3 2 1 sprout

Halloween

2011-11-01T20:46:00.002-04:00

Pumpkin face!

Emmett decided to be a skunk 5 weeks ago and has not wavered. He then decided to be a nice skunk that did not spray people.

He is practicing "trick or treat" with Nana.

The loot. He demanded "I want chocolate!" this morning (after Halloween), to which we just had to laugh. We've created a monster.

First Baseball Game

2011-09-04T21:35:00.001-04:00

for Emmett that is, and a minor league one at that. Portland is home to the SeaDogs, who aren't doing too well this season. Emmett was entranced.

With Nana.

With Catey.

With Pops.

After a slice of pizza and still watching.

Strike! The Sea Dogs were down 4-0 at the 4th inning.

We found our friends the Gerwig Wickwire family. Here is May.

May helped Emmett enjoy the game by locating Slugger, the Sea Dogs mascot.

August Adventures

2011-08-18T21:32:00.005-04:00

Summer in Maine is beautiful and full of things to do...

like start each morning playing,

roll in tunnels,

go on vacation - we went to Boothbay Harbor, Maine,
visit the Boothbay Harbor Railroad Museum while Thomas the Train is there,

ride on their tractor ride...
with your dad on the caboose,

ride on the train that Thomas pulls,

and get tired while waiting to go in the bouncey house for the 5th time.

You can also climb out to a rock island at the small beach in Southport, Maine,

and be thrilled that Eugene and Catey finally found a decent cup of coffee in Boothbay.

You can be in awe of the summer hail storms,

sit in a tree with your dad,

play at Kettle Cove with your friend Claire,

and Reid State Park with your friend Edgar,

and try to keep up with your cousins at Janice's house at Higgins Beach.

We store it all up to get through the winter.

Happy New Year, I mean March!

2011-03-28T18:32:00.003-04:00

I feel like I have less time to do thing like blog as Emmett gets older. I didn't expect that, but with the loss of naps, I don't get much that needs undivided attention done.

Emmett turned 3 the last day of February. He will tell you that he had two parties; one with friends and one with Nana and Pops.

I just got an invitation to my 20th high school reunion. The reminders of my aging keep rolling in.

2010-12-28T19:53:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas everyone! Some moments from the past few weeks...

Emmett is seriously fascinated by any musical instrument. A very kind young woman played her cello for him at my office holiday party, and so his guitar became a cello the following day.

Here he is opening a Christmas present...
It is "Do Rabbits Celebrate Christmas?," a book of poems.
Christmas breakfast with his new friend Penguin. We had raspberry pancakes and sausage, plus pear.

New Home

2010-12-01T14:25:00.005-05:00

So since the last post we sold our house in South Portland and moved to Cape Elizabeth. Here are some out of order images.

Emmett on a bath safari.

Emmett making the same face as the apple in his hand.
Dinner in the new dining room. We still have boxes 3 month later because I'm slowly painting the rooms.
Emmett's favorite part of Halloween was handing out candy. To daddy.
The front of the new house.
Pops helping us pack the old house.
Thanksgiving - puzzle time.
Thanksgiving - Sarah and Ben playing. Nana photographing Emmett and Lily hugging.
Lily and Emmett playing their violins.
A walk in the neighborhood to the local farm.

2010-07-15T21:41:00.001-04:00

So we're selling our little house and

Emmett is obsessed with this guitar,

even during Carrie's visit.

Spring Adventures

2010-04-18T17:01:00.001-04:00

Here is a glimpse of what we've been up to:meeting friends' chickens, sitting on Eugene's bike, learning to take pictures.

He's Two!

2010-03-14T18:48:00.004-04:00

Yes, Emmett is getting big! He does all sorts of lovely and not so lovely things. He does not like sharing Catey's lap with the cats and he does love running and playing with Eugene.

Florida trip

2010-01-23T07:16:00.002-05:00

We had a great trip to Florida for Christmas.

Happy Thanksgiving, I mean...

2010-01-01T09:36:00.001-05:00

New Year! Here is a random mix of photos from Thanksgiving, including images of Nana Linda, cousin Ben, and our friends Carrie, Hollis and Emma.

Halloween Weekend

2009-11-09T19:55:00.003-05:00

So I finally bought my own digital camera. I'm hoping that this will make this blog easier to keep up with. Emmett was a firefighter for Halloween. He pulled off the costume as soon as we got outside. It was a warm evening for trick or treating.

We all visited Ruth, our 81 year old neighbor. For all of you who have heard the Ruth stories, here she is!

It was a beautiful weekend, so we took the family (dog included) to Higgins Beach.

One of the games we play is "One, two, three...run!" Here is Emmett squatting while counting. He's ready to run!
Emmett is roaring like a lion, ribbiting like a frog, and enjoys life fully.

Dancing to Toots and the Maytals

2009-10-07T20:10:00.002-04:00

For some reason I have trouble uploading video. I hope this works!

At the Playground

2009-10-03T08:10:00.004-04:00

Emmett and I met Nana Draper at a playground recently. He is now climbing, sliding, and running. A moment ago he was banging on a toy piano and singing.

And it is September

2009-09-15T21:12:00.002-04:00

Hi! Our point and shoot camera broke, so I don't have a picture to upload, but Emmett is

g-r-o-w-i-n-g. He is fully one and a half. He loves to play at the playground, go to daycare to raise a ruckus with his friends, and help us put food into the refrigerator and laundry into the dryer. And chase the cats. Sigh.

We've been working on house projects; painting the front porch, putting a fence up between our back yard and the neighbors, and Eugene is rebuilding the garage to house his surfboard restoration business. Our vegetable garden is a bust this year, but the rainy weather has turned around. We've had beautiful days to play outside. We've had nice visits with friends from all over.

I'll work on those pictures...

Happy Birthday Pops!

2009-08-03T13:09:00.003-04:00

My sister Sarah, her kids Lily and Ben and Emmett and I went to my parents' house this weekend to celebrate my dad's birthday. My mom took this picture of us watching Pops and Lily drive away in the John Deer tractor. I like the look of apprehension on Sarah's face. Lily is a great driver, and they returned safely. Ben got a turn in the tractor as well. Emmett was happy to see the tractor from the outside. Too bad we don't have a picture of us when Pops honked the horn on the dump truck!

Family Camp Surfari

2009-07-24T13:00:00.001-04:00

Eugene & I took Emmett camping in my parents' camper last weekend. Eugene documented our adventures. Take a look!

Big Boy!

2009-07-16T17:37:00.002-04:00

Emmett is in the toddler room as of this week. He is learning a lot from the older kids, as you can imagine. We're going camping tomorrow!

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-20T20:17:00.004-04:00

Happy Father's Day to Eugene, Paul, and Larry and all the dads out there.

Where would we be without you? Lost and really tired.

On another note, Emmett did so well having blood drawn for a test for lead, which he has none of in his system. Hence the band-aid.

And I had some free time to meander through the web today and enjoyed finding www.workitmom.com. Have a look see. What is your favorite website of the moment?

Driftwood Inn

2009-05-31T20:59:00.002-04:00

We spent Eugene's birthday up on Bailey's Island. He got to surf at Popham Beach and Emmett and I practiced playing soccer.

He Walks!

2009-05-04T20:35:00.003-04:00

This is from April 22nd. Emmett started running last night!

Ode to other mothers

2009-04-28T20:07:00.003-04:00

As Emmett gets more mobile (14 months now), I find it harder to keep up with this blog and my Facebook account. Classes end at Bowdoin College on May 6th; I have student course opinion forms to manage and parties to plan. When I get home with Emmett, Eugene and I have diner to make (I'm on a falafel kick) and a bedtime routine to reinvent. By the time Em is asleep, I'm pooped. But I have nothing to juggle compared to Megan M in Texas (3 boys), Alex S in Portland, ME (new mom to triplets), and Sarah M in Massachusetts (3 kids and working on her Ph. D. full-time). Now Sarah's blog includes what she is reading at the time. She's a voracious reader; was even when we were roommates in college.

In honor of Sarah, I provide her with the CAMPAIGN FOR THE AMERICAN READER blog for inspiration. Some day soon she will have read everything on the Pulitzer Prize list. It is inevitable.

What has been on my night stand lately is Good Night Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann, The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp, Picasso by Norman Mailer, The Nursing Mother's Guide to Weaning by Kathleen Huggins, and the latest issue of Real Simple magazine (a guilty pleasure). And I have to recommend The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. I've also been talking a lot about Wandering Home: A Long Walk Across America's Most Hopeful Landscape:Vermont's Champlain Valley and New York's Adirondacks by Bill McKibbon, which I read a bit ago. Well there you have it Sarah. If you have any books to recommend, let me know.

Over and out - Catey

New Sneakers on the Beach

2009-04-06T14:08:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was the first time that Emmett walked around outside. It makes my heart flutter!

Emmett's Second 1st Birthday Party

2009-03-28T13:29:00.007-04:00

Emmett has began to entertain himself lately.

Cousin Ben, Nana D., and Emmett.

Emmett on the move.

Ben on the move.

One for Emmett, and the other numbers for Nana.

Catey, Sarah, Lily, Paul, Linda, and Ben.

Party hats.

Birthday boy.

Lots of photos.

Papa Draper.

Aunt Sarah.

Making wishes.

Birthday cupcake.

Emmett's first birthday

2009-03-06T17:37:00.007-05:00

FIRST THOUGH, SOME PICTURES FROM EARLY FEBRUARY. Pardon me, i'm typing while i hold Emmett. He's kicking ny arm. Here is a common sight in our house...

The blissful moments of a nap...

One of our many big snowfalls this winter.

And now for Emmett's first birthday. Here are 2 small cakes from Scratch Bakery in South Portland. Mmmm.

Our friends the Ostwalds threw a party for Emmett. Here is the cupcake tower. Claire and Maddie made and decorated the cupcakes.

Here's Ann and Emmett with Nicola, Emily, Alex, and Claire.

Emmett experiences his first cupcake. Check out the rats nest hair.

Ann, Alex, Claire, Emily, Dodie, Kathi (standing), Gail and Jeanne. What a great crew! And Emmett in the center.

A bath mitt puppet.

Chewing bubbles.

Bubbles

2009-02-24T13:15:00.003-05:00

Emmett got a bottle of bubbles at daycare for Valentine's Day. We played with them on Friday at lunch. It is really funny when the cats and dog start chasing the bubbles. Ah, the simple things in life.

More Emmett - 11 months

2009-02-09T21:06:00.003-05:00

Shopping Cart Series

2009-01-31T09:11:00.001-05:00

Flip!

2009-01-11T15:12:00.003-05:00

To add to Eugene's post about how Emmett is changing drastically, here is some video from my new Flip! camera. (Thank you Eugene.)

10 MONTH SHIFT

2009-01-11T14:26:00.002-05:00

There seems to have been a big developmental shift recently. Emmett has become very curious and willful.

We went to the doctor last monday. One shot in each chubby thigh.

Our favorite puppy-dog shoes.

Christmas Part 2.

2008-12-31T14:28:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-27T19:57:00.005-05:00

Emmett enjoyed his first Christmas. He got a lot of books and a noisy farm toy from his cousins Lily and Ben. He turned 10 months today. Eugene and I are going out for brunch ALONE tomorrow.

We got 14 inches of snow last weekend. It is pretty, but really. Does it need to be all in one day?!

Ice Storm

2008-12-16T19:46:00.003-05:00

Yup, all of New England was hit by an ice storm last weekend. We, like most people within a 60 mile radius, lost our power. Out for 2 days. No heat and unable to cook, Emmett and I abandoned ship for Nana and Pops Draper's house. They have a wood stove.

The upsides were: Catey didn't have to work on Friday, Eugene got to surf the storm swells, Emmett started clapping, we spent lots of time with Nana and Pops, whom we love, and we really appreciate the power company right now. In fact, we have practically everything that uses power running right now in our house.

Here are Emmett (who is 9.5 months) and I with Pops in his warm living room.

FLORIDA VACATION

2008-12-05T21:08:00.004-05:00

Catey, Emmett, and Eugene at the Portland Jetport.

Nana Cole has a orange tree in her backyard.

We saw Manatees at Blue Springs state park.

Turns out that Emmett is a great traveller, easy-going and always ready for a good time.

The Cole siblings, Sharon, Trude, and Eugene with dad (Larry) and Emmett.

Eugene's parents, Bette and Larry.

KID KOALA

2008-11-13T16:36:00.006-05:00

I just found this photo of Kid Koala (one of Catey and my favorite DJ's) with his baby on his website. So you can have a baby and still be 'cool'. Enjoy "Drunk Trumpet" below.

OCT/NOV CATCH-UP

2008-11-12T16:51:00.008-05:00

HALLOWEEN
Emmett celebrating his first Halloween.
Our first stop was to Ruth who lives next door. Ruth is one of Emmett's biggest fans.

AQUAHOLICS SURF SHOP

Emmett hangin' out in Maine's best surf shop with Nanci Boutet, the owner. Moms take note: every Tuesday morning Nanci gives free surf lessons to moms.

EMMETT AND FRIENDS
Some floor time with Hollis, Emma, and Malcolm.

Hollis in a serious baby moment.
Clock-wise from left; Emmett, Emma, Malcolm, and Hollis. It is very difficult to get four babies to look at the camera at the same time, let alone be still.

Emmett is 8 months old!

2008-10-29T19:50:00.003-04:00

Emmett is getting big. He sits up like a champ, and is now pushing himself up and beginning to rock on all fours. The precurser to crawling. He never did get into rolling.

This picture is from dinner tonight. He loves watching the wooden aliens on this music box spin around and around. Thanks Dave, Brieshen and Haskell!

Emmett is becoming one of the older kids in the infant at daycare. We now have a group of moms who come in at lunchtime and nurse their babies together. I'm continuing to nurse and pump at work. Is anyone else out there this crazy as well?

October catch up

2008-10-08T20:32:00.004-04:00

Life with Emmett is busy and full of changes. Here are some things that we've been up to over the past few weeks:

Learning to play the piano.

Beginning to eat food. Here it is rice cereal.

Watching the cats with dad.

Practicing sitting up and getting darn good at it.

Grocery shopping. Mom is always so serious at the store.

Having friends over - Bronwen and Malcom (6 months) and Pilar and Hollis (8 months). We missed Alison and Emma (8 months). They were home sick.

The end of summer

2008-09-17T17:30:00.004-04:00

We have had a few cool days the past week and the nights are getting cooler. Leaves on the trees are starting to turn. It is the moment when I realize that I missed summer again. In honor of summer and this beautiful place that we live, here are some summer things we like to do:

Go to the beach.

Eat at Rapid Ray's in Saco.

Cheeseburger, hot dog, fires and a Pep. Hey you west coasters - does this make you miss Maine?

JELLYFISH DAY

2008-09-06T10:55:00.002-04:00

Catey and Emmett in a jellyfish theme.

Emmett doing his best 'jellyfish' impersonation.

A trip to Hallowell

2008-09-02T20:01:00.002-04:00

So, I have yet to scan Emmett's "school" picture from daycare, so these will have to suffice. Nana and Emmett and I visited Aunt Sarah, and Lily and Ben last Saturday.
Lily casting a spell.
The crew.

SIx months old

2008-08-29T21:48:00.003-04:00

Our sweet Emmett turned 6 months old yesterday. We'll get a picture up of him really soon. He is nice and fat, grabs his feet, loves to jump, and giggles a lot.

He's asleep at the moment, so Eugene is watching "Jaws" on t.v. and I am cruising the internet like I don't have a sleeping baby beside me who may wake up at any moment.
Here's what I've been perusing:
Mother Nurture: A Mother's Guide to Health in Mind, Body, and Intimate Relationships
The Maternal is Political
Disciplining without Distress
Tiny Revolutionary's t-shirts
Dapple Dishwasher Detergent

Cookus*Interruptus - How to cook whole food despite life's interruptions

THE WAVELADY VISITS

2008-08-26T08:53:00.005-04:00

Anna Shapiro came up from Rhode Island to meet Emmett.

We all went out for ice cream at 'Beals' in South Portland.

SURF LEGEND

2008-08-17T10:05:00.001-04:00

Emmett does his best Greg Noll impersonation.

WHOA!

2008-08-09T09:27:00.001-04:00

Just a minor case of chaos at the Cole-Draper household.

PLANET CLAIRE

2008-08-06T16:23:00.001-04:00

Congratulations Mike and Jessica. Good idea to name your new daughter after one of the best B-52'S songs ever!

Emmett is 5 months old!

2008-07-30T20:01:00.003-04:00

Emmett turned 5 months old this week. He is suddenly moving a lot - kicking, grabbing, patting our faces, cramming his fist into his mouth. The last one might be because he is teething.

July Family Dinner

2008-07-20T18:05:00.003-04:00

Sorry we are so behind in keeping you up to date on Emmett's activities. Catey and Eugene are both working full time now, and Emmett is changing so much. He's grabbing his feet now, and possibly cutting teeth.

We did squeeze in a dinner with Nana and Pops Draper and Sarah, Josh, Lily and Ben Platt (Catey's sister's family).

Here are the boys checking each other out.

Here is the whole family.

Also, I just came across this website: Dress Me Up, "gear for little ones on the go." She's got a cool take on stuff for babies.

Enjoy your week!

FOUR MONTHS

2008-07-03T08:13:00.001-04:00

Emmett just celebrated his four-month mark.

We still like him.

Summer in Maine

2008-06-27T19:15:00.006-04:00

My dad, Paul, came over last week to help me with one of the nagging things on my house to-do list: prune the huge maple trees in our tiny backyard. He brought his pole saw and his expertise and started cutting. I've been slowing clearing away the pile of branches that we created. Ahhh-check that off the list.

Saw dust flying!

Dad at work.

Aunt Sarah, Lily and Ben came down to South Portland, and Emmett and I took them to Ferry Beach in Scarborough. Its a great beach for kids. It runs along a river that empties into the ocean. Lily found a ton of shells and Ben decided that the sand tasted good.

Emmett decided that it was just good fun. Actually, most of the time he fussed, becasue he wouldn't take a nap.

Emmett and I returned form the beach to visit our friends Sarah and Nate Moore. They passed through SoPo on their way to a wedding in Freeport, ME. Sarah and I were roommates for 2 years at Smith.

Park House rocks!!

Did you know that June 20th was International Surf Day? Northern New England's Surf Rider Foundation group sponsored and event at Old Orchard Beach. Of course we went.

We watched people as they tried out the paddle boards that Aquaholics and other surf shops brought to play on. No, the waves weren't too great.

It is June.

2008-06-15T12:33:00.006-04:00

Here is Emmett and I on my first day back a to work. This was 2 weeks ago, and he still won't take a bottle. Let's just say that Eugene is a very patient and loving guy after many full days home with a hungry baby. Emmett starts daycare tomorrow.

Last Thursday Emmett & I went to Brunswick to visit day care. We also went to the Bowdoin College picnic with my office mates. Dodie held Emmett for a long time and got him to sleep. I won a gift certificate to a day spa. Ironic, eh?

At the beach wearing the cute hat from Kitty Swift. Yes, those are lobsters.

Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day.

Emmett is becoming very animated. He's beginning to entertain himself with his hands and shows interest in toys. We're guessing that he is at least 16 pounds.

My mom with carrot ginger soup. She helped me plant a small vegetable garden yesterday.

Happy Father's Day! Emmett is on the move.

Back to Work

2008-06-10T20:25:00.004-04:00

So Catey has returned to work part-time, while Eugene and Emmett spend three days a week together. All is well, except for Emmett's bottle strike. Needless to say, we don't have much time to take pictures of Emmett's new skills of cooing and giggling.

Nana Draper caught this interaction 2 weeks ago.

Not flattering, but here we are last Sunday having dinner at Nana and Pops Draper's house.

Catey's cousin-in-law Lynn and son Jaxon enjoying a book from Maine. Isn't Jaxon so cute!

2008-06-02T19:48:00.002-04:00

This is the suit our neighbor Ruth bought for Emmett. I promised him he never had to wear a suit again.

Emmett in overalls.

Testing out the grill that Nana Cole bought for us, and Uncle Sandy put together (sort of).

The great Chicago artist Carrie Gundersdorf came to Maine to meet Emmett.

ON THE CHANGING TABLE

2008-05-25T10:58:00.003-04:00

First trip out of Maine

2008-05-19T15:03:00.002-04:00

The other week Emmett and I went to Massachusetts with Aunt Sarah and Cousin Ben. It was for my grandmother Draper's memorial service. She lived to be 100. We went down the night before and spent the night in a hotel. Sarah and I ate Chinese take-out and watched cable.

Happy Birthday Eugene!

2008-05-17T11:49:00.003-04:00

Nana Cole and Great Uncle Sandy's Visit to Maine

2008-05-09T13:49:00.005-04:00

Nana Cole (aka Bette) and Sandy drove to Maine from Florida to meet little Emmett. They stayed for two weeks and we had a lot of fun.

Nana and Emmett

Bette and Sandy stayed in a cabin at their friend Rona's place down in Old Orchard Beach. We visited with Rona at her bar - Emmett's first bar experience!

Bette and Sandy met Paul and Linda (Catey's parents) over dinner at our house. Bette and I cooked up a storm.

We went out for Chinese buffet with cousin Chris and his wife Mary Jane. Mary Jane is kindly taking this picture.

Bette and Sandy

Sandy helped us to welcome Emmett into the world.

We visited Aunt Dottie's grave site.

We went grocery shopping with Nana.

Nana also bought Emmett a swing, which he loves and falls asleep in. Thank you Nana!

On Bette and Sandy's drive home to Florida, Bette's ended up in the hospital in PA with pneumonia. We ask that you please send her healing thoughts, so that she gets better and arrives home to Florida safely.

Menu Planning Help

2008-05-01T13:35:00.003-04:00

Hey - I just read about these websites that help you plan a week of meals and give you the shopping list. Since our dinners at 10 Rothay tend to be whatever I'm craving that day and I never plan meals ahead, I'm sorely tempted by these services. It seems like a "mom" thing to be able to plan dinner for 5 nights. My sister can do this. She's a great mom.

Take a look: RelishRelish and Mealmixer.com. Both offer free trials.

Happy May Day!

2008-05-01T12:46:00.005-04:00

Nana Cole and Great Uncle Sandy have been visiting us from DeLand, Florida. Pictures to come of our adventures, but here's what we were doing the end of April.

We've been staying clean.

Emmett has begun to look at the world around him. He's also 13.5 pounds and survived his 2 month doctor's visit and 2 shots.

We've finished up our "Blossoming Newborns" class with Leah of Birthroots. Here are our baby friends.

Some of our new mom friends.

Nana Draper, Emmett and I went to Augusta, Maine to see Aunt Sarah and cousins Lily

(almost 4) and Ben (10 months).

Ben is very mobil.

Lily hurt her leg in the door. She was okay after some love and an ice pack.

Dad - the master of sleep

2008-04-15T14:51:00.004-04:00

Emmett likes to fall asleep in his daddy's arms.

This is today.

This was on Sunday.

Update

2008-04-14T16:08:00.005-04:00

Emmett is six weeks old. He'll take a pacifier for a minute at a time.

Nana Draper baby sat, so Eugene & I could go get a cup of coffee together (i.e. a date). We came home to Emmett fast asleep on her stomach as she read her book.

Sunday we walked in Robinson's Woods in Cape Elizabeth.

We don't like car seats.

What we've been up to...

2008-04-07T11:44:00.005-04:00

1. Emmett turned 5 weeks old last Thursday.
2. We are going on brisk walks in the afternoons. Here's Eugene with Emmett in a sling.

3. Catey bought a used 2002 Subaru Legacy wagon last monday.
4. Catey has a cold.
5. Emmett and Catey started the "Blossoming Newborns" class at Birth Roots.
6. Molly, the dog, got into the trash and ate 7 dirty disposable diapers while Catey and Emmett napped.
7. Lucy, our orange cat, escaped outside for an hour without anyone noticing.
8. Emmett went to the beach for the first time.
9. Catey really wants to plant her peas in the kitchen garden.

OUR NEW LIFESTYLE

2008-03-31T16:58:00.003-04:00

Emmett bundled for the outside world.

Out for a stroll.

Emmett enjoys eating dinner with us.

Happy Easter! Happy Spring!

2008-03-23T18:48:00.008-04:00

Hints of spring are everywhere - from Emmett growing to the crocuses blooming. We have more and more birds arriving at our bird feeders, and my thoughts are turning to my garden. I'm about to order seeds from Johnny's Selected Seeds - peas and lettuce mixes.The crocuses bloomed thanks to the hot air from our dryer vent, which we use a lot now days.

Emmett is getting bigger. He hit the 9 pound mark last week. He's big enough to fit into the blue hat that Dodie Martinson (a Bowdoin co-worker) knit him.

My parents brought Easter brunch to us this morning.

Eugene, Emmett and I even left the house today. A miracle! I can walk!

And Emmett was critical of this bunny hat that our neighbor gave him.

Eugene & Emmett

2008-03-16T18:10:00.004-04:00

As our friend Gren said, "Son of a Gene!"

To give you some insight on our days, we have lots of decisions to make. When he wakes up, do you change Emmett's diaper first or nurse him first? Emmett is asleep, so do you update the blog/shower/cook or take a nap? After how many of Emmett's poop grunts is it safe to change a diaper? Do you put Emmett in a cloth or disposable diaper?
We're trying cloth during the day, using Bummies covers and Field O' Flowers, a local diaper service, and disposable diapers at night. I'm still figuring out how to keep the Bummies covers clean and the cloth diaper in place in the wrap. Just one of many things to learn.

EMMETT SLEEPING

2008-03-11T12:06:00.000-04:00

So cute.

VISITORS

2008-03-11T11:56:00.003-04:00

Kate, our doula.

Jeanne, Catey's co-worker.

Caroline, a good friend.

ONE WEEK

2008-03-07T10:17:00.002-05:00

Emmett's one-week Birthday cake. Pineapple/banana with mango cream cheese frosting.

A huge thank you to those local friends who have sent food baskets and brought by meals. You all have been life savers!

3 A.M. FEEDING

2008-03-06T18:51:00.000-05:00

Catey, Emmett, and Molly.

BREASTFEEDING

2008-03-05T12:04:00.001-05:00

Breastfeeding is hard.

And exhausting.

GONE SURFIN'

2008-03-03T21:25:00.002-05:00

The note Catey left for me on Thursday morning (the day Emmett was born) when she left the house for Back Cove Midwives. She couldn't reach me because I was out surfing.

Catey and Emmett reading.

PROUD GRANDPARENTSCatey's mother and father.

Emmett sleeping.

2008-02-29T12:36:00.001-05:00

EMMETT DRAPER COLE

Emmett Draper Cole. Born February 28, 2008 at 3:40 PM. 7 pounds 13 ounces and 20 inches long.

Week 38

2008-02-13T10:09:00.002-05:00

After a January without much snow, we are back to a stormy February. Today Catey is home from work, due to 8" of snow that fell overnight. Now it is freezing rain on top of the snow, which means we will have frozen glaciers in the driveway by the time night falls.

After 2 lovely baby showers, we can also claim that we are physically ready for the little guy's arrival. We even took a parenting class last Friday, so watch out!

FOR COMPARISON

2008-01-31T10:43:00.000-05:00

NOW

THEN (AUGUST)

Do I need a nursing chair?

2008-01-14T18:46:00.000-05:00

So, my question of the day is - "Do I need a nursing chair?" Is it worth buying one? If you've seen our living room, you know it is really small, and we don't really have a comfortable place to sit. So, what do you think?

I'm home today because of another snow storm that dumped 10 inches, so here are some pictures from the past few weeks:
Week 32 (last week).

That handsome guy Eugene at Higgins Beach.

My high school friend Carrie Gundersdorf was in town from Chicago over the Christmas holidays.

Lily and Ben received these fabulous hand-made toys from their aunt Brit.

My niece Lily in front of her Christmas tree.

Installing "Matter"

2008-01-12T15:54:00.001-05:00

This past week was spent installing "Matter," the exhibit I curated for SPACE Gallery. Mike Andrews, Karen Gelardi, and Caroline Lathan Steifel all came to install their work. Thanks to Karen, who got the show mentioned on Design*Sponge.
Karen Gelardi ironing one of her curtains.

Eugene Cole and Melinda Barnes installing Amy Honchell's cut lace piece.

Mike Andrews and Avery Forbes cutting 2" x 4"s.

Mike pulling yarn tubes over 2" x 4"s.

Me sewing. More photos to come!

MATTER: Contemporary Textiles @ SPACE

2008-01-04T19:15:00.000-05:00

MATTER
An exhibit of contemporary textiles
Curated by Catharine Draper as part of the “Artists Curating Artists” series

Mike Andrews
Catharine Draper
Karen Gelardi
Amy Honchell
Caroline Lathan-Stiefel
Mark Newport

Opening: January 11. 2008 from 5:00-8:00 pm

January 11 - February 22, 2008
Wednesday - Friday, 12-6pm and by chance and appointment

@ SPACE Gallery
538 Congress Street, Portland, ME
www.space538.org

December Update

2007-12-28T20:35:00.001-05:00

I thought I'd catch you all up on life in Maine in December. The month has been full of mundane things and lots of snow. Here is our house after our first snow storm.

We cooked our first turkey. We were going to have my family over for an early December turkey feast, but another snow storm caused us to cancel it.

Photo-A-Go Go, an annual photo auction that supports the Bakery Photo Collective, and is THE place to be seen, happened on December 14th. Eugene donated a photo.

I insisted that we go walk in yet another snow storm one night.

My stomach is getting bigger. I think this was 29 weeks.

Eugene decided to rake the snow off the roof of the house during yet another snow storm on December 20th. I got to stay home from work that day.

Our mothers would really like a good picture of us together. We tried to take one of ourselves to give them for Christmas. This is as good as it got. They still don't have a photo of us together.

O Christmas Tree

2007-12-02T16:04:00.000-05:00

You would think that, because we live in Maine, we would have a real live Christmas tree in our living room every year. Nope. We have a tradition of putting up a small, snow frosted artificial tree. This year a big package arrived from Eugene's mom in Florida - a 6.5 foot tall white artificial tree with lights! It went up in the blink of an eye. We are all enjoying it.

Thanksgiving 2007

2007-12-02T15:59:00.000-05:00

Eugene and I went to my sister's house in Augusta, ME for Thanksgiving. I took pictures of everyone there, but they came out blurry. So here is our dinner; Sarah, Josh, Josh's mom Priscilla, and my nephew Ben (4 months); and dessert of pumpkin pie and chocolate pudding cake.

The Rest of the Family...

2007-11-19T20:32:00.000-05:00

Eugene navigating wires and painting the trim of the house before winter comes.

Molly loves rocks.

We had a catnip moment over the weekend. Frida on catnip.

and Lucy on catnip.

Post catnip cat nap.

A trip to Northampton, MA

2007-11-14T20:19:00.001-05:00

Last weekend I went to Northampton to visit my Smith College roomie Sarah More and her husband and 3 kids. Her youngest is 6 months old, and Sarah is a great source of advice for any to be mom.

Ready for the 4 hour drive.
Sarah and Lydia, who is 3 years old, at Paradise Pond at Smith College, looking at the geese.
Sarah, Lydia, and Jake, who is 6 years old, in Jake's favorite room in the Smith Greenhouse - the cactus room.
Lydia watching goldfish in the Smith Greenhouse.
We went to the greenhouse to the the Mums show. Some plants have been trained to be 7 feet tall!

New England in November. Driving in the mountains of Massachusetts along route 202, you get this view of the Quabban Resovoir, whicj provides drinking water to the Boston area.

Week 21

2007-10-26T18:54:00.000-04:00

For those of you who live in a part of the country without autumn, here are some leaves! Only now we have to rake them up.

Eugene and I took Molly to Higgins Beach last weekend. Yes, that is a shipwreck behind me from the 1880's. It was full of coal, and you can still find chunks of coal on the beach after a storm.

Intervals at Fort Andross

2007-10-26T18:51:00.000-04:00

The Maine College of Art MFA program is celebrating 10 years of being in business. I participating in this alumni show at Fort Andross, an old shoe factory in Brunswick, ME. I ment to take pictures at the opening, but I was socializing way too much. Sorry Richard!

Week 19.

2007-10-08T20:24:00.001-04:00

People are looking at me with confusion - the "should I ask or maybe she's just really fat" look. We had the ultrasound this morning. Now we need to work on names. Any suggestions?

IT'S A ...!

2007-10-08T13:02:00.001-04:00

Boy! This is an image of the head(to the right) and the belly (to the left). We couldn't tell either.

JESS & MIKE VISIT MAINE

2007-10-07T12:10:00.000-04:00

Mike taking a photo of Jessica and Catey.

2007-09-20T19:06:00.000-04:00

Catey, week sixteen.

Tomatoes, Iris, Rugosa Rose

2007-09-16T19:52:00.000-04:00

Here is a lttle something Catey's been up to - drawing garden shadows.

Nausea and Tomatoes

2007-09-09T16:10:00.000-04:00

Catey has been throwing up a lot. It's not pretty, but that is life around here.
Here is our liitle house. Our front garden is new this year. We are overwhelmed by tomatoes, cucumbers and summer squash at the moment. This is the second year of painting the trim.

Eating an Apple

2007-09-01T18:59:00.000-04:00

Eugene took this picture of me last Thursday, during my 13th week.

2007-08-30T20:10:00.001-04:00