An "Alpha" Dad Idea

Simon discovered a great way for Imogen to play with magnetic letters in the living room: put them on a cookie sheet!

All is Bright

Silent Night, Holy Night

All is Calm

All is Bright

Mother and Child

Holy Infant, so Tender and Mild

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Immy May at Sequim Bay

Imogen May, 17.999 mos., Sequim Bay

Sowing the Seeds of Love

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

We have so much to be thankful for.

Sappho, WA: The Thanksgiving table; Grampa, Imogen and Bessie; Adam and Immy

Baby Goes Bump

Imogen had a very scary and painful slip into a coffee table on Thursday and ended up with four stitches just above her left eyebrow. The ordeal was tough for her, but she got excellent care from me and the doctors and nurses that treated her. The stitches come out tomorrow morning.

In An Abstract Period

Imogen is in an abstract period.

Delivering the World

We visited India last week ;) !

When you try to deliver the world to your child, the fun part is that you get to tag along!

For example, tomorrow, we'll fly to Iceland on our magic carpets at library story time.

The Children's Museum, Seattle

TV Violence & Aggression in Boys

Research links TV violence to aggression — but not in girls

Horses, Horses, Horses

The theme of Imogen's life last week was horses!

First, it was the donkeys at the petting zoo that were striped like zebras, next came the scooty horse from the Goodwill and then a brand-new book about horses Immy got at Halloween story time.

A Petting Zoo

Out for a showing of our house, we stumbled across a petting zoo last weekend in Burien. There were goats, sheep, llamas, bunnies, donkeys, a tiny pig and puppies. Immy loved it and quickly got the hang of it: two pets for you goat, two pets for you llama...

A Make-Believe Butterfly

Imogen, 17 mos., pretended to be a butterfly for Halloween. Here she is at the Delridge Library special Halloween story time on Tuesday evening.

Immy Loves Books

Immy reading one of her favorite library books, Who Likes Rain?

Sweet Child o' Mine

Our precious baby, Monday

Coho Ferry Service Threatened

The Coho ferry that crosses the Strait of Juan de Fuca between Port Angeles, WA, US and Victoria, BC, CA is in danger of being lost to development in Victoria's Inner Harbour.

If you care about this service, please sign the petition to the City of Victoria urging it to keep the MV Coho ferry in the Inner Harbour:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-the-mv-coho

Thank You

Congratulations Al Gore!

Al Gore has won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for Climate Change Efforts.

Enjoying Imogen

Imogen has a "funny fish face," that I ask her to make far too often.

She's on the verge of words, trying hard to say multiple syllables like "Elizabeth," "bath mat" and "backpack." She's also learning to jump up high, as in If you're happy and you know it. Immy is entertaining and affectionate. We're enjoying her early toddlerhood.

Love and Attention

Imogen's cousins shower her with love and attention.

Elizabeth + Immy Port Angeles

Down Came the Rain

Immy and Me

Our front yard, today

Outdoor Life

Friday

Our backyard, sunset

So Much is New

We're back and so much is new: Simon sold the coffee shop and we're about to list our house of 10 years. Our world is changing and we could not be happier about it.

Plus, we found a great deal on a new camera!

Imogen, 16 mos.

Cute, Self-Possessed and Cantankerous

Imogen, 16 mos. today, recently hit that modern 15-month milestone where the child breaks her parents' camera.

I'll just have to report that she's very cute and self-possessed. Her Papi did say the other day, however, "she's a cantankerous little one." He was half joking--she's having tantrums when we take "contraband," as Simon calls it, away from her--wallets, keys, dangerous things.

Tomorrow, Imogen is going front-facing in the car. I think she will appreciate the change.

Keep checking in on us!

Soooooooooooo Big!

Imogen May, 15.5 mos, spent her first night away from us on Saturday. She stayed with Grammy in Forks while we stayed in a B&B nearby to celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary. It went perfectly: Immy never cried.

She is a girl comfortable in the world. What a gift.

A Night at the Museum

We had such a nice time on September First Thursday evening at MOHAI with Sally & Emily and Julie & Kendall. We saw a small fraction of the collection, but had a lovely chat on the floor of the WWII homefront exhibit (it was carpeted)! We're going to make First Thursdays a standing playdate.

A Little Window

Imogen, 15.5 mos., peeking out of Niles' fence window

Great Mothers Thinking Alike

Laura and Addie treated Immy and me to the Children's Museum last Tuesday. It was really fun and it was our first time, so it was a special day with our friends.

I could hardly believe it, but a friend from high school and a friend of a friend from high school were both there, separately, although they know each other too. That was either a coincidence or, more likely, a prime example of great mothers thinking alike!

Two Pieces of Bubble Gum

Addie Ray is such a good friend. She loaned us two pieces of bubble gum for Imogen to wear on her feet!

At the Family Store

I just want to be my dad, with a slight sprinkling of my mother.

To work at the family store, and take orders from the counter.

Rufus Wainwright, "Want"

Save the MV Coho Petition

Please sign the petition to save the MV Coho/Black Ball ferry between Port Angeles, WA and Victoria, BC. The BC government is considering squeezing the Coho out of the Inner Harbour, which would effectively end passenger walk-ons to Victoria!

Over Before it Begins

I am having a really hard time getting online right now. Imogen sees me sit down at the computer and it's all over before it begins. I will keep trying!
-Amy

Fifteen Months with Imogen

You are 15 months on Monday Imogen! You are full of fun and wonder and amaze us every day. We love you completely and forever.

Water is Everywhere

Imogen went swimming in a pool of water on Thursday. She had a fun time after she got comfortable and warmed up. Immy's finding out that water is everywhere in our world, it even falls from the sky!

On a Pedestal

Really into Kissing

Imogen is really into kissing--mostly the cat and dog. She leans her head in close to them for a moment, that's "kissing." She actually kisses me and Simon though--on the lips!

MV Coho Black Balled

Victoria, BC officials want to revamp the Inner Harbour and say there's no room for the Coho. This will effectively end an international exchange between the people of the north Olympic Peninsula and south Vancouver Island that has been a tradition since 1959.

My family of origin has been visiting Victoria since I can remember and my sister keeps the tradition alive today with her own family, walking on the Coho several times a year for day or weekend trips. We had hoped to do the same with Imogen.

Listen to Vancouver Sun columnist Vaughn Palmer talking about this issue with KUOW's Steve Scher on Wednesday (Weekday, 10 o'clock hour).

Our Wading Beauty

Tonight, E. C. Hughes wading pool, West Seattle

Toddler with Wooden Chicken

Imogen has mastered walking well enough to leave crawling behind (and wear dresses!). She's looking and acting every bit the toddler, but when I nurse her or she wears pajamas with feet or cries, I know I still have my baby too.

Monday evening, our front yard

Night Night Crows

Our new ritual is to wave bye-bye to the crows that fly overhead every night on their way home.

Naturescaping

Imogen (14.5 mos.) sporting her first pair of shoes with soles

Sunday evening, our backyard, West Seattle

Upon a Potty

Immy is becoming interested in the potty. She's not under any pressure and for now, just likes sitting on it.

Backyard Boogie

Thursday, Nancy Stewart concert, Delridge Library, West Seattle

(on the floor is children's librarian Shannon pretending to be a fly walking on the ceiling)

The Sunny Side of Life

Immy (14 mos.) and Papi had a good time dancing to June Carter Cash's last CD, Wildwood Flower, yesterday. Immy learned two new dance moves over the weekend from cousin Elizabeth (7): the foot stomp and a deep squat.

Papi took this photo of our happy girl who grows more complex and curious every day.

Swing Low Sweet Chariot

Monday, E. C. Hughes play area, Holden St., West Seattle

The Hills are Alive

Sunday, Hurricane Hill, Hurricane Ridge