Washington, Oregon, California

Sunshine

Its been just over a week now and we've checked out the Oregon coast and it's sand dunes; we've seen the Redwoods of N.California and we've visited relatives in Modesto. Jonas got to meet his Aunt Sally and Uncle Keith who spoiled him with a ton of love and attention. Jonas hung out with his uncle in his legendary garage and played with plastic bottles and talking stuffed animals. Jonas began eating 'Mexican' food during this visit (rice and beans). We also took the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) into San Francisco where we walked from Market St all the way to the Fisherman's Wharf with Jonas in his BOB stroller. Jonas barely slept as he was so excited with all the action around him. We took the trolley back to the Bart and didn't get back into Modesto until after dark - Jonas was so tired! His nickname from Uncle Keith is 'hey you, Whale Boy!'
From Cali we have headed over to Nevada where we are staying more relatives in Las Vegas. Again, Jonas is being spoiled with a ton of love and attention from his Uncle Allen, Auntie Dorothy and Cousin Nolan. Nolan is 12 and is so wonderful with Jonas - he is trying really hard to teach Jonas how to crawl forward. Maybe we will have a crawling babe when we return home.
The weather is deliciously warm and sunny; Jonas has been an excellent traveller and everything has gone fairly smooth - camping was nice, visiting has been fun and car travel no problem. Well, only a little problem with the car, but we are getting that fixed right now....

Today Our Adventure Began

and Jonas popped his first tooth out! We were a little surprised because there has been no real indication that Jonas has been teething....a couple of months ago I thought he was teething and yet its now that his first bottom tooth has poked out. While eating breakfast and visiting with cousin Taagen and family in Vic this morning, Jordan thought he felt something sharp in Jonas's mouth, but Jonas wouldn't let us look and we figured it was nothing - he hadn't been showing any teething signs or anything, so it was a bit of a surprise when later I felt the little tooth poking out.


Before I get to our little adventure at the moment, I will do a quick update.

It's only been a few weeks since my last post, but how the world grows and changes when you have a little 7.5 month old bouncing baby. Jonas's toncilitis and fever cleared up and life returned to its normal beat...swim lessons have been really fun and I highly recommend them for mums and babes. Jonas loves to kick and splash and blow bubbles and drink the warm peee water (haha) and stare at the lights. He can also hold his breath while we go under water together or he goes alone. So far he has never fussed and at the end of each session we go to the hot tub or sauna for a few minutes before dressing and (for Jonas) quickly falling asleep.

A couple of weeks ago I attended a Vipassana retreat which was was non residential and lasted the entire weekend. I went home at lunch to breastfeed and came home again in the evening. It was a really refreshing experience for me as it allowed me to relax, contemplate and just centre myself. I learned A different type of meditation about ten years ago - Transcendental Meditation, which is a focused practice that really works well to calm and quiet the mind. Vipassana is very different as it encourages one to be aware of the processse of the mind; it is very forgiving. I enjoyed it so much because I was able to really focus on myself and explore all that I felt needed to be attended to in my life. I came out feeling clear and rejeuvenated. On the homefront, Jordan and Jonas did wonderful together.

At the moment we are making our way through Oregon and down to California and Nevada for a few weeks. I will keep posting...

Seven Months

Just over seven months and sick for the first time. Tonsillitis. It has been lame for all of us but especially for Jonas. Last week started off great - I began my Pilate's classes, Jonas and I had our first swim lesson together, baby group, dinner with friends and then BANG!! First Jonas was grumpy and acting very different and then within a couple of hours, fever and total irritability. So fast.
And for those of you reading this with multiple kids, saying ya ya whatever, well this was our first time. Kids just get so sick!
We saw the doc and after taking his temp, which was 39deg, he checked everything else and when he saw his throat he was like yes tonsillitis. I asked if tonsillitis is related to thrush, like serious thrush, but he said no that that wasn't it. Just wondering. I wonder if it has anything to do with it????
Anyway. He had the fever for a couple days, slept lots, cried at night.
Now that the fever has broke he is just a little grumpy and absolutely refuses to leave my side (or I mean let me leave HIS side). We are sleeping together and he spends the day in the sling or the ergo carrier (I bought the Ergo after the Bjorn went missing after our Vic trip this summer)
These last few days have been long and trying. But a big glass of wine and a few minutes alone each night while Daddy tends to Jonas is all I need...hehe, and NO I am not an alcoholic....Mums need a quick unwind sometimes too.
Jonas, of course, has kept on eating solids right through his sickness. He is a big eater and will complain when he doesn't get his applesauce or sweet potatoes or whatever else is on the menu that day. Although he is eating solids, Jonas still nurses quite abit; maybe every four hours or so. I am wondering when my period will arrive? It could be anytime I suppose. I wonder what the chances of getting pregnant again without getting a real period is. I know that I could ovulate first and get prego before ever having a period. Hmm, well, its a topic that has been discussed and if it happens then that's just great. We go back and forth, actually. Sometimes we want it to happen now and sometimes we talk about it happening in like 5 years from now or maybe never...we'll see.
My first best friend ever died recently. I had not talked to her in many many years and had only recently reconnected with her via the currently popular FACEBOOK.. Her death was tragic; the event has brought me back in time. I pulled out old journals and diaries. I must have started writing about my life quite soon after I learned to write because my first journals were about me and Larisa. I remembered what a magical time that age was. We spent our time climbing trees, building go carts and being 100% wild and free. We must have been 7 or 8 at the time. Childhood is so precious and short and I must say that mine was pretty great. I hope that Jonas will experience the innocence and freedom that I was so lucky to have.

Bringing Peace Within...

For the first time ever, in the 5.5 years we have known each other, Jordan and I got sick. A really really bad cold, together, at the same time. Nothing is worse than being sick while its hot outside. Its been about ten days and we are now feeling much better. I have not gotten much done during this time...we still have stuff to move from the trailer. I always like things to be neat and tidy and orderly and I have been abit grumpy lately at being too tired to do much. I think I need to let go abit more. Not let things like housework get to me...but its hard cause I am in the house all day long, looking at all that needs to be done, but I guess on the other hand I should be out and about more than I have lately...but I HAVE been sick...

Jonas, with the kick ass immune system, sniffled for a day and that was about it. He's been a happy boy, playing out on the deck with water and frozen raspberries, watching mum pick strawberries (we have had buckets and buckets since June and they are still coming strong!!).

I don't know if its from being sick or lack of sleep but I've given off some neg vibes lately and I am not sure if anyone has noticed - namely my sister, mom, Jord and mum in law...sorry guys, I've been a grump!

Tonight I found some peace, well, really I did. At the Tidemark Theatre in CR, The Island Centre For Positive Living hosted a really cool event where all faiths in the area were invited to come and celebrate peace and diversity. It was an interfaith celebration called 'A Season For Peace and Non Violence'. I enjoyed myself because I felt that these different faiths that came together were truly supportive of peace; the fact that they put aside differences and came together proves that. I am wondering where the Catholics were?? Haha. I grew up in a sort of Catholic family, but really, just a family that is very spiritual and we would go hiking or skiing on Sundays - not church. I did go to Catholic school and was Baptised by renowned radical Jesuit Jim Roberts - but I would say that at this point I can take bits and pieces from many religions and make it my own spirituality. Some of the groups that came forth in this celebration tonight were the Baha'i, Tibetan Buddhist, United Church, Stolo Nation, Wicca, Sikh, and The Centre For Positive Living. Very eclectic. I think that how Jonas will be brought up spiritually will be several posts down the road..but I am sure I will give it great thought..not that I haven't already...

Now, for my little poll up top about immunisations, I am truly interested to find out where people are at with this. Maybe most people don't care, but its something that is important to me. There is so much misinformation out there, so much controversy. Even before Jonas was born I was reading as much as I could on the topic. I found each side really interesting because its almost like a trend. Some people seem to read a book and make their decision on that, they always believe in conspiracy. Then on the other side of the immunisation spectrum there are those that believe all that the nurse/doctor have to say without any question.

And after so much thought and research by both Jordan and I, we decided to do most of them. I could go on and on but after looking at where we are headed as a family I couldn't imagine not getting them. After being in India and seeing so many people ravaged by something like polio I knew I had to think long and hard about my immunisation standpoint. If we were to stay secluded on our Island or in our country, then, hey, maybe I wouldn't immunize. But our plans include alot of travel and work abroad. If little Jonas contracted something like Polio we probably would not be able to get help in time. We look forward to immersing ourselves wherever we go and I can't wait for the day that Jonas is running around with a bunch of kids in some foreign faraway place...

And I know that ours is a culture of fear; but it is my job to protect my son in the ways that I feel important.

And I know that I may be an idealist in raising my first (and perhaps only??) child, but I want to know that I have always done my best.
okokokok, its late and time for bed.

Sleep, Play, Eat All Day Long...

I may have mentioned this in an earlier blog, but we have really entered into a whole new stage with Jonas. Although I did enjoy the first 6 months - it was tough at times. Transitioning into motherhood, feeding all the time etc...

We are at an amazing time in Jonas's development. All senses are going strong and Jonas explores/plays all day long. He is too active to breastfeed for long, except if he is going down for a nap. He does take the time to sit and eat some solids, 3 times a day to be exact. Nothing too exciting yet, just applesauce and root veggies and some peas. He also likes to eat pieces of rice and puffed millet. He prefers a cup of tea or water while he eats at his high chair. No interest in feeding himself as of yet.

He loves his own room. He takes his 3 naps each day on his bed no problem - of course still falling asleep at the breast. And yes, I have been told that feeding him to sleep at the breast is a badbad habit, but, hey, it works so well for us. I think I am gonna go on my tuition on that one.

I love it when I check up on him while he naps to discover him playing quietly with a toy he has wiggled to. He gets around quite well now, but is not 'officially' crawling. His toys include various rattles, household items, blocks (wood and cloth) and balls. Sometimes I will sit Jonas in front of his basket of toys where he will play for quite awhile. He plays well alone. Sometimes very quietly and sometimes quite loudly.

Jonas no longer does the high pitched 'veloceraptor' sound. Its funny, because I remember the last time he did it. I am not sure if its because of this particular incident that he stopped or if it was by chance. Anyway, a few weeks ago I was shopping, browsing through some books. Jonas was in the baby carrier and a few teenaged girls were flipping through magazines behind me when out of nowhere Jonas lets out his high pitched veloceraptor scream and the girls jumped and screamed, freaked right out, which in turn freaked Jonas out and I couldn't help but laugh to the point of tears and the girls began laughing. It was so funny and Jonas just looked so surprised and confused! I have never heard the sound again...

Back Home

Dear Jonas,

We are now back at home and you are very excited. With all of your new awareness at 6 months, you are staring out our huge windows, following the beams and just taking it all in.

You also have your very own bedroom -perfectly suited for you. We have put a little futon on the floor and all of your toys and books are easily accessible for you. For now, as we make the slow shift into sleeping in our own beds, this is where you will nap each day. At night time you will (for the most part) be sleeping on a mattress next to our bed. Last night was our first night at home and also our first night with this new arrangement. I didn't sleep much, but I think you slept fine. After having you sleep in the crook of my arm for the past 6 months (except those first few weeks in the bassinet) in our bed, it was hard not to feel you next to me, breathing and cuddling so close. It felt so strange last night...every hour I woke up to make sure you were still okay, even though you were only a couple of feet away from me! I think that this new sleeping arrangement is for the best, to begin spacing your night feeding now that you have begun solids. You are now so much more active and I need to sleep more in the night to be able to keep up to your impending crawling exploratory period...

Here is some stuff to describe you at 6 months:

* you are a very very light sleeper

* so far you love apples, sweet potato and squash (...well, that's all you've eaten)

*you are refusing the bottle at the moment and will only take your liquids from my breast or a cup

*you are still teething, but no teeth have come out yet - to soothe your aches you like to chew on cold cloths and when the pain gets worse we give you a homeopathic remedy which usually calms you, but when the pain is really bad we give you some Tylenol and that always works

*you are excellent at entertaining yourself for long periods of time...half an hour sometimes!

*for as long as I remember, you love books. You are able to sit through your favourites, you also like to touch and chew at them as well.

-your all time faves are :5 Little Speckled Frogs and Bunnies Go To School

*your favourite music includes:

-Putumayo Kids 'World Playground'

-Quiet Time Raffi

-Thomas Mapfumo

-Kiban Ahluwalia

-Putumayo Kids 'Animal Playground'

-The Be Good Tanyas 'Hello Love'

-Putumayo 'Arabic Groove'

*your favourite outfit - no clothes, no diaper

*your favourite activities include:

-being outside,

-watching mamamama working in the kitchen,

-laughing at Bower the dog,

-staring at trees,

-cuddling with Dad in bed,

-bath time

*you like camping and road trips


Love Mum

All Grown Up

Jonas is a big boy now. Well, not quite, I suppose, but he now has (as Jordan and I call it) HUMAN POO. Gone are the purely breast fed yellow and pleasant smelling baby poops; now we have the real stuff. Jonas still mainly breastfeeds, but he does have small amounts of solids 2-3 times a day. Last week was sweet potatoes, this week has been apples.

I can tell you, nothing feels more natural and satisfying than going over to Jerry and Jill's and picking apples and plums from the trees, peas from the garden and berries from the bushes. It feels so good to take this stuff home and prepare it for Jonas and us.

Without alot of conscious effort, our diet has been very 'raw' this summer. On the whole I am feeling quite good and healthy, considering I still feed Jonas throughout the night. I recently bought a dehydrator and have been using it non stop making crackers, veggie chips, sun burgers and nori chips. In a week or so I would like to start dehydrating apples, pears and anything else I can find around the property. I am also going to make lots of applesauce. Anyone out there know what would be healthiest - canning the applesauce or freezing it??

Jordan just got back from spending a couple of days hiking at Strathcona Park. Of course I was a little jealous, but I think it was a good little break for all of us. Just to have some time alone.Jill spent an afternoon with Jonas and I laid out in the sun and started reading The Birth House by Ami McKay at Rebecca Spit. It was such a treat! Usually when we have someone take care of Jonas, Jordan and I will go out and do something like hike, run, clean - always something active. It was just nice to be lazy for a few hours! While I had time alone, Jill took Jonas in his new stroller through the community centre trails and then down to the ocean for a swim. They then ate black berries all the way home - Jonas is still pooping out the seeds! Anyway, Jonas was very happy and I think it was absolutely wonderful that he went on this little adventure with Jill and had some time to connect with her. Jonas is very lucky (and we all are!) because there are 3 SETS of grandparents - and soon they will all live nearby! My parents will be moving from the Kootenays in the next couple of months!!

After spending the summer in the trailer aka 'The Family Cottage', we are moving back into our house! We made a little money, so it was definitely worth the sacrifice but I must say that we are all more than ready to be back home. Just in time for Jonas's crawling...

Solid Food

Ok, so I may be a little overinformed and probably misinformed as well. And so some people may think, its not a big deal. But as a mom, it is a big deal what I feed my son.
He is teething and growing and doing all these new things at once. He is also, all of a sudden, totally into our food. I am caught unprepared. I thought he wouldn't be into solids until 9 months or so...I thought breastmilk would keep him interested. Now he wants food...our food.
So I first fed him a little mashed banana. But then I remembered afterward that the only food I have any sensitivity toward is the banana. oops. gotta keep him away from that one for abit longer. Then a few days later I fed him some avocado with a little water. I then breastfed him afterwards as most books/internet suggest. He was really quite fussy for the rest of the day. Not with gas, and maybe it had nothing to do with the food, maybe it was just the teething. I don't know.
But now that I think of it, avocados don't even grow around here. Shouldn't I be feeding him something that is locally grown? Something that we have actually evolved to eat. Isn't eating locally grown foods far better, nutritionally and for our systems, than something imported that our bodies aren't even evolved to eat? hmmm. I don't know the answer. But I do no, however, that something grown locally whether organic or not, will have more nutrients that something that was picked and shipped here for far away. So, what should I feed my son as his first solids?
Maybe I will skip the mangoes, banana and avocado and pick some peas and squash from the garden...
There is just so much info out there, so many opposing studies. Local or organic, ideally, I guess, locally organic. To cook or to do raw for baby?

We all want the very best for baby. We want them to avoid creating food allergies and sensitivities later in life, we want them to build strong digestive fire, we want them to stay away from as much GMO's as possible, we want them to eat organic and avoid all the deadly toxins. Life isn't perfect, but as a mom I want to provide the best beginnings as possible.

Any suggestions/stories of first solids for baby?

Big Changes

In a week Jonas will be 6 months old. I feel as if we have gone through a big transformation over the past 3 weeks. Jonas has gone from mellow Buddha baby to non stop inquisitive, energetic and playful baby.

When once you were satisfied to sit on mamas lap, stare/hit your mobile or stroll around outside, now you are playing, rolling around everywhere, sitting, squirming forward/crawling, making high pitched screams....we have nicknamed you the Velosiraptor because the sound you make is very animalistic sounding. Its tough on the ears,...but you also make other very pleasant sounds as well. It all seems to have happened so quickly.

You are also really into watching us eat and drink. You get very upset if you aren't with us at the dinner table, so now we put you in your Bumbo seat right on the table. That was ok maybe once, but you insisted on eating as well.

We tried, about a week ago, to give you your first 'solids'. We were eating dinner at Grandma Janet and Opa Case's house and you were sitting in their high chair. You were sooo adamant about eating so I mashed some banana and you ate it - eagerly. Your spit out reflex is completely gone which means, along with your eagerness for our food, that you are now ready for some solids.

Throughout this 3 week growth spurt of yours, you have been abit fussy. With all that growing, I don't blame you one bit!

I think that some of the funnest times lately is when all three of us are laying in bed. You love to entertain us with your babbling, yelling, squirming/crawling and, well, just your new wild antics...

This summer has been so incredibly busy! We had visitors non stop for about 5 weeks and then we went to Vancouver for a little week long vacation.

My 8 year old nephew, Cameron, came to stay with us for 3 weeks. THAT was busy, but lots of fun as well. Did some camping. My parents also visited; they are selling their house in the Kootenays and moving to Vancouver Island in the fall! Very excited about that. Had friends visit. Phew!

Vancouver was great. The vacation that both Jordan and I really needed. A breath of fresh air. How funny does that sound? Our island, where everyone flocks to for summer vacationing, we leave for the city for our vacation. I suppose its nice because it gives new perspective and therefor invigorates. We stayed with our good friends who just purchased a new house in Vancouver; we had a brand new suite all to ourselves. This was nice so that we could move about freely with Jonas; he napped lots without interruption etc etc...

Summertime

Some summer pics...
first time camping, Open Bay, Dad and Jonascousin Cameron exploring at Open Baytesting the water at Open BayMum and Jonas on a trip to Victoria, Willows Beach
Cameron

cousin Taagen and Jonas visiting in Victoriathe boys getting into mischief...
Valerye and Cameron hit up the Opal concert

visiting Victoria again...

Valerye's friends visit Quadra and meet Jonas...

17 Weeks

Jonas! You are amazing. Rolling from front to back, talking non stop, insisting on standing and chewing on fingers...you are a busy, busy boy! You now have one or two LONG naps a day (2-3hrs...nursing during!) and a couple short 20 minute naps. You are still a fierce feeder and you never go longer than 3 hours without nursing. It wasn't so long ago that we were just learning how to nurse and OooHH it sometimes really hurt, but now its as if we have been doing this forever. Nursing is one of the most natural things I have ever experienced and it feels really good to have this closeness to you. There are a couple of books that you enjoy and will actually sit right through to the end! You enjoy your baby massage class (you are the only boy and you pee on me at least once a class!) You do well in your car seat and are easy to travel with, except if you have just had an explosion in your pants - then you are mad!!! You also still sleep with us and I doubt that will change anytime soon. You are no longer loud, but you do kick at times. We love sharing our bed with you and I could not imagine it any other way! We are so in love with you and I am so happy that we are all so in tune with each others needs during this incredible time. Its so tiring, yet so exciting, yet so fulfilling and, well, just so many things and I think that that is why this is such an intense period...
It's all coming together. We love you!

Being Honest

A pattern of renewal seems to have taken form in my life. I am rested and rejuvenated on Monday. By Friday I am feeling low and a little loopy crazy. Saturday and Sunday I regain my sanity. The moments that I can be alone are proving to be extremely valuable in my transition into motherhood. I love motherhood; its totally fulfilling, unmatched to anything else. I have alot of love to give, but just like anyone, I need a source for refuel. Mothers need to recharge as well.

Jonas picks up on this energy of mine. By Friday he was fussing what seemed like nonstop. I was near tears, bored and tired. Luckily Jordan was close by and left work an hour early. He took Jonas for a walk and I had some quiet time to eat a meal and be in silence. We went to the Spit, walked and then the three of us laid on the grass under the evening sun and I felt better. Jonas was happy, everyone was happy. It didn't take much to feel better. It's those moments to myself that I need most when I am feeling overwhelmed.

Saturday found us all in bed until 9AM. We picked strawberries, went to the library, out for a couple walks and I even got in a work out! Fathers Day was fun - we spent it in Campbell River. Bought our veggies at the Farmers Market, went climbing and then out for dinner at some funky seafood restaurant in the marina. Didn't even know it existed. Ate crab for the first time in years! The weekend was exactly what we all needed.

Today is Monday and I feel refuelled and ready for the week! I thank Jordan and my huge family for all their love and support and understanding in this new journey into the Mother Zone.

A Fresh New Day...

Never before have I lived by these words as I do now. Each day is a chance for a new start, no matter what happened or how I felt the day before, today is fresh and new!

Some exciting news I forgot to mention:

My parents and my sister and her family are moving to Courteny this fall. Right now they live in Rossland which is in the Kootenys. They've always wanted to live on the island but they wanted to stay close to a ski hill...so Courtney is the place to be. Very exciting.

Blue Moon Samara (horse) was born eight days ago and she is totally beautiful. I missed the quick one hour birth because I was napping that afternoon (that was the emotional meltdown day). Her and mum, Chara, are often right outside our door eating grass....Bower loves to entice the new Philly (sp?) into play - its really funny to watch.

Grandpa Jerry with the new arrival, Blue Moon Samara and her mum Chara (half an hour after birth!)

We have also decided to stay on our Island instead of moving to Victoria in the Fall, as we had previously planned. Jordan has switched his school plans and will be continuing this part of his education via correspodence. I would like to go to school as well, but not until Jonas is abit older. I am looking into a total career change and move into health care (one of my other many passions). Not yet though...they could be another little one in the future....(no I am not pregnant again!!)

Actually, I feel really good about staying here. We are surrounded by lots of family and this has proved to be a time that we need to be around them the most. Jonas is spending alot of time with his grandparents and their partners and its very important to me that he continue to be close to them. There is such depth and richness that they add to his life...each relationship is totally unique and special in its own way. I think that Jonas will be a real nature lover - he always seems happiest when outside. Last night when he came home after a long walk with Grandpa Jerry, he was so happy and talkative...he went on and on until we shut off the lights to sleep. Usually he is passed out before we go to bed!

Challenges

Time has gone by so quickly. Where do I start? How many times have I thought, oh, I will write this or that in my blog, but maybe tomorrow...

We are now moved in and settled into the Trailer, or as someone fondly tried to call it 'The Cottage'. From now until Oct our house will be a vacation rental - a great way to take advantage of our beautiful, freshly built home and make a little cash. I was very keen on doing this for the summer, but after spending days and days getting the house ready and organizing our belongings I got really tired and a little depressed. The first day in our new place I had an 'inner' meltdown and really questioned what the hell we were doing. But then after some much needed rest and a little perspective, I came to my senses and remembered that this is what I wanted. I feel incredibly thankful that we can do this, since its Jordan's dads Trailer and rent free! This is the Trailer that Jordan lived in when he was small and his father built his own house (which took 10 years!). So here we are and my mantra for the summer is to live simply.

Being a first time mum, I find myself in a totally new and unknown world. It is a challenge. Sometimes I feel really alone; I have good days and I have bad. Yet when I look into Jonas's eyes I feel so much love and satisfaction. I seem to always catch myself with too high of expectations - I am learning to let things go a little more, to relax a little more. I tell myself its only been 16 weeks and everything will eventually regulate. My moods will smooth over and become more consistent. These last few days have been so grey and rainy and I find myself feeling low as well. Yet last week, the sun was out, we went outdoors and I felt totally rejeuvenated. I realize its all about restructuring my life, almost like a reconstruction. I need to keep working on it and stay conscious of the fact that its a process and that takes time. I don't have to feel lonely or bored when its raining. There are other ways to be. I know that. I just need to get there.

Hicks on Sticks in France at Cannes

So our documentary has reached Cannes. This is a picture of our producer rep holding up our mini poster. Now lets keep our fingers crossed for some distribution interest!

synopsis-In 1999, skateboard company owner, Ian Comishin embarks on a journey into the unknown. Bringing professional skateboarding and music to Canadian towns is no small endeavor. With financial sponsorship dropping out at the last minute and Ian's willingness to dive into company debt, the story unfolds, propelling him to an end he never anticipated.

99 minute documentary

3 Months and Exploring!

This has been a truly amazing time with Jonas. Jordan and I watched this morning as he reached out and tried to maneuver an elephant trunk into his mouth.

He had such patience - he would try to get it into his mouth and then it would flop away and he would give a little shout/cry and do it again and again until he got better. Later on I noticed him reaching for his books when I changed him. This may not sound like such a big deal when Jonas reads this someday - but it really is. It's the beginning of your exploration of life! It's your curiosity being born and now you are finally able to do something about it.