Marie is Two!!

Marie turned 2 yesterday.  This is her at her birthday party. We invited her friends to the zoo and had all the kids dress up. Marie was a lion with a tutu, or a Circus Lion if you prefer. It was a zoo... ha ha.. laugh.. go on, laugh.  Can you imagine? A dozen kids dressed up as animals running around the zoo, high on chocolate covered peanuts and cupcakes?

Marie has been a practicing 2 year old for a couple of months now, seeking independence, testing boundaries, and just learning about all sorts of things in ways that often lead to messes, breaking things, etc.

She talks all the time in full sentences. We are working on moving from "eeeaaa" to "mama can you help me?" and there is some progress.  She loves to sing and most mornings wakes up in her crib and lies there and sings until we go in.  Since we potty trained her at 18 months, she has done brilliantly and picked it up so quickly.  She has even had around 5ish dry nights before turning 2!  She is generally a very happy and energetic force in our lives. She dropped naps completely around 22 months, and as a result sleeps brilliantly at night - 11 or 11 1/2 hours uninterrupted.  That change has been worth it to me.

It seems she is understanding this whole new baby thing. Because we have so many people in our lives who are pregnant or new parents, she has seen the whole process and before and after. She goes to my midwife appointments with me, and has gotten to hear the baby's heartbeat. She does think that she has a baby in her belly, but that's okay.

Happy birthday, precious!

In which Heather becomes a different sort of person.

Earlier this week, I had occasion to ask myself "when did I become the sort of person who chops up whole cow livers?" And I wasn't sure of the answer, but I was glad to be that sort of person.  As I stood in the kitchen with a massive beef liver from a freshly butchered cow from the biodynamic farm I workshare at, I mused over these meaningful life questions.

Maybe I've always been that sort of person, and just not had occasion to express that side of myself.

The next day, I had occasion to ask myself a similar question: "When did I become the sort of person who makes homemade liver pate?" Now, I know that I've been that sort of person for quite a while now, at least 4 years or so. But I had still never done it. Well, check that one off the bucket list!  (I used the recipe from Encyclopedia of Country Living for Chicken Liver Pate)

On a related note, there are now several packages of sliced beef liver in the freezer. If you think you may be the kind of person who would want to experiment with some, do let me know. Because it turns out beef livers are really quite huge. I suppose we will use them up, possibly within a year, but I could be convinced to share some with you. :-)  The cows were born, raised, and harvested on the same farm, and were grass-fed and grass-finished.

I've included some photos here for your benefit. Yes, you heard that right - for your benefit. Enjoy!

Also, Marie, who knows how to do summer right.

Of late: what you've missed

The brief: 

We saw the peacock in his feathered glory at the zoo; Marie got pottytrained; Our kitchen got removed never to be replaced; we spent a week with Grandma and Granddad Shaver; We celebrated Ruthie, our newest American citizen; Marie got her first real injury; we had a semi college roommate reunion with 6 children! 

Whew!

Let it be said: 18 months. Best solution to
 diaper rash ever.

Moses Lake: lunch halfway point.

Our newest American!

A run in with a bike.

Could have been so much worse!

The product of 3 couples - all could be credited to one house on 17th and 47th NE.

Also, someone needs to learn how to format these things.

Oh here it is

I like that one day she wears this outfit, and two days later she wears what you saw in the last post.. bare legs, short sleeves, sandals. Love this place, I do. Don't you?

This is what she looks like now on camera

"baby! baby! baby!"

"baby! baby! baby!"

"baby?!  baby! baby?!"

Sometimes we get lucky. This is what she does if you tell her she has a nice smile.

 I think I told you she calls cameras "baby" since there are always photos of babies on them. Poses a problem when you try to take a photo of her ... she just makes an anguished face and runs to you with arms outstretched shouting "baby baby baby eeeeeuuuu baby".

Love that face!

 Thank you for your comments last time!  So love your words!  Oh I found that other photo for you, but this computer is not rising to the challenge so I'll keep you in suspense...
Joel and I are going away this weekend with our small group to Whidbey for a weekend of rest and feasting. Marie is spending the weekend with grandma and grandpa!  Woo hoo our first nights apart. Hoping all of us can have peace with that. Think of us.

Oh have I mentioned she does laundry?  Start 'em young...

18 months

Marie will be 18 months tomorrow. Which means she's spent twice the amount of time outside my womb as she has inside.  And that number will only keep getting more drastic.  I wanted to post this cute photo I took of Marie today, which is rare these days because every time I get the camera out she starts running toward me shouting "baby! baby! baby!" and reaching and yelling because she wants to see the photos of the baby which of course in her mind are on every single electronic screen that exists. Which means I have to subversively get the camera out and snap fast, leaving no time for camera adjustments which means we have about 4 months of blurry disappointing photos of Marie.  But today I got a nice one of her wearing her red Postman Pat boots with jeans semi-tucked in, and that red sweater with a kitty on it that Grandma Berwold knit for baby Heather 20-odd years ago... and her little blue hat that my mom knit that makes her little blue eyes stand out so much... she was sitting on the wooden steps outside that go up to the back deck. Anyway I can't load the photo because of the aforementioned little girl who must have hidden the key to the computer box and wires.

Such a little cutie face now - she is most definitely a little girl now, people.  In the last week she's been talking up a storm - a storm I tell you.  She repeats all sorts of things - watch out, Justin!  She weighs around 30 pounds now and don't say anything about her being overweight or at risk of anything or you better run the opposite direction as fast as those legs can carry you.  Someone did a week ago to me and oh my that was my first real "momma bear" moment.  Marie eats healthier than probably anyone I know, and has since she was conceived. Well ok, about 7 weeks after that.  There are many many things I am not good at, but feeding my child healthfully is not one of them. I am stellar at that.  Every chubby little ounce of her is full of good fats and adorableness.  And don't even start me on breastfeeding, people.  Would you believe someone in a position of semi-authority told me "don't worry, once you stop breastfeeding, her weight will get better" (ie lower). When she saw my eyes after she said that she started running and she's still running today.

 Oh people, she wears pigtails now and it's so stinkin' cute. So much hair! It's amazing! If I don't comb it out of her face, it gets in her eyes and she starts squinting and touching her eyes with her fingers. How come every little thing a toddler does is just adorable?!?

She still looks so much like my dad it's kind of unnerving at times. Those eyebrows...

Her shades are so hot right now. Starting trends here...

In other news... oh wait, there is no other news. Our lives revolve around this 30 pound strawberry blonde bundle of joy.

Valentine's Day

For someone who really isn't excited about a commercialized holiday that has become pretty meaningless in America, I feel like we have quite a history with this day in my family.
Exhibits A-F:

First of all, 90 years ago today, my Grandpa Ehli was born. It must have been cold that day in South Dakota, and they didn't have running water until the last children were born. My, my, am I grateful we have so many options for birthing babies these days!
*Correction* Grandpa was born in North Dakota. They didn't move to South Dakota until he was 2. And they didn't have running water until after all 9 of the children were born!

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

A little less than 90 years ago, my Grandma Berwold was born in Yellowstone National Park. Her mom and dad had immigrated from Norway just a few years before her birth. I imagine Great Grandma Velsvick in particular missing having family around, both for the help in childbirth, and for the celebration. There was an aunt there with them who more likely than not helped birth baby Grandma.
Happy Birthday, Grandma!

Pulled this one from the archives!

Moving decades and decades closer to today, 7 years ago today, Joel was in Scotland, I was in Seattle. He sent me this card (through my roommate Alissa), along with my wedding ring, and bunches of daffodils.

I chose both.

Two years ago today, we found out we were pregnant!

One year ago today we had this little precious dressed all in red and lace.

And that brings us to today. I dressed Marie up like a valentine, as you can see. Pigtails came later, sorry you missed out on that.  We are in the midst of sickness. Marie got sick 2 weeks ago and still has green stuff coming out of her nose. I got sick a week ago and still have a raging cough.  We do not have high expectations out of today.

Marie is delightful and confounding, precious and even more precious when I get a break from her once in a while. We love her so. I have a feeling there are many people out there willing to be her valentine this year!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Some Christmas

Marie is at a pretty ideal age for Christmas - too young to expect presents, but old enough to enjoy. And young enough that we can dress her up super cute and love on her adorableness. She's so sweet and is currently into kissing. I read her her Christmas book yesterday (Annie and the Wild Animals by Jan Brett - pretty much perfect for her right now! Kitties AND other animals!), and the last page with Annie and the kitties, she kept kissing and kissing the page. I love it! She seems to be learning new skills and words pretty much every other hour these days. Come see!

Marie with the stocking I made her this year, and her Christmas sweater! 

Love that face!

Hair clips from grandma. This is her "posing for the camera" face. Cute...

Grandma and Grandpa Ehli and 3 out of 5 grandkids. So festive!

So cute! Can I hug you all at the same time?

In gratitude

While running her bath last night, I was giving the bathroom a quick clean. When I turned around, it was clear she had been ready to hop in and had done just that! She was quite pleased with herself.

I just love her face in this one. So much wonder!

May peace and gratitude be present for you this weekend. Lately I've been noticing how grateful I am for God's provision. And while I'm not usually the type of person to say "The Lord provides", that is not out of disbelief. And He has been providing for us quite well in this season. The little gift I am most grateful for has a name, and it is Marie. She is so precious to us, and new every morning with surprising new words and actions!

Off to Joel's parents' house in Newport for Thanksgiving!

Autumn afternoon

one

Happy birthday, Marie!  She is one year old!  We celebrated with a pumpkin extravaganza at the farm. Lots of Marie's friends came, ate cake, sang happy birthday, rolled around in the pumpkin patch, and generally had a grand celebratory day in honor of Marie's birth day.

Marie has been learning lots of new words lately. She now answers "what does the kitty say?" with "aaow" and "what does the doggie say?" with "woof woof". She picked up the latter while we were farm sitting last week and there was a dog. Some other words she says include touchdown (complete with raised arms), kitty, poop, mama, dada, toes, cow, moo, quack...

She also walks! She started taking steps a week or two ago, and yesterday took ~15 in a row. Watch out, Ginger kitty.

Here are some photos of her pumpkin birthday.  It is beautiful to be able to celebrate our precious daughter, and the whole year she has been with us. She is loved!

Our little pumpkin

What.. did you think we were joking about rolling around in the pumpkin patch?

They are all looking at the camera! Miracle! So many boys...

First cake in an overstimulated environment

Surfacing

Oh, hello! We are slowly surfacing from a beautiful, busy, and abundant summer. Marie's first. And how could I have let you miss almost the entire thing? Here is a quick flashback:

 

We helped my Grandma and Grandpa with their extreme garage sale in preparation of them moving.

 Lots and lots of canning... on the list (so far) is lots of dilly beans, dill pickles, peach jam (4 kinds!), canned peaches, canned pears, peach bourbon preserves, salsa verde... what am I forgetting?

 

 Marie's first hike on Mt. Rainier! It was a cold grey September day, but that mountain is gorgeous no matter the weather. Marie's the one wearing the bear hat (purchased in the gift shop when I realized I had optimistically only packed a sun hat for her).

 We had as many beach days we could fit in between everything else.  Not enough, that's for sure.

 Marie's first canoeing expedition, on Bead Lake near Joel's hometown. A secluded little lake in the hills, most of which was wasted on Marie. She wasn't too thrilled with us making her wear a life jacket, and also not letting her fall in the water.  It appeared she wanted a thrilling exciting day, while we had sought a simply subdued one.

 Caring for the garden (on the right, in April when it first opened).

 A family wedding! Beautiful and so well planned it was a delight to attend, and see some of Joel's family we don't see much (read: most of them since our wedding 6 years ago).

Lots and lots of swinging happened this summer. Lots. and lots more. Marie loves swinging! Good girl.  She is almost almost almost walking, picking up lots of things and holding them to her ear like a phone and saying "iowa" (she means hello, we're pretty sure), still sticking every new discovery into her mouth, and getting better and better at communicating. (Baby sign helps! She knows water and all done, and we're working on others).

So that's a bit of what we've been doing. How about you? Anyone newly pregnant? I'm sure you're out there.   School has now started for Joel in 2 out of 3 places, and we (well, Marie and I anyway) are looking forward to life settling down a bit and a decrease in travelling. Hopefully get Marie in some more swim lessons, catch up on dishes, that sort of thing.

Joel and I got married 6 years ago today. Congratulations us!  How different our life looked back then... hard to imagine there were nights in my life that weren't interrupted. I could sleep through the entire night and not wake up once! Whew that is what dreams are made of. Those oft-interrupted dreams. This baby is wonderful at many things, but not at sleeping.  We love her anyway. We'll keep her anyway. We'll defend and encourage and love her at all costs. And her first birthday is coming up this month! Stay tuned...