Banana Baby

Aurora loves bananas! Especially when she doesn't have to sit in her high chair to eat them.

Wandering with food is her new favorite, something that we have unconsciously modeled by eating on the go.

pumpkin patch smack

We had nice sunny weather this weekend for our first trip to the pumpkin patch. I had envisioned Aurora wearing her little ladybug boots but the ground was dry enough for her normal boots.

Here she is slapping a pumpkin for doneness. There were some adorably small gourds but since pumpkins started at $1 apiece, we only got three. It was a hard choice, hence the scrutiny.

We had originally planned to take Gary's mom Laura, sister Katrina and friend Cris to The Pumpkin Patch on Sauvie Island but it was a circus- lines of cars, flaggers, elephants, et al. (Well, not really elephants, but practically.)

So we kept driving and found a little patch further on at Columbia Farms. They had a couple of haystacks for the kids to climb on (and slide off unexpectedly, which was Aurora's favorite). They had wagons, and porta potties, which was just enough for us.

Arlo and Aurora enjoyed the wagon ride, too.

Sushi Smack

Gary, Aurora and I went to sushi last Friday night. It was the first time at Sushiland that Aurora sat in a high chair, was hungry enough to eat, and generally had a good time putting food in her mouth rather than throwing it on the floor.

She quite enjoys being fed with chopsticks and is looking forward to the day when she can use her own chopsticks to feed herself.

I spilled almost as much as she did trying to get those pesky edamame out of their shells. But haha, I can blame it on the baby! Thanks, Smacky.

State Fair 2009: Babies in Backpacks

Here is a snapshot I took at the State Fair last month.

Arlo is enjoying his enormous gobstopper and Aurora is enjoying her freedom.

I bought a little backpack with a leash attached just for the occasion but she kept falling down whenever she'd reach the end of her tether.

She wanted to keep wearing it as a stylish accoutrement, so of course we let her.

Rocking with Lamby

Smacky wears a satisfied smile as she enjoys her rocking chair with the lamb Dawn gave her. It's a rare moment that Smacky's not picking pills off the lamb with the concentration of a monk, but she shared her time with us for a brief interview.

Katy and Gary: How do you like your new chair, Smacky?
Smacky: Gaaaa! Da da dah. Da DAH!

Then the interview was terminated as she had more pressing items on her to-do list than getting grilled about her chair.

I'm pleased that the swing we bought to soothe the crying baby is now pressed into labor as a toddler chair. Just like the box advertised! What a relief- something that does what it says it will, and doesn't break.

Gravely Fussy

Gary is so patient with Aurora when they go out- when she needs to run around, he's more than happy to spend an hour or two at the park so she can get her run on.

This weekend after our walk to the dollar tree and short toddle around the store, Aurora got fussy. She screamed and fell down on the floor of the store, kicking and wailing. I told the other shoppers that it was because she'd had her flu shot, but it's generally because she wants what she wants NOW, dammit. Sometimes she wants tylenol NOW because her tooth is hurting, also.

So we crossed 82nd and bought some pain reliever from Walgreens, and crossed Holgate to walk home.


Fuss, fuss, fuss.

The school near our house is closed for construction but looky here, it's a cemetary! I erred on the side of caution and kept her from walking over fresh graves, from playing with the toys left on graves, and generally by instilling a sense of Awe and Respect, and she was very happy to get out of the stroller and run about.

Here she is, running hell-bent for a grave that has a sparkly silver pinwheel. No, Smacky! Don't desecrate graves!

Two Little Babies, Sittin' on a Bench

We all went to the zoo a couple of weeks ago with my cousin Jen and her younguns.

Sweet Baby James (yes, that's his full name) enjoyed the sun and Aurora liked having a new cousin close to her age.

Here they are in the playground near the elephant houses, taking a breather while the bigger kids played on the statues.

Isn't little James cute?