Pictures

I finally nabbed (and edited;) some pics from Superman's phone. He isn't quite as addicted to photographing our offspring as I am, but I was tickled to see he had quite a few shots :).

Your best guess on each one... I know they are from Crater Lake, the Olympic National Park, Mt Hood, the Gorge, the coast and the playground (and a few older ones of Z at home) but I have no other details (storyteller he is Not). Maybe P will fill me in...

Olympic, I believe.

Grandpapa and P, I'm guessing scheming ;)

Bungee Jump, Mt Hood

I can't wait to see how blue this is!

She is bound and determined to climb it.

This one makes me think of the Lorax, no?

Teasing

P enjoys teasing Z. Some of it is direct mimicking of the (absolutely fucking Ridiculous) content of shows he's seen. Some, just basic teasing. This morning, she wanted a book, so he took the logical approach and held it out to her.... then let it drop behind the couch.

Miss Z, man, she may be a fiery handful, but she also has the Best sense of humor in our entire family. (She's actually stopped, mid-fit, for a quick chuckle;). And so she saw the humor in P's craziness and a game erupted instead of tears.

The Little Man

I feel like the blog has read more like "The Zia Show" than the adventures of P and Z. The Grands and fam know him, love him, can chat with him by phone... Whereas Z was just a squishy blob when we visited. And I seem to have an intense need for fam to know our daughter, the baby stranger :)

But there is a good few blog posts percolating, just about P. And his evolution into brotherhood. Into boyhood, as well.

To sum? Less rocky than I'd have guessed, but more confusing than I have answers for. Sigh.

He loves his sister. And, until recently, that was definitely the overwhelming emotion here. But in the last month, well.... I think I may be running out of the good graces I've saved up during his first six years. He's started telling her he wants to get rid of her so that he can have me to himself. Ouch.

Fortunately, she has no clue :). Yet. But I'd like to "fix" this before she catches on - to keep her infinite admiration for P intact(ish).

But I'm not sure exactly what to do. Or even What the main issue is.

I think being so busy on the house for the last few months wore on the Little Man. Less time for him all around. The solution there is easy, less house, more kid stuff. Done.

There's also Zia getting bigger, getting more real interaction from me, rather than just bundled on my front. She's a little person now! And she lays claim to me as such (pushing the cat, P and even E away from me and then eyeing them from my arms with a look that says "Watch your place, buddy."). She's moving to one nap, nabbing P's twice daily Mama time and leaving him to only one. Honestly, his dilemma could be as simple as It Sucks To Share. But what to be done there???

And then there is the aggression issue. The one I'm really struggling with. The only real bone of contention between P and I each day. Because, honestly? I just don't Get It. I was singing and drawing and playing as a kid. Typically ensconced in Making or, at the very least, just Being. Don't get me wrong - I was no angel and saw a few fistfights my scrawny little self (I won ;). But if I saw a bug, I built it a house rather than burning it with a magnifying glass.

Putting fireworks in frogs' mouths? Licking a battery? Shooting BB guns? Tossing dirt clods AT someone? Beating anything and everything with sticks while on walks? These things just never.crossed. my. mind. EVER. I'm not crying Mars vs Venus here, or that I was a daily delight, but, seriously, I'm feeling a great divide many a day here...

And I'm pretty sure P feels me feeling it. Nobody likes to be judged by their mother and best friend. And I'm not Trying to judge... but when shit starts getting whacked and stuff is breaking and he's booming his Evil Villain laugh, well, I'm finding back pats aren't part of my parlance...

And, of course this was all there before Zia. But it didn't matter much when the recipient of infinite orneriness was a petite pink monster. The maniacal laughter and aggressive chase is different when it's your daughter.

Especially for E. It bugs the ever living love out of him. But I had to point out, *this* was how he and his fam always played with P! Growling and chasing and playing monster. P has effortlessly adopted the adult role, morphing into monster for the toddler in tow. It's just unfortunate that he lacks the judgement the actual adults employ to safely play their part. Corners and edges and speed are safety considerations the Little Man has not.

And... he seems to positively relish startling her and, frankly? He doesn't watch with *too* much dismay when she goes splat. (There may even be, sigh, laughter.). There's where that early mentoring of monster can't be the case and veers instead toward seeming aggression. And then I get all hot and bothered and of course he doesn't feel connected when he's getting chastised for his sister's safety and I'm not feeling connected (since my spawn suddenly seems Evil - sigh) and, and, and blech.

So it could be all *that*, too ;).

And, to hear other men talk, these are all normal actions, not warning signs of Dahmer-like damnations. But, still... I am having trouble, for the first time in P's little life, "getting" my guy. Tackling a ten month old seems so wildly inappropriate that I'm (almost;) speechless.

But when my infinitely (now) sweet Father In Law shares tales of shocking his toddler sister, I harbor high hopes P, too, will grow to be a great man, maniacal laugh or no. I just want to know how I can best help him get there, despite him having a sister :).

P and Z, playing "follow the leader.". A great moment because, though they play a Lot together, this was an unusually safe activity for them Both :)

Fam-tastic

I cannot express how amazing it is to live right beside awesome family. Seriously. No. *Seriously*. We've been enjoying the unbelievable beauty of August in Portland with each other and My little family is just hoping that Their little (soon to be bigger! eek!) family doesn't tire of us too soon - cuz we are Loving it!

Some days we go to the zoo with Aunt Alicia, or the gardens, or we all walk after dinner to an ice cream cart and listen to live music. Or we move a piano into the first floor flat, after a little porch-side piano party. We have cookouts in the back, dessert on the front stoop and beers in the attic. Tonight featured the VooDoo donut cart and a movie in the park. Sure, Z and I skip a lot of the food options or skirt out early from the flick, but its so easy-peasy. No long sub commute or drive home. They're next freakin door or we're just around the block. Love. It.

Zia is absolutely Flourishing, surrounded by loving adults that she sees every day. Maybe it's just that she's a social baby - but maybe it Is the fact that she has regulars in her life that makes her so happy - totally happy to climb (and hug and snuggle!) on her Uncle or so easy to dump into her Aunt's arms when I need to pee. Whatever it is, her comfort zone is much larger than P's was at this age.

And P is simply livin the dream, having these two next door. He adores hearing Uncle Seth's pretty piano playing float through the floor ("Quiet, Mama! I want to be able to hear it!") He is so happy hanging out the front window, talking to Alicia or chatting with her out back as we water or weed the garden. So happy :)

Superman seems equally ecstatic. His life is his family, his friends are his brothers, and seeing Seth every day could only be topped by.... seeing Seth And Bric And Ian every day :). But he is nothing if not patient and we are keeping our fingers crossed that the amazingness that is Portland will woo everyone West (hear that Mom?? ~Everyone~ :)))

But before I sound super greedy:). Refereeing Z and P sucks my sanity some days (how to be fair to both? protect her body and his spirit? meet his need for projects without her eating the projects? go where he wants without killing her with the car? give them space to roughhouse without ending in the ER or seeing him as aggressive and her as victim? tricky stuff, this far spaced sibling business....). But even with my general parental cluelessness hanging heavily these days, Every day I think, this is it. These are those days, the ones I'll relive in my rocking chair when I'm old and grey. Living by family, our parents are healthy and happy, kids and projects popping up everywhere. One big family bed with a couple of cute cuddlers, smiling in the morning. The cynic in me feels the end of such beauty too palpably. Makes me relish every moment (that there is no crying child :) Makes me feel that these are some seriously lucky days.


Pics: The gardens, the zoo, the late night live music (ours and others';), Z huggin on her Aunt/future cousin and playing peek-a-boo.

Wee bit messy.

Grandpapa snapped Z's pic during dinner one night and shared it with me. The mess is unreal. And its three times a day. Every day. You can imagine how much I whisper sweet nothing's towards the designers of our easy to clean high chair each day....

Zia: her tenth month

Eleven months!  She's gone from just experiencing life, tasting it and touching it, to really trying to figure it out.  Everything is a puzzle these days.  Something she wants to conquer, to understand.  P is still in this phase, trying to understand everything around him, and its fun seeing it happen on two different levels.  Its especially fun watching her watch him to figure things out :)  Talk about monkey see, monkey do...

Speaking of.  I grabbed a jar and then a lid (two different cabinets), put something up and left the kitchen.  When I came back in, she had raided the cabinets, grabbing jars and lids and was trying to match them.  Everything, apparently, is a lesson in life.  I'm trying to be mindful about how very watched I am :)

She's kinda obsessed with being outside.  Cooking and cleaning, however (unfortunately;), take place indoors.  She's found that if she climbs the chaise and then digs her little toes into the back, like a ladder, she can peer out the window and watch the world.  Unfortunately, she's still learning to pay attention to the (occasionally empty) space behind her.  Ouch.  This also necessitates a dismount.  Running down the lounge seems to be the preference.  Yes, this scares me.  (Sidenote:  the tutu?  P insisted;)

Ok, the outdoors and food :)  Double obsessions.  Forgettabout opening the fridge without a helper.  She wants to try Everything she sees.  And she wants to do it Herself.  This is just unbelievably messy.  She's also discovered the great joy of going pttttbt with a mouthful.  On an up note, she is getting pretty good with a spoon and fork (comparably speaking ;)

The nesting instinct is still there, small spaces are still a favorite.  She gets into everything, everywhere.  Built-ins, boxes, bags, she checks them all out.

And like with the jars and caps, she watched E and P drink out of the hose last week (major garden work!) and attempted it herself the next day.  With a little help from Aunt Alicia, she managed to drink about a gallon.

She still hates diapers.  Hates.  And I'm still failing at ECing.  Seriously, we were nailing it until she was mobil.  Now she will cue herself as she poops.  Yay that she is definitely in tune with what is going on with her body!  Not so yay that she doesn't cue Before she starts pooping so I can put her on the potty.  Not that it would really help, though, since that seems to piss her off lately....

At any rate, she hates diapers so much that she has figured out how to take almost all of them off.  Prefold with a belt?  Ha.  Velcro all in one?  Not a chance.  The snap all in one can still foil her unless she's really determined.  But, long story short, this means she has a naked butt, a LOT.  Which means she pees on the floor... on occasion ;)  Which means I wipe up the floor, not only after every messy meal, but every whizz.  Lots to mimic there.  She has started grabbing rags and towels and "scrubbing' the floor (never the dirty spots ;).  Cracks me up.  On hands and knees and moving forward while she does it and everything.

Last weekend and this weekend, when the fam was at Crater Lake, and now the Olympic National Park, Zia and I had some (very rare) time alone to hang.  P and E might take off for a bit on occasion, but then I'm usually doing laundry while she tags along or something.  But with a whole weekend to spare, twice, I took the time to just enjoy watching her.  I think she's bored with just me (compared to the whirlwind that is having P around;) but I've been delighted :)

And surprised.  I can't believe how much she understands.  Like today.  She was getting grumpy (she wants Everything she sees, but a lot of it just can't go in her mouth, so there are damn "no's" freaking everywhere.  Sigh.  I try to distract, but she's onto me these days and would rather pitch a fit than play with an old stand-by).  I thought a change of scenery would help, so I suggested we go to the park.  "Want to go to the park, Zia?  Wanna go outside?"  She stopped shrieking (this time;) and pointed to the front door.  Then she signed "want."  I needed to get a diaper on her though (sigh) so I said "Go get your new ball and we'll take it to the park." I didn't figure she'd have a clue, but I like to talk to her when P isn't around and I thought she might not see the diaper coming if I ran my mouth :)  She ran right into the kitchen and grabbed the ball we'd just brought up from the basement and took it towards the door.  Color me shocked.  Cuz when I tell her (for the millionth time) that the pea gravel isn't for mouths, she sure as hell acts like she doesn't understand me.  That, or she looks right at me, smiles, pops a piece in her mouth and then... runs.  oy ;)

I guess its three obsessions right now.  She seems as obsessed with language these days as she is food or the outdoors.  She says "Ooo, what is that?"  Allllll day long, pointing at everything, waiting for its name.  And she is in Love with P's old board books.  She comes up to me, holding one up, signing want, and then climbs into my lap when I sit down.  It is so sweet and cuddly, I just Love it.  She loves to turn the pages, point at the pics and say "What's dat?"  She says the same thing every time she closes the book - but it doesn't sound like "the end."  Not sure what she's saying there ;)

I'm sure there are other new perks, but I'm all out for tonight ;)  I reeeeeally like this age.  Except for the all night nursing teething bit.  But its such a damn sweet age, and so fleeting.

Multnomah Falls

Playin with Grandpapa

Grandpapa

is here! We've had an amazing week with him. Phoenix is on him almost every moment of the day, wrastling him up, climbing him, asking him questions. And, much to everyone's delight, Zia's separation anxiety seems to have waned just in time for his visit. The baby has been happy to be carried and bounced and cuddled by her Grandfather.

The poor guy has Got to be exhausted.

On top of juggling two small squirmers, there have been numerous trips, both big(ish;) and small. Last weekend they went to Crater Lake with Seth and Alicia. (Z and I stayed behind - the drive would have driven her to barfing :). I'm pic-less on that trip, but I heard it was amazing. There was some cliff diving and some crater swimming and even (much to the Little Man's extreme dismay and confusion ;) some dunking. ("Why? Why would he pull me under the water? Why??? I was even BREATHING! :). The next day they swung past the coast on their way home, hitting a gorgeous beach.

Typically, you can't pull the child away from the sand and sun, but, apparently, he was asking to head home :). He'd left with only slight angst on Saturday and returned with huge hugs and stories in Sunday. Separation is so very rare for us - Z and I were really happy to have him home :). (she even wandered the house that weekend, saying "bra-bra?")

Then they went to Mt. Hood to hit each other with snowballs and ride the alpine slide (hoping Superman will share a few more pics of this...). Apparently all very fun.

Then we all (minus a hard-working Seth) went to the Gorge to hike Multnomah Falls . P Hated the concrete paved hike, bitching the ENTIRE way that his nature (and his feet) had been ruined - but was overjoyed at the clambering river and big boulders and beauty up top (it was impressively scenic:) - thank gawd ;).

Z and I braved the drive to this, figuring she could stomach the 30 minute jaunt. Jeeeeez. Sitting in back, pulling out aaaaall the stops (think tongue games and wearing a box on my head here) we made it with only two fat tears of anger. She enjoyed the hike and the riverside play. The drive home, not so much. But it was faaaaabulous to get out of town - finally. Oregon is so dreamy beautiful it startles me still. And even though the day was Hot (actual hot - almost 100 - not just wussy Oregon kinda-hot:) the waterfall and shade kissed us with something in the 70's. We didn't want to leave:)

Now they are all off to the Olympic National Park for some rainforest hiking. I'm spitting jealous :). But she IS snuggly and worth it ;). Hopefully (ahem, Superman??) I will have pics to share....

When we aren't busy dragging him all over the Pacific North West, we have him fixing stuff. Adding outlets, hanging lights, teaching Superman the electrical ropes. Or hauling dirt for our (now ginormous) veggie garden, fixing tables and windows and doors. Old houses and a couple of unknowledgeable urban Yippies (yuppie hippies - is that a word yet?) necessitate knowledgeable fathers nearby. As such, I'm repeatedly mentioning his impending move out West this week :)

I'm gonna upload most of the pics as separate posts since I can't organize them on my phone and there are quite a few ;)