Big Girl Bed

A big recent development is the addition of a "big girl bed" to Violet's life. She clearly takes after her mother, and loves to cuddle with books, pillows and covers in bed. In fact, the other night she insisted on taking her toy train and airplane into bed with her. About two hours later, she woke up crying and when Justin went to check out what was wrong, she insisted that a monster had bitten her! Of course, that monster was actually just the toys she was lying on.

In this picture, Justin is giving in a try. Another step towards independence!

Russian River Fun

We went to Russian River last week, for our annual Mah Jongg Tournament. Justin didn't nab the big prize for most points, but he did come home with the victory belt, for the most total wins. It was a proud day for the Horner/Lemley household. Here he is with the Grand Champion Lisa, posing after the big win.

There was also a costume contest, which Sandy won in a field of fierce competition. She was awarded 50 bonus points.

Violet was also competing for best costume, but went to bed too early.

The highlight for Violet was spending the long weekend with her buddy Simone. Here they are on their trikes, tearing up the parking lot!

Leader of the Pack!

Holidays with Violet

We have had a very nice holiday break, and just arrived back from a short trip to Yosemite, where we stayed at the Yosemite View Lodge, two miles from the entrance to the park. I highly recommend this hotel, which has family suites that can easily accommodate four adults and two to three children.

Yosemite in the winter was beautiful. However, Violet's favorite part of the trip was the hotel room and the indoor pool. Here we have her gearing up for trip number 3 to the pool!

Once inside Yosemite, we got our bearings and the immersed ourselves in the outdoor experience. Well, at least as much as much as we could with a toddler in tow, who is accustomed to 60 degree weather.

Here Violet is in her snow "outfit" as she preferred to call it, in Curry Village next to the outdoor ice rink. She also had a lot of fun sledding and throwing her first snow balls and papa and mama.

For the actual Christmas holiday, Justin's father Raymond was with us. Here he is enjoying the wonders of Play-Dough. We had a great time. Some of the highlights were all biking together in San Francisco and visiting the winter wonderland in Tilden Park.

Another highlight was a trip to the Golden State Railroad Museum, a must-visit attraction for train fans or parents of train fans. Needless to say, Violet's mind was blown!

Yes, She's Alive!

It is an absolute travesty that we haven't posted anything in the past two months. It's even worse, as I'm one of those people who complains about others' infrequent updates. As so much has happened, at best we're playing catch up here, so I'm presenting an assortment of photos with what I hope is interesting and/or humorous commentary.

Here they are, in no particular order of relevance, significance or even temporality:

This first series is from a visit we made to the pumpkin patch in Clayton, California. As is typical of such patches, one rolls around a wheelbarrow and gathers punkins, which Violet enjoyed tremendously. The patch also had other attractions, such as the requisite wooden cut-out propped up for photos:
And an intriguing, actually downright confounding, haystack maze. With our combined intellect, however, we made it out:


Amy and I took a trip to Boston, Massachusettes (that's where Ally McBeal was set). While we were there, Violet hung out on the farm, and we joined her after about a week. We were then joined by Violet's cousins, Aunt and Uncle. Here's a picture of Violet with her cousin, Derek, who, truly, looks like a freakin' movie star in this one:

We've done a fair amount of yard work, given the child and all, and we've learned that we can rely on Violet to do a few things around the house. For example, as Amy and I were a little tired after doing the front yard, we asked Violet to clear the side of the house and water some of the bushes. Here she is near the end, not even breaking a sweat:

In addition to major landscaping, Violet has been improving her domestic skills. Here, she is displaying two of her choice cupcakes, concocted with just the merest help from her mother. Violet's pride of chefmanship is clear:

You know it's hard out there for a toddler. After such an intense day, who could blame a girl who wanted to take a little load off?

Signing off for now.

Violet Turns Two

Our little girl is growing up fast. On September 28th, she turned two and we decided this year to go ahead and have a party. Justin and I were busy wrangling kids, but luckily our friends Adam and Miho captured these moments for posterity!

Here is Violet blowing out the candles- FINALLY. She had been practicing since she visited Granny and Grandpa in August. She did a great job!

And of course, the prize after the effort...

We decided for activities we would have a kids race. None of them really understood the concept of a race, but they really liked running all over the park. We had a finish line made out of crepe paper, but no child wanted to break through it. Finally, Hardy braved it and busted through the finish line!

Here is Violet running wildly through the park: "I'm TWO!"

Ossian and Violet, together again!

Jen and Blase came with their girls for another great visit, giving Ossian and Violet more time to become best buddies. Here they are in a front-porch embrace, after an afternoon trip to the steam trains together. Bliss!

Else the Cutie Pie

Here we have a great picture of Juliet, with her new little baby girl Else. We had a great time getting to know Else on our recent visit out to Boston. In this picture, we are taking a ferry to visit the very witchy town of Salem, MA.

Else shows us her serious side in this photo.

Else is

It's a Potty Party!

Well, I'm sorry to be too graphic, but we have some big news at the Lemley/Horner household and it has to do with the potty. This morning, Violet announced that she wanted to go to the potty. After helping her with her diaper, she promptly pushed us both out of the bathroom and said, "Just a minute." She them closed the door on us and we went to the dining room to await the verdict. It was about 3 minutes later when Violet came rushing out of the bathroom with her big news. She HAD in fact gone to the potty and couldn't wait to rush us into her private sanctum to show the proof!

After several hugs and kisses, we disposed with the evidence.

Violet at the Farm, Part III

Violet's favorite game at home is called "Mama's bed," where we jump under the covers and cuddle. Here she attempts to re-create it at Granny and Grandpa's house.

Violet, practicing for Halloween. What can I say? Us Lemley's are planners!

Violet practicing her candle-blowing skills. Only 4 more weeks until she turns 2.

Here is just a cute picture of a small child in a flower pot. They are just so tiny, sometimes you have to put them somewhere that us big people don't fit.

Violet at the Farm, Part II

Look, Mama! I'm driving!
A cutie in an Elmo halter.
Granny with her favorite flower.
Violet getting some work done.

Violet at the Farm

Justin and I are in Boston, visiting our friends Juliet and Sanjoy, while Violet spending some quality time with her Granny and Grandpa in Iowa. To ease the pain (and guilt) of being away from Violet, Mom has been kind enough to email us pictures in Boston, a sampling of which are below. More to follow, when we are back from the trip!Above, we have Violet testing her skills driving a big-rig.
Here we have Violet in the garden, testing the tomatoes.

Our dog Paige is a source of entertainment for Violet as she sits in her high chair, the same one used by my grandfather.

According to Mom, one of Violet's favorite things is to help her cook. Above, we have a picture of Violet making her first cake.

Above, Violet is all dressed up and ready to go to church. According to Mom, she was a hit, with her cute dress and good behavior.

Toddler Intellect

So, although I have told nearly everyone this story, I need to have it here, as well.

Violet's little brain is working, and working quite well, apparently.

She has this bucket of plastic eggs that she loves dumping all over the floor. Unfortunately, she does not equally enjoy picking them up.

On the morning in question, after dumping the eggs on the floor of her room and playing with them a little, she turned to me and said "eat now." Which means "time for breakfast." I told her that we could go to eat as soon as she picked up all her eggs and put them in her bucket. She clearly did not want to do this, putting one egg in and then walking around for awhile until she put in another one, looking up at me periodically, wondering whether I had forgotten my request.

She has enough will to resist a command from her own father, but not enough to know that if she really wanted to leave, all she would need to do is turn around and walk out the door. I wanted her to pick up the eggs and she didn't want to. If she didn't pick up the eggs, she couldn't leave her room and have breakfast. How was she going to get out of this?

Knowing how much I care for her, she said "Papa, I have owie."

"Oh, really, Violet? Where?"

"In other room."

No, I didn't fall for it, but I did give her a big hug for her ingenuity. And I picked up half the eggs for her.

Here is Violet enjoying her first ice cream cone at the Alameda County Fair, where Sandy, Justin and I went on Sunday. The highlight was a pig race!

May the Force be with You

One of Violet's best buddies is Hardy, the son of our friends Deanne and Greg. Here they are reading and playing tea party, after a big train session with Thomas and friends.

Violet is discovering the many treasure's of Granny and Grandpa's toy closet, looking more like Papa than ever.

Lemley Century Farm: July 2007

Here we have Violet and Cousin Alec on a hayride. Somehow, the tape was broken out and here we have the final result.

Attack of the 32 inch tape monster!

Violet shows her patriotic side on the hayride.

Let freedom ring!

Violet took her first swim in what we at the farm call the ocean. The cute part is that Jen and Blase's daughter is named Ossian, which is pronounced the same as ocean. So, when we told Violet we were going to the ocean, she kept on asking where Ossian was.

The motley crew of cousins and children of our neighbor Jason, otherwise knows as the "hot farmer." Yes, they exist.

Grandpa gives Violet and Alec a ride around the farm.

Direct from Lemley Century Farm, Iowa

While papa whiles away the weekend reading, resting, brewing beer and geocaching, mama and Violet are at the Lemley Century Farm for the weekend. All reports are that Violet is having a magnificent time swimming, bale jumping, riding mowers and the like. She also idolizes her two cousins, Alek and Derek.

Here are Alex, Derek and Violet all using their "computers."


Here's an instant classic: cousin Derek and Violet on a horse together. It is so sweet how Derek is minding her.


And mom and Violet got in on it, too.

Petrolia and Waterpark

The family visited Blase, Jen and their two daughters Ossian and Nola recently and had an excellent time. I have totally fallen in love with Petrolia, which is so pristine and remote that it reminds you of what California must have been like long ago. Above is Violet at a blueberry farm, where you could pick your own berries. With the extensive sampling that we conducted, I don't think the farm made much money on us.
Here we have Violet and Ossian in the bike trailer. Papa Justin pulled them down to the river where we went swimming.

Violet and Ossian once again, this time hiding from the parents on the front deck of Blase and Jen's great house.
Here we have Violet at her new favorite spot- the aquatic park in San Leandro. It is essentially a tot lot in the water- lots of fun and a public facility, which is cool and affordable.

Here is Justin and Violet adventuring into the water together.
It didn't take Violet long to get in the swing of it. Here she is playing with one of the fountains. She was also bravely making it down a baby waterslide (on my lap, of course. )

Here we have Violet modeling the latest in baby swim wear, compliments of her Auntie Sandy.

Here is Auntie Sandy enjoying the day with Violet and the piggies!

The weather last weekend was strangely warm-so warm in fact that we had to break out Violet's ad hoc swimming pool. As you can see from the picture, she is quickly outgrowing it.

Violet in her first successful attempt at a carousel. Two previous attempts were aborted due to equinophobia (fear of horses).

Violet's mind is blown at Train Town in Sonoma, where you can ride a train to a petting zoo!

The real train was awesome, but Violet also liked the train rides. Needless to say, we worked through some quarters.

Violet and friends enjoy their first pizza party, with Zachary's no less.

A new favorite game for Violet is "sleeping," where she pretends to go to sleep in our bed, like a big girl.

Here is Violet with her Easter goodies. She dyed her hands very well, and also a few eggs.

Amy Takes Control of the BLOG!

I thought that it was high time that my editorial voice returned to Violet's blog. After all, I did start the blog and yet somehow Justin has taken it on as his own, forcing me into the sad role of guest blogger on my own blog.

No more, I say! I have returned! And while I may not narrate my child's everyday activities with the witty wordplay of my better half, my promise to you is an abundance of pictures. Yes, Justin is The New Yorker of the blog and I shall be the Vanity Fare. Onward!

Violet: "Are these my new parents?"

Here is Violet with our friends Jane and Brandon, who visited us last weekend and brought Violet the most adorable sun dress. Upon opening the box, she immediately started taking off her clothes. Funny... Justin often has the same response to gifts!

Violet: "Spare a goldfish cracker, ma'am?"

Here we have Violet and her good buddy Ossian Katherine Theresa De La Luz Briar Bonpane, the daughter of our good friends Blase and Jen. I just learned Ossian's full name yesterday and was so intimidated by it, I am considering adding a few extra names to Violet's.

Blase and Jen are in town to give birth to their baby, a girl they plan to name Nola at UCSF.




















Violet: "Lame! A rerun!"
Here we have Violet, captivated with Washing Machine TV! It's big entertainment for her, although she sometimes complains that it only has two channels: spin and rinse.















Well, that's it folks for my guest blogging on my own blog. Stay tuned for more cute pictures.

Just Cute

This is Violet before bed last night. This is before she asks for her la-uer (lamby), da-oog (dog) and mouse (mouse) dolls, and also before she asks for her "book." The latest favorite is Kitten's Nap, weighing in at a hefty 8 pages. We sometimes read it twice.

Serious Family Time

Every year, Art and Mary Lemley (along with Violet's Auntie Paige, the spaniel), drive all the way out from Iowa to visit us and to completely transform the quality of our home. On this latest trip, we (and I use the term "we" loosely, as I mostly just sit and watch) completed 29 separate projects--everything from replacing the water heater and trimming the tree in the back to repairing our door lock and programming a universal remote. It is though we stepped out of the Iron Age straight into the 1780s, whatever that feels like.

The most amazingly significant project we created was the removal of about 100 yards of ivy along the side of our house. As you can see from this "before" photo, the ivy was massive (use Violet for scale), and, according to our neighbor, had been there for as long as I have been alive!

With the aid of a chainsaw and our now-patented "cut and bail" removal technique, we made serious progress. The next photo was taken in the middle of the process. Notice the incredible tangle of ivy, as impenetrable as the deepest reaches of the Amazon Rain Forest. But this poor ivy had never met the Lemleys!

This final shot shows the point at which we ended the bailing and began the fine-toothed work of clearing out as many of the ivy roots as we could. Yes, we had rented a dumpster for the purpose of collecting all the green waste and hauling it away. We also gained another half-square of sidewalk, which is good.


Now I know you're probably thinking "Justin, what's with the ivy? I'm here to see pictures of Violet and to read your incredible witty commentary." But you really just have to see this to believe it. The amount of work this took was extraordinary, and it just goes to show how lucky Violet (and her parents) are to have such generous and helpful family members. We were so grateful for the help and we always look forward to their visits each year.

And although we do complete a project or two in between visits, the list for 2008 has already begun.

Like Father, Like Daughter

So, as the relatively cool and mild winter months here in Oakland give way to the relatively warm and mild days of Spring, all of us here on Shafter Avenue are exploring new hobbies and doing our best to expand our experience. Here, you can see Violet investigating one of her new interests. I'm so proud of her! She didn't require the slightest cajoling from her father and checked out this book all on her own.

She will have to wait awhile to really experience the joy of beer. Although she does look a lot like me, she's still not similar enough to go up the street and use my ID. And, yes, she always gets carded.

Yes, We're Still Here

Although there has not been an update for about a month, this does not mean that Violet P is not doing anything blog-worthy. Indeed, there has been much to write about, but a shortage of cute photos to accompany the text.

For example, here is a photo of Violet and I protesting the war in Iraq on Market Street in San Francisco. Violet is, technically, in the picture, but you can really only see her shoes on either side of me, as she is in her little backpack carrier thing. Little did I know that at the back of every march is a cadre of kids and parents moving at kid speed and falling more and more behind.
Yes, it was depressing knowing that I was protesting this very same war since before Amy was even pregnant with Violet. On the other hand, it was great for Violet to be in such friendly company. See, as a toddler, her favorite word is "No!" and she was just surrounded by signs saying "no!" and people shouting "no!" It was really the perfect environment for her. May she rarely, if ever again, need to participate in such an event.

Another new development is a wide array of new words and quasi-words. The vocabulary includes, among others:

• "mama" and "papa" and "Amy"
  
• "nana" (banana)
• "bread"
• "up!"
• "peas!"
• "keys!"
• "vocado" (avocado)
• "o-enge" (orange)
• "out"
• "Vi-let"
• "bay-bee"
• "cat"
• "dowg" (dog)
• "bird"
• "trwee" (tree)
• "down"
• "no"
• "bre-fis" (breakfast)
• "hat"
  

More are coming every day.

End of the Year Sampler

So, I couldn't find a theme to run all of these cute photos together, but they were all take in the last month of 2006, so we'll go with that.

This first one was taken on a trip to San Francisco a little more than a month ago (San Francisco is the city across the Bay from Oakland). It almost made the cut as our holiday card photo.


This second one is Violet P appreciating her first semi-real Christmas. She was delighted with all the little colorful wrapped boxes and was super-surprised to learn on Christmas morning that there was even more fun stuff actually inside them. Here she is with her Auntie Sandy, surrounded by the detritus of the holiday season.


Near the end of the month, we took Violet to Africa, where she almost was eaten by a hippo. Just kidding! This piece of playground equipment, reminiscent to me of Eastern Europe, is in fact just outside the grounds of the Oakland Zoo. The hippo was solid concrete, and the inside was completely bumpy and jagged. They don't make 'em like they used to.



This last one gives you a sense of the extent of Violet's dentistry. It also gives a reliable glimpse of just how very happy little VPL is. She's quick to smile and does it big when she does.

More later.

The Super Suit

One morning a month or so ago, I appeared at the park early in the morning with Violet. It was quite cold, actually, and Violet was woefully underdressed. She began to cry and I had to carry her all the way home and keep her warm. It was then that I decided to do some cold weather clothes shopping to get Violet climate-ready.

One of the things I picked up at our local used baby stuff place was this fleece suite, dubbed forever after The Super Suit. Just look at Violet's mobility and big smiles, all the while toasty and warm.

Before and After

What a difference 7 or so months makes! Here you'll find two pictures of VPL with her friend and "play cousin" Lola B Hurst. They are mere weeks apart in age.

In this first picture, we clearly see signs of babyness: excess cheeks, no hair, complex neck systems, unstable floppiness, looks of trepidation, inadvertent touching, clothes that just don't look right, redness, drool.

In the next picture, taken just a few weeks ago, toddlerhood is rising. Cute outfits, stability of body, gazes of certainty, clear intentional grasping, tongues out but mouths and faces more or less dry, and did we mention cute outfits?

I suspect this whole "development" thing will continue for some time.

Old School VPL

There hasn't been an update for about a week, and everyone knows that you need to keep it coming if you want people to visit your blog. Therefore, I added this classic VPL shot from about a year ago.

It's amazing: you can see her little face in the midst of all that cheek-chunk, and, although I may be crazyI think her bald head makes her look somewhat menacing. It's also clear that after more than a year, Violet still does not have any wrists to speak of.

As the holidays come, VPL's gonna see both her Grandmothers, which will be good for her and great for Amy and I, as we find some time to hit the town.

Violet at the Necropolis

READER ADVISORY: This post has pictures of a baby in a graveyard and some jokes about graves and babies.

Today, Violet and I visited Mountain View Cemetery here in Oakland, one of the absolutely coolest places around. It was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, right after he designed Central Park (if you've been to New York City, Central Park is the big green area behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art). It is absolutely beautiful in a decrepit/shabby chic type of way and is filled with tons of famous people, like a Stanford or two and the Ghirardelli family, of chocolate fame.

My idea was that Violet could walk around on the grass and climb on people's mausoleums (mausoleumae?) and have a generally good time. However, the grounds of Mountain View have seen better days, and there is scarcely a smooth walkway or flat expanse of grass in the entire place. Instead, roads are crumbling, stairs are moss-covered and tilted and most graves are on steep slopes. The effect of the whole place is fantastic for memoralizing dead people, but it's not such a good play area. Put that one in Olmstead's (admittedly small) Failures column.

So, I decided to get a little weird and shoot Violet next to the tombstone of Elmer Wilson, a 4 year old who died in the early 20th century. It says "Our Baby" on the stone and indicates that the child is "A Native of Oakland," and I thought that despite the ninty or so years of age difference and the whole dead/alive thing, he and Violet had a few things in common.

The situation on the hill with the stones was precarious, so I brought Violet down to a relatively flat area, where the tombstones are embedded in the ground. Here, Violet is maintaining a flower arrangement.

A little later, Violet was joined by the ghost of Elmer Wilson. Just kidding! That's actually Eliza B Van de Water, who brought her mom to come share a little playdate in the cemetery. Since she's so young, one need not worry about her falling or tripping or anything, so anyplace is basically as good as any other. She appeared to enjoy herself in that "I'm not completely miserable" way very young children do.

Just a caveat to those who think this whole expedition is completely beyond the Pale: Mountain View has been around for decades and is considered by many to be akin to a public park here in Oakland. People regularly jog, ride their bikes, picnic and even walk their dogs through here. I mean, at least Violet and I had our legs covered! I did think a few times that it would be nice when I kick the bucket and am buried in the ground somewhere if some kids would come and play on my grave every now and then.

Stomach Problems All Around

So, for the last two nights, Violet's been (how should I say it?) barfing right before bed, or in the early hours of sleep. It's quite disconcerting, obviously, since we care deeply about her health. It's also quite disconcerting when you realize the sheer volume of stuff a little 14 month old's stomach can hold, and you're holding her on your lap! I had to crouch both of us up together to step into the tub to take both of our outfits off for washing.

I had a stomach bug all day yesterday, and moaned and groaned and felt sorry for myself for hours. Violet, however, just seems to puke and get on with it. She's just such a little wonder!

14 Month Visit to the Doctor

So, although the picture here is unrelated, there's great news from the world of Violet's health. VPL continues to be a healthy baby, scoring well into the 90th percentile in weight, height and head circumference (despite having little hair to pad the numbers).

We discussed Violet's diet with Dr Cunningham, and VPL's vegetarianism is going well and is in no way an obstacle to any development. I was also told that VPL will moderate food intake herself, which, if you've seen Violet eat, seems, um, pretty incredible (but hey, she's the doctor!). Additionally, the Dr says that as long as what she's eating is healthy, she should eat however much she wants. There appeared to be no concern with the doctor concerning this last remark and the 90th percentile size numbers referenced above.

Violet and I also got our flu shots. She actually did better than I, reaction wise, and there are few things cuter than a little circle band-aid on top of a fat baby thigh. I, today, am suffering from cold symptoms, a potential side effect. Violet, of course, is fine.

While the Dr and I chatted, Violet spent the time in her diaper, walking around the exam room tearing apart magazines. She only needed to be shooed from the box labled "BIOHAZARD" three times.

Greetings from Petrolia, California!

Well, one of life's great treasurers is found when good friends become physcially closer to you. Blase, one of my bestest friends, and his wonderful wife, Jen, and their talented little girl, Ossian, all moved from Seattle to Petrolia, California (pop. somewhere around 350 or so). Blase took a job as CFO of the Mattole Restoration Council, and they're expecting their second child sometime early next year.

We were thrilled to drive the whole family up there to visit them. This was Violet P's longest car ride yet (5.5 hours each way) and she, surprisingly, was a champ. One can only fill a box with toys and pray; we were blessed this time around.

So, here are the pictures.

This first one is of mom and Violet P testing out the backpack that was loaned to us. We were walking along the beach, near the mouth of the Mattole River, which meets the Pacific just down the road from Petrolia.














Here's a close-up of Violet, with the mujahadeen loook going.




On the beach was a very cool willow forest. Here's Violet P and I walking through it.



And, of course, the obligatory bathtub shot with VPL and Ossian.

Chick Lit

Everyone loves these little board books. When I saw this one at Blase, Jen and Ossian's house, I just couldn't resist the joke.

Tilden Steam Trains

One of the coolest freakin things around is the Redwood Valley Railway at Tilden Regional Park, otherwise known as the "steam trains at Tilden." This is some serious old-school family fun: a scaled-down steamtrain that runs you through the park a ways, compete with a tunnel and engine whistles. What I really enjoyed was the whole "good old days" vibe of it: buying tickets wasn't some overpriced, bureaucratic exercise, there weren't any stupid seatbelts or other unnecessary "safety" devices everyone was required to wear, the crowds were just right, and they didn't even bat an eyelash when someone brought their dog on board.

Here, we have photos of Amy and Violet waiting for the train, and, in one of the best mother and daughter photos so far, the two of them on the train itself.

Tilden Little Farm

On Saturday, we had a big family day out to Tilden Regional Park, up in the hills above Berkeley. Here are two pictures of Violet visiting Tilden Little Farm, an, um, little farm in the park where kids can get up close and personal with a variety of barnyard animals. Although we did not, one is encouraged to bring either lettuce or celery, with which to feed the goats, cows and other critters.

Violet most enjoyed the chickens and the bunnies. The roosters' crowing scared the bejesus out of her.

Halloween Costume

Yes, Violet dressed as an M&M (or, technically, I suppose, an M) for Halloween. We thought the outfit was cute, even if it seems a little corporate.

No, Violet is not a little boy, despite her look here.

The suit made it difficult for her to tie her shoe. Her look here of utter excitement and happiness captures her general attitude about the costume completely.

Halloween Fun

Today our neighborhood had a children's parade with all of the little kids in their cute Halloween costumes. Violet is going to be a blue M&M, but we knew her tolerance for the outfit was extremely limited. To spare her frustration, we let her go to the parade in the Halloween shirt that Granny got her when she stayed with Violet while we were in Mexico.

The parade was a big hit with Violet. She even managed to get her first taste of a Kit Kat (accidentally).

Contemplation

The life of a baby, though exciting, is not without it's moments of deep reflection. Often, Violet will sit still for as many as five consecutive seconds, mindfully making herself present in the moment.

Frequently, we visit a beautiful playstructure in FROG park, which has turned into a sort of hermitage for my little mystic.

She is not, however, one of those hermits who fasts for days on end, believe you me.

Perambulation

Violet Pauline is getting her walk on. It's exciting and frightening at the same time. She's still slower than I am, which is helpful. But as anyone with a toddler knows, the first attempts at walking are characterized by a wholesale throwing of the child's upper body forward, with a make-it-or-break-it split second wherein you wonder "Will the legs work this time?" If they do, all is more or less well until the next step; if they don't, then "faceplant" is the perfect description.

Here are some thrilling stop-action photos of Violet P during walking practice.

Mexico Vacation

Here is little Violet with Granny, who so generously babysat her while Justin and I went to Mexico for our dear friends' Chris and Sandy's wedding. We had an amazing time and for a few brief moments were able to recall our carefree lives prior to Violet. Meaningless, of course, but carefree... As you can see from the picture, Justin was the offiiciant and I must say did an amazing job.

When we arrived back from vacation, Violet was happier than even hacing spent time with her Granny. She (and we!) are so lucky to have such a wonderful Granny Mary.

Violet is One (1)!

A great milestone has been reached: VPL is now one year old! Absolutely amazing to believe that it was 12 months ago that this little beast stepped into our lives. She's so wonderful and amazing and we love her so.

OK, so on to the pictures. Unlike many parents these days, Amy and I opted not to have a full-blown one year b'day party rager. We instead chose a laid back recognition that did not involve invitations, food prep or cleaning up the house. We had a little cupcake in Willard Park in Berkeley with Violet's agemate Lola B Hurst.














Thankfully, this being Berkeley, we were quick to make some friends who could round out the party a little bit.














We ended the afternoon with a great trip home on the bus. Who says Amy and I don't know how to throw a kid's party!?!

I've Been Blogged

I know this is basically a cute-pictures-of-Violet blog. But I do mention some stuff about parenting over at my other blog, if you're interested.

"KHAAt!"

It has been confirmed by both parents on three separate occasions over the course of two days: Violet Pauline has not only said the word "cat," but we are certain that she actually means it (this is an important distinction. When Violet was 8 months old, she clearly said "Kodaly Korond," which is a stop on the yellow line of the Budapest metro (the first underground metro in continental Europe, by the way)), but I know she had no idea about that).

She said "cat" when we pointed at her Big Sister (see below) and also when Amy picked up a cat this afternoon. Both were accompanied by pointing. Perhaps most mindblowingly, during tonight's reading of Goodnight Moon, I asked "Violet, where is the cat?" and she pointed directly at the two little kittens in the great green room (which is also filled with a little toy house, and a young mouse, and a comb and a brush and a..nevermind).

I guess I shouldn't be too surprised--we have read Goodnight Moon approximately 76 times. However, I also understand that language acquisition is some sort of "milestone" in human development.

Nonetheless, I am very proud.

Violet's Big Sister

People can be forgiven for assuming we have one child because it's technically correct. However, from the very start we have made sure that Violet understands that she has a big sister, and that her big sister is a cat.

Clementine is about 4 times as old as Violet and roughly 27 times as fast. They both locomote on all fours and rely on us for food. Neither Violet nor Clementine can dispose of their own waste and neither yet speaks English. Violet has six teeth and Clementine has about 16 or so.

Clementine has been sweet and open to Violet from the beginning. Thankfully for us, Clementine is basically fat and lazy, so she couldn't really be bothered to scratch out Violet's eye or anything--she'd much rather just walk away. Recently, however, Clementine and Violet have become more intimate, as siblings often do. They get closer than even this photo captures. Violet's new thing is to bury her cheek in Clementine's coat and laugh hysterically. It's so cute that is seems completely unreal.

Balancing a four-person household is hard for everyone involved. We've decided we can only afford to send Violet to college.

Violet P and D-A-D

Here's a shot we took the other day. I think she looks like me, but I guess I would, wouldn't I?

Violet P En Accion!

I know you've been waiting for these action shots. Violet does not just sit around all day finding her feet and shoving Cherrios in her mouth--she has quite an active life. It takes a lot for her to maintain her unique physique.

Russian River Extravaganza!

So, we finally took our first family vacation. I now understand why the word "family" is used to modify "vacation;" it's just not really the same as a regular vacation. One just assumes a vacation is relaxing, rejuvenating, and all about you. That's why you add "family" to it when babies are involved.




A few fantastic firsts, including Violet's first time in a body of fresh water, the wonderful Russian River. In the first of a number of amazing shots we'll present to you here, you will see the little area we set up for her so that she could soak her diaper in the water and put rocks in her mouth. Sun protection is a must. Although we do have some ozone left, we want to make sure Violet is as skin-cancer free as possible by the time she enters elementary school.

It's very difficult to get a good candid of a baby, particularly one who is unsure, a little cold, and seriously trying to figure out what's going on. However, this one had to be included, as it showcases Violet's flattering racing-back swimsuit. I'm not sure if you're supposed to wear a diaper with it or not, but, hey, we're environmentalists and we love our pristine California waterways!





Next, we tested Violet's maritime acumen. Although Amy and I are both originally from the Midwest, we recognize the importance of being prepared to sell the house, hit the Pacific O and get out of dodge, if necessary. Particularly as the seas continue to rise, boating skills will become more and more valuable for your child to acquire. This is Violet's first outing, on the "My Baby Floaty" that we purchased at a 5 and Dime in Guerneville

Visit to Roshambo Winery

I know what it looks like, but rest assured: we drank plenty of wine before we became parents. And, yes, perhaps a fieldtrip to an alcohol production facility is not at the top of every child's list, but, Violet is a Californian, and basically a yuppie at that, so a knowledge of wine is essential. Considering the drinking age is 21 in California, I'm sure wine-related activity will help Violet stand out on any college application.

Anyway, we visited Rosahmbo Winery, near Healdsburg. Good wine in a fun environment, and we even joined their wine club (it's so much easier to have wine delivered to your door when you're juggling work and family). The best thing about the trip, however, were these two photos, which are classic.

Fun At the Rental House

We not only spent time on Old Man River and at the old wineshack, we also had plenty of adventures at the wonderful house Amy rented right on the Russian River itself. As things often do with babies, a highlight occured in the bathroom.


The first has us coming upon Violet in the midst of what we call "independent creative play." It may appear that she's playing in the toilet, but that's just the old way of thinking. We tried to not be judgemental, but Violet does have an "oops, I did it again" look on her face, even though she never has and has also never heard a word of Britney Spears. In the face of this, we tend to see the bright side: "Look! She's pulling herself up!"

Hi ho, Rody!

Here you can see Violet's brand new friend: Rody, the bouncing Italian pony toy. Man, there's nothing quite like seeing a baby grab a couple of ears and just bounce bounce bounce! She'll knock herself over, she'll get so excited!

What Could This Possibly Mean?

Violet started doing this spontaneously during dinner this evening. I have no idea what it means. I did it back at her, and she thought it was funny. She was not saying "Enough," since she ate a lot more after afterwards. This and clapping are the big things now.

And, no, I wasn't singing, if that's what you think she's reacting to.

As ridiculous as it may sound, I have heard rumors that some people theorize that it's possible that a person could be convinced that Violet is, perhaps, slightly larger than your average baby.

How can that be when I feed her such modest bites?

Cheerios, Anyone?

Violet's big accomplishment this week is mastering the "pincher movement," an essential milestone in motor development most readily exercised by picking up Cheerios (actually Trader Joe's O's).

Prior to this, Violet didn't know that her hand could actually deliver food to her mouth. Now she starting smiling at the sight of the big yellow box.

Play Date with Liam
This morning, my friend Debbie brought over her little boy Liam. Here they are together, grabbing each other's toys and laughing at the baby staring back at them. Also, today Violet is 10 months old.

It is Friggin' Hot Here!


You could have fooled me that there's no consensus on Global Warming. Not only are they dying of heatstroke in the midwest and the east coast, but now they're going to start dying in Europe, too. Oh, and there was another tsunami. Bush to world: "Move along. Nothing to see here."

At any rate, it's 90 degrees here in Oakland, which for us is major. So, VPL and I came upon the brilliant idea of getting her a kiddie pool yesterday morning. Now, keep in mind, it never really gets all that hot out here, and every place I called needed a definition of "kiddie pool" before they could see if they had one. Nevertheless, people were snatching them up like crazy. We went to five different places and couldn't fine one. On my way to Target, I talked to a salesperson who sounded like he was in a warzone ("Yeah, we have 'em, but they're shopping the hell out of us here!") before he cut off.

Anyhow, VPL, Uncles Dan and Chris and I decided that we needed to find a solution. So we put Violet in an old metal ice bucket. Since this is Northern California, she went in naked.

Crashed Out!!

When you manage to finally get her into the crib, Violet is a serious napper. Recently, she has acquired increased mobility, meaning that she can get herself into a number of interesting positions, including the one shown here.

Don't Make Me Mad...
This photo made me laugh, so I thought I would post it. All is well with Violet lately. We had a nice trip to the family farm over the 4th and made it back with her sleep schedule in tact. I will post some of the farm pictures as soon as Mom send me some.

Back from San Diego
I spent the weekend with my good friend Jane in San Diego. Here is a reunion picture of Violet and me in the tub.

I figured it was only fair to post this picture since I posted the one of Justin in the tub with Violet when she was 3 weeks old (see below). Note, however, that I waited until Violet was 9 months- considerably more coverage!

Get Up, Stand Up!
Here is Violet this morning demonstrating her new skills: pulling up. She still needs a little help, but once she is up she can stay there pretty well. Yesterday, Justin had a nice day with Violet. They started with a 7:00 a.m. World Cup game, which was Violet's first. Justin is back at it this morning, but without Violet this time.

Father's Day Summary
I think that Justin had a nice first Father's Day. I had been trying to keep his gift a secret for a few weeks, and had him guessing of everything from a gas grill to a recliner to a digital camera to a canoe! In the end, it was a patio set, at which he is reading in the picture. I am sure that we will play many games of Mah Jongg with friends at it.

After breakfast on the new patio set, we went to the Oakland Zoo, ran a few errands, read for a while and then went out for an afternoon drink. Then, Justin went caching on his bike and we wrapped up the day with a Justin favorite: A SAMURAI MOVIE!

Happy Father's Day!

Trip to the Zoo
Today is Violet's first trip to the zoo. I am going with the mother's group that I connected with when Violet was born. I was formerly quite skeptical about the whole concept of a mother's group. Why not a parent's group or even better a group of self-actualized individuals dedicated to egalitarian parenting? Sadly, those groups don't exist, not even the the wavy-gravey Bay Area. Or it they do, not on the one day a week I don't work. So, I tried out a mother's group and found that it was a simple way to meet other women are new mothers and who will babysit my child for FREE (let alone the going rate of $12/hr!)

Today little Violet is modeling the latest in babywear. She has on a red two-piece ensemble (dress and diaper cover) direct from the runways of Mexico, where her Auntie Sandy recently visited.

Big day!
Today I learned that the law I have been advocating for will be signed by the Governator (as we call him in California). It has been something that I have been working on for a number of years and it feels great to have it finally happen. In short, the new law will more than triple the amount of housing for homeless former foster youth in CA by changing the financing structure of a state program and also increasing the funding!

The whole foster care system seems even more absurd that it did before I had Violet. Here is a picture of the little practicing on her teething ring. Tomorrow is my day at home with her.

Wednesdays!

As I'm sure you've inferred from reading the blog, there are actually two parents taking care of Violet: mom and dad. I'm sneaking in this opportunity to share a little about my experience parenting little VPL.

Each Wednesday, Violet and I spend the day together. Although regular readers of this blog may think that Violet's life is all spazzing out and putting things in her mouth, there's actually a lot more going on....particularly when she's with her papa.

For example, here's a picture of Violet during this week's chess game. It may be hard to tell from this photo, but Violet is quite a strong player. Now keep in kind that I'm not one of those parents who thinks their daughter is the best at everything, and I do believe that she could use a lot more practice, particularly in the endgame, where she tends to just sit and drool, flailing her arms around and looking for the cat.

But rest assured that I don't fall for any of those psychological tactics. And although I'm not the kind to brag, I have beaten Violet in each and every one of the 76 games we've played so far. That's quite a winning streak, no? I assume the repeated defeats are building Violet's character.

After chess, Violet usually takes a nap and/or poops herself, and we have a diaper change. She'll then pick up a few blocks and put them down again. Then we have our regular Theories of Comparative Religion seminar.

Violet is young, but she is very wilful, and as she is a 21st Century child, she has a whole different way of looking at the world. We often have arguments over differeing interpretations of sacred texts, and sometimes both of us just end up on our backs on the floor crying and waving our hands. I usually have to be the mature one and resolve the whole thing and make us friends again, which makes sense since I'm the only one who can get up off my back by myself at this point.

As an example, here's a picture from today. As per our agreed-upon study outline, we're reviewing Chapter Six of Seyyed Hossein Nasr's excellent The Heart of Islam, "Divine and Human Justice." Inevitably, Violet and I just get into it, this time regarding methodologies of Islamic jurisprudence. As Amy will tell you, I make it a practice never to walk out of an argument, but it's clear here that Violet is just fed up and has had enough. I can't tell you how often this happens! And, yes, I know these are eternal truths that humans have spent milennia contemplating, and, yes, I know Violet's only 8 and a half months old, but that's just no excuse for being so stubborn. As usual, we agreed to disagree, which is good for her, since she relies on me to feed her.

Those are just some highlights from a typical Wednesday. Violet's napping now, but once she wakes up we have our astronomy colloqium planned and a review of easy Thai appetizers. Ciao!

Violet Recovered!
All is well in the Lemley/Horner household. The troubling tooth has emerged and Violet is back to her smiley self. We have been having a lot of fun this week, with Justin's long-time friend Blase visiting with his wife Jen and their little girl Ossian. On Sunday night, we made a big feast to celebrate their arrival and then last night had another dinner party for friends who wanted to see Blase and family. I really enjoy having people over, making food and just enjoying each other. With Violet in our lives, things seem much more settled and that feels very good.

Here is Violet doing best to play the bongos!

Still Sick...
Yesterday was perhaps the longest day of parenting we have had so far. Violet napped for a grand total of 30 minutes and spent the rest of her time squirming in our arms and wanting to breast feed. I did get a break when I put her in what a friend dubbed the "circle of neglect." It is one of many molded plastic toys that occupy the planet. In this one, she semi-stands and has no fewer than 8 toy options at her immediate disposal. That doesn't change the fact that her preferred entertainment is chewing on her baby Tylenol bottle.

Rather than subjecting anyone to a picture of a crying, irritable baby, I have dipped into the photo archive. Here is a picture of Violet long before teeth were ever a concern, at the ripe young age of 3 weeks. She is taking the first of her many baths with Papa Justin.

Still Sick...
Violet is sick today. Between her moans, she cries and wants to be held at all times. I don't work on Fridays, so you can guess what I will be doing today. The glamour of being a mommy!

Speaking of glamour, in an effort to get an accurate temperature reading, I took a reading using the rectal method. I think that I was more traumatized by it than she was. Violet just looked at me and smiled, as though somehow saying, "What's this new game, Mommy?"

Here is a picture of Violet from a few weeks ago when we went to Children's Fairyland, a local amusement park that was supposedly the inpiration for Disneyland. With me is Michelle, one of the first participants of First Place and her sweet daughter Brandy. Michelle is now 26 years old and it has been fun to watch her grow into such a mature adult and loving mother.

Violet's First Fever
Violet had her first fever today. I got a call from our child care provider around 4:30 p.m. asking if I wanted her to give Violet Tylenol. It was only a mild fever, but I went to pick her up. It was fun being able to just drop work and swoop into get my little girl. It is probably just a new tooth coming in. Here is a picture of Violet sitting on our limited counterspace, thinking she can put an entire apple in her mouth.

Election Results
Yesterday was the big primary election day. Violet went with us to vote and laughed as she sat on the floor of school auditorium at Bella Vista Elementary. As usual, she was a charmer and had all of the poll workers swarming around her as she flashed her sweet smile. Here it is as we prepare for a walk around our new neighborbood.

I was on maternity leave until about the end of the year. While I enjoyed spending a lot of time with Violet, it wasn't exactly the vacation that I had been hoping for. I had a baby to take care of and it felt like I had few of the skills required to do it successfully. It took a while to get into a pattern, where Justin and I both knew what we were doing. Not surprisingly, sleep was one of the biggest issues we faced. Why doesn't anyone TELL new parents that about 85% of the whole challenge for new parents is getting your child to sleep!

Here is a picture of Violet with her two best friends, Liam Krackeler and Lola Hurst, who are the children of my friends Debbie and Kara. The three of them are modeling the latest in diaper-wear.

Although it was only 8 months ago, it almost seems like a lifetime. I remember putting Violet in the car seat for the first time. She was so small and it almost seemed to consume her. We left the hospital at 8:00 p.m., less that 24 hours after I gave birth. Our quick departure was very much at my request. I wanted to get home, sleep in my bed and spend time with my new little girl.

Here is a picture of with Violet when she is two days old. It isn't terribly flattering of me, but few of the early photos are. I don't think that I put a shirt on for at least a week. Also, we were obsessed with tracking the time that Violet spent nursing, terrified that she wouldn't get enough milk

Let's start at the begining. Violet came into this world on September 28, 2005 after a long, arduous labor. We had planned on a home birth, but after 20 hours decided that a Kaiser was a perfectly good option. Here is one of our earliest pictures of Violet, born at 11:04 p.m. weighing 7 pounds, 13 ounces.

I have decided to start this blog to share information about my little girl Violet Pauline. Both Justin and I will be posting information about her, along with pictures. It won't be Pulitzer material, but hopefully it will be fun for friends and family to see Violet grow.