MaternityShare

I captured this image of Billy and a ghostly Will laughing it up with the Shipp Grandparents on Skype.

Billy, Will and I headed down to the Emeryville Marina near our loft to relax together and take in the scenery. There are birds and people and their dogs to watch as well as the stunning San Francisco sky line.

Billy took Will to look at the rock shore so I snapped up this picture:

Happy Valentine’s Day and, Happy Birthday Will… Will is 7 months old today.

Will’s first tooth popped out of his gums today on the lower right with the lower left soon to follow. I had noticed a few days ago that his gums were looking a little whiter in that area and suspected that we would see teeth soon. Oh, I feel them too… while he feeds! Oooch!

He is developing his personality more and more. His vocal chords are getting more developed too or, he his getting more control of them. His sounds are so cute.

I heart Will!

I heart Billy too. He made us breakfast in bed. Then we went on a marathon shopping trip at Bay Street Mall. We shopped some bargains and got some things we were needing. Happy Valentine’s day to us!

One of our finds today was a p.j. set for Will. It is a Spaced Invaders type of theme. They were only $1.99 triple 50% off or something like that. Score!

We also got a package in the mail from my mom. She made all three of us knitted socks! Wow! Those take a lot of time. We love them, they fit perfectly and we need them with this cold weather we have been having. And the place we are staying in currently is COLD! We have a space heater going nearly all the time.

Speaking of the space heater. It is loud and seems to help Will sleep for longer periods of time. They say that a fan or white noise is good for that.

Also we bought him a play yard that doubles as a temporary bed. He has been sleeping in that for the most part ever since we moved into our current sub-let. This probably helps him sleep longer too because he is further away from the smell of the “milk machine” (me).

It has been a while since I have posted because I haven’t had the heart to re-cap what has been going on since we were displaced out of our home. It has been a hard road but it looks like the end is in sight. We are hoping to move back by the end of February. All I’m saying is it better be ready because I am not moving to a 5th time unless it is back home. The sub-let we are in now ends at the end of February.

Cross your fingers.

Its Will’s first Christmas!!

Billy, Will and I have been up to some good holiday adventuring and cooking this year. These have been our wonderful gifts this year.

As I type our Christmas dinner is cooking in the oven: Baked Chicken and Scalloped Potatoes. We just polished of an amazing, yet simple, salad with red lettuce, arugula, and mixed baby greens with a olive oil, salt, lemon dressing. Mmmm. So good.

Last night for Christmas Eve we cooked up half a turkey breast, mashed potatoes, corn, cranberry sauce. I had to have the corn because it is a tradition in my family. We love our corn! Mom had to make sure to make lots and lots because we hate to run out (especially my brother Lenny and me). I liked the cranberry sauce because of the whole cranberries in there. Usually I only have a tiny tiny taste just because it is a Christmas thing others seem to like.

I am really missing my family this year. I love being at my moms house and hearing and smelling her cooking. I love her cozy home she sets and the tree she decorates. I love how much she loves to make a warm and cozy home with the right lighting and music. I feel so loved and nurtured there.

Even though we are far from home and not doing all the things you would expect for the Christmas holiday, I feel happy and blessed because I have a beautiful little family with me here: Billy and Will.
The cooking helps a lot. Food is such a wonderful comfort and social and sustaining.

We aren’t giving gifts this year because of the financial state of things. I haven’t yet posted about the latest adventure we are on… but basically our home flooded and we had to move out a.s.a.p. That was about a month ago. We hope repairs will be done by mid-February… we shall see. Anyway, we are making the best of it.

Happy holidays to you! Here is a little video Billy and I shot and Billy edited. Our gift to you this holiday, enjoy!

love,
~Billy, Christine, & Will (Shipp Parrott Shipp)

Holiday MMVIII from Billy Shipp on Vimeo.

Billy took care of Will on his lunch break while I had a filling replaced at the dentist office. My appointment ran longer than expected so Will sat in on a conference call with dad. Good thing for the mute button because Will was expressing some concerns about some milk and a nap.

Billy made me a salad for dinner tonight at my request. The ingredients were organic butter lettuce and carrot from our local farmers market as well as tomato, pine nuts topped with a light yet tasty dressing that he made up of (from what I can tell) olive oil, fresh lemon juice (organic/local) , and fresh ground black pepper.

He bought me the pine nuts because he noted that I was really into them on a dish we had ordered last week. Aww. I got to thinking about pine nuts and I was trying to remember if I had heard if it was not ok to eat them raw or not. I have eaten them raw before but, being the protective incubator of this baby, decided to search on google anyway. In my search, I came across this blog in which the guy was sharing his 30 day raw food adventure. This link was quite a bit off the topic I was researching but my interest in raw foods kept me reading. It was interesting to hear his tale and to learn more about what it is like to eat raw and how one could do it. I have only read his last 2 posts, which alas are the very end of his 30 days, as well one of his earlier posts when he was in the beginning stages of the diet. I intend to read his entire tale to inspire me and feed my curiosity about eating raw. He links to some tasty sounding recipes (like Creamy Avocado Gazpacho) that I want to try. I think he may feel similar to the way that I do in that eating raw is wonderful, but, its just not something I will do everyday.

Oh, and, as it turns out, it is safe to eat raw pine nuts.

bon appétit!