serious twin faces

Kenz is here (yea!) and we have tried to fit in as much food carting, waffle windowing, Japanese candy eating, and baby holding while doing the finish work on all her wonderful scarves before Little Winter starts tomorrow. (Please come visit!) I'm so excited for her. She also got a new "french little boy" haircut which is very cute, and I got chocolate all over my face while eating a waffle. What a good week.

I gnome you!

He wore his costume last night at our church party, and there was a chili spill that was totally his fault so he is not pictured in his gnome shirt or pants. Happy Halloween!

Shlumbo

Theo in his little bumbo. He slumps forward mostly to start eating the side, and all that bending causes a little heave ho of spit up over the side.

I posted the second picture to show that he inherited my crazy eyes. Probably a good thing I accidentally cut off his head.

p.s. Kenz has introduced her amazing woven scarves to the world! I love them. She will be selling them in her new shop soon, and also here in Portland at Little Winter, a craft show at the beginning of November. I am so excited for her and her new venture.

This makes me nervous

Grandpa and Theo

I will admit I have mother bear syndrome. I flinch at any noise while jogging, worried that a killer dog or squirrel will jump out of nowhere to harm my son. I grimace and squirm at someone who covers Theo's face with kisses, needing to protecting him from microscopic harm. (Air kisses people, it's freaking cold and flu season!) I constantly imagine horrific ways he could fall on the ground. And after almost four months, I still check to see if he is breathing at times. (I recently realized Jon was not going to stop breathing in the middle of the night. I've checked enough to know this.) 

I felt a little better about myself when I saw a dad in a parking lot with his young son on his shoulders, and not too far behind was the mother, with a hand hovering about two inches from the little boy's back. Mother bears unite!

first "swim"

 Arizona is what I like to call, "The Fiery Furnace." But Theo was able to swim, in the evening, when the sun was down. His skin is obviously very sensitive to any and all UV rays. I like that his swim ensemble was a regular diaper and a onesie. That's how we do things...

Niece attack! Theo weirdly looks about as big as my two-year-old niece Paige. She is so tiny!

but they stain your fingers

I like the color of beets. But I don't like eating beets. When I saw these deep purple carrots at the farmer's market, however, I immediately wanted to make purple carrot soup with them. And it turned out a beautiful dark purple. Maybe if I had done half parsnips and half purple carrots, I would have gotten a light purple soup. Is that too unappetizing?

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.