Camera takes a break

For the month of March, Camera is taking a break. This is so that Dan can finish several papers which he is frantically working on as well as prepare for his first interview at the end of the month at Notre Dame. That being said, I think I may not post our photos from Seattle for a while, if ever.

The good news is that camera, in lower case (also known as PointAndShoot), has been rescued from the confines of my desk and had its batteries recharged. So I can keep you posted with lower quality but still fun photos of our life.

In addition to crawling, Nory pulls herself up on everything. Who me?

Her Valentine balloon (#2, the one I bought her on post-valentine-clearance after she released her first one into the wild) is still afloat, and still Nory's favorite toy. She liked crawling into this box with it.

Mealtime has become a very fun, very messy affair around here. But hey, at least she's finally eating!

I found these baskets this morning at Micheal's at 50% off. The laundry basket full of baby toys in the living room just wasn't cutting it anymore! And since one of Nory's favorite activities is slamming her fingers in drawers, it didn't seem like we were quite ready for a wooden toy chest yet.

Seattle
Our trip to Seattle, by the way, was our best trip yet (this was our 4th time flying with Nory!). She didn't nap much but slept like a champ in the hotel at night - a first. She was pretty good on the airplane both ways. We got to see lots of friends and both of us were able to work during the week. I also had two free days, one of which I spent meeting up with Christine (+ Peter & Moira) and Abby (+ Suzanna) at the Everett Children's Museum. Peter entertained himself with the trains and the girls and baby girls tried to chat and keep the babies from pulling each others hair. Moira was 6 months, Suzanna was 7 months, and Nory was 9 months, but they were all more or less the same size - well the same height anyway. Very cute. My other free day I drove down to Gig Harbor to enjoy a lovely afternoon with Kimber and her daughter Reese. Two year olds say the funniest things! We had a great time.

The downsides of our trip to Seattle:

1. I left Nory with one of my very most favorite people in the whole world, Abby, while I was working. Unfortunately Nory did not get the memo that Abby was one of our very most favorite people, and she cried with her head flopped over to the floor when I left her all three days. I fear Nory will not be happy to see Abby again for some time, regardless of the fun time she eventually had playing with Suzanna.
2. A brief episode involving flames and a pizza at a "very silly house." Enough said. Easily worth the smoke to see some very favorite friends (not to be named here, due to the association with the flaming pizza).
3. Nory was fed formula for the first time in her life (except for the first 3 weeks of her existence) and it did not agree with her. At least, I think this is what didn't agree with her - maybe she just needed to get used to it. She had no problem eating it, but the entire time we were in Seattle, she pooped A LOT. Including but not limited to:

• 5 minutes before docking in Seattle on the Bainbridge Island/Seattle ferry. This required a super fast diaper and clothing change in the backseat of the rental car. When I finally got Nory cleaned up enough to put a new diaper on her... she peed all over the back seat of the car. Thank God it was a rental.
• At Chinooks where we were enjoying dinner with Jon Clarke and his lovely new wife Shannon. Nory started fussing and I reached over to peak in the back of her pants at her diaper... and my hand came out poopy! NOT FUN in a restaurant!
• In the AREVA parking lot (there's not really anywhere convenient to change a baby in an office building).
• At Jayant and Rina Vasudeva's house. This one was particularly incredible, since Nory managed to cover herself, and my shirt, in poop. Requiring a bath. And since she had already pooped through 2 outfits earlier in the day, we both headed back to the hotel wearing borrowed clothing. Nory looked very cute in Sid's little boy overalls and shirt!

Next stop, Redlands! Nory and I are leaving Dan behind so he can work and we can visit Nana and Grandpa. I can't wait! And I will bring camera and possibly Camera along too!