viola

Viola with Violas

These and other pictures from our trip to Portland last month (for father's day/Joe's birthday) over in the photos section. They're all mixed in with others from this year; I suppose it's time to start a new album. Viola just turned 19 months!

I knew this day would come

Viola has completely lost her wrist creases, one of my favorite baby-parts.

Here she is sporting them at 8 months.

Also at 8 months, with uncle Adam in Boston. Look at those things!

Photographic evidence shows that she was developing them by at least three months:

And by four months they were in fine form:

Last month in Vegas (1 year, 5 months). No evidence of wrist creases whatsoever.

More Shoes Please

Viola and Jess went shopping. Viola had to try everything on before bed. The shoes, not the jammies. Before bed, meaning laying down and not sleeping. Must have been overstimulated at the mall, Nordstrom sale and all. Mama's shoes, jammies, and trying to wink. Ok, I forgive you, you charming little devil.

Beach!

Titlow Beach has lots of rocks you are not supposed to eat...

and lots of rocks you can barely pick up.

Mmmmm, snack time! Crackers and apple sauce taste better at the beach.

Sand castles are fun! But do not mix well with eye rubbing.

Wooooo, woooooooooooo!!!! Train so close and loud, Viola likes them much better in books rather than in person. Me too.

I don't have anything in my mouth, especially not a sticker

I just remembered these photos that my friend Jenny took of Viola on Valentine's Day while she was helping me figure out our new camera. There are more (without stickers in mouths) over in the photos section. Jenny photographed us as a new family last year and is going to shoot us again next weekend (she has a new website for her fabulous photography business here). This gorgeous red sweater was knitted for Viola by her great-grandma.

Easter

On Easter we celebrated new beginnings and the symbolic third day in our own way: it was the third day of our new one-nap-a-day world order. Viola was a little sleepy, but she held up like a champ. Was it the resurrection of a well-rested life for us? Only time will tell. As you can see, there were requisite headpieces and an egg hunt. Viola had no inkling that there was supposed to be anything inside them.

Crackers

The upside to single parenting is that I get Viola all to myself. I presented her with crackers for the first time on Friday night.

Hm, these are tasty. Crunchier than anything I've ever eaten, but tasty.

Maybe I'll bite off a bigger piece.

I've seen squirrels do this; I think I've got the method down.

That is one tasty, salty slurry. Let's add some more.

More, mama! (This is how she makes the "more" sign.)

Let's just say they were a huge hit. Hooray for wheat consumption!

Viola's 1st Birthday

Check out the photos of Viola 1st birthday!

One year ago today

Happy birthday, Viola!

Welcome to the holidays, Viola

In the past two weeks, some stuff has happened.

We put you in the car at bedtime and picked up your grandparents at the airport. You woke up when we walked in the house, near midnight, and stared very seriously at them for 15 minutes or so, then gave your grandpa the full lower-lip treatment. We left you at home the next day with these strange people while we went to work.

Your laundry built up for a day or so while the pipes to the laundry room froze.

Your mama went to Seattle for work and forgot a part for her breast pump, so spent most of the day worrying about the front of her shirt. Then she waited on the wrong side of the street for the bus for 90 minutes before making it home with mammary glands ready to burst. Meanwhile, your papa took the car in for an oil change and found it needed $500 worth of new rotors.

We dragged you out in the rain and dark to pick out a Christmas tree. You marvel at it every day, and we tell you not to touch it.

Your parents left you alone all night for the first time. While they were staying in a luxurious waterfront bed and breakfast, you were wondering where your nighttime food source had gone. You banged hard on the windows the next morning as we walked up the sidewalk.

You picked up a mouse turd off your cosleeper bed. Your parents and grandparents started getting jumpy when they entered new rooms. Some strange people came to set up traps all around the house; another thing you aren't allowed to touch.

You mistook your mama's nipple for a chew toy, and drew blood. You cried with her.

You were trapped at M-Space for two long days for the annual blow-your-own ornament event. You were nap-deprived and walking-deprived.

And then tonight, you sat on the floor of the laundry room while mama shut off the valve to the hot water heater, to stop it from spraying energetically around the laundry room. You watched while we carted out soggy photo albums and lots of other old stuff from before you were born.

On the other hand, you got to spend a precious seven days with your grandma and grandpa Balsam, who you adore and who adore you right back. They got you lots of fun new toys and clothes for Christmas already, though mostly you're interested in the box they were shipped in.

All this, and Christmas isn't even here yet!