threeOregonians!

How do you follow up on the adventure of a lifetime? Start another one, of course…

Last year, we were crossing the ocean on April Fools, joking with each other about changing the header on the blog to read threeOregonians just to see if our parents would get a laugh…

This year, it’s no joke.

(Though a few friends fell for my little brother’s April Fools tweet.)

It’s a new season: pushing roots down into home soil, reaching for sunshine, hoping to grow again after placing Oregon life in a dormant stage in order to blow with the wind.

Nowadays, I’ve stopped toting travel gear on planes, trains, buses, and ferries, and I’ve taken up carrying this little baby bump every step of every day.

I’m four months along, and we hope to find out on May Day whether we’ll be welcoming a little girl or boy into the world… In the meantime, the first flutters and taps continue to let us know that our “little peach” is doing quite well.

It’s a sweet joy to know that this little life began on those very last days of our journey in New Zealand. As my friend from NZ likes to remind me, she’ll forever refer to Baby Rydmark as a kiwi. (Can’t say that I mind!)

What’s Next?

With second trimester energy returning in full force, I’m bustling to complete freelance landscape architecture and garden design work in and around Portland as Ted and I prepare for the baby’s arrival. Ted’s in a social work temp position while he continues his job hunt (plug: if you know any Portland-based non-profits looking for a terrific program manager or the like, give us a jingle!), and he’s preparing to begin a two-year Executive Masters in Business Administration in Non-Profit Management this August at the University of Portland.

On-the-ground, in-real-life takes precedence over online fun, but my sincere hope is to continue sharing more stories in this space:

Photos and tales from New Zealand, from Spain and Cape Verde, from corners of Asia and coastlines of Brazil, and all the many beautiful spots that haven’t yet popped up on the blog. More terrific listings from our Where to Stay Around the World series (adding New Zealand and Italy to South Africa and Southeast Asia). Favorite spots in the Pacific Northwest. Tales from regional travels and insider info on the great corner of the world we call home. And of course, the long-awaited answers to your Inquiring Minds submissions (it’s not too late to add questions, if you’re curious!).

Thank you, sincerely, for following along.

It’s always an honor to have you stop by and spend a little time…

From one adventure to the next,
xx Bethany

At the Oregon Coast: April 2013

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~a few favorites on traveling, babies, food, & life~

Green Kitchen Stories
Fifteen Tips for Traveling with a Baby
A few years back, David and Luise left their home in Sweden and took their little seven month old daughter, Elsa, on a trip around the world. I fell in love with their photos, recipes, and zest for life, and their site reminds me to savor every flavor from family meals at stateside tables or beachside smoothies in Southeast Asia.

Flashpacker Family
Toddler Travel Tips: Childcare on the Road
Bethaney, Lee and their little one, Reuben. What’s not to love about kiwis who “spend some of the year at home in NZ and the rest out enjoying the world”?

The Road Forks
Pregnancy is Like Backpacking Through Southeast AsiaI crossed paths with Akila at the 2012 Travel Bloggers Unite conference in Umbria, Italy after enjoying her and Patrick’s food and travel posts from the comforts of my livingroom during years of pre-travel saving and planning. After three years of international travel, they’re home in the U.S. and celebrating the arrival of their little bundle, Amara (who happens to have the cutest travel-themed room ever: Oh, The Places You’ll Go Nursery).

Almost Fearless
One Month With Stella
I started paying attention to Christine’s story when she was living in Egypt with her husband and son. I read her “Anatomy of a Burnout” and watched as her family moved to Thailand, while we were still in Oregon, preparing to set out on our adventure. Ted and I met up with Christine and Drew and their little boy Cole last summer when they were living in Beirut, Lebanon, and with great joy I’ve watched them move (again!) to another corner of the world, aiming to balance life and family and work, sharing stories along the way with friends and readers. Christine gave birth to sweet little Stella in Mexico this February, and I’m inspired by her desire to learn, grow, push through challenges, and give her kiddos the gift of cross-cultural experiences…