Oregon Playgrounds and a New Leg

Life has been insanly busy. Hence the lack of posts. We are working on our third move this year, but thank goodness this one is for good! I'm so excited to share the progress on our house, but first an update on Sawyer.

Sawyer's favorite activity by far is swinging. He shouts "yay, yay!" and loves daddy to push him as high as possible. He also discovered if he kicks his legs enough he can knock off his prosthetic...making it fly across the park. Bright side...it's one way to start conversation with new people.

Sawyer is adjusting just fine to this new life of ours. We are all really enjoying all the lush parks and Sawyer goes crazy over the playgrounds. In July he will be two! I am planning a small, but fun filled birthday. It's crazy how much he is changing. He told me one night when he would not go to bed "I don't want to go to bed...I'm not tired!"...WHAAAATTT?? I freaked out. It was hard to make out, but he totally said it. No more sentences since.

A shoulder ride on dad in Tualatin Hills Nature Park.

Murase Plaza at Memorial Park
We stumbled on this playground in Wilsonville. There was a huge red barn, gingerbread house, and swings to play on. It also has an old barn that would be so pretty for a family photo.

Sawyer is obsessed with the color red. Naturally he was drawn to this huge red lady bug. I kind of want one in my backward.

Sawyer got his first leg when he was 12 months. At 22 months there is a significant height difference. His first prosthetic is pretty basic. The foot was glued onto the leg so making adjustments meant adding onto the bottom of the foot. The brown cork material lifted him to the proper height. His new leg really raised Sawyer up. It took a while for him to get adjusted to the height difference. When he was wearing his old leg he was starting to bend his full leg to shorten himself to be at the same level. Once he put on the new prosthetic he was walking on his tippy toes. To him it was too tall, but it was actually the correct height. After a few days he started walking evenly on both sides.

I adore this little man.

We Bought a Home!

Last week we got the official word that our offer was excepted on our dream home! I didn't let myself really fall for this house, but now I am swooning. We are coming from a historic home to new construction. What I loved about the house was all the little touches the builder put on it. We were lucky enough to happen upon a spec home built by a master carpenter. He worked with an interior designer to make a one of a kind home. Mixing traditional and modern elements. It's a little of where we came from...a craftsman bungalow to where we want to go...a modern family home.

In our last house you stepped right into the family room. I have always wanted something more formal. A place to take off your shoes, hang your coat, and drop your keys. This really feels like home. Hand-scraped hardwoods are going in this week.

I love all the details in this house. Below this beautiful ceiling is an area to put a small bench to wait for someone to pick you up or take your shoes off if it's raining.

The spindles are painted white now and the railings are a darker wood with a gray hue. I can't believe that I have a railing...a two story home! We could never afford this house in California. Truly thankful.

This kitchen is going to be the place our family spends a lot of time. A great place to make meals, cookies with Sawyer and have family gatherings. The backsplash is going to be white subway tile with a herringbone pattern above the stove (swoon). It's hard to tell from this photo, but the cabinetry has a slight gray hue to it. It's really unlike anything I have seen and is throughout the house.

Since the builder is not finished with our home we are lucky enough to pick some of the finishings. My favorite item I have a hand in choosing is the slab going in the kitchen. I really want two different stones or materials to be involved. One on the island and the other on the rest of the kitchen. I like the look of marble, but not the upkeep. I'm thinking Bianco Romano granite to get me close to the look I am trying to achieve. I'm not sure about the other material.

Stay tuned for more photos on the house or check out my Dream Home Pin board for now. I'm posting like crazy getting ideas for decorating. Tomorrow I get to meet with the Interior Designer to go over finishing touches. I am so excited to see the progress made on the house. I feel so lucky we get to live here.

Oregon Exploring: Japanese Gardens in the Spring

My parents flew Sawyer out from California after we had a little time to settle into our rental house. We wanted some time to setup a totally empty house. Thank goodness we did. Our stuff was a week late so we slept on an air mattress and our couch was another blow up mattress. Baby proof...yes, but certainly not toddler friendly.

We took my parents and Sawyer to the Japanese Gardens in Washington Park. It's such a peaceful and picturesque place to be. I have never been, but it was definitely on my to do list for exploring Oregon. I want to go back every season (I am especially looking forward to Fall).

Day dreaming

Sand garden
I had visions of my toddler running through the middle of this, but thankfully I was wrong. What a job to rank the garden. Wonder if they are hiring?

Sawyer loved the gardens meandering paths, but the koi fish were his fave.

That face, those curls!

I love the light pouring in from the trees.

Waterfall with all that lovely moss. One thing I am not used to...all the moss in Oregon. I love getting lost in it.

This is where you enter. Well, hello there.

The Japanese Gardens are a must if visiting Portland, Oregon. My next quest if one for food. I am REALLY, REEEALLLLY missing Mexican food. We have tried places in the Portland, Oregon area with no luck. Southern California is full of yummy Mexican food...house made chips, homemade salsa, guac...bean and cheese burritos! Ok, I'm making myself hungry. I'm missing a good hole in the wall. The last place I tried in Oregon made me sick. Please, any suggestions are welcomed from locals. Otherwise, I am on my own and on the hunt!



Hours / Directions

Addmission
$9.50 Adult
$7.75 Senior (65+)
$7.75 College Student (w/ID)
$6.75 Youth (6-17)Children 5 and under free

Oregon Trip Part One: Portland House

 
The reaction when I told people we were going to Oregon on vacation went a little like this...

Oh, do you have family there? Are you staying on the Oregon Coast? Why there?

Some people like sun and beaches, but we like cooler weather and the great outdoors! Southern California has been experiencing a VERY long and hot summer. In fact it's late October and this weeks forecast shows temps in the upper 80s. I dreamed of piping hot coffee and sweater weather. I feel like Oregon is a hidden gem and I am so excited to share some of our vacation highlights. I have so much to share I am going to break things up...sound good?

I found this awesome rental in Portland that had a view of the forest out every window. It felt like we were living in a tree house. The air was so crisp and clean I wished I could bottle it up!

I sat on the balcony and sipped on my morning coffee.

This was Sawyer's first big trip and plane ride. The way there was great. I timed out giving him a bottle right as we took off and he slept most of the ride. The way back was another story. There was another younger baby on the plane screaming most of the way. I think Sawyer wanted to show him up and let out the loudest ear piercing cry. No one is going to show this boy up! Besides that the flight was great. We flew Jet Blue and they were super accommodating for parents traveling with small children. We rolled up to the plane in Sawyer's stroller. They checked it in and also allowed us to bring his baby bag at no extra cost. You can bring a car seat as well, but we decided to go with the one that came with our Hertz rental car. It all worked out perfectly.

Travel Tip:  I bought a pill case similar to the one above. I put little snacks in each section and let Sawyer open and eat them on the plane. It was a GREAT distraction and not bulky for travel.

Sawyer looks so cute in his yellow puffer vest and sock monkey hat my friend made for him. He loved picking up leaves and handing them to us like little presents.

I loved all the colors of autumn and the moss that seemed to grow everywhere.

We woke up to rain on our first morning. I was in heaven and by the looks of it so was Sawyer. He seriously acted like it was Christmas morning. No need for presents just make it rain!

We stopped into a coffee shop and holy macaroon this happened! What's fall without some jack-o-lantern macaroons? Swoon.

Stay tuned for more of our vacation coming up!