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November 30, 2002

Reaching, Growing

Estella shows strong determination, lately, in play. Her unique personality can be seen in her behavior and her own will is evident more and more.

Here she is reaching for a toy. It is pretty awesome to witness her rapid change from infant to baby - and soon to little girl. Now, she seems even more interested in all that she experiences. She regularily goes on walks where she is calm and observant for up to and over an hour.

Play time can last as long as she has energy. She gently lets you know when she is tired and if you are real perceptive you can get her from play to rest to sleep without even a whimper. Often, after a long walk or a playful bath, she goes down to sleep quite happily as if she was waiting on you for her cozy bed.

Always, though, after she has fallen asleep, I check on her. By putting my cheek against hers and listening, I can hear her breathe and feel her warmth and her soft skin and baby hair. Ahhhh...
Oh, by the way, the Christmas lights are up.

Posted by clappstar at 09:47 PM

November 27, 2002

Hey Look At Me

This silly baby always has a big smile for us, even, and often especially, when she wakes up.

She had fallen asleep on a long walk through previously unexplored areas of Greenwood. While making our way towards the local Starbucks we beheld quite a sight.

Picture this. We are walking down the quiet residential road when we hear a squawk from a bird flying towards us from the left. Observing this erratically flying small bird, I notice it is being chased by a similarily small bird. However, the assailant is not flying as much as darting like a missile. In a somewhat violent instant just before the frantic chirping bird is caught, the small bird moves left and then down. The assailing hawk, I think a Sharp-Shinned Hawk, immediately splays its wings and, in a rush of wind, nearly stops in mid air trying to adjust for the fleeing bird. We hear a whoosh followed by a strong flap and the hawk is darting again. But by this time the bird has managed to fly between small trees and into some bushes and effectively escapes the sharp talons of the hawk. Whoa! Better than watching the discovery channel. The hawk retreats to a high perch. With just a second to rest he is off again, this time out of sight.

Posted by clappstar at 02:57 AM | Comments (3)

November 22, 2002

New Baby Clothes

Little 5 month old baby Estella looks like a model for Baby Gap wearing her sweet little fleece overalls.

Our little tiny baby girl is sitting up quite well. Wednesday night, just after these pictures, we went on a long walk around the neighborhood. We search for squirrels, cats and dogs. Estella is keenly interested in animated objects and faces.

Just walking outside to start the walk gives her a pause as she takes it all in.

As we made our way through uncharted territory, we were slowly enveloped in a misty fog that was brewing over Crown Hill from the Puget Sound. Along with the early darkness it was quite mysterious. Luckily we were right around the corner from our local Starbucks. Estella and I sought refuge in its warmth, I supplemented that with a Peppermint Mocha, which is very tasty and pretty to see, but isn't much of a coffee drink as the flavor and whipped cream mask the beans. It did look exactly like the advertisement photo, however. While I drank nearly 1000 calories, Estella sat on my lap and for nearly half an hour we played and I observed her.
She is asserting ever more her individual will, by reaching for things she sees, not being interested in everything I give her and interesting herself in play and what she sees independent of me. The walk and the play time were tiring and she fell asleep in the baby carrier just a block into the trip home. I held her forehead gently to keep her neck still while I walked briskly through the dark and misty night. We arrived home in between piano lessons, so I snuck in and put her to sleep in her crib. She just kept on sleeping, her mind racing through all the flood of input she gathers each day as she acquaints herself with the world. I am just so thrilled to be there to help guide and protect and care for her in these early months and the following years.

Posted by clappstar at 01:05 AM

November 19, 2002

Baby Sat

Little Estella can sit up on her own these days. She still depends on momma for nurishment, dada for burps and the cats for entertainment.

While taking a bath just the other day she finally managed to bring her feet to her mouth.

She gets a real kick out of balloons for sure.

While asleep and if she stirs, she always relies on her little thumb to console her and fall back to sleep.

One of her favorite little games is to look at herself in the mirror and in some cases kiss her reflection.

Posted by clappstar at 02:13 AM | Comments (9)

November 15, 2002

Friday Hoops

Sometimes it is just better to stay home on friday. For others to stay home, so they don't have to feel
my wrath on the court.
Here are some more friday basketball pictures.

Posted by clappstar at 10:08 AM

November 14, 2002

No Tags

Finally someone got a clue. I expect this will become the standard. Can you image, no more scratchy tags in your clothes.

Posted by clappstar at 03:03 PM

Mirror Doctor

The doctor wanted to check up on our baby, as is standard for little ones at two, four and six months of age. So we took baby in to get checked and get shots. She giggled most of the time and was especially intrigued by paper birds on strings hanging from the ceiling and gently moving in the slightest breeze. While we were waiting for the nurse we captured ourselves in the mirror.

Posted by clappstar at 09:32 AM

November 13, 2002

Technicolor Sweater

Estella has a few beautifully handcrafted sweaters. This multicolored one is really unique. With winter fast approaching we always need a sweater and a hat.

These days, Estella is sitting up quite well and rolls over front to back. When she is tired, she accompanies her yawns with a soft, melodious "aaaa-hhhh." She is fascinated by compact, moving objects, and gets ever so excited about cats, dogs and our 4 year old neighbor.

Riding in the car is no longer her least favorite thing, though you have to finesse her into the car seat otherwise she plays a silly game where she won't let you bend her into a sitting position.

Sitting through a book or two is no problem for her, though she seems most interested in grabbing the pages. At dinner time, she sits with us in her little high chair and proceeds, one by one, to throw each toy to the floor. She occassionally is distracted by her own hand and, while reaching for something, sometimes pauses and looks at her hand, turning it and clenching it and then bringing it to her mouth.
She likes to fall asleep with momma after her last feeding of the night and the fun part for me is to watch her, pick her up and take her to bed. Often she stays sound asleep and I indulge myself by walking around a few extra minutes with her on head on my shoulder fast asleep. She laughs when I gently tickle her ribs under her arms. Through the night, she soundly sleeps alone in her room and in the morning I anxiously hop out of bed and get to wake her up to be fed. She always stretches with a big sigh. Sometimes in the morning baby and momma take dada to work and on the way we stop by the Sad Man for some coffee.

When on a walk, she likes best to be able to see everything, so I always hold her facing out and when she starts getting tired I switch her around to face me so she can rest her head on my chest. When we are watching something active, like the other day watching kids play at the Woodland Park playground, she likes to be cheek to cheek so we can look at the same thing.

We watch while I narrate and hum to her and point out what to see. On days when I watch her in the afternoon, after a time outside we like to go to Starbucks or somewhere like that just to play. She lies on my lap and plays with a toy or my hand. I hold her in a standing position and she smiles at all the other people. Her smile is so genuine. She holds her mouth open wide and smiles at faces she sees.

At this early age and younger, she has been so very sociable.

Here she is at coffee with friends.

I could go on and on about this little treasure, but I should mention how wonderful her momma is. She still feeds baby 6 times a day right on schedule.

Baby and momma go out shopping and visiting friends and relatives, run errands, go for walks and still baby gets good naps and on time feeds. In the midst of all the busy baby care, momma works out and looks fabulous. I can't wait to take her to my company holiday party. She always looks smashing. Of course we'll miss baby that night, but it will be fun just to be husband and wife for an elegant night out.

Posted by clappstar at 12:48 AM

November 11, 2002

Veterans Day

I feel a little hollow as an American male closing in on thirty, with no armed forces service record. So today on Veterans Day, all I can do is remember those who have served. My dad served in the army for 20+ years. Both of my grandpas served during World War II. Their years of sacrifice as soldiers bolstered the foundation of the American armed forces. Fortunately, they didn't face combat situations and after their service they worked out lives and careers, with families, friends and later grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Two people I want to remember especially are men I didn't know and men that didn't have a chance to have a life after being a soldier. My dad's friend at West Point Cpt Paul Sawtelle was killed in Vietnam in 1971 while serving with Airborne Rangers. He didn't get a chance to grow up past 24 years old. He doesn't have a child or wife to remember him.

My grandpa's good friend Joe Capron was lost in the South Pacific when his plane went down on a combat mission in World War II. He attended University Presbyterian Church, where this weekend I saw his picture displayed as a tribute memorial to the veterans of the church. He was my grandpa's fishing buddy. Update: Here is a picture of his panel on the World War II memorial wall in downtown Seattle:

And a close up of his name, etched in stone to remember his service and sacrifice:

Now about 60 years later, I remember Joe and 30 years later, I remember Paul. I want to remember their memorial stories so I can tell them to my daughter when she grows up. Knowing that real people her family knew 3 and 4 generations back fought for the liberty that America enjoys today will put a human face on the idea of Veterans Day, in addition to knowing that her great grandpas and her grandpa served the USA.
Thanks doesn't seem enough. So in offering my thanks I pledge my remembrance. I remember my dad and my grandpas Papa and Pa. And I remember Paul Sawtelle and Joe Capron.

Posted by clappstar at 10:38 AM | Comments (2)

November 06, 2002

Light Rail, Go Away

Like I said, Light Rail, go away. Read more by clicking the "read more" link. Caution: contains political controversial subject matter!

For better or for worse, initiative-776 passed, cutting funding for regional transit authority Sound Transit. The chief of Sound Transit is King County Executive Ron Sims, look at him smile.
Here is a quote from him in the News Tribune:
Because of obligations to bondholders funding light rail, Sims said the $2.1 billion project will go forward. Instead, cuts will come to other Sound Transit ventures, he said. The planned nine daily commuter rail trips between Tacoma and Seattle won't be possible now, he predicted.
In other words, he has his heart set on wasting $$2+ billion on the Light Rail line, which is community transit (already attended to by Metro buses), at the cost of true RAPID transit which is the commuter rail line.
This seems quite foolish to me. Especially since ground has yet to be broken for Light Rail. The sinister group (illegally) floated bonds to fund Sound Transit, which is his only defense now for continuing the project...to be accountable to the bond holders. Bad decision.

Posted by clappstar at 10:17 AM | Comments (2)

November 05, 2002

Five Months Old

I forgot, but this morning my mom reminded me that Estella is five months.

Posted by clappstar at 11:24 PM

November 04, 2002

Carkeek Park

This afternoon down on the Sound at Carkeek Park it was incredibly peaceful. The water was calm with many fancy looking ducks swimming around together. Kids played quietly while their parents rested on park benches. The air was cold but calm. Estella and dada were bundled up warm. Even the huge train rushing by along the coastal rail line made a soothing rhythm. After taking all this in, plus seeing a beautiful sunset, Estella fell asleep. I put her in her car seat and we drove home to see mama.

Posted by clappstar at 08:27 PM | Comments (2)

Tall Dada

I am 50 inches taller than Estella, see:

Posted by clappstar at 08:15 PM | Comments (2)

November 03, 2002

Halloween Baby

This Halloween was Estella's first. She dressed as a pee pod, sans pees (the peas were supposed to velcro on where the white spots are). Momma and Dada dressed as a cat and Shaggy (Scooby Do, where are you?!?), respectively. We had to hang out with a lot of spooky characters and a very large chicken. The chicken man Shane won best costume. Dhileep won worst costume. Estella fell asleep early into the party and Robyn carried her in the carrier for a bit.
On Friday night Dada and baby went on a long walk through a very cold late afternoon in Greenwood. We were bundled up, but it sure does feel like the middle of winter.

Posted by clappstar at 10:13 AM | Comments (1)