Science in Action

So last weekend when it was 75 and NOT snowing in April, Josh built a 3 bin composter. It is a design that we had seen at the Seattle Tilth and our local library where they have a community garden. It is cool cause it keeps the compost separated and aerated and helps you keep track of how long the pile has been "cooking". Once your pile is 3' square, you let it sit for 30 days and then turn it into the next bin. By the time the last cycle is over you should have lovely compost ready for your garden. It is faster than a worm bin and can accept more volume and variety of organic matter. I have peas, spinach, endive, romaine, onions, garlic, carrots, beans and strawberries going so far though it is early for some of them and hopefully our compost will keep them growing strong all summer.

In other news, Eli and I made our first trek to the Seattle Science Center this past week with our friends Elle and Avery. Eli enjoyed the wooden helicopter and being able to sit in the driver's seat and push buttons that make the lights turn on. We tried going to the planetarium for a slide show of the solar system but he made it clear that he preferred the helicopter and a snack instead.

The Difference Between a Good Haircut and a Bad Haircut

So you know the saying, "The difference between a good haircut and a bad haircut is about 2 weeks."? I've got to say I'm going to disagree with that one. The difference between a good haircut and a bad haircut is that with a good haircut you don't get so hysterical that you throw up. Let me elaborate.

Eli has has had the cutest, longest curls lately and it has been bordering on the feminine/ white trash line. Some people ask how old SHE is, and other more daring people say things like way to bring back the mullett. (In not so many words) So Josh and I decided that we were going to wait on the first haircut till he turned 2. But more and more the trailer park look was coming out and in the bathtub when it was wet, it was down past his shoulders. So I thought ok, I'll give in to popular fashion and TRIM it.

So we set him up in his high chair in front of the computer right after bath time, which is one of his favorite events of the day, (bath time, not computer time) and found some truck videos on youtube. I start combing and he is ok, but a bit annoyed and then the chunks start falling and he starts to get a bit unsettled. He's not looking at the 4" screen anymore and is now looking at the hair stuck all over his fingers and sleeves and trying to pick it off. Getting frustrated he starts to cry which produces more moisture in the form of snot and tears on his face with which to catch falling hair. Turning frantic he begins rubbing his face and I begin cutting wildly and after about 10 minutes his hair was not SO bad, but Josh was not pleased and so I said, "FINE just buzz it."

The clippers come out and that is when it gets really bad. He is no longer just fidgeting in the highchair, he is now semi- thrashing and I am holding him down, so Josh can finish the job. The snot and hair and sound and tears are getting to be too much for me so at the soonest possible moment I grab him out of the chair and head for the bathtub to rinse him off.

He doesn't want to get back in the tub cause we already did all of that. I start the water and check the temperature, but he was not expecting it I guess and it was either too hot or a shock and as I pour the bowl of water over his shoulders he screams, jumps (as well as a year and a half year old can jump) and slips from his "standing holding the side of the tub" position hits his head and slides right into the stream of hot water. That really does it and he is now hysterical. I get him out and dry him off, take him to his room and lie him down on the changing table. He is absolultely beside himself and begining to choke and cough from the screaming. Then he throws up.

When one throws up lying down it can be problematic and they say in all the first aid manuals that when this happens you should turn the "patient"/ "victim"/ "thrower-upper" on their side to make sure the airway is not blocked. So as my child chokes on the changing table and begins to turn purple I panic and flip him over holding him by the stomach and lightly shake. They also say in the aformentioned manuals never to shake a child, but this was more of a attempted dislodging shake and not a frustrated angry I want you to shut up shake. In any case now when I think about it I probably looked like a 3 year old holding their favorite cat and dragging the poor thing about quite uncomfortably, but again I was panicing. I yell for Josh to bring some water. I start slapping Eli on the back and VOI LA! approximately a quarter cup of snot and slime come out of his mouth and into my hand and lap.

For the next 15 minutes he and I rested and snuggled in our bed (after of course taking care of the barf) trying to forget the trauma we just underwent. I hate the haircut. It makes him look like a bully kid and like he's going to steal your kid's lunch any minute. He doesn't look like my little baby boy anymore and I'm never cutting his hair again. It has been 2 days now and I'm getting more used to it, but I still hate how short it is and I miss his little curls. Sniff Sniff.

Eli is pretty excited about cars and trucks right now and so I've decided to do some drawings for him along those lines. He has some antique toys that were my brothers and I've been using them as still life subjects. This one is an image from a print I did in college. It is just a quick ink drawing and he seems to like it cause he yells "BU" (which is bus in Eli) whenever he sees it.

An Email from my friend Stephanie

Kids draw something and you just have to say....'Wow, tell me about your picture,' because you have no clue what it is....This one you know right away...Enjoy!
OF COURSE THEY'RE SCISSORSQUOTE FROM THE MOM:THIS IS MY KINDERGARTNER'S ARTISTIC RENDERING OF A PAIR OF SCISSORS. I WONDERWHAT HIS TEACHER THOUGHT.I ALLOWED MYSELF JUST A SMALL SMIRK WHEN I SAW IT. I WAITED UNTIL HE WAS OUT OF THE ROOM UNTIL I STARTED CRYING FROM LAUGHING SO HARD.
WELL, OF COURSE THEY'RE SCISSORS.
IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WITH A SMALL CHILD OR IF YOU ARE A TEACHER YOU WILL LOVE THIS!AS YOU ALL KNOW I WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROUDLY DISPLAY THIS ONMY REFRIGERATOR FOR A LENGTH OF TIME . .