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Care Package from Minnesota/NYC

You can imagine my great joy when a goodie box filled with fun surprises from Courtney and Tudor was waiting for me when I stepped in the door today.

It's hard to say what my favorite goodie was.  I was quite happy to find that the pants Rok peed on moments before we boarded the plane home to Minnesota had been laundered and returned to me.  In my frustration and haste I'd told Courtney to just throw them away.  Luckily, she's the more level-headed of us two.

I also loved my sweet running shirt from Tudor's USA Soccer trip to Brazil and broke it in immediately with a run around the lake here in Klahanie.  This is a photo post-run (which Gabe asked me if I was sure I wanted to take because I was 'all red and sweaty', but I decided to go with it for authenticity).

But if you look in Rok's hands you'll find my favorite part of the care package.  A magazine aptly titled Central Minnesota Women which Courtney sent me to demonstrate the 'propaganda' she's exposed to on a daily basis.  I don't know what she's complaining about.  I learned how to make my own leather goods, the low-down on the best knitting patterns, and what it takes to be a hardcore BMX woman while merely skimming this fine piece of literature for a few minutes.  Who knows what other gems I'll find once I really take the time to read it thoroughly:)

Thanks for our package Courtney and Tudor! XOXO

And Levi makes 4 for this Davis Clan

Last Thursday we happily welcomed Levi as the newest member of the Davis Family Issaquah Branch.  Levi will be living with us while attending Bellevue College, and is currently looking for a job (he informed us his search is for 'a job that pays'...so his options are wide open:)

The move was definitely the most laid-back of any I've been a part of.  Between Gabe, Levi and I we got the contents from Saya's van and Levi's truck un-loaded and in the house in about 15 minutes. 

And the best part of the move, is that Rok can now experience the joy of moving boxes...lots of them!

I can't wait for Christmas, as I'm sure Rok's box love will have only grown exponentially by then!





Mt. Rainier at Camp Ohanapecosh

For a little daycation we decided on a trip to Mt. Rainier last Saturday.  Gabe got a guide book with lists of multiple hikes, and we decided on a loop out of camp Ohanapecosh up to Silver Falls and back.  The roughly 2.5 hour hike seemed like just the right length with Gabe's torn ACL, and me trying out hauling baby boy in the sweet hiking backpack Paul and Mary lent us for the first time. 

We stopped on the way up to get a pic in front of the glorious mountain.  The weather couldn't have been any better.

The falls were spectacular.  Because of our unseasonably cool Spring and early Summer the snow is just now melting at the rapid rate of 18-20 inches per day (Thanks Ranger Dan for that and many other park factoids).

But I'd have to say the highlight of the trip was hauling little Rok in the hiking pack.  We were worried that after a two hour ride up the mountain he wouldn't be so happy with getting popped back in another carrier.  We were wrong.  I think finally being at 'Mom and Dad level' evoked un-paralleled joy in him.  He spent the majority of the trip mimicking our voices, laughing, and singing for passersby on the trail.  The pack worked great, but it was quite the workout! 

We stopped on the way home for a picnic lunch and we let Rok shed his clothes for a little nakie baby time.  He was loving it, and all was well until I realized we hadn't packed chocolate covered raisins and that he was playing with a sizable pile of deer poo.  Whoops!  Guess I didn't sufficiently clear the picnic area for animal droppings:)

 

Veggie Garden!

Very first veggie from my crop

I'd have to say my favorite part about the new house is the backyard.  When we moved in it was pretty much a mess; overgrown shrubs, shed covered in mold, wildly unruly roses...just to name a few.  For my birthday, Mom and Hunter came and offered a day of labor in the yard to get things under control.  My favorite part of the day was turning the rose-bed into a bonafide vegetable garden that has been thriving.

I wish I had a before picture, but this is a good pic of the veggie garden about a week after we planted.

The only major problem I encountered was the slugs who started munching my lettuce and spinach.  After checking out some other blogs I tried two methods to keep them out.  A 'fence' made of crushed egg-shells and bowls of beer.  The egg-shells allegedly get embedded in their undersides and are uncomfortable enough to keep them out, and the bowls of beer lure the little slimers in and then they drown.  I remember Mom setting out bowls of beer for the slugs when we were little, I also remember going 'slug hunting' after dark with a can of Morton's and salting the ones we spotted with our flashlight.

I found five slugs in the bowls of beer the next morning and the lettuce and spinach have never looked better.  The peas have also really taken off to the point where I needed to stake them and give them room to grow which you can see in the photo below.  Planted a tomato today in a different bed and plan to get some more in the ground tomorrow! (You can also see Rok in the photo below in his typical garden-helper pose...chillin' in the frog jumper and munching on Cheerios)

Minnesota 2011!

Well, I never thought I'd be making annual trips to Minnesota.  But when your beloved sister resides there...its hard to resist the pull of this unbelievably flat, lake-filled, Midwestern state.

I was beyond anxious about the three-hour flights with Rokstad.  On the way there, two Carhart-wearing, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition-toting, teenage boys sat down next to me and I was sure they would not appreciate us for plane-mates...especially with me nursing mere millimeters from their camouflaged shoulders.  However, they were exceedingly nice young men on their way to Wisconsin for their Grandma's funeral who were totally helpful and kind to Rokstad.  The flight whizzed by after a long nap and below is a picture of a very content passenger aboard his first jet-plane.

I can't tell you how nice it was to be greeted by Courty at the airport.  We got Rok loaded in the car and made a trip to Uptown Minneapolis where we ate at an extremely over-priced, very 'Portlandia' cafe where the chicken may be 'free-range' but it tastes like cardboard!  After that was a very important trek to the local grocery store where I was blown away by the variety of gelatin products and processed cheese available in Minnesota!  Additionally, there was a random aisle filled with Costco-sized portions of ranch dressing and maple syrup (the essentials I presume?)

When we reached Court and Tudor's adorable new house I was greeted by an even more adorable Milo who was super-excited to run circles around Rok and I.  That lasted until Rok grabbed a clump of his head-hair and wouldn't let go.  From then on Milo was a little reluctant to get too close to the drooly baby...but they did share toys (and food, when Rok made a beeline for the dog dishes before I could stop and him and was chowing down on kibble in the blink of an eye).

Its hard to recount all the highlights from the trip.  Cinco de Mayo was pretty fantastic.  Court and I got all dolled up and had Margaritas, Nachos and Mud Pie at a Mexican place where the servers were super-sweet and gave us free beads!

We also got a chance to go on a great little walk along the Mississippi at a place called Munsinger Gardens.  Watching Rok get toted around in the Ergo by Court made me very happy. 

But I'd have to say my favorite part of the trip was just spending lots of time with Court and Tudor, and especially cooking with Courtney.  We had so much fun picking new and yummy recipes and turning the kitchen upside down!  Our first night we made a dreamy polenta and sausage dish and juggled Rok and Milo with ease.  However, our final dinner was a 'breakfast for dinner' minor-catastrophe when I had to dart in the bedroom to feed Rokstad and I emerged to a house filled with smoke from burning bacon!  (Dinner was still delicious after we started over with the bacon). 

Another hilarious meal was when we compiled all the leftovers from our week of eating well.  The result was a mish-mash of food that included a few bites of exquisite Indian food, some scraps of naan, LOTS of over-cooked onion and peppers from our least favorite meal, and gobs of white rice.  We boiled up some delish corn on the cob and I made some wraps to fill us up when we realized the leftovers weren't cutting it:)

Before our trip back home, Court and I spent the day in St. Paul and Rok had his first encounter with a swing and LOVED it.

Another high points were a hike around the St. Johns campus, with picture-perfect weather.  It was especially neat to visit this campus almost a year from our first visit where I was preggo with the little bug featured in the above photos.  We have a photo very similar to the one below...but without a little Rokstad's stroller, or a little Rokstad to go in the stroller.

Overall, the week was amazing.  It was such a great gift from Gabe and I can't imagine a better time spent with people I love so dearly.  It was VERY hard to go back home.  Especially when you include the highly challenging airplane ride home with an over-tired baby who did not sleep, threw his food and toys at nearly all the surrounding passengers, and even went so far as to yank off the glasses of the sweet grandma sitting next to us, and to spank the stewardesses as the passed by!  We were very happy to see Gabe, but it was a hard transition when I didn't wake up and get to have a snuggle-pile with Court, Milo and Rok Tuesday morning:(

Rokstad's Dedication

We were blessed to have many of our friends and family present to witness Rokstad's dedication on March 27th.  It's our earnest prayer that those close to us will hold us accountable and come alongside us as we raise our beloved son according God's word. 

We chose the following scripture for him;

Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.

Remember your mercy, O Lord,

and your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.

Psalm 25: 4-6

Mary's Shower

Last Saturday I co-hosted a baby shower for my dear friend Mary at the Estates at Cougar Mountain Clubhouse here in Issaqauh.  Mary's friend Lindsay is a resident there, and boy was it a beautiful space!  Mary's waiting to be surprised before she finds out if Baby #2 is a little guy or gal, so I tried to come up with a color palette that was fun and bright without being gender specific.  I settled on red and lime-green, and while I had some hesitations that it would translate to 'Christmas in May' it seemed to work really well. 

The center-piece of the shower was a modern take on the diaper cake that I worked on with my friend/co-host Leslie.  Karen, Vivie and Keira had made me a diaper cake for one of my showers and I just loved it.  I do have to confess that while I was working on it the smell of newborn diapers took me back in time to Rok's first few weeks.  I don't know what came over me, but I started thinking I wouldn't mind another tiny baby to love...good thing I do reusable diapers now!  Keep those baby-fresh disposables far away or I might be making a 'big announcement' on this blog in the near future:) 

Here's a pic of the cake.

There were circle elements throughout the shower, and I found a super-easy way to make garland by punching paper circles and feeding them through my sewing machine with contrasting thread.  I got inspired by a 99 cent pack of cardboard circles at Michael's and combined them with a coat hanger wrapped in ribbon, fishing line, and some scraps of lime green paper to make this mobile.  It's hanging over the prize-pails that went to winners of the games.

For the menu, I found a great cookbook from the library with lots of fun and unique ideas that were really simple to whip up, especially with the help of the new food processor Mary's letting me use!  I made 'Pretty Party Pinwheels with Herbed Cream Cheese,' 'Spicy Cheese Balls' (as I mentioned at the shower I think this is a really gross name, but I couldn't think of a cuter one...'Spicy Cheese Marbles' sounded just as weird) Mini Broccoli and Cheddar Frittatas, Cupcakes, and Gingery Pineapple Punch.  Despite thinking I was a master multi-tasker and wearing Rok in the Ergo for much of the preparation, I was cooking up to the last second. 

The shower was a ton of fun and it was a great way to shower Mary with love before the baby's arrival.  Baby's due on my birthday and I would be honored to share it with such a special little one!

Six-Months...

It's hard to believe that our baby is six-months old, and that I've been a momma for half a year.

I remember so clearly that first day home from the hospital.  Gabe and I staggered through the door of our apartment half-asleep, still achy with a nasty cold & flu, and carrying our newborn son in a car-seat that overwhelmed me with its labyrinth of straps, clasps and anchors.  As we set the car-seat down on the table I peered in at Rokstad napping peacefully and had only one thought...what now?  Gabe and I quickly realized we were hungry, and that preparing food seemed out of the question so he went to get takeout.  He returned with food and a big fuzzy pink robe that I lived in for what seemed like the better part of a month.  In those first days I was overwhelmed with love for Gabe, love for Rokstad, and the realization that there isn't a fool-proof manual on how to raise a child.  I'd be figuring this out one day at a time. 

Well, one day at a time has turned into six-months and I can say that while I'm far from perfect, I do feel like I'm growing as a mom.  Those first weeks I used facebook as my primary mode of making parenting decisions.  Questions on feeding, eating and sleeping quickly became wall posts and I scrolled through dozens of answers in the wee hours of morning as I tried to keep from falling asleep while nursing.  I've moved away from this 'parenting by polling' as Gabe would call it, and though I do enjoy the wealth of information the community of mothers on facebook provide I'm gaining the confidence to make decisions with Gabe after doing the appropriate research and holding firm to what I feel is best for our family and our son.  I've learned that there's a difference between hearing advice, and feeling obligated to follow it.  Though I'm extremely well-read when it comes to babies and sleep, in retrospect it was likely unnecessary to read the six different books various moms recommended on the topic.

I will also say that the first day home from the hospital I felt a sadness when I looked at Gabe and realized that our 'fun and free couple' days were behind us.  What if we wanted to drive to the ocean on a whim?  What if we wanted to spend a day lazing about the house in our pjs and eating ice-cream?  What if we wanted to go to the movies?  When I started crying, Gabe explained that while we were no longer a 'fun and free couple' we could still be a 'fun and free family.'  Our days would look different, but it wouldn't mean that there was any less joy or fulfillment.  Now I get what he was talking about.  I look at our life now and its hard to remember life before Rokstad.  He fills our life in such a way that there is more love in our house than I ever thought possible.  We've committed to making Rokstad a part of the life we love and not resolving to an existence of baby-induced solitude because he might occasionally scream or poop his pants (don't we all?)  The kids at Gabe's school love him, we took him on a hike to Rattlesnake lake last Saturday, and he accompanied Hunter on a round of putt-putt golf in celebration of his tenth birthday.  As a brand-new mom I might have thought these things would be 'too hard' for a baby, but as a six-months-new mom I've found them to be totally manageable and totally enjoyable.

I'm looking forward to the next six-months; what I'll learn, what Rokstad will teach me, and of course the awesome first birthday party I plan to throw. 

  



Starting Solids!

We started solids this Monday and boy was Rokstad ready for this milestone!  I really wanted to wait until we hit six-months, but there were some big signs he was ready a couple weeks early.  For example, every time I eat around Rok he's either reaching for my fork or opening his mouth like a baby-bird. 

Monday night after I nursed him he was acting ravenous despite a full feeding so I felt like we were ready.  We grabbed the Bumbo, stripped him down to his diaper, and mixed some rice-cereal with milk.  The first taste evoked some funny faces and he did a lot of smacking his gums together to get the feel for it.  But any initial hesitation quickly passed as he lunged for the spoon and reached at the bowl for more!  We captured the experience on camera but for some reason it wont let me upload it on here.  I'll try again tomorrow and see if there are less 'technical difficulties'.

Starting next week I'll be making Rok's baby food.  First up on the menu is carrots as we explore the realms beyond rice cereal.  My biggest hope for the baby food experience is that Rokstad hasn't inherited his Daddy's picky eating habits.  But on that note....for those of you that haven't heard, Gabe has given me an amazing gift in the month of March; he's willing to eat ANYTHING I put on his plate (with the sole exception of onions).  The first night I went wild and made Souvlaki, a Greek dish consisting of large chunks of tomatoes, olives, and cucumber (as Gabe put it, he had to meditate on the love of Christ to get through the meal).  He also pointed out that this was the very first time he's eaten fresh tomato and reminded me of a story from his childhood where he turned down 20 dollars from Papa and a whole glass of soda offered to him if he tried it. 

The second night I didn't go as wild and made salmon with lemon and roasted fennel, and Gabe said he'd eat the exact dish even if it wasn't in the month of March...Win!