No more potatoes

Over the last few weeks, Peregrine has been diligently taking one or two steps more before touching the wall. He still does quite a bit of 'bear walking' on his hands-and-feet, and no crawling, and was mostly comfortable walking around holding on to a finger, errant pant leg, piece of furniture, or the like.

On Saturday late morning, we all went out for brunch. It was long, tumultuous affair which isn't actually the point of the post. The point: nearing the end of brunch, Poppa and Pip went outside to walk around a bit while Momma worked on actually eating. We were out on the sidewalk, with Pip walking as normal holding on to my index finger. And then I just took my finger away.

And he just kept walking. And walking.

He walked nearly the full length of the block back to the restaurant, without pausing or falling down. Then Momma had finished brunch and came outside and he walked back down the block. Then we turned around and he walked some more. He was clearly quite pleased with himself. He really just didn't want to stop walking. It was pretty neat.

Later that day we went out for wonton noodle soup. In the restaurant, we set him down and off he went like a windup toy! Down the hallway to the bathrooms, touch the door, back down to us, then out and around the tables, then repeat. He was clearly having a good time and getting cocky - starting to swing his arms and everything. Fortunately, the phone Billy gave me takes video.

While it's not high resolution, it's at least "proof," if you will, that he has graduated from potato-school.



Things are liable to get a little more interesting around the house, now. He's standing himself up and just wandering off. Combined with how tall he is getting, we're becoming more aware of how many things we leave out on our side tables, which, it turns out, are just within his grasp.

He did some more practice on Sunday (on our hike) and today as well. Exciting times!

stats

Pip had his one year checkup today. Perfectly clean bill of health. Vital statistics, for those of you keeping track at home:

Head circumference: 47 cm (that's big)
Weight: 20.95 lb (that's moderate)
Height: 31.5" (0.8m)

He shot up like a weed this last measurement period - he's in the 95th percentile on height now.

Happy birthday, Peregrine!

Peregrine's first birthday was yesterday, and he celebrated it in style. We had a gathering of some local family and friends, gifts, pizza, beverages, and, of course, a big cake. Oh, and no afternoon nap. But who wouhld want to nap on their birthday! Pip also managed to get just the slightest of sunburns from *gasp* the sun, making its first appearance since...hmm...2007? That's what it feels like, anyway.
Peregrine had a lot of fun playing with his cousins James and Lana, and friends Anuk and Emmy. He also got to see his whole host of grandparents in one day - Grandpa Ben, Grandma Myra, Grandpa Dave, and Gramma Pam in person, and Grandpa Bruce, Grandma Biddy, and los abuelos via Skype. It was a very full day for him!
Our thanks to everyone for the wonderful gifts, thanks to everyone who stopped by to enjoy the weather and wish our sweet boy a happy birthday!

1y

The Magic Walking Potato

So Peregrine has really enjoyed furniture walking for a few months now. He's very good at walking, but really doesn't like doing it on his own - he'll hunt down your finger or pant leg or what-have-you if try to trick him into walking under his own power.
When he's playing, though, he'll sometimes forget himself and stand without bracing himself on anything for awhile. Tonight, for the first time, he was so enraptured with a potato we had given him that he 'accidentally' walked clear across the kitchen. He did it repeatedly. Don't get me wrong: it's not far, but there's no mistaking it was quite genuinely intentional and without any support - except the potato. If he didn't have the potato in his hand, he was unwilling to take a single step without a finger, arm, or pant leg to hold on to. With the potato? A nigh-unstoppable juggernaut of bipedal motion. As such, I have christened it the Magic Walking Potato. And, I happened to get it on video!
So, for your viewing pleasure, Peregrine and the Magic Walking Potato:

Pics from Portland

Here

Pics from Portland

First trip on the train, exploring Portland

Grandma Biddy came into town...hmm...two Tuesdays ago, for a week or so. Sky had a conference/workshop to attend in Portland, and the original plan had been for Grandma to accompany her to take care of Pip while she was in class. Papa managed to get the days off as well, though, so all four of us headed down to Portland for a long weekend. We left Thursday morning, catching the Amtrak from Everett all the way down to Portland and didn't come back until Monday night.
The first two days Papa had to do some work while Mama was in class, so Grandma Biddy and Peregrine got to spend most of those two days together (except for meals and some time walking around and such). We mostly just all relaxed at the hotel by the airport.

Saturday afternoon we left the conference hotel and headed to downtown Portland for a couple more days as tourists. We toured around on the MAX system, took Peregrine for his first swim in a swimming pool, ate some really excellent food, explored some boutique-y shops, wandered around a gorgeous Chinese garden, and just generally yucked it up. Monday afternoon, back on to the train and a nice easy ride up to Everett! It was a very nice trip, though it of course didn't seem long enough. 

Sky and I have spent quite a bit of time exploring the Oregon coast, but this is the first time we spent any time in Portland. I think it's a fair bet we'll be trying to spend some more time there. For one thing, there are like a million tasty looking food carts, and I pretty much can't resist that. 

Now, if only we could find more time...

and some pics

Don't miss the text post, below, though.

10.2