Happy August, Little Fish.
I can’t believe the summer is over. This is my LAST WORK DAY before I go back to work on Monday. I have enjoyed it immensely. Most of my days have been spent with you, so we have a collection of pictures (and even audio when I can find out how to put it in) and stories to recall.
Marcus and your hipster binky. You seem not to care; as long at it does what a binky is supposed to do.
No Hablo: I know you care about me and Mommy, but I’m sure if you could talk, you would profess your affection for your binkies as your most treasured things in your life. You were a binky mama on your second day of life, and since it calmed you Mommy and I were thrilled. Every night when we sing the good night song, you have a binky in. Then, before you hit the mattress, you are reaching for another one to have in your hand. You turn it around with both hands, contemplating it, sometimes making a quick switch to try another one.
You and No Hablo being held by our neighbor Charlotte.
The Ultimate Binky in your collection is No Hablo, a white pacifier with holes on the sides, a ring for leashing it to your bib, and “No Hablo,” in grey letters on the side facing out. For some reason, we leashed this one to you early on, and it has been with you most every day. You used to have a cute leash with a cat wearing a tiara, but when you could easily pull it off we had to upgrade to a hinged-snapping clasp pink camoflauge leash that keeps it more secure on your bib. There are sometimes when you are playing, or it is nearing bedtime or feedingtime, when you become easily agitated and fussy. No Hablo comes to the rescue and usually does the trick. For people who know you well, they are aware that you can be chatty. In fact, one FaceTime call with Nana and PopPop, after you lectured them for several minutes, Nana said, “Well, I guess we should go.” That never happens! You talked Nana into boredom. So the irony of No Hablo is not lost on us.
In late July I joined Rachel Klein on her 40th birthday party…A 20-mile day hike through The Enchantment Lakes, south of Leavenworth, WA. Usually, this hike is done over 3 days, but Rachel and her husband Denny are ultralight hiker/campers, so we packed light and did it all in one day. It was truly stunning, with mountain goats at Aasgard Pass, glacier fed pools, snowfields, and a playland of rock, grass, and snow. The Enchantment Lakes are featured in the “Top 100 Hikes in Washington” book, so I was pumped to be able to highlight it as one I have done.
Another adventure our family had was a week in Post Falls, Idaho. We rented a VRBO house on the Spokane river chilling, floating, and biking in a new state for you. Both Mommy and I had always wanted to see Coeur d’Alene, which is just up the river, so we made a vacation out of it. We rode our bikes, hauling you in the Chariot, along the Centennial Trail into Coeur d’Alene, bounced on the water trampoline, paddled on the standup paddleboards, toured in the paddleboat, and soaked up the Idaho sun. One day trip was a bike tour on the Trail of the Hiawatha, just over the border into Montana. It was a 15 mile, mostly downhill trail that went over train trestles and tunnels.
We stayed in the lower level of the house, right on the Spokane river.
Dinner in Coeur d’Alene.
You have your favorite Pooping Places. Usually it is in your car seat, but this time it was in your dinner chair. It is painful for me and Mommy to watch you have your movements, but it appears much more painful for you.
You and Mommy floating on the Spokane River.
On the Trail of the Hiawatha Bike Path.
You in your chariot attached to my bike over one of the train trestles.
On the bus ride back to the first tunnel you were boisterous and charming.
I just finished “Surely you’re joking, Mr. Feynman,” by the Nobel prize winning Physicist Richard Feynman. I’d had this book on my list because I’d read about Feynman several times in the last year in Discover Magazine and other math and education-related publications. It was written in 1974, recounting stories from his life as a college student, Cal-Tech professor, advisor on The Manhattan Project, and lifelong curious scientist. I liked how each story was told as though Dick Feynman was sitting at the kitchen table with you, sharing his experiences with you one on one. It was inspiring to me as an educator and person curious about various
You are waking up from your nap now, so I will close for now, with more reports on San Diego in the next post. Love you, little peach.
Daddy