Heading to Multnomah Falls w/ my family: hubby, brother & sister in law, 2 dogs & 2 kids. Mt. Hood in the background here.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
Me on 9/11 - USA Today
I had no idea that they took this picture - my relatives saw it the next day in the paper and called me. I just now googled it and found it again - not tooting my own horn or anything, I just thought it was appropriate for the day. The caption of the picture reads: "Jennifer Hale, 29, cannot hold back tears as she attended a Requiem Eucharist at the Grace Cathedral Episcopal in San Francisco."
I was thinking all day long today about where I was 8 years ago. I woke up at 6:00am to some of the saddest music I'd ever heard, playing on NPR - and heard that the twin towers had been hit. I didn't have a TV, so I wasn't glued to the set - just listening to the radio, and talking to my boyfriend at the time who drove a cab, and was convinced that the US was under attack. I was stunned, shocked and panicked that something similar might happen near where I was (San Francisco). Consequently, I refused to go into work that day - I was supposed to fly to LA for some meeting - my boss at the time (whose HUSBAND was working in the Pentagon!) was trying to talk me into driving down with her after our flights had been canceled (she actually said, "come ON! We can have lunch in Santa Barbara..."). I was incredulous and rather sickened that she wasn't at all affected - she wasn't showing it, anyway, who knows what she was actually feeling. Instead of work, I went to church. Grace Cathedral had an unscheduled service at noon that day. I needed to process the reality of what had happened. I was not aware that my picture would be shown in USA Today, but there it was the following day.
What I remember from the days afterward was hearing how neighbors in New York who normally would never exchange a word suddenly talked to one another, asking each other if any of their loved ones were still missing, and reaching out to one another for support and comfort. It confirmed my belief that despite our best efforts to convince ourselves otherwise, we are all connected. I had hoped that the grief and sadness that was felt throughout the country would somehow be channeled into, I don't know, something productive - something to bring about more peace. What Bush & his administration did with that grief was in my opinion an aberration - channeling it towards more violence. A "crusade," right? I listened today to what Obama had to say at the memorial services, hopeful that I would hear a far different tone from that of 8 years ago, and the tone, at least was different. Tempered, I guess. I was somewhat encouraged, but I think we still far short of leveraging the tremendous amount of good that can be done in honor of the people whom we lost.
Very quickly (Jacob just woke up), Isabel Allende said after losing her daughter (paraphrasing), "when tragedy happens to you, there is a cleansing that happens, and it burns away everything that's unnecessary - and you're purified, in a sense. You are humbled, you feel gratitude for those who support you through it, and you don't have room for anything else." I felt some of this after 9/11, and how I think many others might have felt this way, too. I know I'm not articulating this well, but I feel like 8 years after the fact, we still have an opportunity to do a lot towards building greater understanding and promoting peace in the wake of tragedy. I can hear some of my friends snickering at me for saying this - but I'm really serious. We just need the right leadership to point the way forward.
coolest high chair
The SVAN high chair - great design, beautiful wood, and one less piece of tacky plastic in the house - woo hoo!! 
coolest high chair
Originally uploaded by js_hale
coolest high chair
Originally uploaded by js_hale
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Monday, September 07, 2009
apple picking
Went to Grammy's house in Covelo this weekend. Open space, horses, home cooked food and apple orchards! The apples are Golden Delicious. No substitute for Fujis, but pretty darn good.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
New sippy cup
First time successfully using it! Of course, now I'm more confused than ever about what to do to maximize Jacob's nutritional intake. Just got off the phone with the nurse who works at the pediatrics practice where we take Jacob - she very politely scolded me for calling the nurse triage the other night to ask about feeding. I was genuinely worried, but it was a non-emergency call - apparently, the after-hours triage service charges doctors for each call that their patients make, so if it's not a life or death situation, they ask that you wait until the morning. At least, now I have a slightly better idea about what to do & not do. Basically, eating and drinking is purely a social thing - it's like playtime at this point - vital nutrients still come from breast milk. But if you could see how this kid puts down food, you'd think he's been starving for solid food for weeks! Now that I know that we're not hurting him, we'll just keep feeding him as much as he wants to eat and keep it fun - fun for whom, I am not sure - cause it's a lot of work to feed him AND us, but hopefully he develops a taste for a wide variety of foods. . . we've done sweet potatoes, bananas and avocado so far. Thinking about trying zucchini next - we'll see.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
just the way we like him
Passed out! Went to macy' s to try and get a jump on xmas shopping. Didn't find anything but it did tire out the kid. The mall IS good for something!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
carmel
baby's sick so no whale watching today. teddy & I are at the beach while the boys sleep.
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Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Ice cream cake
You're never too old for ice cream cake - this came from my favorite place (Three Twins Organic Ice Cream). It's Bittersweet Chocolate with an "oreo" cookie crust. Soooo tasty. Brings back fond memories of summer pool parties in Florida - I have to say, as good as Three Twins is, nothing can take the place of Carvel - the ORIGINAL ice cream cake! 
SNC00089.jpg
Originally uploaded by js_hale
SNC00089.jpg
Originally uploaded by js_hale
Friday, August 07, 2009
Big night out
This was our first night out without baby! I'm drinking a lemon drop at Ozumo in SF - so tasty.
Jacob was at Uncle Pat's house, awaiting the arrival of Grandma & Granddad from Florida. They caught a tail wind & got in early. Jacob did great on our night out, and so did we. 
SNC00088.jpg
Originally uploaded by js_hale
SNC00088.jpg
Originally uploaded by js_hale
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
This Little Piggy handprints!
Jacob got his hands and feet printed in clay today - it will become a picture frame. We get it back in about 6 weeks! 
Getting handprints done
Originally uploaded by js_hale
Getting handprints done
Originally uploaded by js_hale
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Peter in the Marin Century - respite @ Cheese Factory
After months of training, Peter successfully completed the Marin Century Ride!!! And he's NOT completely wiped out! AMAZING. It was 105 miles total and he did it in about 6 hours, not including the 20 minute break at the Marin Cheese Company. Jacob, Sophie (neighbor) and I drove out there with GO PETER GO signs in hand and cheered him on.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Jury duty successfully postponed
Who knew that you could get out of jury duty if you were breastfeeding??!
jury duty successfully postponed
Originally uploaded by js_hale
jury duty successfully postponed
Originally uploaded by js_hale
Sitting up!
Jacob is much more tolerant of my folding the laundry now. 
SNC00059.jpg
Originally uploaded by js_hale
SNC00059.jpg
Originally uploaded by js_hale
Monday, July 27, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
back to the bento!
I bought yet another bento after the last one disappeared. I have to confess, I derive a lot of pleasure from making a colorful, tasty looking lunch for Peter, versus simply stuffing a sandwich in a bag for him.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Gearing up for a race
Peter is training for the Marin Century ride happening in a couple of weeks. He went on a long ride today - 4 hours - while Jacob and I went to the Farmers market and then had a long afternoon nap. I feel like a well-rested slug.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Bar hopping
Jacob got kicked out of his first bar yesterday (Harry's on Fillmore, SF) - their liquor license permits NO ONE under 21, including babies. (??!!) So we celebrated by heading to Long Bar, a "bar / bistro" just up the street. Jacob then proceeded to get his drink on (his usual "num nums"). But clearly, that didn't quite satisfy - here, he stares longingly at our good friend Brian's Tanqueray & tonic.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
first food!
I'm happy to announce that Jacob's first food was "okayu" - Japanese rice gruel. It's REALLY simple stuff - Japanese rice that's boiled down to a slurry, and it's easily digestible. It's also a great thing for adults to eat if you're sick to your stomach. So he seemed to like it - he grimaced a little bit, but he didn't spit ALL of it up. And I was going to wait until 6 months, but his appetite is increasing, and he's staring at my food when I eat. So there's my rationale. I'm bracing myself for smelly poops...
Went to Natural Resources today and got 3 cloth diaper covers and a bag of 100% compostable disposable diapers. I WISH I had the discipline to do exclusively cloth diapers. I don't. I think that the combination of cloth + disposables ends up being the most costly option. But whatever - I'm doing what I can to avoid contributing to the landfill.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Monday, July 06, 2009
Poolside on the 4th
Jacob went for his first "swim" - he seemed to like it. The 80+ degree water temperature definitely helped. For now, his swimming consists of kicking his legs around and clinging to my swimsuit.
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Family portrait
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Grandparent identity crisis
We were in Florida for a long weekend to see the grandparents. Here is Jacob (the big hand in the foreground belongs to my mom) playing on the living room floor on top of my old baby blanket. Mom still can't quite figure out what she would like to be called by Jacob. My idea at first was to call Dad "Pa-paw," which was my name for my grandfather - then Mom could be "Ma-maw," which was my great-grandmother's name. Then Dad threw Mom for a loop by requesting that he be called "Granddad." I guess "Grandma" wasn't working for her. Her first idea was to call herself "Sue Mom," which I nixed. Now she wants to be called "Ma-maw" but after trying it out, it's just not working for me. They're coming to visit (again) in August so we'll see what happens - but chances are it won't be resolved until Jacob starts talking.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
The Exersaucer
Obviously a huge hit with the kid - but like so many toys like this, I wonder - why do they have to make them to be so unattractive?? I guess it wouldn't be as interesting or stimulating to a kid otherwise, but what I wouldn't give for a nice, soothing palette of creams and tans instead of yellow-gold and royal blue!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Dr.'s office
Jacob had more shots today - so far, Peter has made it to every single appointment, which is good b/c I have no tolerance for shots. Jacob did great though - smiling and laughing through his tears by the time we were leaving.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Monday, June 08, 2009
Disappearing "skullet"
Someone in my mother's group used the term "skullet" to describe that tuft of hair below the bald spot on the back of a baby's head. Jacob's hair is growing in so you can barely see what's left of it.
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