Olivia apparently decided this afternoon that she should show us she knows how to walk. She has taken a few (maybe three?) steps occasionally before today. Most of those were to cover the two feet between the coffee table and the couch.
Today, she walked about 7 steps from the kitchen island to the middle of the floor, then sat down. A few minutes later, Zach (who had alerted us to her first traverse) shouted again, "She's walking!" There she was, another few feet of open floor covered before she sat. We cheered and cheered.
At that point, we stood about 15 feet apart and stood her up to walk across the room, and she did! So cute, with the little lunge for Mommy or Daddy in the last couple of steps, but mostly on her own.
Big girl!
(Of course the video camera did not cooperate when we wanted to capture this milestone, but I did get some footage on the point-and-shoot's video. I'll see if we can get 'er up here.)
April 26, 2008
April 21, 2008
On Writing
From an interview of Katherine Paterson, author of 1977's Bridge to Terabithia:
What would be your "words of wisdom" to a person who wants to write, but is paralyzed by failure? What advice would you give people starting out?
When a teacher (still a dear friend) of mine in graduate school suggested I ought to be a writer, I was appalled. "I don't want to add another mediocre writer to the world," I said. She helped me (it took years of nudging) to understand that if I wasn't willing to risk mediocrity, I would never accomplish anything. There are simply no guarantees. It takes courage to lay your insides out for people to examine and sneer over. But that's the only way to give what is your unique gift to the world. I have often noted that it takes the thinnest skin in the world to be a writer, it takes the thickest to seek out publication. But both are needed—the extreme sensitivity and the hippo hide against criticism. Send your inner critic off on vacation and just write the way little children play. You can't be judge and creator at the same time.
http://www.terabithia.com/questions.html
What would be your "words of wisdom" to a person who wants to write, but is paralyzed by failure? What advice would you give people starting out?
When a teacher (still a dear friend) of mine in graduate school suggested I ought to be a writer, I was appalled. "I don't want to add another mediocre writer to the world," I said. She helped me (it took years of nudging) to understand that if I wasn't willing to risk mediocrity, I would never accomplish anything. There are simply no guarantees. It takes courage to lay your insides out for people to examine and sneer over. But that's the only way to give what is your unique gift to the world. I have often noted that it takes the thinnest skin in the world to be a writer, it takes the thickest to seek out publication. But both are needed—the extreme sensitivity and the hippo hide against criticism. Send your inner critic off on vacation and just write the way little children play. You can't be judge and creator at the same time.
http://www.terabithia.com/questions.html
April 20, 2008
Follow Up
Looking back at old e-mail drafts (where I file my notes and thoughts), I found the plans for moving Zach into his new room, and for decorating Olivia-to-Be's room. The original notes were posted in Feb 2007. Here's the follow-up: Notes from a year later:
* I ended up getting two dark brown window valences from Target. I glued on pink flowers, and one valence went above the window; the other became a bedskirt for the crib, since only one side shows.
* The light-blocking beige curtains don't really block light, but they look okay.
* I painted a canvas of pink flowers on a heart-shaped tree branch.
* In theory, the floral night light on the dresser is a cute addition. Since it only cost $10 at Hobby Lobby, I got nervous that it wasn't safe enough to be left on all night. So, mostly it looks cute.
* We switched out the framed nursery rhymes for more "girly" rhymes: Little Bo Peep replaced Little Boy Blue, but Jack and Jill remain over the changing table.
* We did get the Shabby Chic rug for the floor.
* Cute butterfly mobile from Pottery Barn Kids hangs above the crib.
* Big flowers from Pottery Barn Kids hang above the changing table.
* Pink and brown "things" sit on the shelves above the rocking chair: a vase, a cute card, a bird from Theresa.
* Now, in the book rack, the Olivia books dominate the shelves. We have the first book, Forms a Band, and Helps with Christmas. If you haven't seen them, you must check them out!
All was inspired by the colors on the Boppy cover. So much for the thought that Zach's neutral stars and gingham could be reused!
* I ended up getting two dark brown window valences from Target. I glued on pink flowers, and one valence went above the window; the other became a bedskirt for the crib, since only one side shows.
* The light-blocking beige curtains don't really block light, but they look okay.
* I painted a canvas of pink flowers on a heart-shaped tree branch.
* In theory, the floral night light on the dresser is a cute addition. Since it only cost $10 at Hobby Lobby, I got nervous that it wasn't safe enough to be left on all night. So, mostly it looks cute.
* We switched out the framed nursery rhymes for more "girly" rhymes: Little Bo Peep replaced Little Boy Blue, but Jack and Jill remain over the changing table.
* We did get the Shabby Chic rug for the floor.
* Cute butterfly mobile from Pottery Barn Kids hangs above the crib.
* Big flowers from Pottery Barn Kids hang above the changing table.
* Pink and brown "things" sit on the shelves above the rocking chair: a vase, a cute card, a bird from Theresa.
* Now, in the book rack, the Olivia books dominate the shelves. We have the first book, Forms a Band, and Helps with Christmas. If you haven't seen them, you must check them out!
All was inspired by the colors on the Boppy cover. So much for the thought that Zach's neutral stars and gingham could be reused!
April 10, 2008
No More Than a Potato
"Human nature will not flourish, any more than a potato, if it be planted and replanted, for too long a series of generations, in the same worn-out soil. My children … shall strike their roots in unaccustomed earth."
The passage above was quoted from Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter in a story about Jhumpa Lahiri 's new collection of stories, Unaccustomed Earth.
That passage spoke to me, given my family's repeated "transplantations." While it was always difficult to leave old friends and familiar settings, we did get to experience some amazing new opportunities. The Silver Lining, right?
Some day, I'd like to check out Lahiri's new work.
The passage above was quoted from Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter in a story about Jhumpa Lahiri 's new collection of stories, Unaccustomed Earth.
That passage spoke to me, given my family's repeated "transplantations." While it was always difficult to leave old friends and familiar settings, we did get to experience some amazing new opportunities. The Silver Lining, right?
Some day, I'd like to check out Lahiri's new work.
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