An Old-Fashioned Fourth of July

Immy, with her cousins and friends, entered the Forks Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Kiddies' Parade as a zoo. They won the prestigious Judges' Award! Imogen was the zookeeper.

Being in the Kiddies' Parade is something my sister and I used to do in the old-fashioned 1970s, so that made it extra special.

Happy Birthday Girls

Celebrating 1st Birthdays with Cupcakes, Friends and Play

Sunday evening, Madrona

First Weeks Friends=Forever Friends

A Little Trip to a Little Park

Saturday, Puget Ridge Playground, West Seattle

A Visit to the Western Block

Last Wednesday, Jack Block Park, Harbor Avenue, West Seattle

The Growth of Attachment

Immy, 13 months now, is becoming attached to her doll, the first object she's treated as a "lovie." The most important role "baby" has is Imogen's waking-up toy. If she's nearby, Immy will begin playing with her and I only know she's up because I can hear her sweet little chatting.

An Unseen Nest

Choices

I go to the mountain side
of the house to cut saplings,
and clear a view to snow
on the mountain. But when I look up,
saw in hand, I see a nest clutched in
the uppermost branches.
I don't cut that one.
I don't cut the others either.
Suddenly, in every tree,
an unseen nest
where a mountain would be.

Tess Gallagher

From Dear Ghosts

Meeting Naomi

It's awful when you realize it's been a year since you've seen a dear friend. Such is the case with Naomi, who hadn't met Imogen until last weekend. Luckily, Naomi is going to be in Imogen's whole life, but still, she's so important.

On the way home from the Peninsula, we had the luck of being on the same ferry as Naomi, Jen and Aaron, Naomi's lovely fiancée whom I had not met before Saturday. Naomi took these nice photos of Imogen on the boat and posted them on her blog.

Happy Birthday Naomi!

Happy Birthday Naomi!

Your future's so bright, you gotta wear shades.

Born June 24, 196X, Chicago

A Night on the Peninsula

Imogen and I headed out to Forks on Saturday to see Grammy and go to Sally Milici's retirement party at Lake Pleasant. We finally got to wish Joan, Immy's Birthday Buddy, a Happy Birthday in person. Later, Grammy took care of Immy and put her to bed while I went back to the party and spent time with my friends. On Sunday, we called on (I've been reading Nancy Drew) Imogen's great-grandparents in Sequim for a good visit before coming home to Dad. I reminded myself on Saturday morning as I made up my mind to go that I regret far more the things I haven't done than the things I have. We came home tired, but I'm glad we went.

I watched Imogen take in with awe the scenery we were zipping by in the car: Lake Crescent, hills, trees and more trees.

The Love of Family

Grammy and Grampaw were here again Monday and Tuesday to see their girl.

Happy Birthday Emily!

Happy 1st Birthday Emily!

You're a real English muffin.

Born June 19, 2006, "Juneteenth," Seattle

Image in Funhouse Mirror

Self-portrait with Imogen in Funhouse 2, 2007

Self-portrait with Grandchildren in Funhouse 2, 1955, Imogen Cunningham

Touchpoints

I love how affectionate Imogen is. She gave her dad a back rub the other night.

A Wonderful, Watkids Weekend

With my sister and family in town for the weekend, we had lots of fun: the Zoo on Friday, the Pacific Science Center and swimming on Saturday and then Top Pot doughnuts, Goodwill shopping and park play on Sunday. Kelly, Al and the kids included us in everything they did and we sure appreciated that.

Seattle seems like it's becoming more of a week-town than a weekend-town (or a three-day weekend town as I've also heard), especially if you have kids. I thought it might be nice if the Zoo and Pacific Science Center offered two days with the price of admission since there is so much to see.

Learning to Walk

Uncle Al helps Immy

Zoomazium, Friday

At the Zoo with my Cousins

Immy, 12 mos., with YaYa and Addie

Friday, Woodland Park Zoo

Grand Parents

Grammy and Grampaw came for a fun visit with Immy on Thursday.

We always LOVE seeing them!

Goodbye Hansa

November 3, 2000-June 8, 2007

Hansa means "Supreme Happiness"

Hansa, the 6½-year old celebrated elephant of Woodland Park Zoo, was found dead this morning. We spent a long time at the Zoo this afternoon, but only learned of Hansa's passing as we were walking past the elephant exhibit to leave. The exhibit was closed with press releases on the gates announcing Hansa's unexpected death. She was born at the Zoo where elephants and humans alike are in mourning. The press release describes colic-like symptoms in the past days and the Seattle Times article describes lethargy and a decreased appetite as well. As a new mother, I can only imagine the grief of losing one so young. The life expectancy for an Asian elephant is apparently 46 years.

You brought joy.

Photo Copyright Eve Andersson

Happy Birthday Lilah!

Happy 1st Birthday Lovely Lilah!

You are an extraordinary girl!

Born June 7, 2006, Seattle

Getting Ready to be Big

Imogen began pretend play yesterday.

First, it was with her phone. She said a rudimentary "hello," gestured with her hands and nodded a lot. A bit later, she spontaneously picked up her baby doll, put it over her shoulder and patted it.

Pretty sweet.

A Red Wagon

Grandma Sarah gave Imogen a gift card for her birthday

that we used to buy the classic American child's toy,

A RED WAGON.

Thank you Grandma Sarah

Bathtime for Immy

Imogen had her first bath in the big bathtub on Saturday. Joan and Roger gave her some squirty tub monsters for her birthday, so it was lots of fun.

Happy Birthday Addie!

Happy 1st Birthday Sweet Addie Ray!

You are full of life!

Born June 4, 2006, Ballard

Low Tide, High Fun

There was a -2.3 ft. low tide in Elliott Bay yesterday around noon, so Imogen and I went to the tide-pool beach below Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook along Beach Drive SW in West Seattle. We got to watch three herons feeding on the salty smorgasbord. There were only about five people on the beach including us, so it was one of those great West Seattle experiences: nature and solitude. After working a few days and missing two beach play dates this week, I really appreciated this outing with my Immy.

Thank you Simon!

Simon has made working these past few days very easy for me by bringing Imogen downtown at lunch to nurse. We've had a good time of it too. Uwajimaya one day, Pike Place Market the next.

Here we are nursing at the Market.

12-Month Check-up

Imogen saw Dr. Springer on Wednesday for her 12-month check-up three days after turning one. All was well. She gained and grew and learned.

She weighs 19 lbs., 15 oz. (50th percentile), is 28.75" long (+/-50th percentile) and her head is in the 75th percentile. That's Immy!

By comparison, at one, I was 19 lbs., 1 oz and 29".

Little Folks' Stepping Stone

Simon and I made this little stepping stone with Imogen's hand impression at Folklife on her first birthday.

I don't know what Immy thinks of it, but we sure had a good time!

The Big 1

The Tallboys and Charmaine Slaven

Oh man, the best music we saw at Northwest Folklife was performed by two members of Seattle's The Tallboys, an Appalachian revival band. Guitar player, Charlie Beck, and percussive Appalachian dancer and guitarist Charmaine "Lady Li-Lei" Slaven, were incredibly entertaining. I said to Simon as we were walking by, "Oh, they're so cute, can we listen for a minute?" So glad we did! They are easy on the eyes, but we couldn't take our ears off them either!

The whole band plays at the Tractor Tavern's second-Monday-of-the-month square dance on June 11, doors @ 7 pm, music @ 8 pm. It's $5 or $8 for a pair.