Firsts

First Pet
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon.

We've Moved!
and we have a fish!

Read all about it at http://svrubicon.com

This Week

This one is growing up so fast. Today when I gave her a pancake for breakfast, I said, casually, "Say Thank you, Daddy!" And she did. She DID. "Ank uuu dada." Just like that. John and I almost cried. I told him I was going to record on an endless loop and put it in an earpiece for him. When the welding gets hot and frustrating, he can have a moment for "Ank uuu dada."

I am at the coffee store, ALONE. No children, just me and the computer, trying to negotiate turning this old blog into a bigger and better monster with the help of Wordpress. It may take a while to get it all together, but big changes are coming soon!

I'm excited about it. With changes in mind, make sure your bookmarks are updated to the new www.svrubicon.com domain, as Blogspot won't be our host much longer! My other project is printing the 3 years of Grummy Files. Maybe I'll make it my book. Who knows . . .

“Life itself is the proper binge.” –Julia Child

from Orangette. As I sit here binging on Haribo and ice cream, and try to make some momentum towards our next chapter, I need this quote in my repertoire.

Sea of Love

Big Ocean, Little Girl
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon.

A few days ago a friend who had her first baby last year, sent me an email and remarked on the crazy adjustment to motherhood while maintaining a semblance of independent, adult life. And did I have the same problem?

I wrote her back- "As for the independence in the face of motherhood? I think at times I've fallen too far into the vortex of motherhood, sacrificed a bit of myself, and my relationship, and my ambition . . . all of it. Not to say that the pay-off hasn't been huge- totally awesome girls, but just now I find myself clamoring back up for a little air, and a little John. We're trying to negotiate getting kids out of our bed, and making time to work together on the boat- revisiting a bit of the 'long long ago,' if you will. It's a huge adjustment, for sure, and I found adding the second kid to be an even bigger adjustment, for what it's worth."
(She and her husband refer to the time before their son as "the long, long ago," which I love).

Keeping all the plates spinning, including my own. That's where I am right now.

And nursing a feverish baby who's been busy sprouting a top tooth!
In other news, Sophie saw her first play today. The library hosted a production of Cinderella. She did so well!

Off to Swim

Off to Swim
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon.

Franjo, our dear friend and dear baby's godfather, arrived from Germany. Not even twelve hours into his stay and Sophie was willing to "swim" in the ocean in his arms. Mark of a good man.

So far we've eaten and eaten some more- sandwiches, pie, ice cream, Haribo in all forms (thank you, Germany!), chips, salsa. We've been wet most of the time, and now he and John are watching The Simpsons. Like old times.

Good friends are hard to find. Good friends who live across the ocean are hard to keep. Somehow we got lucky with them.

Sister's Lap

Sister's Lap
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon.

Rosy's started to sit in Sophie's lap whenever it's available. Sophie obliges, for a second or two. Warms my heart to the core.

As Rosy gets more and more interested in playing, they're becoming more and more like real sisters. When Sophie asks me to play and I'm busy, in jest, I'll say- "GO play with Rosy." Today she really did. In her high-pitched talking-to-Rosy voice, she said, "Now you go count and I'll hide and then you find me."

Rosy tried her best to count. It was precious.

Where have you Breastfed this week?

Where have you Breastfed this week?
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon.

My friend Diana took this.
We were talking at lunch about all the random spots we've done the deed.

Just this month- hair salon, health clinic, fire station, side of a major highway (while parade was passing through), passenger seat of the car, poolside at a local hotel, a bathroom at Michael's, a bathroom at McDonalds (sometimes no distractions are what one needs), the park, the library . . .

It is truly the ultimate in convenience. I barely remember to bring an extra diaper when we leave the house. Can you imagine how I'd do with bottles and formula? I shudder to think.

Baby Back

Baby Back
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon.

Have I mentioned that Rosy is addicted to popcorn. LOVES it. She crumples it up and feeds it to us like we feed it to her (all crumpled, for those with choking concerns). Today I made some and grabbed a handful as I walked to open the door. I heard this tiny thump-thump-thump behind me. She was literally running, in all her baby speed, to get my popcorn.

She also loves juiceboxes. And pasta.

My other favorite thing that she does? She walks through the house to find John, "talking" loudly the whole way- "Dada blahblah mooble tooble my my whoa." With hand gestures.

There is also stomping when she's angry. And LOUD sobs when she's mad. Tonight she did a little ballet.

For someone with about three words and twenty-seven inches to their name, she's remarkably expressive.