A Weekend Visit

This past weekend we were all treated to a visit from Spencer's dad, and brother Hugo. We were sad that Diane couldn't join them but work wouldn't let her get away (I can certainly sympathize). It was a whirlwind visit that included a Brewers game, a trip to Madison and the purchase of a car. Though Eliot didn't make it to the baseball game, or to Madison, he did help pick out our new vehicle and revelled in all the attention from Grandpa and Uncle Hugo.

Eliot got in some wrestling with Uncle Hugo but he still has a lot to learn (i.e. it's unsportsmanlike to take hold of your opponent's face).

Grandpa and Uncle Hugo also helped out with the bedtime routine, which included a healthy helping of green bean puree and rice cereal followed by a reading of 'Goodnight Moon'.

Like any visit with family, it was over too soon and left us looking forward to December.

The wonderful thing about tiggers...

...is tiggers are wonderful things. Their tops are made out of rubber, their bottoms are made out of springs. They're bouncy, bouncy, bouncy, bouncy, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun! The most wonderful thing about tiggers is that I'm the only one. Iiiiii'm the only one!

I can't help but think of this song from Winnie the Poo whenever I see Eliot in his Jolly Jumper. He just loves to jump, no matter where, no matter when.

Jiminy Cricket!

Now that the semester has started Spencer spends Monday night at a friend's place in Madison so that we can save a bus ticket on Tuesday. Last Monday I drifted off to sleep listening to the sound of the crickets chirping outside. One little guy was particularly loud. The next day I got home from work and upon walking in the door was greeted with an enthusiastic CHIRP! It was then that I realized that the sound I'd heard last night had been coming from someplace inside the apartment. Feeling somewhat creeped out, I finally narrowed his location down to the bathroom, but search as I might I couldn't find the little guy. When Spencer came home he joined in the hunt, and discovered the intruder crouched behind the toilet. He snatched a piece of toilet paper and was poised to take action when I stopped him. I don't know what it was. Perhaps it was all those years listening to the "goodnight noises" when visiting my grandmother in rural Kansas, maybe it was that song about wishing on a star, or maybe the fact that the chirp had started to sound so plaintive and the little cricket looked so small, and helpless. But strangely (and I say 'strangely' because I detest any and all spiders 'Charlotte's Web' notwithstanding) I'd come to feel a sort of camaradarie with the little bug. So, I grabbed the strainer and a piece of card stock (I didn't feel enough camaraderie to actually touch him, mind you) and escorted our guest back out into his little world. Perhaps he promptly got gobbled up by someone a link or two up on the food chain. I'd like to think he made it safely home to Mrs. Cricket and all their little crickets, or at the very least rejoined his buddies in the football field behind our home and is singing blithely with them each evening.

Defended

This past Friday Spencer defended his doctoral dissertation. It was a brilliant triumph! I drove over to Madison after work to meet up with Spencer and he seemed blown away with the gushing response he had received from the defense committee. I was very pleased, but not surprised. I've come to expect great things from Spencer. I'm so proud of him! We celebrated that evening at a French restaurant in Madison which we thought was a good fit considering the topic of Spencer's studies. Jed (he of "Rough Stone Rolling" fame) and Shawna Woodworth joined us and we had a nice evening with great food and conversation.

We had an early morning the next day because we were volunteering at a diabetes conference here in Milwaukee where we worked the registration table. We have been looking for ways to serve in the community and this opportunity presented itself through my work at the hospital. It was great to get out and lend a hand. Plus, they had bagels.

Eliot had a busy weekend as well. On Friday he went to the zoo with Noni and Grandpa where he looked at all kinds of animals (he especially loved the fish) and got to ride on the train. He has also started to sit on his own. He has been practicing for the past few weeks and the other day was able to keep his balance without over-correcting. It eventually ended with a face plant into a blanket, but he's moving in the right direction. Sure do love that boy!

What a happy boy!

A Wedding in the San Juans

A couple weeks ago we headed up to the San Juan Islands to attend the wedding of my cousin David and his fiancee Marjorie. It is a long trip up there involving a plane, a bus, a boat, another bus, and another boat, and we were fortunate to be able to spend some time at the home of Spencer's Aunt and Uncle Schneider in Seattle on the way up and back. It was a wonderful trip and Eliot made all kinds of new friends and caught up on older friendships, as did we.

While in Seattle Aunt Coleen showed us Pike Place Market where we took in the sights and burned our mouths on fresh mini doughnuts that were just too good to wait. We also got to hang out with cousins Rachel and David who coached us on Guitar Hero (I have a long way to go). We had the chance to visit the Science Fiction Museum and the EMP and eat burgers at Dick's. We even had a chance to see Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Brett on Spencer's mom side. Like all visits that are too brief we left several things for next time.

David and Marjorie's wedding was lovely. It took place in a little chapel in Roche Harbor on San Juan Island. My Aunt Janet and Uncle Peter have a house on nearby Pearl Island where we stayed and ate crab right out of their crab traps nearly every day. Eliot turned on the charm and fully established his reputation as an easy-going, happy baby. In fact, on the way back to Seattle while we sat waiting for the shuttle I got into conversation with a couple traveling our way. When we realized that we had just attended the same wedding the woman pointed at the faceless, sleeping baby in my arms and asked, "Oh, is that Eliot?" Why yes, yes it is. My name's Nora, I'm his mom. I always knew that Eliot would eventually have a social life independent of Spencer and myself, I just wasn't prepared for it at 5 months of age. What a fun little guy!

Milestones

The past few weeks have been busy for our whole family. After much researching, writing, editing, translating, transcribing, trans-Atlantic travel, etc., etc., Spencer's dissertation has been turned over to the powers that be in anticipation of his September 18th defense. In the meantime I, along with my co-workers, have been preparing for our 400+ bed hospital to go live with computer charting. And if all that weren't enough, Eliot has started rolling over and had his first taste of rice cereal!

Eliot has also discovered his toes and lets out a squeal that's starting to sound like a giggle when you give him raspberries on his tummy. I made a hat for Eliot, intended for this winter when he's a bit bigger. I swear I followed the pattern exactly, but unless Eliot's head swells to 6x its present size in the next five months I don't think it's going to work. It's even big on Spencer and myself!

It's amazing just how much he's been growing. Spencer and I looked over some of the older photos and the difference blows my mind! But inside he's still that same snuggly little sweetheart!

(Left: Eliot at 2 weeks Right: Eliot at 4 months)

Last week Eliot took his first trip across the border to his father's native land--Canada. We headed north to Edmonton, Alberta to attend a family reunion on the Youngs' side and experience what Spencer calls "the best summer anywhere". And I have to tell you, it was quite pleasent and didn't get dark until past 11 pm. Eliot had a chance to meet his only living great-grandparents (Gigi and Bapa). He met his Uncle Aaron, with girlfriend Patti, and Uncle Doug, for the first time along with a whole host of half-cousins, great-aunts and uncles, etc, etc.

Eliot got a lot of practice napping in unusual spots. Whether it was on the seat in the airport, in the stroller at the Ukrainan village, or in the arms of Grandma Bennett, he slept like a pro.













While we were there Eliot's Nana Young was appointed a judge and we all had the chance to attend her swearing-in. Eliot put his napping skills into action and slept like an angel through the whole thing, saving his screams for the nice reception that followed.

Spencer and I had a wonderful time. Most of the days were spent relaxing and visiting with family and friends. We had the chance to go to the Ukranian village with Gigi and Bapa where we toured a number of beautifully restored buildings and munched delicious Ukranion food. And I must say, there is something awfully nice about lingering in the extended twilight as bowls of fruit and old stories get passed around.