Cold Spaghetti

Kate, in her adorable overalls from Aunt Amy and Uncle Kevin. The t-shirt usually goes under the long sleeve top, but Daddy is trying to start a new trend in baby-wear.

In late summer 2000, Paul’s cousin, Julie, held a commitment ceremony with her partner, Annie, in rural Vermont. Annie and Julie lived in Ann Arbor, where we had just moved, and were the first ones to welcome us to the city. We would have attended the ceremony, but my father’s retirement and Change of Command was the same day in Virginia.

Had we gone, we would have met Helen Hill and Paul Gailiunas, 6 years earlier than fate would finally have it. Helen is Annie’s cousin.

In a world of senseless horror, aches of sadness leave me apathetic, weary, and weepy. We are finding our footing and working to get a sense of where and how to put these feelings into positive actions. The touching memories, flowers, and cards lovingly placed on Paul and Helen’s doorstop are one way the community is responding to the tragedy and incredible losses that have occurred. Other responses — memories, memorials, films, meetings — are also happening. A wonderful website has been made: www.helenhill.org — and is updated regularly.In our two trips to the Hill-Gailiunas home yesterday, we spoke to neighbors, roamed the streets, and commented on how much we liked this part of the Marigny. Artsy cafes, B&Bs, corner stores. Couples on the porch, waving hello, stopping to talk about their sadness, concerns for their community, and questioning the future of our city.I cannot imagine abandoning this city. We decided that we were not ready to leave and cannot even think of where we go. On Thursday, there is a March and Rally to City Hall. It starts at 11am at the Aquarium and will go downtown to City Hall from there. It is being organized (permits and legalities handled) by the Marigny/Bywater community — the NOLA forums (http://www.nola.com/forums/marigny/) have more information (look for the posts by Ken Foster). Additional information is at http://nolaagainstcrime.com/. Paul and I are doing our best to attend.

See those lights behind her head?
The day after Christmas, we bought a Christmas Tree… a 9′ Pre-Lit Balsam Hill Blue Spruce on super-big-time-post-Christmas SALE. It was on our doorstep when we returned home. Wanting to try it out, I asked Paul to set it up while he watched the kids in the front room (I was busy with laundry and unpacking in the back). Before moving from Michigan, we had my parents old 9′ tree… NOT Pre-Lit. As the primary tree-putter-upper in the family, to me the Balsam Hill assembly looked like a dream. You simply put the center pole in place, the branches fall down, and you plug it in… walla! Paul was frustrated with a few details, but in the end agreed that the tree was easy to assemble, beautiful (even without our fluffing the branches), sturdy, and not coming down for a least 3 days. I’d have to change out the camera lens to get the full tree, so no big tree pictures until it’s back up and fully decorated next year (not comfortable changing out the lens on a whim — what if I break it?!)

A photography aside… I’m more comfortable with using AV to play with aperture. But for some reason, when I shoot in Aperture View, the ISO goes up to 1600 for many of the photos! I’m guessing it has something to do with light, but not sure how to control it just yet. Learning…

Driving in the car, kids asleep. We’re causally talking, reminiscing about things like when “Star Wars” was called “Star Wars” and not “A New Hope.” Suddenly, Will’s head snaps up, hair tussled from sleep, his voice breaking through our conversation:

“I was…I was…I was…I was…” he repeats over and over. “I was…I was…I was…”

“Dear, I think the record is broken.“

“I was…I was…I was…I was…”

“Will, what were you? What are you trying to say, honey?“

“I was…I was…I was…” pause. Then slowly, “…digging up shells in the park.” Silence. I look to Paul, curious.

Paul explains: “It was muddy in the park and Will found shells that the rain washed up.”

Turning to Will, showing my interest, “Oh, I see. What color were the shells, Will?”

Silence. Will is starring, eyes half open, out the window. He’s still, almost asleep, as if his explosion of stutters had never happened. The car is quiet again.

“Okay… I think The Little Man is out again.” Shaking my head to Paul, “That was interesting.”

“Yep. Proof that the mouth wakes up before the brain.”

Mobile is the home to the Gulf Coast Exploreum, a science center with exhibits, toddler play area, and seriously awesome IMAX dome theatre. I love IMAX dome theatres.On Friday, we all visited the Exploreum (hooray for memberships!) and enjoyed “Roving Mars” about the twin robots, Spirit and Opportunity, that landed on Mars in 2004. It was pretty darn incredible, both the film and the theatre. The kids did great. We knew that loud noises would not phase Kate; although I did almost take her from the theatre when she tried to engage the Rovers in chatty conversation near the end of the film. Will liked the rockets. The majority of the time at the Exploreum was spent in the Wharf — a fishing port complete with boat, lighthouse, and a sea of blue and green balls with lobsters, fish, and crab ready to be caught in nets and brought to market.
Kate enjoyed rolling around specially designed padded areas for crawler playtime. We hope to go back during our next visit to Mobile — a great place for kids to play.

“…Kate needs her teether…”

Out running errands with Mommy, with a stop at one of Mobile’s playparks.

– Just over 17 pounds.
– Full of goofy, squinting grins.
– Eating bananas, sweet potatoes, peaches, applesauce, and oatmeal and rice cereals.
– Calls me “Mama.”
– Crawls much faster than you think she can.
– Has absolutely no fear.
– Cruises while balancing on any and every object.
– Bites (hard!) while nursing. Then laughs. (Will would cry if I cried. Kate laughs.)
– Climbs.
– Is still a midnight rock-star.
– Adores her big brother.
– Giggles when tickled.

Despite the bugs that kept rolling through our family, Christmas came. We celebrated in the predictable, treasured ways: Christmas cookies for Santa, presents under the tree (several times), Christmas dinner made by Mom, family gathering and lots of laughter.

With family together, “Holly Season” was in full-swing. The goal of Holly Season is to bombard me with endless jabs until I melt into a lump of babbling goo or explode into a rash of profanities. This year, my Dad upped the ante, offering $50 a pop to the one who can dish out the most impressive blow.
This is the same “The Night Before Christmas” book that Dad read to Skip and I when we were little. It was followed by my Dad throwing rocks on the roof and ringing the decades old antique family sleighbells in the backyard (“Hear that, Will? Better get to sleep! It sounds like Santa is nearby!”) Growing up, my brother and I never went to sleep faster than when we heard those bells…
Kate handled the events of the holidays like any other day. She used the presents as opportunities for climbing, did her best to taste every ribbon and bow, and loved all the fun attention. She is showing incredible independence and a frightening sense of curiosity. Presents are great… but doorstops and electrical sockets are tops!! Yikes.
Emily and Skip shared in the holiday illness funk… no all-night Catan sessions this year!
Our happy girl! Climbing on everything she sees…!
Little man, in a very rare pause.
My Dad covered video and let me have a ball taking pictures. I got to play with a ton of settings and learned a bunch… (more on that later).
Christmas cards and presents finally went out. FINALLY. There are two more that I’d like to send, but at least the big stuff is done and out. Whew!
Chew, chew, chew.
Will loves his super-cool CAMERA. He takes it everywhere. We haven’t uploaded any of the pictures yet… keep an eye on Will’s photography blog for updates!

The kids also opened music instruments! Including a REMO gathering drum (like in Music Together) and NINO percussion sets. Whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on!
What a wonderful holiday!