A Fig in Sweden Portland

just awesome

That's my amazingly awesome sister teaching us how to rock the Wii Just Dance moves on her recent visit to PDX. It took me a while to download these pictures. They make me smile and miss her so much at the same time. I freaking love it here in Portland. But after a week of hanging with Liz at the house, the coast, the forest and the food carts, I realize it is missing something pretty important: her.

trying to land my helicopter

"What a beautiful sunny morning," I've thought to myself nearly every day this summer.

"But, wait, is he out there?"

That's the next thought that enters my mind EVERY time I have the urge to sit or play out front with Sophie. Or even open the door.

Bad dog, you ask? Hoodlum? Ax murderer?

It's the 4-year-old boy who just moved across the street in July. And he has to be the most obnoxious kid I have ever met.

Can I cry now?

"Napoleon," "Alexander the Great," "Alexander" has very nice parents from New Jersey who worship the ground he walks on. I think the D word (discipline) is a bad word in their house.

And, let's just cut to the chase: I don't want Sophie playing with him.

Every encounter has always ended with Sophie crying.

Exhibit A: The first time Sophie interacted with Alex, an older neighbor girl had given him a pink play computer to borrow until his toys showed up. Being that is was pink and had buttons that did stuff, Sophie was like a moth to a flame with the thing and wanted to try it. Did Alex act selfish and not let Sophie play with it? You bet. But not just that. He said she could NEVER EVER EVER PLAY WITH IT. EVER!!!!! Nice.

Exhibit B: He walked up to us in the yard a few days later and said, (I kid you not): "Remember me? I'm the one who wouldn't let you play with my computer even though you really wanted to. I'm that kid."

Exhibit C: Alex was playing tetherball with the 6-year-old up the street. When the 6-year-old kicked his butt, the little ones, including Sophie, clapped. He then lashed out at the bystanders, saying "I hate you ALL!!!"

Exhibit D: Alex and his mom walked up to us yesterday, and Alex asked Sophie if she wanted to play. Sophie said no. (Yay!!!!!!!) He rolled his eyes (seriously!) and then spent the remainder of the afternoon tormenting her with a remote control monster truck that he was controlling from his front yard and yelling "I'm gonna scare you, Sophie!!!"

When I asked Sophie why she didn't want to play with Alex, she said he was a bad boy. (I did cartwheels inside.)

I know she is going to encounter bad eggs in life, sooner than we think. But all of her little friends at school are so, so sweet. And, really, at 3.5 years old, pretty much everyone she's ever played with has been sweet. Isn't it a little young to have to deal with this crap?

I admit that of the four main parenting types, I tend to be the helicopter parent. I know I need to let Sophie learn these things on her own and take care of herself. Which, obviously, she is.

This morning was the first day in a while that we hung out on the front stoop and played on the sidewalk. And even though I cringed every time I heard his front door open, it was so nice to have our relaxing space back.

what happens when mathis and i sleep in

sleep, eat, poop ... and snuggle (repeat, repeat, repeat)

We're three weeks into this family of four thing. Life has somewhat settled into a routine, thanks in large part to Grandma, who flew in from Texas the day that Mathis was born and stayed with us for two weeks. It was a great transition, especially for Sophie, who got loads of attention and stepped enthusiastically into her new big sister role.

I just finished my first week on my own, which I am happy to say was more empowering than exhausting. (Except for the night when Mathis decided he didn't want to go to sleep until 1 a.m. and then woke up every one to two hours after that.) Our little man has been out and about -- the zoo, berry picking and farmer's market-ing. But I've yet to try one of these adventures on my own with both of them.

Nope, it's been a lot of stay at home for this stay-at-home mom this week. Which, as you can see, is pretty nice, too.

just like old times

both of us in skirts

tops in the same hue

blue single-scoop cups

with tiny plastic spoons

girl time

a 30-minute taste of the last 3 years

family. four. foray. forest.