Shel Silverstein

(from Something Missing from A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein)

D "Y'know that Shel Silverstein poem that has that illustration of a man with his belly out to here (gestures way out in front of himself)? And he's forgotten to put on his pants?"

me "I don't know."

D "Well, you're reminding me of that poem these days."

"We Did It Mayor, We Did It!"

According to the Save Yost Pool website:

Yost Pool will open this summer!

On April 21, the mayor of Edmonds declared that Yost pool would indeed open this year. The efforts of our citizens to bridge the budget shortfall that the city was experiencing has paid off, as the city will not have to put any funds into the running of the pool for summer 2009.

As part of a three part solution to save the pool, the citizens proposed a plan to increase pool fees to market rate, revise the pool schedule and staffing, and fund raise to make opening the pool a reality this summer.

About 1,000 citizens contributed donations to the save Yost pool effort, totaling over $53,000.

A big 'Thank You' to all who came together to save Yost Pool.

Swim Style

We put E back into swimming lesson's again after a much needed break. She'd been in preschool level 2 for over a year and really showed no interest in progressing. We're now back to it, and I take advantage of her 25 minute time slot and get in some splashing time myself, I am surprised each time I waddle into the water at how absolutely fabulous near weightlessness can feel

Her class is small and one of the little girls that's in her class comes each time with a swim cap, and E just has not stopped talking about it. She's wanted one now for weeks. So we stopped by a sporting goods store yesterday afternoon to see what they had, and immediately she grabbed the pink swirly silicone cap, and before I could even interject a syllable she was already perusing the kids goggles to find a matching pair...oh. "Well," I said, "if we're going to buy these for you today, I'm going to need to see the very best effort you can give at the rest of your lessons, can you promise me that?" "Oh yes, Mama, these will help me swim my best." Before we took the items up for checkout, I had her try them on and, well, as you can see it was hard to keep a strait face.


So we got the matching duo, and headed home. Right away she found her swim bag, placed all the things she'd need for her lesson the following day inside and set it on the stairs ready to go. "Well," I thought, "she's at least giving her best effort in getting ready for her lessons." Usually we're in a slight rush in the mornings gathering up towels, her Crocs for the shower, a comb, etc.

Well, this morning I decided to forgo my own swim time and just watch her lesson from the deck. As luck would have it, she was the only one from her class to show up, so she got a private lesson! Her instructor noted her new cap and goggles, and got down to work. The one thing that has really held E back in her lessons is her comfort level for floating on her back, she's afraid she'll sink and just cannot relax (she's been this way since infancy though, had always hated changing tables, so we'd have to change her on the floor). Today though, she practiced and practiced and by gum she's got it (she even threw in a little backstroke to the surprise of her teacher)! I was so happy to watch on the sidelines this morning and cheer her on. It was the perfect combination of events that came together for an amazing result.

Tulip Festival

If you and your family are looking forward to a trip up north for the Tulip Festival, make sure you check the bloom update, as color is showing a little later this year...

Dandy Daughter

I love how my girl sees the beauty in the weeds that dot our yard, and collects them in handfuls.

Babble

I'm sure I'm the last one of you computer savvy mom's (and dad's) out there to discover Babble, but just wanted to mention it anyhow. It's an "online magazine and community for a new generation of parents," with a mission statement of "tell(ing) the truth about parenting, to bypass the clichés and dig into the magical and maddening reality. (Their) commitment to readers is to explore the world of parenting on a daily basis with ruthless honesty, and with the humor and lyricism natural to the subject."

Lullaby's

We've been preparing our new little one early with a handful of our favorite lullaby's. Most evenings D or I run through the three or four we love for E before she nods off, and she steals the spotlight in the mornings; gently singing her brother awake in utero with her mouth pressed close to my ballooning abdomen.

Baby mine, don't you cry
Baby mine, dry your eyes
Rest your head close to my heart
Never to part, baby of mine

Little one when you play
Don't you mind what they say
Let those eyes sparkle and shine
Never a tear, baby of mine

If they knew sweet little you
They'd end up loving you too
All those same people who scold you
What they'd give just for
The right to hold you

From your head to your toes
You're not much, goodness knows
But you're so precious to me
Cute as can be, baby of mine

Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high.
There's a land that I heard of Once in a lullaby.
Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue.
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.
Someday I'll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops, Away above the chimney tops.
That's where you'll find me.
Somewhere, over the rainbow, bluebirds fly. Birds fly over the rainbow,
Why then - oh, why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow,

Why, oh, why can't I?

Bye, baby bunting
Daddy's gone a hunting
To get a rabbit skin
To wrap his baby bunting in

Getting Right Down to It

We've decided on a home birth for our new little babe. E's birth was completely natural with no medical intervention at a small hospital, and I have nothing but wonderful memories of that experience. But as this pregnancy has progressed I really began searching out our options. I've done quite a bit of soul searching about this. There of course with any big decision (and let's face it this is the biggie; human life) are a lot of 'what if's' and I've really had to take time and digest them. I've been seeing the same set of midwives for this pregnancy (versus 2 OB's for E's, one in Poulsbo and one in Seattle), and we are totally convinced that it's the right choice for our family. There is such a difference in the type of care I've received this time around, I would recommend the experience to anyone. Midwifery is, I feel so much less invasive, but so much more whole person (and even family) centered. I was plagued with a severe case of postpartum depression 3 months following E's arrival, and had some real hurdles in breastfeeding her. I was quick to bring these concerns up at my first appointment, and was treated with such dignity and a "that's not going to happen this time, we'll be with you" attitude that I've felt nothing but taken care of and empowerment this entire pregnancy. I've had several friends that have also chosen to do home births, and after watching the riveting, The Business of Being Born I was without a doubt, this is what I want to do. I'm completely dedicated to going through the motions at home, I can clearly see it.



This is a really big deal; welcoming a new member of the family and we've been so proud of E's very thoughtful analysis of how much she'd like to participate. We have daily conversations about how my body is changing, how "Buddy" is growing, and some of the ways in which the dynamic at home is really going to change. She's attended (and helped at) every one of my appointments, we've enrolled her in a Sibling Prep Class taught by Penny Simkin later next month, she's really aware of what this process could be like.

Now that I'm 7 weeks out until my due date, things big and small are starting to happen around here. Today I received the box I ordered of medical supplies that we'll need here for the birth. Last week I sent in our reservation fee for our labor tub, and tonight I finished up painting the dresser drawers for the nursery. D's still 11 days away from returning home from his month and a half of touring, I've started swimming s...l...o...w laps again (to relieve my aching back), and recently was able to enroll E in a co-op preschool for the fall. Whew! All this and we still don't have a name for our little guy.

*Thanks to Tania for recommending The Business of Being Born

this is a great article

Cotton Candy

Every time we visit the fair E asks for cotton candy. She's lured in by it's airy poofyness, it's serene colors, and it's hot sweet scent. She'd give sidelong glances toward little girls, their fingers dyed blue or pink and sigh. We've always told her no (who knows how clean they keep those machines, and I'm not forking over $6 for some spun sugar!).

But, while perusing through our local candy shop for Easter Morning treats I came across a small bucket of the stuff, and was excited at the thought of watching her hold it in her hot little hand; finally, the forbidden treat! The owner of the shop confirmed that the manufacturer really did a great job, and we wouldn't be disappointed...

She was very excited to find it on her scavenger hunt, and here's what transpired afterward:

Poor thing, not what she'd been hoping for I fear. She's trying so hard to like it and then just can't; calling for a napkin to spit it out. Who likes the feeling of shoving insulation in your mouth anyhow?

p.s. the blue flavor didn't fare any better.

The Hunt is On!

(short little video clip)

We scuttled down to our town's annual egg hunt this morning, it's one of the reason's I love living in a small community-centered city. We've participated in this activity for the last 4 years and often bump into a handful of people we know.

Save Yost Pool

Our local outdoor pool may be closed this summer (and some fear forever). A motivated group of people are trying to save it and are taking donations to keep it open. E's taken lessons here for the last 2 summers, and it really would be a shame to see it go, it's one of the things that's so great about our little city. But like everything these days it's all about the dollar sign, I'll keep you posted about the outcome.

King 5 story
The Beacon story

A Hopscotch Kinda Day

It was so wonderfully balmy out today. We had the curtains flung back, widows open, E fished out the chalk box from our cluttered garage and made a hopscotch all on her own from memory. Love it.

Easter THIS Weekend

We got out our decorations this week, and yesterday were able to participate in a store wide egg hunt at our PCC before soccer practice. Kids collected the plastic eggs that were littered up and down the aisles and filled with stickers, trinkets, and coupons for Cougar Mountain Cookies and organic juices. E opted out to visit with the Easter Bunny but did take part in the kid pick taste test (out of a spread of various breakfast foods of things like scrambled eggs, orange slices, strawberry hot tea, she only gave a thumbs up to sausage...our typical little carnivore).


Later for dinner we had our our friends over for homemade pizza, and E and Asher colored up some eggs. I've always meant to get this tradition started, but for some reason or another this ended up being her first year. Maybe it's because I've had an insatiable craving for hard-boiled eggs lately...