Alton loves to dance! He has a little magnetic farm (courtesy of his Warren cousins) on the refrigerator that plays music, and each time he passes it he can't help but press the button to hear some tunes and boogie a little bit. You can see the farm in action with some of his early moves from last summer here. Occasionally the mood will even strike him to do a little shoulder shimmy in his high chair--he is always movin'! Here is a video from a week ago; he had been dancing on his own quite a bit, so Andy rushed to get out the video camera and capture some of these good vibrations.
P.S. Based on his daddy's fluid hip swivels, I can see where Alton inherited his abilities.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Special Delivery!
Andy started a BIG project last November: a custom-designed, handmade, kickass workbench and cabinets for the garage. We do not have pictures of this yet because it's not finished (I'll let Andy tell you the full story when it's complete), but this past Sunday morning Alton and I decided to keep Daddy company in the garage and front yard while he was working. Alton immediately gravitated to his beloved Radio Flyer red wagon (which was a gift for Andy's very first Father's Day), which he equally enjoys riding in and pulling around. I clutched my travelmug of coffee and came up with a busy-bee game for the little man: Special Delivery. 
We would load up the wagon with objects on one side of the garage (work gloves, a thermoscanner, a wrench, snow chains for the truck),
then Alton would pull it to the other side of the garage and hand each item in turn to Andy, cheerfully intoning "Special Delivery!" with each one.
Andy would put all the objects on top of the workbench and continue measuring, drilling, cutting, and installing, while I could then usually encourage Alton to do a few laps around the garage pulling the wagon, or go get the mail, or take a quick trip to the neighborhood park. Then we would return to the garage and begin the delivery service all over again.
Pleased with how much "work" we got done in the morning, we decided that the afternoon would be for play! After Alton got up from his nap, we loaded the family onto our bikes (Alton riding in his bike seat on the back of Andy's bike this time) and rode up to a little park with a nice, toddler-sized play structure behind a big grassy field. There are nice trails where people like to walk their dogs, and great portholes out of which you can look and see all the passers-by.
We played and snacked, then piled back onto our bikes (or buh-GUY-gles, as Alton calls them) and rode home to our warm house and dinner. And so begins another week!
We would load up the wagon with objects on one side of the garage (work gloves, a thermoscanner, a wrench, snow chains for the truck),
then Alton would pull it to the other side of the garage and hand each item in turn to Andy, cheerfully intoning "Special Delivery!" with each one.
Andy would put all the objects on top of the workbench and continue measuring, drilling, cutting, and installing, while I could then usually encourage Alton to do a few laps around the garage pulling the wagon, or go get the mail, or take a quick trip to the neighborhood park. Then we would return to the garage and begin the delivery service all over again.
Pleased with how much "work" we got done in the morning, we decided that the afternoon would be for play! After Alton got up from his nap, we loaded the family onto our bikes (Alton riding in his bike seat on the back of Andy's bike this time) and rode up to a little park with a nice, toddler-sized play structure behind a big grassy field. There are nice trails where people like to walk their dogs, and great portholes out of which you can look and see all the passers-by.
We played and snacked, then piled back onto our bikes (or buh-GUY-gles, as Alton calls them) and rode home to our warm house and dinner. And so begins another week!
Sun Days
Everyone up here in the Pacific Northwest has been raving for the past few days about the unseasonably warm and sunny weather that we've been having for February. It's just been gorgeous up here for more than a week and we are reluctant to face the rain that we're expecting for the next few days; we have been able to go to the park and play in the afternoon for the last four days in a row! Several of these visits have been somewhat spontaneous. We are just hanging out at home...
(or in some cases, rolling around)
...and we decide that it's time to head to the little park right next to the library, or even to the playground that's in our subdivision. But Saturday afternoon was the perfect time for an impromptu trip to:
The Bliss Cupcake Bake Shop in Bethany! Decadent gourmet cupcakes here on the west side of Portland, complete with a little kids' table and some toys for the tiny diners. We got a chocolate cupcake for Andy and strawberry for Alton and me, then sat down to peel the paper off of our confections. See the eager little peeping eyes below.
We unveiled his mini cupcake and he regarded it carefully to figure out how best to pick it up.
He was really into the frosting!
Fast-forward to an unfortunate frosting incident, and we are no longer interested in the now-plain strawberry cupcake, so we decide to try a bite of Daddy's chocolate.
Despite his rapturous looks of pleasure, he was satisfied after just a few bites of the chocolate cupcake and moved on to the little toy corner, where there were...BOOKS!!!
But we couldn't waste too much daylight, because we had decided to check out the cool "Pirate Park" nearby! Hidden in a walking trail park was a cluster of play structures detailed to look nautical and pirate-like. So Alton clapped on his hat and off we went!
We found the park with little trouble thanks to some directions I found online, and Alton was ready to go explore. Here we are walking up a "gangway."
Climbing to the periscope.
Spying with Daddy.
He loves to climb on ladders! (We better not leave that step-stool out.)
Some fun trips down the slide and before we knew it, the sun was going down and it was time to head home. What an original weekend adventure!
(or in some cases, rolling around)
...and we decide that it's time to head to the little park right next to the library, or even to the playground that's in our subdivision. But Saturday afternoon was the perfect time for an impromptu trip to:
The Bliss Cupcake Bake Shop in Bethany! Decadent gourmet cupcakes here on the west side of Portland, complete with a little kids' table and some toys for the tiny diners. We got a chocolate cupcake for Andy and strawberry for Alton and me, then sat down to peel the paper off of our confections. See the eager little peeping eyes below.
We unveiled his mini cupcake and he regarded it carefully to figure out how best to pick it up.
He was really into the frosting!
Fast-forward to an unfortunate frosting incident, and we are no longer interested in the now-plain strawberry cupcake, so we decide to try a bite of Daddy's chocolate.
Despite his rapturous looks of pleasure, he was satisfied after just a few bites of the chocolate cupcake and moved on to the little toy corner, where there were...BOOKS!!!
But we couldn't waste too much daylight, because we had decided to check out the cool "Pirate Park" nearby! Hidden in a walking trail park was a cluster of play structures detailed to look nautical and pirate-like. So Alton clapped on his hat and off we went!
We found the park with little trouble thanks to some directions I found online, and Alton was ready to go explore. Here we are walking up a "gangway."
Climbing to the periscope.
Spying with Daddy.
He loves to climb on ladders! (We better not leave that step-stool out.)
Some fun trips down the slide and before we knew it, the sun was going down and it was time to head home. What an original weekend adventure!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Choco-Dude and His Lack of Stealth
Two unrelated things I wanted to blog about today: Alton's chocolate-covered face and his adorable inability to keep a secret. So far, despite his zeal for devouring toddler-sized bits of Hershey Bar, Alton has not shown himself to have that much of a sweet tooth; he'd rather be given a tiny cup of apple juice as a special after-dinner treat than a slice of cake. But when I made some fresh-baked chocolate chip muffins the other day, he settled back in his chair to have a nice mid-morning snack with me and smear his face with melted chips.
Looks like the sweet stuff isn't too painful after all! But another fun family moment that I forgot to mention was when I secreted away Andy's Valentine's Day present. I had pricked up my ears a few weeks ago when Andy, while reading to Alton, started reminiscing about a book that he'd enjoyed in his childhood called Inside, Outside, Upside-Down. I decided to pick it up as a little V-day token while Andy was out of town for a few days before February 14. The Friday before Valentine's Day I wrapped the little book in red tissue paper, taped it together with one of Alton's homemade cards from the craft morning, and hid it in a drawer near the front door, all the while holding the rapt attention of Mr. Alton and talking about how this was Daddy's special present, we would give it to him on Sunday, we had to hide it away, etc. When Andy arrived home half an hour later, we were saying our hellos and I walked into the kitchen when I heard Andy asking "What are you doing there, Buddy?" Turned out that he had tiptoed over to the gift-hiding drawer and was giggling and holding an index finger to his lips while he got Daddy's attention. Andy let me in on what was going on, since I couldn't see what Alton was doing, and I told him that his present was hidden in that drawer, so that was the reason for Alton's antics. Andy replied, "Oh, so I shouldn't look in the drawer right now as Alton's opening it, huh?" Luckily, Alton left it at that and when I explained to him that the present was a secret and we needed to close up the drawer, he complied. But it just goes to show me that I'm continually surprised with how quickly Alton's understanding of the world around him is increasing. He didn't just understand that there was something new in the drawer (And a book, no less! I'm a little surprised that he didn't rip it open himself and try to read it!), but he knew it was for Daddy and he knew it was a secret, as shown with his little "Shhh" finger gesture. I will have to be more careful from now on what I tell to him that I want to keep private!
Alton says, "What do you expect? I'm TWO!"
Looks like the sweet stuff isn't too painful after all! But another fun family moment that I forgot to mention was when I secreted away Andy's Valentine's Day present. I had pricked up my ears a few weeks ago when Andy, while reading to Alton, started reminiscing about a book that he'd enjoyed in his childhood called Inside, Outside, Upside-Down. I decided to pick it up as a little V-day token while Andy was out of town for a few days before February 14. The Friday before Valentine's Day I wrapped the little book in red tissue paper, taped it together with one of Alton's homemade cards from the craft morning, and hid it in a drawer near the front door, all the while holding the rapt attention of Mr. Alton and talking about how this was Daddy's special present, we would give it to him on Sunday, we had to hide it away, etc. When Andy arrived home half an hour later, we were saying our hellos and I walked into the kitchen when I heard Andy asking "What are you doing there, Buddy?" Turned out that he had tiptoed over to the gift-hiding drawer and was giggling and holding an index finger to his lips while he got Daddy's attention. Andy let me in on what was going on, since I couldn't see what Alton was doing, and I told him that his present was hidden in that drawer, so that was the reason for Alton's antics. Andy replied, "Oh, so I shouldn't look in the drawer right now as Alton's opening it, huh?" Luckily, Alton left it at that and when I explained to him that the present was a secret and we needed to close up the drawer, he complied. But it just goes to show me that I'm continually surprised with how quickly Alton's understanding of the world around him is increasing. He didn't just understand that there was something new in the drawer (And a book, no less! I'm a little surprised that he didn't rip it open himself and try to read it!), but he knew it was for Daddy and he knew it was a secret, as shown with his little "Shhh" finger gesture. I will have to be more careful from now on what I tell to him that I want to keep private!
Alton says, "What do you expect? I'm TWO!"
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Pink Is For People Who Like Pink
Alton's latest favorite color is pink! It started out as a preference for "pink" yogurt over plain old vanilla, then an honored sippy cup in a bright raspberry color. With everyone from Ralph Lauren to Target making men's clothing in a variety of pink shades, it was time for Alton to join the trend. I decided to play to this new color partiality by making him a snappy button-down shirt in a nice Easter-egg pastel hue. Thanks to Elizabeth for loaning me the pattern. Pink isn't just for girls anymore; pink is for people who like pink!
Eat your heart out, LaCoste Alligator: his custom-made shirt has a bicycle embroidered on it, courtesy of my awesome sewing machine.
Eat your heart out, LaCoste Alligator: his custom-made shirt has a bicycle embroidered on it, courtesy of my awesome sewing machine.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Monster Jam (by Andy)
Last Saturday, February 13th, my brother Zach, our friend Chris (also known as *B's and *F's Daddy) and myself went out to a Monster Truck show. The tickets were courtesy of Genentech. Not only did we get to go to the show for free, but we got to use Genentech's box suite at the arena! So the three of us boarded our local mass transit train and headed into Portland. After a quick stop nearby for a burger, we arrived right as the show was starting. Some research ahead of time found that video cameras and SLR cameras were not allowed. That put a bit of a damper on things given that Zach and I were looking forward to getting some good pictures of the trucks. I did bring a small point-and-shoot, but battery problems only allowed me to get a couple of decent shots with it. Otherwise, all pictures and video were taken with my iPhone.
The guys at the show.
Six of the 8 trucks lined up after the show.
To show just how big these trucks are, here's a close up of one of the trucks with a grown man standing underneath it.
Part of the show was the trucks would race, two at a time across the pile of cars.
The trucks also went through a wheelie contest. This consisted of them slowly rolling up to the cars and slamming on the gas once their front wheels left the ground.
The trucks also went through a "freestyle" session that allowed each truck to charge around the track on their own, doing their best to please the crowd. This was also when the big jump (15 feet high) in the middle of the track was utilized.
There were also a few breaks in the monster truck action for some smaller vehicles to show their stuff. First, a group of quads (4-wheel ATVs) would race around the track. Then, customized Jeeps would race individually for time. In this video, my coworker Troy (who was sitting next to me for this video) sums these Jeeps up nicely with, "That's a lot of motor, there."
All three of us had a blast. The trucks were very impressive and who can beat loud trucks crushing cars? The icing on the cake for me was the couple of days afterward. I showed Alton the videos and pictures I took since he's so in love with trucks. Since then, he has requested no fewer than a half-dozen times to see the "monger tucks." Too cute.
Sorry for the small size of the videos - the iPhone is good, but it can only do so much.
The guys at the show.
Six of the 8 trucks lined up after the show.
To show just how big these trucks are, here's a close up of one of the trucks with a grown man standing underneath it.
Part of the show was the trucks would race, two at a time across the pile of cars.
The trucks also went through a wheelie contest. This consisted of them slowly rolling up to the cars and slamming on the gas once their front wheels left the ground.
The trucks also went through a "freestyle" session that allowed each truck to charge around the track on their own, doing their best to please the crowd. This was also when the big jump (15 feet high) in the middle of the track was utilized.
There were also a few breaks in the monster truck action for some smaller vehicles to show their stuff. First, a group of quads (4-wheel ATVs) would race around the track. Then, customized Jeeps would race individually for time. In this video, my coworker Troy (who was sitting next to me for this video) sums these Jeeps up nicely with, "That's a lot of motor, there."
All three of us had a blast. The trucks were very impressive and who can beat loud trucks crushing cars? The icing on the cake for me was the couple of days afterward. I showed Alton the videos and pictures I took since he's so in love with trucks. Since then, he has requested no fewer than a half-dozen times to see the "monger tucks." Too cute.
Sorry for the small size of the videos - the iPhone is good, but it can only do so much.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Happy Valentine's Day
We had a nice Valentine's Day here at home, but made even nicer by the fact that Andy gets tomorrow off! Hooray for a three-day weekend, and Alton loves it when Daddy comes to music class with him, which is on Monday mornings. We had an extremely low-key day around here, with lots of hanging out and playing. Alton had already opened one Valentine's Day gift from *P: a graphic T-shirt and a bar of chocolate! Hmm, I think that Auntie Karen might have had a hand in picking out that present.... Alton is in love with the Hershey bar and we have the pictures to prove it.
Mommy and Daddy gave Alton a little kitchen apron all for his own as a fun AND practical Valentine's Day gift! Handmade by Mommy, of course, the little apron finally gives me an opportunity to show off to you the fantastic, wonderful, technologically-advanced sewing machine that Andy gave me as a Christmas gift to replace the old one that I always cursed at. As Andy was snapping photos of our little model, Alton strikes a pose.
The pocket of the apron is embroidered with a row of tiny cars. *P also received an apron like this for a Valentine's Day gift, and her pocket is embroidered with hearts.
He gives you a GQ look with his whisk.
" 'at do you mean I 'an't 'ook 'ike dis?"
Whisks are fun! Alton looooves to help out in the kitchen any way he can, so when he is around during any mealtime preparations we have to manufacture kid-friendly tasks for him to do, like "stirring" something or sprinkling cheese on top. Once I had him help me add spices to a pot of chili; the cumin seed went really well, and the chili powder went...everywhere.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Mommy and Daddy gave Alton a little kitchen apron all for his own as a fun AND practical Valentine's Day gift! Handmade by Mommy, of course, the little apron finally gives me an opportunity to show off to you the fantastic, wonderful, technologically-advanced sewing machine that Andy gave me as a Christmas gift to replace the old one that I always cursed at. As Andy was snapping photos of our little model, Alton strikes a pose.
The pocket of the apron is embroidered with a row of tiny cars. *P also received an apron like this for a Valentine's Day gift, and her pocket is embroidered with hearts.
He gives you a GQ look with his whisk.
" 'at do you mean I 'an't 'ook 'ike dis?"
Whisks are fun! Alton looooves to help out in the kitchen any way he can, so when he is around during any mealtime preparations we have to manufacture kid-friendly tasks for him to do, like "stirring" something or sprinkling cheese on top. Once I had him help me add spices to a pot of chili; the cumin seed went really well, and the chili powder went...everywhere.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Friday, February 12, 2010
The Big Red Dog
I learned that the current rotating exhibit at the Portland Children's Museum was Clifford the Big Red Dog! His books were favorites of mine as a small child, and Alton has read some of them and liked them, too. But I noticed that the last day of the exhibit is the Monday after Valentine's Day, so we needed to step on it if we wanted to have some fun with the whole gang from Birdwell Island. We planned a Friday morning trip to the museum with Karen and *P , Elizabeth and *B and *F. As I drove there it was pouring down rain, which I knew meant the place would be packed. They did not disappoint, although I think we got out of there before it got completely nuts.
This was not Alton's first trip to the Children's Museum (see photos from previous visits here, here, and here), but everything gets "refreshed" for him in between visits because he grows so much! It was fun to see how well he could reach things and see over parts of exhibits that were too big for him the last few times.
We started our tour at the big crocodile, where all three of the "big" kids helped to brush his teeth.
Next was the water feature, of course! Alton's favorite spot, and he'd spend the whole day here if we'd let him. Made me excited for bringing out our water table again this summer.
Alton and *B test out the fountain.
Alton finds a little orange boat to sail around.
*P is ready for her close-up!
*F laughs at the kids getting their shirt cuffs soggy with cold water while he's all warm and dry on mama.
Shopping time! *P and Alton commandeer a cart and proceed to fill it overflowing.
Alton tries to sample the merchandise before buying. Blech, this bagel tastes like plastic.
*P tries to make a break for it with her shopping cart.
*B the checker shows us that she knows exactly how this whole "buying" thing works.
Alton and *P put their items on the conveyor belt and shake their heads incredulously at the price of food these days.
On to the Babies Garden! A gated-off oasis for the Under Threes with lots of fun things to touch, shake, and climb on. *F was in standing-up heaven.
*P hands you a tube full of colorful feathers; Alton contemplates an upside-down puzzle.
*F and Elizabeth having fun.
Moving on out--it was time for a quick trip through the tunnel, up and down some stairs, and then on to Clifford!
The Clifford exhibit was a cartoon world come to life. There were little houses, sheds, boats, trucks, a post office, a giant dog bowl, and of course Clifford himself, all appearing to have been drawn by an artist but actually created sturdily enough for tons of children to climb on. Alton was immediately drawn to the little pick-up truck, of course. It had a nice flatbed for hauling oversized dog bones for the big red guy.
*B shows us that she knows exactly how to use a rake and hoe--maybe I can hire her for our garden this summer.
*P plants some fuzzy flowers.
Alton does his best with the gardening tools--maybe that things skips a generation, Charlie? Good exterior shot of the little "cartoon" shed behind him.
Alton makes friends with Emily Elizabeth, the little girl who owns Clifford.
Posing with the big dog statue--his tail was a slide!
Alton and *B standing inside the gigantic dog bowl.
Alton wonders if he should take one home to Minerva.
*P and Alton at the mailbox taking turns opening the door for one another.
Time to go home! Wish we could stay longer, but we've got naps to take, movies to watch, and monster truck rallies to attend.
Um, what?
This was not Alton's first trip to the Children's Museum (see photos from previous visits here, here, and here), but everything gets "refreshed" for him in between visits because he grows so much! It was fun to see how well he could reach things and see over parts of exhibits that were too big for him the last few times.
We started our tour at the big crocodile, where all three of the "big" kids helped to brush his teeth.
Next was the water feature, of course! Alton's favorite spot, and he'd spend the whole day here if we'd let him. Made me excited for bringing out our water table again this summer.
Alton and *B test out the fountain.
Alton finds a little orange boat to sail around.
*P is ready for her close-up!
*F laughs at the kids getting their shirt cuffs soggy with cold water while he's all warm and dry on mama.
Shopping time! *P and Alton commandeer a cart and proceed to fill it overflowing.
Alton tries to sample the merchandise before buying. Blech, this bagel tastes like plastic.
*P tries to make a break for it with her shopping cart.
*B the checker shows us that she knows exactly how this whole "buying" thing works.
Alton and *P put their items on the conveyor belt and shake their heads incredulously at the price of food these days.
On to the Babies Garden! A gated-off oasis for the Under Threes with lots of fun things to touch, shake, and climb on. *F was in standing-up heaven.
*P hands you a tube full of colorful feathers; Alton contemplates an upside-down puzzle.
*F and Elizabeth having fun.
Moving on out--it was time for a quick trip through the tunnel, up and down some stairs, and then on to Clifford!
The Clifford exhibit was a cartoon world come to life. There were little houses, sheds, boats, trucks, a post office, a giant dog bowl, and of course Clifford himself, all appearing to have been drawn by an artist but actually created sturdily enough for tons of children to climb on. Alton was immediately drawn to the little pick-up truck, of course. It had a nice flatbed for hauling oversized dog bones for the big red guy.
*B shows us that she knows exactly how to use a rake and hoe--maybe I can hire her for our garden this summer.
*P plants some fuzzy flowers.
Alton does his best with the gardening tools--maybe that things skips a generation, Charlie? Good exterior shot of the little "cartoon" shed behind him.
Alton makes friends with Emily Elizabeth, the little girl who owns Clifford.
Posing with the big dog statue--his tail was a slide!
Alton and *B standing inside the gigantic dog bowl.
Alton wonders if he should take one home to Minerva.
*P and Alton at the mailbox taking turns opening the door for one another.
Time to go home! Wish we could stay longer, but we've got naps to take, movies to watch, and monster truck rallies to attend.
Um, what?
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