*and a river runs through it

Salt Lake is growing on us, but I don't think we'll ever get over Missoula. Of course it wasn't perfect - a bit isolated, in the midst of bear country [if you know me at all...], and far away from family - but by the end we were pretty devastated at the thought of leaving. It's just such a one-of-a-kind place. I miss riding my bike everywhere, I miss walking down the street and knowing the people I see, I miss the Good Food Store, Scotty's Table and baguettes from Le Petite Outre. I miss our tree-lined street, I miss running along the Clark Fork...

I miss our friends. such good friends:

I miss our cute little [money pit-of-a] house:

I miss the rivers:



I miss all the dog-friendly [you can't take your dog anywhere here!] hiking trails within minutes of town:

..and yes it's a little silly, but I miss my old stove that didn't work well which didn't matter because it was so cute:

oh and I miss my green kitchen too:

*i'm your daddy!

That's what Ben has told Vera since she was a wee little one in-utero. When he and I were just getting to know one another, I could tell that one day he'd be an amazing dad. It's really one of the best things ever to watch him with little V - to see how much he loves her and how much he cares - it makes my heart swell. She's starting to say Dada and mean it :: it's so amazing and wonderful to hear her call out for him and to see the little smile creep onto her face when he comes in. Happy Father's Day Ben!!!!! I love you and so does your little girl.

It was hard to choose, but here's some of my favorite pictures of daddy/daughter:

[this one was when we got home from CA - she was just 3 months old - old enough to be excited to see daddy!]

*big news

Vera took two little steps tonight!  She was trying to get our friend's cat to say hi to bunny and couldn't quite reach.  We'll see if she does it again - it'll be by accident when she doesn't realize she's not holding on to something.

That's all.

*squeeze

*red butte gardens

It rained hard in the morning yesterday which clearedthe way for an amazing afternoon [did you know we sometimes have the worst air quality in the country??]. The 3 of us went up to Red Butte Gardens - acres and acres of hiking trails and ponds and beautiful greenery. The view of the valley and mountains was amazing. They have the sweetest little children's area with little houses made of vines and lily-ponds and a scent garden... Really, it is so amazing to just watch your little one exploring and feeling things out. Vera was quiet the whole time we were there, just taking everything in. She was hesitant to touch or smell anything until I had done it first. It was really sweet and I had the best time just holding her and watching her. Anyway, we got a membership [Jenny, we have to go!] so I'll take my camera and get some better pictures next time.

*itty bitty

I thought I'd post my favorite video of Vera. I've watched it a hundred times, it's so stinkin cute. Poor little thing gets all tuckered out - just 4 weeks old.

[..turn your sound up..]

[added later: have i done this before? i'm having deja vu]

*summer

My brother gave us free tickets to "Paddlefest" yesterday and so we discovered a beautiful little reservoir just 15 minutes from our house. I could not stop laughing at Vera in her life vest. She didn't know what to do and didn't make a peep/move the whole time.

*********

Also, this weekend we finally got our vegetable garden planted. Ben built a cute little fence to keep Boone out using leftover wood from our neighbor's remodeling. We also cleaned up the flower beds and transplanted sod to even everything out. As Ben continues to remind me, "the yard's lookin' real good."

*in the kitchen

(another karate move)

*speesees

I am really really into these clothes at speesees.com. Ben's sister gave Vera a couple little outfits at my shower and I was hooked. Well, hooked to looking and pining after them at least as I can't really afford to buy much. They just put out their new line though and I'll have to get at least something. They are so adorable and soft and unique. I saw their blog a bit ago and they said, 'send us pictures of your little speesees model!' So I did. Is that silly?

our little bead at just 5 weeks..:

i used this picture for her birth announcement..:

i love the yoga pants and t-shirts..:

*lunch

I felt a little proud of myself today - making something quite yummy with what I had on hand. When this happens, I carefully choose the right color latte bowl [ok I always pay attention to the color sheme of food/bowl], take a picture and in this case try not to eat the whole batch before Ben comes home.

+.+

whole wheat penne

italian parsley

leftover chicken

green onion

olive oil

butter

pinenuts

parmesan

salt + pepper

+.+

*sunday afternoon

*10 months

::lately::

loves mangos, bananas, yobaby and mac+cheese
always has her tongue sticking out
standing well, no steps
high pitched screams when she wants something
2 good naps every day

always making noise
loves to be naked and go nuts on our bed after bath
waves bye-bye and claps
cuter and cuter

::

[it was sounding like a haiku, so i made it look like one :)]

*chester copperpot

From this weekend: looking out over the Oregon coastline. I made a mental note right then to watch the Goonies when we got home. We did last night and it was just as amazing as I remembered. The crazy thing was I'd never seen the beginning! I'm pretty sure it was the first movie we ever recorded onto our brand-new VCR back in eighty-something. So I didn't know there was a prison break and a car chase and there were a few more dirty words than I remembered. But I LOVED IT.

*electronics

yeah, just try to take this cellphone away from me

*oregon

We got to spend the weekend in Portland with Matty [thanks Mike & Rosie!]. Had a great time just hanging out. I think that's what I say after every trip - the best part is just spending time with people you love, no? Matty was an excellent tour guide with our days revolving around where we ate [as it should be]. I always imagined him being the favorite/crazy uncle and it seems to be the case - Vera loved him. He did sit on the toilet and play the accordion for her during her bath.

+.+.+

loved his apartment:

rainy rainy:

at the taquería:

ben claimed matty was being "owned" here:

brothers:

see the two specks? ben and matty:

*from mother's day

{hours past her bedtime, this baby wanted her momma.  i savored the moment.}

*mmm peas

*bunny

Well it's worked: Vera loves bunny. Following Elizabeth Pantley's advice, I introduced Vera to her 'lovey.' At first I couldn't tell if she was attached, but more and more it's clear that she loves her bunny. I like to think that he's [yes the pink bunny is a he. It just happened. Ben doesnt' like it :)] helped her sleep so well when we're out of town and helped her calm down when she's really upset. Every time I go pick her up from her nap she's still clutching him and will hold on until she's fully recovered from her sleepy state. She'll put him out repeatedly so I can kiss him and then I make him kiss her cheek too; she loves it. And I love seeing her attached to him - more evidence that she's becoming a little person.

*giving

I was just sitting here on our couch thinking about the other day, how happy and simple our life is here... which led me to think about the horrific things happening in the world - especially in China and Myanmar. People who are already downtrodden and struggling then struck with such horrible tragedy. It's hard to comprehend. Anyway, I know there are lots of places to help, here's where I did.

*perfect summer day (minus the beach)

A full satisfying day yesterday: I went through Vera's drawers and set a lot aside for an upcoming yard sale, did five loads of laundry, switched our sheets from flannel to crisp whites, went for a family walk through the park - filled with people eager to be in the sunshine too, planted some 'blue fescue' in the front while Ben planted lilacs in the back, went for a [short] run, cut some flowers from the garden and then sat down to our favorite summer meal.