oona plum

moving back to unreal realm

2009-09-04T10:27:00.003-04:00

hello visitor!

we're in the process of moving primary blogging back to Realms of the Unreal, for a variety of reasons. hope you stop by to visit!

keely, timon and oona

photos

2009-08-19T15:32:00.003-04:00

Hello there. We've had a marvelous summer, and hope that you have been finding lots of juicy bits yourself. As september looms around the corner, and outdoor living turns towards crisp evenings at home, I hope to be blogging a bit more regularly. In the meantime, we've found it easiest to upload photos to our flickr page, rather than try and catch up on moments that have lost their freshness.
Thanks so much for visiting us at this space, and for checking in on our lives. Best wishes to you and yours!

Portrait of the Scientist As a Young Papa.

2009-07-23T21:59:00.009-04:00

Ah, a scientist for a papa, there are so many joys from it. Shall we consider them? First, there is the sheer nerdiness, the brainy dork-fest around some new thought, and the tingle the papa gets from just thinking about some thing or other. Yes, that excitement is perhaps my favorite aspect of the scientist papa. Second, there is simply an extraordinary volume of facts and details and knowledge about any given topic that the scientist papa has stored away. It's like a walking wiki, for all Oona and I might wonder about during our day. That is very convenient, surely. Third, it's always a good idea to have someone who really enjoys Order living in your house. They are sure to tidy up on a regular basis. And thoroughly! Fourth, (and probably the scientist papa would have a theory for this reason), there is something very satisfying about mixing up one's genes with those of a person who is inclined to deeply explore the world in a systematic fashion. That systematic thinking turns out to be quite useful in a wide range of situations - fixing the computer for instance, or brewing beer, not to mention dealing with that pesky climate change issue. Lastly, the scientist papa is a perfect role model for a young, curious, passionate child investigating all of life's big and little mysteries, if only because he's happy for the company.

We sure do love you, Papa.

summer arrives

2009-06-05T13:35:00.007-04:00

It's been a while since I've checked in here, and most of it is to be explained by my spring workload. With the deadline met, I feel as though I've been set free once again, to romp and play. Being a stay-at-home, work-from-home mom is an interesting intersection of worlds. I rarely speak about my work, and I won't go into the details of what it is I actually do, but I do want to pause to reflect on how it impacts my life. My job has deadlines four times a year, and there is a great deal of seasonality to its rhythms. Spring is about 3 times busier than the rest of year, and it can be challenging to reorganize my daily life patterns for a brief but intense 4 month period.
Last year at this time Oona was a newborn, and slept on my back while I worked at the computer. This year, she is a scampering, daredevil rascal, with great passion and enthusiasm in her new-found mobility. And yet, our connection is still so very strong, and she likes and needs to check in with mama with great regularity. So it was a rather significant shock for both of us to learn that there were times when I couldn't be available. We were both unprepared for entering the world of negotiation for time and space, and there were many tears shed by both of us - from frustration, fear, and sheer desperation. But after several intense weeks, Oona decided she was tired of feeling miserable, and has struck out on her own in many ways.
I've gotten a first taste of the long process of watching my little girl go out into the world on her own. I find that it is pretty much what so many others have written before: a sweet sentimental joy that tugs hard at my heart and floods me with gratitude - for having the opportunity to observe the tiny details of a life growing and stretching and reaching for experiences, creating tendrils of patterns so exquisite, so particular to this one being, that I am out of breath and tingling all over. Yes, such gratitude.
My feeling about childhood and parenthood is that if it works out well, your child will leave you forever for her own life. There will of course, hopefully, be dinners and holidays and conversations and closeness, but mostly, I hope that Oona finds her own fullness of days. When she leaves our home, I hope it is to a home made of her own dreams. And when that time comes, slowly and circuitously, I will bask in the delight of Timon and I's life together, likely sitting outside with good wine and fresh strawberries, and our continually interesting conversations.

Fire

2009-02-06T10:49:00.009-05:00

Winter Manifesto :: no. 3

Do everything in front of the fire

The kitties have this one down the best, which is why we love kitties: "why on earth would you clean up that mess in the kitchen when this furry sheepskin by the fire has not a spot of oatmeal on it?"

Last week Shannon and Charmaine took me out for a birthing day celebration, and the fire at Blue Hill certainly did the trick. Fire, and the ephemeral Snow Quince cocktail - frothy elderflower infused alcohol. Thank you ladies, that evening was a long time coming, a whole year in waiting.

NY Botanical Garden Party

2009-02-05T15:34:00.011-05:00

With winter in full force, and a one-year old who is blissfully unaware of a year gone by, we decided a day at the botanical gardens was just the sort of birthday party the whole gang could use. Oona's friends Sedge, Weston, Ava and Ojiah, along with their parents of course, spent a lovely afternoon running wild in the tropics.

Happy Birthday Oona!

2009-02-05T15:09:00.005-05:00

Winter Manifesto #2

2009-02-04T14:09:00.003-05:00

Winter Manifesto :: no. 2

Make Stuff

Black Apple doll

Raggedy Ann made by Grandma Taylor

I wish I'd thought of this

2009-02-04T10:07:00.008-05:00

SouleMama is a regular inspiration in my little circles, and this particular February blog project of hers pretty much epitomizes why I'm so grateful that she blogs nearly every day. If I come up with any "winter manifesto" contributions that she doesn't get to, I'll be sure to add it here. In the meantime, I'm going to follow along with my own interpretations.

Winter Manifesto :: no. 1

Follow the sun

A Birth Story

2009-01-26T09:36:00.005-05:00

(above: Anne, Timon, Oona and I)

Oona's first birthday is Saturday, and I thought I would revisit the day of her birth, before it gets even farther away.

Oona arrived right on time, her due date, January 31. My water broke at 4am, and contractions began immediately. I insisted Timon get some more sleep while I was determined to have a "normal" morning ritual: shower, tea, and breakfast. I wanted to be ready for labor day! As I hopped in the shower I was suddenly compelled to shave my legs for the first time in eight months. So, in between contractions, I was frantically shaving my legs, and feeling very amused at whatever hormones prompted such an impulse.

I never made it downstairs for breakfast. The contractions were intense, right away, and about 5 minutes apart immediately. Timon got out of bed at 6, not having slept a wink, and I asked him to get me some tea - at least tea! but I couldn't keep it down, nor anything else for that matter. We called our amazing doula, Kali, who ran my yoga teacher training program and is so dear to me, and she took the train up to meet us at home. Timon called our expert midwife, Anne, who said to let her know when the contractions became more intense. Kali arrived around 9am, and had me walk up and down the stairs to get things moving. Timon was filling the birth tub, set up in the dining room, and Kali didn't want me to get in yet as sometimes it can slow down the birth. But I was begging to be in water, so she let me stand in the shower. Anne called back and wanted to hear the contractions, and I talked her through one from the shower. I didn't know how intense things were - I'd never done this before! and so I kept telling her it was fine and she didn't need to come yet. After the shower I walked back downstairs and realized I didn't want to talk to Timon or Kali anymore, I just wanted to go inside myself and be with what was happening. Kali still didn't want me in the tub, so she set me up on the couch in deep relaxation pose, with my palms up and my feet turned out. I have done this pose countless times in yoga classes and anytime I need to calm and relax myself, and so it instantly clicked and I went into a deep meditation. (It is the frequency of doing deep relaxation rather than the pose itself that made it so useful.)

I closed my eyes and released everything - all intentions, all muscle control, all desire. I just observed with utter fascination all the things happening within and around me. I told the universe to do whatever it needed to do to birth this baby. I immediately felt physically connected to the extreme forcefulness of life. With my eyes closed I was suddenly surrounded by a whirring black space, with thousands of tiny specks of stars in every direction. Things were moving very very fast, and it was a bit like being on a gravity ride at an amusement park - strong pulls on my body, and if I looked out too far or lost concentration then I would begin to feel dizzy. I was continually telling myself to let go. With every release the faster and harder the "ride" spun. It was exhilarating. And so very very fast and large. Things were moving in a pattern though, it wasn't chaos or strange or confusing. From all this outer space and stars and from every direction, came giant swells of movement, entering me from my extremities - head, fingers and toes, and moved along my body to my center, my solar plexus, my uterus, to surround Oona. Over and over, like waves in four demensional space. By the fourth dimension, I mean something interior, in addition to height, width and depth. An additional something "inside" normal perception.

I was very quiet through all of this, and I have foggy memories of cracking open my eyelids and seeing Kali and Timon discussing where I was in the labor, as they couldn't tell since I wasn't communicating or expressive. Anne called again, asking if she should come yet, and they didn't know what to tell her. A phone was pressed against my ear and Anne said I needed to be the one to tell her if she should come. I said "yes" without thinking and sunk back into the middle of labor. Soon I asked Kali if I could get in the tub and she said she guessed it was fine. They helped me get in, and I suddenly woke up to my surroundings. I looked directly at Timon and said, "Oh no. I want to push. NOW". Timon said he and Kali looked at each other and had a silent exchange where they both knew that if necessary they could birth Oona without Anne. Of course, they immediately called her back and Anne said it would take her at least an hour to get to us, and to get me out of the tub. Back to the living room couch, where Kali helped me to breathe through the contractions, which were now very powerful urges to push. Kali wouldn't let me look anywhere but in her eyes and she stayed right there with me. It was difficult after relinquishing control to suddenly have some intention over my body. The moment Anne walked through the door I was up and they helped me to the tub. I held on to Timon, my very strong, very loving support, in all senses of those words, and he held me while I pushed, and Oona came out 30 minutes later, birthed into the water and into our arms. It all felt so normal, the whole thing, until the haze lifted a couple weeks later, when we realized the space we were in was in fact so special.

And then of course, we began the long, sometimes painful, sometimes fun, always profound process of learning what being a parent means. We shed our old selves, slowly and without much awareness, to make room for a tiny little person with very simple communication skills, and to make room for our new selves as papa and mama, whoever they might be. Now a year later I look at Timon and feel a flood of gratitude so strong that I want to fall on my knees, because I cannot believe I get to do this with him. Despite my best attempts at awareness, I did not know until many months later that during the labor what allowed me to feel safe, to feel secure and confident enough to let go, was Timon, and his confidence and love for me. Not to say that this ride is over by any means, for now when I look at our little family, I am amazed to watch all three of us unfold together.

There are two other people in addition to the cast above who made such an amazing birth experience possible: my parents. They showed me how to live joyfully, to let go, to trust life and be unafraid of wild new rides. And Oona's birth is truly one of the greatest adventures of my life.

58 in the kitchen, 10 outside

2009-01-16T11:08:00.003-05:00

58 in the kitchen, 10 outside, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

In honor of deep winter, I've been taking some photos of ice, mostly around our home. And often it's on the inside of our drafty, 99-year old, three-season, lovely home. You can see these photos here.

Sharing

2009-01-11T16:54:00.005-05:00

Might I direct you to my new favorite blog - seedspindle, by my dear friend Shannon, companion to many of my mothering days. I'm not quite sure who all reads this blog, some of you maybe hear me repeat myself everyday (I am indeed one who shares, and shares again! lest I forgot to share, I err on the side of repetition. you are good to forgive me this.) anyway, I'll pretend that you, internet, have not yet heard my little treats, and tell you as though it were news: I love my mama friends. Amanda, Shannon, Charmaine. what would I do without these ladies? I would suffer. And as we all know, suffering also likes to share, and so my lovely Timon and innocent Oona would also suffer.
Anyway, Shannon's blog. It is an inspiration to me, as it will surely be to you. While I share copiously with chatter, I realize that I am quite afraid to share my words on something so permanent. Its not quite the public that's the problem for me, its the permanance. If someone doesn't like my chatter, I hope that it evaporates quickly for them. But so many issues arise when I can look back and blush.
But as I said, Shannon inspires. And so I think that this year, I will try sharing a little bit more on this here blog.

the worst quality video you'll see all year, but still fun.

2008-12-25T14:36:00.004-05:00

Since our point-and-shoot digi camera is on it's last leg, we have been researching a replacement. In the meantime we are still using it to take 60 second videos that look as if we shot them in 1970. These could actually be the worst quality videos on the web. If you'd like to see more grainy, dark video with strange lines (not from actual film) all over them, then head over to our Flickr site for some truly goofy Oona times.

Happy Solstice Oona

2008-12-21T14:32:00.000-05:00

These happy campers just finished opening their Solstice and Christmas gifts.

My favorite way to eat breakfast. Tea and Oona.

Notice also the super cool wool overalls Keely made from an old sweater of mine. Does this kid look like the cutest boy ever or what? We really do try to make her look girly, but even pink doesn't do it. More pictures are on our Flickr site.

November pics

2008-12-16T15:19:00.004-05:00

Here are some November moments:

More (and better quality) photos over here

Happy 10-Month Birthday Oona!

2008-11-30T18:34:00.008-05:00

a stairs obsession

2008-11-26T06:17:00.000-05:00

Oona is up to hours a day on the stairs. You just have to make yourself a cup of tea and decide, this is where we'll be hanging out today. She loves it.

chatterbox

2008-11-20T18:20:00.001-05:00

Sorry for the darkness of the room, but we are using a 3-year old point and shoot for video. Eventually we'll need to get something better. Either way, you can hear the chatter box.

ghosts in the kitchen

2008-11-19T18:06:00.000-05:00

Something went wrong with video on this one. It looks very poltergeisty.

But the avocado is too much fun.

getting ready for halloween

2008-11-10T17:51:00.001-05:00

Oona is wearing the first part of her Raggedy Ann outfit for Halloween.

Keely finished the rest in time for our little party.

an oldie but goodie

2008-11-03T07:37:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

i think oona's around 5 or 6 months old here. chubby and bald!

in the city

2008-11-03T07:36:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

oona and i frequently head to the city to meet timon for lunch. one afternoon we decided to be spontaneous (and use some of our accumulated free hotel nights, untouched for months), and stay at the W hotel at union square. a sort of vacation to our old life.

2008-11-03T07:34:00.003-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

2008-11-03T07:34:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

Harvest Fest at Stone Barns

2008-11-03T07:33:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

oona got friendly with the haybales

2008-11-03T07:32:00.005-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

A typical evening

2008-11-03T07:32:00.003-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

spent crawling up mama's leg while dinner is getting made.

2008-11-03T07:32:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

This is the expression on Ojiah's face most of the time. and yes, oona's usually chewing on sticks.

Apple Picking

2008-11-03T07:31:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

Apple Picking

2008-11-03T07:30:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

we went apple picking a few weeks back with shannon and the kids. too much fun was had by all, and we all got the flu a few days later. but it was still worth it.

2008-11-03T07:29:00.005-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

the rolling catskills behind timon

mamas in action

2008-11-03T07:29:00.003-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

Aprons

2008-11-03T07:29:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

After Charmaine gave me a cute apron/smock dress to use for a pattern, I've been making a few of these for oona. This is one I made before our apple picking trip, and embroidered oak leaves and acorns in honor of fall.

2008-11-03T07:27:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

Rachel Rocks!

2008-11-03T07:13:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

This is Oona's amazing babysitter, and one of our best friends. Rachel and I have been super good friends since freshman year of high school, and she is THE MOST AMAZING friend to kids. Seriously, look at the smile on Oona's face? She's so happy to get to hang with Rach. Thanks love!

2008-11-03T07:11:00.005-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

2008-11-03T07:11:00.003-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

2008-11-03T07:11:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

2008-11-03T07:10:00.003-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

2008-11-03T07:10:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

2008-11-03T07:09:00.003-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

2008-11-03T07:09:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

Just in case you think Oona's all smiles, all the time...

At home

2008-11-03T07:08:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

We spend a lot of time playing outside with the kitties.

2008-11-03T07:07:00.003-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

2008-11-03T07:07:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

Oona's entourage

2008-11-03T07:06:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

2008-11-03T07:05:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

Too cute, these two!

Family in the woods!

2008-11-03T07:04:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

Homemade

2008-11-03T07:03:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

I have been sewing lots of things for Oona lately, but haven't gotten to take photos of many of them. This is the flapper hat I made her, which she is pretty much grown out of.

2008-11-03T07:02:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

2008-11-03T07:01:00.002-05:00

, originally uploaded by timon and keely.

Oona likes her nap on papa's back. Timon's dad took this photo - thanks Paul!

playing maraca

2008-09-30T19:27:00.007-04:00

a visit to waldorf

2008-09-29T20:06:00.006-04:00

Keely, Oona, Ojiah, Sedge, and Shannon all went for a visit to the local (not local enough) Waldorf School. Apparently the bridge was the real draw for posing.

picnic at croton point

2008-09-28T19:12:00.001-04:00

Occasionally Keely and Oona meet me at the train which happens to let me off right next to a great park, Croton Point Park. This is where the land juts out into the Hudson River and, aside from the fact that it is also a big land fill, makes a great picnic spot. It also tops my vote for the best way to come home from work.

Oona spends most of her time trying to eat leaves and we spend our time trying to eat our food without her attacking it. The rest of the time is spent, apparently, throwing Oona in the air, skipping, and otherwise rolling around.

and eating more leaves

and grass

and climbing all over papa

and sitting in trees

and practicing crawling

and just hanging out.

tailgate party!

2008-09-27T20:25:00.001-04:00

We took a little flea market run a couple weeks back. Oona made out like a bandit. A whole box full of handmade trucks including two semis with trailers, a bulldozer, a boat, and two old fashioned cars (over a foot long). I'll have to post a picture later. We also found a great circa 1910 wagon, which I can't wait to pull her in. The parents just got a shoe rack, humph.

learning to crawl

2008-09-26T18:03:00.002-04:00

You've probably noticed that we have not updated our blogs as frequently as we used to. There's a simple answer, we've been a little busy. I'm going to play catch up this week and will post some photos and videos of the last two months. Here's a video clip of Oona as she was learning to crawl. She's quick now (only a couple weeks later). It's amazing to me how fast she has gone from yelling every few inches to moving around the house on any whim.

Indulgance in the videos, plus pics

2008-09-06T08:38:00.010-04:00

Home videos, what can we say? Feel free to skip these if unabashed love and affection makes you wheezy. Basically, grandparents, these are for you!

A visit to the state park:

Oona and I helped Ti move into his new office, and discovered the joys of nyc playgrounds

We also took a trip to grandma's to play with cousin Zoe!

Luke! where are you!

at the farm with shannon and ojiah

2008-08-15T08:32:00.002-04:00

ragamuffin pants and wool booties

2008-08-15T08:30:00.005-04:00

i had these old floor cushions of soft cotton burlap, and oona was due for some new pants, so now she's ready for the fall weather. i also took timon's old sweater and made booties.

six months

2008-08-15T07:53:00.005-04:00

happy birthday to our little family!

in the park

2008-07-12T10:20:00.001-04:00

Thanks Amanda for taking these shots!

playing

2008-07-10T10:06:00.000-04:00

playing with papa at the fish shack.

portland

2008-07-10T10:02:00.001-04:00

oona takes a nap, wakes up and visits the dead.

2008-07-09T06:01:00.000-04:00

We've recently returned from a quick trip to Portland Maine, and on the way we stopped to see our lovely friends Amanda and Scott outside of boston. Amanda took these photos of Oona:

visiting the folks

2008-06-21T07:38:00.002-04:00

It was time for a little reunion on the McPhearson side of the family, so we went back to Indiana for a few days, as did my brothers and sisters. A few pics are on the main blog, but, of course, Oona still holds the spotlight.

An early morning walk.

Rocking with Grandpa.

Canoeing on the pond at Grandma's.

Afternoon swinging with Aunt Abby.

Oona with cousin Teague and Uncle Josh the morning before we headed back to NY.

Silly monkey.

tummy time with papa

2008-06-09T10:04:00.001-04:00

central park

2008-06-08T10:01:00.000-04:00

enjoying the garden

2008-06-07T09:56:00.000-04:00

family visit

2008-06-06T09:58:00.000-04:00

fahnestock state park

2008-05-30T11:21:00.005-04:00

The weather has been incredible this spring. Now that summer is finally here and my work schedule is a bit more relaxed, we are trying to find new places to get outside. Keely just discovered a gigantic 14,000 acre park, Fahnestock State Park, only 30 minutes from home that has tons of hiking and camping. Last weekend we took Oona on her first long hike and we all had a blast. We are planning to camp this weekend.

Of course she slept for a lot of the hiking.

teatown

2008-05-28T11:14:00.001-04:00

We are taking regular walks in a nearby reserve called Teatown. It is about 5 minutes from our house, which makes perfect daily or near daily jaunts. Last weekend my sister Keren came up for a short visit we spent it walking around the lake and through Griffin Swamp.

a morning nap

2008-05-25T11:57:00.000-04:00

egg o'clock

2008-05-24T11:56:00.002-04:00

Since Keely was pregnant we began something we called breakfast number two. It has morphed into "Egg O'clock", which is usually somewhere around 10am. Now that Oona has more head control and loves to sit up, she is taking a more active interest in the preparation.

Keely is sauteing some swiss chard from Jack and Shannon's farm.

Of course even sitting can be tiring.

Posing.

workin' out

2008-05-23T11:50:00.003-04:00

Generally speaking, Oona hates "tummy time." But she is slowly building strength in her upper body. She used to only last a couple minutes before squawking, but now she'll hang out on her tummy for 10 minutes or so. We are so proud.

For a rest she gets to practice her vocabulary and readings skills. Ha!

in the park

2008-05-14T18:19:00.000-04:00

Oona and Keely visited Morningside Park and Columbia University last Sunday for Mother's Day. I had to give a final exam to my students (strange no?) in the afternoon so they came with me to give my students a little treat. My freshman have been begging to meet Oona since she was born as I can't teach a single day without using her as an example.

getting out of town

2008-05-05T18:29:00.003-04:00

We had a great weekend! Saturday we took a family trip to nearby towns Cold Springs and Beacon, which I think it is safe to say we all needed. The drive was beautiful and the towns are quaint, though the weather was a little on the gray chilly side. Then we spent Sunday celebrating our friend Charmaine's birthday with her family on a perfectly sunny day (no pictures, but lots of fun).

The way Oona sits in the carrier it is always hard to see her full face. You can almost make out her grin though.

complete silliness

2008-05-01T18:30:00.001-04:00

get that head up girl!

2008-05-01T16:39:00.000-04:00

Click on video for the real show.

still trying to catch that smile

2008-04-30T17:59:00.000-04:00

Multiple times a day Oona and her parents get into near laughing fits from our silly interactions, but they rarely show up on camera. Here I am trying to catch a smile and the best I could get was her tongue.

thumbin' it

2008-04-29T18:56:00.000-04:00

Oona's got her thumb finally. Which means a happy baby as long as she can suck on some part of her fist.

partyin' with sedge and friends

2008-04-27T18:25:00.002-04:00

Sunday was Sedge's 3 year birthday party and our first baby party.

Ojiah gave Oona a demonstration of the tummy time push up and even gave her a little, "here's how to roll over girl" lesson as well.

first family portrait

2008-04-27T09:29:00.004-04:00

A family of posers.

"This rock is cold Mama."

Oona's cousin Zoe couldn't resist the photo op.

jumpin' jumper

2008-04-26T10:21:00.006-04:00

"I'm not really walking here Mama, just trying to keep my head up."

eatin' out

2008-04-25T22:07:00.000-04:00

Oona is finally commanding her own place at the table. Which usually means our laps, but after 3 months we can finally say she's starting to like the stroller. Thank you god. Our arms need an occasional break.

bubbly

2008-04-22T13:33:00.001-04:00

spring

2008-04-22T13:24:00.004-04:00

Our big girl already commands her own porch swing.

lunchtime

2008-04-15T18:18:00.008-04:00

"These strange parents. Always putting me in weird poses. And they talk funny too. Some kind of baby talk. I can't make it out."

"Come on girl, you can stand up. I know you are only 10 weeks, but let's starting talking and walking already."

"Ummm, Mama? Can I sit back down now?"

"Ahhh, finally a break. Lunch can be so demanding."

faces

2008-04-15T13:06:00.000-04:00

Oona obviously knows something is a bit auspicious
about the office party in the dining room today.

That's right, it's tax time. Grunt, grumble, laugh.

tummy time

2008-04-14T15:47:00.002-04:00

Tummy time is a regular thing around here. Keely keeps this girl working. There are no slouches in this house. Oona has to do her yoga too.

Click on video for a motion version of Oona's workout routine.

hammock time

2008-04-13T18:31:00.000-04:00

Oona isn't sleeping in the hammock anymore. She's back in bed with us. But it is still useful for the 20 or 30 minutes here and there when we can get her to entertain herself while we rush some work through. I think she's about done with the high contrast visual cards. She's ready for more interesting stimuli.

good morning

2008-04-12T11:39:00.000-04:00

Mornings are a good time around here. Oona almost always wakes up in a stellar mood. I haven't gotten out of bed yet to record her laughs and near giggles. But I will soon. We tend to play for a good 30 minutes while Keely steals an early shower. It's good Papa and Oona time and we like it.

on the patio

2008-04-08T15:49:00.002-04:00

happy giggle fart time

2008-04-03T11:16:00.004-04:00

Oona is starting to have a regular half hour or so where we just put her in this little bouncy seat and she giggles and farts her way to funtime all on her own. What a concept.

making faces

2008-04-03T11:12:00.003-04:00

back on the porch

2008-04-03T10:57:00.003-04:00

Spring is here but still a little chilly on the porch. I'm anxious to have Oona crawling around in the yard while we get back to gardening. A little warmer weather please?

on the front

2008-04-02T11:10:00.000-04:00

The amount of time Keely's has Oona strapped on to her seems to be approximating all day long. Oona loves this method of constant motion snuggled into Mama for passing out.

self portrait

2008-04-01T11:20:00.000-04:00

mornings

2008-04-01T08:08:00.000-04:00

2 months, already!

2008-03-31T09:02:00.000-04:00

I can't help it, this photo is just a little funny don't you think? I mean, when she gets her scream on, oh girl, it's a special thing.

supersocks superhero

2008-03-13T21:51:00.009-04:00

Thanks to Jenni from Finland for knitting Oona such surprisingly powerful mitts.