Simple Saturday

Slowly woke up. Drank a pot of coffee. Read the paper. At some point in the day this transitioned to talk radio and rooibos tea with milk. Enjoying the low key day. Looking forward to Eric coming home tonight in time for salmon and our most recent Netflix delivery. 

Henry enjoying the latest Music Together CD. Minutes before this photo, he was aggressively patting his lap. That's what we do in class to the "hello" song. Those CDs are "baby charmers" -- Won't get in your high chair? Put the CD on. Think the wood floors are fire and can't be put down from Mom or Dad's arms? Put the CD on. 

He recently started standing up on his own to walk around. The first few times he did it he clapped and laughed uncontrollably. You could tell he was proud of himself. 

My new end table. Neighbor Camille gave me this antique suitcase over the summer. It's been in my basement just begging to be given a purpose. My morning coffee inspired its new use. We'll see how long it lasts. I can only imagine what Catalog Living would say about this one! Ha.

Chopped!

Now you see it...

Now you don't...

I want to be a toddler

As I sipped my liquid sleep and Henry ate breakfast, I noted a few things about his behavior: he was hungry and he enjoyed watching his actions in the buffet mirror. Then I thought, "Gosh, I want to be a toddler."

I want to scream when I'm mad. I want to shovel food in my mouth when I'm hungry. I want to cry alligator tears when I'm sad (well, I guess I already do that one. Right, Eric?!). I want to lie down on the floor and simultaneously bang my arms and legs on the hardwood when I'm frustrated. I want to watch myself in a mirror for a few seconds every day - not out of vanity, but because I really don't know what I look like when I eat or say "ga." And I want to laugh uncontrollably at nothing.

Ramblings

"Tulips in spring. Tulips in spring. Tulips in spring."

My mantra to get me through these long, cold winter days.

Eric and I will be visiting one of my "family"members across the big pond in The Hague come April/May. *sigh* Looking forward to catching up with an old friend and reminiscing about the good ol' days. Those thoughts alone are enough to warm me up from this arctic chill.

Mirjam and me...sideways

Thirty by 30

Inspired by an old high school friend,  I wrote down some things I would like to accomplish this upcoming year and a half before I turn thirty. Here is my list:

1. Clean out attic room
2. Buy [and wear] red lipstick for a day
3. Organize closet and dresser
4. Tattoo
5. Write Henry's birth story in his journal
6. (on that note) Not be pregnant
7. Seven day cleanse of just local and/or organic fruits & veggies
8. Bike from Cannon Falls to Red Wing...and back
9. Read "Pride & Prejudice"
10. Knit a scarf
11. Make my own place mats and cloth napkins
12. Learn to play a song on the Casio
13. MIA day
14. Tent camp
15. Picnic in Sculpture Garden
16. Bike around Minnehaha Falls...in one of those crazy bikes...while eating an ice cream cone
17. Refinish chair for Henry's playroom
18. Go to local meditation center
19. Fix the swing set
20. Refinish rocking horse for Henry's 2nd birthday
21. Have dinner at Corner Table
22. Waconia day
23. Jog around Lake Harriet and Calhoun
24. Try brussels sprouts again
25. Go sailing
26. Teach Walter and Ardy how to stay
27. Get photo albums up-to-date
28. Vodka gimlet at Moscow on the Hill's patio
29. Go to a drive-in movie
30. Museum of Russian Art

Grand Forks

We had an awesome weekend with the Cutler duo in Grand Forks. The weather was chilly, of course, but we kept ourselves occupied with food, food, and more food (and a cocktail here and there ;). Oh yeah, we also experienced a virtual hurricane:

Thanks to the coaching of the Cutlers, Henry is now up to walking about five or six feet! Perhaps he will be "toddling" by the time we start ECFE (which would be great since the class is actually called "Toddling Toddlers")....