Thanks again, Costco!

Last weekend we had another brought-to-you-by-the-good-people-at-Costco dinner. The DiFalcos and some Bleckmanns were in attendance, and were a pleasure to spend time with. For your viewing enjoyment:

15.5 months

Erin is quickly has left babyhood, is firmly established in toddlerhood, and is all too quickly speeding towards girlhood. Here she is demonstrating her new svelte self:

 She can follow instructions ("Please put the book back and pick another."  "Can you get a towel and wipe up the spilled water?" etc.)  She mimics actions, even if she doesn't understand what they're for.  Her vocabulary is budding with subtle distinctions in her diction between words such as "Belly", "Bubble", "Ball", "Belly": all variations on the syllable "Buh". 

It's thrilling to watch her grow.  But do they have to grow so quickly?

Prescription: Laughter

A fellow Pill Hill person clued me into this:

OHSU News is just about the funniest thing I've read in some time.  Onion-esque in its presentation and tone, it highlights some of the less-publicized ongoings on the Hill.  Enjoy!

Photo Tag

BigDutchBaby tagged me. Here are the rules: go to the fourth folder in your photos and pick the fourth photo in that album and post it.  Gotta love these Ninternet Memes.  

Who to tag.. who to tag.... Piglet K, Fishgirl, and Amago Mundi. 

(Sorry  MissMVK... looks like you're getting tagged alot these days!

Yoga dance party

Saturday's Yoga lesson digressed into a dance party. 

Apologies for the grainy footage.  The camera man had to scurry into a hiding place to avoid GBS (Grabby Hand Syndrome).

Movie Night! "Peek-a-boo" (NC-17)

"an operator is standing by"

There's lots of news on the cell phone front lately, thought I'd throw this story from tonight.  

B was working late, E and I were hanging out, doing Yoga.  (embarrassing video to follow soon) B calls and asks to speak to E.  B is on speaker, E is telling him about his day, telling him what Mama and she are doing. (OK, OK, it's all in baby babble, but it seems to be what she's saying.) E tells B it would be fun to bounce on the chair by slapping it, jumping up and down, chattering excitedly.  It's time for B to go, she says "bye-bye". I hang up.  She grabs the phone, tries to dial, then hands it back to me asking "dada dada dada"... ... 

 Seriously kid, there's no need to figure out the world all at once.

Children's Museum

We received a year pass to the Portland Children's Museum for Christmas.  Thanks! 

We went for the first time on Saturday.  Holy crap, it rocked.

The place was full of age-appropriate imaginative play areas.  Erin was most into the 2-and-under room and the water room.  She really enjoyed herself and did a surprisingly good job at sharing with the other kids there.  We ran into the Brinkleys, whose kids were really into the amazingly realistic grocery store and deli.

They had a cafe with both adult's and kid's food.  For those sans kids or those who have not been to such a magical place as the Children's Museum:   I cannot impress upon you enough the importance of having eight ounces of mac-and-cheese available for $1.85, or various kiddie treats like Goldfish or animal crackers for sale in Ziploc sandwich bags for $0.60.

Anywho, we forgot our camera, so we'll have to leave you with the links and your imaginations.  Imagine something totally awesome.

Road Trip!

This weekend we headed to Seattle to see Dave, Linnea, and their too-be-named kiddo. They're calling him "Champ" for now.


We did some swinging. Erin signed "more, more, more" until she almost went all the way around:


We did some walking. It got very cold, but it was very pretty:


We did some swimming at the new YMCA. Erin swam and splashed until she was blue from the cold. She ignored chattering teeth and splashed until her parents dragged her out:


Not pictured: we had outstanding beers and burgers, read good magazines, enjoyed half-caf coffee, and ate at one of the best bakeries in the world. (No, really, they had a huge trophy.)

A great weekend. Thanks, Westerfeelys!

The Olive Eaters

Thank you, Costco!

Sunday night was Costco lasagna night here at McMiller headquarters. Many thanks to Mark, Erik, and Christina for smooching Erin and helping us drink wine.

You can have ze duck.

So, we had this amazing dinner at Darren and Christie's Saturday night. Although Patrick Stewart would not have let us, we did have ze duck.

Thanks, Glynnroys!

Yay, John!

Yay John! Yay Shannon!

Mike and Veronica Visit

Last weekend we had a great visit with Mike and Veronica, all the way from Philadelphia, PA. (Side note: sadly, they (a) don't know Terry Gross personally and (b) aren't steeped in Fresh Air trivia as nerdily as I am.)

We had good meals, caught up, and, as a bonus, had quite a bitchin' snowball fight.

Baby Erin Rocks

The ever rockin' Matt send McMiller this link. It made me think back ... when Erin was a mere 3 1/2 months old she displayed an affinity for the rock, and even knew when to sing along.... 

(it gets kinda boring after 1:20, but I don't know how to edit video yet.)

How to Eat Spaghetti In Two Simple Steps

Step 1:


Step 2:

A Busy Day at the Home Office

Oh, Toddlerhood.

Current events in Ms. Erin Beatrix's world, (subtopic = oral developments):

• While playing hide-and-go-seek with Dad around the living room coffee table, Erin's bottom lip meets the table's edge with full body-force.  Table: 1, Erin: 0.  A frightening amount of blood is produced.  She soothes herself by opening Uncle David and Aunt Linnea's Christmas presents. (D&L: we promise no blood got on the presents, and they will be re-wrapped)
  
• Eye teeth are coming in for real now.  Canines, to you and me.  Tooth 12 and 13 are proving to be a real pain in her tush mouth.
• Vocabulary is ever expanding (spoken, not sign).  New words: "bubble", "cereal", "bath time" and, probably every toddler's favorite: "no". 

Toasting

The Great Communicator

Thursday afternoon, with me sitting on the top stairs and Erin on the landing, Erin and I had a 20 minute conversation. Seriously. 20 minutes is, of course, if you're familiar with early childhood behavior, eons in length.


It went a little something like this. After each statement, she looked at me meaningfully, waiting for my response.

Erin: Bwah bree yrrr shuu?

Brian: Oh, yeah, uh-huh?

Erin: Blee, blee, ma, ma, ma!

Brian: Oh, heh, yeah, I see!

Erin: Grr brr pssshhh faa faa?

Brian: Hm, um, no, not really.

Erin: Fee bee shhhuu ah ah.

Brian: Oh, yeah, totally.

Erin: Fweeeee!

...

Mental Decline

Conversation yesterday evening: 

B: Are you excited about turning 35 tomorrow? 

A: I'm going to be 34.

B: [pause]  Really? 

A: Yes.

B: Am I 34 or 35? 

A: You're 34 too.

B: Sweet. 

Happy Birthday, Ashleigh!

New Year's Eve

For new year's eve, we headed next door to the good people who bring you Big Dutch Baby.

We settled on breakfast for dinner: waffles, quiche, home-made bread, broiled grapefruit, and many, many pounds of bacon (important note: it was still not enough bacon).

Here are some chefs in action:


Here's Matt with a beautifully elaborate loaf of bread. It was reportedly his first attempt at bread-making. But come on, the bread was amazing. I secretly believe he lied to us all and he's won blue ribbons at bake-offs and county fairs for years.


There were kids running amok. Clothes were removed. An attempt was made to poop in a bundt cake pan. No alcohol needed.


Caroline and Anneke were in Arkansas, so we celebrated CST new year's with them in a very cool, very 2009 way, by video chat. Also, at midnight, my family and I exchanged "happy new year" text messages. Welcome to the future!

Happy new year!

Off to a great start

Tonight for dinner, Ms. A had a chocolate hazelnut milkshake from Burgerville.  That's right.  Milkshake for dinner.  A 1020 calorie milkshake.  Awwww yeah. 2009 so far is AWESOME.

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!