It was that old timey summer fun that I had almost forgotten about because I was too busy trying to avoid the crowds. The crowds are on to something though, and once in a while, it isn’t a completely terrible idea to follow them. Spontaneity, in the spirit of summer, right? So, we learned that Dashie thinks carousels and Whack a Mole are very, very, fun. And fun can be so, so, exhausting. He fell asleep in approx. 25 seconds as we left the pier. What a day.

A special thank you to Sakura Bloom for sponsoring this series of the Sling Diairies and Leigh, of Marvelous Kiddo, for hosting. I still feel honored and humbled to be included in this group of women. And I was right…these past six months have been beautiful and inspiring. Thank you for letting us share this piece of our lives with you.

And remember…

Details and updates about the Sling Diaries at Marvelous Kiddo.

Follow my Sling Diaries, here.

Sakura Bloom Simple Linen Sling in Coral.

Photos by Daddy, at the Santa Monica Pier. (Top two carousel photos, here.)

photo  // pattern

And, I couldn’t leave without sharing a little something I put together during class, right? Mini inspiration for Dash’s big 0-1. It’s coming up so quickly! Would you believe me if I told you this little number won me a copy of Photoshop CS6? I told you this weekend was wild!

left photo // right photo

Now, Tim has a tiny helper. They make breakfast together, while I lounge in bed for just a little longer. But before you grow too envious, know that those boys are loud in the kitchen. LOUD, you guys. Bowls clanking, eggs breaking, and a whole lot of UH OHs. But it’s still the best and I hope it’s something Dashiell remembers doing with his dad. The thing that’s more fun to do with daddy than mommy because daddy lets him add entire handfuls of chocolate chips to the batter.

So this simple ritual of ours, has a history that’s being built week by week. With the occasional substitution, of course. Like when I end up in the emergency room waiting for surgery and the doctor tells me there is to be no carrying of the baby for 2-3 weeks. Or pools for 3-4. Which I laughed about and then cried. Because…you know. And then I needed something familiar once we were home. So those boys, that I love more than anything in the world, made me waffles. I wore Dashie when we ate, because I needed to be close to him after being away and the sling kept him high and off of my incisions. It worked out quite nicely. We spent the rest of morning on the floor, playing peek a boo, of course.

// sling diaries, on history //

And remember…

Details and updates about the Sling Diaries at Marvelous Kiddo.

Follow my Sling Diaries, here.

P.S. Jane so kindly points you to my Pinterest feed, and it’s not a bad idea. If you can’t find me here, I am most definitely there.

He’s always liked to fly, I think. I felt his first kicks when our plane took off for a trip to Portland. They were strong and fast. It was just me and him and no one knew. And this week, we find ourselves here again. Seems too perfect, doesn’t it? To be writing about how we communicate in the place where he first tried communicating with me? And now, he does so, so much more. He smiles, shrieks, laughs, furrows his brows, or just looks at me in the eyes, searching for validation or an answer to his emotions. It’s loud, it’s silent. It’s surreal and powerful. It’s our own secret language. The kind only mama and baby understand. It allows us to find comfort in each other, no matter where we are, or how lost we might be.

On this trip, as is required for all trips to Portland, we stopped at Powell’s Books, to lose ourselves in the aisles of treasures. And we found one indeed: Larry Gets Lost in Portland, written by Michael Mullin and John Skewes. (It reminds me of these, our other favorite travel books.) We’re taking it home as our newest souvenir. (Our last Portland souvenir was this book. Still our favorite bedtime story.) As we read our new book and flipped the pages, I wondered if the smells and sounds, even flavors of the city were familiar to him.

Anyway, here we are. Discovering a new favorite book, about an old favorite place, where we first started speaking our own secret language.

// sling diaries: communication //

P.S. Powell’s spans an entire city block. If you visit, plan on spending hours, days, weeks, browsing through their 4 million+ books. Heaven on earth.

P.P.S. More Larry, here. And Larry Gets Lost in Los Angeles!

And remember…

Details and updates about the Sling Diaries at Marvelous Kiddo.

Follow my Sling Diaries, here.

Sakura Bloom Essential Silk Sling in Sandstone/Pebble.

Photos by Daddy, at Powell’s Books.

Month 7 update coming soon. Before the month 8 update. Promise.

the flag // donkey

Find them here, or, for the time being, on discount at Fab. Veryyy tempted to invite Ruthie the Deer and Magnolia the Bunny into our home. I mean, the floral prints and the capelet? Come on!