TV or no TV?

We all have an imaginary future self that does the things we aren't doing right now. For example, I still have it in my mind that I'm going to be a person that throws huge, elaborate parties even though I'm not a party throwing kind of person. Something I've always told myself I will do is live without t.v; turn it off more or less for good. Wes has that same vision. We especially want it to be the life that our child knows.
Flash to today and to reality. I'm a t.v. junkie. I watch wonderful shows but I also watch a ton of crap. Until now. At the beginning of last week I was watching a little cartoon with Seeley when I was punched in the gut. "What am I doing? Turn this sh*t off!" I had been thinking about this for awhile but in that moment the decision I needed to make was clear. Television turns your brain to mush.When we watch t.v. we're not doing anything. Right now Seeley's brain is figuring out the world (heck, my brain is figuring out the world). By putting her in front of the t.v. I feel like I'm putting the brakes on all of that!

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that children under the age of two should watch no t.v. whatsoever. While I think that living soley based on "expert" advice won't make for the most in-tune, connected family, I do think they have a point. Children see the world in a way they never will again. Why bring television in to mess that up?

So the t.v. is off. Not for 24 hours, but during the day we've instituted a no t.v. rule. At night we'll turn it on if we have something specific we want to watch or we have a Netflix movie. But for this girl, the boob tube is out of her life.

It's been a little over a week with no t.v and is it crazy to say I'm already seeing changes? Seeley took a two hour nap today. Anyone who's spent time with her knows that she is not a baby who naps. She always wants to look around to see what's happening and she fights going to sleep even when she's exhausted. In addition she's a light sleeper and things as simple as turning a page in a book will wake her up (this actually happend). But now, she doesn't have the noise and fast moving images of the t.v. Our daily activities (going for walks, tummy time, reading, talking) require energy and brainpower. The house is quite. And she's started napping. I put her to bed and she just...slept! No up and down for an hour. Connection?

It's only been a week, and it definitely helps that the rain has stopped and we've been able to get out of the house. Things will get difficult, there will be times of "what should we do?" but we're connected. Seeley has an amazing amount of energy and I have a mind that I'd like to think is creative; so off goes the t.v.!

Weekend Pics!!

The rain took a break this weekend which meant that we got to go outside for some fun! We put Seeley in the stroller and hit up the Hawthorne neighborhood in SE Portland for a nice long walk. I forgot the camera but it was nice and sunny and perfect :) The rest of the weekend has been spent laughing and playing with little girl, of course. She's really been loving her new book from great-grandma and she's getting soooo strong during tummy time. We're off to Powell's to buy more picture books...have a great remainder of the weekend!

What used to be our coffee table is now Seeley's play station:)

She's getting stronger by the day!

Just hanging out during tummy time:)

Reading with Papa

One more time!

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Today is my grandma's birthday! I hope she's spending it surrounded by family and friends in Missoula. I've been lucky enough to have a very close relationship with my grandparents my entire life. My gram is kind, funny, smart, motivated and a wonderful person to know. How wonderful it is to be a Dickinson, and how wonderful to have such a splendid matriarch. I love you grandma!

A Lovely Day

The sun's out today people, so this post will be brief! The weather has improved which means more walks for me and Seeley! Today we're off to a nearby coffee shop then the library to check out their picture books and children's music. We've also been doing more tummy time, so this girl should be kickin' up dust in no time. Enjoy some updated pics!

Out for a walk in the carrier!

A Close up of this sunshine girl. Please ignore the hair slobber-glued to her face:)

Tummy time! She's working hard!

Making Time to Write

My writing desk, otherwise known as the kitchen table.

Seeley is about three and a half months old and I love her more than ever. I want the world for this girl and part of the happy life I see for her involves seeing happy parents. Like everyone, I have dreams and aspirations both personal and professional. As most people in my life know, I love to write. When I was pregnant with Seeley I decided to really go for it and give this writing thing a try. Yes, I would have a newborn, but the same factors that would make serious writing difficult were also my driving forces. I want Seeley to see the importance of creative expression and I want her to see her mother pursuing her passion.

In practice, getting some publishable writing done has been difficult. I love poetry. I love to write it and I love to read it. My goal is not so much to get published as it is to create something I would be proud to send out into the world. The ideas are there as is the motivation. The only thing I need is the time.

I always hear about writers working in the middle of the night and early morning so I know I'm not alone in trying to cram poetry in the here-and-there minutes when Seeley is doing her own thing. I've tried writing after Seeley goes to bed, but by that point my brain is mush. I've been able to accomplish some writing during the day but I can't quite focus when those little eyes are looking at me and saying, "what's up? What are we going to do now?"

So I'm going to start writing in the mornings. I definitely don't get enough sleep (I am still a moveable feast and feel like a dairy cow) but I think losing an extra hour of sleep is what's required to follow this dream. So I'll be a little more tired, but the result will be the peace of mind that comes from following a dream.

A Muddy Walk in Forest Park

Right off of downtown Portland is Forest Park. You would never guess that right beyond the Alphabet district, with all it's trendy shops and people, is miles of trails and wilderness! Saturday was the only day in the past week or so that it hasn't rained and we decided to get out and enjoy the outdoors. Aside from all the mud on the trail, our hike was beautiful. We're lucky to have a great stroller that could handle the bumps (thanks aunt Denise!) so Seeley got to look around at all the trees.

The wilderness in the Pacific Northwest is definitely different than the wilderness in Montana. Portland is so lush and green and beautiful! I have to say, though, the drier climate and pine trees in Missoula will always have a special place in my heart : )

The muddy trail

Love the Pacific Northwest landscape

Enjoying the walking weather

A Moving Moment While Checking My Email

Richard and Mildred Loving in 1965. Photo by Grey Villet

I was checking my email a moment ago and I came across some photographs and a story about Mildred and Richard Loving. The Lovings are an interracial couple (Mildred is black, Richard white) who's marriage and subsequent arrest in 1958 led to the dismantaling of U.S. laws preventing interracial marriage.

The pictures of the Lovings and their children are incredibly beautiful. I am very grateful for people like the Lovings; it's hard to imagine that in another time Wes and I wouldn't legally be allowed to marry! Check out the article and the rest of the pictures here:
http://shine.yahoo.com/love-sex/tender-photos-unearthed-turbulent-time-235100316.html#crsl=