Leopold in January - Starting to Walk!!

Greetings from 2009!!! Leopold continues to grow and thrive, check out the photos and vidoes below.

Cynthia's job is getting busy and she's having fun working on great issues - new wilderness legislation for Washington State and a lot of work at the national level on a new recreation program for The Wilderness Society. Anthony's been herding elk and working with landowners as usual. The weather is odd, not much snow since the first week of January. Lots of warm weather, rain, some power outages, and flooding. The snow is mostly gone and we went on a beautiful walk along the Yakima River today. Cynthia got certified to drive the vanpool last week, so there will be a bit less sleeping in the mornings, but she feels good about contributing to the group effort.

We're thrilled about the inauguration - Cynthia went and watched it in Seattle at the Paramount Theater - it was a packed house and an incredible day. A bit frustrated with the bitter politics still prevailing in Congress, but hopefully things will improve. Hope you're all well!!

Grandma Cathy and mom took Leopold to the west side yesterday and visited great Aunt Cathy and Great Grandma and Grandpa Wilkerson - it was great fun.

Our little boy during the Holidays

Not so much a baby anymore, check out these Holiday pics:

Helping Mommy wrap presents.

Asleep in Auntie Tonya's arms. So sweet.

The view from our living room the Friday before Christmas

Kitchen cabinets are so exciting!!

Our very small Christmas tree.

Leopold opening his stocking before Daddy gets up.

Is this for me??
Leopold and Opa Tom on Christmas morning.


What is it Grandma? Grandma, Bonnie, Dad and Leopold hiking on Christmas.

Leopold trying to stay warm.

Our family hiking on Christmas.

Our house on Christmas Day.

Me and my new wagon.

Baby's first Christmas with Winnie the Pooh - thanks to Great Aunt Sue.


Did I mention how much fun this wagon is??


Here's Leopold babbling away.

Leopold on the Move!

Well, the past couple of months have been filled with a LOT of change and development for Leopold. Believe it or not, he's learned to scoot, crawl, and pull himself to standing all in a very short amount of time. Here are some photos showing the progression.

Before I was too mobile, I did a lot of Happy Baby Pose, aren't I cute:

This is my favorite chew toy - Sophie the Giraffe.

Love my dinner - especially the water!

Swimming through the air Part I.

Swimming through the air, part II. I'm a good yoga baby!!

Swimming through the air part III.

This is my scooting stance - before I crawled, I spent a lot of time pulling myself around with my arms.

Official crawling stance in hat knit by Auntie Tonya.

Standing up in my crib - yes, mommy and daddy had to lower the mattress finally.

Yes, I got up here all by myself and I like to move from one item to the next.

I can get into lots of fun trouble now!

Me and Daddy and Daddy's deer. Yummy!

Squeals of delight!

OK, this is dark, but still cute - Leopold is very proud to be standing up in his crib. Needless to say, we have lowered the mattress.

OK, one more on the move, too cute with the wagon that the Novack Grandparents got Leopold for Christmas:

Fall is Here

Fall has settled into the east side of the Cascades. The colors are beautiful - reds, oranges, yellows, browns and greens. The air is crisp and cool, the sun is (often) out, and autumn fruits and veggies are coming from the orchards and farms. We made some applesauce from the fruit in our yard, but haven't quite gotten to the pears and plums. We did, however, have a black bear in our backyard last week - no doubt s/he is enjoying the fruit that has fallen to the ground.


Here are some great photos of a recent Harvest Festival in Roslyn that Leopold, Cynthia, and Grandma Cathy went to.

Leopold and Grandma in the Pumpkin Patch

We had fun - and only got lost for a few minutes - in the hay maze.



Mmmm, pumpkins are yummy!





The next day, we went hiking with Daddy next to the Cle Elum River. Leopold's already logging hiking miles in his handy trekking pack.



Of course being out in the fresh air lends itself to good napping.

Happy Halloween!!

Happy Halloween from Leopold!


For Leopold's First Halloween, he was a very cute bear cub, check out this picture:



And here he is with his 13-month old friend Leo from Roslyn:



Cynthia and Leopold went to downtown Cle Elum for the the Halloween Parade down Main Street. They went with neighbors Denee (clown) and Sidnie (pink poodle), here they are with some of the rest of the crowd - which was quite large - behind them.

Leopold with Mommy and his first Jack-o-Lantern!