Read (pronounced in the past tense)

These are the books I have read since Reade's birth.

My mother bought this book for Andrew, but I think I enjoyed it the most. It taught me that I am a complete surfer poser. The ocean is way too cold for me so I vicariously life the surfer lifestyle through my husband. I also learned I am 100% wannabe and should NOT be parking in certain parking lots in Santa Cruz (sorry locals!). Anyways, it is a fun read and worth it if you are a surfer in the area.

Jaimal Yogis

This book is about a divorcee who moves to the beach and raises her teenage daughter and chickens. Substitute in an intact marriage and two boys and the book explains the life I dream of living. She left suburbia for the coast where her experiences are a bit more raw and fulfilling. Fun and light.

Amazon.com (what author doesn't have a website?)

This book is a great insight to the modern father. He knows where he stands in society and isn't afraid to admit it. Cracked me up in parts and explained what Andrew probably is really thinking about raising small children. Heaven help us!

Wikipedia (again, why would he not have a website?)

I bought this book for Andrew's mom because of his interview on The Colbert Report. I thought it would have good "life coach" material, but I had no idea what I was getting into. I know little about The Nation of Islam and this book opened my eyes. I tried really hard to understand the principles and see life through a different perspective. Lots of deep thought and messages for all of us.

The RZA

I am taking the boys to Sacramento to hang out with the fam. I probably won't be able to blog. See you soon.

Growing Up

What are some rites of passage when you live in a suburban place like Palo Alto?

Sitting next to your brother in Costco:


Swinging by yourself at the park:


My husband wouldn't let me download any programs to rotate the video (I swear they are virus free (ha ha)) so you are just going to have to watch it sideways for now. This will also help date us. Reade will say, "Wow, you guys took that with your cell phone and you couldn't even tell the phone to rotate your video? Prehistoric man."

Updates:
1. Reade is sleeping through the night now. He goes to bed around 9pm and wakes around 12am for a feeding and then is good until 7am. He even slept from 11pm until 6am the other night. Good job guy.
2. I am breaking out in a rash of itchy bumps all over my body. I wonder if it is all that salad?

Salad

I eat salads now!


This may come as a surprise for some of you who have known that I am allergic to raw fruits and vegetables. After my first pregnancy I started eating bananas, which used to make me break out if they merely touched my hands, and now I can eat salads too. I love them. Vinegar is the root of all evil in my mind so I am sticking to olive oil and a bit of salt to dress my greens.

Some blogs with salad themes:
Sweet Paul
The Salad Girls Blog
The Blonde Salad

Nautical Theme

My grandmother went on lots of cruises and I am so lucky to have inherited some of her cruise pieces. I loved that she would dance the night away with captains and always dressed to the nines for spirited occasions. She was given one of the life preservers from a cruise ship and I have never found a great spot to showcase all it stands for. The other day it popped into my head while I was staring at our blank fireplace. I didn't want it to feel kitschy and once I hung it I knew it found its place. I have no idea how long it will last in that spot, but it brings me a smile every time I look at it. It is great when inanimate objects possess such spirit:


It would be great to walk around the house wearing this:

and these shoes:


Dress (Talbots $149), Shoes (Harajuku Lovers $79.99)

Pfui

Don't you hate it when this happens?

Green Beans

Andrew's garden is growing. Some things better than others! His green beans are growing great, but I recommended training the stalk back down around itself so I don't have to get out a ladder to harvest the plant:


High in the sky:


From backyard to table:

All Things Come To An End

Here are the things I miss from my vacation:

1. Being able to read a book while someone else entertains my child.


2. Relaxing in a hot spring (okay, we did get kicked out seconds after this photo was taken because they don't chlorinate the hot springs).


3. Babysitters, err I mean family.


Most of all, I am going to miss the wonderful sleeping routine. Reade went down around 10pm and didn't wake up until 5am. We would then fall back asleep right after he finished feeding until 9am. Oh, how great that was. I don't have the luxury of someone watching Blake in the morning so sometimes I only get an hour and a half extra after the 5am feeding. I now think Eurovans have magical powers and can train any child to sleep through the night! Do you think neighbors would call CPS if I let Reade sleep in our front yard with the baby monitor on?