Portrait

And here is...our little one, as yet unnamed, which I know drives Americans crazy. But here in Iceland many people choose not to reveal the name of their babies until they are christened at two or three months old. We have a "working title" for him, but so far we haven't found a name that sticks to him undeniably. Relatives have opinions about what he should be called, but we simply won't be swayed. He has a proper name, we just have to find out what it is!

Anyway, he's the picture of health at two and a half weeks old, even if he did show a certain impatience by arriving five weeks early (due date: April 23, birthday: March 25). He does all the things newborns love to do, like drink, sleep and make a fuss. He's got us all dancing around his needs, as little ones are wont to do, but we're happy to oblige. He is, after all, so little: five and a half pounds and just under twenty inches long.

We're very pleased to meet this new life, all of us except Mio the cat, who isn't quite sure what kind of creature it is that's taken over his spot on the bed. Mio is actually bigger and much heavier than Baby, and so has been banned from hopping up on the furniture or into our laps...it wouldn't be pretty if he were to misjudge his landing! He's crazy curious and pretty offended that we've chosen to bring a new life into the home, but he'll get over it, I'm sure.

A nurse came today to weight Baby and offer me any support I might need. it's actually vey nice: she'll come by once a week for the first five or six weeks to check his progress as well as my own and the family's - one of the benefits of socialized health care. That and the fact that I didn't have to pay a dime for the care I received before, during and after his birth, nearly three weeks of hospital time between the two of us in total. We've been given an almost overwhelming amount of medical attention, mostly along the lines of preventive care for premature births. The doctors and nurses had to admit though, after a nine day post-natal watch, that he was perfectly healthy (sjö, níu, þrettán) and and deserved to go home, a brilliant decision indeed!

Self Portrait

Dad called me today and poitely noted that the previous picture had been up for a little too long, and that it was high time I posted something new.

So here you are: a self portrait taken with my iMac Photo Booth accessory. I purposely used the gelled lense option because, well, none of us is getting any younger, right? Photo Booth is a fun toy...hours of entertainment for the whole family.

As you all can see I am not only holding our famous cat Mio (who had his picture in the paper twice in the last weeks) but I have quite a big belly. 8 months/35 weeks preggo I am! Baby could come any day now, theoretically. I'm working on finishing my teaching credential studies in concert with the upcoming birth, but of course baby is priority number 1,2 and 3. I'm nesting like crazy on top of all my research, practice teaching and essay writing, so our apartment is undergoing alterations, both big and small. It's all about organization and practicality, but with a sense personality and style.

Blogging may be spottier than usual with all this going on, but I'll do my best to keep fresh photos coming in the months ahead. But for now, ta ta!

Snowtime

No, this is not Iceland. This is a shot of my sister Addy and her husband Dan's "cabin" in the California Sierrras (just west of Bear Valley ski resort, about a three hour drive from San Francisco. There is more snow on the bumper of the SUV in the photo than we've had all winter long here in Reykjavik. As my Dad says, this could be a good time for Icelanders to start investing in palm trees...

Speaking of my Father, Thor Roff, who took this great shot, its his Birthday Today! March 15th! Yaayyy!

Til Hamingju Með Afmæli, Pabbi!

Family Stroll

Taking a shortcut across the frozen Reykjavik town lake with the City Hall and downtown area in the background...

(It's been cold here lately and is, as a matter of fact, snowing as I type. We might need to be prepared for a drawn-out winter after all.)

Lovers

A sweet and private moment captured on digital...

The boyfriend in this tourist couple had to seriously encourage, and then coerce, his girl to step out onto the ice. She was not going to do it. I was with her all the way: not having experienced a lot of pond walking growing up in California, I was trepidatious to say the least the first time someone tried to get me out onto the Reykjavik town lake as an adult. Even after being told the lake is only about shin deep, I was wary...it's just not a natural thing for a valley/beach girl to do! Once on the ice and firmly attached to her gentleman's arm, though, this young woman seemed to enjoy the adventure.

Thingvellir

In honor of the small but jolting 4.6 earthquake that struck the Reykjanes Peninsula yesterday, I give you a photo of the Mid-Atlantic Rift as seen from national park Thingvellir. The gorge seen the picture is actually the separator between the North American Plate and the Eurasian Plate, meaning that the people seen on the right hand side of the photo are standing on North America...just kidding. Some people, though, see this ever-growing rift as symbolic of Iceland's divided loyalties: are we Europeans or simply another capitalized US holding? Both, I'd say. But playing two side to gain the middle is always a risky venture. Ask anyone who lives in an earthquake zone...

Oh, and here is a simple, concise report on the Rift for the geology buffs among us.

(Photo courtesy of the Linköping University )website.

Prime Real Estate

I'm investing in real estate: a sweet home with a wonderful ocean view.

Thankfully, it's not this tin shack on Ægisíða in West Side Reykjavik (the road running along the sea on this map). Instead, it's the great 3rd & 4th floor apartment I've lived in for the past 6 1/2 years (minus year or so) on Baldursgata, in central Rvk. Lucky us, my parents, who own the pad, are giving us a great deal (with the understanding that that takes care of any inheritance I might have coming!!!). And even more lucky, our friend Jónas bought my apt off me, the one that's on the first floor of the same building. One big happy family!

In other news, I've been invited to represent Reykjavik on European City Blog, a cool glimpse into life in a number of major Euro locations. Be sure to click by for a visit...