If only to save you from the previous post ...

Hello all! I suppose I should post - even if it's just to get rid of the squirrel pics ... they were getting a little tiring for me as well. As an update, I just noticed yesterday that another animal has moved in and eaten half of the remaining green leaves from the crocuses. Alas. Maybe I am not destined to revel in spring's amazing crocus-ness.

This week we depart for a cross-country adventure. We are leaving Wednesday evening for Boise where we'll stay the night and fly out the next morning - with my parents - for New York City! Yes, that's right - we're headed to the Big Apple, and we're taking along "free" childcare. Not that they'll be straddled with G while we have all the fun - no, we're going to alternate nights out on the town ... and we're hoping that Graham proves to be so exhausted by it all that he falls asleep and naps right in his stroller so we can enjoy the sights, scenes and sounds of the big city.

We're looking forward to visiting the city again - we have been there two times over the last few years, and we've really enjoyed our visits. We had intended to go earlier this year, but just didn't make it happen. Now with the low fares (and low points for round trips - 25,000 on UAL!), we decided the time was right - especially before G starts walking ... and adding a whole new level of risk into the mix.

My parents are also benefitting from frequent flyer miles, and we're looking forward to the time with them - and hoping for many fun pics. As it happens, my brother Andy will also be in NYC for the weekend, visiting friends. We can't all be that far from home and not get together for a quick hello ... so we're meeting up on Sunday. More to come - maybe we'll figure out how to post remotely. See you later! Here are some pics to slake your appetite (and there are more on shutterfly - http://www.warankphotos.shutterfly.com/) ...

My Critter Victory!!

Those of you who know me well know that I love spring. I love spring for many reasons, foremost of which are 1 - my birthday is March 8, which is special primarily because of reason 2 - crocuses, daffodils and hyacinths pop out of the ground for my birthday - opening themselves up wide to welcome the few hours of sun we get here in our wet northwest world.

Over the seasons we've spent in this house, I have planted and maintained a large number of crocus bulbs, and other flowers, and I eagerly await their arrival every year around late Feb / early March. My little crocus bed is quite sizeable, and should effectively be very bright and colorful. However, for the last three years, my anticipation and excitement has been decimated by a very spiteful little creature. To wit, please see the photos below. Do you see the problem? While the crocus leaves are healthy, green, and lovely, the flowers have all been snipped off at the base by a pesky, persistent, puny little rodent.

This year, I declared battle. After three seasons of watching our neighbors crocuses bloom and greet spring with wild abandon, I decided that this year I would invest in next year's spring, and I slyly laid a trap for the little pest. I think the squirrel had an initial interaction with the trap which really angered him, because the next morning I found that one of my primroses had been signficantly "dead-headed," referring to the gardener's process of removing dead blooms to allow the plant to focus energy on growing new flowers. Perhaps I should use the word "butchered." Judge for yourself ...

Last night after work I found the trap on its side, with the bait looking dismally rainsodden. I fancied that the squirrel had been in the trap, freaked out, and turned it onto its side so that the closure mechanism fell away, and he escaped. This morning, I moved the trap nearer the butchered primrose, added sliced almonds from our salad accents bag, and welcomed my friends and their kids as they arrived for play group.

At the end of play group, Lazslow started to freak out as I was hugging my friend Nicole. I headed for the window, and looked away, disappointed that nothing was there. Nicole said, "No, I think there's something in there!" Sure enough! I had caught myself a squirrel! I'm not sure if this is THE squirrel, but I am going to get rid of him. I'll wait until Pat gets home, and maybe together we'll truck him several miles away. Animal Control said they recommend we "put him down," because he'll just be a nuisance to another home owner, or he'll be easy prey for a predator. I'm not sure what we'll do, but I think Pat should definitely get to see the evidence of my critter victory.

And thanks to the wonder of modern technology, here's evidence for you too!

I should also add that this may be the end of an era for Lazslow. He has truly enjoyed chasing this squirrel as the squirrel creeps around under our deck, and under our shed, and under fences Lazslow can't get past. He also stands outside the door barking for us - not to be let in, but for us to come out and help him antagonize the squirrel. I hope this is the squirrel in question, so we might have some more peaceful evenings. I am not certain, however, because this squirrel has his full tail, and Pat and I both witnessed Lazslow removing a large portion of a squirrel's tail last summer. Does anyone know if squirrels' tails grow back?

Quilt #1

We have a few special blankets for Graham that I wanted to "profile" on the blog ... two from each Grandmother, pretty neat if you ask me.

In December, my mom, Graham's Grandmother Kathy, gave Graham the quilt she had been working on for several months. I had drafted a post to share this quilt with all of you, but I got frustrated trying to pull in some of the pictures and gave it up a while ago. I decided to pick it up again today, and just deal with the fact that my pictures won't all pull in correctly. I think you'll still be able to get the gist. I'll also share some of the special other quilts Graham has received.

Isn't this fun?! There are lots of different cars, trucks, semis, construction equipment, you name it! You can't see them in the picture, but there are dogs quilted into the center block. And the backing is blue fabric with engineering & construction drawings - the same as the curtain's in G's room.

I have this draped on the back side of Graham's crib right now, and he enjoys batting at it when he is trying to fall alseep, or after he wakes up before we come in. In a few months he'll enjoy driving his cars on the road that runs around the border of the quilt.

My little soft boy ...

I just came downstairs after sitting with my little soft boy on my lap, after he woke up from his afternoon nap. It struck me that the other afternoon, I was walking back to my office after a bathroom break when I had a vivid memory of how it feels to lay my chin on the back of his head. This afternoon I sat like this for maybe 5 whole minutes ... as long as he would let me sit quietly with him on my lap ... his activities alternating between kicking feet and pumping hands in the air. I feel this is one of those moments that will be so fleeting - how many more months will he sit on my lap? For how many more weeks will the top of his head be at just the right height that my chin will softly rest on his warm skin and hair, or his shoulder able to tuck right into the nape of my neck?

We often dress Graham in shirts and pants ... these clothes that make him look cleverly grown-up - a sweet little tiny man. When I saw him in his pajamas on Saturday morning, I remembered that he won't be this little for long. I am finding now that I crave seeing him in these one piece outfits ... the softer and snugglier the better - for me of course. Maybe the next time you see us, he'll be in little footed pajamas ... he has the rest of his life to dress in grown-up clothes ... for now I want to keep him little for as long as possible.

That's what I'm thinking now ... here are some pics for your enjoyment.

At breakfast with friends a few weeks ago:

At Lowe's on March 6 - I bought myself flowers and planted them in the backyard a few days before my birthday - shortly after this the weather went crazy and it started snowing and freezing again (yes, it snowed on my birthday!). This day, March 6, it was beautiful and amazing, and G sat outside with my in his activity center while I planted 16 golden yellow primroses (they still look great!) . He loves these carts - hands on the wheels and everything. He attracted so much attention from one couple that I felt comfortable asking them to take a picture of us together.

Greetings from Washington!

I recently learned from a couple of friends that they do check our blog periodically for updates and pictures, so I decided maybe I should provide a few updates. It's been over 1 month since my last update, and I know I tend to wonder about other folks when they wait that long between posts.

Graham is eight months old, a fact that never ceases to amaze me. It also never ceases to amaze me that he has gained so much dexterity with his hands - and his legs! Although he is not crawling yet, he does a pretty remarkable job moving around on his little toosh. He turns, and leans and reaches, and makes do very well.

In fact, at daycare the other day, he fell asleep on the floor - leaning forward (folded in half!) with his head on his little feet. They sent me pictures taken using their phone (gmail is not letting me download to share with you). It looked like his monkey is on his lap, so I think he probably leaned down to put it in his mouth, a habit which is very comforting to him. In this instance, he must have been so comforted that he just gave in and fell asleep.

Our sweet boy seems to be able to say "Hi" - he coos a little "AA-eee" at people when he first sees them ... accompanied by a funny little arm wave. I realize now how often I greet him with a soft little "Hi" - I do believe I say it when ever I see him looking for me! Well, he'll be a social little guy, thanks to my constant greeting.

Graham loves his daddy. When G and I are upstairs in his room eating, or when I'm changing his diaper, he will inevitably crane his neck around to see if Daddy is coming in the door for a quick surprise. Daddy is a constant source of excitement and enthusiasm, and it's fun for all of us. Graham waves his little arms, gives a HUGE smile, and jabbers, jabbers, and squeals - all of which say, in effect, "Daddy, you are the coolest thing on this earth, and I'm so glad people say I look exactly like you because maybe it means I'll be as cool as you someday too!"

In other news, we've had a few visitors come through - I'm including a few pics from a visit with Uncle Andrew & Lauren from Seattle, and Grandmother Kathy & Granddad Tom from Idaho. We love our time with family! Grandma Laura & Grandpa LeRoy, we can't wait for May!!