babies on couches

 

What could be cuter than a bunch of babies, lined up in a gently swaying row?

These babies were in our centering pregnancy group.

 

This is from our Penny Simkin birth class reunion today.  It was a wonderful class and all these babies were born without pain meds.

Here’s D meeting his new cousin.

As a bonus, here’s a picture from my birth class cohort.  I’m leaning forward, wearing red.

This past week we had our first PEPS (program for early parent support) meeting, so I’m sure in a few weeks we’ll have another couch shot for our collection.

Viaduct/Alaskan Way tunnel: part 5

A entire year has passed since my last photo update and the south end of the tunnel hasn't changed much from the surface.  Bertha only dug for a short while before breaking down, but we can celebrate the small victory of the construction of the road leading in to the tunnel. 

Compare this picture to my previous posts from July 2013, April 2013, December 2012 and April 2012.

more construction

We are watching another new building go up in Pioneer Square. Also, I just like this picture. 

four thoughts on parenting

1) The task is always changing. The tricks of one week don't work the next and the recommendations are also a moving target. 

2) Regarding those recommendations, I'm pretty surprised by how confident people are after raising only one child or even a handful of them. I definitely prefer to read evidence-based advice inferred from data from hundreds or thousands of kids.  Parenting is the ultimate small sample size. 

3) There was a recent recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics    recommending reading to kids as soon as they are born. 

Though this is totally the type of evidence based advice I appreciate, I also recognize that D is not in the demographic they hope to help (kids in poverty).  He hears plenty of words and we keep the TV off. Of course, we are reading to him some, but right now I find that singing and talking are much more rewarding. 

Sometimes he does look at the pictures (when we read a picture book ).

4) His face is most beautiful thing. It is so expressive. I love his grins, his frown, his satiated look, his wonder and his expression of relaxed confidence that we will take care of him.