This week

When Max's sleep works, I take it for granted. When it doesn't, it's all I think about. Yesterday something magical happened and he took a nice nap. Maybe it was cousin Isobel being here and playing with him all morning. He napped so long that we didn't have time to make it to the zoo. Sorry, Isobel! We did get to enjoy some chocolate and an episode and a half of "Flight of the Conchords" during his slumber. This was his first nap in a week, so I was really thankful. This morning he was awake wanting to have milk and snuggle from 5-6, so it's just past 8 and he's still snoozing, I'm enjoying some coffee and quiet. Always a good way to start my day!

It's very blustery and rainy this morning, and we need to make our monthly errand down to the International District to drop off the apartment rents. I'm hoping Alicia and Isobel will want to join us for this quick errand and while we are down there we can load up on some groceries at the lovely Uwajimaya Asian grocery, and maybe hit the Aquarium or Pacific Science Center. I realized this morning that we would have had time to do that yesterday afternoon (they are open an hour later than the zoo) if I'd been thinking clearly. Both Max and Isobel love the science center, and Alicia told us yesterday about some human sized hamster wheel there. Sounds worth checking out! And a trip to the science center means meeting Shawn for lunch, always a plus :)

Thanksgiving Thoughts

I'm thoughtful today, thinking of the festive days ahead. I'm inspired by Heidi's blog post today. It's already Max's second Thanksgiving, so much has changed in the last year, at Linsel's Thanksgotten dinner last year, we felt Max's first tooth, on his 6 month birthday. A year ago he wasn't even crawling, and had barely started on solid food. Now, he eats 2 scrambled eggs in one sitting, runs around playgrounds, zooming down slides. Every morning he rides his bike to our local coffeeshop, careening down the sidewalks. The air at the coffeeshop was festive this morning, the place packed with locals toting their out of town visitors. The excitement in the air got me in a festive mood, Max and I hung out and chatted with friends and aquaintances and headed to our busy little neighborhood market for tangerines and wine to bring to Linsel's, and some last minute ingredients for the dishes I am making for dinner at Fred and Sara's tomorrow; pumpkin pie, pineapple upside down cake, and sauteed greenbeans and mushrooms. My mouth is watering thinking of all the great food, Fred is an excellent cook and there will be turkey and salmon.

When we moved here, in late August of 2004, I had no idea we'd stay for so long and become so entrenched in our neighborhood. I guess I thought in the back of my mind that we'd return to Portland soon after Shawn's gradschool graduation, afterall, that's what we moved here for. Shortly after moving here, Shawn noticed a note in our apartment building, about a neighborhood bookclub. I was too shy to attend, so Shawn went by himself, and met a group of really friendly people, and our neighborhood frienships blossomed. We made fast friends with these folks before any of us had kids, and now all of the remaining bookclub members have kids 3 and under, many of the moms stay home, and they are invaluable to us. At times we talk of returning to Portland, I miss a lot of things about the city (going out to breakfast, the unbeatable public transportation, Powell's books, friends, etc.), but I don't think I could leave the wonderful community we have. What we've got here is really special, and I'm so thankful for it. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Adventures

This photo is from the indoor play area at the zoo, one of our favorite haunts. We are lucky to have such a great photographer, Sara, for a friend. (Shawn just reminded me that he took this lovely photo...sorry, Shawn!) I'm notorious for forgetting the camera. Pretty funny, since I'm a former photographer... well, I should say dormant photographer. Sometimes I daydream about teaching a darkroom class at the little black and white darkroom down the hill. Ah, chemicals... I can't help it, I love the toxic smell of developer.

Max is just overflowing with energy. This morning we left for the bus before 9. We went into Ballard and took two busses to the Loyal Heights Community Center... to convince Max to stay patient on the bus I promised him a treat at the Norwegian bakery, Larson's. We picked up a little not-to0-sweet egg roll and he happily devoured it as we walked to our destination. He enjoyed the train table, and an hour in the gym riding bikes. He seemed to tire on our 30 minute bus ride home, but once he'd refueled with lunch he was ready to go again.

He rode his bike all the way to the coffee shop and actually sat and played Connect Four while I had a latte and we shared banana bread. Then we ventured outside into the brief, bright afternoon sun. He impressed an audience of 3 guys sitting around, and he admired a parked motorcycle. Max always wants to be on the go, I'm convinced that if he could physically go without napping he would. He fought off sleeping until 3:30 today... it's a challenge to keep up with him. The payoffs are the sweet moments, such as today in the coffeeshop. I love these days of watching him learn and play.