Tag Archives: home

Reflection: Our First Month With Ruby

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Yesterday during my day long cryfest  yoga retreat, I had some time to reflect on my first month of parenthood.

The Good:

Ruby’s laugh – honestly I’ve never hear a sound that makes me happier.

Ruby’s smile.

Her lips.

Her cheeks.

The look on her face first thing when she wakes up – like she’s been waiting for this moment her whole life.

Baby babble: mommomomomomomomom

The clapping.

Licking books.

Giving me a book over and over to read again and again {current favorites: Good Night Gorilla, The Foot Book, I Am A Bunny, and Brown Bear, Brown Bear.}

Pounding the table at meal time for MORE. NOW. PLEASE.

Her high level of enthusiasm for baths.

Pulling herself up using your pant legs and hugging our knees.

Tiny baby feet.

Her Mongolian spot.

Constantly being reminded what needs attention in this moment – sweeping under the bird-cage, turning off the electronics, closing all the drawers – mostly a cuddle with mama.

The Bad:

Worry much? Friends, I am a worrier by nature and since we’ve invited our little nugget into our house I’ve turned the worry dial up to 11 on many a nights. Holy crap – nothing is too small or too big.

The disrupted sleep. The baby sleeps great, but between the worry and the moving, kicking, flopping etc I barely get a wink.

The lack of yoga class. People, yoga at home is awesome, but the community of others? underrated when you haven’t spoken to anyone higher than your knee in a long while.

My body hurts – between the worry, the contortionist sleeping, the picking up and walking around with 17 extra pounds – mama needs a massage STAT!

The Ugly:

One more than one occasion I asked if I needed to brush my hair before I left home. {the answer is always yes. I know, I know}.

The kitchen floor under her high chair.

The front of all her clothes by mid-day. Drool much?

Diapers are disgusting. That is all.

+++++

Thank you for being there for us this first crazy month. We feel so loved and well taken care of. We’re starting to get out and about more and having visitors more regularly, so if you see us around or want to make a date – give us a shout out.

XO.

Teacher Travels: The German Alps

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I think Walt Disney was a fan of Bavaria

 

What makes a place home?    

Is it the place where your people originate?    

Is it where your friends and family live?    

Is it where you work?    

Is it where you keep your stuff?    

Is it where the sights and smells are familiar?    

Is it the place people speak your language?    

I recently traveled to what we’ve been jokingly calling the Homeland AKA – Germany.    

Previous to that, I’d never been to Germany nor did I have a burning desire to visit – we don’t know anyone there, last I heard they don’t serve cocktails with umbrellas there and it might be a tensy bit expensive.  It was my husband that really wanted to, so we did.    

I felt strangely at home when I got there.  Something about it felt very familiar and home-like.  Maybe it’s because my family is originally from Germany and the aesthetic came to the United States with them. Or the food was food I grew up with or that the people all looked vaguely like people I am related to.    

In any case, I felt strangely at home somewhere I’d never been before.    

For those of you that want to see – a quick trip to the Alps with Hacknbrew:    

 Day One – Garmish and Partenkirchen   

Hello, Bavaria!

 

The mountains! The architecture! The cute mister!

 

The gardens!

 

Flowerboxes everywhere!

 

Could it be any greener?

 

Day Two in the Alps: Mittenwald {no, I could not stop calling it “Mitten World”}   

The bus/train station - closed for repairs - and yet still beautiful!

 

There is no such thing as a bad view in Mittenwald.

 

Meandering meadow walk on the way to the trail UP the mountain.

 

Me and some random German family that hopped in my photo at the bottom of the mountain. I think they must do this all the time.

 

The view from just over the Austrian border - did I mention the hike was STEEP? Germans like them some hiking. I wish I would have thought to bring a flask like the guy sitting at a vista point along the way.

 

The bridge was less scary than I thought and more scary than Jed thought. You do the math.

 

A beer garden half way down the mountain? YES PLEASE! {PS the cake was mostly for him and the beer mostly for me}

 

The view. LOOK at the VIEW!!!!

 

I <3 Mittenwald.

 

Have you ever found yourself being at home somewhere you’d never been? Tell me about your travel surprises.  

The View from My Mat

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I returned to my mat today. 

It’s been a month of some stretches here and there and an occasional legs-up-the-wall, but no formal “yoga” and no class. 

We practiced outside this unseasonably cool morning. 

Here’s the view from my mat. 

Ahhh, blue skies.

 

I spent some time just laying on my back enjoying the story Michelle told about the airplanes, bald eagles and a little green plastic purse. 

Side view - post Savasana 

While I was on my mat this morning, I remembered why I practice: 

-to be in the moment 

– to connect with myself and those around me 

– to quiet my mind. 

I wish I’d remembered all this while I was jet-lagged this week. 

Maybe I’ll remember next time. 

It sure is nice to be home. 

Why do you practice? 

What helps you feel at home?

Crash Landing

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We’re back!

Now if only we could sleep through the night and actually be awake in the daytime instead of from 2:30-4:30 am PST.

When I find my words…

I have photos and stories to share.

Books I want to recommend and places I want you to visit.

For now, know that we are home safe and sound.

Please send me all your surviving jet-lag advice and good sleep vibes.