577 Foundation

Yesterday, G-tot and I took an imprompteau trip to The 577 Foundation. I discovered 577 over a decade ago when my Mom & I attended pottery workshops there. It was there that I first used a potter's wheel. I still have that piece. Actually, we both still have pieces that we made that summer. I saw one of my Mom's pieces in her bathroom a couple of weeks ago.

chasing butterflies in the community gardens

the shade gardens

The 577 Foundation is so much more than just a place to take pottery classes. As there website states, it's "an ecologically sensitive place that encourages diversity and seeks to foster exploration, experimentation, personal enjoyment and creativity in education."

checking out the fish in the biodome pond

my favorite shot—in the honeybee exhibit

The area is full of community gardens, a biodome, an interactive children's garden, an indoor honey bee hive, and an area to dig up real fossils. And that's just a few of the things you can find on the grounds. I had no idea some of those things were there when I decided to take the trip. G-tot wanted to go outside and I wanted him to have a chance to explore something other than the pot of dirt in our backyard. It turned out better than I expected. G-tot got a huge kick out of it and we had a blast. JQ missed out because of work but the three of us will go back soon.

painting with water

playing outdoor instruments—check out the rain wheel on the tree & the giant xylophone in the background

Of course I took a bunch of pictures. 133 do be exact. I'll probably upload the majority of them to flickr at some point, the ones in this post are just a handful of my favorites.

looking at "crystal cave" in the fairy garden

crossing the bridge—vintage style

If you're ever in Perrysburg, Ohio and have a free afternoon I highly recommend it. Not only is it a fun, educational experience for everyone—it's free!

animal, vegetable, mineral

I have so many things that I want to write about but it takes forever to compose a post anymore and right now I don't have forever. The gardens beckon—which I will be writing about soon (I know you've missed those posts) and I'm running out of alone time. G-tot (the baby formerly know as G-man—Do you like it? I thought I'd try it out. He is just a wee one after all.) is napping but I can hear him rustling around so I don't know if he is actually sleeping still. I must hurry.

So...here's where you come in.

Favorite fruit?
Favorite vegetable?
Are you growing anything—fruits, veggies, herbs, flowers?
Did you know Coriander is seed of a Cilantro plant? Double the value.
Have you ever raised animals for consumption?
Can you share a gardening tip with us? No? How about a question then?

And of course, a photo. Because, if I'm going to shoot them everyday, I'm going to share them.

Gam & G-tot. taken by JQ

growing up—14 months

Dear Gideon,

You turned 14 months old a couple of weeks ago, which apparently is the point where your brain explodes and is replaced with a giant super-absorbant sponge. Just sucking up the world around it. I know I say this every month—but it is so true that it bears repeating—you are amazing.

13 months—April 26, 2008

14 months—May 24, 2008

Gone is my helpless little baby. You are a full-on active toddler with an insatiable curiosity. And the cool thing? You dig it all and you get it. You understand so many words we say and act upon them accordingly. When I tell you something is garbage you promptly pick it up and carry it over to the cabinet under the sink where the trash is. When I get out the vacuum cleaner you make a "vroommm" noise to let me know that you know what's next. If you poop and I say, "Come on, let's go to your room and change your diaper.", you march right in there. I don't blame you, I wouldn't want to sit in a pile of my own waste either.

crazy face

You're so affectionate and will come over to us and give kisses & squeezies (hugs). My favorite ones are the ones that aren't requested. You'll be playing, then suddenly decide you need to spread the love and come over for a hug or kiss. You like to share and are very giving with your toys and snacks (even the soggy ones).


Your love of books continues to increase and there are usually no fewer than 5 books strewn around the living room at some point each day. We keep your library books out there (in an effort to keep them separate from the ones on the shelf in your room) and you are always grabbing one to flip through or give to us to read. You also love going to the library. The branch by our house has a big goldfish at the counter who is the "branch greeter". Stopping to say hello is the first thing we do. Saying goodbye is the last. Every time. He seems to like us.


You've added another tooth and now have 4 on top and 4 on the bottom. None in the back yet, but that doesn't stop you from chowing down on just about everything. You have mastered the fine art of stabbing things with a fork—including Cheerios—and prefer a normal metal fork to one of those crappy plastic toddler forks. That's fine with me, just don't poke your eye out.

Just waking up from a nap.
Your hair was cracking me up so I had to take pictures.
You were not amused.

Another trick you've picked up it shutting doors. Once you've got the door shut—you don't know how to get back out yet—you'll knock on it. I like to pretend I don't know who it is. "Hello?" "Who is it?" "Dave's not here."

checking out an earthworm

You've probably noticed that you're missing a 13th month post. Time got away from me and I ended up just not doing one. At one point late in that 13th month I thought about just sticking up a few pictures and maybe a video—but I felt like that was a bit of a cop out so I opted to do nothing. But hey, at least I got this one done in time. Right?

Love,
Momma

soft & sweet

I shot this picture of G-man last week and while I liked the straight-out-of-the-camera shot, the slightly enhanced image above really does it for me. The lighting in the SOOC shot was a little low but the information was there. I shot it with a low aperature and a quicker shutter speed than I needed to capture my quick moving monkey. When I was looking at the shot yesterday I upped the levels a bit in Photoshop and ended up with this shot above. The curtains are true to life, so this is much better. I love the sweet look on his face and the softness of the image. I don't even mind that totally blown out highlight framing his face. It's my Best Shot Monday image this week.

smelling the flowers

G-man has gotten into this adorable new habit of smelling flowers. It's not your standard sniff either. He scrunches up his nose and sniffs heavily to get a nice whiff. Then he goes, "Ahhh"—like it was just so wonderful. It's hilarious to watch and yesterday JQ caught both parts of the equation perfectly on film. Taken 2 seconds apart, these shots show exactly how G-man smells the flowers.

First the sniff:


Then the "ahh":


Isn't that super funny? Can't you just imagine the sniff & ahhh?

it's good to be king

Yesterday JQ, G-man, & I went to brunch at Granite City with my mom, stepdad, brother, and grandma. The restaurant is at this outdoor "open-air" shopping complex. Right outside the restaurant is a giant chessboard. Now that it's Spring the chess pieces are on the board waiting to be played. It was really chilly out yesterday, but after brunch the wind had died down just enough that we could check out the chess board without freezing our butts off. Of course, I had my camera with me. G-man thought the board was very cool. Here's a shot of him as the king.

here comes the sun...

smelling the flowers instead of touching

My feet find themselves planted on the still dewey grass. I can feel a drop of water on the chair soaking through the leg of my jeans. There is a slight breeze flowing through the air but the sun is shooing it away. I love mornings like this. I don't have to work today and it is going to be beautiful. That's how it has been for the past several days. It is so good to be alive.

Thank you for sticking around Spring. Make yourself comfortable.


When I looked out the window Sunday morning I greeted by these beauties above. The first buds on my tulips had bloomed. You have no idea how happy this made me. Right away I knew I had to photograph them. Two dancers. A mother & child. Welcoming the day.

This morning, two pink blooms said, "salutations".

that's not cupcake

G-man helping me plant peas. Thought it would be a good idea to eat a handful of dirt. He quickly changed his mind.

12 months

Dear Gideon,

Just over three weeks ago you turned one year old. Another week and I could be (or at least should be) writing your thirteen months letter. Let's not focus on that right now. I'm not always such a procrastinator, it's just that I always want these letters to cover ALL that you've done and to be just so PERFECT. Not going to happen. I guess they are perfect just the way they are. Right?


Anyway, for weeks leading up to your first birthday I had this idea in my head that I would be so sad when you turned one. I envisioned myself full of tears at your party and weeping sorrowfully over your pictures from the day you were born. In reality? That's not the way it happened at all. It is a little bittersweet to know that my little baby is already a year old—which puts you that much closer to being my little man. But...I love this little guy you've become so, so much. You are so perfect at this exact moment (as you have been every moment so far). Everything about you lights up my life. Your personality has broken through even more in these last 6 weeks or so and there is no holding you back.


You are such a friendly little boy and continue to smile and flirt at just about anybody. However, you are quick to snuggle up with me and Daddy so we know we are still number one in your book. You've started to wave, give kisses, and give little squeezes as if you are hugging us. It melts my heart every single time.


You still love to give Mommy boo-gees on her belly and they've gotten so loud! They are hilarious. I think Daddy is a bit jealous because you don't give them to him as much. It's okay, his belly is too flat for a good loud pbbbbbbt.


You've also taken to clapping. All the time. Somebody else claps, you clap. We say the word "clap" you start clapping. It's a great go to trick when we want to show off your skills. If you have socks in your hand you try to put them on your feet. We just bought you your first pair of shoes a couple of weeks ago and you know they mean outside so you are constantly trying to put them on as well.


Another big change this month is the move to the big boy tub. Gone are the days of the tiny tot tub and here to stay are the big water bills. You love the bath so much that you take one almost every night. No matter what time of day, if you can get into the cupboard with the towels you will pull out a washcloth or two. You know they represent the bath and will even "wash" your face with the dry cloths as if to say, "I need a bath now!!!" When you are in the tub you love to splash and play. You will pick up the bucket we use to rinse your hair and intentionally put it on your foot. You love to brush your teeth with me and Daddy—which you do quite well I might add. All that makes for one yummy baby. Shit, I mean toddler.


The biggest change this month? WALKING!!! We now have a full-fledged walker on our hands. It is so cute to see you toddling around the house. Back and forth. Around in circles. Often with something in each hand. On Friday, March 28th you decided to throw caution to the wind and walked in a big arc in the middle of the living room. Phil and Nicole were over that evening and the five of us were playing with the Little Tykes Basketball set they bought you for your birthday. You were having so much fun and all of a sudden, BAM!, you were walking. It was the farthest you had walked unassisted up to that point and it's been non-stop since then. Just when I thought you couldn't get any cuter you go and do this.



You are phenomenal.


Love,
Mommy

baby vogue

Could somebody get this kid a modeling contract?

Look at that pose.

Seriously. How cute is that?

mmm...cake

As I mentioned, we had a little party for G-man on his actual birthday that included just JQ, G-man and I. I think these pictures (again, I'll spare you the majority of the plethora of pictures I actually shot) tell a nice story of our afternoon together.

JQ reads G-man his card. We each wrote a short note inside for our little guy.

In an effort to save paper, we wrapped our presents in an ever-so-classy beach towel.
G-man didn't mind—it was like peek-a-boo with gifts!

Checking out the Megablocks

Scoping out the Frog Pod. Which is awesome, btw.

We had fish tenders and tater tots for dinner.
G-man dips his tot in ketchup...

...and then wipes the ketchup all over the tray.

This time around he gets the butter yellow cake with the chocolate frosting.
A tiny taste with one finger...

Giving both hands a chance to get dirty...

Smashing it everywhere—cake on one side, frosting on the other.

Shoving it into his mouth

Next stop, the bathtub.