horse video/photo montage for my Pops

Happy Birthday, Dad! We love you immensely!

These clips span several years and show some of the

wide-ranging experiences Dad's horses have had.

It's a preliminary version for his website; we may add to it later.

did you get that banana?

Here's a song I overheard Jason singing to Zoralee in the kitchen, as they made this morning's coffee. I'll call it

Did You Get That Banana?

Did you get that banana from your Mama?

Did you get that banana from your Mama?

Did you get that banana from  your Mama?

Did you get that banana from South America?

Did you get that banana from South America?

Did you get that banana from South America?

Did you get that banana from God?

Did you get that banana from God?

Did you get that banana from God?

Did you get that banana from Papa?

That’s the way the world works.

That banana belongs to everybody

That banana belongs to everybody

But we paid for it, so we get to eat it

That’s the way this crazy world works

If you were hungry but you didn’t have money

If you were hungry but you didn’t have money

That banana would have to stay at the grocery store

Even though you were hungry

That’s the way this world works

more about Portland (and video of Z and Unkin Dave)

We had planned to go to Portland in October, but one fine Monday in September, Rachel called and said, "I need to take on a proposal for work, which I can do mostly from home. Why don't you come sooner? How about tomorrow?" So, that's just what we did. Airline miles, we salute you. We would've missed my mom by a day, so she extended her trip. As Zoralee says (but not nearly often enough), "Wee-hoo!"

This time 'round again, Z and I didn't take much time to go on outings with friends, except for twice when it involved our whole family meeting up with childhood friends we hadn't seen in decades. It seems between a new baby, an energetic toddler, a full household, and having extra family in town, there was always plenty going on. So for you Portlanders, we miss you and hope to see you sometime - really, we do! Meanwhile, we'll keep connected on blogs and facebook, which we all know to be true and accurate reflections of our deepest selves.

Our main activities were cooking, walking, going to playgrounds, watching old episodes of "Without A Trace," and keeping up with the comers and goers. I loved just hanging out with my sister and "the kids," which we say now, though they are barely plural. Bennett is SUCH a cutie pants. I want to slurp up his eyes and cheeks and skin. I got to spend extra time with him while Rachel did a short-term proposal project for work. Bennett loves loud shushing, dancing, walking, bouncing, movement. He knows if you stop. He knows if you sit down. Stand up and keep moving! But once he zonked, ahhh, I'd lay back on the couch with him and soak up the baby love, until I was jilted back to reality by Zoralee's whines of jealousy.

Luke and Heather drove over for our last weekend. They even brought dough in the trunk of their car and made us cinnamon rolls in the morning. It was great to be together, the four of us and our loves (minus Jason). Going to the Pumpkin Patch was definitely a highlight. I love for Z to spend time with her uncles and aunties, whom she continues to love and ask for and send text messages to long after trips are over. My favorite anecdote from the weekend, though I wasn't even involved, is this: In the middle of one night, Luke walked out of the bathroom into the dark hallway; he tripped his way past baby paraphernalia and bonked right into an open closet door. He then noticed David standing blinky-eyed at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for the bathroom to be available. David watched in silence as Luke ran the gauntlet, and as Luke would later recall, was standing inches from a light switch. At the exact same moment, they asked each other, "What's wrong with you?"

Watching Rachel practice Elimination Communication with Bennett was a blast! It was unexpectedly rewarding, and just plain fun. I'd been pretty in the dark practicing EC with Zoralee, because I'd never witnessed another person do it. Just went off 2 books and osmosisized inspiration out of bloggers I'd never met (like Melissa and Asheya). But I've sifted through a lot of experience/mistakes/information and have been anxious to apply the pamphlet version to our next kid. Bennett was the perfect test subject! Rachel had already been cueing him since birth, meaning that whenever she knew he was peeing or pooing, she made a "pssss" sound. (That helps a little one to keep paying attention to his bowels.) Rachel had also been making mental notes about Bennett's bodily cues just before or during pottying. When I was there, we took the next step, which was to hold him in a relaxed manner over a bowl when we suspected he was ready. Within days, Rachel was catching many of his pees and poos. It was incredible! Bennett then began to mimic Rachel's grunts when he was pooing in the bowl. I kid you not.

I am blown away by the EC practice, or rather, the practice has allowed me to be blown away by babies. I feel it's another way of shedding the insulation of technology for long enough to realize what's possible, to connect with how people for ages have done life. It inspires me! Not everybody has the time or motivation for it, I know, or maybe even the belief that it works. But for me, it has been a strengthening part of early parenthood, an experience I really treasure. Plus, it had some killer benefits, like a baby who would pee on command in parking lots and lawns across America, and who was 100% potty-trained between 17 and 18 months, including nights! And from what I gather, these results are not unusual for full time EC-ers; in fact, I even felt Z was a little behind the curve, due to my ignorance and lack of consistency at points. So, I hope that doesn't seem too plug-y for EC. I am just truly excited by it!

Portland was a lovely success.

backblog: hunting season in Montana, 2005

Okay, this is as random of a post as they come, so here's the explanation. I'm going through cds of photos, working on a couple projects, and I came across these scenes from a day of hunting in Montana with my Grandpa Gene and brother, Dave, about five years ago. It must strike me so because of the scenery juxtaposition with relentless sun, concrete, and manicured grass here in Texas.

This short video clip is of the snowy woods, and then Grandpa stirring soup over a lunch time campfire. 

 

There may be more old clips on the way, depending on my inability to focus on the tasks at hand.

caught peeking

two and a half weeks in Portland (in 35 pictures and 62 words)

three hoods and a booger

Don't the next two pics show off B and Z's cousin-ness? It's their eyes, noses, and eyebrows.

 

even a tiny triangle of forest wields treasures!

"We're going on a walk instead of watching another episode of 'Without A Trace?' You've got to be kidding."

us four kids 

with our childhood friend, Karissa, and her beautiful family

postcard blog from p-town

Z and I are visiting baby Bennett and crew in Portland for a couple weeks! Because there's a little more nibbling and cuddling in our lives right now, there's not as much blogging. We'll be back soon with all kinds of exciting posts.

it was a principle-abandoning kind of day

Up for bid: one toddler. Bright. Energetic. On the small side, but chances are she'll grow. Considering all reasonable offers. Good luck trimming her toenails, brushing her teeth, or GETTING HER TO STINKING FALL ASLEEP.

Which brings me to a point.

Last week, Zoralee had three nights where she slept for a 6 hour stretch. The nights weren't all in a row; they were separated by nights of multiple wake-ups. However, those three blessed nights had me thinking we were turning a corner. But over the past few days, it's like we're in newborn stage again, and every two or three hours she's awake.

&^#@ ?)!

That makes the next day rrrreally rough - somewhat on her, but mostly on me. Add up several of those days, and for everyone's safety, it's best if Zoralee and I spend time apart. I'm not usually much of a temper loser, but - I've said this before, I know - having a baby made me understand why sleep deprivation is used as a torture device. You eventually just stop caring about stuff - how much tv your kid watches, what germs they're picking up by drinking hot, stale water from the outside toys, who's asking about the national security secrets you've been protecting with your life for 30 years. Eh, whatever.

A person just can't face small challenges reasonably in this state. For example, usually if Zoralee says, "Mama, I'm drinkin' juice. I'm drinkin' juice. I'm drinkin' juice. I'm drinkin' juice. I'm drinkin' juice. I'm drinkin' juice," I can turn off the verbal faucet with, "Ooooh, you're drinkin' juice!" Simple. I just repeat her words back to her, and she knows I get it. Easy. But when you're sleep deprived, you don't think that way. Instead, you start to feel hot all over and you say, "Zoralee Rena, if you tell Mommy one more time that you're drinkin' juice, I'm going to find every ounce of juice we have in this house and pour it outside on the grass, and you will never have juice, ever, ever, ever again until you're fourteen years old. I will also call every juice maker in the world and tell them to quit making juice altogether, so that it's not even an option when we're at the store. Capice?!"

It's days like this I can totally see why some people choose not to bear children. In fact, even on happy days, I understand. You won't find me trying to talk couples into having children. I'm excited if they are excited to procreate, but if they're dead set against it, I say, peace be with you. Because being a parent means things like freedom, sleep, and energy just evaporate out of your life, and this is not without effect. Of course, the payoffs are out of this world, and no doubt I have yet to see the best ones, but it's a long, hard road. There's no getting around it.

I sure hope we can get pregnant again soon.

Ai-ai-yai. And I do. I'm serious. Which is further proof that humans exist in varying states of skitzophrenia, not as a psychological malady, but as a part of their general makeup.

But seriously, more than ever, I am convinced by this experience that people need close community like children eating Popsicles in the Texas heat need washrags. Parents need breaks! Children need breaks! Modernity and technology allow/force two or three people living in a house together to be locked into the you-me zone for far too long without interruption. I can see where having a larger family would help to alleviate this strain. Right now, we live in a sterile bubble, devoid of family and close friends. Oh sure, we're meeting a few people, but it's not anywhere close to the same.

[insert mental image of a baby laughing or a puppy chasing a ball, or whatever brings you back to that cozy place]

* * *

Okay, it would be disingenuous to leave on a sour note, when I do have a Pickle whom I so love. Not that every day comes out even, but there were some happenings to counter-balance the other stuff.

• Zoralee is on a little kick of shaking my hand and saying, "Nice to meet you!" I have no earthly idea where she picked it up. She certainly hasn't witnessed much of that transaction in Texas. Hello. WAIT. POSITIVE THOUGHTS.


• As I opened the shower door to step out, I was greeted by Zoralee, who said, "Mama, good job takin' bath-shower!" She also sometimes says, "Pretty legs," or "Pretty bum." or "Pat the bum! Pat the bum!" Today she told Jason he had pretty ears. This is a win-win conversation, always. You can't go wrong with compliments as random and sincere as hers.


• She asks me to sit on the step outside, and she brings me her toy dishes, one at a time, similar to how I serve her food.


• She ate a lot for dinner - chicken stir fry with broccoli and carrots and quinoa. Thank you, child! I hope, hope, hope your little belly is full enough to keep you contentedly asleep for ten hours. hahahahahahahaha. hahaha. ha. ha. Okay, six.

Zoralee around the house

a perk of whole body dish washing: instant skin-flavored drinking water

getting an early jump on baby-wearing -
(I guess going shirtless makes breast-feeding a cinch)

urban rock climbing

breakfast on the porch


helping Papa make coffee -
(I bought a cute fabric to cover over Spiderman, but I dunno. He has grown on me. Zoralee says he's going potty, and I can't really argue with that.)

This is a brilliant Montessori idea - put tape on the floor in a shape that gives the child a target (M's big into letting kids help around the home, with child-sized tools). Honestly, I put most of those buttons inside the square myself...with the adult broom I accidentally left in the shot. Doh. But Z's still too young to handle the broom well, and I've been itching to try this.

A trick we learned from my mom is to give a kid their food as raw as possible, or, ironically, as packaged as possible. Anything they have to undo themselves keeps them busy and gives them dexterity practice. Plus, at meals, they're at the table longer, with more chances of eating bites! Zoralee loves to pick out each pea with her teeth or fingers.

"Watch cartoons" is a new favorite phrase, now that we have a TV. Isn't there something wrong about her long-day-at-work look in that first shot? And that was first thing in the morning! Although, for somebody of Zoralee's energy levels, a little laying around never hurts. It sure lets me have a breather. I can't BELIEVE how fast-paced television is these days. Commercials are irrationally loud and numerous. We decided to do Netflix, which we can watch instantly online. The only thing I'm cool with is Dora the Explorer, because it's slow and educational, and the lead character wears a backpack and consults a map during each adventure. Right on! But the artwork is super chinsy. Program suggestions, friends?