Violet News Network

Updates for all you Violet news junkies:

1. Last Sunday, Violet was baptized! The pastor who married us and baptized Wilson, Cathy Barker (my own Jerimiah Wright) is sadly leaving Seattle--going to Helena, MT of all places--and we really wanted her to be the person who baptized Baby Miss. Gail and Paul, Mike and Karen, Tom, Kate and Rocco (in a totally sweet Brian Johnson hat) and Mrs Erin Berg were in attendance. Afterwards, we went to Chinooks for celebratory French Toast. Pictures were taken of all this; I'll post 'em when I get 'em.

2. Violet's dexterity is increasing greatly. She quickly grabs objects in front of her and likes to move them around. Mostly, they go straight into the mouth, however.

3. She's also started rolling over! I'm not totally convinced it's on purpose, but she is definitely doing it more quickly and more often. In any case, Nicole assures me that even accidental rollovers are a development step. She might make it to college after all...

Eulogy

I thought that some people might like to read the eulogy for her father that Nicole wrote. She put it together with contributions from her sisters and mother and it was delivered by sister Katrina at the service on August 7th. I think she did a wonderful job on it and I am very proud of her.

http://www.mrack.com/DbpEulogy.htm

One other thing: Several people who read our blog were able to attend the service. I know that we didn't acknowledge everyone who came; thank you for coming to show your support to Nicole and the family.

Saturday in the Park

As promised, here are some pictures of the childrens taken by our friend, coworker and occasional blog reader Tom when we visited Rhododendron park in Kenmore with him, his wife Kate and baby son, Rocco.

Baby News Digest!

I'm going to post some excellent pictures of these guys that our friend Tom took as soon as I can get them going on Kodak Gallery. In the meantime, however, here's what's going on in the world of W and V:

• Violet is getting bigger all the time and has started rolling over. Right now, it's more of a by product of excessive squirming, but she clearly has places to be. She just needs to tie all of the motions together a little bit more.
• Violet also has started grabbing things (not just Mommy's hair). If you hold something in front of her, you can see first her eyes intently looking at it, followed by strange shaking in her arms, followed by a hand semi-randomly showing up on the object. Smart baby!
• Wilson's still loves singing and music. He's added The Farmer in the Dell to his repertoire and his Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is getting better by the day.
  
• We had a big brother party for him this weekend. Violet gave him a little piano that he bangs away on while singing the above songs.
• Wilson also now knows 9 letters: A, B, C, D, N, O, P, V and W. At this rate, he'll need to skip first grade. Clearly, a gifted genius.

We've Found Our Hands!

Hello any readers still out there. It's been one month since Grampa died, and we've spent every minute of that time grieving. That process continues, but in the meantime our children keep growing. Time to catch you all up on their progress!

Violet found her hands! It was funny how it happened. About a week ago she was just hanging out in her bouncy chair chewing on her blanket when her right hand popped into vision. She was fascinated. Now she plays with them and eats them. As Daddy says, "It's the plug you can take with you!"

Wilson is SO two. Even if he isn't officially yet, he is. Pushing limits, defining boundaries, NOT LISTENING. But it's still wonderful. We remind ourselves that every day is precious, and we hold the memories close for the later years when they've grown up and gone away. How quiet our house will be then!

We are all well. Thank you to everyone who has extended kindness, thoughts and prayers. We appreciate you!

The Saddest Day.

As you probably know (link) (link), Nicole's dad, Dan Packer, died this weekend fighting a forest fire in California. We all miss him terribly.

Since this is a blog for Wilson and Violet, it seems worthwhile to remember him here as a grandfather. Being Grandpa was one of the most important things in his life and he was very good at it. I've attached some pictures here.

Wilson was his "little shadow", following him around for hours while they washed cars or worked on the lawn or played hockey in the driveway. Wilson loved being in the garage with Grandpa, who probably let him play with all the tools that Daddy wouldn't let him get anywhere near. Dan was an excellent father to his four girls but I think he also really relished having a little boy to follow him around and to teach the way he followed around and learned from his father. It breaks my heart that that won't happen any more.

Violet's and her grandfather's lives only overlapped for two months but he had a great deal of love for her. He was a physical man but very gentle and tender when holding her. It is our job to let Violet know how much he loved her and the things that he had hoped to do with her and her brother.

Nicole and I always knew that aging was going to be hard on her dad but were confident that nothing would please him more than being surrounded by a mob of children and spouses and grandchildren on holidays. That is not going to happen now but there won't there won't be a Thanksgiving or Christmas that goes by that we won't think of it, and him.

Goodbye, Grandpa. We love you.

Greetings Strangers.

So what does one write about when there is nothing to write about? It's hot. Baby grows. Mommy's tired. Daddy works. Fish swims. Bunny poops. The world goes 'round and 'round. We saw a cool butterfly today, and Wilson's eyeteeth are coming in. Seriously folks, that's about all I got.

I will say that I'm slowly making headway on the thank you card backup. Sent us a gift? Wondering if we got it? We did, I'm just a slackass. You will be officially thanked shortly. In the meantime, we loved your stuff. Wilson's reading it, or Violet's wearing it. Promise.