mmmm....tikka masala

Like I said, our boy is into food (except bananas which we tried again--no luck, he H-A-T-E-S them). Yesterday he was staring at my chicken tikka masala, mouth open, leaning toward my plate. Amos seemed to think he wanted my food. He did it both times I ate it. Finally we just decided to let him try a finger's worth. LOVED IT. We gave him a little more. He kept leaning closer and closer and opened his mouth wide in anticipation. If you're a mom or dad, when did you let your kid(s) have tomatoes? This whole when should you give a kid something is very frustrating. My most trusted source for most things medical, the Mayo Clinic website, said that the current research shows that waiting doesn't do much in the way of preventing allergies from developing. Anyway, I will go with that guideline and be cautious with stuff like nuts that would like be a deadly kind of allergy. (Are tomato allergies deadly?) So, here's a picture of a wide-eyed G waiting for that spoonful of rice & sauce.

g's inauguration day brunch

Garrison LOVES eating. We've started having two solid meals a day. For lunch he usually has some oatmeal (he's not a huge fan of rice cereal), a fruit and a vegetable. For fruit he still has favorites--pears and apples, but he also likes mango and plums. His vegetable selections are usually green beans, a winter squash or yams. He will have 2 ice cubes (I use ice cube trays to portion the food I freeze for him) of fruit and one of vegetable for lunch (plus the oatmeal). Sometimes we'll throw in a few cheerios for fun too (he is a big fan--do all kids love them? They seem like the universal take-along snack for the younger set.) If he finishes everything we'll usually have 1/2 a teething biscuit (he has never come close to finishing a whole one). For dinner he'll have 2 veggie cubes, 2 fruit, some cheerios, and if we're eating something he can have, he'll have a little of it. For desert it's the other half of the teething biscuit. I'm getting a little bored with the selection I have in the freezer, perhaps it's time to do another vegetable, I have been trying to use fresh stuff (preferably what is in season and local), but that's not always possible. I'm not sure what to try next--so many choices. We do still have to go back and try bananas again, I really do want him to like them. Anyway he's a joy to feed, a very neat eater (which to me means he keeps his hands out of his mouth when eating), and eats with gusto. Amos said, "maybe he'll be a chef."

Here's a photo of G enjoying a post-brunch cookie while watching Barack and Michelle walk down Pennsylvania Ave. (note the THREE empty bowls.)

our day of service

I was too busy on monday to write a post about our day of service activities, so today will have to do. We took Barack's call to service on MLK's birthday to heart and wanted to do something on Monday. Originally I was going to go to work with others on sewing blankets for West Side Baby, but 50 people had signed up before me, so I didn't get to do that. Amos was going to take care of G, so that I could do that. After learning that I couldn't do what I had wanted to do Amos and I decided to do a mini project ourselves at home. We sewed bibs for West Side Baby--THIRTY of them. We did things assembly line style while G was napping--I cut and Amos sewed. When G was awake Amos took care of G and I did sewing. I have to say Amos was very speedy on the machine, and very neat (he compared it to using some kind of saw). We had a good time and think we'll try to do this more than once a year for them.

The fruits of our labor...

what's new in G-town--G (and the rest of the U.S.) has a new president

On this historic day I just felt it appropriate to talk about what happened. No pictures can do the day justice.

It was very gratifying to watch the inauguration with A & G today. We felt very invested in this campaign, writing personal letters to neighbors, making phone calls, giving money, collecting obama keepsakes...it's taken a day to process all of it, and A and I have had several conversations about O's speech. I think he is a courageous man. He did not mince words at all. He called Bush and his policies out, and renounced them. This is a man with whom he'd had coffee just moments before. He did not feel the need to be gracious. He held his tongue these past 2 months (which certainly seemed more like two years!) on matters of foreign policy, but not today.

I also loved this bit where he quoted Washington...

"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet (it)."

And used it to explain the resolve we need to have in this crisis today.

America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

I liked that he put the onus on us. He is a strong man, but cannot bear the burden of this crisis alone, it is far too big (thanks, dubya!)

Anyway, Garrison, when you read this when you're older, I just want you to know how special and proud I felt to watch your new President with you. Barack gave us the faith in this country's future to make the thought of having a child seem reasonable. And after we knew your arrival was immanent we felt an even stronger sense of urgency about making sure this man was elected. Today our dreams for you came to fruition and it was even sweeter sharing it with you. Your future is brighter because of him.

seven months old today

Hard to believe G is 7 months old today! To celebrate we all went down to Alki to the Pepperdock. G had some fries, which he loves (like mother, like son). He squishes the insides of the fries out with this gums (like toothpaste, Amos says). We tried to go for a walk on the beach, but it was too cold to be enjoyable--sunny, but cold. There were lots of people out, and even some people who had built a fire on the beach. I forgot the camera, so we took a couple with A's iphone. I think he has some sort of lens protector on his that makes them look like stills from a Barbara Walter's special. Happy 7 months, G-man.

g's new dr. seuss library

I am so excited that I scored these 20-some books on ebay. I loved them as a kid and still have one of my own collection. G's enjoyed that one (Did I ever tell you how lucky you are?), so I wanted to add some more to his collection of one and decided to see what ebay had to offer (I've had good luck buying lots of books on ebay in the past). My only criteria that needed to be met were that they be hardback and have the Lorax in the lot. Well, some nice person in Portland had these lovely books. They are in such great shape, almost no markings at all, and I got them for just 32 bucks. Such a steal. Anyway, I'm looking forward to reading time tomorrow. (BTW, there's one extra, I'll bring it down with us for Lu.)

what's new in G-town--sitting up by himself

Garrison and I've been working on sitting for a while. In the last couple of weeks he seems to have gotten much better at keeping his balance. He still tips as you'll see in the video, but he can pull himself up if he uses your hand. He's quite pleased with himself.

what's new in G-town--feeding himself (sometimes)

Last night after G ate big servings of both butternut squash and apples we gave him a barley teething biscuit (he hadn't tried barley ones yet). Anyway, it was a big hit. Normally when we've tried teething biscuits he makes us hold them for him, but last night he did it all by himself. I thought it was pretty cute.

Magnum G.I.

perhaps it's wishful thinking, but G is sporting his Hawaiian shirt today and dreaming of sandy beaches.

thanks for the xmas pressies #2

G's grandparents got him lots of cool stuff, here are two of his favorites...
#1. Paddington Bear from Grams and Pawpaw. As soon as he/we opened it he put PB's nose in his mouth. I was really excited about this present, as my own Paddington Bear has been a much loved and constant companion. Mine is on coat number 2 (thanks, mom!) has mismatched eyes, feet that are threadbare and a missing hat.

And continuing with the theme of "presents Garrison put in his mouth" we have present #2, which was this cool clutching toy from his Grandmother and Granddaddy. BTW, these are not the only two presents he put in his mouth--he's of that age where everything goes in his mouth.

garrison goes to band practice

Tonight we took l'il g to his first band practice. He wore his new ear muffs, as we like to call them. Auntie Rali danced and played with him while we played music.

After we were finished playing Tio Adonis gave him his first drum lesson--look out Neil Peart & Stewart Copeland!

Amos and I have decided he needs his own baby drum kit.