will be lovely.

Listening To
Jared Grabb's new album Pulling Weight.  I was obsessed with Jared's 2010 album Where Do You Hide Your Love Songs while I was pregnant. And the more I listen to the new one, I'm getting a little obsessed with it! I have the cd in the car and we have the vinyl to enjoy at home. AND it is super cool that good friends of ours produced the vinyl (and one of them, Heather, sang on the album with Jared, too! ;)

Eating
Go Raw snacks. I got into them while on the Elimination Diet, and now they are a staple. I like the bars but lately I'm super into the snacky bites. The Spicy Flax Snax is my favorite.

Wishing: 
Dan, Raine, and I could spend a year or two in another country. It must be the shows I'm watching...Around the World in 80 Plates and House Hunters International. Also the fact that one of Dan's closest friends has spent the last 9 years with his wife in other countries. They have lived in Indonesia, Germany, and China, and had a baby in each country while at it! Ha! I see their photos on Facebook and it is amazing. They are able to work in those countries because they are teachers. I don't know how Dan and I would earn income if we were in another country. I also don't know how we would get Hobbes and Rocco there with us. Not that I'm really entertaining the idea. We are "stuck" in our lovely condo for a while. Just wishful thinking!

Sneaker Wave

Currently

LOVING

Escape to Yoga, a new yoga studio in Sherwood. The space is beautiful and relaxing and the instructors are friendly and helpful. I especially love that they have a full schedule throughout the week of a variety of classes. I have been taking gentle Hatha classes, aiming for the noon hour sessions that are shortened for people who are practicing on their lunch break. ;) I love it so much, I wrote a review for the first time in my life. I guess I'm on Yelp now. ALSO, clover fields. They are raging this time of year.

THINKING ABOUT
Ways to get my body in better shape. Like, lose the 15 lbs still hanging around after the pregnancy, but also just improve my flexibility and strength. This is a big reason for starting yoga. And, as always, ways to get my body in a better place overall. The seemingly greatest unending challenge of my life, right? I will be seeing yet another new doctor tomorrow, and I am half hopeful / half dreading talking to him about Fibromyalgia and PCOS. Not to mention this weird thing going on with my stomach lately. There is major growling and cramping no matter what I do.

ANTICIPATING
Seeing my mother. In approximately two hours. The only flights I could get her out of Bloomington were evening ones, so this is a very late flight, arriving after delays, too. Dan is going to go pick her up and I don't think they will be back here to the house until 1:30 a.m. I will go to bed but I won't be able to sleep. I can't wait!

LISTENING TO
Ho Hey by The Lumineers. So. Lovely. Anyone in Illinois going to Summer Camp this weekend? I will live vicariously through you. ;)

EATING
Oh goodness. Lately? Nothing with dairy, soy, or peanuts. I am trying to use an elimination diet to see if foods have anything to do with my Fibromyalgia. Daily staples have been: Green smoothies (so way more greens and fruits than I was getting before!) almond milk and cereal, oatmeal, salads, tea, apples with almond butter, yummy dinners by Dan, and a bit of coconut milk ice cream or a little piece of dark chocolate at the end of the day.

WISHING
There was more time in a day. I have all of these items on multiple lists running in my head that I am always trying to check off, and it just never seems to happen. I manage the big things: Pay the bills, wash clothes, take care of Raine, eat something, show up to work, Oh yeah! Kiss the hubby! ;) Other things just aren't getting done...An entire week will go by and I won't even get the mail or touch a dust pan. So never mind reading for fun, talking on the phone with my girlfriends (who I am so out of touch with, UGH!) or working on projects. (So somebody who has an older child inform me that this gets better, right?? Haha.) I mean, really and truly it is worth it to lose a little time to devote what I have to this little dude...

"CURRENTLY" is copied from a blog I read, Sometimes Sweet. ;) FYI! Previously on Herzing Luv: March 28 2012.

Currently

LOVING
'Scraps' brought home from Dan's landscaping job last weekend. Everything is really beginning to bloom here in Oregon. I am really excited to see the buds on the cherry blossoms and magnolia trees open up. Dan and I have set aside time Saturday to go to the Japanese Garden and enjoy it all.

THINKING ABOUT
My career. Or lack thereof. The JOB. Three months into being a full-time worker and new mommy, I am POOPED. I am very grateful for this particular job that I have--the super good insurance benefits, being able to take breaks whenever I need to pump breast milk, a long lunch hour that enables me to visit and nurse Raine, the location, and the fact that I can wear jeans and a t-shirt. But sometimes I wish I had a job that was more of a career, you know, the way I always assumed I would. I always thought I would *be* something: graphic designer, professor, small business owner, etc. Right now I am just another simple data entry office assistant. Actually, I would take it if it was for a company or organization that had anything to do with something I am passionate or even naturally curious about. Insurance? Not my kinda thing. But like I said, I am grateful and this particular job suits me for now. I just hope that there will come a time when I can make a change. I know I am only 31, but after spending ten years to get my undergraduate degree and then not even following that up with a job in the industries that I studied...Well, it makes me feel like I missed the bus.

ANTICIPATING
Our trip to Colorado in 1 week! We will be staying with Besty and family Wednesday and Thursday in Castle Rock, and then we have Friday and Saturday with Allyson and Marc in Boulder! I have never been to Boulder and I am anxious to see what it is like! Boulder beat out Portland by a slim margin, mostly to do with Marc finding a killer job there. ;) I am looking forward to getting away for a few days and enjoying a different landscape (I hear there is SUNLIGHT there!?) I can't help but wonder what it would be like to live in Colorado. I mean, come on! The SUN everyone speaks of, it is half the distance back to Illinois, and Allyson and Sarah within an hour of each other? Sweet! I am sure I will be thinking about it in the back of my mind. ;)

LISTENING TO
We Are Young (featuring Janelle Monáe) by Fun. I can't get enough of it. So catchy! Reminds me of Chicago...Hattie...Lots of fun nights out staying up late!

EATING
These little nuggets of goodness. I call them "my snackies." I am addicted. For sure. I discovered this snack when it was sampled at our grocery store (NSM). A gal that works there came up with it:

Spinach tortilla, spread with sunflower seed butter and slices of pear, sprinkled with sunflower seeds and sunflower sprouts, rolled up, and sliced into wedges with toothpicks to hold them together.

My super awesome hubby makes a batch out of four tortilla rolls and stacks the little guys in a tupperware container for me to take to work. The idea is for me to have them to snack on all week...but I kind of end up eating them in one sitting. Or two. It depends. ;)

WISHING
There was a magical super easy way to teach my son how to put himself to sleep and sleep with peace and content by himself in his crib all night. Tonight is the sixth night of our sleep training "experience." (What else do you call it!?) And it isn't easy.

As an infant, Raine slept in a bassinet in our bedroom. We had to mega-swaddle him and he woke very frequently if he didn't have a pacifier (or if he did, he woke angry if he spit it out). From 3 months old until 1 week ago, he co-slept next to me in our bed. Co-sleeping/family bed worked very well for us over that period of time. His need to suckle to stay asleep was met by my immediate presence and I could sleep while nursing him. However this created a problem in that Raine couldn't learn how to fall asleep without me. The only exception to this rule would be if he fell asleep riding in the car or by Dan carrying him around and soothing him (and all of the stars and planets were aligned.) So, if Raine was ready for bed at 8, I went to bed at 8. I would try to nurse him to sleep and then sneak away, but he would inevitably wake and cry until I returned and nursed him back to sleep. Or if Raine was NOT interested in falling asleep or couldn't be soothed by me or Dan at midnight, we would put him in the car and drive. In the last month, sleeping with him also became increasingly restless for me. I woke a lot, perhaps because he did, for whatever reasons...I don't know. It just stopped working.

I talked to several friends who had children ages 1, 2, or even 3, who told me that they wished they had weaned from co-sleeping to independent crib sleeping at Raine's age. They thought that 8-9 months would have been easier than 1, 2, or 3 years old! Dan and I decided to go ahead and just do it; Rip the band-aid off. My friend April's advice is always if you want to make a change, DO IT. Just do it, and go whole-hog. Don't beat around the bush. What is difficult in the short term is better for everyone in the long term (just wait until we have to potty train...She has great advice for that! LOL.) I took a crash course in "Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child," and took some tips from What to Expect the First Year. Dan and I created a "routine" to lead up to bedtime, and put our plan into action last Friday night. The strategy is to do the same routine every night so Raine can take comfort and pleasure in knowing what is expected as we lead to sleep time. After he has dinner, he either gets a bath or we go for short a family walk. Then he gets a clean diaper and pajamas. We all read a book together (it has been "Bright and Beautiful," a recorded book that Dan's parents made for Raine). I then nurse Raine in his room in the rocking chair. Finally, Dan holds him, sings to him, and lays his in his crib. We try to do this in the 7:30-8:30 time period but it is actually more about finding that window of time where we can tell Raine is sleepy and not overtired. Sort of tricky I guess because he doesn't have a regular nap routine throughout the day. Anyway, after Dan lays him down, we let him cry. Because he will cry. Dude wants to be with us! :) He doesn't like the separation! As long as he cries, we check on him every five minutes or so. We make sure he is clean, dry, safe, and either talk to him and pat him or sing. We keep it brief and do not pick him up. We do this until he stops crying and falls asleep. It can take anywhere from 5 to 45 minutes. The night that it took 45 minutes I actually nursed him halfway through to give an extra dose of soothing. (I don't know how I will sooth him when the day comes to wean him from breastfeeding! Yikes!)

Anyway, that is the "strategy" and we are only 5 days in so who knows if it will work. "Work" in the sense that he will be able to fall asleep without crying eventually. And the same goes for when he wakes in the night. Sometimes he cries but falls back asleep within minutes. Other times I nurse him. We are figuring it out. And I am wishing it didn't have to be hard. I know it will be worth it in the end, though.

 

My sweet little guy getting bathed before bedtime!

THAT WAS "CURRENTLY." Copied from a blog I read, Sometimes Sweet. ;) How about you? What are some of your "current" thoughts or experiences? Does anyone else LUV We Are Young? Any tips for getting a baby to sleep? ;)

A Birthday Gift for Nexus!

Saturday is a special day because it is the birthday of my dear friend, Tina, and her grand-daughter, Nexus! I can't believe a year has passed since Pax got himself a little sister, but wow... It has! And HOW CUTE IS SHE? Oh my goodness. Here are a few photos I stole from Jess' profile on Facebook. ;-)



I really wish we still lived close together, but I am used to watching my friends' children grow from afar. We were very spoiled to be a part of Pax's first year of life! I wanted to do something special, and because I actually had a little bit of energy and was feeling creative, I made some handmade envelopes for Tina and Nexus' birthday cards and Dan and I put together Nexus' First Year in Music, a music compilation like we did for Pax for his 1st birthday. Obviously it is something a little more sophisticated for her parents to enjoy, but hopefully it can be kept around (if at all, digitally!) and when she is older she can listen to it and appreciate it. It is surprisingly difficult to find albums released for each month of the year! We are lucky that Jess and Josh like the same kind of music that we do, and that in general they love all types of music! Here is what we came up with:

May 2010: "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks" from High Violet by The National
June 2010: "Infinity Guitars" from Treats by Sleigh Bells
July 2010: "When I'm With You" from Crazy for You by Best Coast
Aug 2010: "Suburban War" from The Suburbs by Arcade Fire
Sept 2010: "Birds" from Buzzard by Margot and the Nuclear So and So's
Oct 2010: "Constellation" from The Falcon Lake Incident by Jim Bryson featuring The Weakerthans
Nov 2010: "Let It Out" from All Day by Girl Talk
Dec 2010: "Last Night at the Jetty" from Last Night at the Jetty by Panda Bear
Jan 2011: "June Hymn" from The King Is Dead by The Decemberists
Feb 2011: "Undamned" from The Long Surrender by Over the Rhine featuring Lucinda Williams
March 2011: "Under Cover of Darkness" from Angles by The Strokes
April 2011: "Postcard From 1952" from Take Care, Take Care, Take Care by Explosions in the Sky
May 2011: "Helplessness Blues" from Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes

And here is my pretty handmade packaging, with a birthday card by our favorite stationer, the very quirky Red Cap Cards:

Monday Bullets

*
(The last time I did "Monday Bullets" was Dec. 8 2008!)


To do:

• Get birthday cards for my March lovelies!
  
• Download new Radiohead album. Why do I keep forgetting to do this??
• Sleep
• Eat
• Sleep
• Eat
• Paint and reupholster our thrift store find-a rocking chair for the nursery!

Contemplating:

• Boy girl boy girl boy girl boy girl
  
• How much I love my husband
• What's with the crib bumper thing? If it isn't safe, why are they sold in all the crib sets?
  

Eating:

• Hubby's homemade chocolate milkshakes
• Honeycombs
  
• Miniature Oranges
  
• French fries
  
• Toasted english muffins with peanut butter
  

Listening to:

• Girl Talk "All Day"
• Sarah Jaffe "Second Nature"

• The Decemberists "The King is Dead"
• Iron and Wine "Kiss Each Other Clean"
  

Wearing:

• Sweater cardigans
• Sweatpants (But not out in public, of course)
  
• New Romika shoes!
  

Addictions:

• Before-mentioned hubby's homemade chocolate milkshake
  
• General Hospital
• Nursery decor
• Top Chef
  

Missing:

• My family and friends
• Mochas
• NOT having to pee every 20 minutes
  
• Beer
• Working at Henny Penny :)
  

Making:

• Crib bedding
  
• Plans for several trips in the next couple of months
• Framed art for nursery
• Gift registry for Blasty
  

New favorite names for future baby (This is quite relevant! I won't be giving away my actual boy or girl favorite, but here are some on the back-up list:)

• Mae
  
• Eli
  
• Josephine
  

Winter wish list:

• Art: Over 2,500 Works... coffee table book
• Bears hoodie
• A KING SIZE BED!
• The Little Prince pop-up book for Blasty :)

Project #2: Mixed CDs

Easy and fun gifts to make! We pulled together 10 different playlists in itunes for family and friends--taking pride in our ability to combine all genres on one disc! They also gained sophistication with the use of a silver pen and labels I ordered from Chronicle.

Grief

Betty Trotter
Elsie Hodel
Marjorie Porter

“Give sorrow words. The grief that does not speak whispers the o'er-fraught heart, and bids it break." -William Shakespeare. I can only speak names. I find comfort in winter, the ever-growing family, familiar hymns from childhood. I particularly love Sufjan Steven's renditions of "Lo How A Rose E’er Blooming," "Holy, Holy, Holy," and "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing." Such a strange feeling they bring...

Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!

Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as men of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.

Isaiah ’twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;
With Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind.
To show God’s love aright, she bore to men a Savior,
When half spent was the night.

The shepherds heard the story proclaimed by angels bright,
How Christ, the Lord of glory was born on earth this night.
To Bethlehem they sped and in the manger found Him,
As angel heralds said.

This Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere;
True Man, yet very God, from sin and death He saves us,
And lightens every load.

O Savior, Child of Mary, who felt our human woe,
O Savior, King of glory, who dost our weakness know;
Bring us at length we pray, to the bright courts of Heaven,
And to the endless day!

Monday Bullets

To do:

• Send Christmas cards....Find addresses!!!
  
• Clean out jam-packed extra room
• Wrap gifts
• Dust
• Revise household budget
  

Contemplating:

• MA in Theology/Religious Studies/Christian History
• How much I love my husband
• Moral relativism
• How to continue to buy organic food with a tight budget?
  
• If Rocco will marry the heater in the living room

Eating:

• Mini frosted wheats
• Popcorn
• Pomegranate 7Up
• Spinach pizza
• Organic apple strudel made by Lorri....Mmmmmmmmm.

Listening to:

• Over the Rhine's 1st christmas album
• George Winston's December album
• Sufjan's christmas album

Wearing:

• Embroidered hoody
• Sweater boots
• Belts, belts, belts

Addictions:

• New knit poncho from Goodwill
• Cigarettes, still
• John Adams Miniseries & Sarah Silverman Program
  
• Mochas, still
• Procrastinating
  

Missing:

• Chicago
• Goshen
• Washington
• San Fran
• Everyone there

Making:

• Gifts
• Embroidered things
• Christmas cards
• Grilled peanut butters
• Secret plans

New favorite names for future baby:

• Ava
• Emelie
• Iver (Boy)
  

Winter wish list:

• Peace dove coffe cup cozy by Chet & Dot
• Floppy hat by CaboDesigns
• Simple boots
• New penguin deluxe edition Fairy Tales by H.C. Andersen

Sea and Cake: Car Alarm

New Sea and Cake album out. If I'm lucky, maybe I can get Dan on here to give you a review. We bought vinyl, which came with a freebie download of the entire disc to burn a CD. I wanted to get it for Dan as soon as possible to allow time for him to familiarize himself with it before we see them live at the end of the month in Seattle. (Yea!) The concert is Dan's early christmas present. Two days later we'll see Over the Rhine in Portland (Yea!) as my early christmas present.

Dream Vacation

Cayamo: A Journey Through Song.

Happy 1st Birthday Pax!

This little adorable munchkin celebrated his first birthday Saturday, amongst many friends of his parents and his grandma Beth. The theme was based on the tasty Indian cuisine, so I brought jewel stickers so that everyone could have a bindi. I stocked the good man up with plenty of clothing for his 18-24 month wardrobe, including a Star Wars onesie and chic pantalons du France.

I happen to love this little guy--not just because he comes from two totally beautiful and wonderful individuals that I have known both separately and together, but because he readily welcomes me into his world. I can forget the stresses of the day by sitting with him and letting him grab my nose and put it in his pocket--over and over again. This is the joy of children, right? They love you and take pleasure in you no matter what! I can feel like the scum of the Earth and then Pax will bestow kisses. *Pure pleasure.* I so look forward to our own little nugget of creation....

Anyone into music can also copy our other gift:

PAX: Your First Year in Music, Featuring:

Released 07 September: Iron and Wine, Shepherd's Dog, "Innocent Bones."
...October: Radiohead, In Rainbows, "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi"
...November: Sigur Ros, Hvarf - Heim, "Samskeyti (Live)"
...December: Rufus Wainright - Does Judy Live at Carnegie Hall, "Over the Rainbow"
Released 08 January: Of Montreal, Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? "Suffer For Fashion"
...February: Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago, "Skinny Love"
...March: She & Him (Zoey Deschanel & M. Ward), Volume I, "Hold On Me"
...April: Sun Kil Moon, April, "Lucky Man"
...May: Deathcab for Cutie, Narrow Stairs, "I Will Possess Your Heart"
...June: Wolf Parade, At Mount Zoomer, "Soldier's Grin"
...July: Beck, Modern Guilt, "Gamma Ray"
...August: Conor Oberst, Conor Oberst, "Cape Canaveral"

And the Grammy Goes To......

None of these artists. I was actually really surprised how much great music came out in 2007! '05 and '06 were a bit lackluster, and I almost gave up on music entirely, but Rhapsody, Paste, and wonderful friends, dragged me back in. Many of these are old stand bye's, but many are new favorites. Now, in no particular order, my favorite albums of 2007!