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February 11 Another milestone - no more fixed car seatsOur cars are car seat-free for the first time in 9 1/2 years. There are still booster seats -- eight in all -- but no more struggling with five-point straps, LATCH anchors, top tethers, and locking clips. And I don't miss any of it. For the record, the actual dates of significance are January 3, 2008, when Anna & Leah rode in their car seats for the last time, and January 8, 2008, when the car seats were removed for the last time. I'd like to be able to put the car seats to use somewhere else, but unfortunately because of their age nobody will take them (nor should they). But while we're getting rid of them, we'll be donating other related items (cribs, highchairs, toys, etc.) that we no longer need to Baby Boutique. January 31 Le-ologismA few weeks ago, when we explained to Anna & Leah that we had signed them up for dance and gymnastics classes, we told them that they would get to wear leotards to their classes. Leah quickly corrected us: "No, only I get to wear a leotard. Anna has to wear an annatard." January 29 PricelessIt could be a cliché from a MasterCard commercial, but after spending money on clothing, skis, lift tickets, and lessons, I finally got to ski with Isaac and Golda on Saturday. It was their third week of classes and the first week when they got to take the chair lift up and ski down. Isaac was pretty comfortable by the time I got him at the end of class but Golda hadn't skiied down on her own. With some encouragement, she was able to make it down by herself, doing the snow plow (or "pizza wedge", as they now call it) the whole way down. Thanks to short lift lines, we were able to make three more runs, and each time she got more comfortable.
For now I have a slight edge on skis, but I expect that to evaporate by the end of this season. If I'm lucky, I'll get another one or two seasons where they're still willing to ski with me. And maybe a few more where we'll ride the lifts together. July 27 Golda's first lost tooth (July 19th)Last Wednesday Golda lost her first tooth. She was so excited for the tooth fairy to come that she couldn't wait to go to sleep, but at the same time she wanted to stay up all night waiting for the tooth fairy. Fortunately she did go to sleep and the tooth fairy did visit, leaving behind a note containing, as Golda is quick to point out, a Sacagawea dollar. Bainbridge Island day tripA couple of Sundays ago we took a long talked-about trip to Bainbridge Island.
With help from a brand new edition of Best Hikes With Kids: Western Washington & the Cascades, recommended by Rick and purchased from our local bookstore, we found a suitable hike at Gazzam Lake Park, followed by lunch at Cafe Nola. And of course, the two ferry rides were big hits.
Unfortunately we forgot the camera so I had to make do with my mobile phone's camera, from which I produced only one worthy photo (below). June 22 7 Years, 10 Months, 22 daysIt turns out that June 21, 2006 was a day of milestones for our family. It was the last day of school at Lakeridge, so Golda is now officially done with kindergarten and Isaac with second grade (which means he's halfway done with elementary school).
But highly signficant is that after nearly eight years, we appear to be out of the diaper changing business. Until a week or two ago we'd reduced diaper usage to only during sleep time, and then last week stopped nap time diapers. After consistently overnight dry diapers for the past week, we decided last night to let Anna & Leah go diaper free at night. Success! So barring any sudden regressions, we are back to being a diaper-free family (as we were from summer 2002 through late 2003), this time permanently. June 21 About the AuthorIsaac wrote and illustrated a fictional story for school recently based on the real-life pets in his classroom. Most notable is what he wrote on the back cover:
June 11 Farewell, Sweet CribsA lot has happened since the last post. Anna & Leah are now 2 1/2, Golda is 6 and nearly finished with kindergarten, and Isaac is nearly halfway through elementary school. Anna & Leah have gone from starting to use the potty to being almost entirely toilet trained (wearing diapers just at night as a precaution) and now largely forsaking the potty chairs for the regular toilet. And we did a big bedroom shift in mid-March, with everybody shifting one room clockwise: Anna & Leah to Golda's former room, Golda to Isaac's former room, Isaac to the former office, and the office to the fomer nursery.
I'm overdue to post photos but due to a current incompability between the IE 7 Beta and MSN Spaces (due to be fixed later this month) I'll have to wait a bit longer.
Today's big news is that we disassembled the cribs for the last time and moved Anna & Leah into toddler beds. It may be a while before we get a good night's sleep again.
For the record, here's the lineage of the two cribs:
Crib #1
Purchased spring 1998
Isaac: August 1998-February 2001
On display for house selling purposes: February-May 2001
Golda: May 2001-November 2002
Storage: November 2002-November 2003
Anna & Leah: November 2003-April 2004
Anna: April 2004-March 2006
Leah: March 2006-June 2006
Crib #2
Purchased spring 2004
Leah: April 2004-March 2006
Anna: March 2006-June 2006
Michele wants to save them for our potential grandchildren but I've assured her that by the time we have grandchildren these cribs will no longer meet the appropriate safety standards. (Even the manufacturer gives the cribs only a fifteen-year lifetime.) October 04 Potty TimeAnna and Leah have started showing interest in potties, so we got our old ones out of storage this weekend. I'll spare the details except to say that both enjoy sitting on them and have used them successfully, when prompted. Not that they'll be ready to give up diapers any time soon.
And we have added potties to the list of things that aren't easily shared. We must thus double our supply to handle twins. Safe at SafecoLast Tuesday Isaac and I went to see the Mariners play Texas at Safeco Field. It was a work-related event that was hosted in the private suites so it was upscale by baseball standards, luxury boxes with catered food and drink. We sat up high in right field, not far from the foul pole and Ichiro.
Since it was a school night we left in the eighth inning and got back to the car just in time to hear Felix Hernandez give up the game-tying run with two outs in the top of the ninth. Texas ended up winning in 11 innings.
I'm not sure what the highlight was for Isaac: The usher who gave him two baseball cards, the pizza, popcorn, soda, and cookies, or the actual game. But I know what it was for me: As we left the car and started walking toward the stadium, Isaac asked, "Dad, would you hold my hand?" StairsBoth Anna and Leah continue to improve climbing up the stairs, though neither is quite ready to ascend unsupervised. As of a week or two ago, Leah will now climb down the stairs by herself, mostly sliding down on her stomach, while Anna still prefers to be carried. Both will walk down the three steps of the lower landing holding onto the balusters. Starting SchoolThese are a few weeks old already, but I took them while the kids were waiting for the bus during the first week of school. September 08 Inside the mind of a seven year-oldLast week on Lopez Island I introduced Isaac and Golda to Mille Bornes. I also taught Isaac the teaser line from the Seinfeld finale: "I've always loved U... -nited Airlines." Someone these two spawned the following expression that Isaac has been repeating this week: "I love you, United Coup Fourré." September 05 September 3, 2005: Golda + (Anna or Leah) = IsaacThis past Saturday, September 3rd, was the day when Isaac's age was the sum of Golda's plus Anna's or Leah's. In other words, Anna and Leah are the same age now (21 1/2 months) that Isaac was when Golda was born. And Golda is the same age now (5 years, 3 1/2 months) that Isaac was when Anna and Leah were born. That's The Way (I Like It)I don't know exactly how it started, but last week I taught Isaac and Golda the chorus to the song That's The Way (I Like It) by KC & The Sunshine Band. They were quite taken with it and have continued to sing it since then, gyrations included. They've also started to teach it to their sisters, so now Isaac will sing "That's the way" and Leah will respond "I like it". Eight days on Lopez IslandWe just returned yesterday from eight days on Lopez Island with Grandma Joanie and Grandpa Bo. Lots of relaxation, bike riding (including Golda continuing to improve and Isaac riding into the village on a the back of my bike), low-impact hikes, dinners at home (including s'mores nearly every night), and general family time. No computers and no broadcast television.
We splurged on this place but it was well worth it. A great property in a great location and the house was both well-maintained and well-equipped.
Photos to follow. August 22 Golda and her bicycle, take 3We did another session with Golda this evening. She's pretty much mastered the basics of riding so we worked on stopping without falling. As a bonus she's able to steer and turn given enough width. August 21 Golda and her bicycle, take 2We took Golda out on her bicycle this evening after dinner, the second time she went riding without training wheels. (We would have tried to do it earlier this week but she was sick a good portion of the week with the fever that's been going through the house.)
We started on the grass for her to get the hang of it again, and after a few back and forths we persuaded her to try in the parking lot. The risk of falling on hard ground was clearly outweighed by the advantage of a much lower friction riding surface, and by the end of the session she was riding the entire length of the parking lot by herself. She was even able to stop unassisted a couple of times.
She still needs to get better at stopping and then work on starting and steering, but if last year's experience with Isaac is any indication she'll have mastered those within a couple of weeks.
Here's are a couple of action shots I took with my phone's camera while running alongside her.
P.S. Anna and Leah came along to watch. While Golda was taking a break Leah tried to climb on the bicycle and take it for a ride. August 16 More words from LeahShe now responds to questions affirmatively by saying "Yah!" And her favorite color for the moment is "lello." Golda and her bicycleGolda's training wheels came off Sunday afternoon and we practiced on the grassy slope behind Islander Middle School. By the end of the session she was able to ride for 5-10 seconds without me supporting her. She still has a ways to go before she can ride by herself, but having been through the same effort with Isaac last year, I have a clear recollection of a) the steps by which she'll progress, and b) how much improvement she'll make every time she gets on the bike.
Next steps, roughly in order:
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