Hangin' in Drake Park

City girls just seem to find out early--how to open doors with just a smile...

Franny seems to never have problems finding a cute little boy to help her out or make her smile. This one was sweet enough to look after Franny in the bounce-house at the Munch and Music Festival in Drake Park. Daddy's already not looking forward to those teen years!

Slip slidin' away

Little daredevil

Franny absolutely loves swimming. This vacation was fun, not only because the Sunriver pool was so accessible, but because it was the first time since Franny started her swim lessons, that her daddy was able to see her in action in the pool. We started out in the kiddy pool, where even toddlers can walk around; Franny would walk a little and then plunge head-first into the pool--she wanted to swim! She (again) was called "fearless" by numerous moms and dads. Eventually, Franny caught sight of the bigger pool and decided that was the place for her. She made a bee-line up out of the kiddy pool and toward the big pool. The best part of this pool was the slide. It was a big slide--made for kids up to age 10, but Franny loved it from the very start. She would come out of the slide (it was a big tube) with the hugest grin on her face, and would be immediately straining to get back in line for her next turn. Again, parents were blown away at how she would torpedo down the slide, somtimes coming out sideways, plunge down two feet to the pool, and come up laughing and yelling for more. That's fearless Franny!

Sour milk?

Broken Top

We discovered the Broken Top Trail #10 quite by accident during a hike on our first anniversary. We had started out on the Todd Lake Trail, which eventually ran right into it, and further exploration revealed the incredibly scenic route it follows to Green Lakes. The following year, we wanted to go back and finish the trail by completing the first leg, but we found that reaching the trail head requires a 4x4 vehicle, which we didn't have at the time. The next year I was pregnant, and then the next year Franny was too young to be at it's high elevations of nearly 7000 feet. But everything came together this year and we were able to complete the venture we accidentally started on four years earler.

While Broken Top is a constant presence, with the trail curving along it's south slopes, this hike also has incredible views of Mt. Bachelor, South Sister, Sparks Lake, alpine creeks, meadows, and wild flowers. It is nothing short of spectacular.

I have seen many beautiful things in my life. But the majestic beauty of this alpine hike absolutely takes my breath away. The first view of Broken Top comes early, and as it came into sight my throat tightened and I felt an overwhelming presence and peace that comes only in the shadows of something awesome. Only one other time have I been so emotionally effected by a natural setting and that was at Glacier National Park at dusk, when the setting sun cast a pinkish, golden glow across it's incredibly dramatic craggy peaks.

At times, I think it is a good thing to feel small, and to understand your existance for what it really is--just a small speck in time. Not insignificant, but small. With our lives rotating around routines, careers, families, and life, the occurances of that feeling can be very few and far between. I experienced that feeling on this hike, and it has stayed with me since. I know it will gradually fade, as it already is, until it resurfaces when I am there again. I am already looking forward to that time.

A first glimpse

On one of our first days we stopped at the Lava Lands Visitor Center. The Trail of Molten Land, was beautiful, with spectacular views of Broken Top and Mt. Bachelor. Also, the trail was paved with little room to divert off the trail, which was nice for Franny (and for us!). Although we didn't make it to all the way to Lava Butte, the hike was unquestionably beautiful and very enjoyable.

Little did Franny know, in a couple of days she was about to get a much closer look at Broken Top!

It was inevitable...

Although this summer we were not staying in Sunriver, we couldn't stay away. The Mall became our first stop every morning. Being August, the Sunriver scene was in full-swing, so there was always plenty to see and do. It was the perfect area for Franny to run without getting into the dirt first thing in the morning--we tried to limit that to right before bath time. She also loved being around all the people, kids, and dogs. And with the vacation putting Franny's sleep schedule into minor upheaval, a little caffeine really helped take the edge off the morning. So for us, 20-ounce coffees; for Franny, 9-ounce milk.

Drake Park, one year later

July 7, 2005
3 months

August 3, 2006
16 months

Lazy mornings

Lazy mornings and sleeping in have long been a thing of the past in our house, since Franny isn't especially responsive to our pleads for "just 15 more minutes". Typically, Franny announces that she is awake and ready to get up at 7:05. Not 7:00 and not 7:15; strange as it may seem she is extremely exact in this regard. And honestly, I am usually quite satisified with this time, as it's really not too early or too late. But when I'm on vacation, I tend to appreciate a slower start to the day--getting up a little later, maybe drinking an extra cup of coffee, and in general, just not moving as fast during those first morning hours. At home with Franny, this just isn't possible--if I have to go downstairs for anything, I'm up; and with Franny, the morning must begin with milk. In the trailer, however, everything is within such a close proximity, we actually were able to enjoy some lazy mornings.

Our morning routine began, of course, with Franny waking up. But once she had her milk and bowl of cereal and raisins, she was quite content to join us in bed, read her books, and chatter away about whatever. It was a very pleasant surprise, and our lazy mornings turned out to be some of our most relaxing times. Of course, the day would eventually have to begin, as there was too much fun to be had, but the mornings were slow, which was wonderful.

Getting down and dirty

Although we spend time in Central Oregon every summer, this year was different in that we decided to camp. We did, however, have the tremendous benefit of utilizing my parents' travel trailer, complete with full hook-ups to water, electricity, and sewer. Without our amenities, we probably would have lasted about two days. I give kudos to those who have tent-camped with a toddler, as even in a trailer it is no minor feat. Probably our biggest challenge camping with Franny was her intense preoccupation with dirt--and in central Oregon there is a lot of it!

There are few hiking trails in this area where you don't leave a continuous cloud of dust behind you as you go, and I consider it a given that I will have a thick layer of dust stuck to my legs from the knees down when I return from any hike. With Franny, however, we found that this layer of dust is not confined to her legs, but rather covers her entire body from the tips of her toes to the top of her head. Thankfully, she didn't have the interest in eating any of it.

I really should applaud her enthusiam and curiosity toward her new surroundings. But then there's dirt in her ears, in her hair, under her fingernails... Fortunately, she also has great enthusiasm for her baths!

Let the blogs begin!

We have just returned a week long vacation in central Oregon--and what a wonderful time we had! From camping, hiking, biking, swimming, playing in Drake Park, to just relaxing at our camp site, we ended everyday incredibly happy and thankful that we had the time together as a family. There is so much to recount that I could not possibly begin to document it all. I will, however, post many of our highlights, which I am very anxious to share.

Very little little left

She wants the big girl chair; she walks, talks, and eats like a big girl; and now she's wearing big girl pajamas. I am beginning to think that Franny has nearly grown out of her "little" stage. While I am truly enjoying watching her grow as a young toddler--especially where her development enables us to do and explore new activities together--there is a small part of me that will miss the "little" Franny and all the joy that accompanied that early and amazing part of her life.

Social butterfly

Franny and I have a great time--we play, swim, dance, and go on adventures. In fact, there is very little that we don't do! Generally speaking, I think that I am one very cool and fun mommy! However, there is absolutely nothing I could do that would excite and please her more than being around other kids. Anyplace that we are, whether it be kid-oriented or not, Franny is drawn like a magnet to other children. When we were at the play structure at Ft. Stevens, Franny and her daddy were crawling through tunnels, going down slides, and climbing high and low; she was unquestionably having fun. But then a little boy came along, and her face just lit up. At this point, nothing could be better.

There is nothing shy about Franny when it comes to being around other kids. A mother at her Music Together class even told me that she thought Franny acted like she had older siblings (MT classes include kids ages 0-5), because of her ease in approaching and playing with other kids--she will jump right in, and if she's discouraged by anyone, she will just move right on to the next kid or group of kids. Although child experts will say that kids Franny's age don't actually play together, I don't know if I completely agree with that determination. While this may be true in the physical sense, I think that they actually do play together mentally, and that there is unquestionably interaction. Fortunately, Franny has a number of regular activities that enable her to be around other kids and play to her heart's content.

75 degrees is more like it!

Saturday we fled the heat wave for Astoria and Ft. Stevens. And was it ever worth it! The weather was beautiful-- seventy-five degrees, clear skies, and just a light and constant breeze. We couldn't have asked for more. We enjoyed a gorgeous bike ride around the park, which went through the historical area, camp grounds, beach front, and around Coffenbury Lake. The beauty and diversity of the park was a pleasant surprise. Although we were primarily just seeking refuge from the high temperatures and humidity in Portland, we ended up discovering a new destination that we will return to.

The highlight for Franny, though, was when we made our final stop at the beach. She absolutely loved the beach and especially the water. And she was completely uninhibited--I think she would have dove in head first if we had let her. Restrained but undaunted, Franny waded all the way up to her waist and didn't even flinch from the cold water. Everytime we even slightly retreated, she strained to break free and run back into the ocean. The waves coming in thrilled, rather than intimidated her, and she laughed, splashed, and kicked with fearless abandon. Her adventurous nature never ceases to amaze me! Because we were having such a great day, we left for home much later than planned. Franny fell asleep in the car not long after we departed Astoria--dreaming of dancing with the ocean waves, no doubt!

Franny, I don't think we're in Portland anymore...

Today temperatures soared to an incredible 104 degrees! Yesterday, Franny and I temporarily suspended our afternoon adventures to take some much-needed refuge from the heat. And while we would both rather have been outside and exploring our beautiful city, we still had fun! At one point we ventured out onto the back deck, but quickly retreated to the cool inside air and some cold drinks. Mainly,we just listened to her Music Together CDs while we danced and played. Her favorite game was to crawl midway up the stairs, turn around and scoot back down on her stomach. And was she ever so very pleased with herself!

Fill 'er up!

Franny is holding the best new gadget I've found for quite some time. It's the "Snack Trap"--a convenient little bowl with handles and a lid that Franny can push her fingers through to pull out what she wants, without spilling or shaking out a bunch of extra. Although it isn't completely spill-proof, it definitely minimizes the number of Joe's O's and bunny crackers that I typically find scattered throughout the house.

I used to insist that Franny eat her snacks in her chair at the table. Now, however, I am just happy if she eats. I knew that toddlers her age ate less than they did as 9-12 month olds, but the change in her appetite has been so dramatic it makes me just a little uneasy! So, now if she signs that she wants to eat or that she wants to eat cereal or some crackers, I load up the Snack Trap and let her run. Unbelievably, she actually eats more this way.

15 months: long and lean

Weight: 21 pounds, 9.8 ounces (25th percentile)
Height: 32 inches (90th percentile)
Head: 19 inches (95th percentile)

Franny had her 15-month check-up yesterday. Everything is great, and although she is a lightweight, she is growing steadily along on the same growth curve. With her daddy in tow, we finished off the morning with a short walk and a yummy muffin at Starbucks.

We also found out, since her mouth was wide open while she was crying during her shots (poor girl) that she has two more teeth--upper molars. I tried to get another look, in case there was more to be discovered, but she recovered too quickly, and she wasn't about to tolerate any additional poking and prodding! That brings her tooth count to an even 12.

So serious!

I took this picture on our Zoo Train ride, which we took as a fun way to get to the Children's Playground by the Rose Gardens. Despite this serious gaze, she really did enjoy the trip--especially flirting with the little boy in the seat behind us!

Sweet dreams

Yesterday Franny's afternoon nap lasted for three hours! I've tried not to think about it, but I can't help but hope for the same today! We'll see...