Gastronomic Delights

Ingrid loves to eat. Butternut Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Peas, Corn, Avocado, Fennel, Broccoli, Red Lentils, Brown Rice, Blueberries, Bananas, Cantaloupe, Cheese, Yogurt, Chicken, Turkey, Scrambled Eggs, Peaches, Whole Wheat Bread, Pancakes, Pasta and also any baby cereal and food in a jar. She is also getting very good at feeding herself. She's figured out that foods that are flat (like cheese slices) are best picked up by raking them to the edge of the table so they drop in her hand. She is still very fond of string (which includes her hat ties and her tiger's tail). She also has recently learned the joys of dining outside (here you see her in Renee's pop-up play house). Unfortunately one of the key pleasures for her of being outdoors is eating gravel, or rather trying to. Maybe she has a gizzard.

Where was Ingrid the evening of February 18th?

Well, as the sun began to set, she was playing in the living room. As she became increasingly tired, her attentions focused on her little orange kitty puppet, who has the most delicious paws. Then Mom hauled her into the kitchen so she could help make dinner. Ingrid wasn't much help making her dinner, but to make up for lack of skill int that area, she can move so fast she is nearly invisible. This evening's meal consisted of peas, carrots, oatmeal and apple sauce. And yes, by the end of it all the containers you see were empty. One night, Ingrid had 6 things for dinner. Mike complained "I don't get SIX things." Not long after dinner is bathtime. Ingrid picks out her toys (all of them) and goes to town. She enjoys sitting in the tub as the water drains, poking her finger into the drain to see where it goes (or something). Tonight (March 15) she figured out how to blow bubbles in the water. That seemed to be a key thing they were trying to teach her in swim class. I'm not sure why, but it has great entertainment value. Probably the purpose is for her to learn to exhale and not inhale in the water.

San Francisco in February

It seems now like it was months ago, but back in February, Ingrid and I took a weekend trip to San Francisco. The flight there was effortless, thanks to my very entertaining and increasingly inebriated seatmates who were more than happy to bounce Ingrid in their laps and make monkey noises all the way from Albuquerque to Las Vegas (of course). I was a little sad to see those ladies go, and half-wished I was joining them for the weekend. By the time the plane was in the air on its way to Oakland, Ingrid was asleep. On the way from the airport, Ingrid had her first car ride without me in the backseat next to her. There was some crying that even monster voices could not quell. Saturday I went to get my hair lopped off - afterwards a lady in the street commented that Ingrid and I had the same hair. You can judge for yourself. We did a little Pacific Heights wandering and then back to the apartment to prepare for our many many guests. Not much prep to do, since everybody brought everything. (Including many toys) We had a total of 15 people, including 6 younguns age 4 and under. At one point three little girls were running up and down the hall screaming. I'm sure the downstairs neighbors loved that. Hopefully they were enjoying a romantic Valentines Day dinner... at a restaurant far away. On Sunday I ran Ingrid a little ragged. She got back at me by crying for hours after going to bed in the evening. I now know just how sacred naptime is.