the question is not why...

It's why did I not think of this earlier?

this makes me feel a bit self conscious

I read this Portland street style blog, and admittedly thought it would be fun to be stopped on the street by a style blogger. Well, that did not exactly happen, but Kenz happened to be internet friends with the author when she was here and we met up. Lisa was so nice and actually did not make me feel like a fool when being photographed. She's talented at what she does!

check it out here

(p.s. do some digging from a few months back and find Kenz!)

Boise is Portlandizing

Last week we went to Boise Fry Company, a new restaurant being all hip and green and with it. Four different types of fries, tons of sauces. The yams with vanilla salt were the best. But even better was the fact that my dad applied the vanilla salt to the fries and liked it! The Naylor boys are broadening their horizons. We also got the story about the place from the owner, and given that my dad introduced himself he might just become a regular. My dad loves being able to walk into a place and order "the usual." Which is one of my goals in life. Jon and I tried that at a place in Provo, but the guy who consistently took our order once a week (who may or may not have had an English accent, never could tell) refused to recognize us as regulars. He would avoid eye contact while giving the cool kids free meals.

Also, Theo met his cousin Noah! Don't think they realize each other exist though. Theo is seven weeks older but I already know he is going to be smaller than Noah who has the biggest hands I have ever seen on a baby. My brother breeds his kids to be tall giants--I am assuming mine will be the opposite.

happy labor day

Don't be sad. We will save the "labor in the yard weeding" labor days until you are a bit older.

I kid Mom. Service is a good thing...

the importance of anti-hubris

Blogs are full of narcissism. You know, the my husband loves me the most, check out my awesome new something, my baby is much cuter than your baby, list of 12 million reasons why my wife is the one that makes other women frustrated because she is so awesome...stuff. We all need to be humbled every once in a while. For me, that humility comes every time I open iPhoto. Thus, the first in a series of posts I would like to call "This is Most Unflattering."

Yes, babies too. Cross eyes and a forehead for days does not a flattering picture make. (look at his little Homer hairs...)

Self portraits don't usually turn out as cool as you want them to.

Last but not least (from the pregnancy days...). Do not pose in front of an enormous magnifying glass. Trust me.

Join me if you dare.  Whitney provided me with some inspiration from her sneak attack post.

More than one cute baby can exist!

I have been so excited to meet my new nephew, Noah. I know a baby, though, who was a little reluctant to share the spotlight. (ahem, Theo.) After a little chat, he decided to change his ways and made this video. I generously offered to translate.




(sorry the video is cut off slightly... you can click to view in youtube also.)

8 weeks

Baby survived a weekend of both sets of grandparents! Well, he had no problem turning on the charm for them, but I was worried about a Hall vs. Naylor cage match as to who would get to push the stroller. Turns out it was a needless worry, and the Halls were very hospitable especially when they figured out the Naylors didn't mind sharing their restaurant food (a common Hall tradition). Jon gave Theo a beautiful blessing at church (bonus points for not forgetting his name) and I now owe him a situation in which I am nervous with clammy hands.

What a little baby doll I birthed! I love this little face. Especially the healthy eyebrows.

Motherboy

The first of many matching ensembles.

classic portland

Mackenzie is here! Theo loved meeting his Auntie Kenz. With Kenz and Tyler here, I have gotten out of the house about 12 times more than I have in the past few weeks. Muscles have been sore from doing this thing called walking. We picked 17 pounds of marionberries, ate at good food carts and tried a new restaurant (Pok Pok).

The first full day they were here, Tyler was approached by this couple wanting to take a picture of him and his beard, tourist style. They said it was because it was "so Portland." We didn't have the heart to tell them they were visiting as well, from Pennsylvania. The guy posed next to Tyler like he was a character from Disneyland. Also, last night we had a picnic by the river and got approached by a homeless man who asked us if our child was going to learn the phrase "it is what it is," and I said yes (I do assume he will learn those words in English someday). He also asked for some of our food, which we willingly gave if it was going to make him leave that much quicker. Peaceful, philosophical bums. So Portland.

Thought you would want to see the famous beard. More pictures (Kenz's cute haircut included) on her blog here.

great Sarah Palin's ghost

I did something on Friday that I have been planning long before Theo was born--go berry picking! I'm laughing at the thought that I wanted to do this in the first weeks of his birth. That was a hilarious idea. I took a picture to commemorate the moment, with Theo in his carrier. As I was taking the picture I remembered there are not many things in the world I hate more than taking a picture of myself. But my thumb was halfway there so this is what happened.

I also had a dream last night where I use the word "refudiate" twice in a blog I wrote. Then I find out that Sarah Palin made up that word, and I get super embarrassed. I woke up embarrassed for my dream self. Is Sarah Palin breaking into people's dreams and trying to convince them this word is real?...

Theo. hat. pom pom.

Got your attention? Click here to see on Kenz's blog.

baby tried to steal birthday thunder...

It was Jon's birthday Saturday. It was filled with the usual Trader Joe's treats and angel food cake, with presents like a jogging stroller infant adapter and Radiohead baby lullabyes. Oh and I think my new favorite food cart. Happy birthday Jon! And in keeping with his probable wishes, I'll leave it at that. (Except that we found that Inception is not the best movie to take an infant to... but Jon made it work. Even when he pooped in the Ergo. Love you Theo!)

Sunday was Theo's first day at church. We told him he was Mormon and that he best get used to it. He cried a little at first, but by the end he was cool with it.

Lately

Theo spent a lot of time with Grandma Naylor, especially in the middle of the night!

Grandpa Naylor and Theo are both very happy like this. You can see where the pointed ear comes from.

Bought a tart pan and made a strawberry tart with mom (I was shocked I didn't ruin the pastry cream)

Theo Meeting Grandpa and Grandma Hall

Amateurish photo shoots (isn't that onesie the best? Thanks Kenz)

Any time leftover is usually spent like this.


Also, this week Kenz had a few lovely posts about our Grandpa... on her blog here (with a picture that shows I haven't changed a bit... long hair and salt water sandals) and as a guest blogger here.

But of course...

My son has a golden rat tail. Daddy could not be more proud.

And my mom left this weekend (my dad too, who was able to come after the longest jury deliberation ever--good thing he totally won!) which makes me instantly more sleep deprived. Having my mom here for almost two weeks saved my life. Especially when your recovery consists of having multiple doctors tell you, "You look really pale." Granted, they could just be thrown off by the fact that my skin is normally a nice transparent color.

Theo is born!

It is hard to believe that Theo is already a week old today... this past week was a blur, and it's hard to blog when you have a little baby snuggled asleep on your chest!

We had been waiting since his due date (16th) for labor to start, but I knew he would come when he was ready, or as Jon thought, after I was able to eat a long awaited breakfast sandwich from a food cart we had been meaning to visit on Saturday. (The Big Egg in the Mississippi district, and it was delicious.) Saturday night I started having the usual regular contractions that I knew would either go away with sleep or lead up to the Big Event. Sunday morning I woke up shortly before 4 am with painful, regular contractions, and I knew labor had started. After talking with the midwife on call she said she expected to see me later that morning in the hospital. Hours later, she said she would be expecting me in later that afternoon...and then it was that evening for sure! My mom had arrived from Boise, and my contractions were getting to be very intense, but not quite close enough together. I was in tears and we decided to go to the hospital, if only to get checked with the possibility of being sent back home. 
After being checked, waiting an hour, and then being checked again, I was dilated to a two. This was discouraging after 20 hours, but the midwife assured me that I was hovering between early and active labor. She sent us home with Ambien at midnight, and I took a bath with the idea that I was taking a break from these contractions and getting a little sleep. Thirty minutes after trying to get some sleep I had bloody show, called again and she wanted me to come back. I was reluctant as I thought my labor would not have progressed much. After we got there she said two wonderful things--I was dilated to a seven and, fill the tub! (I was planning a natural waterbirth)

The tub was such a relief, as the contractions were still there but I was able to relax and float. I got in at about 4 am, and the time passed so quickly. Before I knew it I was feeling the unavoidable urge to push. I was dilated to a 10 (this was done by slipping a flashlight into a vet glove and checking it underwater), which was interesting because transition seems to have presented itself earlier when I was at a two rather than when I was approaching a 10. Pushing was an adventure. I was making these low noises I didn't know existed (think cows singing karaoke). It felt intense. I had many conversations in my head encouraging me to keep going! Before I knew it, forty minutes had passed and there was a crying baby in my arms. It was so unreal and amazing to share the next twenty minutes with Jon just looking at our baby boy. He was predicted to be about 7 pounds and ended up being almost 8 and a half! (That was a fun surprise)

It's funny how merely a week later I am digging deep to remember the painful details of childbirth. Those parts have just become unimportant and overshadowed by the joy of Theo's birth. I prayed for the faith that my body would know what to do, and Jon gave me the confidence and motivation to go through with everything without fear. I love our new little family.