A Form of Torture. . .

According to the United Nations, sleep deprivation is a form of torture. And, after last night, it makes a lot of sense to me why this is the case. I did a little reading and allegedly it works a little like this: the torturer will deprive their prisoner of sleep for a long time, give them a taste of sleep, then wake them up and demand (probably again) the information they want. I am not really implying that what I experienced is anywhere near this bad, but I do understand why this torture would make one confess to a crime (that they had or hadn't) committed after a long while of not sleeping.

Anderson used to be a great sleeper (5-6 hours at a time), then he turned four months and he realized that if he cried he would get soothed back to sleep--clever little suckers, these babies. So, last night he slept the worst he has slept in his life; he woke up ever hour. As I write this, I am in a haze of delirium, and there is a little buzzing headache that will not go away. I think all new moms are familiar with this feeling. So, I decided to ask my torturer his thoughts on my state and this is what he had to say (excuse my dorky mom-talk):

I guess I can't stay upset for too long. I hope you are all getting some sleep.

Zen Baby

Anderson is lucky to have a number of very stylish people in his life (much more so than his mother). His Auntie Jos has a pretty incredible clothing line--all eco-friendly--and Anderson got a cutting edge onesie. I think the rest of the line will be coming out Spring and Summer of 2011. In the mean time, Anderson will be the coolest four month old around.

Forced Into Bestfriendship

All boys!

Meet Bear (10 days old), Anderson (four months old), and Joseph (almost three months). Joseph was the only one who cared enough about the photo-shoot to stay awake. I think, once these guys realize each other exists they will be best friends (with a little effort from their moms). I cannot believe how lucky I am to have two friends with boys Anderson's age.

First Visitors

We had our first visitors to Eugene yesterday. One of my former students, Ryan, and his family stopped through town to pay us a visit on their big summer roadtrip. We met them at our favorite local coffee shop, Sweet Life, that is just a few blocks away from our house (where we will be living come September 1st). It was a lot of fun to see Santa Barbara faces here in the great Northwest.

Four Months Old Today!

Happy Four Month Birthday, Anderson Eliot!

He is grabbing for lots of toys and checking out his world more than ever. In fact, I may have to start feeding him in a dark room because he twists and turns to catch whatever new sight may (or may not) be nearby. He is fascinated by our weird little dog, Maggie, as well as Napoleon, my parent's black and white goat. He often looks longingly at his dad.

Home Again

"We shall not cease from exploration

And the end of all our exploring


Will be to arrive where we started


And know the place for the first time."

~T.S. Eliot

It's interesting to be back where I grew-up. There are all sorts of new things to notice being an adult in this place loaded with childhood memories. It has changed a bit---there are good changes (a budding local beer culture) and bad changes (the giant Target across from the giant Wal-Mart). My eyes are drawn to different things now (is our house in the right school district?) than they were ten years ago. Naturally I had a lot of complaints being a kid in this town, but I am here by choice now as a mother and wife. Few days have gone by that I have not thought of Eliot's line at the beginning of this post. I really have arrived where I started and seem to be knowing it again for the first time.

Despite the fact that when Anderson is sixteen, I will have to explain to him why we move from beautiful Santa Barbara to beautiful (but very wet) Eugene, I am excited to continue growing with my family in this place.