Our Favorite Oregonians

Last weekend we were so happy to spend time with Jonny's sister Sarah, her husband Jesse, and their beautiful dog Bella. (And of course, we always love having Rudi around.) Thanks to you all for making the trip! It really means a lot to us that you'd take the time to drive all the way out here. Please know you are welcome anytime. We love you!

P.S. Julia loves her new dolly. She named it "Sarah" and is always doing the name sign. She really loved having you three around. (Even though she didn't quite take to Bella, she likes to talk about the "doggy that yicks (licks) you!"

P.P.S. Sorry about your car troubles. That is never convenient, but especially on a road trip. You handled it well though, way to go. (As you can see from the picture of Jonny and Jesse, Jonny felt a little foolish for causing another little problem after the main problem was just fixed. I say, don't be so hard on yourself, honey! You and Jesse did a great job.)

Hello, Dolly

Julia seems to think everyone loves dolls
as much as she does.

Pumpkins, anyone?

I guess we decided to grow a few pumpkins in our garden this year. And I guess they've decided to take over! Who knew pumpkins would do so well in our little patch. They've certainly outdone the cucumbers and green beans that never showed, as well as the spinach that dried up pretty quickly. I think the beets are still down there somewhere, below the pumpkin vines. And luckily the tomatoes aren't suffering. We have several wild tomato plants just like last year. (Julia loves the cherry tomatoes, or "No-nos.") Looks like we'll be eating BLTs for the next several weeks and have a large family of jack-o-lanterns on our porch this October. Not too bad for second-year gardeners, I suppose.

Oh, and please don't pay too much attention to the neglected state of the garden. Since Jonny spotted some voles, I haven't had the guts to step foot in there. A few weeks ago I somehow gathered up enough courage to grab some parsley. My heart was racing. Yes, for those who don't know, I do have a borderline-irrational fear of rodents. I mean, these ugly guys have made a path from their home underneath the tramp straight to the tomato plants. (Siblings, it looks just like a miniature "Toby Highway!") Fortunately, Jonny's not afraid of them in the least. But he did declare war when a beautiful, firm green pepper had a huge hole eaten out of it. Now it's my job to keep Julia away from the traps. Yikes.

bookworm phase

I do love to read. But I go through phases. Once I am into a good book (it usually takes a few months and some rereading of the first few chapters) I am totally into it. I look forward to reading it at most any spare moment. (Like right now, when both kids are sleeping. Why am I blogging!? Better make this short so I can get a few pages in.) And while I am reading it I realize how much I love being captivated by a good story. Then I quickly finish the book, and am left with a lonely feeling after the initial thrill from the story's culminating events. You'd think I'd pick up another as quickly as possible, but it usually takes me another few months before I am in another reading phase.

Right now I am intrigued by Wilkie Collins' classic mystery The Woman in White. (Thanks for the recommendation, Cami! I think it may just top The Moonstone for me. Will you be thinking of what I should read next? I really don't want to go through another drought. Don't allow me to!) I thought I didn't have time to read with these two little ones keeping me busy. But I really do. Maybe not every day, but that makes the snippets of free time all the more precious. And while I could be cleaning or sneaking in a power nap, I'm glad I take the time to escape into some excellent literature. And now, to see what Count Fosco is up to...

recycled nickname

The title of my previous post has me thinking about nicknames. Babies naturally lend themselves to a variety of pet names. I think we call them sweet and silly things almost subconsciously. I can't even remember all the nicknames Julia had as an infant. But I was reminded of one the other day when it came out for Gabe. "Happiness." I was always calling Julia my "Happiness Baby" or just plain "Happiness." It just described her perfectly as she'd wake up in the morning smiling and squirming, still swaddled like a burrito. Gabe is a "Happiness Baby" too. A lot of people say he looks so serious, with his furrowed brow and seemingly "old soul." But when he cracks a smile and lets out a belly-laugh, you know he is perfectly happy. We can't get enough of his smiles. Luckily, he gives them out pretty freely around here.

Ju Ju and "Bubbles Mouth"

Already, motherhood it is the most challenging yet rewarding thing I have ever done. (And I'm only just over two years into it...) Even when my back and arms are aching from holding my big boy and my ears are ringing from Julia's crying while I hold fussy Gabe because she wants to be held, I know I am so lucky to have these two funny people in my life. I wouldn't want it any other way. Playing with dolls almost daily until I was twelve, I grew up dreaming of becoming a real mom. And here I am, living the dream. It may not seem like a dream-life when I have slobber on my shirt sleeve, no make-up on, disheveled hair, and feel so exhausted all I want to do is collapse. But it truly is. I love my little friends.

Remind me to revisit this post tomorrow, when the kids won't be soundly sleeping and I will most likely need to refocus. How can I not feel like I have the best job in the world when I see these faces?

Julia calls Gabe "Bubbles Mouth." And I bet he'll call her Ju Ju, like most everyone else does.

Julia's lunch today

Strawberries, carrots, and a peanut butter and jam sandwich with sprouts? And some Ranch dressing to dip it all in? Whatever you say...

Actually, I never saw her dip the strawberries. But that pbj&s was in there all the way.