Tia Raina

Last weekend, I left the boys at home for THREE DAYS. This was by far the longest I have ever been away from my baby and it was evidently harder for me than my son. I asked if Harrison seemed to miss me and Michael said no, not really. I like to think that he would have missed me but dad just kept him too busy to think about me. Right? Michael never complained and handled it like the Pro Dad he is, keeping busy and tiring Harrison out taking him to play grounds, parks, a street fair, a Mexican restaurant and brunch with his family.

Harrison evidently has a new found taste for black beans!

I spent my three days in Boston visiting my six month old niece, Argenta. You wouldn't think it possible to be so cute until you meet her and she exceeds your already high expectations!

Jon asked me what I would like to be called as Argenta's aunt. I hadn't really thought of this and had so far referred to myself as Auntie Raina. They suggested a Chinese word (indicating the eldest aunt on her paternal side da gu) but I felt I didn't really fit it... Audrey's two sisters speak Chinese and Chyna embraces our Chinese heritage more than I do... to be frank, I am her "white aunt!" Ironically, as we walked near Harvard Square, Jon had a brainstorm - "tia" is the Spanish word for aunt and we thought Tia Raina had a nice ring to it. But then I had my own epiphany... Tia Raina translated from Spanish means "Queen Aunt." Let's just say I was more then eager to proclaim myself Tia Raina. The rest of the weekend I used my very limited Spanish vocabulary to speak to Argenta. Te amo Argenta!

Behind all the curtness, you may notice they have some vintage Playboys hanging on the wall... very cool, especially in the industrial loft (used to be an old light bulb factory). Next to those (out of sight), they actually have a deconstructed piano on the wall!

Tia Raina gives a glimpse into Argenta's future... with hair!

Jon and Audrey graciously let me bunk in their already full loft; my sister Chyna was there (as part of her 6 week summer stay), Audrey's sister Irene was there for one of the days and Audrey's mom Sandy lives with them to take care of Argenta for the next several months. It was nice to "sleep in" until 9 (well, 6am in Seattle!), take naps (Argenta and I napped together for a couple hours) eat out and not have to get up and down with a needy child and shop for a few hours with my sister (we visited the Urban Outfitters Bargain Basement more than once)... all things that are nearly impossible to do at home. That said, I missed home and my boys quite a lot and was very happy to come home Sunday night.

The middle window reads "Dewey, Cheatum & Howe," the fictional legal representation and radio studio for the NPR show, Car Talk, which I love (Harvard Square)

I had a great weekend in Boston, Thank You Jon & co! I arrived home around 11pm Sunday night. Michael woke up at 3:30am to catch a plane out to Chicago for work and got home Tuesday night around midnight... we literally saw each other for about 10 minutes in 5 days!