On the horizon

I know where I want to live...drum roll please...

Bellingham Washington!

We spent the day there yesterday. It was a typical rainy day for this time of year but alas my love and conviction for this area of the country was confirmed for me in a town that seemed to have it all, or at least all I want.

Around 70,000 in the population, a college town surrounded on three sides by mountain and forests and Bellingham Bay on one side. Fresh fish every day, a farmers market 9 months of the year, a Trader Joes grocery store, a major College, a technical school, and a community college, gorgeous modest bungalow homes, not too terribly expensive to live, arts and culture, adventure all around, hilly, green, lush, eccentric, fun downtown and I'm just completely in love!!!! I've included a few pictures I found online (sorry I wasn't organized enough to keep track of the sites for credit...just know I did not take them) and I'm putting up some links if you would like to see more.
On the other side of the forest you'll find Valleys of plains used for agriculture. The tulips aren't blooming just yet but the daffodils are and it's just beautiful to look out and see a field spotted with swans.


For the past year Bobby and I have dreamed of moving somewhere other than Kansas. I've dreamed my whole life of living in Washington and it seems that Bobby too really likes the area. We want moderate winters and summers, lots of green--trees, grounds, everywhere, lots of mountains, lots of water, lots of culture. The draw--my Grandfather lives in Washington and while it is far from the rest of my family I continue to dream of rainy days with crisp cool winds and less extremes than the life I've grown up with in Kansas.
I can just imagine family bike rides and Ferry boat rides to the other islands, getting crab legs at the Marina, picking up fresh flowers at the Farmers Market, raining days with a warm cup of coffee and a good book, warm sweaters, and cooler summers, and just family...all the time. Our own little world!

Links...here, here, here, and here. Stats about the community here.

Washington trip: Several days in.

Spent a day driving around Whidbey Island. Over Deception Pass and onto the island. It's a beautiful sight to see. Deception Pass in and of itself is amazing, with currents so strong that many sailors avoid the venture. Several years back a couple men sailed their boat through, a series of photos taken by a girl sight-seeing showed their boat weave and waggle through the pass, finally flipping over. Alas, the men survived, their boat however was never found. Incredible!!! Right under that bridge behind us. The bridge itself is the only access to the island aside from Ferry boats. The day it opened 700 cars crossed in the first hour alone. Such a beautiful State--Washington. Whidbey has a place in my heart as it was home to my Grandfather when he lived on Tsi-hung (his boat) working to improve it deck and hull before putting it in the water the year I was born!
I can't believe this is the Winter in Washington!!! I'm in love more now than ever!







Oh my goodness *sigh* I love my son!

Vacation Day :Numero Uno

I wake up and roll over. Snores eminate from Julian next to me, Bobby must be in the living room. Oliver is on the other side of me asleep. I flip open my phone and the time flashes two a.m. I immediately fall back asleep--so tired.

I wake up and grab the phone now resting by my face...3 a.m. My mind gets busy and I lie awake counting the seconds...finally I doze off.

I wake up and grab the phone...4 a.m.

I never fall back asleep...4:30, 5:00, 5:30...I get up.

After making coffee and rushing around with Bobby, loading the car and feeding the pets, we double team the boys. I slip Oliver's coat on him, Bobby does Julian. It's too late though--we've woken them up. They chat animatedly in the back seat as we drive 30 mph on I-70 in the ice/snow/rain storm. The sun is not up but the light has lit the sky. Finally the boys fall asleep.

Car after car is in the ditch and after an hour and a half we make it safely to the airport. Our flight is still on time. As I stand in line I notice Bobby's cell-phone is in my pocket...shoot. Five minutes later he strolls into the airport with a pajama clad and sleepy Julian...close call.

My flight is still on time and we load the plane--first on board. Then...everyone on board the plane gets ready to taxi out and the airport is closed down by the blizzard.

An hour and a half later we leave. Oliver is bored and hangs in the aisles trying to get everyone's attention. He drools and girgles, laughs and bobbles, bounces, fusses, is bored, bored, bored. He did really well and was SO very happy to be there and see his Great Grandaddy!

8 p.m. (pacific time) I can barely keep my eyes open. SLEEP. 4 a.m. (pacific time) I wake up, Oliver is hungry...its the longest duration of sleep I've had in two weeks...I'm a new person.

Thank you Vacation for rescuing me from my sleep deprivation. Two more nights like that and I just might be whole again. Wahoo@!

Washington, how I love thee...

Oliver and I are leaving today for Washington State (my favorite place). Meeting my Grandfather and Grandmother in Seattle and staying for the next two weeks in Anacortes (in the San Juan's). I'm so anxious, excited, anticipating the flight, ready to smell salt water and to introduce Oliver to the smell himself.

Last night I started to feel guilty about taking Oliver away from his Daddy for two weeks. They've developed quite the relationship and one glance at Daddy is guaranteed to send Oliver into silent giggles. I know they will both be fine but I dream of another life where we can both afford to go, for Bobby to miss work. The time with my Grandfather will be amazing and I'm sure if Bobby were to go--my chances of returning would have narrowed greatly. Now--I'll be back for sure.

Yay--Washington here we come--Have I mentioned that I love you so...

On another note: Following my brother's lead, I think we're going to start doing a little sign language with Oliver. He's so vocal and he might take to it well.

Oliver growing...

lots of bouncing..."bouncy, bouncy, bouncy"
lots of staring down other peoples food and drinks "When do I get one of those?"
Gnawing on pizza crust!
Getting our first pair of converse :)
and standing up tall observing the world...

Five months old and counting....1..2...3....4.......it's going so fast.

MANIAC!!!

My son is growing leaps and bounds. It seems as soon as I post about one change he goes to bed and wakes up a new kid. Check-out our maniac Mister below...Today he watched an entire episode of sesame street. I would scoot him away from the T.V. and sure enough he would be right back up next to it five second later. He's practically falling out of his seat trying to see Elmo!

(disclaimer: disregard the mess...I'm moving stuff to the basement and of course my shot exposes my "basement pile!")
Look closely...two front teeth! Finally exposed. It seemed they would look like wet spots in photos--here they are visible.
Hanging upside down off the sofa. Giggling while at it. Index finger in his mouth (as always).
"Again Daddy! Do it again!"

I found my feet!

Oliver officially has two teeth; sharp little teeth with jagged surfaces intended to destroy anything that comes in contact. He bites down like a pit-bull and a resulting "ah that feels good" emanates from his angelic features. For two weeks we battled fevers, screaming, a massive amount of drool, and Mommy--the human pacifier. So with both teeth finally freed of their gummy restraints a collective "sigh" settles through the house as activities return to normal and Mommy finally gets to sleep through the night, detached from the ever pained infant! ...

HA!

Two weeks as a human pacifier and my son--the laid-back, self-satisfying angel of peace--is a spoiled bratola! He still wants to nurse all night. He expects to be held a good portion of the day. He naps gingerly and wakes often. He is by all standards (at least Lisa Pickel standards) a bit spoiled.

So...after a full agenda these last two weeks I am back to our old routine and today my son was forced to entertain himself again. He did good. He rolled around on the floor, pushed himself backwards in his walker, laughed as I danced for him (I thought I was pretty funny too) and talked to himself. There was some crying, but in general--he's catching my drift and learning his feet are pretty interesting at the same time. Who would have thought!?!