We had such beautiful weather this weekend – dry, sunny, and brisk. Marc, Marshall, and I took a walk around the block (literally). It took quite a while to get around one city block when you’re with a newly-walking toddler. I now know why they are called toddlers; that’s exactly what they do when they are nouveau bipeds. I took my camera along for the walk so that I could share the photos with you.
For those of you in the know, Bella’s nickname is “Monkey”. She just looks like a monkey, doesn’t she? She also has the personality to go along with the moniker. We call her “Monkey!” so often that she will respond to that name. I took this photo of her this weekend as Marshall was chasing her on and off the couch. We have some doggie steps that lead up to the couch so that the chis can come and go as they wish. The fleece covered steps have a ribbon on the top that says, “Dogs Only” (like cats can’t use it?!) and “Weight Limit 70lbs”. Marshall uses it to climb onto the couch. He’s about 22lbs so he meets the weight criterion. I think they should change the label to read, “Dogs and Babies Only”.
We had a really good, relaxed weekend. Marc was at a workshop on Saturday and Marshall and I spent the day together. I had an easy morning as I fed Marshall breakfast first then I sat down and sipped a soy latte and read the online version of the Times and the P-I as he toddled around the house (with me checking in on him at frequent intervals of course). After lunch he had a long nap and I went outside to wash my car. It really needed it after the snow and wet weather we’ve had for the last month. We took a walk around the block and then went back inside where I flopped on the couch and watched him chase the dogs. Here are some photos I took from my couch vantage point.
This was such a monumental happening that I had to run to get my camera. I was making lunch yesterday and happened to turn around to see Faye snuggling up to Marshall (!). He was so delighted that he screamed and that’s when I turned around to see him hugging her. For those of you who are familiar with our dogs, Bella LOVES Marshall to death and is always in his face, licking his face, etc. Faye has always avoided Marshall unless there was food involved. There was no food here, just toddler and two chihuahuas. He started hugging Faye and was petting her nicely. Miracles do happen.
Marshall and I met our PEPS group at the Children’s Museum. Lois and Maddie, Janica and Grace, Nicole and Makena were there right after they opened. Marshall loved climbing the mini-stairs and going down the slide by himself. As we were leaving Seattle Center, Janica and I stopped to give the babes a snack and quickly attracted the attention of two alpha gulls. One of them reminded me of Bella as it was really pushy and tried to sneak up to the kids as they were eating in their strollers. I like the last photo where Marshall and Grace seem to be looking at each other and saying, “Should I give that bird a piece of my PB&J?”.
It’s been a month since we’ve gone swimming due to the holidays. It served as a nice break from the Sunday obligation but we were ready to go back. It had snowed the night before so I had to find something else to wear on my feet other than flip-flops. The pool felt extra warm, thank goodness! Ora came with us and swam some laps in between playing with Marshall. Here are the photos from last Sunday.
Ora came back to visit us just in time for Marc’s birthday on January 13th. We went to Tutta Bella restaurant in Wallingford. They specialize in wood fired pizzas but everything on their menu is excellent. It’s such a kid-friendly restaurant that it seemed like there were kids, toddlers, and babies at >75% of the tables. The restaurant was loud enough to drown out any short bursts of screaming (a good thing!), and the menu was sophisticated enough for us but kid-friendly as well. We ordered two pizzas and a salad and everyone enjoyed the meal. The real deal was dessert. Tiramisu and cannoli with espresso on the side. Marshall loved the tiramisu and really loved drinking his espresso. No, we didn’t let him drink it – Marc drank his espresso and filled the cup with some water to make “espresso wash water”. Marshall loved it! Strange kid.
It’s cold season and both Marc and Marshall have colds. Marshall brought it home from next door, then Marc caught it. So far I’ve been spared. We had a low-key weekend and the boys napped and slept a lot. Here is a quiet moment of Marshall napping on Marc. The dogs are there too but you can’t see them as they are both underneath the red blanket.
Marshall is a relatively neat eater, except when it comes to yogurt. He loves picking the fruit chunks out of yogurt and spooning it everywhere. Try as we do to keep him clean, there are times when the yogurt becomes an effective hair styling aid. Remember the kids in high school who used to keep their mohawks stiff with sugar water? Yogurt has that same effect – it’s a great hair styling product.
It was a long weekend and Marshall was at home, bored and screeching. We would have to wait until next week before swim class starts again so what to do with a bored toddler? A visit to the Children’s Museum of course! It was New Year’s Eve day, and the museum would be closed New Year’s Day. We arrived early enough, or so we thought. It seemed like every other family in Seattle with kids thought the same thing – let them get their pent up energies out before the holiday. We stayed there for about an hour and then had lunch in the food court. Since Marshall was tired/subdued we then went to Costco for Champagne, on to Central Market for dinner ingredients, and then finally back home so that Marshall could have a long nap.
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