muy talentosa

Here is our most talented baby. She figured out crawling a few days ago and likes to practice all day long. She's also way into jumping, whether in the jumperoo or in arms. She also figured out how to clap today (I'll get that on video soon enough) although I don't think she's applauding anything in particular, just clapping.

Daddy

Hearing Sam call Kris Daddy still makes me smile. I love seeing Kris as a father: he is patient, respectful of our kids' needs and personalities, hard working, tender, and loving. On my days when I feel I'm not being the best Mom I can be I often think about how Kris would handle a particular situation because he is so much calmer and patient that I am. Sam loves his Dad and recently has expressed it more verbally. A few days ago, as we (Lucy, Sam, and I) were walking outside, he stopped and said, "I love Daddy" four or five times. Just because he thought of it, I guess. Yesterday I told him that I love Daddy and he said, "I love Daddy too!", seemingly so excited that we have this in common. This morning he asked me where Daddy was and I told him Dad was getting ready for work. "Is he goin' to work?" I answered in the affirmative and he said, "No way!"


Usually once a day Sam tells me "Dad is comin'! He's comin' to our house." Or else he tells me that we are going to Dad's office where "they have M n' Ms!" and "big books." It seems like he tells me this once he has decided Kris has been gone long enough. Well today he told me in the morning we were going to Dad's library office, and I said we weren't. Around when Kris would be beginning his 30 minute commute home he told me Dad was coming home. Once Kris started opening the door Sam jumped up and ran for the door saying, "Dad's home! He's here!" Poor Kris walked in with a white face, threw up in the bathroom a bunch, and collapsed on the couch. Sam and Kris didn't get their usual excited reunification.

I talked to Sam about Dad being sick and needing to rest. He suggested we put a band-aid ("ban-deed") on his finger, which we did, but though Sam said "He's all better" several times Kris just wasn't. I was getting Lucy ready for bed, cleaning up the back part of the house, etc. and poor Sam was just running in between the front room where Kris was dozing on the couch and the back, not sure what to do. He was very good about being quiet and not bothering Kris but he wanted to be near him so badly. For a while he sat on a chair near the couch sucking his thumb. Kris pulled it together to be able to talk to Sam about his day for a minute before Sam fell asleep--a ritual they have had for a while now, and one that I think is important for Sam. I want to always have engraved on my memory the look on Sam's face when Kris walks in the door. Love, that's what it looks like.

I know what it's like to have a loving, doting Dad, and to admire and love him. Watching my sweet Sam adore Kris--whom I also adore--is a wonderful experience. I hope Sam always loves his Dad this much.

keepers

I like these two, I'm keeping them both.

stackolee

Congratulations to Jenn on finishing another quarter! This one was even more hectic than when Jenn gave birth to Lucy a couple weeks shy of the end of last quarter.
Here are some titles from the stack: Citizen, Mother, Worker; Science at the Bar; Timescapes of Modernity; Western Times and Water Wars; Social Theory and the Global Environment.

what was in your bike lane today?*

My bike has gotten a lot more use this quarter than ever before: I trek between home and campus many times in the week. It is by far the most efficient way to get to my department. The other day, as I was riding, I was wondering why it is difficult for so many people and objects to observe the sanctity of the bike lane. It seems there is general reverence for the car traffic lane while bike lanes are routinely profaned.

So I thought I would start documenting, mentally if nothing else, what I see in my bike lane. The list from the other day went something like this: a styrofoam plate, a jogger, long boarders, a few cars, some string, power walkers (yes, there was other space for these people to walk), a bus, and a golf cart. What was in your bike lane recently?

*If you haven't ridden a bike in a while and are therefore unable to answer that question I suggest you ride as soon as possible. You will remember why learning to ride a bike was such an exhilarating experience.

breakfast

When I was in high school my Dad used to get up early in the morning and make me delicious breakfasts: french toast, pancakes, eggs and toast, hot chocolate, etc. I had early morning seminary (like a religion class for 0 period) so I appreciated the sacrifice then and now, though I'm sure I didn't express it much then (thanks Dad!). Anyway, that's just to say that I still really love breakfast foods. Our little family is pretty into breakfast. Sam always wakes up half starving, and I kind of feel the same. Lucy is being initiated into the Nations of Jorgensen Breakfast Club and we're so happy to have her. This particular morning we were eating Kris's favorite: oatmeal with peanut butter, honey, and milk.

pelona

She's still totally bald on top. And a little drooly. And probably the most perfect baby ever.