"Do allbyself"

We're hearing a lot of that lately. Its refrain as well as the increasingly frequent why and whats are making up the better part of our conversations these days. Still having fun though. This morning Fiona and I went to the library and to get some new books, we stopped in just in time for their kids craft time where Fiona and I made a dragon fly out of pipe cleaners. Quite good. We had our usual bagel stop downtown and even picked up some coffee as Fiona piped up in the shop, "for daddy." Errands are slow these days but the company is good.

This picture is of Fiona "Doing all by self" on the real toilet, no stepping stool required, she climbs up like a spider and holds on tightly but it works and were not having to deal with the horror of hearing her dump out her little potty on her own anymore.
Happy summer (or winter).
Love
Louise

And here's what fiona was up to...

Thanks John and Vicki for Taking care of Fiona and thanks for the Diary, good to see where our time goes.
Love
Louise

Hi Mommy and Daddy,

SATURDAY

Fiona woke a little before 7, happy. Grammy, Grampy, Pio. (no Mummy, Mummy, Mummy -- whew.) She expected Mommy & Daddy to be here, however. I said, they went in a boat, and she cheerfully waved to all the boats. Scrambled eggs & toast, blueberries and apricot, milk for breakfast.

We all (inc. Luna) went with the bob to Lovers Pt. beach. Hot. Climbed on the new replica of the Swan Boat. Waded in the ocean and played in sand. Had water and small snack (dried blueberries & fish crackers).

[I remember going in an original glass-bottom Swan Boat in 1949. I was 6, first visit to PG.]

Home by 11, F had milk, not hungry, easy nap by 11:10! Not cranky but rubbing eyes and took her own pillow to the bed.Woke 1:25. Had lunch: cheese & crackers, apricot. Meanwhile, lightning & thunder & rain. Luna barked. Fiona liked the thunder, but i’m not sure she really picked up the sound because she kept announcing, “I hear thunder again” all afternoon (probably traffic). She is really onto complete sentences now, major progress! Still mixed on “me” and “you.”

In the afternoon, hung out and then went to Costco, where we saw a pigeon inside, “shopping” -- she enjoyed the joke. F spotted a big package of macaroni & cheese, so that’s what she ate for dinner (two bowls) plus fresh blueberries and grapes -- at about 7 o’clock (gulp), hopelessly off schedule, I know, but she was remarkably patient, tho obviously tired & hungry on the drive home.

After a quick bath and requested “big playtime,” which included reading, drawing, and the above “writing all by myself,” she was clearly on the edge and we had to override protests, hear requests for Mommy and Daddy, and give repeated reassurances that her parents were fine and she would see them soon. We both got big cuddles. Asleep the instant her head hit the pillow, about 8:30.

Woke briefly at 11 pm. Mommy and Daddy? Consoled, slept.

A good day overall.

SUNDAY

F woke about 7:30. Breakfast of milk, blueberries, half of my egg, bran muffin, banana -- out of several that got peeled. Hung out: reading, writing, drawing, chasing. Early lunch of macaroni & cheese, muffin, blueberries and grapes, milk. Nap at 11.

Independent potty work yesterday and today. Did truck puzzle easily. Sense of responsibility also developing, as errors cause distress and calls for Mommy: spotting scope knocked over (no damage), small wooden chicken taken and lost (J found it again). Brief attempt at distraction meanwhile: F led me to live chickens, but appeared to know they weren’t really the issue...

Up at 1:30. A little lunch, not really hungry. Packed day stuff, took the bob, and caught the 3 pm Trolley in front of the Aquarium. [Now how did that take up 1.5 h? See that’s where your time goes. ] Nice ride to downtown Monterey, walk to El Estero. Opted for 1/2 h paddleboat, luckily: within 10 min, F was talking about the park; paddleboat may have exhausted its novelty, despite enthusiasm expressed. Lots of birds; the gulls were all bathing. The park proved more durable; also had a light picnic dinner there. Then walked back to transit center, to catch Trolley back to the Aquarium, walked home, bath, etc. Full afternoon.

Then we heard your voice message and called. Great pix from your boating adventure!

Sailing the Ocean Blue

Well in case y'all thought that we didn't do anything without Fiona check this out:

We dropped her off with John and Vicki on Friday evening in Pacific Grove (Thank you thank you thank you) then we came home and fell right to sleep as all parents of a 2 year old do. We got up the next morning after sleeping in. Woke up and ate breakfast that did not involve cheerios, tantrums over bowl colour, making motorcycle noises, or spilled milk. We hopped on our bike and rode down to the harbour to take the first of our sailing courses. Learnign the basics on a "little yacht" a Santa Cruz 27 called La Paz.



The first day we did a lot of rigging stuff and sailed in the afternoon for a little while. Devon wasn't feeling his best, note the cup of coffee and bottle of medicine:


The sailing was fun and exciting. That night (Saturday) We rode our bike up to the little neighbourhood near the harbour and had beer and chips at one stop and then found an itailan place and had some yummy noodles. Eating out alone is a nice treat. We rode our bikes back down to the harbour and settled into our boat for the night. Not La Paz, but her more comfortable 32 foot Catalina neighbour the Wind Goddess. Slept like babies (except for the waking part) and in the morning we were already in the harbour so we toodled down for a pastry and a to-go lunch and then we rigged the boat, and sailed a good chunk of the day.

We had great ideas about getting photos of on the boat while it was going but it was a splashy and dynamic place, lots of leaning over at uncomfortable angles and inexperiences maneuvers, so the camera was safely in the cabin. We had a good time, i was a bit nervous when we heeled more than 20 degrees which I will have to work on until we get a catamaran. Devon of course relished any technical and exciting moment without looking the least bit concerned.


Rode our bikes home...Fiona is coming home tomorrow sometime so tonight...dinner together...maybe a movie...and sleeping in again on monday morning.

Tomatos

Fiona has been reaping the rewards of the garden lately, cherry plums are falling off the tree, strawberries are doing well as are tomatos. Here is fiona sampling some of the morning's crop. She needs a little reminding not to pick the green ones.

Flower girl

Fiona shined during her Flower Girl duties this weekend at Brad and Roseanna's wedding in Carmel. Fiona Walked down the aisle, attempted to stay still for the rest of the ceremony and then partied the night away (until 9) dancing and socializing. devon and I were very tired keeping up with her.

School one day

Today is actually fiona's second day at school but I was too tired to add this photo the other day.
Here she is dressed and ready to go with her backpack. She went for two hours that day and today she's there for a bit more. She loves it and enjoys playing with other kids. I'm enjoying a bit of free time too.
Love
Louise

Midwest Extravaganza

Fiona at turtle camp with devon

Fiona looking at flamingos in chicago

Well we made it to The Midwest and back. We left with Fiona and her gastrointestinal illness, spent a wonderful few days driving about in northern Illinois, and even made it over the borders to Wisconsin and to Iowa. It was perfect for Fiona who was feeling a bit under the weather. Lots of sleeping in the back of the car, interspersed with pastoral landscapes filled with barns and cows and other things she knows from the books. There was a bit of camping at an old phd site of Devon's on the Mississippi river including many mosquitos and a great storm. Some time in Chicago visiting with Jim and Mary Jo Nathan who were wonderful hosts and put up with fiona's schedule.

Here are some pictures, there will be a further edit of this entry to explain to our dearest friends what it is like to travel with a sick 2 year old....

"Sleeping" in the tent

Looking at Giraffes

Playing at a park, clearly feeling better.