A Moving Meditation

Pre- snowpacalypse

2012-01-30T09:04:00.000-08:00

Before Gav got an ear infection, before I got sick, before we lost power for 5 days (along with literally 300,000 others in the Seattle area and made national news), before we lost a bajillion branches from the trees, this was how it looked.

But of course now we're fine.

Old school

2012-01-26T17:28:00.000-08:00

Even more monkies

2012-01-18T14:25:00.000-08:00

Christmas

More Christmas

Thrilled at the prospect of wearing undies

Aunt B & uncle T got us a cool, clear drum as a gift. What to do with it? Wear it on your head, of course!

Watch him early on in the video (I missed this at first): he'll squeal loudly in happiness, then wince in pain; now realizing that making loud noises when your head is in an enclosed space isn't a good idea.

On the speaker-phone with Gamma, watch him as for "Gamma!"

Box = boat

Bu-bewwies

2011-12-15T11:27:00.000-08:00

Snapshots

2011-12-13T17:17:00.000-08:00

A now-common game

2011-12-09T08:11:00.000-08:00

Noplace

2011-12-05T12:31:00.000-08:00

There's no place like Poulsbo for the holidays, where red-suited people randomly walk up to you and make your stroller glow. We ate Tibetian food.

There's noplace like the Puget Sound ferry system for the holidays. The trip from Bainbridge Island to Seattle was picture-perfect.

Gavin says "Pace Needo!" (translated: space needle)

There's noplace like your kitchen for the holidays, where babies use play food processors to process play food...

... and where you gnaw on giant gingerbread men from the Poulsbo bakery...

...and you never finish eating them so your dad eats them for breakfast with coffee.

There's noplace like Seattle for the holidays, where your mom brings stickers to play with while you wait for sushi in Wallingford.

And where you gorge yourself with Molly Moon's ice cream. Flavors like Earl gray ice cream make this place continually deserving of the hype.

And there noplace like the church basement for the holidays, where 60 screaming children assemble gingerbread houses and suck the icing directly from the bag.

But we're still looking forward to seeing people we love in Ohio and Indiana : )

Four car videos

2011-11-29T12:02:00.000-08:00

the important things in life

2011-11-26T17:18:00.000-08:00

Just a few of about a million things I'm thankful for

2011-11-26T16:51:00.000-08:00

Getting ice cream at McDonald's next door.

A dusty hike near Cle Elum with a good friend. This is last time I've been on the trails... it's been a while!

The Puyallup Fair, where we saw tractors galore. The boy loves tractors.

Not taking oneself too seriously

Believe it or not, I'm also thankful for family members who bugged me wanting more blog updates. More coming!

What we do when Mommy is away

2011-09-23T10:59:00.000-07:00

Listen for him to say "Gavin" at the end...

Hide and seek

2011-09-07T07:41:00.000-07:00

He can hide for a long time. Listen for the giggles.

2011-08-29T10:15:00.000-07:00

Saw Orcas... just couldn't take pictures of them

2011-08-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

Took baby and the in-laws to San Juan Island to see Orcas. Read somewhere that they ferry to the San Juans is one of the most beautiful ferry rides anywhere. We agree.

Gav eats fish.

Cheesy fish.

And wants to steer.

Speaking of steer, this is Cattle Point.

So called because a boatload of cows shipwrecked here, and the cows had to swim ashore.

It's sunny. No orcas though.

Now we're at the spot where the Orcas come. We see boats in the distace, and with binoculars, we see 'em. But they're too far to photograph well.

Mary and mom on shore. The adjacent lighthouse has a team of researchers with underwater cameras and sonar equipment. They spot 3 pods (groups) of Orcas and a humpback whale. We never see the humpback whale topside, but he's out there.

Lavender farms.

Kids asleep in the back after a great trip.

Videos to come.

Short baby, Long Beach

2011-08-16T11:04:00.000-07:00

Went to Long Beach WA with the fam last week.
This is Gav in our room, seeing the beach off the balcony for the first time. Watch him point it out.

At the beach with Gav for the first time. He's not sure of the waves, wants mom to go first.

He did, however, immediately love the tidepools.

Priceless

Hummus and ink

2011-08-07T18:27:00.000-07:00

Baby likes moms homemade hummus. With fish crackers. The Mediterranean diet.

While I was uploading these videos, I thought it would be a good idea to give Gavin a pen to play with. Hmm.

Vids

2011-07-31T20:16:00.000-07:00

2011-07-31T19:33:00.000-07:00

MHGS - now SSTP - graduation. At the lovely Seattle town hall. I couldn't photograph it well. This would have been Mary's graduation had we not been blessed with Gav. Some grief, much happiness.

Celebration. There is still reason to sing.

A super Thai dish I won't try to pronounce, with lovely people. Truly an honor to eat with you all. Killer food too.

This is the first time I've seen someone make a Thai dish with (get this) tea-smoked duck. FYI: They picked up the duck from the ID. I'd have duck later at a great Seattle restaruant, and it wasn't nearly as rich and amazing as this dish you see.

A trip to Ohio. Cuzzins. More lovely people.

Combine.

Again.

Keys. The boy loves keys.

Again, keys. He always wants to get in the car.

Finally! First convertable ride.

I... am...

growing... impatient!

Back in the PNW, Gav on the farm where we get our super CSA box. He loves watering stuff outside.

He waters the flowers at our house, and tonight (not pictured) he watered the car tires. But not in the way Micah used to.

"Wah!" = "water"

"Mum-eye" (one of his names for Mary) home from school... plus high temps in the 70s (that right, high in the 70s)... plus nearby Walmart... equal first kiddie pool.

Wah!

We decided that if Gavin is going to consistently get up at the crack of dawn (sometimes 4 AM), then we are just going to make the most of it and go groggy-eyed to the beach someday when its nice. Someday was Friday.

As soon as we arrive, we see a bald eagle on the beach. (see background)

Gone quick. Dropped a large fish from its talons, swooped back to pick it up.

Amazing to think this beach is like 30ish minutes fro our front door. Almost nobody there. Clean as a whistle.

Not only that, Gav was home and fed and napping in his crib before noon. Amazing morning, amazing beach, amazing family.

By the way, if you like pictures of my kid, you owe it to yourself to check out Fiona Grant's photoblog. She does really fantastic work, is in the Seattle area (hire her!), and took a bunch of pic of Gav. Believe it or not, he was fussy as all get out, and this is what she was able to capture: http://fionagrantblog.com/

Night night.

No longer in dereliction of blog updates

2011-06-11T09:39:00.000-07:00

Finally

2011-06-10T13:52:00.000-07:00

And...

2011-05-29T07:51:00.000-07:00

More moving pictures

2011-05-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

Applesauce = Uncle Josh

2011-05-27T13:38:00.000-07:00

Uncle Josh comes to visit. We go hiking on Mt Si. 4 miles up, last mile is snow. We feel macho until we meet a guy who carried up a 60 pound pack. He looked almost old enough to retire.

Uncle Josh later buys us Yak Trax as gifts. Thanks! Great views too.

Uncle Josh catches baby headstand with smartphone camera.

We go hiking to Rattlesnake together. Mary worried, but she aces it. Note baby in pack, this makes for a workout.

Us.

Gav decides that horses ride as well as dad.

Birthday for me yesterday. Wife makes great spread: salad w/ bleu cheese walnut dressing, Tuscan soup with fennel, and more.

Baby eats mom's homemade coconut white chocolate ice cream.

Likes it.
For some time before Joshie came to visit, Gavin kept saying what sounded like "Applesauce." After some clarification and gesticulation, turns out what he really meant was "Uncle Josh."

We miss you, Applesauce.

Moving pictures

2011-05-13T12:53:00.000-07:00

The abundant table

2011-04-18T15:59:00.000-07:00

When you jog through cornfields, cows look at you funny

2011-04-16T12:16:00.000-07:00

Last night the wind beat against this old farmhouse. It was actually comforting.

Sleeping, waking

2011-03-30T16:44:00.000-07:00

Play yard

2011-03-23T09:22:00.000-07:00

Not the most flattering shot here, but it's a good view of the very awesome blend of colors in his eyes.

A walk in the woods

2011-03-20T13:45:00.000-07:00

Pancakes + walker (actually a kitchen tool)

2011-03-14T14:11:00.000-07:00

Have Subaru, will travel

2011-03-05T18:54:00.000-08:00

Went to the little town of Hoodsport the other week.

Daddy saw a boulder with a rope and couldn't resist.

Uncle Ty at home.

Also went to Cle Elum last month. Lots of ice and snow.

Reckless.

Floor time this morning: my 200th post

2011-03-05T15:07:00.000-08:00

as promised

2011-02-25T15:02:00.000-08:00

Play

2011-02-21T09:10:00.000-08:00

Three now, more to come

2011-02-16T10:59:00.000-08:00

In the cold midwinter

2011-02-02T08:14:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite recent videos, Gavin plays on the washing machine as it runs. Watch him discover how to bounce/indent the washer lid.

He's walking short distances, a wobbly 5-10 feet or so. But it's hard to catch on camera.

I tried to get him unspooling the TP (a favorite pasttime) but he's more interestd in finger-jabbing the camera.

Any my personal favorite: We installed "childproof" cabinet hooks, intended to keep children from fully opening the cabinet doors. They have been on less than a week, check this out.

Cursed with genuis.

To warm the heart

2011-01-25T09:50:00.000-08:00

So I hear that Edie (and no doubt others) require more updates given the inhospitable weather in the heartland. We hereby comply:

Talking, playing, crawling, standing

2011-01-21T14:36:00.000-08:00

Birthday & Christmas highlights

2010-12-28T13:37:00.000-08:00

Mommas and pappas Big guy B-Day Officially likes cake And his new hiking gear from Aunt B Our first-ever mini-tree, located out of baby's reach. Notice the UPS boxes, Santa shopped online a lot this year. Baby also likes cinnamon rolls Mom & dad got new blender as gift, making lots of "green smoothies," google it. Baby also likes green smoothies. Directly from the pitcher.

20ish birthday baby videos

2010-12-19T14:45:00.000-08:00

More pots and pans

2010-12-13T15:01:00.000-08:00

Trimmings

2010-12-12T16:59:00.000-08:00

Chow hound

2010-12-09T19:22:00.000-08:00

So the little man is less and less impressed with baby food.

Loves table food.

Still likes puffs and mum-mums.

Also ambivalent about spoon-feeding (I can do it myself!)

Can say "mmm!"

Banannas in the morning.

Still camera shy.

The Unbearable Lightness of Kleenex: An exhibit of modern performance art

2010-12-05T15:12:00.000-08:00

Ham and cheese

2010-11-28T19:35:00.000-08:00

Pre-snow pics. We intended to get pics of Gav in the snow, but it didn't happen. But I did hear that Seattle weather made the news in my hometown in OH, which is amazing. It took one lady from church 10 hours to make it home. Her normal commute is about an hour.

Gavin now hates the changing table. He likes being changed, but he hates the table. For the record, just aboout the only way we can keep him still is to show him pics of my bro and sis in law and dog. I say, over and over, pointing to each one, "Joshie, Mindi, Joey the dog - arf!" Gavin now regularly says "Osh!" Tonight he said, "arf!" about seven times.

One thing we (almost) cannot do anymore is take a candid photo of the little man without him noticing. I get the camera to take a photo of a funny expression, and once I point the camera at him it's all ham and cheese.

Good night, beloved.

Let it snow

2010-11-22T13:47:00.000-08:00

Started to snow Sunday afternoon. The first video is Sunday afternoon. The second video is Monday morning. Lots more snow on the ground now!

Eating, playing with cheese

2010-11-20T19:37:00.000-08:00

Four videos of walking, standing

2010-11-15T09:47:00.000-08:00

Yes, he's a big guy

Duwali time!

2010-11-11T08:54:00.000-08:00

Time to celebrate Duwali. It's a national holiday in India, commemmorating the triumph of good over evil. Of course I didn't know a thing about this until I got an email from the delicious Punjab Sweets in Kent and learned it's a great excuse to eat Indian desserts.

Gav is ready to go.

Sweet.

A beautiful day for a quick picnic.

I love how this serene scene is interrupted by a voracious baby attacking a rice cracker in the background.

A good day.

Yes, the trail really is called "Poo Poo Point"

2010-11-09T11:59:00.000-08:00

Gav is pretty cool with his new backpack. Most of the time. So yesterday we went on a quick hike up Poo Poo Point. Uncle Josh might remember this steep trail. It was a touch cold. We ran out of time/daylight to get to the top, but we found a good turnaround. Gavin, sensing danger in is father's desperate breathing, is quiet for much of the short hike. The growing baby, bigger pack, and steep climb make this not easy. But we did it... ...then we went home and blogged about it.

Public baths

2010-11-07T16:30:00.000-08:00

Last week: mom needs a study break, so even though Little Britches needed a bath, he and I plan to go on a hike and try out our new baby backpack. And right as we're getting ready to leave, there's a knock at the door. You see, we live next door to an excellent Co-Op preschool, and it was one of the preschool moms. The preschool teaches basic infant care to the children, and today was the day they were supposed to bathe babies: the kids bathe dolls, but parents bathe actual infants. And they were short one baby: "Could you come and give Gavin a bath?"

In front of all those other kids?

Sure.

I wasn't sure how he would respond.

But as you can see...

He did just fine.

Major splashing.

Then we went on a short walk around the hood.

Then we blogged about it!

10 months (plus some)

2010-11-06T18:55:00.000-07:00

Mary has been taking photos of Gav on this chair at semi-regular intervals. Here he's 10 months old.

Pots and pans, 3 cute stories

2010-11-05T11:52:00.000-07:00

#1: Gav is beginning to clap his hands when he's happy. So on Sunday we went on an 8-mile hike. We got home, got Gav out of the now very snug frontpack, and Mary gave him a baby massage. He went limp. When she finished, he looked up and clapped his hands.

#2: We have a friend at MHGS who babysits Gav sometimes. She's great, but Gav only seems to tolerate her. After an hour or so of babysitting, he'll turn to her and go "Bye bye" and wave his hands, as if to say, "We're finished now, take me home."

#3: Monday, very messy diaper. He cries. As soon as it's off, he gives me a round of applause.

So we tried to feed the boy Cheerios

2010-10-26T16:17:00.000-07:00

but his hands were full. This was the result.

Trip to the flatlands

2010-10-24T19:02:00.000-07:00

Went to Ohio, visited family.
Gavin carried on the family tradition of crawling through grandma's octagon-shaped coffee table.

And made faces doing it.

Saw cows up close and personal.

Sometimes liked it.

Sometimes not.

Saw the home mom grew up in.

And dad.

Drinking with cousins.

Playing in water with grandparents.

Saw cuzzin's kiddo, posed for the camera.

Hands-free Cheerio video to come. (You'll have to wait until Monday, Edie)

Bone to pick

2010-10-12T09:48:00.000-07:00

Uncle Micah says he has a bone to pick with me, not enough baby pics

"Follow the duck." Somehow, this silliness helps make bathtime lots of fun

Baby watches the video from Grandparents Ashworth

New favorite activity: Standing on the couch

2010-09-28T09:27:00.000-07:00

A random smattering of life and beauty

2010-09-26T17:12:00.000-07:00

Baby at the breakfast table, coffee and oatmeal cool while father and son are occupied by books.

Grandma Ashworth wants to see pictures of baby teeth. He has two on the bottom, four more are poking through the top ever so slightly.

Little Britches barely complies.

At the Oregon coast again, Twin Rocks.

He's not always this cute. In fact at the moment I'm typing this he's screaming at Mary and is resisting sleep. But we don't publish those pictures.

Pears part 2

2010-09-24T06:38:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Grandma Ashworth

2010-09-23T19:53:00.000-07:00

Gavin eats pears in your honor

This is what I got...

2010-09-16T12:49:00.000-07:00

...when I tried to get another video of him crawling to the red coaster.

Babys on the move

2010-09-16T10:39:00.000-07:00

Earth mamas, space monkeys, babies behind bars

2010-09-14T20:30:00.000-07:00

Earth mama! Mary feeds Gav to sleep at Volunteer Park in Seattle.

Space monkeys! Less talk, more monkey!

Pulling at the bumper, babies behind bars.

He looks cute, but the little man had a rough day at school today.

Check out this website, I'll post some of Fiona's great work here soon...
www.fionagrantblog.com

Feeling guilty? Bathe a baby (and follow the duck)

2010-09-12T19:54:00.000-07:00

Talked with mom and dad on the phone this aft. Felt guilty for not having posted more grandbaby pics. More to come, but here's some bathtime fun for now. The boy throws an absoloute fit when we take him out of the (sink) bath, but we found a trick: If Mary walks backwards saying "Follow the duck, follow the duck," his rage transfigures into baby glee.

Moral support

2010-09-03T16:17:00.000-07:00

Gavin helps with laundry this morning.

Have a great weekend.

2010-08-28T10:28:00.000-07:00

You gotta have goals

2010-08-27T11:44:00.000-07:00

Omnivore's dilemma

2010-08-26T13:58:00.000-07:00

It's fun to give him foods he shouldn't eat. Who knew gumming an apple could be so enjoyable? But this was even better, when folks from church gave us a monster zook.

The OC (Oregon Coast)

2010-08-25T10:16:00.000-07:00

Our "cabin" ...

...with better design and style than any cabin I've ever stayed in!

This was the beach less than 3 blocks from our cabin.

A nearby beach, spent no real time here, but beautiful to see.

Oregon: Glad you're in the Union

2010-08-22T17:32:00.000-07:00

Went on a short vacay to the Oregon coast. I approve of the state of Oregon.

Beauty.

At the Tillamook cheese factory. They have a Rabbi on staff. With a beard.

Gav lunges for a sample of the squeaky.

Jerky!

Lighthouse = cool. Doofus who shot up the lighthouse causing $500k in damange = not cool.

Speaking of cool, I think I have finally discovered my true style.

This beachw as literally less than three blocks from our 3-story cabin in Cape Meares, OR.

Nothing in Cape Meares but homes and a beach... not a post office, not a gas station, nothin'. Perfect.

Although most days were cloudy, this one was sunny but still quite cool

Baby bear sleeps.

While we were in OR my brother called from FLA to demand more baby pics on this fine weblog, so I am happy to oblige. Lots more OR pics to come, and we just took a few of the little guy with a big zucchini. Just you wait!

Grunting babies in the bluebery patch

2010-08-02T08:01:00.000-07:00

Picked another 11 lb yesterday.

What you really want to see

2010-07-31T14:26:00.000-07:00

Okay, enough with the beautiful vistas, the great scenery, the breathtaking heights... I know what you people really want to see: babies that spit. Go ahead, click away.

Now he likes getting UNDER the swing

2010-07-31T14:03:00.000-07:00

360 degrees @ Granite Mountain Lookout

2010-07-29T19:04:00.000-07:00

Lookout! Granite Mountain

2010-07-26T14:46:00.000-07:00

Hike after church to Granite Mountain lookout. 8 miles roundtrip, 3800' elevation gain, a big deal in my little world. The trail starts off looking pretty typical, but very steep.

After a few miles, things start getting interesting. Sunlight, rocks, perhaps the beginning of alpine-ish forests.

That little speck in the upper lefthand corner is our destination, a real-live stinkin' lookout tower.

Here's same photo, with zoom.

As we're gaining elevation, we begin to see Mt. Rainier peeking out. This is, of course, quite cool... but we also notice that we're gaining enough elevation quickly enough to see more and more of the mountain.

And now is when the adventure really begins (now that we're nice and winded). At this point the trail is pretty unclear. Do we go to the right? That would make sense but we can't find a trail. Do we go left and climb the ridge of boulders? That seems trecharous, but people have clearly been all over these things.

So we choose the ridge, the closest thing to rock-climbing I've ever done. I am thankful that no minors are with us.

My choice of this route was in the assumption that a reasonable trail would be found around the next boulder. This never happens.

In the distance we spot hikers who seems to have found a trail to (what would have been) the right. Drat. 1/3 of our party continues the boulder scramble (he's loving it), 2/3 of us try to cross to the other trail. How hard can it be?
Turn out, it's hard. Snow is sometimes compact and sometimes melty. I am now wondering if a rock-scramble would have been safer. (The guy in the photo is with me.)

One short, reasonable section is a wedge between the snow and some boulders.

Quite safe, it doesn't last long. But it is atmospheric.

Mike says the only way to come down is by "sliding on your butt." He then says, "Watch out, my leg fell through the snow at one point and buried me up to my hip." Shall I go and do likewise? (The guy in the photo will give you a sense of scale)

One of the great things about adulthood is that you can actualy do all the dumb stuff you wanted to do as a kid, and there is (usually) no one around to stop you. Made it just fine, mom.

Eventually we pick up the trail, and...

...we make it.

The lookout tower itself is great.

Turns out this thing is actually staffed, a tiny little space I'd love to spend a day or two in if I could.

The lookout is fantastic. One of the best mountaintop experiences I've done.

Park staffer at the top tells us, "I was watching you with my binoculars, and thought that if you injured yourself I'd have to come down and get you. But you did pretty good, I was watching."

Bald eagles over Mt Rainier.

It helps to know that someone is watching.

Family hike!

2010-07-24T08:38:00.000-07:00

Recently took a hike to nearby Twin Falls.

Clif Bar time.

I included this shot because with the flash you can see the mix of brown and blue in Gav's eyes. I know baby eyes can change, but if his stayed this mix of color I'd certainly be happy.

Bumps on a log.

Chimpmunk.

The falls.

And somebody was a little sore the day after...

Gotcha

2010-07-20T21:13:00.000-07:00

Been trying to catch this kid doing this for a few weeks now.

Also been trying to catch him lunging forcefully towards plates of food, an everyday ocurrence. But he's too camera-aware to let me do that yet.

Snuggling into corners.

Covington days, baby!!

2010-07-17T14:47:00.001-07:00

The little town/strip mall where we live has a cute little festival every year: Covington Days. As we ate french toast and sipped our coffee, we watched folks from the preschool (at our church) gather in the parking lot. They were going to march in the Covington Days parade. Somewhat on a whim, we joined them. Here we are waiting to begin the parade!

At the end of the charmingly short-distanced march, there were booths, including game booths staffed by churches, including ours.

Big dog, little dog.

2 meals of fried food later, pooped!