Komexian... what Korean + Mexican + Italian looks like

I have Tri-lingual Children

2011-05-16T14:00:00.000-07:00

... in my dreams. Of course, I sometimes also have three children in my dreams.

Today Si choked on a piece of fruit. Emmy said, "Kkok, kkok sheeboh Si!" I said, "Do you know what that means?" She said, "Yeah. Chew, chew your food." I said, "Pretty much." I don't think she realizes she's speaking Korean when she says this.

the sound of shattering glass

2011-03-20T20:00:00.000-07:00

Si's turning 1 this week, E's 4.5 and I feel like I'm really getting the hang of this parenting thing. Can handle broken glass on the floor, a crying baby, a preschooler who suddenly needs to poop, a whistling kettle and 12 more hours to go in the day, all at the same time, as was proof this morning. It's about handling priorities in the right order. Do so and you won't even notice that the shit has hit the fan. No big deal!
In case you're wondering:
1. stop the kettle.
2. sweep trail through glass.
3. get preschooler safely to bathroom.
4. clean up glass well.
5. pick up baby and apologize.
6. make coffee because who knows what else is in store.
7. smile! life is good.
Now, not to be a downer, but life is very good. Mike and I often point out how lucky we are, that we bare such a charmed life. BUT life is not good for folks in Japan right now, not good for many other people, for many other reasons, in most parts of the world. Through the day to day I never forget this. This Monday is World Water Day and we who have access to clean water even in our toilet bowls, should do something for those who don't at all.

Is There no Order

2011-02-10T10:32:00.000-08:00

Why is the 9-month-old climbing up the futon couch? Why is the 9 month old climbing at all already? And why is the 4 year old fixing sandwiches herself? And how did she figure out how to work the DVD? Where is their mother you ask? In a corner hiding, eating bits of chocolate like it's a hallucinogenic.

6 onths today-eating, and jumping, and clapping, and crawling

2010-09-26T11:13:00.004-07:00

mango pits make good teethers!

Remember this? One of few things we kept from E's babyhood... the jonny jump up!

not as addicted as his sis.

last days of summer, first day of school

2010-09-26T11:10:00.003-07:00

Proud E on her first day of school.

E's lemonade stand... and $9.60 richer.

Somos Quatro

2010-07-10T21:09:00.004-07:00

So much has happened since March 09. Most notably, this little guy was born.

And now we are four!

we're baaaack!

2009-03-24T13:41:00.002-07:00

stay tuned...

before I go

2008-07-08T20:13:00.003-07:00

got berry?

another fire alarm, E got to stay up until around midnight.
Heading to Seattle tomorrow morn to meet up with M and E. M reports that E is saying things like, "Look, two doggies!" and "Two flowers!" and "Boy running!" and "12345," which makes me about the saddest mom on earth to miss out on so much of her development. It's been 3 days and she looks like a tween on the iChat already. Might as well shoot myself. Except it has been fun to stay out late and pretend I didn't turn 30 this year...

chatty little girl

2008-07-02T14:31:00.005-07:00

trip to the zoo... last month

2008-06-15T15:18:00.005-07:00

E did NOT like the nonhuman primates. I admit seeing gorillas kind of gave me the creeps, like I shouldn't have the opportunity to see such a beautiful creature within Boston city limits... definately an animal that should not be kept in captivity for our entertainment. Neither the birds, nor mammals, nor reptilians...

summertime and the livin's easy

2008-06-07T11:15:00.003-07:00

I'll be starting a full time job in a week but will try to keep the blog up regularly... Mike's been instructed to start using the camera more so you don't miss out on E's life. Emmy is growing fast, putting 2 and 3 words together like, "Seeya Mama!" and "I don't want" and "Daddy's book" and "Mama, what is?" and "Bob Dee-yan" and "Winnie Pooh" etc. Pretty cute.

exodus

2008-06-02T12:38:00.007-07:00

The great exodus has occured here in Cambridgeland. Tens of thousands of students have fled the city via mom and dad's SUV. Everything that didn't fit was left behind: in dumpsters, on the street, lining sidewalks and porticos. The pictures really do not do it justice. It was in-sane, rediculous!

I admit I have been waiting for this end of the year windfall to happen, with hopes of finding wonderful, designer, useful things for myself without actually looking like I was dumpster diving. If you are unfamiliar with that term, you may want stop here. Anyway, I scored a pair Armani pants for my sis and a hoodie for my hubbie because they almost literally fell into my arms, but sadly, that's where it ends. I really wanted to save the great kitchen table in the photo below from going to a landfill, but the roommates (Mike, E) said no.
Can you imagine? I was surprised that there wasn't better organization to the mess, things that could easily and cheaply have been sent to New Orleans, say. I was happy to spy a few hippies and townies score some pretty good finds (I'm talking NICE things here!), and I am still on the lookout for a few things: bike trailer, shelving, rugs, fan. There are still people moving out all summer so one can only hope.

All this started the weekend our dear friends Dan and Rebecca visited. Here's a shot of them with Mike and E.

A close up of Dan looking rather fatherly. Maybe one day soon D and R will start making babies of their own if I may be so frank.

Not to mention these two yahoos:

And a couple others that I have no current picture of. But I digress. It was wonderful to talk and eat and hang out with them!

new posts coming soon

2008-05-30T07:51:00.002-07:00

Until then here's a sneak preview of things to come...

$9 bar of tastey, salty, yumminess made in Chicago.

E goes feline for a day.

convalescent lesson

2008-05-12T13:13:00.006-07:00

Happy Mother's Day out there. Mike is 0-2 in remembering Mother's Day for me. Don't hiss, the guy is a temporary convalescent. The best gift anyway is the privilege of mothering such a great kid, if I may be so corney.
Here are a few old images as I'm spending most my time trying to keep the house (and my mind) from breaking at the seams.
On Bainbridge.

Keeping House. Might I mention E likes to carry a purse around, something she didn't learn from me either!

Carter's visit #2 last month.

hiatus

2008-05-08T21:25:00.010-07:00

Came home from a week away to a husband with mono. Things are a bit busy to say the least. Here are some photos, I'll try not to be away for too long next time.

I lost this hat at the river the day after I made it for Emmy.

Emmy is sporting a House and Baby smock... Last year's dress makes a darling shirt the next!

more movies!

2008-04-25T19:52:00.003-07:00

movies!

2008-04-22T15:09:00.003-07:00

Harvard Coop celebrating 125 years in business

hanging out

up from a nap.
more movies to come!

haha you're scaring me dad

2008-04-03T10:41:00.003-07:00

Splurged on this dress for E. Too bad she hated it. Returned it the next day but not without taking notes for a pattern to make this summer.

sick again

2008-04-02T13:15:00.007-07:00

The little one too. But here's what happened last week:

band practice

"Mom."
"What! How'd you do that Emmy?"

Mike's dad visits, reading with her Nonno.

Visiting Mike Sr's cousin passed Waldon Pond. Is that my dream cabin in the background? With a new coat of paint yes it is.

A trip to the aquarium.

new product at house and baby!

2008-03-29T11:34:00.004-07:00

check out more samples by going to
houseandbaby.wordpress.com

or just click on the link under !buy local!

Business website still under construction... so sorry say sister!

what a difference a day makes

2008-03-27T11:07:00.004-07:00

Email Exchange with Mother of French Boy

2008-03-19T20:22:00.006-07:00

* You can't see how bad it actually is - two teeth marks and a puple bruise around it.
** Also, what I didn't tell the mother was that we were BOTH pretending to be lions and that I was roaring to him quite ferociously.

Hyewon-

How are you doing? Is the bite still painful?
I want to apologize again for what C did to you.
I am terribly upset he bit you. He told me he was pretending to be a lion...
I am sorry I did not watch him closer.
We had a talk, and I hope he will remember that biting hurts, even if he is playing.
I am truly sorry.

Take care,
B

Hi B,
No worries about the bite! It barely broke the skin and is not painful at all anymore. And actually when I told my husband the story today I couldn't help but laugh. In retrospect it is quite funny - C WAS acting like a lion, I never thought he was being malicious in any way. And when he lunged forward it was almost endearing. I'm laughing thinking of it now.

When I was a child I not only bit people, I spat too... and my mother rarely found out about it. I only know this from stories. C apologized, I thanked him and accepted his apology, so we are on good terms. ;)

Thank you for your email! See you later,
Hyewon

mustachioed mothers and more

2008-03-09T09:22:00.007-07:00

Hair cut #2 for E.... new bangs!

Not so much of a mullett anymore

The hat obsession continues.

I don't know how she managed to get this one on.

So the funny part. E often brings me one of her books and points to something on the cover and says what it is. "Bear!" "Ball!" "Blue!" whatever it might be that caught her attention. When she brings this book to me she points to the tallest kid and says, "Daddy!"

THIS one however, is not so funny. When E brought this book to me yesterday day, she pointed to Augustine and said, "Mama!" I said, "Uh, excuse me?" Again, point and "Mama!" Just to be sure I heard correctly I took the book from her and said, "Emmy, who is that?" She smiled and yelled, "Mama!"

Here's a close up of Augustine's pencily mustache and flat pectorial. What does it mean?!

how i found my daughter this morning and other small anxieties

2008-03-06T08:37:00.005-08:00

after a quick clean up and camera adjustment

What no mother wants to see out the window.

Uh, what are you doing Emmy?

on the mend

2008-02-26T08:04:00.002-08:00

Been very sick with a flu for the last 7 days. I think I am better now. Emmy and Mike definately bonded more, though she was still very clingy to her vacant, absent mother. Felt bad I couldn't pick her up when she needed it. Thankfully though she didn't get sick.

what is?

2008-02-19T12:58:00.001-08:00

I know, I know, it's almost like, "roll over spot!" but so cute!

quickie

2008-02-19T08:56:00.005-08:00

coffee Mike brought home the other day. He had seen a couple of Mexican fellows buy a cart load and thought he out to try, for solidarity. Not as good as the Semeuse but not bad for a buck fifty.

rocking out to Edgar Meyer. Don't worry Dad, the level was really, really low.

Sorry kiddo, looks like you got Mama's feet! Now are we gonna boil this bear or what?

Cold weather wear.

REALLY cold weather wear.

Looks like it's 9 to 2 in favor of Obama. I have to say I was a bit surprised!

2008-02-11T09:46:00.000-08:00

Though I wish I could get so many comments in a week. A-hem.
The new fort!

E's new favorite perch - wood lap desk inside the fort!

Hanging out in the "sailboat"

one word: cupping. Oh my. If anyone wants one of these sets, my mom is in Korea right now and can get a basic kit for about 50 bucks. Better than the Neti pot. Much better than the Neti.

making a music deadline while mom is out

Lastly, thanks to all those (two) folks who have already put in orders for a smock! And remember, references for new business will get you a special and very cool handmade gift as a thank you!
For a sneak preview of things to come, go to houseandbaby.wordpress.com

Smocks for Sale!

2008-01-31T10:30:00.000-08:00

I'm going to start selling these dress smocks for little girls and babies. For those of you who remember this one...

I started making a whole new line for E last night with my wonderful new sewing machine. Wool ones for the winter, linen for the spring and fall, cotton for the summer. I'm having fun embellishing them with buttons and pockets and applique and things. They are custom fitted, double-sided and thus reversable. Best yet is that the zipperless/buttonless aspect makes them size adjustable, so dresses this year are darling shirts next year! Spread the word and you'll get a free handmade gift from me. Smocks start at 30 bucks, shipping free anywhere in the world.
Here's a view of the back:

Man Saves Child From Burning Building

2008-01-30T11:46:00.000-08:00

Thank you mystery man!

Actually it was a kitchen fire down the hall from us that evacuated a couple hundred people from their warm apts. Some Irish grad student who was "just trying to fry up something to eat." The alarm, i was pleased to note, was not that awful sounding. E had just sat down in her chair but signed "all done" thinking we might leave without her. It was nice to know we were able to get everybody suited for 20 degree weather in about 2 minutes.

an eventful day

2008-01-19T18:59:00.000-08:00

heading out (and a peek in our apt building)

heading home, this little bear is ready for a nap.

Lookie what my sweetie bought me!

2008-01-18T20:17:00.000-08:00

I have been incomplete without a sewing machine for the last 5 months. This one is unfortunately manufactured in China (if you email Singer cust serv, they'll get back to you asap!), so I'm hoping it will at least get me through the infancies of our future children. I will be checking the mail room every day with anticipation until it arrives safely in my arms.

*side notes

2008-01-17T19:53:00.000-08:00

. .......hugh circa 1970s.......
Emmy and I were watching Paul Simon's Graceland: the African Concert on DVD this morning before breakfast. (* a rarity - we rarely have time for such tom foolery...) Some of the best musicians I've ever heard. The opening song brought tears to my eyes. Anyway, this is where I discovered Hugh Masekela, who sang and played the cornet on a song and blew my socks off. My socks? My feet! Check him out at the address below:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Masekela

E and I have been dancing to "Bring back Nelson Mandela! Bring him back to Soweto! I want to see him walking hand in hand with Winnie Mandela!" all day. Yes all day. Too bad they ended up in splitzville anyway.

Here's a near-spherical egg that I cooked the other day. Whas with East Coast eggs anyway?
My sister-in-law is going to start selling her baby quilts and purses through an etsy.com account. Her shop is "loveyoudesigns" if you're interested in shopping locally/handmade.

here's a random picture of E I had sitting in my desktop.
Good day!

New additions to the bathroom

2008-01-13T08:49:00.001-08:00

This was a special little surprise in my Christmas stocking. Mike's mom has a revolving collection of seasonal trinkets for the bathrooms in her home. Candles, lotions, flowers, and things like tiny robin’s-egg-blue salt and pepper shakers. I loved these love birds the first time I saw them and told her so. She must have sensed I secretly coveted them because within days she wrapped them up and gave them to me! I was so touched. Most of you know I’m not that into things, but a few knick-knacks I treasure. Like my three circular tiles from Mexico, my Russian intalio print of dehydrating fish, E's silver cup from my Uncle Bruce, and now these. Treasures never get old. I display these things in prominent places in my home to see them as often as I can. And every time I see them, they give me joy.

The day before we left Seattle I bought this replacement Neti pot (Whole Foods $16.95). I broke the one I bought for Mike as newlyweds (romantic!) shortly after we moved here (real tiles + clumsy wife = lots of super glue and shrugging) and thought to get a new one just so I could carry it for 12 hours and treck it 3,000 miles to our apartment rather than buying one at the Whole Foods I bike by twice a week in Cambridge. If you’ve never tried the Neti, let me enlighten you. You put a cup of lukewarm saline solution (1/2 tsp sea salt + water) in the Neti, place spout at one nostril, tilt head, hold breath and enjoy. I’m sure coke addicts get some kicks through recovery with the Neti. It’s awesome. I’m almost excited for seasonal allergies come Spring to have an excuse to use it again.
Anyway, the Neti lives on our tiny bathroom counter (aka toilet) because I think it’s pretty. Actually, every time I look at it I think it belongs in the collection of pretty white ceramics our Shafer friends have in Seattle. If so pressed I will even give it to them, though a gal at Whole Foods told me the Neti was recently featured on Oprah and I fear people would know the “gravy boat” was actually a yogic nose hose. Anyway, if you have any kind of sinus issue, I highly recommend the neti!

Christmas in the PNW IV

2008-01-10T21:58:00.000-08:00

NW moss

NW porcupine

NW Pigeon Gillimot

NW cousins

NW view from Mike's old stained glass window.

Christmas in the PNW III

2008-01-07T18:06:00.000-08:00

The old neon Bardahl sign in Ballard.

Hmm, first try with these blogger videos. This one doesn't do my copy justice. Sorry for the dark image - you can actually see E's face light up with the sign as she stares in awe from her car seat.

Christmas in the PNW II

2008-01-07T10:48:00.001-08:00

The Grigoni Grandkids Photoshoot

I think this one says it all.

Christmas in the PNW

2007-12-27T15:49:00.000-08:00

I'm typing at my sister's house where we will be staying for the next couple nights. Mike and I decided to extend our stay in the PNW by 10 days so rather than flying back to Boston on Christmas morning, we'll be here for another week. Hooray!
I am sick with something and have only been awake for a total of about 2 hours though it is 4 o'clock in the afternoon. E is sick with the croup and is napping under piles of blankets. So much for our flu shots - must be east coast bugs only that we are immune to. We spent yesterday morning taking E to her old pediatrician for a dose of steroids to help with the inflamation around her throat. She has her first runny nose and sounds like a little teenage frog.
Otherwise, it is so wonderful to be back in the PNW. Our first day here we felt like we were in our element for the first time in months. It was also nice to be able to walk around without fear of freezing our... eyeballs. We are seriously considering coming back for the summer and will keep you posted with our plans.
Time has been flying by and we would like to see a few more people before heading back east. Hope everyone is enjoying their vacations and time with friends and fam. Isn't it so nice to be with the ones you love?

going on

2007-12-16T19:24:00.000-08:00

Where are you going?

E's belly was so full with cornish game hen, potatoes, carrots and "nuh nanas" (bananas), that her inny belly button almost became an outie.

Visitors from good 'ol Bellingham.

It snowed. Again. This is the view from our window after only TWO days of snow!

Close shot of a neighbor's car.

Happy Birthday to Me!

2007-12-08T11:40:00.000-08:00

The morning of E's birthday.

You say I'm going to like it, but how can I be sure?

I can't believe I didn't take a single picture at Emmy's birthday party. That is what exactly one year of inadequate sleep will do to you. My friend Andrea came a couple hours early to help me set up and prepare. There were a couple toddlers and one kid and lots and lots of adults. I'll try to do better for her next time. We played “How much does Emmy weigh?” The winner came close at 21lb 30z (off by one ounce!) who said she felt like a little less than half a 50lb barbell.

We sang happy birthday, which seemed to confuse the birthday girl. I blew out the candle, Emmy smacked her cake with her hand and refused to eat any. One woman said babies instinctively won't eat anything brown. You can guess why. E tried two nibbles of frosting after my prodding, poked around for a few minutes, and then moved on to the toy maracas someone bought her. That mess you see in the photo is from Mom picking off bits of chocolate frosting. Maybe I shouldn't have made a whole wheat cake.

The Republic of Cambridge

2007-11-30T11:33:00.000-08:00

Life in B’ham was like life in a bubble. If I were Mormon, I’d say it was like life on a star, which sounds more poetic. It was too good and still true.

Once again, I find myself in a town that is a bubble. A star bubble. The only difference is I’m not a student this time. Oh yeah, and I have a husband and a kid. Oh yeah, and rent is exactly 8 times what it was in the republic of B’ham. I’m not kidding. Oh yeah, and rumors of winter weather and wind chill are beginning to make me a bit shifty. Oh yeah, and everybody in this town goes to Harvard. Or MIT. And one person I met, both.

Before our move east I wondered if we would meet a few pretentious academics out here. We’ve all met that kind of jerk who, by opening his/her mouth, so easily spoils business meetings, Q and A’s, lunch... When your education takes you to such lofty heights you cannot relate to the rest of the world, you not only do yourself a grave disservice, you make the whole world have to deal with yet another intellectual prick. And it’s not a real education you’re getting if you think what school you go to or what you learned makes you any more special than the guy sitting next to you on the metro. I mean, we just want to know - can you, or can't you, break it down on the dance floor.

What I have found to be true is that few people actually give a rat’s tail what school you go to out here. Everybody and their uncle is or knows somebody at a big named school - either here, or NY, or the other Cambridge or somewhere else.

Imagine: every single person in your apt is getting an $80,000 degree from Harvard. Every kid in the building across the street, and the building behind you, and the building behind that one, and the one across the street from the building behind the one behind you as well. Everybody goes to Harvard here, everybody has the sweatshirt to prove it. However, what does seem to be important is the brand of shoe you are wearing. Aren't those what really make the man? Shoes and overcoats. You definately need a good overcoat. Some days Mike and I must look like a pair of homeless bums walking around with a beautiful baby we must have kidnapped or something.

Life in the republic of Cambridge is a bit rediculous, but we do enjoy it here. Meantime I'm trying to convince Mike to get a pair of winter shoes, something pretty and warm to keep his feet from falling off in the cold.

t h a n k s g i v i n g

2007-11-24T11:24:00.000-08:00

My favorite holiday. Family, friends, food, gratitude for all the above and more. Mike’s friend, Eric, from Austin (whom I’d only met at the Pardue wedding years ago) and his wife, Paulina, invited us up to New Hampshire to spend the weekend with his family. Their amazing hospitality was such a gift after months of hard work and going it alone out here. So here are some fall-in-New England pictures as I’ve promised.

(E discovers a window at the Shire)

We spent the first night at the “Shire,” on 19 acres of New England pines and fog. It turned out that the heater was broken, so we stayed in a bedroom with a pellet stove. We (Mike, Emmy and I) went to bed around 2 am, unplugged the stove (not how you’re supposed to turn off a P stove), awoke a few minutes later when the house fire alarm went off because our room had filled up with smoke. Down to the cold but clean air basement we went and finally got some shut eye sometime after 2:30 with E suited up like an Eskimo and under 10 inches of blankets. The bog down the road was frozen over – needless to say it was very cold that night.

(view from outdoor shower)
In the morning we went to the “Cabin,” more accurately called the “Mansion Cabin,” by Paulina. The spread was beautiful and the food was the tastiest I’ve ever enjoyed for Thanksgiving. (Sorry Mom! But you are an amazing cook and the most inspiring and wonderful mother!!) E loved their dog, I loved the radiant stone floor heating and outdoor shower, Mike loved the eternally brewing coffee pot. How I wished the space was mine to have decorated it as my own. Mike and I were both taken by the beauty of NH and wonder if we'll buy a little old house there someday. Rent in the city, spend summers and holidays at our own cabin.

(Mike with E on couch - he "forgot" to bring his dobro)
This was the first Thanksgiving I didn't hear a football game playing on the TV from one of my brothers watching. After dinner was the traditional music night, where instrument clad friends as far as Vermont arrived ready to sing by the fire place. Crazy family you say? We felt right at home! We stayed the night at the cabin and were warm with a good time.

The next day we decided to head home as Mike had lots of work to do for school and a new commercial gig he scored right before we left and I have to compile audio clips for a job interview this week. We got home late last night exhausted but happy to be in our own place again. Mike had the idea of cooking another Thanksgiving meal for the three of us. "What's Thanksgiving without leftovers for days after?" he asked. Not a bad point. So at 8 o'clock in the evening we made a rice and mushroom stuffed chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, brussels sprouts, stuffing and rolls. I am so stuffed I've only managed black coffee and chocolate today - the best way to feed a food hangover.
I wish we could have personally wished each of you a happy Thanksgiving. You are lovely and we are grateful to call you our friends and family. I'm thankful to God for your lives and hope you find great joy and purpose as the year wraps up.

Cutting Teeth and Hosting Friends

2007-11-20T12:13:00.000-08:00

I am looking out the window watching the snow fall quietly on Mike and our friend Carter as they walk to the T(rain). I am considering yelling down at them to stop so I can take a photo, but Carter has a plane to catch and the baby is sleeping in the other room. I can’t believe I didn’t take a single photo during his visit. And no mention of any of our other visitors on the blog! So here’s three cheers for Biz, Carter, Julia and my mom who have all ventured out here to our place in Cambridge.

E has 6 teeth now. She started walking last week and self weaned shortly after that. It sort of broke my heart that she could become so independent so quickly. Well, not sort of, I have only today recovered from being a weepy mess all weekend. Anybody reading this should call their mother right now and apologize for growing up so damn fast.
Mike wrapped E up in her Eskimo get up and walked her to the dr’s after we noticed a little blue blister on her gums. (I thought it was a piece of basil three days ago.) Did you know you can bruise your gums? The trauma of the doctor’s probing has made teeth brushing an even more difficult task. I tried wiping E’s teeth as she slept and wouldn’t have been able to get a putty knife wedged in if I tried for how tightly sealed she kept those lips.

gushing blood

2007-11-08T12:03:00.000-08:00

The first time Mike ever called 911 was when I was pregnant and fainted and while on my way down to the floor hit my head on the dining room table – you know just to secure the experience of unconsciousness.
The second time Mike called 911 was a few days ago when the kid with whom I was pregnant at said unconsciousness hit her face on the kitchen floor. No big deal, Mike just scooped her up when she started crying hard. Half a minute later she hadn’t stopped. Miked came back into the kitchen with Emmy still in his arms and said, Look, she’s bleeding!
Until that day I had never seen gushing blood. I had heard about, seen it on TV and in movies, but never witnessed with my own eyes bleeding so severe that it would qualify as gushing. Emmy’s mouth was a fountain of deep red, thick, healthy blood. I somehow had the time to think her chin looked like a goatee.
Then I panicked. Outwardly. I made Mike call 911 because I didn’t know what to do first: try to stop the bleeding or try to determine whether she had actually swallowed a piece of tongue she bit if it was still attached at all.
Five minutes later nearly a dozen men, yes so many that they took two elevators, came to the rescue. Only the second before they came through the door, Emmy stopped bleeding AND crying. Her newly sprouted upper teeth had cut the inside of her lip. They suggested popsicles to keep the swelling down and probably enjoyed a few laughs on the way back to the fire station at our expense.
One thing we learned is that you don’t get charged for having an ambulance arrive at your call. Mike was talking to his friend (who I call Black Dan to differentiate from White Dan, call me racist, whatever) about it, who said,
“All black people know that. You can call 911, but DON’T get in the ambulance.” That’s when you’re out about 500 bucks. Did you know that? If something happens again and we have to take E to the emergency, I am putting what appendage fell off into a zip lock bag and running the half mile to the hospital myself.

ready for East Coast snow!!!

2007-11-03T17:01:00.000-07:00

first hair cut

2007-10-19T15:00:00.000-07:00

had to cut new bangs while E was napping

waking up to a new do

now to do something with the back...

faithful grocers and east coast oddities

2007-10-17T08:42:00.000-07:00

Catholics say they love the fact that they can go to mass in any country in the world and feel right at home. It's the exact same mass, given at any hour of the day somewhere in the world. If that were the only thing that attracted me to Catholicism, I'd never convert since I enjoy that same comfort getting my groceries at Trader Joe's. The crew at the Cambridge Trader Joe's wear the same inspiring T-shirts, have the same neighborly demeanor and always smile and thank you for bringing your own bags. Likewise, if there is a Traders in town, the inside of our refrigerator remains the same wherever we go: soy milk, mushrooms, eggs, bread, butter, beer, green onions, onions, potatoes, ground turkey, prefab leg o' lamb, bacon, cheese, salsa, cilantro, bagged greens, cabbage, and condiments. And best of all, we can afford such extravagance.

It's nice to have some consistency in your life when everything else is turned upside down. Still getting used to the East Coast experience. This week started off with us cracking 9 sets of twins out of one carton of eggs (a reason to buy organic eggs). I found a not so little plastic googly eye in E's diaper. (For those of you who did not live for arts and crafts as a child, a googly eye is a plastic shell, white and opaque on one side, clear and colorless on the other. Inside the shell is a smaller black disk that rattles around when you shake it. These can be adhered to various surfaces, instantly creating a face with just one or a pair of googly eye! And there one was, staring at me in a little brown oval shaped head after E's breakfast, about the size of two nickles stacked together. I have this story filed away if the child ever complains about having to swallow vitamins when she's older.)

But fall arrived last weekend and it is getting right pretty out. I'd upload some pictures but blogger's having some troubles with them...

E dawg in da house!

2007-10-06T12:44:00.000-07:00

Check out my crib, yo!

ten months old now!

2007-09-30T18:36:00.000-07:00

more blueberries Dad!

getting into the pots and pans cabinet

hanging out downtown Boston

I'll keep posting even for an audience of 5

2007-09-17T11:29:00.000-07:00

Though it feels like pledge drive week at NPR here!

A couple Snapshots, more to come soon.
The Harvard Lampoon building; my favorite building in Cambridge so far. Over a couple hundred years old and a block and a half from our place.

E's favorite perch in the whole apt. Many a college kid has she waved to down on the walkway below.

East West

2007-09-15T08:24:00.000-07:00

Today is a perfect coffee drinking day. Lucky for me, my sweetie brought home some Swiss water processed decaffinated coffee from a little Italian coffee/tea/chocolates/salami place up the road. The coffee is called Cafe la Semeuse, and it is delicious. And today, since it's overcast and cool and Saturday, I'm going to drink 5 cups of it.

Moving Part 28 - Landing in Cambridge, Mass

2007-09-06T12:49:00.000-07:00

It did't hit me that we were moving to the East Coast until I saw Lake Michigan from thousands of feet up in the air. That beautiful lake that always seemed like an ocean to me until last week when I saw its eastern shore for the first time in my life. At that moment I knew we were leaving all we ever considered normal and were starting over in a foreign land... New England! I felt like Bart Simpson; mesmerized by the counter clockwise flush of Australian toilets some years back. I realized just how must our orientation is rooted in time and place, that the Pacific Northwest is as much home to me as Grandma and Grandpa are to others. I believe I love the Pacific as much as Merriweather Lewis did the first time he saw it.

But Boston is beautiful. It feels like Italy, like Guanajuato, Mexico. Despite that so much US history transpired here, it doesn't feel like America to me. So strangers in a strange land are we. At our core, Mike and I are West Coast people. Slow paced, flower sniffing, coffee sipping, friendly people. So how do we like it? We love it!!! It's a new experience and we couldn't be enjoying ourselves more.

As for E-news, crawling is so last month, ma! The girl is entirely about pulling herself up to standing, and if possible, pushing furniture along as she tries to walk. I remember in our last days in Seattle, putting Emmy to bed only to find her rounding the corner into the kitchen hours later on her own. It was like she was looking for a party to crash or something. She might well have been frying up an omlette as shocked as I was by the sight. Seeing her move around like she is now she doesn't seem so much like a baby already. I feel that at any moment she is going to look up and say to me, "How dee do, Mom," as if she's been talking all her life. The girl is growing!

Pictures to come when I take them. Lots of beautiful sights just outside our apt. Shall I continue? Are people still checking up on this blog? I'm fishing for some comments here!

E napping on our borrowed mattress... thanks Andrea!

The Move Part 27: Boston via Chi' town

2007-09-03T21:12:00.000-07:00

Hanging out with my aunt

Sorry no pictures of Dan and Rebecca but it was really nice to see them in their beautiful apt on Printers Row. Solo parenting while travelling = more time spent at wit's end = less time taking pictures. Also wonderful to spend time with Greg to whom E took an immediate liking.

Trying out the silver spoon and cup from her Great Uncle, originally a gift from his grandparents back in the 40's.

"Tastes better than plastic!"

all tuckered out
Thanks to Uncle Bruce and Emoh for making our visit easy, fun, and memorable. What would we do without familia?

last pix in Seattle

2007-09-03T21:00:00.000-07:00

Plus a wonderful visit from an old friend. (That's not a photo of us but our kids! We only met in college:))

The Move Part 2 - Camping at home

2007-08-19T09:46:00.000-07:00

My brother just left from a visit from the Peace Corps. He’s been calling the Philippines his home and enjoying views of tropical beaches and hot Filipinas on tropical beaches for 15 months now. Actually, we know he is really there to save the world. Just kidding, it’s really about the Filipinas on beaches. Just kidding again.

Emmy took a liking to him immediately and confirmed my theory on familial pheromones. His visit comes at a good time; a little later and he’d have missed us, a little sooner and we wouldn’t have had his help in loading our moving pod.

All our things are en route to our new apt on the other coast and we are living quite sparingly for the time being. I went to the thrift store to buy a frying pan so we wouldn’t have to continue scrambling eggs in the aluminum camping mug I forgot to pack and found a pretty pyrex thing that is doubling as our tea kettle. Ah the simple life.

Some things you've missed in Emmy's life these last few weeks: she's crawling, clapping, and saying, "Oooohhh!" She's also got her two bottom teeth in now.

The rest of our days here in the Pacific Northwest will be spent saying goodbye to family and friends and thanking them for the wonderful love and life we’ve enjoyed together the last few years.

The Move Part One: Packing

2007-07-28T12:42:00.000-07:00

We've decided to rent a storage crate, that's right, just one, to ship our things to the East Coast. We taped a corner of our living room to its dimensions and whatever doesn't fit in the 5x7x8 crate will not be coming with us. It's all about strategic tetrising, as my friend eurecatherine.blogspot.com would call it. I am grateful a childhood playing video games is paying off now.

See kids, video games are good for you!

This also means we get to do some big time shopping when we first arrive in Boston. New bed, new couch, new dining set, and lots of other fun purchases. Hooray!

family portraits

2007-07-24T23:11:00.000-07:00

Don't you think my sister should be a professional photographer?

camping pix as promised

2007-07-21T13:35:00.000-07:00

paraphernalia

2007-07-20T12:27:00.000-07:00

Our latest Craigslist find.

the latest

2007-07-17T12:15:00.000-07:00

hanging out in the morning

sippy cup challenges

so much so little

2007-07-12T10:23:00.000-07:00

This is the first little shirt/dress I made for Emmy. I say I have no time since the baby’s been born, but it’s because I waste so much of it doing things like this. Like, why do I make things that cost half as much time and money at a store? It’s a little about treading lightly and enjoying hand made things (clothes, food, music, etc) but the real reason is I can’t help myself. Been like this my whole life. That’s why I bought that 30 year old volkswagon a few years back. Thought the seventh grade shop class I took plus four tools I own (and I mean the most rudimentary kind) would be enough to maintain it myself. Though now look what’s happened. The thing currently sitting in the garage has got a computer running its engine. ☹
Speaking of which, Mike and I will be going carless in Boston so, anyone interested in a 2005 5-speed Hyundai Elantra, please give me a call.

Anyway, I can’t help but think the baby looks like a little doll in this outfit with her spankies and all. Which I now realize is a little ridiculous since a doll is just a fake baby, which she is not. Getting a little Jack Handy here for you.

all quiet on the home front

2007-07-08T11:19:00.001-07:00

Remember when I said something about limbs hanging out from the crib...

pink power

2007-07-05T14:25:00.000-07:00

camping at seabeck

2007-07-04T13:42:00.000-07:00

We took Emmy on her first car camping trip this week. Sue Young and Joe joined us for the first night, then it was just familia komexia to scare away chipmunks and neighboring children from stealing our precious marshmellows. Actually the place was very private for car camping, but we look forward to the day when Emmy can walk so we can strap on a little backpack and make her carry some of her own stuff for a change.
I only brought my manny on the trip, so more pictures to come once I get some from my sis.

unconditional love

2007-06-30T11:42:00.000-07:00

I have a sore throat today and though I probably shouldn’t, I am nursing the last of my coffee. Few things can steer me from this daily joy. Even with the knowledge that it is ruining my throat and likely bad for my health in general, I cannot but partake. And even when we move to the East Coast, where I hear the coffee is abominable, I am sure my love will remain steadfast. Ah me.

In other news, the pretty table cloth you see in the picture is one I'm working on currently. My sis-in-law and I have tentative business plans to create custom linens for sale. So if you need a pretty table cloth...

fun, funner, funnest

2007-06-29T11:02:00.000-07:00

Brownie Recipe

2007-06-13T21:43:00.000-07:00

My neighbor has her grandkid over today while they await the birth of his little sister. It was sunshiney all day and I was feeling neighborly and so decided to bake a batch of homemade brownies for them. Turns out, these brownies are the best brownies I've ever had in my life, which is saying a lot since I can't bake. Here is the recipe:
(measurements are approximate - hence the bad baking habit)

melt half cup organic butter
mix in half cup dark chocolate cocoa
add one teaspoon of vanilla

in seperate bowl mix together
half cup of white flour + half cup almond meal

mix two bowls together
add one egg and stir until just blended

bake in a pie pan at 350 for about 25 minutes
call me to thank me
gain five pounds because you just ate the whole pan
dang gina!

carry on then

2007-06-13T13:12:00.000-07:00

Emmy, do you want to try some beets?
No thank you.

long time nothing

2007-06-01T21:38:00.003-07:00

ay carumba. Emmy's six months old now. This afternoon while she napped we looked at all the photos we've taken of her. Six months worth of near paparzzi devotion. We are so smitten with this child that sometimes we do things like look at pictures of her though she sleeps 10 feet away. And sometimes we even just watch her sleep. Can a person be obsessed with her own kid?

These are three of about 20 outtakes from our passport photo session earlier today. E's got her Hawaiian shirt on for the occasion.

oh yeah, happy mother's day

2007-05-13T10:21:00.000-07:00

I got a couple gifts last Mother's Day while in my first trimester and felt like a complete fraud by the end of the day. The flowers even knew the right thing to do was to shrivel up and die the day after I planted them.

This year, I nearly forgot the holiday. It has registered that I have a daughter, but the fact that I am somebody's mom is still a far out notion. Anyway, since my mom is out of the country for the next month, today I say three cheers to EVERY woman who ever loved a person even when it was a pain in the neck to do so. You are beautiful.

So here's an update on Life O' Emmy along with some classics to show how far she's come along.

I've fallen and I can't get up

Look Ma, sitting up by myself now

The boppy - Sooo 2006

Yay for the Johnny Jump up

not happy

happy!

sicky sicky

2007-05-03T16:34:00.000-07:00

Been sick. Here's the very last photo we took of E before this flu ruined my life. A bit cuter than I'm looking right now.

Mike tried to cheer me up yesterday by pointing out that I might lose some pregnancy pounds. Can you imagine. I almost don't want to write those evil words here in case it actually inspires someone. I don't want to be responsible for hundreds of women sneaking away from the maternity ward to some other wing of the hospital to see if they might "catch" something and shed a few pounds.

Anyway, my mom's been helping a LOT, cleaning, making me tea, keeping our fridge chock full, etc. The lesson I've taken from all this is: don't get sick in Boston.

a time to gain

2007-04-27T15:39:00.000-07:00

Contrary to my fears in early motherhood, things have settled down so much lately I’ve found time to… READ AGAIN! Wahoo! The baby’s journeying through some sort of epic growth spurt because she has been napping for the last FOUR HOURS! Amazing! (I keep peeking into her room half expecting to see limbs hanging out of the slits of her crib.) During lunch I picked up “About Alice” by Calvin Trillin and actually finished it before my last sip of coffee. Do your next meal a great service and read this book. Unless you are dining with others. Don’t read, it’s rude.

I’m off to take advantage of this free time. Here’s the babe sleeping. I'm hoping to finish some silhouettes for the nursery.

i killed a turtle

2007-04-25T23:49:00.000-07:00

She died today. Or maybe last night. But we found her dead this afternoon and I can't stop picturing her in the cold and dark hole that is her home forever now. My veggies are dying too. I am not such a good mom to non-humans anymore. I am dissapointed with myself.

help me help you help me

2007-04-23T17:13:00.000-07:00

Trying to get my act, I mean my career, together. I'm thinking about trying to get some assignments and taking bids on babysitters. Yes, you pay me to watch this precious child. Just kidding, but I am needing to find some help if I'm going to be serious about this. Anybody interested in a child care swap / co-op type of thing?

In other news, I'm sad to report our little unnamed box turtle is not doing so well - refusing to eat and such. Tried bananas, chicken, pork, beef, lettuce and meal worms. I'm waiting for word from our vetrinarian friend and hoping the turtle doesn't die before then. How sad.
As for our human baby, she's doing very well! This picture captures the unkempt genius that she is quite well, don't you think?

new additions to familia komexiana

2007-04-18T16:40:00.000-07:00

(stolen) dogwood flowers

leafy greens for our puny city garden. (herbs and tomatoes still to come)

our new box turtle (upper left) that we have yet to name (taking suggestions)

dreadlocks (smaller of two pictured here) and a bald spot for Emmy (poor girl)

spring cleaning

2007-04-16T17:14:00.000-07:00

Haha, you thought I meant with gloves and sprays and mops and things. No, I'm just talking about staying clean. For spring!

The situation at our house has made it such that laundry is of a low priority. Well, folding laundry that is. (Since the baby's been born our gas bill has nearly tripled - that's how much hot water we're using to keep the baby clean. Not that a pair of pants for a butt the size of a small grapefruit takes up so much space in the washing machine, but a couple dozen of them will. The kid must stay clothed and so the laundry must get done.)

So folding laundry, oh we laugh when we had such high standards. With parenthood Mike and I have learned to get by with what is essential. For instance, did you know that you can sleep quite well on a bed with two loads of clean whites between you and the wall? Not a problem!

About a month ago Mike was dressing the baby on the bed next to a pile (ok, a small mountain) of clean laundry. She was yelling because she hates to get dressed so he was trying to hurry. He got out a pair of socks and put one on when suddenly he couldn't find its companion. (Remember baby socks are only about a couple inches long by an inch wide -very easy to lose.) Luckily for him there was that whole pile of clean baby clothes next to the baby's head. This is when I walked in the room.

“What are you looking for?”
“I need another sock. Here’s one.”
"Don't do it!"
"Don't do what?"
"You can't make her wear mismatched socks!"
"Look, she's pissed! It doesn't matter!"
"It does matter! Don't do it!"
"What! This is ridiculous!"
"Look. As soon as you stop caring about matching socks, you LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE."

Does anybody else know what I am talking about? Letting your kid run around with mismatched socks opens the gateway to all things higgledy piggledy. Pretty soon a person is walking around with their grease stained shirt tucked out, living in a house with pitted cars and kid toys out on the front lawn. (You know I can’t use the word here.)

So that’s what I’m about today. Keeping socks paired two by two and not losing control of my life. Oh, that and trying to get rid of stuff via craigslist before our big move this summer. Anybody need a 60 lb sewing machine? Or a table we once found on the side of the road? Books on philosophy? (sorry Mike) Please call for an appointment today!

come hither to go yonder

2007-04-11T16:34:00.000-07:00

In case you’re the last to know, Mike and I have decided to move to Boston at the end of summer. So if you can swing it, VISIT US! I’m going to be up to my yin yang settling in and exploring, taking care of Emmy, looking for work and practicing my twang, but as excited as I am for all this I’m sure I’ll be the loneliest girl east of the Mississippi for a good month or three AT LEAST. So please come on out. Jet Blue flies direct where most of you are.

Hard to believe we’ve had this kid for over four months already. Here are two shots of her in her Dad’s favorite hold – one from last weekend and one at three days old. Could that be the same kid?! She’s now half a foot longer and 9lbs heavier.

hmm, brain is frying

2007-04-10T18:55:00.000-07:00

I meant to say, "uhh, house is burning" with that last entry.

By the way, Daniel, what po-tay-toe might you be referring to? The only spuds we get are imports from Chicago. Br-dr-dr-dr-dah-dah-dah-dah! (Think Johnny Cash)

shhh, baby is sleeping

2007-04-10T16:24:00.000-07:00

I take this statement a lot more seriously than I used to. Emmy is sleeping less and less through the day (am I a bad mother for wishing my child slept 20 hours a day?) and the precious responsibility-free hours her naps afford me are spent running around like a chicken with my head cut off and trying to get. things. done. Whew! When I say “Shh, baby is sleeping,” I mean, don’t call, don’t drop by, leave us alone. Unless you need to tell me, “Uhh, house is on fire,” my statement trumps yours. Just kidding, but please do keep it down. Emmy’s going on 2 hours of napping and I’m doing everything I can to keep from clicking my heels and yelling "whapdeedooayay!!"

So wowee it’s been a while. Mike and I have spent the last three weeks hosting a flurry of out of town guests and being out of town our selves. My aunt and uncle flew back to Chicago Sunday and I am left savoring that sweet quiet after a wonderful visit from loved ones. We enjoyed good food, drink, conversation and most especially, the company of FAMILIA! I’m absolutely sleep deprived but happy happy happy.

the hair

2007-03-16T13:32:00.000-07:00

Nighttime hair after bath.

Morning hair after it dries.

Far, Far Away

2007-03-15T19:09:00.000-07:00

One of Mike’s colleagues asked if the photo from the perspective we know is everything blog was a picture of my folks. I was both pleased that Mike and I pulled our Halloween 2005 costume off so well and a little troubled that someone would think that old fuddy duddy could be my Dad. Did he not see the shirt poking out of the zipper? And my breasts?! Oh my! Were they not made of two rolls of toilet paper I would have been leaning over a bit more. Needless to say, my mother does not have back problems.

Moving on then.

Literally. We may be moving to Chicago. They say Chicago is the city of wind, which is a euphemism for a city of cement. Oh how would we fare without our clean air and evergreens? We think pretty well actually! (Especially compared to Calcutta – remember that heinous idea?) Neither of us has ever done the city thing and are becoming increasingly excited for the prospect of enjoying a stint there. My favorite things about Chicago? My Uncle Bruce and Eemoh, friends Dan and Rebecca and Greg, the CTA, that big lake, that it’s in the Midwest, (I do love the Midwest with it’s telephone wires and hot dish foods and people) the hope to get to know my little cousin Jaemin, and Wilco. After listening to Far, Far Away about a thousand times during college I feel like I’ve already lived in Chicago and loved it. So if we move there, it’ll be nice to be back.

Mike is teaching the baby self-defense moves in case we move to a big scary city.

a house but not a home

2007-03-13T13:01:00.000-07:00

is the picture Emmy painted for sweet little Michael and me...

The phone rang, it was Mike's dad. Though my voice remained steady, I panicked a bit when I suddenly saw the house with "in-law glasses". There is a trigger that goes off in your brain the moment you get a call from your in-laws that signals you to take a look at the state of your house (crumbs on the kitchen counter, scumb in the bathroom sink, etc) and, if time allows, get it in shape as fast as your legs will move. But he was just calling to return a call from Mike. Whew.

I hung up the phone and looked around. Our house has gone to pot. Here are the pictures to prove it.

See if you can't find the baby. (Hint: She's sleeping)

I'm sure my dear in-laws understand how it is with a new kid, but I can't help but feel that a messy house reflects poorly on ME, as a mother, wife, WOMAN, person. Can't help it. I know it's rediculous. So I cleaned house while the baby slept for an hour. (The angels rejoiced...) See, I'm grateful my in-laws live close by, it keeps my house cleaner.

peck eel - 100 days of emmy

2007-03-09T12:50:00.000-08:00

still no camera... will post some pictures soon.

quantity, not quality

2007-03-07T16:30:00.000-08:00

for sushi that is. Ok and beer. These two things have never tasted so good since our baby was born, why bother with the good stuff. I now know that if you want to have the best beer you've ever tasted in your life, just don't drink any for a long long time. Try like 9 months. Even the now fermented juice in the back of your fridge will almost taste divine.

Since E’s been born, Mike and I have gone out to eat four times. Once to Sam’s Sushi in Ballard, Blue C Sushi for Valentines, and twice to Sushi Land on Queen Anne, including today for lunch - we were celebrating a film gig Mike got. Sushi Land is how it sounds. Bright florescent lights, squeaky conveyer belt and hoards of hip city kids and Japanese exchange students. (E did not take it so well the first time there. Today she was a good little dining baby and slept THE WHOLE TIME! YIPEEE!) Sam’s is the best I’ve ever had in Seattle, but Sushi Land is where you go when you want to actually get full on sushi and you are cheap like us. Sushi Land will probably make me sick one day, but for now, quantity trumps quality. Someone find me a shirt that says, I heart sushi with a picture of a tuna roll, please.

No new pictures for now – I’m still trying to figure out my brother’s digital camera that he’s lending us. So much more complicated than my “manny.” So here’s a picture of our little Baby Roll the first week we brought her home.

laughing together

2007-03-05T19:22:00.000-08:00

A bad week for sleep, but we are having a great time. Here are a couple pictures from the weekend. By the way, anybody have some tricks for taming that hair?

tres meses de edad

2007-02-28T23:00:00.000-08:00

perspective, we know, is everything

2007-02-27T21:22:00.000-08:00

Some days a person has more friends than they know what to do with. Too many people vying for precious time and energy. Then there are days you feel utterly alone, even though all those people never went anywhere.

But ain't it the same with time? Some evenings an hour with the baby feels like an eternity. At the same time I now know why we've grown up hearing our parents say, "They grow up so fast," our whole lives. We do! And our own kid is growing so quickly I feel like I'm watching her through a time-lapse video.

Last night Mike brought home a half dozen carton of eggs from the grocery. For some reason I saw those eggs as a representation of my life with Mike. One fragile egg became 10 potential years of life together. Then he made himself a one egg omelet for a midnight snack and as fast as an egg can crack, there went a whole decade of our life. Five out six eggs is not a lot of eggs. I've eaten that many in a day before.

That Mike and I may have 50 years left together is sometimes a joyful thought. But yesterday, it seemed too short. So we ended the night with me sniffling about how short life is and how I don't ever want mine to end. I swear. How old people aren't walking around in a panic and screaming, "But I don't want to die!" is beyond me, because that's exactly how I'll be when I hit 70.

picky, picky

2007-02-26T18:25:00.000-08:00

E is growing more and more particular every day. Yesterday the blue bear was the funniest thing she’d ever laid eyes on. Today there was nothing I could do to interest her in it.

These are some pictures from last night. I put her in my first ever knitted sweater – a lovely grass green with little pompons on the cuffs that I made during my last trimester. It used to be that I wouldn’t go anywhere without a book on me. Now Steinbeck has been replaced with size 6 needles and worsted wool. Anyway, the thing is quite lumpy, but I am proud to have made something for her to wear. She went along with my picture taking frenzy for a while.

Then she had enough. Picky, picky!

post natal rolls

2007-02-24T10:30:00.000-08:00

...and I mean bread rolls. Since the baby’s been born, Mike and I have been eating like we're storing up for Y2K or something. Breakfasts this week have consisted of bacon, eggs and potatoes fried in bacon grease, and white rolls. Oh my! But I can't help it - Mike's the one who cooks breakfast around here. Either way, never have I loved white bread and bacon so much until I started breastfeeding. Must be what the baby’s craving, right?

Last night I watched E try to turn on her side for the first time. I felt like I was watching a bug on the sidewalk struggle on its back, and walking away. But then a few hours later I was changing her and left to wash my hands. When I got back she was on. her. side. Scary. Guess we won't be leaving her near surface edges anymore…

A few more days and we’ll have had the baby for three months, though she has been out of o-3 month old clothing for weeks now. Before you say it’s all the bacon’s she’s been eating, please note the girl is quite tall for her age. Here’s a picture of her in her first pair of jeans made circa late 1970s – actually some hand-me-downs from her Uncle Joe. I like the star on the back pocket.

no time to blog

2007-02-23T13:39:00.000-08:00

I really truly thought I'd be more diligent with this blog. My apologies for taking so long for a second entry - but the girl takes up quite a bit of my time.

I also meant to go to an Ash Wednesday service last week but didn’t have time for that either. There is an American Orthodox church a block from our house that I’ve been curious about. I may have to crash one of their Lenten services in the next couple weeks and check ‘em out. By the way, Mike and I are still bitter about getting denied an Orthodox wedding, JUST BECAUSE WE ARE UNORTHODOX! I mean, come on.

Mike’s heading down to Wintergrass, the yearly bluegrass festival down in Tacoma, to teach a dobro workshop. I’m not going this year, but what’s more surprising, I don’t really care. Having to tote a baby around and breastfeed in public makes you reevaluate how important things are to you, like spending the day at the Tacoma Sheraton Hotel with a bunch of smelly hippies and cowboys. (THAT was for my brother, who can’t decide if I’m a hippy or a hick.) I’m hoping to get the house in shape and possibly go on a run. Oh yes, I’ve started running again. I’m up to 19 minutes, about half of what I used to go out for, but am confident I’ll get back into shape soon. There’s nothing like running in public that makes you kick yourself in the butt a little harder than you like.

For some Emmy news - she's finally laughing. It is hilarious and warms the cockles of our hearts so.

another blogger born

2007-02-20T13:48:00.000-08:00

So my friend Catherine (eurecatherine.blogspot.com) inspired me to start this thing. Here I'll post Emmy pictures and keep you up on the happenings of Familia Komexiana. This is Emmy doing some tummy time earlier today and wearing an outfit sent from my eemoh in Utah. My "eemoh" (aunt) is her "halmonie" (grandmother). Sort of. She's Emmy's eemonie I guess.

Mike gave his class a test and went swimming today. I wrote all morning and had a cup of coffee. Baby slept a lot. It's been a good day.