Stockings, Presents, and Other Merry Activities

All He Wanted for Christmas was a Bicycle!

Yes, this is all he wanted for Christmas, but he still can't quite reach the pedals. I think that we can adjust them, but getting this trike back to Portland will be tricky.

The Snows of Colorado

In these pictures you can see Malcolm with his new little wheely backpack which will make a great diaper bag. His cousin Matthew is also featured in one photo.

Christmas 2007-Part 1-Colorado

Well, I finally have a moment to write. December has certainly been a whirlwind! We moved on December 1st, then there was unpacking, and Christmas preparations, and still need to do more planning about the big guys birthday. We have also had a lot of challenges. Malcolm's Baba has been working nights and I am still working days so we only see each other on Sundays and sometimes Malcolm does not get to spend quality time with his Baba for the better part of a week, but we are making it through. We have had other challenges well, but I have tried to keep the focus on Christmas and love and peace.

We came out to Colorado for about five days while Baba Malcolm is working, then we are going to do a family Christmas in Portland when we get home. That is why the title of this posting is Christmas part 1, but I am now posting several pictures from Christmas so far. It has been pretty cool, complete with a small Christmas miracle, and snow on Christmas Day.

Malcolm made his grandma a very special cup at Mimosa Studios in Portland. We were supposed to pick it up on Friday so we could have it on the plane on Saturday, but their kiln shut down in mid job which had never happened before and they had to ship it. It was upposed to arrive on Christmas Eve, but it didn't and I was worried and preparing my speech to the company, but it arrived on Christmas Day as we were still unwrapping presents so it was great. We will start with the picture of grandma and her cup then, and then post others as we go along.

I hope that everyone out there is doing well, let's hope for the sake of the children that 2008 is a year that brings more peave, more understanding, and some real change and care for our planet.

Catching Up

It has been a while since I have really written anything significant for this blog. Mostly, I have just been filling it with pictures and hoping that they would speak for themselves, but I think that some reflection is in order.

Life has been moving fast lately. I have been increasing my hours at work, and that has been hard on Malcolm. He does not really accept my being away on Fridays well, and that has made having less time off even harder on me, but I think that we are starting to adjust. I may send him to his nursery school on Fridays soon, and that may help. He is so nurtured and loved there and I think that he really needs time with other children now.

Malcolm is also learning all kinds of new things. My favorite thing is that he has started nursing his teddy bear from time to time. I have not been able to catch on camera yet, but one day I will and then I think that I will send it in to Mothering magazine for all the world to see because it is too darn adorable. However, I must mention that he is not fond of me trying to nursing his teddy bears that results in a lot of jealousy.

I have attached a little picture of him a few weeks ago. I was getting his bath water ready for him so he could take his bath in the little basin, and his Daddy called me to ask a question. When I turned around Malcolm had climbed on in clothes and all and was washing his sock! I thought it was pretty funny and that I would share it with you all. We have not had many adventures lately, still recovering from October, but we are moving so there is much commotion on the homefront.

Happy Halloweeen 2007

Check Out My Baby's Fine Motor Skills!

Look at that grip! My baby is going to be a writer like his mama!

It Just Wouldn't Be Pacific Northwesty Enough Without a Picture of a Spotted Owl

.....So here it is!

Playing in a teepee

Dancer at the Powow in Wy-Kan-Ush-Pum Village

Here is a picture of a dancer at the small pow wow that they had at Wy-Kan-USh Pum Willage. I can now tell you that Wy-Kan-USh-Pum means the Salmon People. See, I get more muli-lingual by the day! :) Malcolm loved the drumming and took off into the middle of the circle dance which is like a community dance, but her did not want to dance with me. He wanted to dance with everyone else. I didn't get any pictures of that part because I was too busy dancing!

Malcolm and Baba playing in the sand next to the river

Beautiful Boy on the beach

Oxbow River

This is the river in Oxbow Park. I had never been there before and I was impressed by its beauty. It was great to be out in the fresh and crisp autumn air, surrounded by color and beauty-oh yea and a lot of people who are positively loopy over salmon. :)

Our Centennial

So Blogger tells me that my last post was teh 100th one! GO figure. I felt like I should say something about that so I am , only nothing particularly profound is coming to mind. Perhaps the only thing that this really signifies is that I am verbose and very hooked on mamahood. We ill see. Well, on to other things. The next series of photos is all about our trip to the Salmon Festival with Malcolm's new school.

I Love My Daddy...Well, I think so ;)

Our Autumn Walks

Here are some pictures from our recent walk. Malcolm and I have been enjoying spending some moments watching the autumn come and the seasons change. He also has developed a very tight relationship with a white cat that lives in the neighborhood. You will see the cat in this slideshow.

More Autumn Pics

Here are more pics of our little bugaboo including his majesty in his stroller, a blue bird that we saw on our walk, one of his first paintings and a picture of him a at his new school.

New Autumn Pictures

Things have been really busy for our little family lately. All sorts of transitions abound, but some things that I am excited about are the new little school that Malcolm will be going to, another pumpkin patch trip, Halloween, warm cider and much more!

Malcolm's New Friend From Across the Street

Meet Boo's Across the street playmate Sequoia. We just met a couple of weeks ago and they have become fast friends. Here are some pictures of them playing when we went over to Sequoia and his Mommy and Daddy's house for dinner.

All the New Things Malcolm can do

Ok, so first I am really excited about all the new things that Malcolm can do all of a sudden. It is just like part of him just woke up and bloomed. Suddenly he is helping me wash the dishes, while standing on a stepping stool, carrying water and helping clean his new little potty, walking to everyone in church and shaking hands during greeting time all by himself, and so much more.

Today he stunned me in church. He stood up when everyone else stood up, sat down when they sat, sang when they sang (in his own language of course) clapped when they applauded and added his own little "yay!" to the end of each song. The amazing thing though was watching him walk around shaking hands.

I am posting a picture of him this morning. I left his left toilet in the sun to dry after we scrubbed it down together ( he even washed it with his own little sponge), but when he saw it he just went back to the tub of water outside and started washing it again. I didn't want to discourage him from cleaning so I took a picture.

It is good that he is learning to clean because on the downside THIS KID HAS BEEN PEEING ON EVERYTHING! That is driving me crazy. He takes off his diaper and pees. He sleeps in his diaper and soaks through a diaper and liner and wrap and sheet and mattress. He gets undressed to take a bath, but first pees on the bathroom floor. I have had to wash so many things I am losing my mind. I don't mind messes-art, food, water, juice-no problem. Pee pee-yuck!

Trillium Lake

Here is a picture of the beautiful Trillium Lake where we went today with people from our church. We had a great time, by the end of the day I was more relaxed than I had been in weeks, but Malcolm did not get a nap until the car ride home so in some of the pictures of him he was getting pretty tired. There was just too much to see and do! Nonetheless, we had a great time and I would love to go to that lake again!

At the campground water spout

This floats my Boat Mom

Taking a ride in the floaty boat

Malcolm takes a dip in the lake

This video is a little rough. Malcolm never jumps into the water without his cue "Ready Malcolm Swim" so I was taping him wading at the side of the lake when he decided to take a dip, and then I had to juggle camera and getting him out of the water. He loved watching this video though so I think he will gladly jump back in another day,

Playing at Wilshire Park