In the Neighborhood

Oh, man, I'm stuck in this stroller AGAIN.


Oh, Nora. You know it's because you like to look out at the world when we take walks.


Like this?


No, like THIS.

Becoming Accessories

Halloween Cat Cap =
cheery!


Baby-Brand Baby Sunhat =
blessed nap.


Woodland Creature Hoodie =
Basil.

Nine Weeks: Improptu Bathtime

Normally we're a bath-in-the-big-tub sort of family, but today merited a quick dunk in the new dishpan:






The biggest drawback to this method is the lack of an opportunity to create underwater mermaid hair, but Nora still seemed to emerge happy and clean.


Off to bed!

Two Months, Two Months, Where Have You Been?

Nora's second month of life included many trips similar to those she encountered in her first month of life, but this second month boosted Nora's cultural street cred (er, indoor cred) through her presence at three artful meetings and five theatrical productions. We're giving this kid the appropriate foundation for...writing grants? Becoming an art snob? Being afraid of the dark?

Nora's First Puppet Show:
Printer's Devil's A Boy in the Beastly City at Theatre Off Jackson

Nora's First Performance Art:
Socìetas Raffaello Sanzio's Hey, Girl at On the Boards

Nora's First Play Inspired by a Natural Disaster:
The Breach at Seattle Repertory Theatre

Nora's First Musical:
Pippin at Youth Theatre Northwest

Nora's First Green-Powered Plays:
Keep the Light On at Annex Theatre

That last play had the added distinction of being the first Annex show in ten years for which I was solely an audience member. Not such a bad way to watch a show! And Nora got her own little shout out by one of the cast members as "Hope," the new baby born to a couple who had survived the apocolypse (along with the other members of the show and audience...more info on show and framework by clicking the link...and on the other shows by clicking those links).

Yes, that is rather a bunch of art for five weeks..WAIT! I just remembered one more! We also went to see the Book-it All Over! residency performances of The Lorax and The Sneetches at West Woodland Elementary. That was also an odd experience as I've led that residency for the last five years. (This year it was led quite well by my friend and colleague Rachel Atkins.) I have to admit that it was pretty satisfying to take a baby to an elementary school because you know who loves babies? Other kids!

I'm sure this trend of regular arts attendance with the baby will be coming to a close over the next few months, but until then we have plans to attend what we can when we can...and one of these days that will include a show or three at Seattle Children's Theatre, y'know, the place with an actual cry room.

Note: we are equally adept at just getting stuck in the house for hours on end trying to get dressed and fed.

Healthy Kid

Today's well baby check-up with Dr. Christina resulted in the following stats:

Weight: 11lbs, 12oz
Length: 24 1/2 inches

In the name of public health, Nora also received her first batch of innoculations. Hep B, DTaP, Hib, PCV and IPV: five shots in her chubby little thighs. After a brief bit of "what the?" crying, she recovered thusly:


The above was followed up with jammies and much snuggling for Nora; cake and much eating for Mom and Dad.

Octopus Week

Today we trotted out of the house to visit the aquarium with Heather and Sophie. Well, I trotted: Nora, as she cannot yet trot, felt compelled to perform the following:

Sleeping with the Fishes: A Silent Opera in Five Parts

Part the First

Strongly affected by the soporific combination of milk and a carride, our heroine [Nora Somerville Jorgensen] retreats to her chambers. Illuminated jellyfish mime a gentle lullaby.

Part the Second

Our heroine drifts into a world populated by coral. Lulled still by the jellyfish, she is unaware of the danger of an impending sting.

Part the Third

Our heroine is saved from the coral by a passing friend [Sophia Serena Florian Culver] and her mother [Heather Shannon Culver]. She remains unaware of the gratitude she must one day proffer.

Part the Fourth

Her friends drift on; our heroine encounters a new creature.
Will it prove to be friend or foe?

Part the Fifth: Finale

We may never know.

Apparently, the gentle light and just-above-room temperature of the aquarium make for the perfect napping environment.

We're getting a membership.

Eight Weeks or Every Day is Father's Day

No day could be sunnier.

Love Oh Crazy Love

Seven Weeks

You may be wondering what sorts of accomplishments or skills Nora has developed in her life. You may be wondering what happened to that list I mentioned I would post...well, this is it...sort of.

The truth of it: Nora is full of squawks and squiggles and squirms. She's quite glorious.

Her newest trick is pictured here:


She's a cupcake!

Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Our daughter's a cupcake! On a plate! A CUPCAKE!

Seriously, see, because that's how sweet she is! And she figured that trick out on her own before she could even hold up her own head. But wait: she can turn back into a baby, too!



I nabbed her just before she could attempt her burgling plan.

Both baby disguises, cupcake and cat burgler, resulted in much nibbling.

NOM NOM NOM. (Not pictured.)

Six Weeks: Not a Groundhog

...although you might not be sure, given the pixelated quality and brief video capture capability of my camera phone.

Nevertheless, behold!