the chi-town crew pay a visit

As I mentioned on Monday, Greg and Shelby came to visit for a long weekend. We had such a great time with them. It had been a while since they'd been out here, and Shelby didn't really get to see very much when she was here last time. So, we played tourists and ate at a lot of great places.

Sunday we ate at Ama Ama in West Seattle. We had great food. They have poutine!! YUM!

Monday we went to Oly, and that night Amos, Greg & Shelby went out to eat while I put G to bed (I put myself to bed shortly after!). They ate at a favorite of mine, Shadowlands.

On Tuesday A, G & S went to Alki and ate at Cactus for lunch, then we headed out Redhook Brewery for the tour. I've been on the tour 3 times, but this was the first I've been when they've been bottling. COOL! That night we got a bunch of food at the grocery and grilled. The Copper River salmon are in season, so we had some of that. My favorite were Greg's scallops and Shelby's potatoes--YUM!

Wednesday we took the water taxi to the city and walked to the market. We ate at a French place called le Pichet. Oh, it was soooo good. We had planned to go to the pink door, but it was too long of a wait for we hungry people. We hung out at Luna Park outside for happy hour. G napped in the stroller.

It was so much fun, and over too soon. Garrison really enjoyed hanging out with Greg and Shelby, and I think he had a bit of a crush on Shelby. Thanks for the visit. We miss you already.

uh oh.

I don't know if this counts as a first word, but he's definitely starting to imitate sounds.

oh, olympia!

Our friends Greg & Shelby are here visiting from Chicago for a couple of days, so we took them to Olympia for the day. G had a snooze in the car (aided by my big hat).

Jenn, Vance & Lucy met us there this morning at the children's museum, which is really more of a place to play. They have lots of fun things to do, and I saw a a lot of the adults (me too!) messing around with some of the activities.
I really liked this magnetic table with gears. You can set up the gears to make bells ring, then there's a ball wall, where you can create your own chute for a ball to travel down the wall. Tres cool.


And they had a giant version of those little things with the pins in them that you can press stuff into so that it makes a 3-d image of something. They used to be a big seller for Spencers, as I recall (do they still have spencers? as a preteen I loved that store!) G and I tried it out. here's G's profile.


Another big hit was the water table. G and Lucy (and we adults) spent a pretty good amount of time arranging walls to change the flow of the water on the water table. It was so fun. Here's my favorite picture from the day. And another picture that has a better view of the table (note adults playing too!)




There was a room for babies too, with a padded floor for little ones to crawl around on and lots of stuff for younger kids. On the other side of the building there was a whole wing of rooms for pretend play--a doctor's office (complete with xrays, a lighted thing for looking at the xrays (what are those called, Yvonne?), a dentists office, a store (with cash registers, and lots of play food), a delivery truck, a house...If I lived in Oly I'd get a membership and take G there once a week just to play. We thought it was really cool.

After the CM we went down to the water front for lunch and then went for a long walk. We walked on this paved trail through the woods. The trail led right right by a little babbling brook. The walk was shady and relaxing. Just what we needed after a nice lunch. Before we knew it, it was already 4 and time to go home. It was great to see, the Portland crew, but the visits always end too soon.

guess who's 11 months old?

This guy!!


It was a nice Sunday for us. G slept in until sometime after 6, and then got in bed with the rest of us and we hung out--watched news and ate breakfast in bed. G was very cuddly and put his head on my shoulder for a long time while we were relaxing. I love moments like that.

The other highlight of our Sunday was a long walk to the grocery store. We've had a lovely weekend, and as you can see from the picture it's shorts weather. We stopped at McDonalds on the way back and got an ice cream cone (the kid loves vanilla yogurt, so vanilla ice milk is a natural hit). G had a little to celebrate turning 11 months old. Can't believe he'll be a year soon.

happy 11 months G!

garrison trying out life on two feet

garrison and the carrot

to my sweet boy on mothers' day

I told your Daddy last night that I had come to understand what mothers' day is all about for me--it's not about being celebrated (although, when you're older I'd love any picture you could draw, song you could sing, etc.), but it's a chance for me to celebrate the wonderful chance I've had to become a mother. Every day I do motherly things, but I don't always take the time to think about how fortunate I am to actually be your mother.

I'm sure most mothers (and fathers) feel the way I do, but I just feel like the luckiest mom in the whole world to have you for a child. At your tender age of almost 11 months (man, I can't believe that) you have already brought me so much joy.

The best days are the ones I get to spend hanging out with you. Nothing makes me happy like seeing your wide smile when I go in to pick you up out of your crib when you wake up. You're always at your most huggy when I pick you up. After you get up at about 6 or 6:30, daddy and I like to put you between us in bed. Miles climbs up at your feet, you have a morning bottle and we curl up next to you and catch up on the news for an hour before daddy starts work.

You and I have some toast or some oatmeal and play for a while, then when you get sleepy you crawl over to me and put your head down on my chest. That's my cue to put you down for your morning nap, but I like to get some good cuddling in before I tuck you in.

When you get up we have some lunch (you really like anything with tomato sauce and love vanilla yogurt) and play until daddy's done working. Most days we read some Dr. Seuss or other cool stories (you really like my boris the whale voice) or watch some Hola Bebe to practice our Spanish.

When daddy gets off work, some days we'll pack up the stroller and take you and MD for a walk. Then we'll come home and you'll have a nap. Then when you wake up we have dinner. Then some more playing and then it's time for bed. We get you ready for bed, read your goodnight seattle book, sing you the song daddy wrote and kiss you goodnight.

Then daddy and I stay awake for a few more hours, mostly talking about all of the cool new things you are doing, and what you seemed to like eating that day. Before we go to bed, we check in on you and leave your door open, so we can hear you in the next room. You look so cute when you're asleep.

I feel so special on my first mothers' day to have you for a son. Sweet dreams, mommy loves you.

thanks, mothers.

new drum sticks

here's a video to accompany the picture in the last post. I think we've got a budding Stewart Copeland on our hands.