Sea-Tac vacation with Laura and Spencer

 

Yesterday Laura and Spencer were over for the day. They've now moved on to the next stage of their vacation on Vancouver Island, but while they were here we had a full day of fun. We went first to the Museum of Glass in Tacoma and watched a team of 6 people spend 45 minutes to make a large, clear flask, only to crack it while they were removing it from the bar. So we got the full experience. It would have been boring if everything ended well. We enjoyed the experience and saw some great pieces of art in the Museum.

Then we went into Seattle to see Pike Place market and eat on the pier at Ivars (the take-out part). We didn't have time for the space needle, but we enjoyed walking around lazily. We also bought some raspberry pepper jelly and fancy cheeses to snack on in the evening.

Tyler

Tyler walks very fast now. His transition was gradual. He was letting go of our hands and taking a few steps for about a week before he finally ventured around the room on his own. Two years ago when Grandma Galina visited, Lydia started all-out walking on her own the very day she left (July 4, 2006). For Tyler it was within about a week. What mean children. Grandma comes thousand of miles to visit, and they torment her by making her slouch her back to walk them around everywhere. So Tyler was up and walking during the week that the family was with Grandma and Grandpa in Oregon. I'll set the date as Friday the 13th, June, 2008. A late birthday present for me, and exactly one month behind Lydia's walking expeditions (by age).

Tyler is both smiley and cute, and whiny and resolute. People love to watch his bit smile and laughter, especially when they smile at him or tickle him. It's also hard to distract him when there is something he wants, and he doesn't calm down easily when he's upset. Holding him doesn't calm him down either, unless that's what he was complaining for.

I think Tyler will turn out to be more methodical and calculated than Lydia---maybe not so energetic but even more stubborn.

Lydia

Yesterday Lydia's diaper was irritating her, and she finally got excited about wearing underwear again. That's progress.

I get a kick out of Lydia's ability to communicate. She was sitting on the toilet playing with the toilet paper and said to me, "we only need a little one." I was a little confused, although now I think she was talking about a piece of toilet paper. But I asked her, "a little what?" She got a little bit frustrated that the communication wasn't working and finally said, "little means really tiny," as she made a gesture by putting her fingers close together. How amazing. She could explain to me what 'little' means, which she thought I was confused about.

Lydia likes to point out to us things she can't do now but she can do when she's bigger, like saying that she'll cook well when she gets bigger, or that she'll paint or something. Today we watched some videos on Youtube of Shamu and his trainer doing stunts. Lydia asked if she could do that when she's bigger. So here she is at almost 3 years already knowing what she wants to do with her life. Maybe I should ask her for decision-making advise.

Laura and Spencer were here in Seattle visiting us yesterday. Lydia likes both of them very much. She also really enjoys spending time with Grandma and Grandpa (Oregon). The family spent a week there without me while I finished getting our apartment ready at Stanford and doing research. Mom also got Lydia a nice haircut that really looks good on her.