Last weeks as an only child

We aren't so sure Eli understands there is a baby inside me. He has sweetly been rubbing my belly on occasion. And he also refers to my belly as the "ball baby". Anyways, we are milking these last weeks of just him. He's a lot to handle some days, but he cracks us up, shows a sensitive side, and wants to run/play/climb/laugh as much as life will let him. So here's what he's been up to as he enjoys the end of an era. (We think he'll be awfully happy to get a sibling... eventually).

(That's Greek frozen yogurt ;)

(Breakfast in our bed. He does say,  "gank woo", or Eli for thank you)

(His rice box. Got rid of the sand when we moved and put in old rice. He loves this!)

Visiting the neat free fire station museum that is just a few blocks from us! You can get inside a real fire truck! (And the phones talk to you).

My (brown) baby

This little boy came up to us at the park today  (maybe 4 yrs old ?) and started chatting as Eli ran and climbed around him. The boy said, "why is he brown and you're white?" I told him it was because Eli's dad is korean, but the boy didn't know what that was (for the record this was coming from a dark/black kid). Like most things on the playground it was quickly dismissed as the monkey bars were far more interesting than a lesson in ethnic diversity. But it was funny to me because I think Eli looks so white. A lot of friends tell us they are surprised how balanced he is-- truly has each of us in him. Leaves me wondering if this next baby will enter the world with black straight hair. We'll see...

34 weeks

I'm not one for bump pictures. Mostly because I'm too busy to stop and document. But this baby is growing like crazy which means I pretty much look like I could deliver tomorrow! So I have to squeeze a few bump pictures in before it's all over. 

The new home

A few pictures now that the boxes are gone...

We've moved!

We were a bit concerned it would take us a while to get all our belongings into this new place of ours (a 2 bedroom rental across town). A couple of hired movers did the elevator move out of the condo in remarkable time on Friday afternoon and on Saturday morning it took a few friends 30 minutes to unload the truck. Then the fun began! All that unloading...

Happy to report we are pretty close to done with it all, not to be deterred by the toddler and (very) pregnant mama. So we've done lots of...

Climbing at our nearby playground.

Helping daddy put things together

Playing broom guitar (complete with vocals)

Meeting our neighbor, "doggie", out the back door (yes I have a backdoor off the kitchen!)

And some good bike strolls around our new 'hood. I waddle, he scoots.

riding the escalator that is toddlerhood

Oh, Eli. Life with you as a full fledged two year old is filled with head-spinning activity almost constantly. (Save those long naps you take where you recover from all your busyness). I take you weekly to a short work meeting at our local, wonderful science museum. They have things you looove to play with, but we get there just before the museum opens and sit in the cafe and meet with my student. Sometimes you sit with us and draw or put stickers on things. Sometimes (ok, usually) you are entertained by your favorite monkey, curious george (who your father and I suspect is teaching you some of your more clever tricks). And always there are snacks a plenty. This last week I ran into one of my old students parents as we were walking into the museum to go play. We did the brief, stand-by-the-stroller-while-trying-to-contain-toddler-who-needs-to-go-run-after-sitting-for-as-long-as-he-can conversation. It was a brief chat but they were informed of the forthcoming addition (as if my bump wasn't evidence enough) so we had to do some additional chatting. Meanwhile, you were off. I didn't quite realize this. And in my defense, I have that ability to know when circumstances are of extreme danger (are there cars nearby?) and when if you were to go roaming it wouldn't in all likelihood result in any harm. Other than my pride, of course. Because as I emerged from this short, conversation and did the head turns in all directions looking for you, I landed on the lady at the entrance who checks to see that you have paid and noticed her head turned completely around... and I followed her gaze... and I found you, halfway up the escalator, standing perfectly still with your right hand resting on the moving rail. Like you take the escalator all the time and know exactly what to do. Thankfully, a kind, older, museum volunteer had jumped on the escalator behind you and rode a couple steps back, just to make sure you made it safely. Meanwhile, I ditched the stroller, ran up the adjoining stairs (did I mentioned how front-heavy I am right now?) just in time for you to be deposited at the top. Thanked the nice volunteer who was just chuckling, carried you down the stairs, back to the proper entrance where we got our hands stamped and could legally enter the museum. How quickly you go from needing me for everything... to running right by me and jumping on the nearest escalator. We marvel at how much you want to go.... to run... to explore all life has to give you.... and then when you finally stop long enough to see where you're at, and realize we aren't there, you just let out a loud, sobbing cry. This doesn't happen often, but at least we know we aren't likely to actually lose you because we can always just listen for your cry--your call to us to come and find you. And with all these changes on our horizon I just want to stop, and marvel at the little boy of mine who wants to go, explore his world. One escalator at a time.

Marching forward

This month is a bit nuts around here.

We've begun packing to move into our new 2 bedroom place that's in the hawthorne/belmont neighborhood (parks! very kid friendly!). 

In the meantime we are still taking every dry opportunity to get outside and kick a ball around.

Spotting the latest in how to bike with baby! I thought this mama looked very chic (and how adorable is the baby!) stopped at a light next to us. Moon just said, "nobody is wearing a helmet!"

Grocery shopping at OMSI, making the most of our membership before it expires! 

And lots of boxes accumulating!

(Squeezing in some reading with daddy).

Breakfast!

Eli is a big fan of pancakes so I've started making them with cottage cheese (recipes a plenty out there) which he still loves. We've had some lovely, lazy mornings around here. 

Grandma came to town!

Cabin fever

It's a thing we had not experienced since becoming parents. Stuck inside for 3 days.

Snow turned to freezing rain. We awoke to alerts on our phones from the city urging people to stay in due to ice on roads. Church cancelled. Other plans for the day cancelled. Thankfully because the tram is needed to get folks up the hill (to the hospital) it's operating when it would otherwise be closed and will allow our friends, nearest neighbors, to come down and hang out with us. Kids, bowls of chilli, and some drinks might just keep us all from going crazy.

Last night moon and I played cards late into the evening. Today we (ok, really moon) organized our CDs and began putting them on our computer. Which means we now only possess a few of those ancient things! We also built trains. Managed some rest. Read some books. And are feeling ready for some ice to melt early this week!

Snow!

We don't see snow that often here in pdx. And this is the first big snow Eli's seen here, though he seemed to remember the stuff from Korea. We had fun sledding yesterday. Today it's coming down too hard for us to go out and play. 

(And I gotta say that the patagonia snowsuit he's wearing is sure going to put in its time! Got it 50% off at a kids consignment store when Eli was a baby. It's size 12mo, but still sort of fits him! We were kind of impressed).

Lazy mornings

This is Eli's favorite spot in the morning. He sits with his guitar and listens to the music I put on. Sometimes he watches the photo stream on the computer. Boy does this kid love music.

Want my toast?

To the coast

We enjoyed a weekend away for the CMDA conference. Ah the ups and downs of trips away with our toddler. He stayed up way too late both nights, but crashed hard. He and I mostly explored while daddy went to the various sessions. Even when I think we're crazy for trying to do these sorts of getaways (pregnancy doesn't help my motivation) when I know we'll all be staying in one room, the packing that's involved, etc, we drove home and I felt grateful we had the chance to do this trip. We've now attended 3 years during these med school years (last year moons schedule didn't work out for it). First year of med school we went and I was pregnant with Eli but didn't yet know it (found out the day after we got back). Second year we went with a 3 month old. And here we were with our 1.5 kids. I know we'll remember fondly these weekends on the coast with wonderful community, worship, and every meal cooked for you (who doesn't love that from time to time!).

Eli learned that this beach has much colder water than Hawaii.

Playing in the gym with Eli's favorite word--ball!! Watching the big kids game.

Walks in the ergo! Carrying one in the front and one on the back...