Lake is really getting into reading these days. He loves to turn the pages of his books. Especially his lovely board books from our baby shower. Sometimes he will bring me a book to read out loud together, but most often he is content to sit by himself with a book and quietly absorb its wonders. He will studiously turn the cardboard pages… one after the other, methodically.He’s steadily improving his speed, accuracy and consistency. He’s a real page turner. 

Meanwhile I’ve been reading a armchair travel gem. It’s engrossing and transportive: living off the land in rural France. Just the kind of page turner this Mummy needs. La Belle Saison, by Patricia Atkinson. La Belle Saison, which is now, harvest time. But really la belle saison is whichever season you’re in. It’s living in the rhythm of nature, eating in-season, and off-the-land, and appreciating the present moment. It’s so good sometimes I would read passages aloud to Lake. Even so, I think he prefers turning his own pages for now. 

Thanks to Jo for working this weekend, I had a little mummycation. A vacation from the tightly scheduled working-mum lifestyle of the past ten months. I was not at the pharmacy and not with Lake for a full 18 hours. 

It was an opportunity for self-care and relationship care and a bit of laundry too. It was a grounding mummycation amongst all the growing of the past year. 

I took a bath. I took a nap. With the help of my friend Cami, I Marie Kondo’d my clothes. I went running with my husband. We had several quality relationship rambles. I relished the revival of the piggyback ride! I love carrying Lake and we are blessed to have him in our lives for sure; even so, it’s a treat to take a break and be the one getting carried every now and again. 

Ayres Annual Family Camp went out with a bang. We were blessed with gorgeous weather, clear skies for campfires, s’mores, star viewing, the Big Dipper, a sunset that intensified with time, even a shooting star! We enjoyed the outdoors and the family time: Ayres Time. Lake relished the time with his grand-aunties and grand-uncles, Grandpa Ken and Grandma Annie (Grannie). 

Out in Grayland for the Ayres Family Camp… Lake’s second annual Ayres Family Camp and his first time at the Pacific Ocean beach! He loves it! Two more days of fun still await us… stay tuned!

What an autumn day to be playing in the neighborhood park post farmers’ market! When the day brings by turns warm sunshine and sudden downpours, what could be better than a sweater? Lake is outfitted here in a summery cotton romper topped with a cozy wool sweater. The soft sage green cardigan with a jaunty string of aubergine flags was hand knit by Nana Joanie.  What a perfect sweater-weather weekend!

His new favorite word is uh-oh but there doesn’t seem much wrong in his world. He remains ebullient and unfazed. His other three words continue to remain:

Ich (I want, me-mine), Hi! which sounds more like the Swedish: Hej and Mamammama (reserved for when he’s hungry and/or tired). He can also answer yes/no questions clearly. 

Lake, are you enjoying life?

When you lend your keen fashion sense to your baby’s style you’re running the risk of twinning. 

Twinning: transitive verb. bringing two related entities together in close association to form a pair. Read: matching or coordinating outfits [with your baby] to visually demonstrate connection and togetherness. 

Maybe it’s intentional, but sometimes it occurs even when it’s unplanned! What determines what you wear on any given day? The season, the weather, the day of the week, what’s clean(?!), the current trends, the occasion? A bit of all of that and then a bit of je n’sais quoi. If you’re the one buying the wardrobe for, and dressing your baby, as well as yourself, there are similar forces driving the manifestation of both your outfits. Be warned of the strong possibility of ending up twinning, or coordinating, on any given day. Beware of spreading cheer and goodwill as folks slowly notice and take delight in the effect. 

Lake and I, we love twinning!

It was a big weekend of partying for Lake. 


Lake is fortunate to be blessed with several good friends turning another year older this week. So after a wonderful time in Portland celebrating Maicy’s sixth birthday, we head back up the Seattle. From one party to the next… Lake catches a train nap to power back up!

Then back in Seattle we hit the ground running. Daddy picks us up at King Station and we all go straight to Once Upon a Time party space on Queen Anne. Lake is all ready to launch into the fun of Otis’ second birthday! He has a great time playing with the other babies, eating the delicious party food, and even gets his own personal slice of allergy friendly, health-nut-mummy-friendly, vegan birthday cake. 

Thank you friends for such a special fun-filled weekend! We loved your perfect parties! Lake is ready to accept your next social invitation!

We mobilized bright and early this morning, sweeping Lake directly from sleeping in bed to dressed for adventure. Daddy was the lynchpin, chauffeuring us into the car with coffee and smiles. He directly delivered us to King Street Station where we were boarded and rolling southbound in no time on the Amtrack Cascades. Destination: Portland!

Michael had some unsolicited words of wisdom tonight for expectant Fathers. 

They’re a lot more resilient than you might think. Both physically and emotionally. Don’t be afraid to do or say the wrong thing. They really don’t know what you’re saying anyway for the first three months or more and as long as you don’t twist or shake… they’re pretty bendy. 

And Lake looooves his Daddy!