Photo update

 Forgive me for my laziness. I have been engrossed in discovery - enjoying L's exploration of life is a full time job. Sometimes it's too heavy and I must escape to cleaning the house, or to work, or to a 18th century novel, when once again I become a regular adult able to tune out the millions of potential discoveries flying by every second. slow down to discover... speed up and control control control. With Lucas, life slows down to moments - every muscle movement, every glance, every noise, or expression, the way all five fingers can work in concert to open, close, turn, feel. It's like I'm actually watching brain cells firing, sending impulses to his eyes, tongue, fingers. Every moment is laden with significance and beauty. He is shaping my world I think just as much as I am shaping his. He's watching so acutely, but so am I... I am forced to discover again- to notice. This whole motherhood thing is the most powerful experience of my life, but all this discovery with him wears me out and most days I choose to zone out, instead of write. But thank you faithful readers, I'm back for the evening.

 Since I've last blogged, much has happened. Here is a minor photo update. Some of the highlights of this post are we have been to Portland twice, went to a marriage intensive which was intense as promised. Eileen came to visit- my sweet Eileen - who still loves to philosophize and sing just as much as me.... Kristin and Sam are getting married this weekend, and we had a bachelorette party at our house, followed by Lucas's first camping trip to Shelikof... (pictures later.)  I got my garden in and the weather has been marvelous!

This collection of sugary panties designed and decorated by all the ladies was subsequently devoured by Shelby who I'm sure had a brutal stomach ache.

Born for speed!

Lucas passed out in downtown Portland

Loving great grandma and grandpa...

Checking out another little boy on the train.

Here's our family picnic at Old Sitka where we got 4 wheelbarrow loads of seaweed for the garden. Lucas tried avocado for the first time. Even now I am just staring at these photos, recreating and soaking in all these moments. It's hard to fathom that tomorrow he will be 10 months old.

Bath time

Birthday

Hello Shelley's blog followers.  This is her husband.  As many of you may already know, Shelley's birthday is a little over a week away on March 19th.  In honor of her birthday and because I love her very much I decided to hijack her blog.  Allow me to explain.

When I was a senior in high school I took a speech class because I thought it would be an easy A.  During the course of that semester the teacher had us do something which felt extremely cheesy.  She asked us to fill out an index card in which we described another person, focusing, on the things that made that person special and how they have made an impact on us.  By the end of the semester, we had written a card to every person in the class and had received a card from every person in the class.  I am not sure the impact that my descriptions had on others but I know that I treasured those index cards I received from my classmates.  It was wonderful to feel that I made in impact and that my presence mattered.  

As we have begun a new phase in our life, with all of our attention and effort being shifted towards our little one, I would like to take a pause for Shelley's birthday to focus on her and encourage her.   I would like for all of you to either:

a) write a note on an index card and mail it to 210 Park St. Sitka, AK 99835
b) write a note on an index card, take a picture of it  and email it to david.t.adams@gmail.com
c) respond to this post on Shelley's blog with what you would have written on the index card
or
d) Give Shelley a call and tell her in person

Thanks for your time and blessings on you all!

David

Can you guess the secret ingredient?!

 

David has been a baking machine. I'm thinking of hiring him out! But I had to share his super successful baking attempt to use old avocado's. Brilliant!  Possibly the best chocolate cake I've ever had-- and it's butter and egg free!!!


Avocado Chocolate Cake | Kirbie's Cravings | A San Diego food blog

 I have never experimented with using Avocado in recipes because they are so expensive, and I love them plain with a bit of salt. But, David has been using the old bruised ones that most of the time I just throw away. First he tried an avocado smoothie which turned out to be completely delightful. And then a cake... next who knows!?  Click here to find a whole page of fun avocado recipes that I (or more accurately David) will have to try.

First Boat Trip - Lucas was unimpressed

Sunny

 I miss writing. Since Lucas has come I haven't had time to sit down to think about how to combine words in order to describe this world we are hurtling through. every moment carries millions of sensations and impulses that, in turn, create thoughts and actions. The complexity, the majesty, the sheer amount of information collected by our senses is immense but somehow it all blurs together as soon as the moment passes. It's hard to slow down enough to keep track of my own senses, let alone write about them, and now I get to keep track of Lucas' senses too. I watch him discover the way his fingers move in space, the way a metal cup sounds as it hits the table over and over again; the way the sun shines through the window in stripes, a ribbon of light that looks like you could touch it's path through the air, but is only tangible in its warmth; the sound of a siren. And I think, I want to capture it all, marvel at it, sit with it, blog about it. But even so, his 7 months have flown by, as my soon to be 28 years have.

It's warm and sunny today. Lucas and I walked to the bible study I am going to on Wednesday mornings to learn how to parent the heart of a child. I had to take off my second layer, the sun warming my back. Lucas is leaning on his arms now as he turns around to grab things or look for sounds. Yesterday David came home and ran his fingers through my hair. Lucas, laying between us, reached up and grabbed my hair tenderly and watched his fingers go through it. It was a precious moment... one that I want to freeze forever in words. He is picking up every cue and look and expression we make. It's daunting and empowering, even scary. 

 Since Lyd has moved into her own place, we don't see as much of each other. Saturday we got to do nothing together... mundane daily things that are more fun with a sister.... like sitting on the couch in the sun drinking tea, and going grocery shopping. On the way there I discovered some bright red lipstick in my purse and we decided to spice up our shopping trip. Eyes were drawn to us in the store - red lips are a rare sight in sitka. Beware of those vixens in red lipstick... on the loose at sea-mart!

Well, Lucas is up. time for more miraculous moments to fly by...

Prom Night

Ten years ago I missed my prom opportunity - David went with a friend from his school while I was 5 hours away probably studying for an exam at school. So now he made it up to me, asked me to prom creatively by stumbling onto a message in a bottle. I borrowed this extremely attractive dress and we went to a throw-back prom as a fundraiser for a local volunteer organization.  It was a blast... way better than the one I missed I'm sure. David sure can move those hips. We danced the night away. If it wasn't for the 80's dress, you'd think we actually were actually going to our high school prom.... I guess that's getting to be a good thing.