Victory Garden

I have been meaning to read up on the history of San Francisco. The other day I finally checked out a book on this very subject. The author of the book was a San Francisco resident and journalist writing in the 1940's. It was republished in 1984 or so. The writing definitely reflects the time period in which it was written which makes for interesting reading - a history within a history (as is always the case I suppose).

This has inspired me to take Zealand one day a week to a place of historical interest and to write about it. He won't understand, of course, but he will get a thrill from the bus ride and from being in a new place. Since he is growing up in the West where history is barely felt or even seen we will need to work extra hard to make sure he understands his place in time and place. May as well start early!

Today we went as a family to the Alemany Farmer's Market in South San Francisco. Zealand seems to enjoy riding high in his backpack above the crowds as we fill our bags with fruits and vegetables. Dada usually finds a sweet treat, a pastry or challah bread, and we will all plop down in front of the old woman who plays the banjo and maneuvers a wooden kitty with metal paws to hop along to the music. Zealand clapped along with interest in between shoveling blueberries in his mouth.

The Alemany Market is one of the oldest Farmer's Market's in California. It originated as a "Victory Garden" during WWII and was designed to support local farmers as a sign of patriotism. In 1943 it moved to its current location.

A Victory Garden movement is going on today in many communities. The focus is less nationalistic and more global. Supporting local agriculture helps the planet. And, picking over locally grown produce, much of which is organic, alongside your neighbors feels healthy and soulful unlike so many activities - driving, shopping, etc. etc.

We left with bags of peaches and apples at a dollar a pound along with fresh mint, eggplants, walnuts, almonds, raisins, a few oranges, kale, carrots, strawberries, and blueberries.

The fruit ended up in a Pimm's cocktail I was dying to make and we roasted veggies later in the day to go with salmon. A lovely Saturday.

Where There's a Will There's a Way

A strategy often cited for managing toddlers is to redirect them. The idea is that instead of disciplining (too young to understand) you are enticing them with a different activity or object. This is a great strategy in theory and I do employ it (probably more than I realize) but do not yet have much luck with it. I don't do the alternative, discipline Zealand, because he is too young to understand. I am not sure what I do instead, actually.

The truth is, Zealand is incredibly strong willed. I don't have anything to compare it to, but he really has such strong ideas about what he wants and where he wants to go. I suppose my strategy is to hover close by, make sure he is safe, and follow his lead. We are at the point where I can't even choose a book for him.

At the aquarium the other day it was time to move to the next exhibit. We were with two other little ones and a good friend so I wanted to keep the group together. Zealand wasn't ready to leave the stingrays and he let me know by shrieking and squirming in my arms. I carried him to a room full of life sized stuffed gorillas, lions, tigers and an exhibit of live, playful penguins! The perfect diversion! I put Zealand down to explore and the minute his small feet hit the ground he headed straight for the door to look at the stingrays again. This is so typical of Zealand. He has the memory of an elephant and will not rest until he is back where he wanted to be in the first place.

At the grocery store if he spots a baguette all bets are off. No other snack will do. He will squirm and holler until his hand is around that bread.

At this point I feel like I can only distract him with what he wants. I hope this isn't another ways of saying that he gets everything he wants. Maybe it is.

Until he is older though he can't really understand. And, it's just bread after all. And, I do have limits. He cannot lick his diaper bin (which he tries to do), chew on shoes (yuck!), pick up dog poop, or play in the toilet. Knives are off limits too. Anything that isn't safe or horribly unclean.

Overall, I am grateful for a strong willed child. It is more challenging right now but I am happy to see his ease in throwing his weight around in the world. I like that he has clear preferences. He's a mover and a shaker, that one.

I suppose the challenge in raising a strong willed child is to teach him shades of grey and how his actions affect others. Or, maybe he is less strong willed and more just acting his age. It is hard to say. In the meantime, I will keep chasing this dynamo known as Zealand and hopefully learn some shades of grey myself.

A Day in the Life

You woke up at 7:30 to let us know you were ready for your ba and that you had thrown all of your animals on the floor. Dada went to retrieve you while I lay like a sack of potatoes in bed. I heard you say mamama in the hallway. The minute you saw me it was no longer mama and was instead ba ba. I think in your mind dada is the connection to mama who is the direct link to baba. It all goes back to the stomach.

We read a million books, had oatmeal with scrambled egg and banana and then you proceeded to tear up the house. You are so good at this! You like to pull all of the tupperware out of the cupboards and today you pulled off all of my cookbooks off of the shelf. As I washed my face you followed me into the bathroom and grabbed the roll of toilet paper and began to pull off little pieces. Some even went into your mouth. Sometimes I am too tired to do much about it. As long as you are safe.

During nap I put a load of poopy diapers in the wash, checked emails, picked up all of the debris on the floor, washed my face, made a grocery list, and listened to NPR while I washed dishes. Sooner than I could wipe the last bits off of the counter I heard you stir, then cry out, and then really cry out.

While I prepared lunch you decided that the kitchen looked too neat. I let you, of course, so I could make lunch. I ate a sandwich standing up and heated up some tofu, chickpea frozen goo for you. Not surprisingly, you ended up eating mainly the whole wheat bread covered in pasta sauce and cheese. This along with a nana that you spotted and insisted on eating, the whole thing!

After much struggle and tears I was finally able to wrestle your jammies and soiled diaper off and have you dressed for our outing to Rainbow Market. Once you realized that this wasn't a dirty trick to ruin your entire day and instead meant we were headed outside you were thrilled.

Before buckling up in the car, we took a walk down the street. You are getting very fast and enjoy the momentum of walking downhill (plenty of opportunity here in San Francisco). Your tummy is getting rather large these days and it is almost as if your tummy leads and your body follows - very cute.

We eventually made it to Rainbow and you weren't having it in the shopping cart. I grabbed a box of organic teddy bear crackers and strapped you to my front so I could feed you one after the other as I filled the cart. This worked.

After your afternoon bottle and some raspberries you spent a good 40 minutes lifting your toy basket off of the floor, carrying it around the house, pushing it, and then dumping it on the couch. Occasionally the basket would catch on the carpet or you would have trouble lifting it and you would shriek with frustration. I tried to encourage you along instead of rescuing you. Patience is not yet one of your strengths.

I then coaxed you into a nap with lamby and set to work in the kitchen. We are having a roasted vegetable galette tonight - chard, butternut squash, and ricotta cheese. It should be yummy. The house is still a wreck but at least some delicious dinner is in the works. The house can wait.

Dada will be home soon and I can put the galette together and put away the late afternoon layer of toys, books, and tupperware. All in a day's work.

Dear Zealand at 14 months

This is an historic post. This is the first time I have posted on the actual first day of your new month. Usually I am close to the next month before I actually sit down to write. I might be getting a hang of this mom thing yet. Or, perhaps, I am in a new writing groove. Either answer is a good one.

I decided to do a list post today of things you love, names we call you, and words you can say.

Things you love:

-Corn on the cob - hands down your favorite food. Your whole being lights up when we bring the cob. It may as well be made of chocolate.

-Bananas, or "nana" as you like to say

-Eating. You love to eat. You groan and grunt with delight. Often times you stuff your face with fruit in a state of bliss before realizing you need to swallow.

-Walking. You stroll around as if you have been doing this your whole life. You are very independent and swat my hand away if I try to take it. You even like walking up and down hills.

-Rocks. You love to pick them up and toss them dramatically towards the ground. You like to pull the rocks from around the trees on our sidewalk. I always cringe a bit when you do this since I know they are covered with pee from all of the neighborhood dogs. And, yes, sometimes you even place them inside your mouth. Sigh...

-I can't say it enough. Trains, busses, and cars. And, now motorcycles and airplanes. They may as well be dinosaurs roaming the earth. Engines and wheels are so thrilling for you.

-Books. You have become quite the reader as of late. We now read in the mornings, afternoon, and before bed.

-Swings

-Riding on the carousel

-Opening and closing doors, gates, and cupboards

-Picking up items and walking over to hand them to me.

-Swimming

-Pushing cars and other objects with wheels

-Going down the slide

-Your bottle. You now ask for it. "Ma ba" This is said with a great deal of urgency. It is as if "ma ba" is on fire and needs to be put out.

-Riding on daddy's handlebars (on your Ibert). You like this so much that you have named all bikes "dada."

-Being chased and tickled.

-Going for walks perched on someone's shoulders

-The toilet. Although it is off limits, whenever my eyes or attention is elsewhere you will steal off to play with the toilet bowl. Your favorite toilet activity is to throw tiny objects into the wide mouth of the toilet. The other day I caught you walking rapidly toward the bathroom with dada's shoe. You try to lift up the seat whenever you can to reach your hands in the water.

-Bath time. Before bath you love to throw all of your toys into the tub while the water is running.

-Your favorite song is "Lollipop Tree." You sing along with "oooh ooh, ahh ahhh aahh"

-Throwing your toys. That's right. Playing with toys is not nearly as fun as throwing them.

-Lamby (your blanky), stuffed animals bear bear and dog dog.

Names that we call you:

Zee Zee

Z

Woobie

Woobs

Boobie

Zee lee

Buddy

Words you can say:

-Mama and Da da

-"Der" for door

-Baba for bottle

-Boon (balloon)

-Nana (banana)

-Bu (bus)

-Da (dog)

You also will say with the right inflection but not words, "Where did it go?" You are so earnest when you say this. You shake your head and move your hands. We often play the "where did it go game" - "Where did your milk go?" "Where did lamby go?"

Although your vocabulary is still small you are very verbal and expressive. When you want something you point furiously until I reach for the correct item. You string sounds together with conversational tones. You and I talk all day long now. As we walk I point things out and throughout the day I will recap what we have already done. You are one noisy little guy.

We love you Zealand. You are quite a bundle of joy, life, and exuberance.

Love,

Mama

Coming and Going

I have always had a very non-committal relationship to San Francisco. I moved here from Berkeley before starting graduate school in Berkeley (go figure). A close friend had an extra room and I thought now is the time to have the San Francisco experience. Granted I wasn't fresh out of college with few worries and tons of time, but this would have to do.

Flash forward almost six years later and I am now raising a son in this city by the Bay. This city has issued me a marriage certificate and a birth certificate. It is starting to feel like home just at the moment many young families flee for the suburbs for more affordable homes, good schools, and some yard. We have no plans to move at the moment and in the meantime I am struck at how fully this city is shaping Zealand's existence and my experience as a first time mother.

I love that we can walk everywhere. I love that we can walk a few blocks to a small market for a few items. I love that I can stroll a few blocks to meet Susannah and her son Griffin for a latte in our neighborhood cafe. I love that world renowned destinations are just outside our door.

I love that our day can, within a 3 mile radius, become a walk to the bookstore, the library, and then up to the park for some play before heading home.

As for Zealand, he loves the buzz and excitement of urban space. Busses make him giddy and trains send him through the roof. This morning as we waited for the train along with a crowd of commuters in the grey fog Zealand was kicking his feet and going nuts every time a train or bus passed.

We rode the train to Duboce park and met up with his friend Maricela. The two of them would stop dead in their tracks whenever they heard the train coming. At one point they both stood near the fence looking longingly at the tracks. I wonder if at night Zealand dreams of trains coming and going.

Big appetites

Zealand is sleeping right now after an incredibly busy morning. We began the day with stories on daddy's lap. Zealand has developed a ferocious appetite for books. He wants book, after book, after book - often the same one over and over again. Before the last page is even through he is thrusting the book toward you to read it again.

Zealand loves books and food. This morning he could barely wait for buttermilk pancakes to come together on the skillet. And, he loves to hang in my arms while I cook and offer commentary - "haa" - for hot. This can be tricky when I am trying to prepare his meals. But, maybe watching will inspire his own future culinary creativity. I can't wait to teach him how to cook. Some girlfriend or wife down the road will be very grateful.

After fistfuls of pancake covered with berries we packed our bags and headed over to the Y for swim time, music class, and jungle gym time. What a life!

Zealand stood on the pool steps grabbing and throwing rings with characteristic gusto. He would scramble out of the pool and walk to the fence and back with huge grins and plenty of "ooh ooh." He loves the water but has a hard time sitting still to just float and enjoy. He is too revved up for float time (which I suppose only sounds good to me).

Kim and Sammy were with us for the pool and we were later joined by Tamara and Polly and their babes. Zealand's favorite part of music class is the end when the teacher blows bubbles all over the kids. Zealand waves his arms and runs through the bubbles in a state of bliss.

We gave Tamara and Maricela a ride home and when we finally made it to our door I found a little boy slumped over sound asleep. A lot can happen before noon!

Zealand's First Library Card

We went to San Francisco's Main library today in Civic Center. Zealand loves the bus ride over. So many interesting people to watch on the 6 line and so many cars, trains, and busses shooting up and down market street. The library has an entire room and half a floor devoted to children. There is a whole wall of board books and a play corner with wooden balls and colorful interactive games with pegs, magnets, etc. Usually there is one or two older kids who take it upon themselves to entertain the "baby." Today it was a young girl who ran back and forth from a stand full of stuffed puppets to where Zealand was standing to provide him with a puppet show. The children's librarian is an older heavy set African American woman with short cropped hair and tiny reading glasses perched on her nose. She is a formidable presence behind the counter with her hooded eyes and no nonsense demeanor. But, Zealand always gets a big smile from her. The last time we were at the library Zealand still was not walking. Instead he was pushing a small child's chair around the entire library while loudly making ooh and ahh sounds. She could not keep her eyes off of him and asked him questions about where he was going. Today Zealand walked close to the counter and she again asked, "and, where do you think you are going?" Zealand shyly smiled and stepped closer to me. As we walked away I heard her say, "look at that walk."

Before leaving I grabbed many board books covering Zealand's favorite subjects: trains, cars, and dogs. And, drum roll... signed Zealand up for his very first library card. Libraries are becoming more and more important to me now that I have Zealand. I know they will be an important part of his childhood. I hope they help inspire a love of reading and a love of books. I feel very lucky to have access to such a wonderful public institution.

Grandpa Richard's visit

Yesterday morning Grandpa Richard dropped by on his way back to San Diego. Zealand really likes his time with his grandpas who both seem to know how to have lots of fun with blocks and trucks. Grandpa Richard plays with Zealand in much the same way as Papa does - building towers for him to knock down. Grandmas are special too, of course, in their own way.

We went to Golden Gate Park for a long and winding tour of the park. We started in the Conservatory of Flowers garden with sandwiches, stopped for some free swing dancing, and made our way to the De Young museum. Zealand enjoyed riding the elevator up to the eighth floor where he proceeded to walk along the glass walls overlooking the entire park and city. We then caught some free outdoor music headed through the Shakespeare garden and finally stopped the stroller at the children's park. Zealand rode the carousel (a favorite activity of his) and walked happily through the playground and up and down the play structure.

We ended the day with soup and fish - a meal that Zealand relished. He stuffed fistfuls of salmon in his mouth and eagerly grabbed for sweet potato and green pea pods from the soup. The sweet day was topped off with some mint chip ice cream.

Small Farm (Tilden)

Dear Zealand at 13 months

Dear Zealand,

Two weeks after you turned one years old your walking really took off. We were in Tahoe at the time and it was just momma and ami (grandma). Something about the wide open space of the cul de sac in front of the cabin must have urged you to get off of those knees. You wore us out by climbing the stairs in front of the cabin over and over again upright while we held your hands. You would also take one of our hands while you led us around the court and over to the trail through the woods. In between all of this you would push your big green truck around and throw rocks from the porch. All of this culminated in you taking sustained independent steps. The explorer side of you is loving this newfound ability.

You have discovered the power of throwing rocks into the water. You love taking one of our hands and walking to the edge of a river, stream, or ocean and grabbing a clump of dirt, rock, or sand so you can then throw it into the water. You will do this until someone stops you - over and over again never tiring of it. This is definitely the month of walking, rocks, and water. The oohs and ahs of your existence have become even louder.

If your personality was a type of music it would be opera. You continue to greet the world with shrieks of excitement, big tears when you are sad, silly laughs, and lots of drama all around. It is very easy to tell what you are feeling. Ever since you were a small infant and let the world know with huge groans whenever you felt a gas bubble you have let us know what you feel. You tend to wear your heart on your sleeve. Sometimes you will break into tears when we are laughing at something funny you did. I sense a deeply sensitive side to you. At the same time you are very much out there - funny, silly, and very goofy.

You have very definite ideas about what you want to do and where you want to go. We generally follow you and let you create your own world. You continue to love going up and down stairs. When we are walking on our sidewalks the minute you see stairs you will head straight over to climb them. As you walk you look as though the world is your oyster. So happy and carefree are you as you waddle down the street.

When you spot something of interest you point your wrist (with limp hand) toward whatever it is you see and exclaim loudly, "ooooh, oooooh." In Tahoe on the beach in the morning you spotted for the first time the still visible moon. You love anything with wheels and/or an engine. Flags are a favorite and you say "dada" whenever you see a bike. You associate your dad with bikes since you love riding with him. Dogs and cats still get a great excited rise out of you as do birds.

We love to watch the sheer thrill you get out of everything. Everything has a huge exclamation point for you. What a treat for us to be around such a vibrant being. Right now there is very little you are afraid of. And, being on two feet has only made you bolder.

We love you little man.

Love,

Mama

First swimming pool experience

Today we took the bus to the YMCA in the beautiful, historic Presidio section of San Francisco. Our friends Karine and Ben met us and we headed to the locker rooms to suit up. Zealand squirmed on the changing table as I maneuvered his chubby legs through the small holes of his baby speedo (aka swim diaper). He must have been excited as he decided to take a pee as we walked toward the pool. The minute he hit the water all smiles. I carried him around the pool and he became increasingly ready to squirm out of my arms to check all of this out himself. He was distracted by a water aerobics class taking place in the pool next to us and the flags hanging above the pools. We had the babies sit on the ledge and then pulled them into the pool for a thrill. Zealand loved that, but his favorite part of swim time was crawling up the stairs to the edge of the pool and then going back down. He also enjoyed throwing rings from the edge of the pool down the steps. At one point he crawled out of the pool and began walking straight toward the other pool. No fear or inhibition when it comes to the water. We are going to have to do this more often!

Hot in Seattle

Tahoe 4th