prepare for an overload of pictures

Walter with Grandpa 

Freeze-frame shot of Walt throwing pebbles.

Walter and Grandma Sandy.

Walter loves books. And being naked.

Hiking. With coffee.

Hello all,

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We certainly enjoyed ours. My family came down from Oregon to visit us. We miss them already.

We drove up to San Jose on Thursday, to meet my parents and to join my mother's family for Thanksgiving. While I enjoyed seeing all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins, Walter was a little overwhelmed by all the attention. That's what happens when you're the only baby at a family reunion!

We drove back down Thursday night, and Walt slept all the way home. We put him in bed and he continued sleeping--but not very well. He was up at 4am, and was he hungry! We hadn't realized how little he had eaten the night before, what with to all the excitement. However, my parents were asleep in the living room, and we hated to wake them after their long stretch of driving. So we played with Walter in bed as long as we could; then, at 5 in the morning, we got dressed and snuck out the back door. Matthew and I put Walter in the stroller and walked to Starbucks. It was cozy to come across the lights and warmth of the only business yet open. We sipped coffee and let Walt run around the nearly empty shop.

Later, we took my family out to Montana de Oro (our favorite beach, can't you tell?) for a picnic, just as we had done when Matthew's family was visiting. Walter loved throwing handfuls of tiny pebbles and collecting rocks with Uncle Joe.

They left after breakfast on Saturday morning, and it was sad to see them go. We're looking forward to visiting both our families in the Spring.

This morning, we varied our typical Sunday with a hike at Whale's Cave trail. It was just gorgeous out, with the temperature reaching around 80 degrees. Happy December 1st... While we were there, we saw another family hiking--two parents, and a two teenaged girls. One of them had an iPod earbud tucked in her ear, and she looked bored. I suppose when you grow up around so much California beauty, you can easily lose appreciation for the grand beauty of the ocean and the surrounding hills. Walter, I hope, will love the wild beauty of the Central Coast. I'd love to see him grow up to be passionate about the outdoors.

We took Walt down to the ocean and let him play in the water a while. After our adventure, we returned home, took a bath (he was covered in sand!) and put him down for a nice, long nap.

Love,

Margaret

rainy day

    

At coffee on Sunday morning.

Walter at the Children's Museum.

Out in the rain.

Fall treasures found on our walks.

It finally rained today. It was so cheery to listen to it tapping gently on our metal roof. Walter was excited and wanted to be out in it. He kept pointing towards the door. We took him on several walks and he laughed at the water coming out of the sky.

Can I be honest with you? Today was extremely wearing. I think Walter's first molars are coming in, and it is making him so irritable. He would not nap all afternoon, except for a couple ten-minute power snoozes. He is finally in bed, and I have collapsed in an armchair with a chocolate orange.

Oh, and I wanted to attempt my first link-up with Ginny over at Small Things.























I have begun knitting a baby sweater for Walter, which I am very excited about. I'm using wool remnants, some from a friend, some from thrift stores, and some (the lovely chocolate brown wool) that Matthew bought me from a fancy little yarn shop downtown. So far the sweater is coming along beautifully and I'm enjoying the work.

In early preparation for the Advent season (and because it takes me forever to finish a book, let's be real), I am reading Donkey Bells by Catherine Doherty. I'm only a few chapters in, but it is a beautiful and meditative read. 

                                                                                             
Goodnight,

Margaret

family weekend

Walter fell in love all over again with Grandma and Aunt Janet.

He had such a good time with Grandpa too!

He hardly left Uncle Patrick's side the whole visit.

Grandpa thrilled him with the guitar and the harmonica.

Matthew and his wonderful family, of which I am blessed to be a part.

I've nearly finished Walter's doll. He just needs some hair!

November pomegranate tree.

I'm sorry it's been a while since my last post. We've been keeping quite busy around here.

Matthew's family came to stay with us last weekend, bearing many lovely gifts. We enjoyed their company immensely, but the time passed far too quickly. We miss them all very much. You can read Janet's delightful account of the visit here. 

We toured the beach and picnicked at Montana de Oro with our family while they were here. Walter must have received (and reciprocated) at least a thousand hugs and kisses. It's sad that we must live so far away from all we love.

This week, Walter and I got a membership at the local Children's Museum. It's been a blast taking him there whenever I can, where he splashes in the water exhibit out-of-doors, and plays with the buckets of toys inside. He loves to engage the other children we meet there, and I feel like it is really inspiring him to walk.

That's right, he's walking!! He grows in confidence each day. I attribute this to Grandma and Aunt Janet who really showed him he could do it--they walked him up and down while they were here, and now he is excited to see the world!

Well, that sums up what's been going on around here. Goodnight, and have a great week!

Love,

Margaret

fall festivities

 

Walter and I have been keeping very busy. We have been making multiple batches of applesauce* every day and storing it away for the winter. Matthew, on the other hand, has been keeping busy baking applesauce cakes, making applesauce pancakes, and I could go on. So there might not be that much applesauce left for this winter after all. (Just teasing, my love! Please continue making delicious things for me to eat.)

Walt had a lovely little birthday party this afternoon with his dear friend, Mr. Simon (see picture #4). We feasted on an applesauce pumpkin cake which was very tasty and largely popular with both small boys. 

Two exciting Walter updates: 

He has been sleeping through the night! We put him to bed in the pack-n-play and he stays asleep till morning! I've been nursing him in the dark and then putting him into the pack-n-play. He cries a bit, and then lies down and goes to sleep. He's been waking up so well rested and cheerful (and so have I). I must admit, I have crept out of bed multiple times during the night to make sure he's still breathing...

He has begun feeding himself! He has finally mastered the art of picking up food and putting it into his mouth. However, this means anything within reach is fair game. I have been fishing leaves and other such hazards out of his mouth all day.

And now, he is asleep, and I am off to make a cup of tea.

Goodnight, all.

*As some of you know, we scored 100 lbs. of apples for $15 last week, thanks to the Land Conservancy Project. Picked 'em ourselves, too.

first birthday

One year old, mouth full of cake.

A first birthday cake.

My Walter,

Our lives were forever changed by your birth on October 12th, 2012. You have named us Mama and Papa, names we wear with more pride than any medal. You are teaching us about love, a little more each day.

Your sweet personality and charming smiles delight all who meet you. You wave and clap your hands and crinkle up your face with joy. I love to hear you giggle and your babbling baby-chatter is so cheery. 

I have slept less this year than ever before in my life, and yet, every sleepless hour seems blessed (in hindsight) by your warm body snuggled next to mine. I miss you when you're asleep (even while I wish you would take longer naps). 

Sometimes I cry when I realize you won't be my tiny baby much longer. I want to keep you close, but it's so exciting to watch you with your new-found independence. I want you to grow, to learn to walk and run and talk. I want you to tell me everything you are thinking.

My heart has grown ten sizes since I met you. I cannot imagine a day without you in it. 

I thank God for you every morning and night.

I love you more than I could ever say.

Happy birthday, little love,

Mama

home, at last

Sunday stroll around Pismo Beach.

Playing at the park.

Exploring Ventura!

Lunch with Papa.

Chilly morning! All bundled up.

Walter sports my latest knitting project.

Play-date with his best bud.

Walter au naturel.

Practicing with a spoon.

Wearing his Yoda hat from Cousin Dannie.

We're finally beginning to feel "moved in". There are still boxes lying around the house, full of goodness-only-knows-what. But we have put up hooks for kitchen gadgets, and filled the closets with our clothing, and re-assembled our bed frame. It's cozy here, and Walter knows it to be his home.

Walter recently suffered his first little cold, and it was so hard to watch him in his misery. He had the croup--a horrible seal-like cough (you'll know it once you've heard it) and a runny nose. He made a full recovery, though, so I'm very thankful to have a healthy and happy little boy crawling around again. He seems to have four...yes, four!...new teeth coming in. It's always something around here!

We've started receiving fresh goat's milk through our CSA (community supported agriculture) and it has been such a treat. I'm reading up on cheese-making and I've already ruined a batch of yoghurt I attempted earlier this week. Matthew was our yoghurt-maker when we lived in Oregon, and now I shall just have to learn. I think I would have been successful if I hadn't oh-so-clumsily spilled some of the cooling water bath into my warm yoghurt-milk. Oops. 

I finished knitting Walter's birthday sweater vest this week and we're letting him wear it early. I'm sure he'll grow out of it all too soon.

We're enjoying the autumn season (although it was in the 90s today). Pumpkin and butternut squash highlighted many of this week's meals. 

For example:

Pumpkin Polenta with Chorizo and Black Beans

Skillet Chicken and Butternut Squash Pot Pie (I substituted biscuit dough for puff pastry.)

I'm hoping to do a few more things before the Fall season is over. I want to make beeswax candles, eat apple cider doughnuts, go apple picking and start a new knitting project. I'm reading Kristen Lavransdatter again, and appreciating it more than ever. 

Are any knitters following this blog? If so, what are you knitting?