Double Fat Lip

Poor Immy: she was crawling as fast as she could--giggling and hoping someone would chase her (I did)--when her little face went top lip first right into the wood floor. It gave her a fat lip and a big cry. I nursed her and Papi and I got her all dusted off and back to normal when she tried again and the exact same thing happened, making her lip even fatter. She went from gleeful giggling to crying in an instant--twice. That was tough. I really admired that she "got back on her horse," after it happened the first time, so it was awful to see it happen again.

What are the odds?

This month, two cars--16 days apart--hit the same western hemlock alongside Highway 101 near Sequim Bay State Park with horrible results.

"We've got a million trees
alongside the corridor," said Johnnie Larmore, campground host at Sequim Bay
State Park."The odds must be astronomical."

NW Biodiesel Forum May 6

To Market, To Market

It's opening weekend of the Seattle Farmers Markets!

"Us," 2006

Eyewitness News

Imogen and I literally got caught up in one news story this week (the impromptu and unauthorized rush-hour motorcade for deceased Edmonds Police Chief) and witnessed part of another (a gay lovers' quarrel gone terrifically wrong). It's always surprising to see police with their guns drawn on your way to the library with your infant.

Come to think of it, I was on my way home from another library when we got caught up in the motorcade traffic jam and drove from Latona to West Seattle in first gear on I-5. I was trying to get to and from a library on both occasions--a quaint little errand. How hard should that be?

Peace Out Charlie Chong

He died Thursday at 80 years. A part of the original Seattle did too.

Photo

11 Months' Old

Was her birth really 11 months ago?

Imogen signed "more" for the first time this afternoon. She looked at me and signed "more" and I said, "oh, do you want more yogurt?" and turned to grab the yogurt. Simon said, "did she just sign for more?" Oh my gosh, she did!

Immy today

The Milk Maid's Stool

Shortly after Imogen was born, I realized I needed a stool for breastfeeding. I got this white, scuffed-up stool at the Goodwill with big plans to paint it. Eleven months later, great success! (said like Borat when he got an alarm clock radio, but his 'keeping up with the Joneses neighbor "couldn't afford.") I was going to paint "Milk Maid" on it, but just as I went to do the lettering for "Maid," I thought of "King" and liked the double entendre and the opportunity to paint the little crown.

Ellen Expecting?

Tuesday on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Ellen said that she would be having a special Mother's Day show where the audience will be filled with first-time expectant moms. She then said that she has something in common with these women and will make a special announcement on that show. I think either she and Portia de Rossi are having or adopting a baby or they're getting another puppy. My bet's on baby.

Ellen's had her new show since 2002. Until this season, she never talked about being gay and only made very tame and veiled references to not wearing dresses or dating men. (Who can blame her after what happened when she came out in 1997? She said her phone didn't ring for three years after that and Laura Dern, who was her love interest in that episode of the sitcom, had just won an Oscar, but didn't work for a year and a half because of it.) In the last couple weeks, however, there have been a few exchanges that seem designed to ease Ellen's fans into understanding that yes folks, she is still a lesbian. First, it was Portia front and center at the Oscars. Then just recently, Ellen asked Sharon Stone if she was dating anyone and she shot back devilishly, "I thought you had a girlfriend." This week, Ellen brought Laura Dern on to mark the 10th anniversary of the "Yep, I'm gay," debacle and now this. Hmmm. Sad with Will & Grace over and long in syndication she has to dance around this issue so delicately.

Photo

A Keep-Away Day

Yesterday was a clapping day. Today, it was all about keep-away. First, pancakes from Papi. Imogen offers a piece, then pulls it back, shakes her head from side to side and laughs. That was followed by some wild napkin shredding, and later some keep-away the cheese from Niles.

Begin With Books

Yesterday at Lapsit Story Time, Blythe the children's librarian talked about the Library's "Begin With Books" boxes. They are plastic boxes with collections of themed material available for check-out. The Library describes them this way:

Seattle Public Library's specialists have developed a series of kits
specifically designed for parents and care givers to share with their children,
birth to three years of age. Each kit contains six to ten picture/board books,
an adult resource, a music tape, and tips on how and why we need to read to very
young children. Finger plays and action songs are included for each theme.

The boxes are stored at the Central Library, but can be placed on hold online and sent to your neighborhood branch. Searching for these online can be confusing. Here's what to do:

From the Library's home page, enter "Begin With Books Baby" into the keyword search box. You should get a results list of the available boxes by theme for babies. (If you want preschool books, type in "Begin With Books Preschool," and the same for bilingual (Spanish or Vietnamese). Those are the three categories.)

Julia's Kitchen

Spend a minute in Julia's kitchen.

Great Read: Appetite for Life by Noel Riley Fitch

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Little Lady Lilah

Karin with Little Lady Lilah and Imogen (both nearly 11 mos.) and Lilah's Grandma at Lapsit Story Time.

Friends + Books + Songs=Good Day

Today Imogen had her first of four "Lapsit Story Times" at the Northeast Branch of the Seattle Public Library. The best thing about it will be seeing our friends once a week because Laura + Addie, Karin + Lilah and Mary + Molly are all in it too! Lilah and Addie even brought their grandmas, or in one case a "glamma" along. It's about early literacy and, of course, CrazyBabyFun. It got wild in there with 16 babies between 6 months and 12 months! I feel better tonight because I saw friends today.

Back to Ballard, Baby

Yesterday, I made a long-needed trip to Me 'n Mom's consignment shop in Ballard. That worked out so well, I made the second stop I had hoped for--the hospital! We went up to the Family Childbirth Center where Imogen began her life as an earthling and had the luck of seeing our favorite nurse Rose, who cared for us postpartum. It was great to see her and be back. To say the least.

Tonka Joe

This morning, I was reading the obituaries in the Peninsula Daily News and came across a listing for Tonka Joe Buck. His daughter Taunya was a schoolmate, so I knew of his unusual name, but had not been reminded of it in a long time. I remember him as a nice man. The obituary says he was born the oldest of eight in Bend, Oregon and that his mother named him after a character in a book she had just read. She apparently called him "Joe."

Don't Touch me Sheryl Crow

Laurie David of www.globalwarming.org and Sheryl Crow have been on a nation-wide bus tour to bring attention to the issue of global warming. Last week at the White House Correspondents Dinner, they tried to talk to Karl Rove:

We asked Mr.
Rove if he would consider taking a fresh look at the science of global warming.
Much to our dismay, he immediately got combative. And it went downhill from
there.

Like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum, Mr. Rove launched
into a series of illogical arguments regarding China not doing enough thus
neither should we. (Since when do we follow China's lead?)

In his
attempt to dismiss us, Mr. Rove turned to head toward his table, but as soon as
he did so, Sheryl reached out to touch his arm. Karl swung around and spat,
"Don't touch me." How hardened and removed from reality must a person be to
refuse to be touched by Sheryl Crow? Unfazed, Sheryl abruptly responded, "You
can't speak to us like that, you work for us." Karl then quipped, "I don't work
for you, I work for the American people." To which Sheryl promptly reminded him,
"We are the American people."

The Huffington Post

Dodel Reunion 2007

Save the Date:

July 28-29

Port Angeles, WA

Love your Mother

Happy Earth Day!

Imogen May, 10 mos.

Schmitz Preserve Park, West Seattle

Happy to be Human

A very pregnant mare walks around at Nina Hagen's El Dorado farm in Enumclaw. Hagen delivers about 80 to 90 foals a year.

Full Story: Horse Racing Bridging "The Gap"

Text + Photo: The Seattle Times

Breastfeeding is Best

Good news for moms who nurse:

...breast-feeding protects against breast cancer no
matter when you give birth — whether you give birth before age 25 or after age
25.

NPR Morning Edition

Happy Birthday Caroline

You're 2!

Mirror, Mirror

Where Hair Meets Art

I first saw this kid at Love & Loss and tried to catch a photo of him there peering into the reflecting pool within the O, but it didn't turn out like I had hoped. Later, in the pavilion, he reappeared and stood behind the capula where I got this shot of him.

Urban Babies go to the Sculpture Park

Papi and I took Imogen to the Olympic Sculpture Park this afternoon. She loves fountains and was delighted to see Father and Son. Immy seemed mesmerized by the capula we plopped her in--or just sleepy.

After a trip to the Dearborn Goodwill, we headed for home with a baby who sang all the way instead of sleeping!

The Urban Babies reference is to a board book we got from the library called Urban Babies Wear Black. It's funny and ridiculous.

Dat?

Imogen's new favorite word (or question) is "dat." I think I must say "what's that?" with excitement and often. Immy points, opens her eyes wide and says "dat?" about fifty times a day! It's fun having a child filled with wonder about her world.

Last night we saw a big yellow jet flying over Harbor Island. Imogen was delighted and kicked her chubby little legs. It reminded me of how magical it seemed when I was a kid and my sister and I would see the blimp above the city. I remember craning my neck in the backseat to watch it until it disappeared.

A Natural Helper

Imogen helped with the dishes this morning by taking the clean silverware out and putting some on the floor.

Imogen's "Stats"

Immy weighs 19 pounds + 4 ounces, is 27" long and her head measures 17.75".

Her height and head are unchanged since her March 5th nine-month visit, but she's gained 12 ounces. I am still breastfeeding six times a day (or is it Imogen that is?). This little girl will be 11 months' old in a week!

A Pod of Steel and Glass

In this morning's Seattle Times, there's an article about the fatal accident this week near Enumclaw in which a Metro bus crossed the center-line and hit a pickup head-on, killing the 21-year old driver. Apparently no road, weather or other conditions existed at the time. It appears the driver was going too fast and following the car in front of her too closely to stop when it turned off the road.

The 35-year old driver was fired from Metro in 2005. She was driving my local 120 route at the time. The 120's last stop in downtown Seattle is at 2nd and Marion after which it gets onto the Alaskan Way Viaduct and doesn't stop again until Delridge Way (about 5 miles). The drivers usually announce this is the last stop in downtown Seattle, next stop West Seattle. On a day in 2005, the driver was involved in an incident where a group of young people who boarded the bus by mistake were asking to get off and threatening her when she decided to stop the bus on the West Seattle Bridge and call police. The kids were taken off the bus and she went on. Metro fired her because they didn't feel her decision to stop the bus on the Bridge was safe or justified and the investigation showed that she hadn't made the announcement about the last stop. After arbitration, the driver was rehired.

I see the kind of aggressive driving that may have killed Michael Dahlquist way too often around Seattle. When a driver can't even turn off the road without the driver behind him nearly or actually running into the back of his car or worse, there's a failure of civility. I think the most telling indicator of the Puget Sound area's rapidly worsening quality of life and societal condition is the way people behave in traffic, showing that all our talk of peace, progressiveness and the golden rule is perhaps only practiced when we aren't surrounded by a pod of steel and glass.

Immy's Day

Today, we left the car parked and hopped the 120 to the Delridge Library for 11 o'clock story time. The theme was libraries. Imogen loved being among the other kids and sat with them while I sat with the big people (except for Hokey Pokey, etc., when I helped her). Shannon, the new children's librarian at Delridge, is fun and dramatic. She let the kids make suggestions for future themes and Imogen's theme of dogs got picked for next Thursday! The story times are every Thursday through May from 11 to 11:30. The Library is on Delridge at Brandon 1.25 mi. south of the West Seattle Bridge.

This evening we took Niles to the northernmost section of the Longfellow Creek Legacy Trail that has a dragonfly pavilion and whalebone bridge.

A Convenient Untruth

If you need a good laugh (or to cry), check out this letter to the editor of The Seattle Times.

"Let go of all that guilt, go
buy an SUV and crank
up the AC."

I think it's surprising that a man with Mike Wilson's views is reading a Seattle newspaper, and weekly by his own admission. Of course, you don't have to go as far as Virginia Beach, Va. to find his perspective on global warming, there's a letter from a like-minded Lynnwoodite on the same day.

Image: D Lo Matischizzle

Market in the Morning

Imogen and I went to the Pike Place Market around 9:30 on Wednesday morning as the sellers were setting up and getting their assignments for the day. It was fun to be there at a world-famous, century-old market as it wakes up.

I want to imprint these kinds of experiences on Imogen on one hand solely for the cool factor. My other motivation is to give her the Seattle experience while we live here. I don't expect her to remember the things we did and saw and will do this first year of her life, but I do expect them to factor in to the minutiae that will make up who she is.

Photo: On the Road with Tommy

Longfellow Creek Legacy Trail

Are you looking for a walk in the woods in Seattle? Have you tried the Longfellow Creek Legacy Trail? It's a real-world gift to the people of Seattle through the Pro Parks Levy. There's a great stretch of the Trail that's about 1.25 mi. round-trip (there and back). It's along the west side of Delridge Way SW (mostly ca. 26th Ave. SW) in West Seattle between SW Brandon St. and SW Graham St. Park at either end or at the substation on SW Juneau St. in between (or take Metro 120). There are bridges, boardwalks, beaver dams, a resident heron, ducks and most importantly, a feeling of nature and solitude right in the middle of an urban area. The section between Brandon and Juneau is wheelchair-accessible and the entire section is sturdy-stroller friendly. The Trail connects at the north end to Greg Davis Park and Cottage Grove Park, which has nice play equipment for bigger kids, and it's all just around the corner from the Delridge Branch of the Seattle Public Library. The trail is dog friendly and lightly used by humans. Anywhere along Delridge, look for the signs like the yellow one I've posted; they all mark some section of the Trail, which is not continuous yet (some portions use the sidewalk or go through a shopping center, for example). That's what makes this stretch unique. On that note, however, please note that when you get to the Juneau St. substation, you will need to use the sidewalk for about block east to get to the next part of the trail. Look for the sign.

Precarious Times

I turned my back for what seemed like a minute...

Kid-size World

Our friend Laura, Addie's mom and Montessori teacher, introduced us to a great book, How To Raise An Amazing Child the Montessori Way, where we learned about giving kids an environment on their scale. I found a kids' table at the Goodwill for $1.99 and we already had a chair from there, so today, voila!, I put them together and gave Immy her own special place to be an Immy. She loved it and sat there several times with a book, her blocks, then her lunch and later some clothespins.

Our Day at the Zoo

Imogen and I went to the Woodland Park Zoo on Sunday to meet Jocelyn, Katie, Liz and Gabriel and Katie's friend Shannon. It was a celebration of Jocelyn's birthday. Imogen (10.5 mos) and Gabriel (nearly 6 mos.) got to meet each other for the first time. We saw amazingly few animals, but got lots of chatting accomplished. The highlights were the baby Sumatran Tiger ("Hadiah") and the bald eagle that flew over at 2:20 pm, the exact time and on the 4th anniversary of Dirk's passing.

West End Cold Case Heats Up

A 26-year old murder near Kalaloch could be solved.

Chasing a lead from Sequim resident Linnea Anderson, whose
memory was jogged when reading a recent Peninsula Daily News article about the
mystery, Jefferson County detectives hope to find Carla's remains when they dig
late this week or early next week, said Det. Joe Nole.

Carla was 14 years old when she took a babysitting job on
June 30, 1981 at a trailer in Clearwater in west Jefferson County and was never
seen again.

(Peninsula Daily News)

Dirk Milici

In Loving Memory of Dirk Milici

Don't think twice, it's all right

Happy Birthday Uncle Craig

April 13

I hope it was a great day! I love you!

A Sweater from Lady Alastair

On Saturday morning, we met Sarah, Lady Alastair, at C&P Coffee Company in West Seattle. Lady A. knitted Imogen a beautiful sweater. She was so sweet to do that and come to West Seattle to meet us and deliver it. It was a lively conversation with no shortage of things to discuss. What a Saturday morning!: good coffee, great company, a new sweater and lots of nice words about Immy.

Gray Whales at LaPush

The gray whales are migrating!

"Last year, we didn't see them that much. But this year, there are a lot of them."
Chris Morganroth, Quileute tribal council member, as quoted in the Peninsula Daily News

Map (LaPush represented by yellow star)

Another First

Immy went to her first library story time at the Delridge Branch today. She was the youngest kid, but listened to the stories and stayed engaged. Imogen even got her first hand stamp. Awww. Immy "volunteered" to help move the characters around during the felt board story time.

Story times at Delridge are Thursdays at 11 am through May.

A First

I received my first commission to create a painting recently when my Uncle Craig's wife Claudia asked me to paint a picture of Craig golfing. I got it done at 2:30 this afternoon and with no time to spare, Craig's birthday is tomorrow and I still have to mail it!

Second Beach Trail Reopened

Good news for lovers of Second Beach!

Children's Poetry Reading

Poet and children's author Jack Prelutsky will read from his humorous children's poetry from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, April 26 at the Columbia Branch of the Seattle Public Library. Registration is required for class groups, but not for individuals and families. This event is free. For more information or to register, call the branch at 206-386-1908. (www.spl.org)

7½

Elizabeth is 7½ today!

A Visit

Grammy and three-fourths of the Watkins came to Seattle Monday for a visit. We had lunch at Atlas Foods in U-Village (kid-friendly and at least yesterday, breastfeeding-friendly too), delivered lunch to Papi in Wallingford and played at the Green Lake Playground before it was too quickly time for our family to head back to the Peninsula. They drive a long way to come see us so that we don't have to travel with the baby and we really appreciate it!

Elizabeth cared constantly for her baby cousin: helping Grammy with a diaper change, pushing the stroller, getting her into and out of the car seat, entertaining her, even moving her booster seat into our car so she could ride with Immy from lunch to the coffee shop. She is devoted to the cousin whose birth she witnessed and Imogen, in turn, adores her, in addition to her Grammy, Aunty Kelly and the wonderful and amazing Adam.

Looking at Easter treats, our living room

My Mom

My Mom retired in early March after serving the women, children and families of Forks and the West End communities of the Olympic Peninsula for more than 30 years. She worked hard, took her job seriously and genuinely cared about her patients.

As much as she will be missed by those she cared for, I'm glad she has well-deserved time for herself to pursue all the things in life she's interested in (especially her three grandchildren). We're so happy to have a "full-time" Grammy!

Congratulations Mom! I am proud of you and inspired by you.

Forks Forum, March 7, 2007

Happy Birthday Jocelyn

On the first day of Kindergarten, Forks Primary School, 1976, I met whom I would later that day tell my Mom was my "special friend."

I've always been better for it.

Hat Trick

Immy celebrated Easter in Edmonds with her cousins Hailey and Katie.

Her dress and hat were a gift from our friend Trina in The Netherlands.

Happy Easter

It's a Wonderful Life

This evening Simon, Imogen and I were eating at our favorite taco truck, La Fondita #2, in White Center. Immy sat in her Bumbo on the table and a guy nearby occasionally piped up with remarks. Eventually he said, "That's a nice lookin' baby. It reminds me of a movie star. I'll think of the name."

Imogen was wearing a peach cap-sleeve T-shirt and yellow pants embroidered with butterflies and flowers, so I assumed he realized she is a girl. We went on eating.

"James Stewart," he said suddenly. "It's James Stewart."

"Jimmy Stewart?" I asked. "Like 'It's a Wonderful Life'?"

"James Stewart," he said.

We're accustomed to people assuming Immy's a boy--one woman even called her a "heartbreaker" (when I related this to Simon, I mistakenly said "ladykiller")--but this comment took Simon and me quite by surprise. The guy got up and proudly bade us a good evening, probably feeling like he'd paid us quite a compliment. Quite a compliment indeed.

Soul Food

Siri, Steve and Mina had us over last night for a soulful Southern dinner of Ezell's Fried Chicken and sweet potatoes, greens, coleslaw, rolls and chocolate cake for dessert, all served up with effortless grace by Siri who politely answered my many questions about family and friends as she pulled together a delicious meal. It was a lovely, warm evening spent with our dear friends.

Imogen was delighted to play with sophisticated and silly 4-year old Mina and left with two boxes full of clothes and girl things. She cried the whole way home.

Peek-a-Boo Street

Being a big girl on the oh-so modern play equipment at Cottage Grove Park, Delridge.

Wednesday

A Blog Blooms

Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems.

Rainer Maria Rilke

Imogen, 10 mos., with her bunny Giacomo