Memorial Day Weekend Part II

So Don and I have lived up here 4 years come July 20th, but yesterday was our FIRST time attending the Rose Festival. For the City of Roses, this is THE event of the year. Huge parade, fireworks, and a 2-week-long fair that stretches all along the waterfront. Basically, if you take the Mid-Way at the Kern County Fair and elongate it, throw in a mini-circus and this cardiac arrest-inducing concoction called an Elephant Ear (see picture 2nd from top), it would look something like this.

And since they begin hyping the Rose Festival months and months in advance, Don and I headed downtown to see what all the fuss was about. It was a beautiful, sunny day in the mid-70s. When we pulled up onto Naito Parkway (the street that runs alongside the waterfront) we were greeted by a Seurat-style scene: people reading books, lovers strolling hand in hand, families complete with dog with wagging tail--all sprawled out, basking in the sun. (As seen in the picture directly above.)

Just a bit further up the street, right past the Hawthorne Bridge, was the fair. We spent the rest of the day walking past all of the "Step right up! We have a winnah!" booths; stopped by the big (small) top to see the resident juggler; visited the petting zoo where I made friends with a little pygmy bunny; ate what might just have been the best ice cream bar ever--freshly dipped in chocolate and peanuts--and gazed at all of the young families...smiling, knowing that we would most definitley be here next year pushing our stroller, introducing our little Portland native to the festival.

Memorial Day Weekend Part I

Don and I took a day trip to the coast to grab ourselves some good ol' beach therapy. We spent most of the time in the car, driving through little coastal towns, stopping to snack here and there, then drove to the northern most tip of the Oregon coast to the town of Astoria (founded by John Jacob Astor as the first non-native trading post.) It's a gorgeous little town with some amazing turn-of-the-century architecture. We drove up to the Astoria Column. The column's okay. Tall. :) The real selling feature of this tourist destination is THE VIEW. Spectacular views of the entire bay, as well as the river that flows into it.

We also visited a camp ground we've been wanting to check out just north of Astoria over the bay bridge in Washington state called, Cape Disappointment--named by Caption Meares who thought he was going to find the mouth of the Columbia. Sad to say, it lived up to it's name. With the exception of this huge stretch of driftwood that had piled up along the beach, it was pretty unremarkable.

Turned out to be a nice little Saturday getaway for the two of us--a sweet way to spend a bit more time together before our son arrives. We spent a big chunk of the day laughing, hugging, holding hands, splitting sandwiches and ice cream cones, and generally just enjoying each other. (The baby kicked the WHOLE time, so I'm pretty sure he was having a ball as well.)

A Baby Shower with my Ink & Paper Family

Two of my business partners, Jen Weaver-Neist and Linda Meyer at Ink & Paper Group, put together a baby shower at the I&P house! Eleven of us gathered on a gloriously BEAUTIFUL Portland saturday. We sat on the back veranda and enjoyed potluck offerings, lots of sweets, and champagne and sparkling apple cider. On a sad note, we will be moving out of the Ink & Paper house at the end of this month. Times are tough economically--on all publishers--and it just didn't make much sense for a small press like ours to be shouldering the burden of such overhead. So all business will be done from home offices for the foreseeable future.

We are sad to say goodbye to our beautiful house and give a healthy dose of credit for Ink's longevity and support within the community to the warm and inviting atmosphere of the place. However, as Jen put it, this was a perfect send-off for the house. It's a birth of new times, a new chapter for all of us.

And happily, Scratchy (nee Fluffy) our black office cat will be joining my other partner, Bo and his wife Amber's feline brood once we officially move out.

Thank you to Jen, Linda, Bo and Cameron. Love you guys! Can't wait to introduce our little one to the Ink family!

A Perfect First Mother's Day

Sunday I was honored by Don, my Dad, my dear friend Becky Hall, and several Facebook buddies with Happy Mother's Day messages. Very sweet! Don also surprised me with a bouquet of flowers--which of course put a huge smile on my face. To top off the day, the glider and ottoman that Grandma Betty bought for us arrived at the store. Don's getting pretty good at assembling! If you notice an ice chest in the picture, no that is not an impromptu refridgerator--it was an impromptu dolly. The box was huge and heavy. The glider looks great and is so VERY comfortable and cozy! Thank you , Grandma!! We love you!

Peek-a-boo!

Mixed in with a healthy dose of placenta and other 'womb ephemera' in the 3-D image above is Wee Mister Collins. He has his left hand up against his left cheek as if to say, "Hello?? Trying to sleep in here! Go away." This type of ultrasound take thousands of still pictures. The software then 'guesses' what the 3-D image would look like. So technically, this is not a photograph of our son. Just a very educated guesstimate. We've had a couple of other 3-D images taken of him, and this one is by far the best. What a little cutie!

On May 8th, we had our 28 week appointment for an ultrasound, my glucose test, and another check-up with the doctor. We had to go to two separate buildings--one for the ultrasound, one for the check-up. Two years ago, after much brew ha-ha and about $50 million in unforeseen costs, the OHSU Tram was completed. It connects the medical center on the South Waterfront with the main campus at the top of "Pill Hill". In addition to being the biggest hospital in Oregon, it's also a teaching hospital, so there are scads of med students and residents coming and going--many of them on bike. Getting from the waterfront to the top of the hill was arduous at best. The tram solved that problem. It's now a main source of transportation for doctors, students, patients, and tourists alike. If you've got business on the hill, the ride is free. If you just want to know what it's like being suspended up so high, swinging back and forth, taking in the amazing views, it costs about 4 bucks.

Don and I have had to take the tram 3 times during this pregnancy so far, one on account of snow--while we appreciate the beauty of landscape, Mt. Hood, and the downtown skyline, both of us would be fine with never having to ride it again. Really does a number on the ol' stomach!!

The appointment went very well! The little man weighs in at just about 3 pounds now. He is in the 53rd percentile for growth, my amniotic fluid levels are perfect, and there was NO SIGN of the bleed! The ultrasound techs and doctors were very, very pleased with all of the results. And we got a pretty awesome 3-D image of our son's face and his left hand. His pouty little mouth and chubby fingers are just too adorable!

I'll be going back in every two weeks now--as is common after the 28 week mark. At about 36 weeks, they'll bump that up to once a week. As far as all of them are concerned, they see no reason why I wouldn't go full term now. And based on his growth so far, we should have a bouncing, 8 pound boy at the end of July!

A Note to my Mom

Dear Mom,

Thank you for giving me this life that I'm so thoroughly enjoying living. Thank you for wanting me so much. Thank you for taking care of me when I was in your belly--for loving me before you ever saw me--the way I'm now taking care of and loving your Grandson. Thank you for helping me with my spelling and vocabulary homework, for attending all of my school recitals, for all of the AMAZING, memorable birthdays, and all of the movies, lunches, drives, and talks we had. We sure did cram a whole lot of happiness into the 21, almost 22 years that I was blessed to have you.

I've had many people--friends and family alike--ask me if it's been really tough not having you here for such a special time in my life. It's hard to find the words to answer them. I think that's because it's just so hard not having you here, period. There have been so many incredible moments since September 23rd, 2000 that I wish you could have experienced with me. There's the obvious ones: falling in love with Don, getting engaged, planning the wedding, getting married; graduating with my BA in English, going back for more, and finally getting my Masters; turning 30 and finding out that day that I was pregnant.... Yes, I wish with an ache in my heart that you had been here with us for all of it. Then there's the everyday ones: calling you up just to say hi, getting sweet nothing letters from you in the mail, watching you bond with Don (I know you would have loved him), more movies, more lunches, more car rides, more talks.

I think that Mother's Day isn't just a day to acknowledge the woman who gave you life and raised you up, (or by extension, giving thanks to the woman who gave your husband life and raised him up) it's a day to think of and be thankful for all of the ways that that woman--just by simply being present--makes life better.

I know that wherever you are, you are peaceful. I know this because I can feel it. Just as surely as I can feel the gentle nudge you still give me at times when I'm fearful, times when I have a big decision to make, times when I need just an extra bit of love to guide me in the right direction. I know deep down, down into my bones, that you played a hand bringing Don and I together, you played a hand in gifting me his family and all of the unconditional love and sweet memories that have resulted from that gift.

I still feel you here with me.

Yes, it is hard not having you here as our boy grows in my belly, us so excited for the day when we can meet him face to face. I wish you could be here for all of this. But, being the precious, blessing of a mother that you were, I'm comforted knowing that what you would want most is just for me to enjoy this time and not be mired down in sadness for the things I cannot have. The last thing that you would want is for me to be preoccupied missing you, if that in turn would make me miss all of this. Some tears here and there, a prayer in the night for you, a toast to you at dinner, a loving gaze on an old photograph of us--that you would be fine with. That I give in honor of you. And will until it is my time to join you.

I love you, Mom.

Happy Mother's Day.

love, Allison

A Gift from the Past

We received a package yesterday from Bettie Jo and Denman. Inside were all of these goodies for our baby boy including a gift card to Babies R Us, a silver framed photo album, a CD of lullabies for Don and I to sing along to for our little guy's entertainment, little waterproof diaper covers :), three books, including The Poky Little Puppy, Bambi, and a book filled with nursery rhymes, and much needed slipper socks for me and my tired, achy feet.

Along with all of these great gifts were three precious little outfits made of delicate fabric with sweet little embroideries on each. My very first thought was, "Wow, these look like vintage retro baby clothes!" I was very impressed with the lines and style and attention to detail. Then I noticed that one of the tags inside the yellow outfit was missing, like it had worn off over time. And I realized, they WERE vintage. Once upon a time, 38 years ago, Don wore each one of these little outfits! How special and wonderful is that?? My heart just melts at the thought of our little sweet boy wearing these clothes.

At Christmas, Bettie Jo gifted us Don's silver baby rattle.

I just cannot wait until we can take pictures of him in his Daddy's clothes shaking his little rattle in his chubby fist.

Thank you, Bettie Jo and Denman! We love you so much!!