Jarrett and I have finally spent some time getting the video off of our video camera and onto our computer. This is one of my favorite clips yet. Nothing beats a baby's laughter. This was taken at my grandma's house while we were out in Oregon. My mom is reading Elsa one of her favorite books, and Elsa is so delirious from all of our travel at this point that she seems to think my mom's animal sounds are the funniest thing she might have ever heard.
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Monday, May 25, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Elsa's First Tooth
Elsa will occasionally chomp down on me toward the end of a nursing session -- something I have been trying to break her of doing. Well, she did this Sunday afternoon and it felt like her bad habit had a bit more bite to it, so I felt her bottom gum with one of my fingers and, sure enough, one of her bottom teeth has broken through. I've only caught an actual glimpse of it a couple of times because it is fairly hard to see, and when you try to force it, she will usually put her tongue over her lower gum. But it is official -- Elsa has her first tooth!
Hello, Helen
Our trip to Helen began with an on-the-way-out-of-town visit to the CVS Minute Clinic (I'm not even going to go into it -- let's just say they were incredibly inefficient, and the visit left Jarrett and me giving each other the silent treatment in the car for about half of the drive, at least) and ended with me at my doctor's office, but other than that and the horrendous hangover I gave myself for Mother's Day, it was a great trip. Really, though, we had a nice time with Jarrett's dad and Susan, and we are really glad they invited us up to share part of their weeklong stay at their timeshare.
We arrived Saturday around lunchtime and enjoyed some sandwiches at the condo before Elsa's nap. Once Elsa woke up, we decided to take a drive up to Brasstown Bald, the most difficult climb in the Tour de Georgia (when the Tour was still taking place) and the highest point of elevation in the state. But first it was a necessity to get ice cream from one of the local ice cream shops -- after that we were on our way. Elsa was not too happy with the climbs and descents, likely because she was having problems equalizing her ears, but thankfully my father-in-law was able to somewhat distract her with his personal speaking device. Elsa thought it quite fascinating, and had a fun time trying to learn how to talk. It was fairly chilly and very breezy at the top of the mountain, and we didn't go prepared enough to make the hike to the peak, unfortunately. We were out of the car for a bit -- just long enough to snap a couple of photos and chill ourselves enough to want to get back in the car -- and then we made the descent back into Helen.
That evening, after Elsa went to bed, I popped open a beer, hoping it would take the edge off of my throbbing, burning, itching hand. The first one didn't do much, but I muscled through and enjoyed our yummy chicken and rice dinner that Susan cooked, and then popped open another beer before starting into our game of Cranium. We never actually finished the game because it was getting kind of late (but the competitive side of me must tell you that Jarrett and I were in the lead), and Dad and Susan went to bed. Well, Jarrett and I decided to continue drinking and took our beers outside and sat on one of the swings and chatted. I really shouldn't have had anymore to drink after what I had during the course of the game, but I remember thinking it was a good idea since I could still feel the pain in my hand. I also remember saying when I came back inside that my hand was feeling great -- wasn't bothering me at all. That should of been my first clue that Sunday morning was not going to be fun.
Sure enough, I woke up around 5:30 a.m. Sunday morning feeling terrible. The alcohol was out of my system, so I could nurse Elsa safely, but its residual effects on my system were running strong, and I was sick as a dog. Jarrett was very sweet and took care of Elsa for me while I tried to recover. By around 9:30 I was at least over the worst of it and was able to get up and get Elsa fed again and down for her nap. A hangover on my first Mother's Day -- shouldn't I win a Mother of the Year Award or something? Geez. Talk about stupid. Anyway, thankfully the rest of the day was salvaged, and we made sandwiches and packed them to take to Unicoi State Park. It was a popular spot, but we were able to find a nice picnic table right along Smith Creek, which was the perfect settting on such a nice day. The water was frigid, but I let Elsa's toes dangle in it for a little while -- couldn't resist. After lunch, I strapped Elsa on, and we walked up the road toward Anna Ruby Falls, which is part of the Chattachoohee National Forest, and has nothing to do with the state park. Thus, you are supposed to pay a separate fee to enter -- even if you are on foot! So we basically walked up near to where you would have to pay, and then turned around, which was actually a good length of a walk in and of itself, and long enough for Elsa to take a short nap. Once Elsa woke, she, Jarrett, and I headed back to the condo, and Dad and Susan caught up with us later, bearing more ice cream and ingredients for a burrito dinner. Yum. That evening, Jarrett and I challenged the folks to another round of Cranium, and -- ahem -- kicked their butts. Fun was had by all.
We took it easy Monday morning... ate breakfast, played with Elsa, read, packed up the car. Around lunchtime, we headed out to Cafe International and ate lunch overlooking the Chattahoochee River before Jarrett, Elsa, and I headed back to Atlanta.
Having only driven through Helen maybe once before, and not really knowing much about it except that all the buildings seem to have tried to adopt a Bavarian theme, I didn't really know what to expect. But it turns out that was pretty much all to expect. I labeled it the "Myrtle Beach of North Georgia." Granted, I didn't actually walk around and browse around the shops or anything, so I can't really give it a fair review, but it definitely seemed like a tourist trap a little past its prime. However, the surrounding scenery, parks, access to the Appalachian Trail, etc., seemed quite lovely, and it was great that we had really nice weather to be able to enjoy it a bit.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Elsa is Eight Months
Elsa turns eight months old today -- two-thirds of the way through her first year! Can you believe it? In some ways it definitely has felt like the full eight months, but in others it has not. I am currently watching our friends' three-plus-month-old, Olivia, a couple of times a week, and every time she is here and I have she and Elsa side by side, I am always amazed at the difference a mere four-and-a-half months can make (you can see photos of the two of them below). And I can't believe Elsa has grown as much as she has over that amount of time.
I neglected posting when Elsa turned seven months. I guess April was just a busy month -- that and her seven-month doctor's appointment was very uneventful. So uneventful, actually, that she was not even weighed and measured. She basically just got a shot and a good once-over and that was it. She doesn't see the doctor again until nine months, so I'm sure there will be things to report then!
So what is she doing these days? She has finally come around to almost enjoying car rides, which is so very lovely in the eyes (and ears!) of her parents. She is sitting up really well now, only toppling over occasionally, and when she is sitting up, she is nearly doubling over in half forward and reaching for toys. Sometimes she even starts folding those legs up under herself, so perhaps crawling is on the horizon. She rolls over with much more ease now -- especially from her tummy to her back. She won't stay on her tummy for very long at all anymore (not that she ever really wanted to anyway). She loves walks in the stroller and either swinging in the baby swing at the park or swinging in the big swing while attached to me. Elsa is also definitely in love with her dog. She laughs at him when he runs around or obeys commands, and the best is when she tries to talk to him and gets aggravated, clenching her fists and voicing her annoyance, when he doesn't do whatever it is she is telling him. She loves her Johnny Jump-Up, but is starting to grow out of the Exersaucer and the playmat. The bouncer is history.
As for food, she had her first finger food (aside from the teething biscuits I started giving her last week) two days ago -- tiny pieces of mango. They are a bit too slippery for her to pick up, so I need to try the trick of crushing up some "O"-type cereal and coating them in it so they are easier to grasp. I am sure it will also become easier when she has better command over the pincher grasp. She's still working on it. Her favorite food is definitely still sweet potatoes -- the girl is bound to turn orange sometime soon. Pureed chicken is now at the bottom of the list. I think I am going to try beans sometime soon as another protein source. She is still nursing quite a lot, which is really still her main source of nutrition at this point, but introducing all the new foods is definitely fun. She is also starting to take to her sippy cup, but usually likes to gnaw on the spout rather than suck on it.
Jarrett and I are both really enjoying this age. She is such the happy baby these days (most of the time) and is a lot of fun to be around -- a definite change from the early days. And she is just as cute as she was on day one -- no, maybe more so. I am really enjoying watching her grow, and am anxious to see what she accomplishes next, but then sometimes I watch her sleep in her crib or hold her closely after she's fallen asleep in my arms and try to soak it all in the best I can, not wanting her ever to grow up.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Oregon Trip
Finally... the post re: the Oregon trip. My mom, Elsa, and I traveled by plane out to Oregon on Saturday, April 18, and were there through Saturday, April 25. Overall, we had a fabulous time, although I have to admit that it was also quite exhausting both physically and emotionally. Elsa did great considering it was her first flight, she was dealing with a three-hour time change, she was being passed around from relative to relative, and she was being dragged around via car from one place to another. She never slept through the night, though, and was always waking up around 3:30 or 4:00 a.m., which would have been her wake-up time had she been back in Georgia, but she was still napping at the regular time and going to bed at the same time, so I was never quite sure what was going on. Thankfully she would nurse and then either fall back asleep in bed with me or go back to sleep in her pack-and-play... whichever I felt I had the energy to do at the time. She has been waking up occasionally in the middle of the night, even with being back home, so I think it's probably just a phase -- a phase I hope she grows out of soon. Anyway, on to the trip. I'm going to break it down in a day-by-day fashion. It's going to be a long one, but maybe at least a bit easier to read.
Saturday, April 18
Elsa, Jarrett, and I woke up bright and early to get ready, load the car, and head to the airport to catch an 8:30 a.m. flight. My mom was flying from Charlotte, NC, and had an hour to switch over to our plane, so we were crossing our fingers for no delays and gates not too far apart. Jarrett saw Elsa and I to the security checkpoint, and we made it through without too much problem. It's definitely more difficult when you're juggling a baby and all her loot, but one of the TSA agents ended up helping me out, which was nice. My mom made the transition smoothly -- she arrived at a gate in the same concourse and just a few gates down from our departure gate, so we even had time for me to grab a cup of coffee and change Elsa's diaper before needing to board. Elsa flew in style for her first flight -- we had seats in first class thanks to Skymiles and a very early reservation. And I am so glad we did. Not only were we in first class, but we were also in the bulkhead row, making for plenty of room for diaper changes on the floor and even a napping space at one point during the flight. Elsa napped through the takeoff and also for another short nap later on. My mom and I enjoyed the first class benefits, including an omelet and fruit breakfast, reclining seats with footrests, and mini-televisions with noise-eliminating headsets. Elsa also enjoyed them -- she had her hands in everything.
We arrived in Portland around 11:45 a.m. their time, waited around for our bags for a bit, and then retrieved the rental car. They first tried to put us in a Toyota Corolla, which is nowhere near as big as the "Chrysler Sebring or similar" car they said we would get, and we knew it would likely not be large enough to tote all of our belongings, so we upgraded to a nice, new Subaru Outback -- in my favorite sage green, I might add. After freaking out a bit, thinking the seatbelt wasn't going to work with Elsa's car seat, and still thinking so as I drove off with my mom in the backseat, making sure Elsa didn't fly off the seat, we headed to my aunt and uncle's house. Elsa immediately took to my Aunt Esther and was totally content in her arms while I worked on Elsa's car seat (and finally figured out the problem) and my mom worked on deconstructing the two baby toys we rented for the duration of the trip. My aunt had a yummy lunch waiting for us -- her famous Filipino lumpia (I need to get her recipe!) and green salad, which we thoroughly enjoyed, and we were able to visit for a little while before strategically packing up the car and heading for my grandma and Grandpa Larry's house in Sutherlin (with a quick minor detour through the Burgerville drive-thru for fresh strawberry milkshakes).
We hit some terrible traffic on I-5, and Elsa cried because her lulling ride ceased, but once we got going again, she napped most of the way. I took in the scenery, and my mom napped a bit when we weren't chatting and reminiscing. There is something to be said about the Oregon landscape -- when even driving down a major highway you are surrounded by goats grazing on green pasture, farmhouses, and many beautiful evergreens carpeting the lovely hills. That and the mighty bug-splattered windshield. That just doesn't seem to happen as much here. Does Oregon have a healthier bug population or what? Anyway, we made it to Grandma's, and Elsa met Larry and their Shih-Tzu, Molly, for the first time. She immediately took a liking to both, and laughed as much at Molly as she does at Merckx. We went out for a Mexican dinner, and Elsa sat in a highchair and ate her yummy jar of carrots. We stayed up for a little while and chatted -- but not long. We were all exhausted.
Sunday, April 19
We stuck around the house until Elsa was up from her morning nap, and then my mom, Elsa, and I drove into Roseburg to pick up my great grandmother from the retirement home. It was nice to be able to let her spend a little time with Elsa before going back to my grandma's house, where more family joined us for a fried chicken lunch. Being that my great grandma is 96 years old, and the fact that I am privileged enough to still have her around, it was very special for Elsa to be able to meet her great-great grandmother, and really one of the main reasons my mom and I planned this trip in the first place. Back at the house, we took quite a lot of family photos, including some five-generation photos of us girls. I also took some video of Elsa and her great-great grandma together, so I'm hoping it turned out well. Two of my cousins, Ben and Patrick, as well as Ben's wife and two cute little boys (Jaime, Tyler, and Eric, respectively), and my uncle also joined us. We had a lovely afternoon, and it was really nice to be able to see everyone and spend some time catching up.
Monday, April 20
We kept things pretty low key on Monday -- it was the one day we did not actually subject Elsa to a car ride. We stayed around the house except for enjoying some of the nice weather and taking a walk around the neighborhood at one point.
Tuesday, April 21
When it came time for Elsa's afternoon nap, she, my grandma, my mom, and I jumped in the car and headed further south -- past Roseburg, and on down to Grants Pass. Thankfully Elsa did fall asleep in the car for a good part of the drive, putting her in a fairly decent mood to meet my Aunt Kathy and her husband, Brian. We met Kathy at her house after she got off work and were able to visit with her for awhile. When Brian came home, he had a delightful veggie Papa Murphy's pizza in hand, which we all enjoyed as an early dinner before having to get back in the car and get Elsa back home in time for her bedtime routine. I wish our visit could have been longer -- it really only ended up being a couple of hours or so -- but it was so nice to see them nonetheless.
Wednesday, April 22
When Elsa woke up from her morning nap (notice how everything revolved around Elsa's nap schedule -- I stated it a necessity!), she, my grandma, and my mom got in the car once again and headed into Roseburg. We first stopped at a Wal-Mart (gasp!) to get some flowers to place on my grandfather's (my mom's dad) grave, as well as a couple of cute little outfits my grandma picked up for Elsa to wear this summer. We then went through a Subway drive-thru to pick up some sandwiches and drinks, and then headed over to my great grandma's to eat lunch and visit with her for the afternoon. (Take note: I do not suggest going through a Subway drive-thru when there is any more than one person -- that being you -- in your car. We made it through, but it was a tadbit of a nightmare.) Thankfully Elsa was kind enough to settle down into my great grandma's bed and take a nice afternoon nap, allowing us to spend some more time there.
We headed to the cemetery from there -- just down the street -- and visited and put flowers on my grandfather's grave. It was the first time I had been there, as I didn't make it out for his funeral, so it was quite emotional for me, and of course especially for my mom. I was happy to be able to do it, and wished we had the time to go visit my other grandfather's site in Portland as well. I wished we could have done many other things -- we just had one jammed-packed trip.
That evening back at the house, Larry grilled some yummy steaks and we had a nice dinner together -- complete with some Henry Estate wine (wait -- I forgot -- we did make Elsa get in the car on Monday... we visited the Henry Estate winery, which is just down the road a ways from my grandma's house) after Elsa went down for the night.
Thursday, April 23
My mom and I did a pretty good job getting ourselves (and Elsa) ready, the car packed, and us out the door by 8:30 a.m. to head back up north. We made a stop in Salem to visit Michelle and her 16-month-old daughter, Isabella, at their house. Michelle and I have been friends since sixth grade, and she was a bridesmaid in my wedding. It was really great to catch up with her -- albeit another painfully short visit -- and meet her adorable daughter for the first time.
After leaving there, we headed into prime Oregon wine country (around the Newberg/Dundee area). Once off the highway, the drive became even more gorgeous as we drove through vast expanses of farmland. My mom labeled some of the unknowns for me -- filbert trees and hops -- but there were orchards and gardens of many types. We even passed a farm with a sign that said they grew for Organic Valley, which was pretty interesting. Before stopping by a couple of wineries (which I just couldn't pass up, I mean come on), we met up with one of my mom's longtime friends, Pam, for lunch at an Abby's, where we each had a personal pizza and enjoyed a great salad bar. Going to an Abby's brings back many memories for me. We used to go there all the time when we were visiting my cousins or grandparents throughout the years I was growing up. I have memories as a little girl, asking my grandpa if it was okay for me to get the salad bar (I've always been a salad lover), walking up the steps of the little landing you could walk across that allowed you to see into the kitchen and watch the pizzas being made, playing video games (when my brother and/or cousins would give me a turn... not that I cared nearly as much as they did), and then, as the years passed, seeing my cousins actually work there themselves. Anyway, it was a different Abby's, but the memories still held strong.
After lunch, the first winery we visited was Chehalem, and I had clear instructions from Jarrett to try the new vintage of Ian's Reserve Chardonnay, which recently won a Wine Spectator's rating of 93. I thought it was good enough to bring home a bottle to allow Jarrett to try for himself, along with my favorite Pinot Noir of the tasting, the Ridgecrest. Jarrett and I visited Chehalem during our trip back in 2007, and we ordered several bottles of the Ian's Reserve then -- Jarrett's favorite. We've already consumed the bottle I brought home, and upon first taste Jarrett didn't like it as much as the previous bottling, but it improved significantly out of the bottle. After Chehalem, we visited Torii Mor. I was sad not to see the old guy that poured for Jarrett and me twice before, but the wine was still quite good, and I left there with a bottle of their "Deux Verres" Reserve and a bottle of their Syrah Port. Because I didn't have room for much wine this trip (and didn't want to bother with shipping, as we have done in the past), I went to the two of our favorites of which we have more trouble finding wines out here. We can also order from at least Chehalem, so bringing tastings back serves as a way to know what to order, if we decide to do so. It was somewhat sad driving by so many of the other wineries Jarrett and I have stopped at in the past, but it was nice to be able to visit at least a couple while there. And Elsa quite enjoyed her first visits to wineries as well! It's in the blood; she has no choice.
From there, we headed back to my aunt and uncle's house in Portland, and this time we actually got to see my Uncle Larry, and he was able to meet Elsa and hold her for a bit before she had to retire. My aunt cooked us a yummy roast and veggies for dinner, and my cousin, Melissa, and her fiance, T, (they get married a week from Saturday!) also came over and joined us. That night my mom and I ran over to Fred Meyer to pick up ingredients for her lasagna, which she decided to make for everyone the next evening as a thank-you for letting us stay there and for doing some shopping for Elsa's supplies so I wouldn't have to carry it all on the plane (thank you again, Aunt Esther and Uncle Larry!). We visited a couple of different Fred Meyers while we were there, and it made me realize how much I miss them. They're kind of like a Target except they are a full grocery store as well, and the one near my aunt and uncle's house, in particular, was being renovated to appear more like a farmer's market, and had a wide selection of organic and natural products. They were also supposedly using "green" construction, though I never found out all the details on that. It looked very cool, though, all the same.
Friday, April 24
I met my birth mother. Crazy, right? And totally out of the blue, you say? Kind of, yes. I think this deserves a blog post in and of itself, which I plan to write soon, but basically after Elsa woke up from her morning nap, my mom, Elsa, and I met my birth mother at a Mexican restaurant for lunch. Without going into too much detail here, it was anxiety-filled, but relieving at the same time; sad, but happy; and all so very strange. Stay tuned for details. Overall, though, I am glad I did it. It's like my dad said over the phone, it's one of those things where I probably would have kicked myself if I hadn't gone through with it. On our way back, my mom and I took our last opportunity to go through a Burgerville drive-thru and picked up two more fresh strawberry milkshakes. Yes, they are that good.
One of my mom's other longtime friends, Carol, came over to my aunt and uncle's house to visit for a little while and, of course, meet Elsa. It was great to see her.
Later that afternoon, after my mom had put together her lasagna and Elsa was up from her afternoon nap, the three of us took a walk down to Laurelhurst Park, which is a gorgeous park not too far from my aunt and uncle's house. Going there conjured up memories for both my mom and me, and for reasons I can't fully explain, it just felt really good -- and a perfect end to our trip -- to take Elsa there and let her swing in the baby swing and sit on the teeter totter while I held her and my mom pushed and lifted the other side. We also walked down to the pond and look at the ducks, which Elsa seemed quite intrigued with. I think it was just fun and refreshing to share a part of my childhood with my daughter.
That evening after Elsa went to bed, we sat down to the lasagna dinner with my aunt, uncle, Melissa, and T. My other cousin, Mike, popped in for just a moment after he got off work, but had to run back out to pick up his daughter, Haley. He came back later that evening, though, and we all hung out and chatted for awhile before heading to bed.
Saturday, April 25
Mike was finally able to meet Elsa the morning we had to leave. We really did have some rushed visits, didn't we? And speaking of rushing, there was no waiting for Elsa's morning nap. We had to leave for the airport around 9:30 a.m. in order for us to allow enough time to return the car and get checked in and through security. That and a stop by the Made in Oregon store, of course. Thankfully she was able to snooze some in the car, though, and also took about an hour-and-a-half nap in my arms on the plane. The flight home seemed a little more difficult for me than the flight out there. I think it was a combination of already being so exhausted -- all of us -- and just wanting the flight to be over already, in general. Everyone around us told us they thought Elsa did great, though, so at least there's that. Once in Atlanta, my mom went ahead and came out and met Jarrett with us and even walked out to our car with us to say goodbye, and to thank Jarrett for parting with me and Elsa for the week. We had a great trip, and I'm so glad my mom and I were able to do it together. It was also so good to be home, though. And Elsa slept straight through the night that night, which was a definite blessing to this tired mama.
*Not the greatest photo of Elsa, but it is apparently a Filipino tradition to put money in a baby's pocket (Elsa didn't have pockets this particular day) when they come to visit for good luck.
Saturday, April 18
Elsa, Jarrett, and I woke up bright and early to get ready, load the car, and head to the airport to catch an 8:30 a.m. flight. My mom was flying from Charlotte, NC, and had an hour to switch over to our plane, so we were crossing our fingers for no delays and gates not too far apart. Jarrett saw Elsa and I to the security checkpoint, and we made it through without too much problem. It's definitely more difficult when you're juggling a baby and all her loot, but one of the TSA agents ended up helping me out, which was nice. My mom made the transition smoothly -- she arrived at a gate in the same concourse and just a few gates down from our departure gate, so we even had time for me to grab a cup of coffee and change Elsa's diaper before needing to board. Elsa flew in style for her first flight -- we had seats in first class thanks to Skymiles and a very early reservation. And I am so glad we did. Not only were we in first class, but we were also in the bulkhead row, making for plenty of room for diaper changes on the floor and even a napping space at one point during the flight. Elsa napped through the takeoff and also for another short nap later on. My mom and I enjoyed the first class benefits, including an omelet and fruit breakfast, reclining seats with footrests, and mini-televisions with noise-eliminating headsets. Elsa also enjoyed them -- she had her hands in everything.
We arrived in Portland around 11:45 a.m. their time, waited around for our bags for a bit, and then retrieved the rental car. They first tried to put us in a Toyota Corolla, which is nowhere near as big as the "Chrysler Sebring or similar" car they said we would get, and we knew it would likely not be large enough to tote all of our belongings, so we upgraded to a nice, new Subaru Outback -- in my favorite sage green, I might add. After freaking out a bit, thinking the seatbelt wasn't going to work with Elsa's car seat, and still thinking so as I drove off with my mom in the backseat, making sure Elsa didn't fly off the seat, we headed to my aunt and uncle's house. Elsa immediately took to my Aunt Esther and was totally content in her arms while I worked on Elsa's car seat (and finally figured out the problem) and my mom worked on deconstructing the two baby toys we rented for the duration of the trip. My aunt had a yummy lunch waiting for us -- her famous Filipino lumpia (I need to get her recipe!) and green salad, which we thoroughly enjoyed, and we were able to visit for a little while before strategically packing up the car and heading for my grandma and Grandpa Larry's house in Sutherlin (with a quick minor detour through the Burgerville drive-thru for fresh strawberry milkshakes).
We hit some terrible traffic on I-5, and Elsa cried because her lulling ride ceased, but once we got going again, she napped most of the way. I took in the scenery, and my mom napped a bit when we weren't chatting and reminiscing. There is something to be said about the Oregon landscape -- when even driving down a major highway you are surrounded by goats grazing on green pasture, farmhouses, and many beautiful evergreens carpeting the lovely hills. That and the mighty bug-splattered windshield. That just doesn't seem to happen as much here. Does Oregon have a healthier bug population or what? Anyway, we made it to Grandma's, and Elsa met Larry and their Shih-Tzu, Molly, for the first time. She immediately took a liking to both, and laughed as much at Molly as she does at Merckx. We went out for a Mexican dinner, and Elsa sat in a highchair and ate her yummy jar of carrots. We stayed up for a little while and chatted -- but not long. We were all exhausted.
Sunday, April 19
We stuck around the house until Elsa was up from her morning nap, and then my mom, Elsa, and I drove into Roseburg to pick up my great grandmother from the retirement home. It was nice to be able to let her spend a little time with Elsa before going back to my grandma's house, where more family joined us for a fried chicken lunch. Being that my great grandma is 96 years old, and the fact that I am privileged enough to still have her around, it was very special for Elsa to be able to meet her great-great grandmother, and really one of the main reasons my mom and I planned this trip in the first place. Back at the house, we took quite a lot of family photos, including some five-generation photos of us girls. I also took some video of Elsa and her great-great grandma together, so I'm hoping it turned out well. Two of my cousins, Ben and Patrick, as well as Ben's wife and two cute little boys (Jaime, Tyler, and Eric, respectively), and my uncle also joined us. We had a lovely afternoon, and it was really nice to be able to see everyone and spend some time catching up.
Monday, April 20
We kept things pretty low key on Monday -- it was the one day we did not actually subject Elsa to a car ride. We stayed around the house except for enjoying some of the nice weather and taking a walk around the neighborhood at one point.
Tuesday, April 21
When it came time for Elsa's afternoon nap, she, my grandma, my mom, and I jumped in the car and headed further south -- past Roseburg, and on down to Grants Pass. Thankfully Elsa did fall asleep in the car for a good part of the drive, putting her in a fairly decent mood to meet my Aunt Kathy and her husband, Brian. We met Kathy at her house after she got off work and were able to visit with her for awhile. When Brian came home, he had a delightful veggie Papa Murphy's pizza in hand, which we all enjoyed as an early dinner before having to get back in the car and get Elsa back home in time for her bedtime routine. I wish our visit could have been longer -- it really only ended up being a couple of hours or so -- but it was so nice to see them nonetheless.
Wednesday, April 22
When Elsa woke up from her morning nap (notice how everything revolved around Elsa's nap schedule -- I stated it a necessity!), she, my grandma, and my mom got in the car once again and headed into Roseburg. We first stopped at a Wal-Mart (gasp!) to get some flowers to place on my grandfather's (my mom's dad) grave, as well as a couple of cute little outfits my grandma picked up for Elsa to wear this summer. We then went through a Subway drive-thru to pick up some sandwiches and drinks, and then headed over to my great grandma's to eat lunch and visit with her for the afternoon. (Take note: I do not suggest going through a Subway drive-thru when there is any more than one person -- that being you -- in your car. We made it through, but it was a tadbit of a nightmare.) Thankfully Elsa was kind enough to settle down into my great grandma's bed and take a nice afternoon nap, allowing us to spend some more time there.
We headed to the cemetery from there -- just down the street -- and visited and put flowers on my grandfather's grave. It was the first time I had been there, as I didn't make it out for his funeral, so it was quite emotional for me, and of course especially for my mom. I was happy to be able to do it, and wished we had the time to go visit my other grandfather's site in Portland as well. I wished we could have done many other things -- we just had one jammed-packed trip.
That evening back at the house, Larry grilled some yummy steaks and we had a nice dinner together -- complete with some Henry Estate wine (wait -- I forgot -- we did make Elsa get in the car on Monday... we visited the Henry Estate winery, which is just down the road a ways from my grandma's house) after Elsa went down for the night.
Thursday, April 23
My mom and I did a pretty good job getting ourselves (and Elsa) ready, the car packed, and us out the door by 8:30 a.m. to head back up north. We made a stop in Salem to visit Michelle and her 16-month-old daughter, Isabella, at their house. Michelle and I have been friends since sixth grade, and she was a bridesmaid in my wedding. It was really great to catch up with her -- albeit another painfully short visit -- and meet her adorable daughter for the first time.
After leaving there, we headed into prime Oregon wine country (around the Newberg/Dundee area). Once off the highway, the drive became even more gorgeous as we drove through vast expanses of farmland. My mom labeled some of the unknowns for me -- filbert trees and hops -- but there were orchards and gardens of many types. We even passed a farm with a sign that said they grew for Organic Valley, which was pretty interesting. Before stopping by a couple of wineries (which I just couldn't pass up, I mean come on), we met up with one of my mom's longtime friends, Pam, for lunch at an Abby's, where we each had a personal pizza and enjoyed a great salad bar. Going to an Abby's brings back many memories for me. We used to go there all the time when we were visiting my cousins or grandparents throughout the years I was growing up. I have memories as a little girl, asking my grandpa if it was okay for me to get the salad bar (I've always been a salad lover), walking up the steps of the little landing you could walk across that allowed you to see into the kitchen and watch the pizzas being made, playing video games (when my brother and/or cousins would give me a turn... not that I cared nearly as much as they did), and then, as the years passed, seeing my cousins actually work there themselves. Anyway, it was a different Abby's, but the memories still held strong.
After lunch, the first winery we visited was Chehalem, and I had clear instructions from Jarrett to try the new vintage of Ian's Reserve Chardonnay, which recently won a Wine Spectator's rating of 93. I thought it was good enough to bring home a bottle to allow Jarrett to try for himself, along with my favorite Pinot Noir of the tasting, the Ridgecrest. Jarrett and I visited Chehalem during our trip back in 2007, and we ordered several bottles of the Ian's Reserve then -- Jarrett's favorite. We've already consumed the bottle I brought home, and upon first taste Jarrett didn't like it as much as the previous bottling, but it improved significantly out of the bottle. After Chehalem, we visited Torii Mor. I was sad not to see the old guy that poured for Jarrett and me twice before, but the wine was still quite good, and I left there with a bottle of their "Deux Verres" Reserve and a bottle of their Syrah Port. Because I didn't have room for much wine this trip (and didn't want to bother with shipping, as we have done in the past), I went to the two of our favorites of which we have more trouble finding wines out here. We can also order from at least Chehalem, so bringing tastings back serves as a way to know what to order, if we decide to do so. It was somewhat sad driving by so many of the other wineries Jarrett and I have stopped at in the past, but it was nice to be able to visit at least a couple while there. And Elsa quite enjoyed her first visits to wineries as well! It's in the blood; she has no choice.
From there, we headed back to my aunt and uncle's house in Portland, and this time we actually got to see my Uncle Larry, and he was able to meet Elsa and hold her for a bit before she had to retire. My aunt cooked us a yummy roast and veggies for dinner, and my cousin, Melissa, and her fiance, T, (they get married a week from Saturday!) also came over and joined us. That night my mom and I ran over to Fred Meyer to pick up ingredients for her lasagna, which she decided to make for everyone the next evening as a thank-you for letting us stay there and for doing some shopping for Elsa's supplies so I wouldn't have to carry it all on the plane (thank you again, Aunt Esther and Uncle Larry!). We visited a couple of different Fred Meyers while we were there, and it made me realize how much I miss them. They're kind of like a Target except they are a full grocery store as well, and the one near my aunt and uncle's house, in particular, was being renovated to appear more like a farmer's market, and had a wide selection of organic and natural products. They were also supposedly using "green" construction, though I never found out all the details on that. It looked very cool, though, all the same.
Friday, April 24
I met my birth mother. Crazy, right? And totally out of the blue, you say? Kind of, yes. I think this deserves a blog post in and of itself, which I plan to write soon, but basically after Elsa woke up from her morning nap, my mom, Elsa, and I met my birth mother at a Mexican restaurant for lunch. Without going into too much detail here, it was anxiety-filled, but relieving at the same time; sad, but happy; and all so very strange. Stay tuned for details. Overall, though, I am glad I did it. It's like my dad said over the phone, it's one of those things where I probably would have kicked myself if I hadn't gone through with it. On our way back, my mom and I took our last opportunity to go through a Burgerville drive-thru and picked up two more fresh strawberry milkshakes. Yes, they are that good.
One of my mom's other longtime friends, Carol, came over to my aunt and uncle's house to visit for a little while and, of course, meet Elsa. It was great to see her.
Later that afternoon, after my mom had put together her lasagna and Elsa was up from her afternoon nap, the three of us took a walk down to Laurelhurst Park, which is a gorgeous park not too far from my aunt and uncle's house. Going there conjured up memories for both my mom and me, and for reasons I can't fully explain, it just felt really good -- and a perfect end to our trip -- to take Elsa there and let her swing in the baby swing and sit on the teeter totter while I held her and my mom pushed and lifted the other side. We also walked down to the pond and look at the ducks, which Elsa seemed quite intrigued with. I think it was just fun and refreshing to share a part of my childhood with my daughter.
That evening after Elsa went to bed, we sat down to the lasagna dinner with my aunt, uncle, Melissa, and T. My other cousin, Mike, popped in for just a moment after he got off work, but had to run back out to pick up his daughter, Haley. He came back later that evening, though, and we all hung out and chatted for awhile before heading to bed.
Saturday, April 25
Mike was finally able to meet Elsa the morning we had to leave. We really did have some rushed visits, didn't we? And speaking of rushing, there was no waiting for Elsa's morning nap. We had to leave for the airport around 9:30 a.m. in order for us to allow enough time to return the car and get checked in and through security. That and a stop by the Made in Oregon store, of course. Thankfully she was able to snooze some in the car, though, and also took about an hour-and-a-half nap in my arms on the plane. The flight home seemed a little more difficult for me than the flight out there. I think it was a combination of already being so exhausted -- all of us -- and just wanting the flight to be over already, in general. Everyone around us told us they thought Elsa did great, though, so at least there's that. Once in Atlanta, my mom went ahead and came out and met Jarrett with us and even walked out to our car with us to say goodbye, and to thank Jarrett for parting with me and Elsa for the week. We had a great trip, and I'm so glad my mom and I were able to do it together. It was also so good to be home, though. And Elsa slept straight through the night that night, which was a definite blessing to this tired mama.
*Not the greatest photo of Elsa, but it is apparently a Filipino tradition to put money in a baby's pocket (Elsa didn't have pockets this particular day) when they come to visit for good luck.Sunday, May 3, 2009
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Absence
I apologize for being absent for so long. Our Mac died while Elsa and I were out in Oregon the week before this last one, and it may still be awhile before we have it back from the repair shop... or end up with a new one on the desk. We shall see how it all plays out. Anyway, for now my computer time is limited to the evenings and weekends when Jarrett has his laptop home, and unfortunately my desire to blog in the evenings is not as strong as it is during the day. I have much to blog about, though -- updates on Elsa, our big trip out to Oregon, etc., so I'll try to start catching up soon. For now, though, I just wanted to let you know that I am alive and breathing.
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