Life as told by Collin 12/31/11

A friend posted this on facebook and I thought it was a cool idea to do every year and see how your kid thinks.



Life as told by Collin as of 12/31/11

How old are you?
3 and a half

Who are your best friends?
Flynn and Clyde and Stellan and Spencer and Coleman too

What do you like most about school?
Pirate ships

What do you like to do with each person in our family?
Huggies with momma
Kisses with dad

Where would you like to go on vacation in 2012?
Airplane

What are some of your wishes for 2012?
Halloween

What is your favorite?

Cereal?
Squares

Vegetable?
Tomatoes

Fruit?
Peaches and oranges

Food?
Hot dogs

Drink?
Juice

Toy?
Pirate ship

TV Show?
Peter Pan

Game?
Disneyland (for the Kinect)

Book?
Pirates

Restaurant?
Hot dog restaurant

Holiday?
Christmas

Animal?
Blue Dog

Counting down to a new year

2011 has been eventful. We watched Collin grow into a talkative three and a half year old spitfire. Mike essentially started a new career, my business continues to do well (knock on wood). Ups and downs, life just happened. Of course the biggest news is that we found out our family will be expanded by one baby boy, come February.

Twenty twelve has a nice ring to it. Sounds futuristic right? It's hard to imagine being a kid in the 80's and thinking one day I'd be working, living, and raising a family in a year so far ahead.

I'm hoping 2012 will bring a healthy baby obviously. That we'll sell our house and say goodbye to garage bands, uber hipsters and gang bangers, and move to a neighborhood where Collin can ride his bike up and down the sidewalk, be around other families and still be within walking (or biking) distance to all the cool stuff we love about the east side of Portland.

It seems like resolutions can fall into the barely attainable category or just end up being utter bs. But there is something about a new year that does compel me to want to make some goals. To get a "fresh start" and know that there's always room for me to grow and learn.

So without further adieu here are my goals for 2012:

1. Continue to grow my photography skills through classes, sharing with others (thank you fellow momtographers on Facebook!) and of course just taking lots of pictures. I plan to do a project 52 which is much more doable than project 365 (fail).

2. Evolve my business to include more training/teaching/something that keeps me refreshed.

3. Get back in shape after baby and train for a half-marathon.

4. Learn from my kiddos, appreciate them and remember to step inside their world.

5. Be a supportive partner and make time for dates and alone time (as hard as that will be with a new baby!).

6. Be stronger. Okay this one is a little vague. I've always been shy and have a hard time with confrontation. I'm at the point of my life where I realize certain patterns I've made from my past and that I need to stand up for myself or distance myself from those people or situations that leave me feeling frustrated, tired and empty. Sometimes the simplest thing is to walk away and realize that life is too short to dwell on things that don't matter in the long run. In plain words, I'm done taking bullshit.

Oh Christmas Tree

While I don't enjoy the feeling of my toes and fingers turning numb once the temperature drops, I do love the holidays. Christmas is especially fun this year because Collin understands the concept of Santa Claus and is excited about everything--the lights, the tree, decorations, snow, presents, and of course he says Santa is bringing him a pirate ship.

Last weekend we went to go pick out a Christmas tree at a farm out in Tualatin (they also have delicious fresh pressed cider and homemade donuts). We got a beautiful Noble Fir and Collin was excited to put the ornaments up and reach to plant the star at the very top of the tree. I love the smell of fresh pine needles and seeing the twinkle of the lights at night. I'm debating putting the wrapped gifts under the tree before Christmas as I'm not sure a little boy could resist trying to get a sneak peak, but we'll see...

Our Christmas agenda consists of finishing up our shopping, baking cookies, driving around in pajamas to look at Christmas lights, visiting Santa and having milk and cookies at the Children's Museum, and hosting Christmas dinner (with help from family!) And of course the holidays give me even more photo opportunities. In case you couldn't tell I've become obsessed with my new hobby and love playing around with my macro lens, experimenting with bokeh and am still trying to achieve that perfect glowy Christmas tree photo.

Meanwhile my ever-expanding stomach is running out of room for baby Milo. He wiggles and sometimes chooses a position that causes me to gasp out in pain. Luckily for the most part I'm still sleeping pretty well and feeling good. Trying not to panic over the fact that he'll most likely be here in about 10 weeks!

The last stretch!

It's official, third trimester has begun. Those last 12 or so weeks when my belly will become enormous and the baby will run out of room. Luckily, it's been a pretty good pregnancy so far. Apart from some contraction scares early on, I haven't had any cause for worry. No sickness, just the usual fatigue. Chasing around Collin and work and everything else is such a distraction that I sometimes forget there's this person growing inside of me. The jabs and somersaults are a good reminder.

Our house is coming along and come spring, when we're up to our elbows in diapers and exhaustion, we're going to list. Hopefully we'll get into a new house by the summer/fall. Nicer neighborhood and more space please! In the meantime, I remind myself that babies don't need a whole lot of room in the first few months. Most likely, baby Milo will just sleep with us but hopefully we can still find a place in our room for the crib. As for a changing area, I still haven't figured that out. It is slightly disappointing I won't get to decorate his nursery.

We've also (well primarily me with Mike's reluctant acquiesce) decided to try the cloth diaper route. Mostly because I was grossed out by the thought of our diapers sitting out for two weeks with Portland's new garbage/compost plan. But I also realized we'd save at least $1,000 and it is nice not to visualize piles of disposables sitting in the landfills. Though the amount of water and energy it apparently takes to wash and dry cloth diapers isn't exactly eco-friendly so they probably cancel each other out...

Regardless, cloth diapers are also colorful, cute and soft. And unlike in the past where pins and folds were a must, you can buy all-in-ones or pockets that are just as easy as disposables. So I have my starter stash and did my research. The poop factor doesn't seem that bad...Ask me again six months after the baby is here how it's going but I'm hoping this works out. I don't really want to throw away $400 from the initial investment so we'll do our best.

We're also trying to prepare Collin for the permanent change in his life by reading him lots of books about a new baby and telling him about all the cool stuff big brothers will be able to do. He goes back and forth between being excited and incredibly sweet (kissing the baby and telling him good night) to wanting to throw the baby away...He also does his obnoxious baby imitation where he crawls on the floor and chants "goo goo ga ga," over and over. Hopefully when Milo comes he'll realize being bigger is much more fun. We'll try to get him involved with helping out and spend as much time as we can with him but I know the most challenging part will be the fatigue factor and how our attention will suddenly be shifted from Collin-only child-center of the universe to needy, helpless baby. Thankfully Mike is taking a few months off and will hopefully have the energy from some Collin-daddy outings.

We're also really hoping this baby's lack of kung fu moves in my belly (he still moves just not like Collin did) might mean he'll be more chill. Please, pretty please. Of course all we really want is a healthy baby, but it'd be just awesome if we could follow the trend of others I know and have a mellow kid after a highly dramatic, energetic one.

Unless of course Collin is the mellow one.

In which case, wine will be my friend.

Trick or Treat

One of the perks of being a parent is reliving fond childhood memories. As a kid, Halloween meant dressing up in a costume (almost always handmade), carrying a pillowcase around the neighborhood and chanting those magical words, "Trick or treat."

At the end of the night my brother and I would dump out our pillowcases of gold, immediately sort the candy into piles, and trade each other for the goods. Occasionally someone would hand out a large candy bar and that was always extra special. In reality, most of the candy ended up getting tossed but that was beside the point. There's something magical about being able to go to a stranger's door once a year while you get oohed and awed over and get a free treat. I still love dressing up. As fun as costume parties for grown-ups are, it is definitely more rewarding to walk along with Collin and watch the look on his face as he opens up his treat bag.

Of course Collin was a pirate this year (and I was a pregnant pirate wench). On Saturday we went to two parties. It doesn't get much cuter than little kids in costumes. I loved all the family themes too. Halloween is a great excuse to express your creativity.

On Halloween, Collin and I headed to my parents for Collin's second year of trick-or-treating. We went with my mom (a Rastafarian, mon) and brother in their neighborhood which is much Halloween friendlier than ours. Collin definitely had more stamina than last year. We went up and down a few blocks while our hands and face went numb in the cold but were thankful it was a clear night. Collin had to be nudged to remember his lines. Sometimes his face went blank as he stood at the door and a stranger remarked on his cuteness. Other times he'd spill out, "Trick or treat," before anyone came to the door. Eventually he got it.

Collin faced his fear and went up to the scary skeleton house with spooky music. Thankfully the freaky guy hanging out on the porch to look like a prop didn't jump up and cause nightmares.

At the end of the night, Collin picked out a lollipop to enjoy and I snatched the bag to stash away a few guilty pleasures while the others met the garbage fate. One neighbor even handed out a large Baby Ruth candy bar, which will be awaiting me in the freezer.

Collin continued to talk about ghosts and skeletons and I'm sure he went to sleep dreaming of the macabre and sweet treats that Halloween offers.

The next day he asked if it was Halloween again and I'm sure in a kid's world, it would happen every weekend. Of course since it's now November, we'll start to see Christmas stuff everywhere so it won't be long before Halloween is a memory and Santa Claus is the next big thing.

Weee

It was a beautiful Fall day and Collin experienced the joy of pumping his legs on the swings and plenty of anti-gravity moves.

Mister Independent

How did this happen?

Just six months ago Collin could barely take his shirt off without getting frustrated. Now he sleeps in a twin bed, wakes up, goes downstairs, gets himself a piece of fruit and navigates the I-pad to watch cartoons on Netflix. (Graciously allowing mom and dad to sleep in a little). And today, he surprised me by getting dressed completely on his own and even picked out an outfit that somewhat matched.

Not a baby. Not a toddler. The chunky little body and long blond curls replaced by a wiry, handsome little boy.

I'm not one of those moms that gets sad as he grows up, rather I'm excited to help my little bird learn to fly. As he gets older, Collin has gotten more interesting and fun.

Truth is, I'm just not a "baby person." Don't get me wrong, those first smiles, coos and chubby legs are irresistible. But I can't help but to imagine all the fun trips and activities we can do as a family as the boys grow up. It's a bit terrifying to think we'll essentially be starting over with a baby in, gasp, about four months. And as much as I'll try to relish the moment and watch our new little one discover all his firsts, I'm excited about the future and all the possibilities.

I will miss the absolute cuteness and randomness of age three. Collin is inquisitive, creative with a limitless imagination and oozing with sweetness. At the same time he can be tyrannical and pushy if you get in his way. All in all, as much as I've whined about how hard my (not mellow) kid can be, I so appreciate his personality and the way he can happily live in a world of make-believe without needing my absolute attention. I'm not worried about Collin making friends or hiding in the shadows. I'm pretty confident this is going to be a kid (and an adult) that goes after what he wants and doesn't wait for things to happen.

Boy oh boy

Milo Averon Hanada

ETA: February 2012!

I'll admit when I found out I was pregnant there were a glimpse of hope I'd have a daughter. I can't bypass the allure of adorable dresses, stockings and pigtails. Mostly, the relationship with my mom is something I treasure and hoped to pass on. There were also fantasies about tea parties, spa days and shared stories and secrets between a mother and daughter. And I can't help feeling a pang of jealousy when I see a little girl Collin's age sitting quiet at a restaurant coloring while our kid bounces off the walls.

And this is it, there will be no "trying" until we get a girl. Unless something crazy happens, this baby is our last.

A part of me mourns for the daughter I'll never have. Yet, when I found out we were having another boy, I wasn't disappointed or sad. With Collin I realize how fun it is to raise a son. Sword fights, pirate fantasies, sticky fingers, and muddy shoes are all a part of life now.

There's also something nice about having kids of the same gender. This may be pure fantasy, but as they get older, they'll probably have more in common than a brother/sister. Hopefully they'll play together, build forts together, wrestle dad together and share a special bond.

I'm sure they'll also try to kill each other.

The pragmatic side of me realizes savings on clothes and toys. Sorry Milo, you'll be getting lots of hand-me-downs.

My mom also tells me that while my brother required a lot more energy as a kid, I was more emotionally draining as I got older and "harder." Boys (and yes I'm doing sweeping generalizations) tend to be boisterous and wild but they're generally less evasive. Speaking from experience here, girls can be two-faced, cliquish and catty.

Still, part of me thinks about the future. About what happens when Collin and his brother pass the little boy phase where crying in public is okay. Boys face expectations made by society. They are expected to act like "men." They might be full of rage or sorrow but hold their feelings in, whereas girls are expected to be more open. Boys are more likely to act like daredevils (there's a reason car insurance is more expensive for teenage boys) and pull stupid stunts and convince themselves they are invincible. I also start to get an anxiety attack as I think about all the issues with public/traditional schools. I don't want my boys to be forced to sit in a classroom with little recess and cuts in PE. I don't want them to be labeled "bad" because they don't want to sit still for hours.

Mike and I will do our best to instill values in our boys, to raise them to respect themselves and others. To be kind and to be true. They'll also have strong female role-models in their life (there will be no equity questions in this family!)

I want my boys to know that as they get older, it's okay to show their feelings, to cry, to be themselves. I want them to know that even when they're way past the holding-their-mom's hand, giving-her-a-big-wet-kiss-in-public phase, I'll be there.

Almost halfway there

Today I'm exactly 18 weeks. The baby is the size of a bell pepper and looks like a miniature newborn according to the iphone app that tells me about my growing belly.

I think it's pretty obvious I look pregnant by now but I definitely get that double check and hesitation to ask, as in is she just guzzling a lot of beer or... Second trimester feels better than the first but I'm still tired. Mainly because Collin has decided to wake up before 6am and then on other mornings my brain is just programmed to wake up early. I'm feeling more and more movement which is definitely my favorite part of pregnancy though it's still pretty sporadic at this point.

Keeping up with aerobic type workouts is getting harder. I've been having these fun Braxton-hicks contractions consistently for the past several weeks (practice contractions where your stomach expands as hard as a rock and feels pretty damn uncomfortable) so the doctor said to take it easy. Figure I'll keep running, just shorter distances with spurts of walking. Another fun thing about pregnancy is as I run my stomach pushes down on my bladder and it feels like I'm going to burst after thirty minutes. But I don't want to give up running until I know it doesn't feel good anymore . When you work so hard to get to the point where five miles is a breeze it kind of sucks to have to start over after pregnancy. I'm hoping my body remembers! I'm also trying to find time for a prenatal swim class and do a pilates DVD a couple times a week.

It may sound like I'm obsessing over exercise but if I don't work out I get stir crazy and mean (just ask Mike)! The voracious appetite is also taking over but I'm trying not to overdo it. No heartburn this time. Luckily most of the stuff I crave is pretty healthy--falafel, fruit, hummus, oatmeal, avocado. Ice cream and sweets don't really interest me. And to be stereotypical peanut butter and pickles are go-to snacks (sometimes together--don't judge).

We get the official word boy or girl in a couple weeks though we're pretty sure there was a penis in view at our last ultrasound and since Mike's genes don't seem capable of carrying anything but males we're expecting a little brother for Collin. I'm hoping maybe this baby will be a little calmer and more cautious than our daredevil but not holding my breath.

The realization has also hit that we're going to have to just deal with two kiddos in this house temporarily and wait until next spring to list. The bedrooms will be a little cramped but I know there are families that deal with way smaller living arrangements so we can't complain too much. Mike won't have to kill himself working to finish the house in the next month and we'll have more money in the bank so hopefully we can go for our dream house as opposed to settling. Right now we could most likely afford a brand new house in the burbs. But we're city dwellers at heart and inevitability we'll probably end up sticking around NE Portland but move to a nicer neighborhood with good schools. It's hard to imagine giving up all the restaurants, shops and quirks of inner-city life. We also have parks around every corner and lots of families. The downside of inner-city life is crime and gang violence are not too far away. And finding a brand new house in this area is almost impossible--I am not someone who romanticizes over the character of older homes but the only new houses around here seem to either be way above our price range or skinny infill lots with no yard. Overall, we're happy here. As long as we find an updated home in a neighborhood that Collin and his sib can play outside without me having to be a hawk it'll be all good.

Yo ho, yo ho

Collin's obsession with pirates has not waned. He loves to build pirate ships with his blocks and he's the captain of any play structure. He now has two swords (but sticks also work) which he uses to fight crocodiles, Captain Hook and any other bad guys that get in his way.

So of course we had to take our little matey to the Pirate Festival in St. Helens. The Pirate Festival was complete with grown-ups and families in full pirate regalia. We're talking costumes that looked like they came off a movie set. It was a 90 degree day so the men and women in long sleeves, heavy pants and jackets get props for dedication. Or geekdome...

There were cannons blasting off, games for kids, live music and bounce houses that Collin was immediately drawn to. We found a skull cap with for Collin as well as some more action figures and toys and a Jolly Roger flag to hang up on the new balcony off of Collin's room. He also got to take a picture with "Zombie Pirate." Some kids might be scared by the creepy skeletal face, but not our Collin. He loves creepy crawlies, monsters and all that is morbid.

He sat still for a skull and crossbones to be painted on his face, one that he did not want to wash off for a day. We were ready to go after a few hours of pounding heat and Collin was one worn kiddo who fell asleep promptly in the car. The only thing that would've made the Pirate Festival even better was combining it with the pirate ships we saw earlier this summer. But as Collin still talks about it, I think it was definitely a memorable experience.

Of course stay tuned for Halloween. I think it's pretty obvious what Collin will be dressing up as.

Future cheap labor

Collin loves to peer out his window and watch Mike work hard building a balcony. The plastic tool set is ready in case Mike needs any help. What makes a handy man complete?

Butt crack of course.

13 weeks

And I've already got quite the baby bump. Maternity shopping to follow. Please no monster baby. I have a feeling I'll be waddling before my third trimester hits...

Summer fun

What does Summer mean when you're three? Playing outside everyday, all day if you could, staying up late, grass stained shorts, popsicles that melt down your face, catching bubbles and of course running through the sprinklers.

Ch-ch-changes

By now, it's no secret that I'm expecting a second baby. Currently I'm in week 12, past most of the exhaustion and overall blahness. Luckily I never got sick but did feel queasy and absolutely fatigued. Collin appeased me most of the time by taking naps with me on my non work days.

I'm excited, but it's different than last time. Last time, I obsessively hunted online for any symptom that seemed strange, I researched each stage of the growing baby's development and had mini freak outs about the huge undertaking ahead of us.

This time I'm a little more relaxed about the whole thing. I still revel in the fact that there is a growing human inside of me and that's just cool. But the mystery isn't as prominent and I just don't have the time to obsess about how my life will be different.

I mean, I work three days a week (or more), am mother to a wild three-year old and also try to fit in photography, cooking/baking, cleaning/household crap, and in the back of my mind am also telling myself I need to start writing for myself again.

To top it off, we're trying to fix up (I should say Mike is fixing) our house as fast as possible so we can get it on the market, sell and buy a new one all before the second baby makes an appearance. Our days consist of this: Mike comes home, works on the house until Collin goes to bed, we may have a brief conversation, but dinner together rarely happens. Weekend hikes, exploring, and enjoying the beautiful Pacific NW summer just isn't happening.

And I know it's temporary. That one day, we'll be in a new house, preferably a NEW house, that doesn't have numerous issues that suck our money and time. And can actually enjoy weekends together. And Collin and his sibling can ride their bikes down the street without me feeling like I have to watch every second.

For now, the baby that's growing inside of me is a passing thought that I'm reminded of when I get annoying braxton-hicks contractions, have to pee every half hour and well second time around, my belly is popping out earlier. Buttons and zippers are starting to feel like corsets and the stretchy pants are a must. I also know once I start feeling the flutters and kicks it will seem more real.

And as the time gets closer, freak-outs will happen. Mostly wondering how my life will be different with two kids. How to make sure Collin still feels loved but at the same time doesn't hurt the baby. How my career will be affected. Daycare. Money. But I have until around February to figure things out. Or to just let things fall where they may and hope it makes sense.

Because one thing I've learned in parenthood is nothing can really prepare you for what's to come.

San Diego Adventure

This is only about 1 month late but I'm finally getting around to it!

We decided to explore San Diego for about a week over the fourth of July. We stayed at the Embassy Suites in La Jolla which was nice and roomy (and a good value), complete with a complimentary happy hour every night with unlimited drinks, which I couldn't partake in...and a full made-to-order breakfast. The hotel was definitely targeted for families. Collin loved the Koi fish in the pond and pressing the elevator button. I think he would've been happy doing that all day. He also had fun swimming in the pool and dipping his feet in the hot tub. The downside of the hotel was the location. While we could drive about 15 minutes into town, we were in the middle of a bunch of businesses and there was nothing close we could walk to. We also had to barricade the couch against the door to make sure Collin didn't escape.

La Jolla is beautiful and expensive. We drove around the bluffs and million dollar houses. We had some gut bomb pizza and I got my Mexican fix. We also walked by the ocean though didn't really hang at the beach too much. When you're used to Hawaii beaches where you can actually swim it just doesn't compare.

Tom and Virginia met up with us and we walked around the boardwalk in downtown San Diego and explored the maritime museum complete with submarines, old fashioned sailing ships and a pirate who gave him his own doubloon. We also checked out the USS Midway Museum, the longest-serving Navy aircraft carrier of the 20th century. It was massive and had lots of cool aircraft and sights for Collin to explore.







We got our moneys worth at the San Diego zoo and spent almost the whole day there! It was crazy busy (mental note, don't plan trips around the 4th) but still fun. Collin seemed to enjoy the flamingos and the koalas. The pandas were also out for us to see after waiting in a long line.





That evening, we ended up at a park where we feasted on double double animal style In-N-Out Burgers (plus a milkshake and fries). So not healthy but sometimes you just crave a cheap, good old fashioned burger!



The 4th was a nice change of pace (no crowds, no craziness!) and we met up with Collin's new buddy Saul and my friend Robin. Collin and Saul got along great and chased each other around, swam in the pool and followed Saul's older brother around.



Then that night we saw an awesome fireworks display at Robin's synagogue. The view was amazing with the fireworks coming from over the hill and literally felt like they were spilling down on us. I managed to get a few cool shots.





Finally we made it to Sea World. It was HOT when we got there. Poor Mike, who doesn't take heat well was dripping bowls of sweat while we waited for our first show. It was also crowded but the shows, while cheesy (I don't really need the story lines or music, just show me the animals doing tricks) were definitely worthwhile. We didn't make it to too many exhibits but Mike chased Collin around a giant kids area where he had to hoist Collin up a huge net. We stayed about four hours and then were ready to leave.

One of my favorite parts of our trip was Balboa Park, where the Zoo and a bunch of other museums are. It was really beautiful and we hiked around a palm forest, walked around the gardens and just took in all the sights. We went back there twice and I could've spent another full day there.





Unfortunately the last day of our trip wasn't so fun. Mike, who has seriously bad vacation juju when it comes to getting sick, ended up shivering and running a fever. You know Mike's not well when he wants to wear a hoodie and it's 90 degrees out. I was also feeling pretty crappy as I was hitting those lovely first trimester blahs. And Collin was a tornado running around and trying to kill himself in traffic. The highlight was back at PDX while I was trying to grab a bag and Mike looked like he was about to pass out, Collin ran through the big rotating glass doors. Luckily airport security stopped him. Ah yes, never a dull moment.

We made it home ready to pass out and it turned out Mike had strep throat which luckily Collin and I didn't catch. Besides that last day, our summer vacation was pretty fun, though not what you'd call relaxing with a 3-year old wild-man.

Ugh I'm so behind

June, July where did you go? I can't believe it's nearing August already. Never mind the hundreds of photos waiting to be uploaded from our vacation and just everyday life. I'll get to them soon, promise.

I'm still waiting for summer to start--well it starts then goes back to blah, then teases us again. Meanwhile the rest of the country is suffering in a heat wave so I suppose I shouldn't complain. Mike is busy trying to finish up the house and I'm busy with work and a certain mischief maker.

Collin at three is busy, busy. He talks like a real person now which is pretty cool. Of course conversations don't always make sense. Time isn't really linear when you're three so a conversation about school can turn into, "I played with Spencer. We went on the airplane. I saw Nona and Papa."

His long lush curls are gone sadly because I tried to trim his hair. And trimmed a little more. And a little more. And pretty soon he looked ridiculous so I took him in to the salon and voila instant summer look. I miss the curls but it does mature him and it's easier to manage.

As for the mischief part...The other day I was upstairs getting ready and Mike had just left for work. The door was dead-bolted and chained yet pretty soon I noticed the house was quiet. And then I had that burning feeling in my stomach and sure enough the door was wide open. I ran down the street where Collin was strolling with a football under his arm about to reach a busy street, nearly a block away.

After that heart attack Mike bought a lock ready to install high above the door, hopefully too high for Houdini to reach. I must say, I'm happy we have an independent and smart kiddo, but the fact that caution is not in his mindset at all scares the crap out of me. I don't even want to think about Collin at sixteen.

The mischief doesn't end there of course. Here's what happened when Collin got a hold of some toilet paper. Yes he doesn't have pants on.

One Lucky Mama

Even though Mother's Day is pretty Hallmark, there's always good reason to honor your mom. Especially if you happen to be lucky like Mike and myself with mothers who have given you way more than you can possibly express in a card or a gift. It wasn't until I became a mother that I realized how damn challenging (and rewarding) this role would be!

I feel fortunate that I've got a kiddo to celebrate Mother's Day with. He drives me nuts, he's a wild, crazy, mini teenager in a three year old's body but he gives me the sweetest kisses, big hugs, and tells me stories that make me laugh. He greeted me with a bouquet of flowers and "Happy Mother's Day" in his cute little voice.

I've also got a supportive husband who appreciates me and also gave me a nice break for Mother's Day. Mike surprised me with an hour massage appointment which left me feeling high. My tense, strained muscles from running and hauling a heavy kid so appreciated it.

Thank you to all the moms out there (especially ours) who help your kids grow up and learn to fly.

Arrr Mateys

Collin is obsessed with pirates.

Obsessed.

"Is it scary?"

"Is it a pirate ship?"

These are two of his most used phrases. Skeletons, ships, anything nautical is somehow associated with a pirate. Then of course there's his signature greeting (to kids he just meets at the playground, to checkers in the grocery store, to anyone who says hi)--"Skull and crossbones!" Followed by a flash of his arms criss crossed across his chest like some sort of preschool gang sign.

I will admit, it's pretty cute though. Sure I have a morbid kid. At OMSI, the science museum, he could stare for hours at the real live skeleton behind glass or put the puzzle pieces of a skeleton together. I'd like to think that maybe all this attractiveness to skeletons means that one day he'll follow the path of science, pathology, medicine...

Or who knows. In a few months he may latch onto a new obsession. But for now, I'll enjoy my honorary pirate.

And when we found out real life pirate ships, that were used in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie were a little over an hour away in Rainier, Mike convinced me that we had to go first thing to show Collin.

Nona and Papa came too and we all got to tour the pirate ships with real life pirates! Okay the ships were actually replica pirate ships used in the movies with 20 something year old pirates but they were sorta dressed in period garb. It was pretty cool. We didn't get to hang around for the mock battle or the three hour sailing adventure, but the free walk-on tour definitely intrigued Collin.