Catching up is hard to do

Forget breaking up, wading through our 500+ photos of the 2008 holiday tour is harder. May it happen before 2009. Until then, we're wishing you all a happy and bright end to 2008 as well as a healthy and happy 2009.

The San Francisco treat

With many paths converging in San Francisco, Macadam and I headed south to rendezvous with Rob on one of his business trips. Macadam did great with his first plane trip and made it easy on me overall being by myself.
First up, Mr. Mac and I traipsed across San Fran, checking out a few places in the Mission District and then walking to the Marina/Cow Hollow neighborhoods and then to Telegraph Hill. I am still not sure how I ended up walking around seven miles that day, but it at least made up for the yummy pastries I had during the trek.

Rob made it into town and we had the chance to see one of my U of O friends, the wonderful Kathleen, and her boyfriend Chris (he's pretty wonderful too we discovered). Macadam made friends very fast and we had a fantastic time hanging out and enjoying dinner and dessert.

The next day, the main goal of our trip was accomplished. Macadam and his cousin Miles (six weeks his senior) got to meet! And we got to see John (Rob's cousin) and Tracy, which is always a guaranteed good time. There are so many pictures from the lunch but here are some of my faves. These guys couldn't get enough of each other and I think our cheeks hurt from laughing and smiling so much.

I can't wait for more trips like these. The weather in SF was such a nice respite from the horrid weather up here. Everyone there complained about how cold it was but to us it felt like spring.

*FYI for the fam, I will be uploading more images on Flickr when things settle down this week.

Fifteen weeks and all cheeks

Macadam is changing day by day. He's getting the giggles down, standing up with a spotter, grabbing at toys, and being a pro about sleeping in his crib. He's also all cheeks these days, getting plumper by the second. I am excited for our trek to Oregon so he can meet more new friends and family and show off his new skillz.

Macadam's got a new girl

And her name is Ella. We are so happy for our friends Molly and Damon and their newly minted, and beautiful, baby girl Ella Maria! Ella was just born on the 13th and after a bumpy, to say the least, ride for both mom and baby, they are now home, safe, healthy and gorgeous!

Macadam and I went to visit the new family and he quickly put the moves on Ella. Maybe not but he definitely was much more aware that one of his peeps was next to him, although the pictures tell a different story.


It's amazing how quickly you forget just how tiny babies are when they're first born. Ella was a pound heavier than Macadam was when he first arrived, yet I couldn't believe it.

If the shoe fits...

These adorable little shoes were a gift from the Burdicks, which Bege found at an artisan craft show. They're cute and Macadam loves watching his feet in them. Unfortunately our point-and-shoot with the video recorder is broken so no video to hear the wonderful noises and partial laughter.

I have a couple of posts that I have scheduled to hit over the next couple of days but it will be quiet on here until after Christmas. Macadam and I leave in a few short hours to go to San Francisco. We're meeting Rob at the last stop of his business trip this week. I can't wait to catch up with old friends, cruise around a couple of neighborhoods and some shops I have had my eye on for awhile, as well as meet the infamous Miles Christopher and see his hilarious mom and dad!! Miles was born just six weeks before Macadam so it will be fun to see these two cousins size each other up and to catch up with some beloved family members. It's a quick trip but the balmy temps of the Bay area will be a nice respite before we head to Oregon and participate in StormWatch 2008 (cue local new music now).

First snow

As we all continue to feel the chill in the Northwest, here are some pictures from Macadam's first snow experience, not that he was really cognizant of what was going on at the time.

Best seat in the house...

Is when he can throw his arms back, his feet up and just sleep like no one's business while on his dad's lap.

We interrupt this program

To breakaway from all baby, all the time programming, here's a little update on the design part of the household. We didn't expect to still be in this house when Macadam made his crib transition. Thus, we are in the process of finishing some last minute touches for his new residence.

You may remember that we were last working on this project whilst waiting for our overdue baby. Well, we completed it last night and I have to say, I love it. And here is why:

1. Rob and I worked on it together from start to finish, and we had fun doing it and figuring out just how to make these branches balance (thank you Rob!)
2. Macadam is already entranced by watching the birds and the branches sway
3. The branches come from the river bank at the house where my mom and aunt grew up, and from where I cherish so many memories
4. How it brings a sense of calm, peaceful movement and nature into the room

Next up are drapes and hopefully, he will be in the crib by the end of the weekend!

Chatty kathy

Well, okay, Macadam's not talking yet but the below is a good example of how much noise he likes to make when he's engaged in discovery.

Favorite time of the day

It was right around six weeks that Macadam started to smile at us. It was soon after that when he started to smile when he would wake up for the day. For me, my all-time favorite time of the day is witnessing the glory that is Macadam waking up. He opens his eyes and when he looks at you he just lights up and goes through a series of big stretches and even bigger smiles. Rob discovered that if you sing to him, it's as if you've given him the gift of pure joy.

In a matter of days he will be leaving his bassinet for the greener, and roomier, pastures of his crib and before that happens I decided to capture his current routine on film.

I have an excessive amount of photos of him (shocker) doing the same thing over and over. I seriously believe that if his hunger didn't take over, he could do the stretch-smile-stretch series for hours. So not to bore you, here are some highlights.

Oh yes, it's ladies night

Macadam received a full dose of estrogen this week with his dad out of town. In addition to hanging out with his mom 24/7, he was the lone soldier during a ladies night, which was full of the bubbly, babies and wonderful women. It was a very fun night of good friends, new friends and two little ones who rocked the house with their young lungs and charmed us with their smiles.

It was also an evening that struck me with two things: how lucky Rob and I are to have the people we have in our lives here in Seattle as well as the changing nature of our parties/lives as there were two babies and three expectant mothers.

Clockwise from left: Shannon with Macadam (with nosy Buster); Genevieve; Erin and her sweet Lila; Kristie, Keri and Macadam; Marissa with Lila and Macadam lounging with Keri

Three months

Macadam hit three months on Wednesday. The old saying of time flying couldn't be more true. Mr. Mac is changing each day as he develops new noises (both good and bad), faces and changing moods. He remains a pretty mellow baby who likes to interact face-t0-face most of the day but knows how to sleep and to smile. We're still waiting on giggles, but he definitely has them waiting in the wings as he loves to squeal/coo when we try to make him laugh and smile.

Physically, he's much stronger and now can stay still if you prop him. We still have more work in the tummy time area to do before he's rolling along, but we'll get there. In the meantime, he's really enjoying getting to know his tongue, legs, arms, hands and feet.

Traditions in the making

After a fun and filling Thanksgiving we moved right into making some Christmas cheer, earlier than we ever have before. Our friends Marissa and Ali had the brilliant idea of gathering us as a group to have some food and head to a Christmas tree farm to cut down our trees. It was such a fun, fun time and well, it marked Macadam's first tree and tree trimming. The photos are a plenty (thanks in part to Rob for driving back home to get the battery for the camera), so click 9n the Flickr badge to the right for more of them but I think you will get the idea from the below.


And later that night Buster and Macadam learned the motto of reindeer brothers, bros before does (yeah, we're just this cruel) .