Sunrise Ruby

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Muffins

Brianna — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:13:00 +0000

(more…)

Mamaku #2

Brianna — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:38:51 +0000

more waddle than walk

stretch marks fan across my belly

the thirty-sixth week

The Free Radicals

Brianna — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:07:45 +0000

A couple of months ago, our 2007AustinMamas group formed a childcare/pre-school co-op called the Free Radicals. Ben and I belong to the Friday morning contingent of the group: every Friday morning six mom-and-baby pairs meet up at First UU Church of Austin to play. Two of the six moms stay with the kids, and the other four mamas get two hours off during the middle of the day. Simply luxurious.

I’m pretty sure the kids enjoy it, too. Below are some photos from last Friday’s co-op meeting, taken by fellow Free Radical mama Cheri, who also designed the official Free Radicals t-shirts that some of the kids are wearing.

Ben and Jane

Ben playing in the sandbox on the First UU playground

The Friday morning Free Radicals. From left to right: Ben, Jane, Beck, Kayson, Kate, and Felix (not pictured)

15 months

Brianna — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:07:26 +0000

Happy 15 months, beautiful boy. Your childhood is whizzing by at break-neck speed. I intend to enjoy every last minute of our next few weeks together, while you’re still my oldest and only.

Change

Brianna — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 23:20:44 +0000

It’s been nearly two days since Barack Obama gave his victory speech, and I think I’m finally starting to re-emerge from the post-election afterglow I’ve felt since then. Yes we did! I’ll avoid rehashing what others have already stated more elequently elsewhere. Suffice it to say that I believe Obama will do everything in his power to begin addressing our economic problems, our broken healthcare system, and our damaged reputation abroad. How exciting, to see people around the globe celebrating his election as a symbol of hope for America and a sign of better things to come!

I’m proud that we’re going to have an intelligent, forward-looking man in the White House, and I can’t remember the last time I felt so patriotic. The first president my children will remember will be a black man–that’s amazing, given that just a couple of generations ago many parts of this country were still segregated. I know I’m just one of many who see Obama’s election as a very tangible sign that hope, change, and acceptance are real, are still alive in the hearts and minds of most Americans. What a delicious, heady brew that is.

And now the work begins: http://change.gov/

I voted

Brianna — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:15:21 +0000

I voted early on Wednesday! Damn, it felt good to cast a vote for Barack Obama. Surreal, almost. I took Ben with me to witness the democratic process in action–big thanks to the sweet grandpa-type election volunteers who smiled at him and picked up the toys he threw on the floor while I marked my ballot.

Ben and I have been otherwise home-bound this week, since we both have colds (yet again), and since I’m supposed to be resting to make sure I cook Thing #2 until full the term mark. My ob hasn’t made the impossible ‘bed rest’ pronouncement yet, but I am supposed to be “cultivating a leisurely lifestyle”, which involves “avoiding lifting, avoiding unnecessary errands, and avoiding coughing too hard.”

I did not consider Voting to be an unnecessary errand.

first haircut

Brianna — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:15:22 +0000

Yesterday Ben got his first haircut–he looks so grown-up!

We went to The Hair’s Lair on 38th Street, where the fabulous Margo had Ben in and out of the chair in under 10 minutes with no crying. He received a certificate to commemorate the occasion and a vanilla cookie. (Why don’t adults get cookies when we get our hair cut?)

Although I miss Ben’s pretty curls, it’s nice for his hair not to be in his eyes all the time. Less hair for him to smash bananas or almond butter in, too. *sigh* It’s all going by so fast, and soon he’ll be a big brother.

couch time with the grandpas

Brianna — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:08:46 +0000

the choice we’ll make in this election

Brianna — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 15:44:39 +0000

It comes as no surprise that the New Yorker supports Obama. But this (somewhat long) essay by the editors of the magazine explains clearly and passionately why many of us believe the choice we’ll make as voters in this election is so important, and why many of us believe that Obama is the presidential candidate most suited to lead us in the next four years:

http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2008/10/13/081013taco_talk_editors

Less than a month until the election–I can’t wait until it’s over. All the hate that has recently surfaced at GOP campaign rallies depresses and frightens me.

I have no photo, I just want to say…

Brianna — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:28:46 +0000

Ben took his first steps this morning! He was holding on to the nightstand in his room, he turned around to look at me, and he toddled forward a few steps before falling onto his hands. He looked surprised, whether at his discovery of how bipedal legs work, or my overly enthusiastic reaction to his steps, I can’t say. Can’t wait to see him do it again!

Later this morning I took him to a Books & Babies storytime at the Austin Public Library, where he got into a tugging fight with a little girl over a stuffed dog named Jack. No photo of that either.