18 Months

We spent most of the last month in Baja. Overall, it was a great trip, but definitely had some ups and downs. We got off to a rough start when your dad got sick right before we left. You came down with it about two days in, with a fever, runny nose, and a bad cough. The worst was the whining. Oh, man. It was not fun. Your poor Uncle Craig was with us for the first five days (they're expecting their little one in a few months) and you were making him re-think having kids you were being so cranky. Next, I got the cold, and so basically our first week of vacation was a disaster. Eventually, though, we all started to feel better. The whining subsided and the happy girl returned, and you had fun digging in the sand, playing in the little tarp pool that your dad made for you, and telling us all not to touch the cactus ("owee!").



After about a week and a half, we drove the van to the Pacific side for a weekend at Punto Conejo. It was just what we needed to get the vacation back on track--no internet, no house chores, no running water. Nothing, really. We just hung out, walked on the beach, hunted for hermit crabs, and had a great time. You loved the hermit crabs, and we talked about them afterwards for a long time. We came up with a little sign for hermit crab, and you'd bring it up randomly for weeks after.

Driving the van was a big hit with you, and you spent hours climbing up and down the front seats of the camper van, putting the keys in and out of the lighter, the windshield wiper levers, and sometimes the actual key hole. You mostly napped in your car seat, also in the van. Thinking back on it, I'm not really sure what we'd have done without the van!

Back at the property, you were so cute helping your dad with projects, from putting in the irrigation system to building light covers out of arroyo wood. I loved how careful and intense about helping you were, handing him screws, leaning in and watching carefully, or using your own screwdriver to do work yourself.

After three weeks in Baja, you and I met up with Noni, Grandpa Rick, Grandma Loie, and all of the Kreidler/Bolands in Balboa Island. They all LOVED seeing you and playing with you, especially Grandma Loie, who thinks you are "so special" and "the smartest baby she's ever met." (I agree with her).

We had some serious sleep fallout when we got home (which, thinking back on it, happened last year after our trip in Baja, too). You got used to getting in bed with us in the middle of the night whenever you woke up, and it stuck. Our first night at home was rough, with about 3 1/2 hours of crying, throwing tantrums, sobbing "up! pees! up! pees!" before you finally gave up and fell asleep. Ugh. Thankfully, it only took you a few nights to get back on track and now you go right back to sleep in your own bed if you wake up in the night.

Here are a few more videos from just after we got home.

17 Months

January has flown by, like we knew it would. It's been kind of a rough month for you. I think you get frustrated about not being able to communicate, and the only way to tell us you want something is whining. It makes it hard for all of us sometimes.

Your dad went to the USCC composting conference this month, and was gone for just under a week. Of course, it was the one week of the winter when we had a huge snow and ice storm, trees were falling all over town, power was out, and (of course) I had an important web event for work. We muddled through--Kym came over at 6:30 in the morning through feet and feet of snow to be here when you woke up so that I could do the event. The internet held out just long enough that no one on the line even knew we were single parenting in two feet of snow.

We went over to Kyla and Copeland's house a couple of times, since Pierce was out of town, too. You and Copeland are pretty cute together, and I hope that you'll grow up to be good buddies. He's a sweet boy, with lots of boy tendencies (like running fast into things, throwing things without warning, etc). One night you two took a bath together and he accidentally bit you. I say accidentally because I really don't think he meant to. In fact, it was probably my fault. He was sort of squiggling around in the tub, drinking the tub water, and ended up with his mouth on your arm. Right when I said, "careful, Copes, don't bite" it was like his brain thought, "oh, biting, that would be fun!" and chomped. It wasn't really much of a bit, just left a tiny mark, but you criiiiied and pointed at Copeland and pointed at your own teeth and pointed at your arm and made a big sad deal of it and Kyla felt horrible.

You usually get to play with Jenny on Tuesdays. She comes over in the morning after she drops off Simon and Alivea to get you. You usually squeal and run over to meet her when she comes in. I put your carseat in her car, while you wait patiently to get in, and then you happily give me a kiss and wave goodbye to me. It is so cute. I think you both enjoy your time together. Jenny loves you so much, and thinks you are amazing, just like we do.

Noni and Grandpa Rick gave us a zoo pass for Christmas, and the first time we went with you was so so fun. I took you once last summer, but you were still totally a baby, and this was completely different. My best memory was when we stopped off at the bathrooms, came out, and across the way we could see the tiger exhibit. I said, "Look, Ry! A tiger!" and you squealed so loud and went running off across the path to look at them. I was surprised by so many things: First, the fact that you even understood what I was telling you, since I'm fairly sure I've never said those words to you before. Second, by the fact that got it that there were tigers over there for you to look at, and third, by the fact that you were running!!

The polar bears were another big hit. When we went in, one of the bears was pouncing on this big plastic jug, making a lot of noise. You watched so intently, and waved your arms and got really excited. The funniest part, though, was a few days later I brought up the zoo and starting talking about the polar bears and you become obsessed! You started banging your hands on the table, and showing me what the bear was doing, and you'd bring it up randomly for days and days to come. It was the first time that I understood you telling me about something that had happened in the past, and it was very cool.

For some reason I've had in my head that 17 months was a really challenging age, that we were constantly struggling to keep up with you, stay positive, and take advantage of all the moments we get to teach you to be your happiest self. Looking back at these videos and photos, though, I'm not sure what I was thinking. You are absolutely wonderful. So thoughtful and interesting and funny and fun. We sure do love you.

Holiday Card 2011

Sadly, I'm resorting to an e-holiday card this year, but figured it was better than nothing, and it comes with guaranteed delivery before Christmas!

I've been remiss on sending pictures lately, mostly because we have a toddler now who insists on holding the camera and pushing all of the buttons every time she sees it, then throws a little tantrum when I say, "OK! It's Mom's turn, now!" and proceeds to wail and cry and then the already profuse snot factory that is her nose kicks in to high gear. Needless to say, our pictures are not as cute as they once were :)

Aside from such episodes (which are admittedly few, or so I tell myself) Ryan is an absolute joy. She is learning so much, communicating (mostly in her own words) a lot, very opinionated (not sure where that came from), and very busy. She loves the water, building forts, dancing (especially with her stuffed animals), and is starting to humor our requests for farm animal noises. She still loves to read books, though the iPhone seems to be winning out over all other objects of interest. She has figured out how to unlock the screen, and has managed to rearrange all of my apps in some way that I cannot, for the life of me, undo :)

In other news, Tyler's business Dirt Hugger is going gangbusters. They've had some exciting developments and are now accepting material now from Portland's residential food waste program. The annual Dirt Hugger Holiday Party grew by 50% this year (6 up from 4!) and Dirt Hugger's compost production and sales have skyrocketed from this time last year. It's all very exciting--Tyler and Pierce have worked so hard and have made such smart decisions. We are all looking forward to seeing where the company will be this time next year.

I've been working more lately, leading a resource website for social entrepreneurs called seToolbelt. It's a great project, and I've been enjoying the process of making new connections, pursuing partnerships, and trying to make the project my own.

Our dog is still neurotic, though there is hope that someday she will decide to accept Ryan as part of the family :)

We are thinking of you and wishing you the very best this holiday season.

All our love,
Lindsay, Tyler, Ryan, and Tele