Breaking News

News Flash: Lucy is still pretty.

I probably didn't need to, but I added some Photoshop to make this picture a little more artistic looking. Blurred background, some 'watercolor' filter. You should be able to click this photo to open a larger version.

FYI: This shot was taken about 1 second after she stopped picking her nose with her big toe. She is looking down angelically at said toe, possibly contemplating a satisfying nose-pick, gazing on what treasures she has extracted from her nostril. That is Lucy: a fine blend of adorable & gross.

Melissa thinks I should write more words with this post; about my life, my hopes, and my dreams. I can't imagine that is what you want to see when you could be looking at more pictures of Lucy but here goes:

• I am 5' 10" and have been for some time.
• I hope to have some nachos for dinner.
• That is also my dream (nachos).

I'll share more intimate details like that in my next post, too. Boy! Are you in for a treat! —Matthew

Bath Time

Lucy went through a period of hating baths not all that long ago. It was bubble bath that brought her back around to enjoying the tub. But now every night she demands a bubble bath. And she wants it to be an hour long bath with more and more bubbles every time.

Here she is having fun in the bubbles…

"Cheese"

"Water from the top?"

"YAAAAH!!!"

According to Yo Gabba Gabba "Bath time is splashy time, its splashy fun time." This seems to be accurate.

Midwest & books

Hi from the midwest; as Matthew said below (or was it on Facebook, or Twitter, or skywritten with an airplane or scrawled in wet cement...so many media outlets these days, hard to keep track) -- I'm in St. Louis for the week for work. Just woke from a so-so night's sleep...disappointing. I'm ALONE in a huge bed, no crying kiddo, no snoring dogs or husbands. And yet I toss and turn. Well, I expect it to get better -- can't let this opportunity go to waste. In other words: hello, artificial sleep aids! Anyone want to come say hi?

And ... well, I have nothing at all intersting to say, but the blog is very photo heavy these days and so I wanted to at least pretend that I still know how to use my words. In some way other than losing repeated Scrabble games to Law Mommy.

Lucy is in her new daycare room; she had to transition at the beginning of September to the next class up. It was rough. Remember the transition from home to daycare, this time last year? The non-stop tears for 8 hours/day, for NINE weeks? Well, she's getting better. Week 1 was horrible, week 2 was good because they had one of her old familiar teachers subbing in there, week 3 was mixed, but the end of week 4 -- awesome. Good sweet happy girl. God, I love her.

I've been reading a lot on my beloved Kindle. Some silly crap (spy books, mysteries), some recommendations to pass along. Agnes and the Hitman -- light, sharp, sexy, entertaining, credit to Law Mommy for recommending it. All the Steig Larsson "the girl who..." books...there are two of the trilogy published so far; the third any day now. Ultimately mysteries, but incredibly engaging and engrossing. Just a bit into Audrey Niffenegger's lastest, Her Fearful Symmetry (LOVE the title) but like it very much so far. Also, re-read one of my old favorites, Good Omens, hilarious and by one and a half of my favorite authors (not totally in love with Terry Pratchett yet but I think I could become so -- halfway through the first Diskworld novel). It's given rise to a strange but, I think, ultimately irrestible compulsion to re-read all the old Sandman graphic novels. So I'll have to hit Powells to start re-collecting those...had them all at one point, but got rid of them. Moral of this story: never throw anything away.

What are you reading?

And on that note, out into the midwestern wilds to find coffee and work.

Pumpkin Patch

We went with Kurt & Sarah & Francis to the Pumpkin Patch on Sauvie Island this morning.

Birthday Season Redux

(Hi. This is Matthew, rappin' atcha. So don't imagine the narration in Melissa's voice, OK? And keep your expectations low as far as the, uh, "word putting together" is I guess what you'd call it)

I just downloaded the last 4 weeks of photos of the camera. All about Lucy? What a surprise.

Lucy had a fun belated 3rd birthday — belated because she was sick sick sick on Sept 10th. Here she is with a present from Grandpa Norman & Grandma Judith:

Play ice-cream cones & cupcakes! Lucy loves them. She is all about cupcakes these days, so she was pretty excited about them.


…And to use them as telephones & hats &c. She had fun ripping open the packages & the whole birthday present experience.


…As evidenced here. Grandma Bobbi came to visit & brought Lu gifts. Here Lucy is vocalizing her excitement. Presents? YAAAAAAAYYYYY!!!!!

The next photos are from the Vancouver Farmer's Market — it is held every Sunday. We'll be going less once the weather turns, but we have gone quite a few times this summer. Lucy loves it. Balloon. Swings. Hawaiian ice. Dogs & people & music.

This picture really captures how much Lucy loves balloons. We were just shopping at Trader Joe's today & the woman who filled up Lucy's balloon — actually her second balloon of the trip — said "I wish that a balloon could make me that happy." Lucy was ebullient over the prospect of trading her yellow balloon for a blue balloon, clapping and cheering.

Lucy wanted yellow & red ice. The two-spooned approach served her well. Amazingly, this is a "small."


Grandma Bobbi & Lucy — the second time on the swings. With a balloon! Good times.


Homeward bound… a good visit with Grandma Bobbi.

Lucy hasn't mastered the word "Grandma" yet — but as soon as Bobbi came in the door on this visit, Lucy exclaimed "BobBEEE!" So that, apparently, is what Lucy is going to call her Grandma Bobbi. It is very cute.

In further Lucy news, she seems to have gotten over the hump with adjusting to the new class room. By the middle of last week she was participating, napping, eating OK, getting into the swing of Coral Reef — getting used to her new teachers & friends.