Macrina Laughs and Many Meetings

Her neck is fairly irresistible for kissing, even when it’s full of crusties from dried spit up.  Who knew it was a tickle spot on a girl so young!

We’ve been very busy and neglectful to our blog audience.  So many things have passed they will hardly be covered, but I will try to provide a few pictures.

Papou Sam and Yiayia Brooke met Macrina:

Basil and Papou Sam meet a Como Zoo Polar Bear:

Oh wait, that’s Jesse Ventura!  Here’s the bear:

Cousin Stella and Auntie Katina meet Macrina:

Uncle Jeff meets Macrina:

Basil meets an orange bike from Yiayia Brooke and takes it for a walk:

A proud papa?

The living room meets a new look:

Macrina meets Danielle and Meredith:

Macrina meets one of her first smiles:

My new tools meet some wood and hardware:

My new tools meet more wood and hardware, as well as very smelly, slowly drying polyurethane…

Basil meets our first real snow of the season:

Mama meets spit-up bad:

Sibling lips meet:

Come meet us!

~Eric

October happened…

and we completely failed to blog!  Oops.  Things have been busy around here in the moving, teaching, learning, cooking, playing, normal-ness of life kind of way.  We’re hopelessly behind in recording the goings-on, and the latest photos are not uploaded, so I may resort to scrolling through iphoto and telling you about the summer.  (I’m also trying to simultaneously supervise Basil’s unpacking of the purse/diaper bag… so we’ll see how this goes.)

Did we mention that we moved to Minnesota?  I guess Eric covered that, but I’m not sure he did a good job emphasizing the 6am hike in Black River Falls, WI on the way here.  Maybe because he slept through it.  Well, it was the best part!

Here are some handsome dudes right before a certain (successful!) interview and after a night of no sleep:

We celebrated Auntie Jude’s birthday on Eric’s first day of class at St. Kate’s:

And finally got some sleep in the (formerly) new digs:

Basil enjoyed his first walk around Lake Harriet, and attempted to lose his sunhat several times along the way which sent poor Yiayia backtracking quite a bit.

We hunkered down at Yiayia and Papou’s during a storm, but didn’t end up needing the basement.  I’m not sure if this pose/expression means “it’s hot out”, “I love my truck”, “give me ice cream” or what exactly…

We played at the park A LOT (I’m sparing you a lot of photos here, it’s hard to pick.)

It wasn’t a summer of all play though.  Papa had school work:

And Basil had pounding:

Me?  Mostly playing.  And constantly restocking the not so mysteriously unloaded cupboards:

And soon it was party time!  Basil got to be with all four of his grandparents on his birthday.  Here he is with his Papous:

He liked the strawberries on top of his cake better than the chocolate.  He looked happier in real life!

We hung out with Yiayia at St.Kates, and a whole lot of water fowl.

And Basil got to meet cousin Amy (one of the cousin Amys!):

Cheerios with AK = best treat ever:

We went to Chicago for Mark and Claire’s wedding, it was fantastic!  And here, ladies and gentlemen, is the only photo I got:

That’s Basil at the reception (post diaper malfunction sending him into non-wedding attire) hiding in the table linens.  It really was an incredibly beautiful, comfortable and fun wedding!  Unfortunately Eric had to leave early to drive through the night for his classes at St. Kate’s.  A baby in a front pack is really not the best dancing partner.  But the Uzbek pop music almost made up for my lack of spouse at the reception.

The next day we got to reunite with a few playgroup pals, spend a great day with Lila

and get Basil’s 12 month check up!  Surprisingly, vaccinations right before flying

was a great idea and Basil slept through the whole flight.  He didn’t cry until we landed and saw Papa.  I wanted Papa to carry the beast of a car seat and I would just take Basil.  No.  He needed Papa, IMMEDIATELY.

We got to see my aunts a couple of times this summer and we’ve spent lots of time at ProYiayia and ProPapou’s.  I particularly like this picture of Great Aunt Katina and Basil.  What fun!

Now we come the part of the summer where the camera stopped working due to high humidity.  Thanks to Yiayia’s camera we do have documentation of AK teaching Basil to smash sand castles.  If he loses all his friends at the beach, we’ll know who to blame!

Speaking of the beach, Basil LOVED it.  He had to be stopped multiple times from crawling in too deep.  It was ridiculously fun to see him experience the water for the first time.  And the look on his face when he saw just how much sand he had to work with was priceless.  (Word to the frugal, don’t spend $13 on a swim diaper like we did.  Put your child in a too-small diaper cover.  Same exact thing.  Or a one-size cover set too small.  That would work too.  The orange fishies are pretty cute though.)

We enjoyed concerts at the bandshell.  This is the Minnesota Pops Orchestra.  You can’t see them?  Oh, neither could we.  The diehard fans had the good seats, but we had the crawling space.

Then Stella came to visit!  (Auntie Katina and Uncle Jeff too).  I guess we already posted this bit of news, but I don’t think we shared that they got to meet some chickens at the bookstore.

Or that Basil is IN LOVE with his auntie:

(though he didn’t set the blackberry down for the kiss, did he…)  Seriously though, when he visits Yiayia and Papou’s he likes to page through a photo album and point out every picture of Katina.    Maybe it’s because she taught him to eat Papou’s BBQ Chicken:

And here’s general adorableness:

We went to the state fair!  I loved it (as usual), Basil thought the animals and cheese curds were pretty neat, and Eric asked if I really think I’ll want to go again next year.  Alas, I married a non-Minnesotan, I guess there is a price to pay.  The sheep barn was a hit:

As was the biggest pig in MN (a record year!):

He was not so impressed by the Princess Kay butter heads:

He did like his own little milk experience outside the dairy building:

And a different type of dairy experience happened several times this summer and was more than a big hit:

Then school started, Eric will have to talk about that.

Basil met Meredith:

We packed.

It was hard work!

We moved.

Basil met Danielle:

It was really wonderful to sandwich stressful moving times with visits from dear friends.  And I think it’s a testament to enduring friendship despite distance when you feel comfortable bringing someone into your home that is either immediately pre or post move.

The first couple of nights in the new house were a little rough in the sleep department:

But we followed with a visit from the Stiffs!  And it was fantastic.

You know it’s a good time when you don’t get any pictures until departure.

So… that’s up to the beginning of October, and now I need to find the camera cord again!

~Elizabeth

Yiayia Brooke wants Pictures!

So we’ll give her some video.

At one point in the past, we tried to get Basil to drink out of a glass independently.  Just as he has had little experience with bottles, he doesn’t know much of the “sippy cup.”  Unfortunately, his shot glass had an accident in the sink, and his drink training was put on a hiatus.

Now it’s a hot summer in Minneapolis, and he needs hydration.  He seems to be a quick study and quite proud!

And the drinking in action:

BRC Anniversary, Ferberization, Visitors

There isn’t a lot to report chez Saathoff, but we figured it’s time to post a few pictures of Mr. Basil.  Eric and room 219 are gearing up for the ISAT.  Basil and I are pining for spring.  Our low-key winter days have been filled with reading and church going.  The calm is especially welcome as we just celebrated the one year anniversary of Bed Rest Central.  Uff da.  Basil is definitely not the lie around type despite the lack of activity while he was growing in-utero.  Even when Papa puts him IN a basket with toys in hopes of reading a few pages, he is up up up!  Laundry baskets are a favorite toy and enable Basil’s half-hour standing marathons.  Instead of simply pulling up like in the video a few posts back, Basil now pulls up and then walks along pushing the basket across the living room.  Oh my.

And we’ve all been sleeping quite well!  Dr. Ferber’s advising was painful to implement, but has proven effective and wonderful.  Basil hasn’t gotten a nap schedule down, but he reliably goes to sleep at bedtime and stays that way.  Sweet!

A few weeks ago we enjoyed a visit from John.  Basil particularly liked reading about animals with him:

Unfortunately Lila was not along for the short trip.  But we look forward to her arrival at the beginning of April for Pascha.  Eric and I are reading up on Baptism as recommended by Basil’s Nouna and Nouno and we’re getting very excited for Holy Saturday.

We also had a visit from Yiayia and Papou Boosalis.  Unfortunately, most of the weekend’s photos were taken with a different camera.  But here’s Basil giving Yiayia some teething tips

We had a nice dinner out on Friday and all of us trekked north for a prayer service at church.  The service was listed on the website, but didn’t make it into the bulletin for the week.  Our party plus the deacon leading the service comprised the entire congregation.

On Saturday we spent the afternoon at the University using their Internet to file our taxes with the help of Taxpro Papou Boo.  In the evening Basil stayed at home with Yiayia and Papou while Eric and I hit the town for a wonderful date night at Soul Vegetarian. Basil ate oranges, chatted with cousin Stella on the phone and had a grand time with his grand people chasing him.  We had a great time not chasing him and were refreshed on our return.

Basil continues his foray into solids.  Cantaloupe is a new favorite.  He’s taking bigger bites now that he has FOUR teeth!  And here’s evidence that some is getting into his mouth, at least!

Spinach is also well loved:

On Valentine’s day Basil really enjoyed his card from Yiayia and Papou Saathoff:

~Elizabeth

Part II: First Christmas in Kansas

We made it to Kansas just before a heavy ice storm followed by snow, which make the roads very dangerous in a part of the country without city resources for massive road clearing.  Thanks be to God that Evan and his crew made it safely from Lawrence through the thick of it on Christmas Eve.

They brought their dog, Arrow, and took a romp on Christmas morning.

Basil, Dad, and the rest of us stayed warm and toasty inside.

Mom and Dad’s new house in the country looked really great.

Yiayia Brooke and Papou Sam had a great time visiting with baby Basil, who’s almost 6 months old now.

During his time in Kansas he made a lot of progress.  Here’s now doing an “army crawl” almost anywhere he wants to go.

And he has sprouted a tooth or two.  It took some work to get you a photo.

Me – “Can I take a look at your tooth?”

Basil – “Hmm… Let me think about it.”

“Nah, hands off, BUB!”

“Ok, now it’s alright, but take a picture – it’ll last longer!”

While in Kansas, we took time to visit my old teacher, Linda Knoll.

She served us up some homemade minestrone, and we talked about education in Chicago and the Heartland.  Basil hopes to see her again.

We also took time to visit the famed Chicken Annie’s, part of the group of fried chicken providers in S.E. Kansas.

Zoom in on the page for a history of Chicken Annie’s.  It wasn’t too expensive, but the prices have really gone up from when Annie started the place!  Yiayia and Papou were babysitting for us while we were out.  We didn’t know what we’d find when we came home, but we were surprised to find Basil asleep in Yiayia Brooke’s arms.  What a pleasant evening out.  Thanks, Mom and Dad.

We had a great time in Kansas and look forward to our next visit for grandparent time.

~Eric

Less Beard

No, Basil has not yet developed his beard…

I have reduced mine in a symbolic act. It is to mark this momentous occasion and milestone in our family’s life, and to represent a new beginning.

Of course, that wasn’t the ONLY reason. I had been duly warned by two papas, including my own.

<– death grip

Also, Yiayia Margie is in town, helping out and enjoying her first grandbaby.

36 Weeks and a Very Social Weekend

Last Tuesday we hit 36 weeks, but in all the excitement of post-bed rest life, the number wasn’t made until today:

Eric, the number maker, filled you in on our date on Friday, but did not mention that the excitement began earlier in the week when Little Cap received a package from his Yiayia Saathoff. He’s got a new portable bassinet/crib and some diapers. Unfortunately, he also has goofy parents who diapered his sock monkey and let the stuffed animal try out the pack ‘n play in advance.

Before the date on Friday my dear friend Jean came for a visit. We went out to the park and soaked in a whole lot of sun. Jean also enlightened me regarding the statue in the pool of water at Harold Washington Park. The pool of water (that always seems to be locked up) is actually a “Model Yacht Basin.” I guess that means it’s a place for miniature boats? I’ve only seen ducks in the water, since they can get past the locked gates.

The statue in the middle of the basin was a gift from the Clinton family who bought it in 1998 and moved it from the Ravinia Festival to be repaired by the sculptor, Virginio Ferrari. The statue was completed in Hyde Park in 1974. We thought it was an interesting story; a gift to the city plopped down by the Clintons in Obama’s neighborhood in 2007. Turns out the “Clinton Family” mentioned on the plaque isn’t the political one, but the owners of the Regents Park apartments just north of Harold Washington Park. More can be read here.

Saturday started quietly with pancakes, bacon and eggs. But it only picked up from there! We set off on a walk to regain some post-bed rest leg strength and to encourage gravity to assist Little Cap in his decent as much as possible. It turned into a bit more of a walk than I expected as we ventured into Jackson Park and found all kinds of fun.

It all started with several families of baby geese. Even aggressive and messy geese can look pretty cute as babies.

Then we crossed the Clarence Darrow Memorial Bridge. The bridge seems to be devolving right now.

Then it was on to the Japanese Garden, complete with a waterfall and GIGANTIC fish flopping in the water.

<– (zoom in for fish!)

From there we made it to the butterfly sanctuary. A nice family on their way out told us they only saw one butterfly but that the flowers smelled really good, so we ventured in. We didn’t spot any butterflies, but we’ll have to return. The entire area is full of milkweed. I can’t wait to see the monarchs!

And indeed, there were strange marbled flowers with a lovely scent.

From there we walked to “The Republic“, another statue with an interesting story (see plaque).

After that we walked to the driving range…

And I used the bathroom.

Next up was the bird watching area. There were more huge fish flipping around in the water, and what Eric thinks was a water snake. Unfortunately we only got a picture of rippling water. Unlike the butterfly sanctuary we saw a lot of birds, including an oriole. And daisies!

On the way home we crossed another bridge with fishermen on one side (who were pumping love songs from their car radio, Eric thinks this must be a fish luring technique) and boaters on the other.

After our long walk we had lunch and then headed to an Intervarsity reunion that was part of alumni weekend. We then cleaned out the car (no more stepping on spelling tests!), and went to a birthday dinner at Pizza Capri. This morning we went to church, lunch and grocery shopping. And now I am exhausted. Tuesday will be full term!

~Elizabeth