I scream, you scream

Meredith gets picked up from school at 12:45 after lunch. This first week she has been pretty tired each afternoon, and yet hasn't really taken much of a nap because her mind is processing so much. She's pretty excited.

Today was a constant battle to get her to settle down just for a little bit. She was obviously tired and cranky. I told her she was running the risk of missing out on the planned marshmallow roast tonight because she'll be too tired and have to go to bed. I told her later that it was no longer a risk, but a near certainty. That approach had minimal success.

Mid-way through the afternoon she had been silent for a while when I heard the dreaded music of the ice cream truck. I was in Elaine's room changing her diaper. Suddenly, a hear the floor rumble from a jump in Meredith's room. Then,

[door] creeeeeeeeeee-ak---BAM!
[feet] thump!thump!thump!thump!thump!thump!

A flash goes past me down the hall and down the stairs.

I call Meredith to come back. She is surprised I saw or heard the one-girl stampede. She wants ice cream. Not today. But she WANTS ice cream. No, not today.

I explain that we don't get ice cream or anything else every time and just because she wants it. She understands but was clearly hoping for a different answer that involved some sort of capitulation. (Meredith is an optimist.)

In a few weeks, we will no longer undergo the daily assault of the ice cream truck music. The truck drives the neighborhood kids into a tizzy. The ice cream is pretty gross too. I made the mistake of taking a bite of one character-shaped ice cream on a stick monstrosity. Never again.

I'm not a fan of Minnesota winters. One good thing I can say is that I don't hear ice cream truck music at all between October and April. The silence is golden.

Meredith's First Day

Today was Meredith's first day at her new school. She is starting the pre-kindergarten program at the International School of Minnesota (ISM). She'll be there half-days five days a week during the school year. As we've previously discussed over the past month, we've been very excited by this school for Meredith and scrambled to get everything squared away for the switch.

Meredith has also been looking forward to the new experience. She's gotten to visit the school three times during the last month and met her teachers last week. But with new changes comes stress. Getting her to go to bed the night before was challenging. She was all riled up and kept on thinking of excuses to get out of bed (hungry, thirsty, want to safeguard her art project, want to find a book, want a book to be safeguarded for her, wanted the bathroom light to be on). Our patience wore thin and we directed her to go back to bed. Through pathetic tears she cried: "Daddy, if you could turn on the bathroom light and leave the door open for me that would be helpful." Okay. We'll turn on the light. But you need to get in bed. Sigh...

Poor girl. We understood her excitement and anxiety. Before dinner, she enacted the school drop-off and pick-up with her new backpack. We thought she really understood how everything was going to work. Afterall, she's done daycare and preschool for not quite three years. She gets this. But as we discussed how her first day of pre-K was going to go, she looked at me with alarm and blurted: "You mean you're going to leave me at school?!?"

We felt really sorry for the stress of the change she is going through, but in truth about 90% of the time she's really excited about her new school.

The drop off went smoothly and Meredith happily greeted her teachers. When we picked her up at 12:45 she had much to report on her first day and had lots of fun. She was tired, but still so hyper that she slept very little for her regular nap.

Show Me Fun

As the summer comes to a close, we're getting in our last bouts of fun and travel. Last Thursday, after attending a "meet your teacher" picnic and Meredith's new school, we hopped in the Honda CR-V (nicknamed "Junebug") and drove through the night to Springfield, Missouri. Leaving Eden Prairie, Minnesota around 7:00 PM, we arrived safe and sound just shy of 5:00 AM at the grandparents house. The two girls did their duty of sleeping the entire drive. After driving 10 hours, Jen and I immediately went to bed and the girls had fun with Grandma Gail and Grandpa Kerry.

It was a short visit to Springfield, but fun-filled. We got some good swimming in. Meredith got quality time with her grandparents and Jake-Dog. We were able to celebrate Great Grandma Lael's 80th birthday party. Elaine got reacquainted with other relatives and met Uncle David and Aunt Olga, who hopped in a car themselves and drove from Tulsa, Oklahoma immediately after flying in from their three weeks in Russia. Elaine continued to do a good job eating from the bottle, her late-coming and urgently anticipated skill. She also continued to eat solid foods, with the result of various levels of mess.

We returned to Minneapolis in the same fashion--driving through the night. I must say that driving through rural Missouri, Iowa, and then southern Minnesota is just as exciting at night as it is during the day. Either way there isn't much to see. Fortunately, it is an easy route to drive.

PICTURES

Meredith feeds Elaine!


Great Grandma Lael the day after her birthday made a cake to celebrate all the September birthdays of those present including Meredith.


Meredith gets an early birthday present from Grandpa Kerry--a camp chair from Bass Pro.


Jet-lagged Uncle David and Aunt Olga meet Elaine.






VIDEO

Meredith feeds Elaine. (We're trying to teach her that "little baby-butt" is not an acceptable term of endearment for her sister.)

Chug! Chug!

Babies are unpredictable. Just when you think you have things figured out and under control, they switch it all up. Case point: Earlier this summer, Elaine was sleeping so well. She went to sleep at a predictable time, woke up only once or twice, and slept until a reasonable time after the sun had risen. Now, she has been waking up 3 or 4 times, resisting going to sleep, and turning over on her stomach and being unable to turn back, keeping herself awake.

Sometimes it works the other direction. Elaine hasn't really taken to a bottle since she was a few weeks old. Her persistent refusal has been frustrating and restricting. It was difficult for her mom to be tied to her non-stop, especially as she prepared for the bar exam, but at least she was home. In two weeks, Jen starts work. We have to get this girl to eat when mom is not around.

For weeks in the beginning of the summer, we tried every trick out there to get Elaine to eat from a bottle. She steadfastly refused. I won't catalogue all the different failures we used because it's too depressing. More recently, we have attempted to feed her from a small open cup with some success. But it is a messy, slow, and frustrating method for feeder and feedee alike. At the same time we've successfully gotten Elaine to eat some solid food, but that meets only a small part of her nutritional needs.

Yesterday, we again tried the bottle (while mom was intentionally away from the home for several hours). Miraculously, Elaine actually ate from the bottle--over three ounces--with enthusiasm!

Yes, it's a small victory. (Three whole ounces!) Yes, we have no idea whether it was a fluke or she'll do the same today. But we're happy all the same. We'll take this event with cautious optimism that Elaine can now enjoy once of her favorite activities with a bottle. I can't think of anything to explain this breakthrough except her being a few weeks older, though no less strong-willed. Over the next two weeks, we'll have to think of other excuses to get Jen away from Elaine for a bit each day. (She won't take a bottle if mom is around.) Yesterday, Jen was happy to escape for some quality time at Ann Taylor in the mall. I don't think she'll be able to do that every day.

Shortly, we'll be going to Missouri for a couple days. Wish us luck as we hit the road again with the two girls. Meredith's first day of school starts next week and Jen's work starts soon after that. Before we know it, the house that's seen a lot of traffic this summer will be reduced to Elaine and myself on weekday mornings, plus Meredith in the afternoons (after her nap). It will be quieter.

NW Vacation Part 3: Whole Lotta Pictures

So we finished our NW trip with 300-400 pictures. We're not posting all of them here--but it was difficult to cull them down. Please excuse the large number of pictures from our vacation. As you can see, we had a lot of fun.

Segment 1: Ocean Shores, WA

Up close and personal with Elaine
(Taken by Meredith)


Sister-bonding








A shovel and bucket at the beach. What could be better?






Elaine intently watches the fish





We reluctantly say good-bye to the beach



Segment 2: Portland, OR

Saturday at the Portland Farmers' Market


Brunch with Andrea


Laura and Mike


Meredith bonds with super pugs Bucky and Bubba



Segment 3: Mount Saint Helens, WA

Looking up through a hole made by lava hardening around huge trees in an eruption 4000 years ago.


Looking down one such hole


Mount St. Helens from the north-east. Steam is rising out of the peak.


Mount St. Helens blast zone


In the heart of the blast zone



Segment 4: Seattle, WA

Dining on fresh salmon with Walt, Maggie, Matt, and Amanda


Pike's Place in Seattle


Elaine's preferred transportation on our trip. All-Weather indeed.


Seattle Aquarium


Moon jellies



And one video to top it off...

While hiking on the south side of Mount St. Helens, Meredith gives a primer on dinosaurs.

NW Vacation Part 2

More reports from our fabulous vacation in Washington and Oregon. We promise to post a whole lotta pictures and maybe videos here in the coming days as we get things in order at the homestead.

After spending several wonderful days in Ocean Shores on the Pacific coast of Washington (during which we even had a couple sunny days and saw the sunset), we packed up the car and drove several hours to Portland. It was a beautiful, but long drive. Elaine didn't enjoy being strapped to the seat in the car. On the route we unscientifically compared small towns in Washington to small towns in the upper Midwest. We thought there were fewer churches and fewer bars in Washington. But they don't lack for drive-thru espresso within eyesight in every settled portion of the state.

In Portland, we stayed with groovy friends Laura and Mike and their two pugs, Bubba and Bucky. They were fun, excellent hosts, who let us see some of the Portland attractions and kept us well fed. Meredith and Elaine both enjoyed the dogs. Meredith tired out the sweet and hyper dogs on a few occasions.

We then drove a long drive from Portland back to Washington, around the far side of Mount Saint Helens, and then cut up near Mount Rainier, to Tacoma. We are flat-landers and took some adjusting to the windy mountain roads. Meredith got carsick for the first time. Jen and I were nervous about the sheer drop-offs along miles and miles of the road. As we entered the blast zone of Mount Saint Helens, which is still mostly dead logs laying on the ground, my anxiety driving increased because I could clearly see how much of a drop there was just a couple feet off the edge of the road. With no vegetation, there is nothing to stop you should you stray just a little bit from the edge of the road. Particularly nerve-wrecking were the numerous occasions where the edge of the road had crumbled a bit into the ledge. It took a few days for my stiff neck and legs to recover from driving in those conditions for several hours.

Anyways, we got the closest to the still active volcano as vehicles could go. Meredith was impressed with the whole scene, including the steam continuously flowing out of the top. Going to the volcano was all she had wanted to do the previous several days.

We then spent the night at a hotel in Tacoma and tried desperately to get a decent night sleep. in that category, Jen didn't fare well. In the morning we drove up to my Uncle Walt and Aunt Maggie in Seattle. They had just arrived from their trip the night before and generously hosted us for several days. Meredith played fetch with their lovely dog Bailey, also tiring her out. We got to play games of Uno (Meredith's current favorite), eat wonderful local salmon and blackberry pie.

We spent some time at Pike's Place, the Elliott Bay Book Company, and the Seattle Aquarium. As what seems to be a tradition of mine for vacations, I spent the last two days of the trip with a head cold.

In the end, we had a wonderful time. Traveling with a four month old and a nearly four year old has its challenges--and lots of gear. Moving around and time zone changes are difficult for a baby's sleep schedule, but somehow we managed. Elaine continued to thrive on our journey. She now can roll herself fully on to her stomach from her back. She is becoming more proficient at eating purred food (this last week: bananas). On two occasions Elaine gave a true laugh. First in response to tickles. Second in response to watching Bailey the dog catch a ball.

This trip added some states to our family's count. Elaine has been to four states now (MN, WI, WA, OR). Meredith added her 11th and 12th states. Derek remains at 48 states. (Here we come Hawaii and Alaska!) Jen's count is somewhere around 40.

NW Vacation Part 1

Earlier, we flew to Seattle for a nice family vacation in the Pacific Northwest. The first leg of our trip was spent on the Pacific Coast in a small tourist town called Ocean Shores a little south of the Olympic National Park. Our room looked out at the beach, which was mostly cool, misty, and gray gray gray. Not a surprise, but, boy is it gray there.

The beach was fun. We found shells and flew a kite. Meredith confirmed her love of dinosaurs by insisting we buy the T Rex kite, instead of the lady bug or any other design.

We also drove up to the southern edge of the Olympic National Park. The rain forest was indeed rainy. We did a 2 mile hike in the rain forest with the girls and enjoyed the sites.

PICTURES

Early morning at the beach


Gray gray gray...


We picked up shells, crab claws and other gross things (and washed hands when we got back to the room).


Rocking in front of the fire at the Lodge at Lake Quinault.


Soccer at Lake Quinault





On our rainforest hike


They don't have trees like this in Minneapolis





It indeed rained a bit in the rainforest. (Elaine sleeps.)





Meredith's first kite-flying at the beach


We got a clear day and a sunset over the Pacific!


Watching the sunset...



VIDEOS

Meredith runs from the waves on our first day at the beach.


At the Lodge at Lake Quinault on the edge of the Olympic National Park, Meredith played soccer of all things for about five minutes.

Elaine likes pears!

This past week has heralded Elaine's introduction to "solid" food. She likes it! Which is really great, since she still won't take a bottle, and Jen has to go back to work in a month. She's had rice cereal and a couple of feedings of pear. It's a bit messy!









Close up!


Meredith models her new pre-K school uniform.


Feeding Elaine pears.

Elaine milestones at 4 months

Just a few updates of what Elaine has been up to recently. She turned just four months on July 30th and is a growing girl.

Elaine's favorite things:

• Looking at: the ceiling fan which seems to hypnotize her
  
• Making a host of noises, including a "raspberry" sound with her lips
  
• Batting at toys and moving them around with her hands
  

Elaine is learning to:

• Almost roll (She can do 3/4 of a roll from back to stomach on a consistent basis. With a little help from her parents or sister, she can go all the way in both directions.
  
• Sit upright with support for more than a brief moment
• Clasp her hands together (She looks very contemplative.) And use both her hands in concert when manipulating toys.
• Eat semi-solids! Elaine has had a handful of helpings of rice cereal mush and one sampling of pureed pears. The majority of the food ends up outside her mouth (on face, hands, neck, bib, clothes, floor, parents), she is consuming some and learning how to take bites from the spoon. She loved the pears!
  

Smiles, performances, movies...

Some pictures from the last couple of weeks featuring some of our summer fun...




Meredith's description of the below picture: "Tell people that I'm staying up late at Junior's house." Meredith, Cate, and Frank, Jr gave quite a performance.


Unprompted, Meredith made the dinosaur toast. She says it eats other dinosaurs.


Meredith, Cate, and Frank, Jr have had a couple of late night outdoor movies on the big screen in the backyard next door. They saw Cars and Madagascar and got to have popcorn too!


At the Como Zoo, Meredith required us to see the giraffes.


Elaine keeps a hand on her duck friend, even when asleep.



The dancing segment of the kids' evening performance. (Apologies for the poor lighting.)


Rock and roll dancing!


Elaine loves her duck. Tastes good.