quiet time

Sometimes Xavier just likes to sit quietly in his room & read books. I found him there today & managed to get this sweet, meandering conversation on video.

another oldy but goody

...not sure why I forgot to upload this delightful little vidi (another from June 30)

"pick 'matoes"

We've had a great harvest of roma tomatoes this year (nothing else made it through all that cool, wet crap we had) & Xavier loves to help me "pick 'matoes." He is a little wary of all the giant wolf spiders lurking between the tomato cages, however. I think it has a little something to do with me screaming whenever I get too close to one...better work on that...

my tent

I sewed Xavier a simple tabletop tent using old sheets & he loves it. It is a perfect cozy spot for lounging & reading books, two of his favorite activities.

He thinks it needs a proper door.

1st quilt

It's totally not Xavier-related, I know, but I can't resist posting pics of my 1st quilt that I finally finished (took me almost a year...such is life with a baby).

40th birthday

Juli invited us over for a last-minute 40th birthday party for Mark. We were so glad we could make it. There are a few more pics here.

the wheels on the bus go round & round

Xavier took his first bus ride on a rainy Sunday morning. We rode up to the Lents Farmer's Market & coffee shop & home. He was a little wary of the whole thing, despite chattering nonstop about how he was going to "ride bus!" & he burst into tears when the bus driver said "Hi" to him. I think it was all a little overwhelming. Sometimes things can be both scary AND fun.

a guitar of his own

We found our old travel guitar in the garage & figured it would be perfect for Xavier, i.e. it's a piece of sh*t so no one will cry if he destroys it....

...& it looks like that is exactly what he has in mind...

corn on the cob

Xavier got to try his first corn on the cob & I'd have to say it was a hit. "Comb! Comb!" -he says every night when we ask him what he wants for dinner.

magical zoo morning

I love the look of wonder on his face when he sees the creatures at the zoo. A few more pics are here, if you're interested.

bubbles with aunt kim

More pics here.

old school camera times at the rose garden

I dug out one of my old Nikon lenses & we hit the Portland Rose Garden for a day of snapping & strolling. I think some of these shots turned out pretty decently, considering I had to shoot in 100% manual mode -and I mean manual -no metering, no focus, nothing.

I'll admit it's exceedingly difficult to get the ol' toddler-sniffing-the-rose shot in totally manual mode. Autofocus+kids=necessary.

story time with dad & kitty

For the most part Xavier tolerates the kitty but recently he's been saying things like: "Go on, kitty!" when the kitty is getting in his business. Wonder where he gets that?

oops

My camera settings were wildly off for this one, but I rather liked the results...