Now Starts the Craft of the Father

I have written that over the last nine months many of my besties have had babies - some firsts and some seconds. But, what about the fathers? Where is their song? Where is their moment? Here is a little montage dedicated to my best friends' husbands & fathers (who luckily, are also some of my bff's too).

most recent addition, my cousin Brady Anderson with second-time daddy Matt
07.28.08

Niece Joanna Shields with first-time grandpa Glenn (B's dad)
-- couldn't get a pic of Jim with Joanna... but, here's his blog --
birthdate 12.14.05 adopted 06.04.08

Nine-month-old Isabella "Bella" Kristian with 2nd time daddio Jeff
11.06.07

Beautiful 10 week-old Hannah Joy with first-time dad Matt
05.15.08

Bjorned little Adeline Rose with brand-new daddy Cameron at Holly's Wedding
05.23.08
(b's birthday too!!)

So... Yeah Dads!!! I will post more from the trip to California soon. Plus, get psyched for some good ones from our upcoming vacation ... back to Northern California ... leaving on Friday.

paternally yours,
erin

Bonus :: here's 2 new bump pictures:

24 weeks with blousey shirt

27 weeks
self portrait

what i have to show for all this time

after 3 weeks in california i was sadly disappointed with ZERO celeb-spotting occurances. the shame - as i am pretty good at this form of stalking. well, i am in the sacramento airport and finally i've found one - a good one. she's small, she's blonde, she's one of b's favorite singers:

Carrie Underwood




she's on my flight to boston through dallas - doubt she's in coach like me.


flight-boundly yours,
erin

I'm so over america

For the last three years I have been a loyal watcher and supporter of the fox phenomenon 'so you think you can dance' - going around thinking it was a legitimate finder & keeper of dance talent - and, more significantly, I have for many years been under the impression that the democratic process works - even going so far as to send in absentee ballots. FALSE ONE, YOU HAVE DECEIVED ME! POWER TO THE PEOPLE - HA! AMERICA'S FAVORITE DANCER - HA! ALL DIRTY ROTTEN LIES! Friends, this week's results show on sytycd has disillusioned me. I walk in a fog of pain and fear. America cannot be trusted! I won't bore you all with the gritty details and minutia of my feelings tonight, but know that I am upset beyond comprehension. Necessary facts are these: this week's decision on who was to leave the show was left in the hands of the watching American public, and America went down; plummeting to the ground in a fury of flaming ignorance & fascism. Moral of the story: wisdom cannot be left of the masses - vote independent.

2 of my favorite moments from 2 of my favorite dancers on the show.
America should be ashamed.

R.I.P.
spoiler alert

disenchantedly yours,
erin

go granny! go granny! go granny go!

After a day starting at 4:30am EST I landed at the Burbank Airport midafternoon to begin my 3 week adventure. The flight was mostly uneventful - even if I could go on & on & on about the infuriating nature of the new baggage policies ($15 for a single under-50 lb. bag.... come on!). For as long as I was in transit the hugs and string cheese upon arrival were worth the ride. Best-friend Holly lives in Pasadena, where I will be making my week-one headquarters. Since leaving my 3-year home, the place where B and I became an 'us', I often wax nostalgic about the quaintness and village-like atmosphere amidst the hustle and bustle of Greater Los Angeles that is Pasadena ... however, I have not missed the smog.

my favorite pasadena building

city hall

Not only am I excited about re-exploring one of my favorite Cali towns - but I am waiting in great anticipation for a glorious friend reunion - All 3 of my bestest friends will be together for 2.5 effervescent nuptial filled days in Santa Ynez. Plus, between now and then I get to see many of my closest and dearest friends and family at the harbinger of baby showers in B's hometown. I truly am blissed and blessed.

:: the sisterhood of the migrating maternity pants ::
taken this past fall (rt to left - shara (no longer preggers - baby bella is here, round and stupid-cute),me (obvi currently growing a little still un-named girl person - currently spaghetti squash sized and reeking havoc on my lower GI), JR (recently birthed baby-girl addy - super precious and total boob reliant) and holls (not at all prego, but plans on practicing a bit with new hubby before adding mas small humans to the mix)

the nearlyweds for whom i travel many miles, gladly.
and, to other bloggers with concerns of absentee newlyweds i'm sure old Ryebread won't go AWOL on ya.

matron of honorly yours,
erin

The Start of Something New

B got me the best prize eva eva eva for my birthday 2 weeks ago. The Nikon D80 SLR camera. I am beyond pumped to embark upon this new artistic life medium with great vigor. Here are some of the most recent pics - including some more obligatory bump shots.

me and my lady lumps + bump in South Dartmouth this weekend.
((B's firm threw a little soiree for some of the summer associates at two of the partner's summer homes in souther mass... it was deliciously awkward if not a little bit contrived (I get it, if we join your firm we can live by the ocean with our kids in big-A houses all the while selling our souls to daddy warbucks, I get it... and I'm not wholly opposed) - but the food was legit good... btw, I am so in love with gazpacho shots! ))

We are so married.

The corner O'Baby in our bedroom...
What, Me? Worried about upcoming shower & space? Nah?
(enter sarcasm here)
((Also, we bought baby her first piece of furniture - ah, nursery chair goodness, as I write I glide.))

down by the river charles i'm really digging my new wrap shirt - way to go target! plus i got $7 maternity pants that don't fall down ... s-c-o-r-e !

And, lastly a peek into my possible reproductive prowess....

tay-tay cousin's baby
me

Tomorrow I leave for California for 3+ weeks. (enter Phantom Planet's "California") So get ready for some posts heavy on the shower, wedding and friend/family reunion vibe. Plus B and I get to meet our niece Joanna - recently adopted from China. Stoked doesn't even glimpse the iceberg's tip.

photographically yours,
erin