our water baby

We tried out the family swim time at our local community center today. Eli loved it!

At the park

Cleaning the balcony

A chore I've been meaning to complete for a while. The baby was very patient with the task. He likes being out there, so now that it is cleaner than before, I'm hoping for some balcony play time this summer.

8 months

what memories are made from

A wonderful 10 days after Moon's month long study period. Sunriver in Bend to a cabin in Colorado to an 85th birthday weekend for my awesome grandma in Omaha, NE. Eli travelled like a champ... sleeping or happily playing in the car and on all 4 of the flights! We returned home last night tired but with full hearts.

to seven years!

(and the love of my life!)

Our wedding, Boulder, CO, 6.23.05

Colorado

happy fathers day, moon!

journeying to bend

Moon is at a conference this weekend and we are tagging along. The drive to Bend yesterday went great. Left right after he woke from his morning nap, stopped once for water, bathrooms, to feed baby, and then Eli slept the last hour plus. Checked in and went to the family BBQ. And now I'm reading on our deck while Eli naps inside, barricaded by huge pillows on the king bed. A couple pictures...

on retiring in my twenties...

Moon makes fun of me for using the "in my twenties" line whenever I can. Thirty is around the corner for me. Yet baby and job retirement seem to have both hit me earlier than I might have originally expected (you know, like when I was in my early twenties :). So this is a small homage to being done. With work. At least the kind that renders a paycheck. Yet I'll take the giggles, diapers, laundry, smiles, nursing, fussing, and busy life with the baby boy I've been entrusted as work enough for now. Early retirement feels good.

A couple pictures to remind me that this last of my 5 years teaching really was my hardest but that came with the special gift of taking my baby with me. I couldn't have had it any other way.

Images:
Eli playing at work.
Laughing in the car seat.
Our ritual of coming home and napping.
How my students loved him!
Hanging out in his walker next to the copier.

And now to this Motherhood thing...the best work, the hardest work, and such meaningful work. I'm excited to see where it takes me...

the boy

Walks, laundry and lattes

We've been doing a lot of all 3 around here lately. The walks are my dose of calm and Eli loves them. The laundry, well, is endless but that's ok. I don't mind it that much as far as housework goes. Floors, those are a different story. And the lattes are now being made at home by my very own espresso skills thanks to a little tutorial by my husband. I give myself one in the afternoon when nap time is up. Now I just need to make sure I'm getting my full 60-whatever daily ounces of water in. A glass after each load of laundry folded...?