We Are Family

So, one of the mamas came up with a fantastic idea.  We'd love to hear from all of YOU who our visiting our little experiment of a Web site. 

This is my (Hau) take on the origins of this Web site.  This whole Web site began as a mama-induced fantasy about building an on-line community.  We all met on-line via the now seemingly defunct PDX-Moms Yahoo! group (a bit sad).  It took us a while, but after a few face-to-face meetings and playgroups, it was destined to be that the on-line friendship would blossom into something much more.  Through this great invention called the *Internet* we keep in touch.  We email, we blog, we do more e-communication than chat on the phone.  But when we get together, it's so easy to pick up from where we left off because the dear Internet allows us to keep in touch even though we live in the same city.  My hope for this Website is to not only be a resource, but to build community.

With that, a more intimate view of who we are, I'd like to invite you to tell us about yourself.  Come on, don't be shy!

Comments

[olivia]

We've moved around a bit since my hunny & I got married. When we moved to Portland from NYC via Atlanta, we were 7 months pregnant and we had a 3 year-old daughter. I wanted to meet families and mamas. I was also working full-time, so my time away for play-dating was limited.

PDX_Moms was a great outlet for some time, a place for discussion and a place where I could pose a question and get some good responses. Soon, after some mommy nights out and some playdates, a core group of us mamas found that we could really relate on several levels. We find ourselves grappling with similar issues and celebrating similar successes. We share, confide in, and connect with one another. We keep in touch via email or via blogs. We see each other sometimes every week or sometimes every other month.

I know there are other mamas out there who share similar beliefs, joys, lifestyles, and obsessive Type A mama traits. I want urbanmamas to be a place where we can all come together and share, share, share. Share thoughts and information on eating, crazy days (or crazy daze), staying emotionally sane, nursing, finding preschools, love & marriage, and mome. A true online community is what I want.

Now if *that* wasn't warm and fuzzy! ....

[Fionasnana]

Howdy,
So glad to find this online community...and in such a strange way. Someone told me yesterday that they couldn't find my school's website, so I Googled it, and this site came up because the name of the school is mentioned on it. Weird, and cool. I didn't even know it existed. I was a part of a PDX hip Mama group when my son Fionn was little. Since then, I've been busy getting the school going, and haven't been active in the mama community. (The parents at Rowanberry have kind of become their own little tribe, which I am part of to a certain extent. The moms are awesome, but probably don't want or need to hear about my insomnia, obsession with 6 feet under...etc. you get the picture.) Now...I am 7 months pregnant! Due in January! Will need support, something that resembles a personal life, and friends for baby! Don't have a whole hell of a lot of time, except in the middle of the night when I seem to be wide awake these days. I love to knit, and will be in search of a mom/baby playgroup at some point. Perhaps I'll find other knitting moms with babies ??? Anyway, I'll be around. Thanks...Angela
(P.S. I hit "post" 2x when commenting on "finding a daycare," does anyone know how to erase a comment?)

[jj]

Ooh! I'm so happy to see that this is back. I've been obsessively trying urbanmamas.com for what seems like months to no avail - it vanished about a week after I first found it. I'm JJ, mom to Milo who is 2-1/2 and boy #2 will be arriving in mid-march. We just moved to SE portland last week after a brief 15 month stint in SF, and we spent 5 years in kansas city prior to that. I've been more or less cyber-stalking a number of your blogs since we found out we were coming here last spring. :) As a result, I feel like I've got a good head's up on so many great things to do in Portland and places to eat thanks to your previous posts! Not to mention all the great info on pre-schools, which I desperately need to start looking into for next fall.

Other than the mama-gig, I bike, run occasionally, knit, sew a little bit (mostly just slings and bibs for friends' baby gifts), cook, am excited to finally having a yard again to do a bit of gardening (but not too much), and spend way too much time online (reading more than posting it seems). Hope to maybe meet some of you in person someday. You seem like a really kickass group of mamas.

[Marlynn]

Angela & JJ, congrats on your pregnancies! I found this blog via Olivia (thanks!) and think it is a fantastic resource & opportunity. You mamas rock for getting this together. I'm Marlynn and I have one 17-month old son, who is my world. Before I was all about my career and now I am all about baby AND career.

My husband and I live in SW but don't write me off just yet, Eastsiders! We lived in SE for about 10 years and are still Hawthorne/Division kids at heart. I grew up in Portland, my hubby in Switzerland (JJ-my husband spent a few years in KC - were you in MO or KS side?), we met in college in Boston and lived in Los Angeles (yuck) before moving up here. We both used to work in television news and now I run two companies and he works as a business systems analyst (fancy term for Web Dude).

I love to write, design, eat (total foodie here), organize, blog, travel, read (I need book recommendations!), jog (just the treadmill now though), run amuck around town with my son or with girlfriends, and just get together with fun mamas to chat about whatever. Olivia - I am a total Type A :) This online community is a great idea for PDX moms! Thanks ladies!

[Cityslicker mom]

I was born and raised in NE Portland, in a gi-normous Old Pdx-style house right smack in the heart of the Historic Irvington neighborhood (11th and Siskiyou), waaay before it was what it is now.
I attended Irvington Elementary, Fernwood Middle ,and graduated from Grant High School in the early 90s. After getting married and graduating from Portland State University, I started grad school at Lewis and Clark only to discover I was pregnant with baby number 1 soon after. So needless to say grad school was put on hold for a while but, I still have no regrets!
My husband and I feel most at home in NE Portland, where we bought a house five years ago. I am currently a mom to two active boys. I'm so glad a site was put together for Portland moms, it's great!

[Amy]

I grew up in SE Portland but my hubby (Eugene native), 2.5 year-old daughter and grouchy dog have lived in Kenton for 4 years and around NE for 10. I work part-time as a reference librarian and so get to talk to adults enough to really value toddler-speak (hmmm, is she a preschooler yet?) but don't have lots of time for playgroups, etc. Okay, I will admit I am also shy so I don't know how the playgroup thing would have evolved for me if I had more time... I think Urbanmamas let me feel a bit more in touch with what's going on in town! Thanks!!

[Danielle]

Although I've heard I should never admit this to anyone living in Portland, I'm a native of California.

I just moved here from the Bay Area two weeks ago with my 2 1/2 year old daughter and husband (who works from home but is away on business half the time). I gave up my fabulous career as food editor for the Oakland Tribune, et al, to move here, so that should prove to all naysayers just how passionately I love this town.

Sure, things are cheaper here than in the Bay Area (anywhere is cheaper than the Bay Area, except maybe NYC), but we came for the culture. I feel more at home here than I ever have in my hometown, and I'm thankful to be able to raise my daughter here.

Before I break into song or start shouting from the rooftops, I'll get down to business. I live near Hollywood and Grant Park. I love to knit (although I'm not terribly good at it. I've made some hats, a scarf and one sock. Someday I hope to create a mate for it). I also love to read, garden, walk, hike, explore and, not surprisingly considering my old job, I love to cook and eat. Almost as much as cooking, I love to thumb through my cookbooks (of which I have way too many) and simply imagine myself cooking. I call it armchair cooking.

I miss my job terribly, but what I miss most is hanging out with grownups and using my brain. I'm looking for a preschool for my daughter so I can have time to do some freelance writing. Oh yeah, and so she can socialize with other kids, learn to problem solve, yadda yadda. ;)

I used to belong to a mother's group and enjoyed the playgroup my daughter and I were in. I'd be happy to find another playgroup for us, and also take part in any knitting club, book club, mom's night out, whatever. Yes, I'm desperate for some grown-up company, but judging from your bios and postings, you'd all be a fun group of like-minded moms to hang with.

[Monica]

Like Amy, we are native Californians. Native to SF. We left a great network of people to raise our kids in this lovely community. We are thrilled to be here, but with a 23 month old and a 3 month old, we find that it's not exactly easy to make new friends.
Up until 1 week before Ella was born, I was in production/merchandising for Levi's in SF. I also miss working and am looking for an outlet for conversation, book club, Mom's night out, whatever. This job of loving on, caring for, playing with, smoochign on, and generally makign a fuss over - our little ones is a sweet and rewarding responsibility, but it can also be rough at times, so we need each other. So glad I found this website.

[Monica]

Oh ya, a couple factoids...
Married to a great guy, we are both 35.
Ella Roux is 23 months and Jack Stratford is 3 months.
Just moved to Beaverton from NE from SF...
My rose bushes are my other children, I love to garden.
I love to read - everything from Oprah's book club to classics.
Love music, currently trying to convince my husband that we are not too old to see Gwen Stefani in concert.
Fancy myself as a closet writer (I know, doesn't everyone?)- would like to write a tween novel about horses - kidn of cliche, but I have always had a crazy love for horsees.
Is it 2008 yet??
Love Mexican food - still haven't found a great place in the NW...
Desperate to lose my baby weight.
Thouroughly miss Six Feet Under.
Love "The Office."
Love to cook.
Love the shopping as well.

I guess that's it for now.

Ta Ta-

[kirsten]

Hi there. I'm also a Beavertonite, but might have lived in SE if the housing prices hadn't scared us away!

I am a career ESL teacher with experience teaching mostly adults, but am staying at home now with my children.

I am originally from Cleveland, Ohio, but have just moved to the Portland area from Tokyo, Japan. I am the mother of 2 swirled girls (biracial, bilingual, bicultural) a 4 year old and a 17 month old.

I'm very interested in discussing parenting topics with other mamas who might have ideas about raising swirled kids in Portland, but I'm also interested in where to get the best wine and beer and restaurants good for kids and mommies, too!

[Rebekah]

Hi! So excited to find this! I have been looking for something like this since having our first baby in July.
My husband and I live in N. PDX. I grew up in Salem and have been in Portland for 10 years. I worked in Human Resources until I had the baby and just recently made the decision to be a stay at home mom.
I love to knit, sew, read, bake, travel,go junking/antiquing and go for walks/runs.
I am very interested in meeting other moms!

[Traci]

Wow, what an amazing site. I have spent countless hours searching for something just like this in the Portland area!

We moved to Portland (Beaumont/Wilshire) from Minnesota less than a year ago. Basically in the process of relocating I found out I was pregnant and now have an amazing roly-poly little boy named Bridger. My husband and I spend much of our time watching all the cool things a 5 month old can do (ex. garggling spit), but have come to realize that we need to get out and meet adults.

I must admit that in the beginning (pre-pregnancy). We chose Portland because of the activities for grown-ups (not of the strip club variety!). We are food freaks! Love the museums, coffee shops, public houses etc. Since our babe came along we haven't really taken the time to indulge in the activities that drew us here in the first place. We now realize that babies are relatively portable and have come out of newborn seclusion, ready to experience all Portland has to offer.

I love to hike, bike, run, eat foods of all types, read, watch movies, travel, and dabble in knitting, and jewelry making. I also really love music and have a borderline unhealthy obcession with Bono. :)

This is my first go at being a mama and would love to meet up with other moms. Whether it be with the wee-ones or for a mom's night out (enjoy the occasional 2-glass-of-wine-buzz). My husband would also be interested in exploring the world of Portland micro-brews with other fine beer connoisseurs. Thanks again for this site!

[Cherl]

Wow, what a great blog! I've e-mailed with a couple of you before so I feel like I already know some of these mamas. My spouse and I live in Westmoreland with our 8 month old son and two energetic pointers. I am an architect but have been staying home with the baby. My spouse is an attorney, self-employed. I love to run, hike, and pretty much anything that involves the outdoors. I look forward to checking in on this site again. There's some great information here -- thanks!

[Lisa]

My husband and I moved back to PDX (Laurelhurst) at the end of November after about 10 years away - North Carolina, New Mexico, McMinnville. We've got a 3 1/2 year old boy and a 3 1/2 week old girl - did I mention I was very 32 weeks pregnant and on bedrest at the time of our move?! The last time I lived in PDX, I was hip and single - feel a little homebound and unsure about where to start finding like-minded moms to hang out with. I'm an architect and practice less than part-time (though just started a project that I committed to long before baby was born - was I crazy?), 36, will be heading up an extensive remodel to our house in the spring, love to eat/cook/go out for good food, closet Martha Stewart follower, avid reader, regular 3 mile walker/jogger (after post c-section doc's okay).

Miss having a group of friends/moms to compare notes with - ie: do all 3 yr olds freak out over not having the right cup/big piece/Thomas train/sharing? How long should it take to get 2 kids out of the house(11:00 am seems to be the earliest so far)? etc, etc

I keep reading the emails and hope to get to a mom's night out, but still in newborn sleep deprivation/nursing alot mode. Hope to check back in to the real world soon. Anyone else in my shoes?

[Lisa]

Hi Mamas -
I'm so happy to have found this site, as I have been dreaming of starting a site like this - thanks for saving me the work!

I'm 34 years old and mama to a 15 month old boy. I'm a women's health nurse practitioner, but I'm not working as one right now. I'm doing a little freelance writing and alot of full-time mama duty.

I live in Sellwood with my husband, baby and 100 lb. mutt. I enjoy reading, writing, yoga, exercise, cooking, eating and mama activities.

I'd love to meet y'all and hope to make it to an upcoming event soon!

[christian]

I have benn popping in and reading posts for about a month now so thought it may be time to introduce myself.

I am 39 yo (39!!) and have three daughters, 1-1/2, 3 and 4-1/2 (well, almost 5.) We moved to Portland 7 months ago from Spokane. Before that we lived in Seattle (medical school,) Tucson (residency,) Denver (fellowship,)and then Spokane for the "real" job that turned into just a three year stint as they closed the pediatric department. I am the girl who said I would never follow a man for his job, he would follow me. How things change...

I usually adjust right away and "bloom where I am planted," but Portland has been a little harder; I don't know if it is because I am so busy with the children, if I live in an isolated neighborhood or what...but I am ready to make friends! And I enjoy Portland so much, so it would be nice to enjoy it with other mothers.

This site has been great to read the comments and, oh, how I can relate. It really is nice to see there are other mothers out there going through the same things.

I am looking forward to reading, posting and meeting all of you. Thank you for making me feel like I am a little closer to being part of a community.

And, I have my girls in so many activities! If you need any advice on ballet, gymnastics, preschools ,kindegartens, soccer, etc., let me know! I have only been here a little while, but I try to experience a little of everything, for myself and the girls.

[Anne]

Hi - I just discovered this site a few weeks ago while searching for preschools (I'm so ready to hear any suggestions! Already have many from other posts, thank you for that.) I'm enjoying reading about and hearing from a new group of mom's/parents.

We just made a move from Overlook to NE, near New Seasons on 33rd (anyone looking to buy a cute 2-bedroom in Overlook?? Email me!) I have almost 3 yo twin boys that I've been home with since they were born, minus one month of pretending that I was going back to work. I started law school last fall and now do that at night: my partner and I have this great 20-30 minutes of "what have they had to eat? Do they need medicine? Who's poopy?" around 4:30 when she comes home from work and I get ready to leave. It's great.

So, yeah, next fall I'm switching to days.

I'm intrigued by the running group; I love to run, but am completely out of shape. Also don't know if I can justify a Saturday morning not spent studying, but would like to give it a try...sometime soon.

I love the candor on this site and especially the discussions about education - I've learned a lot in the few weeks I've been checking in. It's also nice to hear from so many people new to Portland - welcome! I'm looking forward to hearing more and meeting you!

[Amy]

Hi--I currently live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Looks like we may be relocating to Portland in the next couple months. I have 2 young boys, 4 1/2 and 22 months. I am seeking information about places to live, cost of houses, etc. We currently live in a city neighborhood in Milwaukee that is inhabited by lots of young families, teachers, and city workers. We have access to lots of good parks and shopping. I would like to find the same in Portland. The city seems great and we are really excited. I am happy to find this website and am looking forward to meeting other moms in the area. If someone would take the time to respond to me I would really appreciate it! I'm wondering, most specifically, what it's going to set us back to own an older 3 BR home in a pleasant area.

OH, and schools of course. That's important too. I understand that schools don't start until 5K there, is that right? We have 4K here.

Thanks so much!!!
Amy

[Betsy]

We've been here in Portland since August of 04. We have one son, Tommy, born in July of 04. Yes, I moved here from Atlanta, nearly three thousand miles, with a 4-week old baby. From a 3 bedroom house to a two-bedroom flat with a storage space, until we found our house here in Hollywood, which we absolutely love. The days leading up to the decision (with me 5 months pregnant, imagining listing the house, being possibly homeless if it sold too fast, or saddled with huge bills if it didn't sell at all, unsure whether I'd be able to keep my job after my return from maternity leave, unsure what size clothes I would need to leave unpacked, for heavens' sake) were pretty heinous, but in hindsight it was absolutely worth it. We feel like goldilocks here. It's not perfect, but it's just right for us.

I telecommute a crazy schedule while my son is in morning daycare - my husband is a history professor at a PCC and works mornings and nights, but not afternoons. It's crazy, but it works for us.

Not that I'm surprised, given that we knew there would be a lot of like-minded people here and that's why we moved, but it's nice to see so many foodies (!) and otherwise cool-sounding, grounded people on this site. Look forward to meeting lots of you!

[Lynn]

Hi, just found the site today and have already really enjoyed it. I was Googling Castle Cuts.
I am 36, have a wonderful 3.5 year old boy named Payton. (Named him after Walter Payton, of course.)
I am pregnant and expecting our 2nd in August. I've had horrible morning sickness this time around and am looking forward to the 2nd trimester, and not having to be pregnant again! :)
I live on the Westside too, I've lived Aloha, Portland, Beaverton and now Portland again. Love it.
My family loves taking the dog to the lake, the Zoo and reading!
Great site, thanks for being here.

[Melia donovan]

hi all,
a couple of months (? weeks?) ago i posted about finding a preschool in the beaverton area for my sweet son who's is finding his way after our move from chicago (i found a great montessori-that's really a montessori, ami certified, etc).

i thought i would now-since the mess of the move is over-introduce myself. my name is melia and my husband dave and i, along with our son baxter moved here in december. we spent 5 weeks living at my husband's parents house looking for a house. ugh! luckily they are dream in-laws! because of portland's expensive housing prices we are pioneering our way into suburban life. i never thought, as an artist-someone who formerly loved the grit of urban life that i'd love the suburbs but this is crazy. it's beautiful here! i woke up to an owl hooting the other night! it certainly beats chicago, nyc and sf where we lived before.

so, even though we live in the burbs we'd like to connect with others in the portland area. we are artsy fartsy despite our address and would welcome an opportunity to connect with like minded families. we'll try to participate in things that don't conflict with the school schedule that are posted on this site. but in addition if anyone out there has a 4-6 year old boy or girl who'd like to set up a playdate with a lovely boy who is a good friend and shares really well and is generous and fun and very lonely for friends please don't hesitate to email me.

thanks,
melia

[meg]

I live in Vancouver -- am I still welcome?? :) hehe! I've been lurking for quite a while now and I thought it was about time to introduce myself. My hubby and I moved to the 'couv four years ago after living it up in downtown Seattle. We still pretend we live in the city, which is getting increasingly hard to do as we do in fact live in the heart of Suburbia. We are a mini-van short of fitting in here. :)

I just had a baby boy who just turned 3 months old. We also have two dogs and two cats -- it's definitely a housefull.

Anyway, I really enjoy this site. Maybe I"ll actually venture out to one of the get-togethers sometime.

[Jennifer]

Howdy! I just discovered this site today, and I plan to come back often! I grew up in Eugene, went back east for college, went to grad school at OSU (anthropology) and now I've lived in Portland for several years. Now I live with my husband, cat and 10-month-old girl in inner NE, about halfway between Wild Oats and New Seasons.

I'm looking for moms who share similar (liberal) values and interests like hiking, cross-country skiing with the babes, knitting, eating out, and eventually cycling. I've also been trying to run occasionally, and I'd love to find people to run with. I'll try to make it to one of your events soon, though I'm not much of a morning person so 8:00 a.m. walks are out for me. A cocktail, though... that's another story.

[Rebecca]

Hello, UrbanMamas!

I am thrilled to find this site. I am a first time mom to a wonderful daugter who is now 8 months old. I am 34 and just finished training for my career as a subspeciality physician when i became a mother. I am currently working part-time, and I am finding it the best of both worlds!

My husband and I moved to Portland almost 4 years ago now. Me from the southeastern US and he from Sweden. I have loved living here both before and after child...the restaurants, farmers market, outdoor activities....and all the new mommy stuff like the zoo, mommies matinee and peanut butter and ellies! We currently live in SW Portland..we reluctantly left the SE Division/Clinton neighborhood a couple of months ago due to a landlords return from overseas.

I am anxious to become involved. I am particularly excited about the walking/running groups..and I love trying new restarants in town. Would there be any interest in a bookclub or a knitting group (I took a couple of lessons..but I need some encouragement!)

[Amancia]

Hi mamas. Is this where I start? Just saw this on Portland Picks and love what I've browsed thru so far.

My name is Amancia, mama to 3 1/2 year old Deepak. We moved to Beaverton in April 05, from Monrovia, CA. We'd never been here, didn't even see our house in person, just bought it, packed up our stuff and left as fast as we could!

My husband is currently using my car so I don't know how many events I could get to, but I'm always willing to host and maybe if someone near me gets to know me, Dee and I can hitch a ride with you and thank you with a batch of snickerdoodles or something ;)I'd especially love to make one of the w(h)ine nights!

My husband Amit and I are both 27. I'm a SAHM, he's a network engineer now working in Vancouver after spending two weeks working from home/two weeks working in Cali for our first six months here.

Well is that too much info, not enough, I dunno, it's late and has been a long day! Is there a process for "joining" this group. If so, hope it's ok that I posted here first.

[Roberta]

Sweet mother mercy, this is a fabulous site, and exactly what I was looking for!

Originally from Salt Lake City, UT, my husband and I have been in the Portland area since 2001. We currently reside in the SW Portland/Vermont Hills area, and absolutely LOVE it. Peanut Butter and Ellie's is just around the corner!

I am the proud mother of 3 fabulous children: Vince - 11, Carly - 8, and Isabelle - 21 mo. I just turned 31 this month, I am a SAHM, but also work from home for a division of Freightliner. And let me tell you, that can be difficult with a toddler running around!

I enjoy reading, walking, hiking, camping, I have attempted to do some quilting, and LOVE cooking. And I can't wait for the weather to warm up so we can spend a little more time outside...it's almost little league baseball season!

My greetings and best wishes to you all, thanks for reading!

[courtney]

Hi! I just noticed you added me to your link list and I wanted to say a big THANK YOU :)

[Emee]

Hey there, found this site through PortlandPicks.com and just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Emee, 32, and mom to Oliver, 18 days old! We live in NE and I'm trying to figure out how to run my small event planning business (also in NE) from home.

I'm also lucky to be married to Dave, who is also self-employed (educational web design programmer and musician) and wearing the baby at this moment while I type. We moved here from Austin 3 years ago and are loving the weather--not hot! don't need a/c! can actually survive outdoors in August!

Just wanted to say hi and can't wait until Oliver is a little bit bigger and can come out to a playdate or meetup. This looks like a great resource.

[Michaela]

Hi mamas!
Thanks for putting together such a great site for moms in Portland. I knew this was the place for me when I saw that you guys have had get- togethers at sydney's (one of those great places that makes Portland so cool).
I moved to Portland about 10 years ago from California (yeah, one of those) via Paris. I've been working in various forms of production( TV news, radio, commercial, film) until my daughter Scout was born in July. Now I've started my own company called bump style (maternity line) and am trying to make a go of it while taking care of Scout full time. My husband is a writer ( but works in marketing at PSU to pay the bills) and we live in NE Portland.
I'm always looking to meet new moms with similar interests who do fun things with their kids. I'm up for walks, coffee, OMSI, whatever.
Maybe I'll even see you guys at sydney's.
Thanks for being here. Hope to meet up with you soon.

[Jessica]

Hi

I'm also excited to find this site. My husband and I and our 2 year old son also just moved here from the Bay Area. So far we love it here, but I have to say that I have noticed that all of us who have moved here from California seem a little defensive or guilty about it. People who have moved here from other parts of the country don't seem nearly so apologetic or embarrassed to admit where they came from. Can I ask why that is? California has a huge list of pros and cons, but it is just a place/location/ etc. like any other. That may be oversimplifying (and I certainly do not mean to offend anyone), but I am genuinely curious about the attitude towards Californians. Can I ask other Califonians, or some Oregonians, why is it that people who have moved here from California are seemingly so reviled? It's odd because the majority of the people that I met in Calif. moved there from somewhere else, and as a native Californian, I never thought twice about it, and I certainly never expected people to be embarrased to admit where they had moved from. It seemed natural and normal to me that people would grow and change and move around as their lives and needs evolved.