Hop on Pop

The Mariana Trench

As I mentioned in a previous post, a glacier developed between our home and our neighbors' house. This is the due to the fact that (apparantly) a spring resides under our houses. Ah. I suppose this explains why our sump pump is constantly working, regardless of whether or not is has rained in the last two weeks.

We have worried about the implications of this...what if our pump broke? How unsafe is this glacier? How ugly the area will be in the spring when it gets swampy? Fortunately, Nate is brilliant.

He devised a "French Drain" and installed it last Saturday.

Speed Reading

I love to read. I love to read so much that my brother once offered to attach a book holder to my bicycle handlebars so I could ride and read simultaneously. You might think a bit extreme, but nothing...not even a shower...could separate me from a book when I was a kid. More than once I slipped water-warped paged books back into the book return at the library and hoped that I wouldn't be charged.

I checked out so many books at a time that I often had trouble locating them all in time for return. Thus, one day while at the library, I was told by a stern-faced librarian that I wouldn't be allowed to check out my stack of 30 new books until I returned the 50 already loaned out to me.

I was devastated, and desperation can make villains out of even the most innocent people. I loaded up my sister Monique's Beneton book back full of those 30 Nancy Drews and Babysitter's Clubs and slipped around the security gates and out the door of the library. I had no intention of STEALING the books--I simply wanted to read them! I fully intended to return them within two weeks or so.

One hour later, however, I was waiting with my siblings at my father's nearby office and feeling the guilt of my crime weighing heavily around my neck, not to mention my BACK. I knew I had to return those books immediately. Assuring my siblings I'd be right back, I dashed back to the library, intending to slide the books back in the door and be gone.

In my agitation, I hadn't thought about the security gates and charged straight through them with my contraband. Alarms went off. Lights started flashing. Iron gates crashed down around me and, worst of all, the stern-faced librarian was trudging toward me, her footsteps thudding like the collapsing pillars in an Indian Jones temple.

One week later found me, my parents, and a panel of concerned librarians in a third-floor conference room in the library. My crime, I was told, was worth $104.50, which totalled approximately 20 hours of labor at minimum wage. And thus my summer plans were sealed: I spent several hours two days a week shelving books for what seemed like eternity.

I am happy to say that this sad tale did not cure me of my love of books. I still adore them, and would like to recommend one Nate and I just listened to. "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman. Read it! Watch Neil read it himself online! You'll be so glad you did.

I have also spent much time building Mayumi's library, and she has an obscene amount of books. We've read so much to her that she already has no problem turning the pages herself. The funny thing is, she turns the pages faster than we can read...as shown in this video. Enjoy!

Nine Months Ago Today...

I have the privilege of being the mother of Mayumi Aziza Ayer, age 9 months. She is an exquisitely beautiful little girl, with a delightful personality to match. Motherhood is hard in ways I never expected, primarily the fact that I am in so in love with this little girl that I simply can't give up my privilege to be her primary caregiver. Thus, I have had to get creative in finding opportunities to keep up my professional self (in lieu of returning to work). Being Mayumi's mother has had many unexpected 'side effects.' I used to count on my 'Jamila Charm' to get me what I want in the world, but all I need now is Mayumi, preferably in a front pack and smiling at whatever hapless victim is in front of me. No one can deny her anything.

I've taken millions of photographs of this little delicious baby and, naturally, they can't compare to the real thing. But let me share a few of my favorites with you. Sometimes Mayumi can't decide which is more diverting--a cell phone or her own feet.
This is rare--Mayumi doesn't really care for sleeping in her carseat. She used to LOATH her carseat, back when we lived in D.C. and rarely used the car. I still rarely use it (we only have the one and Nate drives it to work on cold days (bikes on others)), but she's grown much more used to the idea.

Nate was on the track team in high school and once heard himself referred to as 'that black guy on the track team.' :-) Put Nate and Mayumi in the sun, and they bronze instantly. Lucky!

Nate was sold the moment he saw his little girl. As is often the case, daddy is Mayumi's favorite person in the world it would seem.

Happy Birthday my little darling cuteness!!!

Happy Birthday Baby Leah!

My parents' grandchildren have quadrupled in the last year. Long-time solo grandchild Allie Brooke graciously shared the spotlight last Spring with Mayumi Aziiza and Lily Lou...and now all three have moved over to welcome the newest addition to the family: Leah Nicole Heileson, 8 lbs 1 oz, 21 inches, born this last Wednesday early evening. Leah's mother, Monique, is recovering nicely. Way to go Moey!!! In other news, I learned how to cut Nate's hair! Here I am, clipping Nate's hair (for the first time) in my good friend Rachel's kitchen. Rachel (of crepe fame, c.f. "Crepe Night") knows all things, including how to use clippers. She guided me through this scary first experience. "Number three on top, number one on the sides." Nate now looks like a cadet.

Mayumi has a tendency to wear Nate out (she takes after her mother).

Auntie Moey

Mayumi's Auntie Monique sent her Audrey, the Fashionista Bear when she was still in utero. Audrey is, as her name suggests, in the highest of fashion. Mayumi loves Audrey and, at times, can only be consoled by her.

Giggling Gorgeousness

Our baby loves to laugh. Check out Mayumi giggling with her favorite person in the world--her daddy.

Escape Artist

I left Mayumi alone for a few minutes the other day and I returned to find her as you see her here...Tarzan-like. Like me, she is probably happier with less on. You may notice her jacket and hat sitting next to her; while not quite arctic weather, it has been cold here, and she has to get suited up before going out.

Sadly, I am experiencing trouble with "Blogger" (anyone else?) and I cannot upload one of her latest videos (believe me, we have MANY). It features her conducting another circus-trick with a balloon. Alas, maybe I'll get it successfully posted at a later date.

Never Eat Yellow Snow

Mayumi experienced her real first snowfall this week. Tuesday it was, I believe. Snow fell the entire day and covered our town with a beautiful white blanket. That evening we cleared away the snow from our front walk and sidewalk, feeling very responsible as home owners. This turned out to be a big mistake; later that evening it began to sleet and by morning everything was covered with a thick layer of ice. Pavement that had been covered by snow was now covered with a very crunchy, nearly impenetrable slab of snow. Pavement (like ours) that had been cleared of snow, however, was snow shear ice. Sigh. Having stayed in the previous day, I had to get out. I made plans to visit a friend who lives (normally a 15 minute walk away. About 40 minutes into this walk, however, we had to give up. It was either too slippery OR impossible to move forward in chunky snow. Alas! I am pretty certain Mayumi had a great time.

The Abominable Pink Snowbaby (and the Inauguration)

Mayumi received a very fluffy snowsuit from her Grandma Glo for Christmas. In it, she looks like a child twice her age. It is very useful; she could be wearing the lightest piece of clothing and go out in very cold weather with this snowsuit round her body. As inauguration day was quite chilly, she donned the snowsuit and went to Great Falls, Virginia. Great Falls National Park has a fabulous visitor's center, complete with an "Environmental Training" board that Nate is pointing to (suggesting that we flush the toilet but once a day). Apparently kayaking down Great Falls is great fun (yeah, like a root canal) and Mayumi seemed interested. Mayumi (read: Nate) enjoyed playing with the puppets in the gift shop.

The ice-skating rink

The strip of land between our house and the next has become an ice-skating rink. I'm not joking...look at this picture! The water is pumped out from below our basement, an arrangement that I believe is called a sump-pump. Funny story about the sump-pump; a huge rain storm hit our town before we signed on the house but after the sellers had moved. Worried, the sellers asked us to do something...anything. Nate met our realtor out here with a 50-ft extension cord. Using his Spanish skills, he made arrangments with our neighbors to plug the sump pump extension cord into their basement electrical outlet (as our power was yet to be turned on). Anyway, this sump pump could be a blessing (no flooding durring heavy rains) but it is also turning out to be an icy burden. We aren't quite sure what to do about the problem now; we do have plans to divert the water to our GARDEN in the spring.

I can't help but include some cute photos of Mayumi. Not being a photoshop pro, I have not even tried to eliminate Yumi's evil red-eye from this photo.

I AM able to switch my camera setting to black-and-white and sepia tone:

And finally, I cannot resist--I must include a video (worth a bazillion words, my friend Micah said). Speaking of words...see if you can pull any out of the following monologue:

What are all these videos about?

So the three people who actually look at my blog regularly might be wondering...why all these videos, all of a sudden? Ah. Great question. Nate's parents very generously provided us with a handy recording device for Christmas (thanks again!!!) and we've been having a BLAST recording things. Nate joins me in wishing we could just "record Mayumi's entire life" for review later when she's grown and gone. Mayumi is just so unbearably cute that I just can't HELP but record her. You'd be amazed (ha!) at my discretion...I've had to stop myself dozens of times from posting every little clip I've recorded. I'll still post photos and whatnot, and I should get back giving the brief little updates on what we are doing. But these videos are just TOO fun.

Learning to Walk

Warning: the following contains content graphic in nature and is not for the sensitive viewer.

Stories

Nate puts Mayumi to bed each night.

Why are you a monkey?

Mayumi took us to the National Zoo today. She, like her father, loves animals.

One small step for Yumi...

Mayumi on the Move

Woops--didn't realize that I had to hold the camera 'horizontally'...enjoy!

Mayumi in the Lights

Enjoy Mayumi's first demo!

The Best Christmas Present Ever

You will agree, I am sure, that the most beautiful present under Sylvester this year is Mayumi. We thoroughly enjoyed our Christmas this year in our new home with our darling little daughter. Nate and I kicked things off with a fondue on Christmas Eve (which turned out terribly and we ended up making cheese sandwiches instead!). Mayumi slept well inspite of the prancing and pawing of each little hoof and woke up to a few fun items under the Christmas tree (mostly books and games, but a few other delightful things such as this handmade 'name sign' by my sister Linday).

Liberating Sylvester

Last Christmas, Nate and I strolled down to Eastern Market to pick out a Christmas Tree for our teensy apartment. Knowing we would need an even smaller tree to fit into our postage stamp-sized place, I was doubtful we'd find anything acceptable. And then I saw him: a potted Christmas Tree that just called out to me. I knew from the moment I laid eyes on him that he had to be a part of our family and I promptly named him: Sylvester.

We enjoyed Sylvester last Christmas and planned to employ him indoors forever more for the holidays, and let him live outside throughout the rest of year in his beautiful green ceramic pot.

The day to move from Eastern Market to our new home finally came and, as it always is, the moving process was much harder, longer, and more laborious than expected. Bizzarly, our tiny apartment yielded, in a very Mary Poppin's carpet bag-like fashion, tons more things than could have possibly fit inside...and, thus, filled up our small moving fan faster than anticipated. Alas, in the end, no room for Sylvester, and with heavy hearts we left him behind.

Two weeks ago, Nate, Mayumi and I came into D.C. to see the newly re-opened American History Museum and decided, in a whim, to see if Sylvester was still residing on the porch of our old flat. Amazingly, he was, and without a moment's thought we tree-napped him and brought him back home to D.C. Thus, once again (and forever more) we are enjoying a now taller and prouder Sylvester in our darling new house. Once we decorated him, Nate took some time to introduce Mayumi to her needly brother Sylvester and they became fast friends.

We hope you enjoy these first few holiday photos. The first is of Sylvester in 2007, the next of our darling tree in our new home in 2008, followed by a photo of us in front of the U.S. Capitol Holiday Tree (notice the stands being set up in the background for the innaguration) and the final is of the cutest stocking-stuffer that has ever existed.