Ballard Farmers Market

Sunday farmers market, guitar strumming music, a sesame bread stick and a curb to squat on... life is good.

Worked the Grandparents like Dogs...

Grandparents came to visit and we worked them like dogs building a garden, moving furniture, planting a ton of flowers and even managing to escape on some solo bike rides (dreamy).
Mom, of course, was in charge of Elizabeth or really lets be honest here... Elizabeth was in charge of Grandma. While dirt was moved and beds were raised Grandma and Eliz watched from the perch on the front stoop. I'm not sure who was happier.
We did allow a break for Sunday Church... off they go.

Chinese Yes... English No

Elizabeth now attends 'school', aka daycare, three days a week while I work. Lucky for us she is LOVING it all. It is a small little daycare with about 10 kids in a neighbors home about a mile from the house. The owner is Chinese and speaks to the kids in mostly Chinese.
This past week I go to pick her up and Gui says something to Elizabeth in Chinese. Elizabeth listens, stops what she is doing and puts away her toys. Gui tell me 'I told her it was clean up time. She is doing so good with understanding Chinese. She is such a good girl'.
The next day, after destroying our living room, I tell Elizabeth it is time to clean up and put away our toys. She immediately lays down on the floor in complete hysterics.
Moral of the story... I need to learn Chinese??

Eggceptional Hunter

Elizabeth participated in her first Easter egg hunt. Our friends, Yvonne and Brian, have a yearly hunt at their house which originally started with all adults and many a mimosa. Well children are nearly outnumbering the adults but the mimosa's seem to flow at an even faster rate. Fun for all!!
Their was a tight grip on her basket of eggs. She still did not understand that there was candy inside. Mom and dad saved her from that knowledge and enjoyed the chocolates. Good parents!

Messy Faces from painting and blueberries

We sure hope the curls stay!!

Passover

Jeff did an amazing job for Passover this year. I was out of town with a girlfriend in San Fran the weekend prior so Jeff planned the menu, bought everything, arranged activities for the kids and with his mom cooked all the food. Was great to have Linda and Berryl in town. Also loved having Lynn, Sam and Anneka over for their first Passover.

I lost my seat early on to Elizabeth however she sat still so it was waaayy worth taking the floor.
The girls finally had enough of the table and eventually just gave up all together.

And this is why we live in Seattle...

Our old home was a mile from Puget Sound and our new home is a mile from Lake Washington. It is a quick run or bike ride over a rather intimidating hill however this is our view from the other side. The mountains, the water and the sun in March. I love this city!

Aunt Laura Visits

Laura came in town for a quick visit. We spent most of our time at the park. Elizabeth was thrilled to finally have someone willing to ride the roundie-round with her. That thing just makes me nauseated but Aunties are always willing to take one for the team. Laura was willing to try all the park equipment that I avoid. Unfortunately I imagine that our next park trip will involve lots of insisting I swing from, hang from and spin on various torture devices that are only for children and Aunties.


Elizabeth was initially terrorized by this blue slide. Have no idea why but she did eventually recover.

Daddy is Home

1 1/2 years old... so strong!

Nothing is the same for us since early 2008 and we remain overjoyed. Elizabeth is now 18 months and is daily doing something new (26 lbs/33.5 inches). She is a loving toddler and will always say yes to a cuddle. Towards the end of the day she will come, lay across my lap and pull at my hands. What she wants is a massage and she will lay their for quite a while as we rub her back and legs and arms.

She loves her trike, trailer, push stroller, slide, dolls, hugs, kisses, park visits, swimming and waving hello to everyone person we pass with a high pitched 'hiiiee'. She can spend upwards of 3 hours at the park leaving us exhausted.

She has discovered the word 'no' and uses it frequently. She also has a sense of humor and loves to joke around. If you ask her if she wants to ride in her trailer she will say 'no' but follow it with a mischievous grin as she runs towards the garage door cause the answer really is always YES. She loves to be chased and she will screach running around the house if you are hiding - this is a favorite game with dad.

If you ask her who loves her the answer is "mommieee, daddiee, and lila". Lila is her fav friend. Everytime, I mean everytime, we get in the car she asks if we are going to Lila's house.

We are simply having the best time with her, taking nothing for granted and loving every moment.

Visiting my work

Elizabeth got herself a nice little stomach bug and earned a visit to my place of work... very odd experience to be on the other side of the bed. She got a nice little IV, fluids and medicine for her stomach. I am smiling here cause she is eating and drinking for the first time in over 2 days although she was a little mad still about her IV. She is now a new little kid and running around this morning like her old self. So nice!!!

Babysitting Lila

We had Lila for the day and it was a blast and spent much of the afternoon at the park. Lila is not certain she is ready to share her 'momocyc'.
The roundie was a big hit with Lila! She giggled and giggled the entire time.
Finally Lila warmed up to having a friend ride along although below you can see that Elizabeth was not sure about having two in the stroller. I do have to say that pushing 70 lbs up Seattle hills is a nice work-out.

While she sleeps...

Elizabeth often wakes around 4am, throws all her stuff out of the crib and then begins screaming 'MaMAAAAA'. This is exhausting but I have a new outlook. There is only a short time where my arms solves all the worlds problems. She loves to cuddle in, rubbing her face in my neck and literally hums in delight. She is already not a baby and soon enough my arms won't solve the problems. I may still be exhausted at times but I'm gonna cherish our nighttime cuddles.

She loves to read

Sometimes she sits in her chair and other times she will arrange all her friends on the sofa to read with her. She is still in charge. I am beginning to wonder at what age I should start letting her know I am actually in charge... am I already too late?

Weekend in the Snow

Headed up to the mountains for a long weekend in the snow. The absolute highlight for Elizabeth was the plethora of bears in the cabin. There were multitudes of stuffed teddy bears and decorative bears. Her favorite was this 5 lb wooden bear that had a fish in its mouth. She hugged and cuddled with that pointy hard thing all weekend long. I kept thinking she was going to fall and smash her face into it.... no accidents.
Highlight number 2 was the snow man. Much discussion centered around 'snoma' and she constantly had to check outside to see if he was still there.
She has also changed quite bit from her first snowshoe trip last January... http://mcspeert.blogspot.com/2009/01/first-snowshoe-trip.html. She is no longer burried deep in her carrier but instead is out enjoying the cold snow. Oh and mom you will be interested to know that her eyes tear in cold weather just like mine... both of us have chapped cheeks from tearing.

Things she does

Hi! My name is Elizabeth Sophie Speert. I love salsa. I say it like this "Saaallllsaaaa!' I like to have salsa on my chips and on my tofu. Mostly I just like to lick it off and the say "sallllsaaa" again. I am a culinary genius so also like to have salsa with my oranges and blueberries. Try it. It is good.
Oh and sometimes I have gas. When I have gas I pat my bottom and say "asssss asssss". I know this makes my my mommie and daddie laugh even though they try not to laugh.

Holidays with Friends.

"Save me... Daddy has my legs... save me"
At 16 months she has finally decided to walk. At last she won't be ruining anymore pants. She will walk by herself but prefers a finger to hold.
Christmas morning Maria arrived with coffee drinks in hand. She was our Christmas Angel for sure considering Elizabeth has been rising at 3am for about a week.
Spent Christmas Eve with our friends Sam, Lynn, Anneka and Virginia. Virginia actually spent a week with us. Was supposed to be her holiday but I think with the 3am Elizabeth alarm it was perhaps not as restful. We had fun though!!

20 years of mairrage

I went back east for Bill and Lisa's 20th wedding anniversary and got some shots of the cousins together. I only hope that Jeff and I manage to have such a wonderful relationship in 20 years. Their kids are also just fun to be around.

James and Kathryn desperately trying to get Elizabeth to smile.
The cousins.

Play Gym

One of the reasons we moved was for a larger house. It allows the space for visitors when they come but even better we have quite the play space. Some 200 feet of covered deck outside which is great in the Seattle rain but also an amazing basement where she can just go loose. Thank goodness for used finds on craigslists and the reusing of boxes for playhouses. Please notice Jeff in the playhouse... she loves to put her dad in the house and makes him stay put!!!

ABC's

When I sing the ABC's to Elizabeth I always accompany it with the letters in sign language so check out her hand movements. It is her attempt to sign along to the song. She had quite the audience as you can hear... Jeff's parents were her for a great visit although somehow we managed to take no photos.