Block City

Block City 

by Robert Louis Stevenson

What are you able to build with your blocks? Castles and palaces, temples and docks. Rain may keep raining, and others go roam, But I can be happy and building at home. Let the sofa be mountains, the carpet be sea, There I'll establish a city for me: A kirk and a mill and a palace beside, And a harbour as well where my vessels may ride. Great is the palace with pillar and wall, A sort of a tower on the top of it all, And steps coming down in an orderly way To where my toy vessels lie safe in the bay. This one is sailing and that one is moored: Hark to the song of the sailors aboard! And see, on the steps of my palace, the kings Coming and going with presents and things! Yet as I saw it, I see it again, The kirk and the palace, the ships and the men, And as long as I live and where'er I may be, I'll always remember my town by the sea.

A package arrived two weeks ago. A large package from Grandpa Joe. I wasn't sure what we would find, but was pleasantly surprised when out came a large bin of blocks. Matt and I were talking about getting Clara some and I guess he mentioned it to his Dad and viola! 

Luckily just a few days before I had rearranged the living room and moved the coffee table out of the way to provide some extra space for Maggie to move around.  So now, the coffee table has been replaced by Block City and the Island of Sodor.  

Blocks = Cool 

Thomas trains = Fun

Thomas trains + blocks = Out of this world

Clara quickly discovered the great joy of building towers then knocking them over.

Matt has spent hours modeling the art of creating harbors, kirks, palaces, and castles.
(All inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Maggie isn't too sure about this whole situation. She wonders how she can practice her crawling
when there are so many obstacles. As Grandpa Joe would say, "Improvise, adapt & overcome".
(The US Marine's slogan and perhaps the slogan of many 2nd born children!?)

Multnomah Falls

Last Thursday we had the tile installed in the downstairs bath, so it was a great excuse to take the girls on an adventure! I figured it would be easier for the "tile guy" (as Clara was fondly referring to him) to work without Clara breathing down his neck or constantly trying to strike up a conversation with him....although she would have been happy to stick around! So we packed a lunch and an abundance of other "necessities" and hit the road.  It was a cloudy, but beautiful day to drive along the Columbia River to Multnomah Falls.  We arrived at the falls and walked up the steps to get a good glimpse of the rushing water.  Although we have been there many times, it is always a breathtaking view!  And because it was a weekday we weren't battling the tourist crowds that can sometimes take away from the majestic view!

After we stood at the base for a couple minutes we began the .2 mile walk up to the viewing bridge.  Clara has not done much hiking, but was definitely excited about this adventure.  Of course, she wanted to stop at each bench along the way to rest.  We got about 2/3 of the way up and she (of course!) announced she needed to go to the bathroom.  As we walked down I was kicking myself for not taking her before! I figured our chances of getting all the way back up to the viewing bridge were slim.

After the bathroom stop, we grabbed our lunch from the car and found a bench to sit out.  Maggie was strapped onto my back in the carrier and had been a trooper so far. I got her out and we enjoyed lunch together.  Clara's enthusiasm about hiking increase having had something to eat and she was determined to head back up!

As we started up a second time, she was walking in front of me and really proud of herself for not having to hold my hand (except when the occasional dog came by).  It was a delight to see her smile and to hear her say (multiple times!) "Mom, I love hiking!". When we arrived at the viewing platform, it was very misty and windy, but so beautiful!  We stayed up there for a few minutes and took some quick photos, of course, then trekked back down.

Maggie, who is on my back, didn't make it in this picture!
It was all I could do to bend down and not topple over to snap a quick one of Clara and me! 

What a trooper! I had to get photographic evidence
that she was along for the ride!

On the drive home the girls slept and I gave thanks for them, the beautiful place we live and the chance to do something out of the ordinary!

Sunny Days

We have been blessed with three glorious spring days (of course, as I type it is cloudy and sprinkling, but this IS Washington!).  The beautiful days made me grateful for our proximity to the park and for an enclosed backyard, not to mention the much needed vitamin D! It has been really great to have Clara be at an age where she will go out into the backyard to play.  Lately she takes her tool box out and will work on "projects" by herself or boss around Peter and Benjamin (her imaginary rabbit friends!).  The other day she was yelling and I opened to sliding glass door to hear what she was saying and heard, "Peter, stop doing that or we will need to have a conversation!". She is always quick to take on the "mom" role...

At our new house we are just a couple blocks from the park which is so nice!  We have found ourselves down there at some point everyday.  I am relishing these days of flexible schedules and jaunts to the park on a whim, as I know it won't be like this for long. But while it is here we will take advantage of park visits, tag in the front yard, picnics, and mornings of reading on the couch!

Returning from a morning "PJ Walk" with Dad & JB.
She loves her cheetah pajamas and regularly announces "PJ dinners"
and puts them on at 5:00pm. Makes bedtime a little easier!

Front yard tag with Daddy! I love her little arms!

Tackle (or perhaps tickle) Time!

Sweet girl...growing up too fast!

Tongue out, lovey in hand

Clara, camping in the living room with her sleeping bag, while Maggie tries to chew on the elastic string.
"Ribbie", Clara's frog lovey was discovered in the bottom of her sleeping bag after being
MIA for a couple weeks! She is taking this opportunity to have a good snuggle.

Oh, Ribbie!

10 Months!

I really can't believe that Maggie is 10 months old! These months have flown by and she just keeps growing and learning.  It wasn't until two weeks ago when some good friends from seminary stayed with us on their way to Seattle with their one month old baby girl that I realized just how big Maggie is and how quickly the time has gone.  As I held baby Vivienne I remembered how delicate, wobbly, and tiny Maggie was not that long ago.  It is amazing how quickly you move through different stages (and clothes!) that first year.

Here are some milestones this month:
 - Saying "da-da" (constantly!)
 - Stands supported and stood for a few seconds yesterday by herself
 - Loves Cheerios...a great way to keep her occupied during meal prep!
 - Ready to crawl, but still only has a reverse and spinning mode
 - Enjoying lots of belly laughs with Clara. They really entertain each other!
 - Eating a variety of foods (black beans, avocados, bananas, pears, carrots, oatmeal, waffles). I love being at the stage where she can begin eating a modified version of our family dinners. No more pureeing!
 - Sleeping from 7:30pm-6:30 or 7am pretty consistently and two naps a day.  She is very predictable and seems to love her sleep. Which is fantastic because I, too, love my sleep!

Maggie & Matt this past Sunday at our churchwide service & brunch.
She loves her daddy!

Such a happy girl!

In her efforts to crawl, she has mastered push-up position!

Those push-ups are tiring though, so she has to take breaks.

Clara is always there to give her sister hugs and kisses.
I think I should have a recording of my voice saying, "Give her space" to save some breath thoughout the day....or perhaps I should let it go and enjoy the sweetness while it lasts!

We went to the Portland Aquarium last week and Maggie was a trooper, cruising along in the stroller.
Based on this picture she wasn't super impressed with it!

Happy 10 Months, Love Bug!