"The penguins were holding the gate open for us.". - Davey waking from his nap, recounting a dream for the 1st time.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Ride 'em cowboy!
Davey had a wonderful time at Amiya Srinivasa's birthday party last Saturday. It was held at a ranch in Livermore, in the Altamont Pass, as you can see from the windmills on the ridge behind him in the photo. There were pony rides, horse rides and kids to be fed plus food and lots of other guests. With absolutely no prompting from me, Davey rode the ponies five times and a horse once (the horse came out later in the day, when they also allowed adults to ride) and never once got nervous or had problems. Ride 'em, Davey, ride!
In addition, he loved feeding and petting the kids.
Then he took over with my camera, for the first time getting to use a camera other than an iPhone, and I have to say I'm pretty impressed with some of the shots!
Plus he made a video, unknowingly, which I absolutely adore.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Daddy and Davey on a fine Spring day
Enjoying The Well 25th anniversary tree-planting party in Sebastopol.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Prescott is a great influence
Uh.
But seriously, we couldn't ask for anything better than Davey growing up as nicely as Pres.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Riding on the ferris wheel
Never having ridden a ferris wheel before, I thought he'd be nervous about riding the one at Children's Fairyland. Especially as there are no adults allowed. He, however, happily jumped aboard all by himself and enjoyed the ride. That a boy!
Cutie in Cement Park
It was a gorgeous evening in Sausalito the night before Spring. So long, Winter!
Money, money, money!
Davey loves running the cash register at the shop and saying, "Thank you," to the customers.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Vegan coconut chocolate banana waffles
2nd try is a charm? Well they could be more golden brown, but these were pretty tasty. Based on the Waffle I recipe from The Joy of Vegan Baking by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau.
Ingredients
3 TB ground flax seed
1/2 C water
6 TB nondairy butter, melted
1-1/2 C coconut milk
1-3/4 C all-purpose flour
1 TB baking powder
1 TB granulated sugar
Pinch of salt
Dash of cinnamon
Splash of pure vanilla extract
1 small banana, diced
1/4 C vegan chocolate chips
PREHEAT YOUR WAFFLE IRON
In a food processor or blender, whip the flax seed and water together until it is thick and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the butter, coconut milk and vanilla extract and whip for another minute.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and cinnamon. Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the liquid ingredients. Stir until just combined. Fold in the banana and chocolate chips.
Spoon 1/2 cup batter onto the hot iron. Cook as you would any waffles.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Cute Davey saying:
"When I grow up & am a daddy, I want to be a painter and paint something for you. Like rainbows!"
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Trying out the new big boy bed
Davey came home and saw his crib on its side in the living room as soon as he walked in the door. "What's going on," he cried? Immediately, he went to his room, walked in the door, noticed the dresser, then the bed, stopped, stared and fell silent for 30 seconds. Then he said, "What happened?" as he lightly smacked his right cheek. Next was a pout and a little confusion, perhaps? And then, "YEAH!" Under the covers he quickly slipped, testing it out. Then asking Daddy to go to sleep with him (pretend) for a little while. And lots and lots of jumping up and down.
He loves his big boy bed.
Davey's big boy bed and new dresser
Now:
Davey's big boy bed and new dresser, originally uploaded by jessicafm.
It does feel like it was just a few days ago that we had just finished getting it set up as a nursery. Wow, that was over 3 years ago.
Then:
Davey's big boy bed and new dresser, originally uploaded by jessicafm.
It does feel like it was just a few days ago that we had just finished getting it set up as a nursery. Wow, that was over 3 years ago.
Then:
Swim lesson time!!
Swim lesson time!!, originally uploaded by jessicafm.
Davey started swim lessons today and boy did he have fun! He's taking lessons two days a week at the Marin County YMCA. Theoretically it's a group class, but on his first night it was only him. There is only one other child in the class and he couldn't make it that night. His teacher is Brandon who I'd guess is still in high school -- maybe a senior? Brandon seems to have a really good way with little boys and had Davey at ease and listening to his instructions immediately.
Mark and I observed through the windows in the lobby, so as not to distract Davey. The entire half hour, Davey wore a giant, open mouthed smile. Does he like this? Oh, yes he does.
Meanwhile, as at least one of us will be at the YMCA at least once a week with Davey, we decided to go ahead and get a family membership. That way, we have no excuse to avoid exercise, at least those days. Yes!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Goal accomplished -- our big boy!
Wow, David did it! It has been one month and two days since he last pooped in a diaper. As of this morning, Davey made his goal of pooping only in the toilet for a month. Yay David! He is now very comfortably using the toilet for all his daytime toilet needs, whether it's with his Sponge Bob seat or an adult seat. That's our guy!
As promised, we are now shopping for a big boy bed as his prize. Woo!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
To the sous go the spoils
Davey assisted me in making vegan brownie bites this evening. He helped measure and stir the ingredients and then, his favorite part of course, he helped me clean up the spatula and bowl. I'll dust powdered sugar hearts atop the bites this evening and take the bites to Marin Day School tomorrow for their Valentine's Day celebrations.
The brownie bites turned out pretty tasty if a bit sweet and tangy. Hm, more like chocolate cake with chocolate chips than brownies. Still, not bad. I'll experiment with the recipe in the future to get it perfected. Meanwhile, here it is as written in The Joy of Vegan Baking:
1-1/2 C granulated sugar
3/4 C unsweetened apple sauce
2 TB water
2 tsp ground flax seed
1/2 C water
2 tsp vanilla extract
1-1/3 C all purpose flour
3/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 C nondairy semisweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350. Grease an 8x8 inch baking pan (or mini muffin tin as I did).
In a medium sized bowl, stir together the sugar, apple sauce and 2 TB water.
In a small bow or food processor, combine the ground flaxseed with the 1/2 C water. Add this to the applesauce mixture, along with the vanilla, and stir to combine.
In a separate small bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder, salt, chocolate chips and nuts, if using. Add to the applesauce mixture and stir just to combine.
Pour in to prepared pan and bake for 40 minutes. The finished product should be moist. Bake longer if you like a cakier result. Remove from the oven and let cool before cutting. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer up to 3 months.
Monday, February 8, 2010
I'm going to ride!!
You can see here just how much fun we had over the weekend in South Lake Tahoe. Davey and I spent most of the daylight hours, and some of the night, throwing snowballs and otherwise playing in the snow. Mark spent as much daylight time as possible on his board at Heavenly Ski Resort. Sue and Jim Bradford really took care of us as well -- thank you, we love you guys!!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Poop!
On the toilet!
Saturday night, after having a tantrum when I wouldn't let him leave the table when he wouldn't eat the food he'd specifically asked for, he cried, "I have to pee!"
I replied, "Fine, come to the bathroom and pee. Then go back to the table until you eat the food you asked for."
After he peed he said, "I have to poop. I'll poop on the toilet," coming from a blotchy and tear-streaked face.
REALLY?
Sure enough, he did, with a smile on his face! Needless to say, laughs and congratulations abounded and he was given chocolate, which had been the perennial promise for pooping on the toilet.
Sunday and Monday, however? "Diaper. No toilet."
This evening he said he needed a diaper and asked me to please give him one. "No," I responded, "Poop on the toilet!" He said no, and said he'd put on his diaper himself, and asked me to turn the light on his room. I replied, "I'll turn the light on in the bathroom and put the Sponge Bob seat on the toilet, but I won't turn on the light in your room." After 30 seconds or so he walked in to the bathroom and said, "Okayyy."
Mark ran in to watch. We all cheered. Davey agreed that it was much less messy and he loved the positive attention.
The changing table in his room could be going away soon and a big boy bed may be in his near future.
Woo hoo!
Saturday night, after having a tantrum when I wouldn't let him leave the table when he wouldn't eat the food he'd specifically asked for, he cried, "I have to pee!"
I replied, "Fine, come to the bathroom and pee. Then go back to the table until you eat the food you asked for."
After he peed he said, "I have to poop. I'll poop on the toilet," coming from a blotchy and tear-streaked face.
REALLY?
Sure enough, he did, with a smile on his face! Needless to say, laughs and congratulations abounded and he was given chocolate, which had been the perennial promise for pooping on the toilet.
Sunday and Monday, however? "Diaper. No toilet."
This evening he said he needed a diaper and asked me to please give him one. "No," I responded, "Poop on the toilet!" He said no, and said he'd put on his diaper himself, and asked me to turn the light on his room. I replied, "I'll turn the light on in the bathroom and put the Sponge Bob seat on the toilet, but I won't turn on the light in your room." After 30 seconds or so he walked in to the bathroom and said, "Okayyy."
Mark ran in to watch. We all cheered. Davey agreed that it was much less messy and he loved the positive attention.
The changing table in his room could be going away soon and a big boy bed may be in his near future.
Woo hoo!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Peters pumpkin patch
This is such a GREAT pumpkin patch! We were going elsewhere, but that patch was closed because it was "too wet." So we followed the signs we'd seen along the way for Peter's Pumpkin Patch and, WOW, JACKPOT! It's located at the Spring Hill Dairy, which is a huge bonus, as they make fantastic dairy products and, of course, have their cheese, butter and ice cream for sale. They've got thousands of pumpkins, both picked and still on the vines in the patches. They've got a patch where you can dig up potatoes (yum), hay rides, carriage rides, old tractors, an opportunity to milk a cow and, on weekends, live music. This place is fantastic! Check it out on Spring Hill Road in Petaluma.
If you've ever gone to a Farmer's Market in Marin or Sonoma (or elsewhere in the Bay Area, I'd think), you'll have had a chance to taste Spring Hill Cheese's fantastic cheeses and small-batch butter. Oh my goodness... if you haven't, you'd best do it. Yum!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Toy Story II was great in 3D!
I picked up Davey from school yesterday afternoon and we headed to the Cinema theater in Corte Madera for the 5:15 showing of the Toy Story in 3D double feature. Fun! We cheated and picked up some food at the nearby Safeway before (slices of ham, fresh snap peas, animal crackers and red vines) with thoughts of popcorn and lemonade from the theater. Unfortunately, the Cinema puts BUTTER SALT on their popcorn, so Davey couldn't have any. Nor did I, out of solidarity. We did, however, share a medium lemonade.
The 5:15 show was apparently Toy Story II, which lent itself VERY WELL to 3D. Especially the beginning, the Buzz Lightyear video game. Yeah! After the movie was over, there was a 15 minute or so intermission before Toy Story I. We both had a great time. Davey loved it!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Happy 3rd birthday David!!
3 years ago today, we were at Marin General Hospital in the pre-dawn hours, ready to become a family of 3. I remember looking out the window at the gibbous harvest moon hanging low over Mount Tamalpais and humming Neil Young to myself. Later, prone on the bed, hooked up a fetal heart rate monitor and a drip of pitocin, the Blue Angles roared nearby, doing their Fleet Week performance. Then, at 4 o'clock on the dot, Davey was plucked from my belly and Mark cut the umbilical cord. Life hasn't been the same ever since and I can't imagine it any other way.
Happy birthday my little love!
Monday, October 5, 2009
The 3rd birthday week begins!
Sunday, October 4, we had the first of 3 3rd birthday celebrations for Davey with a bbq of family and a few close friends at our home. What a fun time we had! Poor Sponge Bob...
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Sandy and happy
We escaped the heat of Novato for a late afternoon at Dillon Beach. Davey had a wonderful time romping up and down the beach, chasing waves and cautiously eying the stranded jellyfish.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Basketball with cousins
Basketball with cousins
Originally uploaded by jessicafm
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
At Jason Wong's birthday party
At Jason's birthday party
Originally uploaded by jessicafm
I think, unless too many others have parties there beforehand, Davey's 3rd birthday party will have to be there too.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Davey spins some spaghetti
He sure is growing up... he spins spaghetti quite well! Thanks for the photo, Dad.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Growing up
Oh David, what a fun boy he is. He's headstrong, intelligent, energetic and fun. We are so lucky to have him as our son! And you know I tell him that, right?
Yesterday Mom was sick so I took care of him for the afternoon. We went to Old McDonalds at his request. He wanted french fries and to play on their structure. Okay, what the heck? Mom would have taken him there had she been well, so fine. Afterwards we walked to Studio 4 Art, another place that David enjoys going with Mom. I'd never had a chance to go there. What a fun time! Kevin, one of the instructors there, recognized Davey immediately and greeted him with a high 5 and a big welcome. He brought over some things Davey had made on previous visits which were fired and ready to take home. Then he set us up with some clay, a rolling pin and lots of interesting things to make textures. Fun, fun, fun! He got to make things, paint and them with glaze.
When there was still a little time left, he let Davey play with the potter's wheel. He was thrilled!
Last night, as we were settling down for him to go to bed, we had read some stories and were listening to music. Davey shushed me while listening to Christopher Parkening's guitar rendition of Ravel: Ma Mère L'Oye - Empress Of The Pagaodas. He sat on my lap, quietly listening to it to the end. I was fascinated watching his face as he took it in and was obviously just enjoying it. I wondered what he was thinking. At the end he simply said, "Aw, that was nice."
Yesterday Mom was sick so I took care of him for the afternoon. We went to Old McDonalds at his request. He wanted french fries and to play on their structure. Okay, what the heck? Mom would have taken him there had she been well, so fine. Afterwards we walked to Studio 4 Art, another place that David enjoys going with Mom. I'd never had a chance to go there. What a fun time! Kevin, one of the instructors there, recognized Davey immediately and greeted him with a high 5 and a big welcome. He brought over some things Davey had made on previous visits which were fired and ready to take home. Then he set us up with some clay, a rolling pin and lots of interesting things to make textures. Fun, fun, fun! He got to make things, paint and them with glaze.
When there was still a little time left, he let Davey play with the potter's wheel. He was thrilled!
Last night, as we were settling down for him to go to bed, we had read some stories and were listening to music. Davey shushed me while listening to Christopher Parkening's guitar rendition of Ravel: Ma Mère L'Oye - Empress Of The Pagaodas. He sat on my lap, quietly listening to it to the end. I was fascinated watching his face as he took it in and was obviously just enjoying it. I wondered what he was thinking. At the end he simply said, "Aw, that was nice."
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Check out that shiner!
On Sunday evening, Davey was running around the back yard, enjoying the cooler temperatures and a visit from Papa Freiberg, Grandma Linda and Uncle Gregg. He got so excited he ran, face first, in to the end of the handle of the wheel barrow. OW!!
Thus... his first shiner.
He wouldn't let me keep a cold pack on his eye so I gave him a dose of Motrin and a dose of Tylenol in hopes of keeping down the swelling and the pain.
He bounced back quickly though. What a boy.
Blackberry cobbler!
The blackberries are in, ripe and plentiful at Bonnie's house! Bonnie, Davey and I picked a quart or so of blackberries very quickly yesterday morning, which I quickly turned in to a cobber. Delish!
Here's the recipe.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Singing and playing in his room
Singing and playing in his room
Originally uploaded by jessicafm
Friday, July 3, 2009
Peaches are ripe in our tree!!
And another season of Davey's favorite fruit is upon us. Joy of joys! Planting this frost peach tree was one of the best things we did to this house.
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