Owwieday

Rainy and cold here in Rocky Point, which has led (indirectly) to some unfortunate owwies. First, while I was hanging up my raincoat this morning in a closet Elizabeth, coming to investigate, tripped over my shoe and cracked her forehead against the door jamb. It sounded like a firecracker going off. Later, we were playing in the construction zone in the back yard (Frankie is paving a walkway) and while "jumping" from paver to paver, Elizabeth slipped on sand and slammed the back of her head against the concrete paving block. Ouch! Her eyes rolled up into her head and she was silent for a very scary moment before the wailing started.

Later we got in the car for a trip to Port Jeff and she passed out almost instantly. I kept poking her to make sure she was just sleeping and not in a coma.

After a brief time at home, we went out with Grandpa to a bevereage store to get a growler filled with local brew (Bluepoint Ryestafarian -- pretty good; very bold for a Long Island micro; "over the top," as desribed [correctly] by the salesman). We also picked up a sixpack of Sierra Nevada Torpedo (a taste of the West Coast -- ahhh!) and something called Porkslap Pale Ale from some town upstate that I've never heard of. It's OK, especially for beer from a can.



In any event, the beer has proven a godsend today given all of the shouting amongst the Braccos. They like to shout. Long ago I accepted the fact that they enjoy this form of communication, which, to my upstate sensitivities, sounds like hostility. It's not. It's love. But it sounds weird.

Back East

We're at the halfway point of Big Vacation 2009. It's been great. The picture above is from one of the highpoints for me -- hiking in the southern Adirondacks with Barb and Elizabeth (natch) as well as Mark and the Scott Larrison clan. The eastern woods are so lovely at this time of year. I also find them kind of comforting, probably because they're the woods I grew up in. The footbridge in the picture crossed a large wetlands area. It was broken down so badly that more than halfway across it just dove under water, becoming uncrossable. On this trip Elizabeth discovered the joys of hiking, and the joys of using the word "hiking," which she did over and over as she tramped through the woods with her hiking stick.



Now we're in Rocky Point enjoying the hospitality of the Braccos. Elizabeth is thrilled to be in the presence of her other grandma, and especially her only grandpa. She clearly loves and enjoys them both.

Oktoberfest

 

Last weekend our Oktoberfest mania culminated in a blow-out at Oaks Park on the shores of the mighty Willamette River. Elizabeth made herself a crown (pictured) and we saw crafts and an oompah-band and ate sausage and drank beer (not Elizabeth).

Milwaukie Weekend

 

This weekend we went to Milwaukie on our bikes -- something Barb has been hankering to do for a long time. We bought some produce at the farmer's market (and some non-produce, such a sack of fresh-made mini-donuts), visited our former residence, The Pond House (now owned by Milwaukie's library), and discovered the awesome playgrounds on the Waldorf School campus. The first playground is super cool, but aimed at kids much older than Elizabeth. Beyond that, though, is Walnut Hill, their kiddie playground. It's fantastic -- besides a play house with slide and monkey bars it's got a barn, garden, and lots of stumps for climbing and sitting. Elizabeth was totally thrilled by the slide; it is short but fast, and the ladder that leads up to it is easy to climb without assistance.

This picture is Elizabeth Rose at the top of said slide, preparing for another daring descent.

Sleep

 

This is what Elizabeth looks like asleep.

Everyone Poops

 

Elizabeth loves books and reading. I hope that's a trait she keeps her entire life, as I think reading may be second only to music as a fundamental human joy.

The book she's enjoying above is Taro Gomi's Everyone Poops. It's a great book, but Elizabeth is really only interested in the pages that depict humans pooping -- including a daddy-aged gentleman smoking a pipe and reading the paper. Talk about leisurely!

Her interest in the human pooping ritual seems to indicate she may be ready to stop pooping in a diaper soon. We shall see.

The Raggedy Ann who is sharing Elizabeth's avidity for the book was a gift from our neighbor Amy. She is a sort of third grandmother to Elizabeth, not too hands-on, but she's got a dog that Elizabeth loves and has showered our baby with gifts.

I thought Ann was kind of big & creepy when Amy gave her to us, but Elizabeth took to her immediately and they've been fast friends every since.

Pirates of the Willamette

Elizabeth and I (Barb) went to a pirate festival today. We met Jen, Joshi and Billi. The girls make very cute pirates.