summer freedom!

After several weeks of being diaper-free at home, we finally took the plunge: All three of us wore "undies" all weekend: up a Gorge hike to a picnic at the overlook, to the zoo, through a 17-mile run, and on a shopping trip. No diapers, and no mess!! We've officially become "those people" pulling out the little pink potty by the side of the road (and even more often on the trail), in parking lots, at the drinking fountain ... you name it. The potty-on-the-go may be questionably sanitary, but it makes all three of us (and our washing machine) happy to have potty-independence!!

June mega-blog

This spring Adelaide and I had the privilege of attending her first music class. A program called Music Together, this collection of toddlers and parents sat on the floor and sang/danced/drummed to the tunes of a huge variety of fun songs. Adelaide really took to it. The songs quickly became her favorites, and she constantly asks for us to sing them by clapping her hands and making the motions of the song. So much fun - we can't wait to go back in the fall, but in the meantime, we'll be practicing!


A few weeks ago we had the privilege of visiting friends in Seattle. Adelaide trooped around to many of the city highlights and had a fabulous trip. Although she wasn't too impressed by Pike Place Market, Olympic Park, or the Solstice Parade (bicyclists wearing only body paint!!), she was thrilled by the two black cats. She chased them around, laughing and meowing, and kissed them whenever she could catch one. Baby/cat kisses are substantially cuter than anything else Seattle has to offer!


Joe's second Father's Day. We went to the Museum of Flight (with every other father between Seattle and Portland). Adelaide had tons of fun running around among gigantic flying machines and chasing origami airplanes.




Adelaide has been learning all about gardening this summer. Starting with berry picking a few weeks ago, she didn't miss a beat - we got to the fields, and she looked around "mmmmmm!" and got right to work - picking (and eating) with both hands. She's also been learning to water the garden and chase chickens!




Oh yeah, and I'm a doctor now.

moving!

We moved into our new (purple!) house on May 1st. All 3 of us are loving it, though we're still getting settled, and working hard on lots of remodeling. Adelaide has made the adjustment remarkably well -- she's sleeping better than ever and seems pretty excited about all the new space to explore.

Moving has opened up opportunities to learn lots of new things. For instance, Adelaide learned about packing - the day after we moved she found an empty laundry basket at her grandma's house. She promptly took it over to the cupboards and loaded up all the pasta and cereal! Back at home, it didn't take her long to learn the new game: carry boxes around and take things out. Though the boxes are bigger than she is, Adelaide thought it was pretty funny to cart the empty ones from room to room. Today, she's been hard at work building a new table. I only wish she was as good with a paintbrush as she is with the screwdriver!!

a little communication goes a long way

Adelaide's vocabulary is growing every day - and for every word that she learns to say, she understands at least 5 more. This has been pretty handy lately, because she is becoming increasingly communicative. We have ever more frequent little "conversations". Her communication goes both ways: she pretty clearly expresses her (usually strong) opinions, and she loves to demonstrate that she understands us by rushing to do what we ask. I say, "Let's brush your teeth," and she runs to the bathroom and reaches up towards the sink. "Are you hungry?" and she nods her head once and raises her hand in her characteristic little yes gesture. When she needs to use the potty, she looks at me expectantly and points at her diaper with a little grunt. If she sees us putting on our shoes or coats, she says "go, go" and stands by the door, hoping to come along. And when she falls down, she comes over to tell me about it, giving a pained expression and rubbing her head.

Perhaps because she's figured out that language has purpose, Adelaide has become a spectacular listener lately, tuning in to things I routinely ignore. She imitates every siren that goes by and notices every bird and airplane. We recently ate at a restaurant where an acoustic saxephone was playing in the background. She searched all over for the source of the music and tried repeatedly to mimic the sound (without much success!).

This is all certainly good timing. We have been busy lately, getting ready to move to our new house. And with this new vocabulary comes her excitement to be "helpful" - she loves to help sweep, "deliver" small objects between us (Adelaide, take this to Dad), put things in boxes, even let me know when something's out of place. I love watching her excitement about learning to participate in our world, and especially her realization that words make life easier. I know this is only the very beginning of the language explosion, but for right now, every word, sound, and gesture is such a treat - she has me laughing along with her all day long.

eggs!

Although we are officially done with "first" holidays, Adelaide slept through Easter last year! Her first egg hunt was an impressive success. Adelaide was excited to see plastic eggs scattered around the room (maybe she was excited to be allowed to play with plastic?) and she proceeded to scurry about, collecting all the eggs and filling up the little basket, needing surprisingly little encouragement. I thought egg-hunting was a learned skill, but little Adelaide knew exactly what to do - perhaps she was blessed with an Easter reflex - or maybe she secretly was paying attention last year?!?

a kid!

Adelaide changes so much that it's hard to notice the stages until you realize they are over. Although she's been quite "mature" (in her serious little way) for a long time, I am realizing that she's officially no longer a baby.

She walks everywhere, carries items around and stashes them in secret places. She talks in a little series of words and imitates animal sounds (though the cat sounds more like a sheep, the dog "arf arf" is really cute). She identifies objects and pictures by name, and she's very clear and expressive about what she likes and doesn't like.

But cutest of all, she loves to laugh!! And to make us laugh! She giggles enthusiastically at absolutely anything (or nothing). My personal favorite: 'social' laughing -- when we laugh, she laughs - even if she's in the other room, or doesn't understand the conversation, she giggles along, for minutes at a time! It's impossible to be in a bad mood around such a happy kid! She truly has turned from a content baby into a joyful kid (must be Joey's genes!). :)

the big ONE

Adelaide's first birthday was this week. Her Aunt Margaret, Uncle Tony, and grandparents threw her a birthday party full of love and monkeys (and giant zoo animals - check out the photos!). She rejected birthday cake (too sweet!), chatted up a storm, and charmed everyone.

This weekend Joe and I thought a lot about what life was like this time last year. Everyone says it goes so fast, but that's only half true. Last year seems like so long ago - back when our apartment was big enough and it didn't matter if we tracked in leaves, my body was distorted and foreign, before the nebulous shape inside me was full of distinct personality, when we had no idea what a challenge it would be to create space in our lives and our relationship for another family member.

Now everything is different, and at times I long for the freedom to be lost, cold and hungry in the mountains, or go for an all-day bike ride, without being tethered to a hungry demanding little being. We adamantly refused to let her 'interfere' with our lives, taking her absolutely everywhere, at least at first.

But slowly things have been changing - I have become infinitely more patient (though I've a long way to go) and less mobile, learned that 'momness' really is biologically programmed, and have succumbed to more stereotypes than I've defied. I've realized for the first time that my parents had a relationship of their own before I intruded on it, and that Adelaide has no idea that her parents matter to each other. I've come to believe in unconditional love at first sight.

This year has been significantly more trying than I ever imagined, but I've repeatedly been shocked at how fun it is. I am constantly amazed how much I love my tiny girl, and how rewarding it is to spend time with her - time flies by, just like falling in love. I am so proud of her little achievements, and her frustrations, and I wouldn't trade her for a world full of freedom or endless powder days. I can't help mourning that this first year is over, but I'm so excited to watch her grow, improvising together as we go.