It rarely works out that the kid and dog are both looking at the camera when I am trying to photograph them together.   One of them inevitably looks away or gets distracted by toys or sounds.  So I was shocked when I got  a pic of Roo, Guinness and Lincoln all looking at the camera in an animated fashion!  Success!!!

It even looks like Guinness is smiling.  The Roo/Guinness Slumber Party, Summer 2008 was a lot of fun.  We hung out around the house, went to the dog park for swimming, and walked along Lake Wa Blvd while the street was closed.  It makes me want to have a second dog. Linc loved all the attention and dog action viewing.  Roo is cool with Guinness and seemed totally fine with another dog around. Although, maybe she is just good with having her bud, Guinness, around. You can be certain that if there were pettin's to be had, she was nearby making sure she got her fair share. The hardest part was managing the two of them on leashes while either pushing a stroller/walking with child in carrier.  I was getting better at it by the end of the weekend, but it was no joke.

 

My first night away from the kid is coming up this weekend and I'm feeling a little anxious right now.  I guess it is better for me to get the anxiety out now (before the trip) so I won't be a total loser/basketcase while I'm down in Portland for a girl's weekend.  Most moms I have talked to are shocked that I would leave my 8 month old overnight so that I can go party with girlfriends at a bachelorette party.  Is that selfish of me to want to go?  I don't think so.  Let's just say that I love this bachelorette so much that I am willing to leave my firstborn for more than 24 hours :)  Especially when you consider that I haven't been away from him for more than 6 hours. Ever.

 

It isn't like I am leaving him with strangers. He'll be with his dad.  I'm not concerned about Roger's ability to manage the kid.  He's an awesome dad and there is no fear there.  I'm more concerned about my own mental state.  I know I will be thinking about him constantly, though I've already made a personal pact that I will not talk incessantly about the kid while out with the ladies.  I won't call Roger all the time to check in (though you know I'll be calling in periodically just to see how things are going).  Ladies--if you see me "fugue stating it" this weekend, it likely means I am thinking about the kid and trying my best not to let it show.  All I know is that I am set and prepped for some major A gaming this weekend.  Perhaps after I toss back a few drinks and with all the associated bachelorette party distractions, I won't miss him as much as I think I will.  Even though it feels wasteful, you know I'll be employing the 'pump and dump' method to ensure my boobs do not explode and also so I don't give my child alcohol poisoning upon my return.

 

I guess I am also nervous for Roger.  My kid likes him some boob-time.  When he doesn't get the boob-time after an extended period he gets testy and fussy and pretty much unmaneageable until he gets the boob.  But maybe that is only when the boob is around and available for the taking.  If he doesn't see me, perhaps he won't be thinking about how much better the milk is fresh from the tap.  I can only hope this weekend experiment goes well. I just signed up for martial arts camp in August and that is for 3 days.  I can't even imagine what the prep will be like for that excursion. As it is, I've been pumping and freezing milk for the past two weeks, amd making up extra baby food for the one day that I will be away this weekend. 

We  participated in the Furry 5k this weekend.  This was our third time walking the course with friends and pooches.  It has become another annual tradition for us. I always enjoy the race--it is a good time and a lot of fun to see all the different types of dogs.  Plus, added bonus that we live just a few blocks from the venue.

 

Pre-race shot:

 

 

 

There were the die hards who participate every year:

 

 

New faces:

 

Sleeping babies:

 

 

Action shot as the race begins:

 

Token R&G self portrait:

 

Of course, we missed some of the usual suspects who have participated in years past (shout outs to Tina, Beth, Mark, and D)!  Next year the kid may actually walk part of the race by himself.  This year he mooched off his mom and hitched a free ride.  He even beat my race time by a split second! :)

Go to Taliesin West!  I was psyched to have the opportunity to visit this Frank Lloyd Wright residence/studio in the Arizona desert.  There were four things I wanted to do while in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area: 1) hang out by the pool; 2) visit Taliesin West; 3) wander downtown/old town Scottsdale; and 4) visit Arcosanti.  I was able to do items 1-3.  I needed to an extra day to get to Arcosanti and it just didn't happen. I really wanted to go to Taliesin West and was even more excited once I realized Roger's mom wanted to go too (and I wasn't forcing her to do something that she didn't want to do). 

 

Between all the various architecture and city planning classes I took in college, I've seen my fair share of pictures of Taliesin West.  Of course, the pictures are nothing like visiting the place in person. I love the use of the local desert materials, the open quality to the architecture, the angles and shapes.  I think it is awesome that the apprentices who study there have to build their own shelters out in the desert and that is where they live while in studio.  We took a 1.5 hour tour, which allowed us to see some of the interior spaces as well as the grounds.  Linc slept in the carrier for about 90% of the tour (which was awesome).  Having the kid on me gave me some leeway to wander away from the crowd (I felt) to inspect things closer (all in the name of 'soothing' the kid).  I don't think my tour guide liked it that much, but I didn't really care because I wanted to look at things at my own pace and this was my one chance.  It was definitely an impressive place to visit. Check out my photos if you are interested in FLW architecture.