Ursula at 11 and 12 months- enjoy!
To return to Ursula's current pictures click on the bear.


Cowgirls talking about their tough day on the range.

September 21st., She's almost a year old...let's summarize: no teeth, barely any hair, not walking upright and her favorite food is whole grain bread with yogurt. Hmm, we think we are raising an amphibian alien baby.

Ursula is getting excited for her b-day party this Sunday. She has heard the rumor of eight California relatives coming over for cake!


Ursula's sunflowers at sunrise


Someone likes to sneak over and eat Alfalfa Sprouts from the crisper (got roughage)

September 17th., We've been so careful to follow doctor's orders waiting for Ursula's first birthday to give her the second-biggest allergens: citrus, strawberries, egg whites. So of course yesterday dad offered Ursula a lick of his "coffee crunch" ice cream cone. It was pretty good quality ice cream, so naturally Ursula did what any self-respecting child would do. She grabbed for it with both hands and wrapped her mouth around the entire upper hemisphere of the cone. About a second or two later she was sobbing about her "freeze head," and then sobbing that daddy wouldn't let her hold the cone anymore, and then sobbing that he was taking too long between licks. So basically ice cream just leads to tears. We earned the ice cream yesterday with morning swimming lessons and then a hike up San Bruno Mountain. Dad made the hike more interesting by warning mom to keep an eye out for mountain lions, although we can't find any attacks reported in this area ... so far. Look at all these parks that Susan will now be avoiding!

We are having a spinach salad withdrawal. We eat about 10 spinach dishes a week, so this Ecoli thing is really distressing- let alone being conceptually reminded that poopy water ends up on our dinner plates no matter what we eat.


Time to do the laundry


Someone is excited for their early morning swim lessons at USF


Reluctant Mountain Climber


Almost at the peak with 360 degree views of the Bay Area


Where's Waldo (we still can't believe this is 3 miles from our house)


Waiting for Grampa and Nani with Aunts Erin and Jennifer. Our belated congratulations to Jen for passing the California Bar!

September 12th., We may not have to get Ursula that set of dentures after all. She's been absolutely miserable the last few days and we're nominating "teething" as the reason. Hold on, she's been miserable the last few nights  - during the day she giggles and bounces <video> on the bed, yet will only eat gruel (readymade babyfood) at mealtime. As of 10 pm. she is wide awake rotating her pacifier trying to find a way around the pain. Children's Tylenol is saving our marriage.


"Those kids are looking at me mom..."


Having fun (eventually) at the Mall's playground


Tub within a tub


Welcome to Ursula's new playroom (poor dad waited for a year to get a studio and it gets taken over)

September 10th., Ursula has pleny of favorite finger foods these days including toasted whole grain pumpernickel squares dipped in organic yogurt, artisan roasted salmon by Jesuit monks, and ripe local peaches, but we were not prepared for her latest culinary foray this morning.

We were fairly sure that the kitchen had been cleared of hazards, so the lip-smacking we heard from the kitchen wasn't too alarming. But when investigated, it turns out she was topping off her breakfast with banana slices from the trash can. The lip of the container perhaps is not tall enough to elude tippy-toes and the blind reach of her outstretched arms ...

About to de-fur the kitty...

September 8th., No walking yet. She seems to pretend to let go of our hands and stand up all alone- but alas- she sits back down and claps at her progress. Supposedly, both sides of our family had late walkers...and the books warn that early crawlers are late walkers. Dad's back muscles don't mind a few more weeks for her to walk and get into all sorts of trouble. Has anyone seen the baby gap line of clothing this fall? It is filled with the best stripes and color matches for a long time. And Pottery Barn Kids has some overpriced but educational color theory toys that made us wish we were kids again. Oh the days when a brown Lincoln Log was cool.

We all went down to SF's First Thursdays. A monthly event where all the art galleries are open into the evening and serve nice beverages. Ursula had a blast with all the attention from the dressed up people. We are forever cringing at the typical comment "what a cute boy you have..." And no, we will not put a little pink bow stuck to her head with a dab of corn syrup.


Learning some color theory (without the center choking hazard pieces)


This morning it looked like an Alien Ship was probing the bay with large flashlights...the picture doesn't come close to the effect.


About to get angry after lunch...some new personality traits are emerging this week

September 2nd., The fog has returned and we haven't hiked or walked around much. We are hoping for a family hike in Yosemite before Thanksgiving...justifying all the pie and ice cream we have consumed since moving to SF. Ursula seems stuck on 20 pounds and the only thing growing fast is her personality. She is a sweetheart and then she grabs the back of the cat's neck and holds him until everyone becomes mad. Of course the cat takes any kind of attention after becoming relegated to baby #2 when Ursula came along. Another trait of hers consists of stranger flirting...she will sit still with no apparent emotion and wait until the stranger either breaks down and acts silly or walks away. Only then will Ursula light her big smile and engage.

We were eating at our local Taqueria when dad noticed that there were more kids than adults in the restaurant....they should rename Noe Valley to Baby High Rent Can't Find a Parking Space Valley.


Rolling across dad's new geometric quilt is the game of the day (notice her leg pulling out all of the basting thread)


Please send us photographs of yourself! Ursula loves looking at people...she is fond of her cousin Brendon's baby picture. She calls him "bay baa"


Yarn Donuts in the Noe Knits store in the valley.


Mug shot in the city with cool tiles


"Dad, please stop painting, come home and read books to me"

Update, August 30th., No fog in SF yay! It was unseasonably warm today in the 70's with no foggy wet dampness. Ursula successfully transitioned to a new schedule that consists of shuttling between mom and dad's teaching schedule. While we miss the interaction of daycare, we certainly don't miss the sickness that used to come home on a weekly basis. Ursula's newest toy is a simple cardboard box with a rope- dad pulls her back and forth down a long submarine interior hallway at work- she holds on to the edges while dad secretly thinks he is the Commander in a sequel to Das Boot. She squeals with delight as we pass the co-workers who are glad to have a new baby in the department. Officially, she is down to only two naps a day. And these catnaps are only about 45 minutes long...oh, we miss the days of five naps (parent sanity breaks).

Our belated thanks to the strangers who read this site- we received several emails this past month expressing common cause with raising a baby, navigating parenthood and a general love of blogging.


She has decided to start reading adult books, but unfortunately the pieces ripped off usually end up in her tummy if we can't stop her in time. Here is the picture after eating a little 'Sontag'.

Update, August 27th., Ursula has discovered how to change the settings on her synthesizer to DJ. At breakfast this morning she was carefully pressing her wee index finger on each key, serenading us with "Uh! Uh! ... Oh Yeah Oh Yeah Oh Yeah OOoooO ... skhu-skhu-skhuhweeeEE." There are four sequential buttons that must be pressed to get this setting, so either she's be lucky a few times, or she's a DJ genius.

Ursula really loves Puku the Cat and he's turned out to be quite the personal trainer for her. Here is his current training regimen: 1) Wincing to a high-pitched squeal, he is alerted that he has been spotted; 2) they stare into each other's eyes, Puku with dread, Ursula considering which body part to poke; 3) from across the room a watchful parent notices and calls out "Puku you've been spotted. Move - move - for the love of God move while you still can!" 4) Puku slowly rises and slouches off to the other side of the room; 5) Ursula follows (it really is just like those slow motion chase scenes in bad horror movies, from his point of view); repeat from 1). ... So we got her this doll as a gentleness-teaching-aide. Modelling tender affection we croon, "is this your baby? What a sweet baby. Would you like to hold her?" Hope it works.


Posing for a picture with her new friend

Update, August 23rd., Music and babbling...all day long. She refuses to stand up and try walking if we show interest...if we don't pay attention she will taunt us with one handed cruises on the rickety chairs. Waving hello and goodbye to strangers is her new little hobby. Watch her piano practice here <video> or watch her thumb through her clothing catalogue here <video>


Only dad would make such a choking hazard... the thousands o' button quilt


Happily practicing with her new Boomwhackers...



TV zombie watching her Signing Time videos...


"Look at me walking around on my changing table...this cute dress fits great- thanks Mimi"

August 17th., We begin our new careers at the University of San Francisco this week. This evening, we had a wonderful dinner getting the chance to meet the other new faculty, Provost, President and the Jesuits from the University. We apologize in advance- there may be fewer updates as life gets a little busier. In food news, Ursula is the biggest fan of chicken, cheese, blueberries and avocados. With celebratory grunts, she ravages her dinner tray if these are seen to be for dinner. And in a strange turn of events, the love for a graham cracker (cookie) has slowly become less exciting. Another nasty habit has appeared consisting of pulling the older food out of the dinner bib and trying over and over to eat what was dismissed the first time. If you can just imagine an hour old chicken blueberry stained water logged cookie patty...and after dinner, she is learning the 'drop'- watching someone's face as she throws the watercup, pacifier, cookie or anything to get you to pick it back up. (Our highchair is surrounded by three layers of newspaper!) Some say that dropping objects is self-education...learning cause-and-effect. While she isn't walking yet, there is a huge boost of confidence gained everyday. This morning she climbed entirely up onto a 1.5' plastic storage box and yesterday cruised the entire length of the couch.


This look-a-like nuke almost woke up Ursula (fireworks from an AT&T
Park baseball post-game)

August 15th., We suppose idiosyncratic behaviour runs in the families. Continuing this trend, Ursula will disappear quietly into her room and then emerge loudly with a toy in hand or mouth. Watch her labradoresque ability here <rattler video>


Climbing an abandoned trail on Twin Peaks (about two stone throws from our house) - Dad may look all calm and professional, so watch him here preparing for a run to Burning Man? <DJ video>

August 13th., Hmm, how to explain...we have an antenna since we have no cable, so we signed up for Netflix. Which we use to rent nature videos that are usually free on TV. The pillow (handmade by mom) on the right of the picture blocks Ursula from turning on and off the DVD player. She has learned to press the "on" button and wait for 5 seconds for her Signing Time music to start...if it doesn't start she starts pressing any available button. Playing on our TV is the Life of Birds which is highly recommended. Is she is imitating the birds with her new beak and talons? During dinner last night, Ursula was giving us the Sign Language for 'more cheese' but saying 'oot cook' which is cookie...sigh.


See update above...


Good Morning!

August 9th., We've been doing some reading looking for tips on getting Ursula to sleep without her bouncer ... and maybe sleeping later than 5:50am would be nice. That baby that started sleeping through the night at 2 months? She was just toying with us. We've also noticed her blossoming dancing ability. Look forward to future videos of her patented oompah-butt-wiggle. She prefers to have something to hold onto while she gyrates, what with the cruising. Thank goodness we don't have a fireman's pole anywhere in the apartment ... that would just be indecent.


Sunrise over Mt. Diablo


"this guy cooking is an amateur...let's read a book"

August 8th., Ursula got to visit with Grampa and Nani Wolsborn and enjoyed a theatrical dinner at Benihanas. Our chef had trouble flipping the shrimp tails into his pocket- after the third attempt he gave up. We wonder if there is a special training course in spatula dexterity...anyhow, Japan town is a blast and we intend on visiting for a thorough look around.



Dad heard some giggling and a rustle...she found her cookie and cereal stash in the diaper bag


"Yay, I am out of the carseat"

August 6th., We ventured down to Palo Alto to shop for discounted furniture at Design With Reach. The 75% sale apparently was well advertised and the line of 100 people to get into the store allowed us to drive to the beach instead. Devil's Slide reopened for the first time since the spring torrent of rain took out part of the highway along route 1. Ursula got to see people surfing and a few bikini clad yuppies. Her favorite moment were the two dogs 'taking a bath' in the ocean and then shaking off to dry.
In a proud parental moment, we have finally said 'no' to the bouncer...she was too dependent on this device for naps and reawakenings at night when dad was helping. The game of standing up in the crib and violently shaking the rails is her newest way of saying not sleepy. In musical news, Ursula knows how to play the harmonica- or is learning to make others do the hard part in this <video>.


Staring at the sparrows that kept flying onto the field

August 2nd., Ursula went to her first baseball game today and brought the Giants good luck. She single handedly stopped their 9 game losing streak. The team's mascot, "Lou Seal" walked right by us, apparently 'he/she' couldn't see Ursula standing on the railing waving her hands madly in love...later in the game we had a foul ball thrown right at us, but luckily an anxious fan reached in front of dad to steal the ball thrown from Moses Alou. Many thanks to Great Uncle David and Aunt Nancy for this special treat. Ursula has picked up some new vocabulary-pronouncing the words- button, eh-hee cat, mo (more food) and occasionally mama and dada. There was also an earthquake this evening...just a little rumble that made mom grab Ursula and hold her tight.


Getting ready for a low scoring National League baseball game...the score was 8-6 with 5 home runs.


We tried our best to get Lou Seal to come over to Ursula- but apparently this mascot only likes older men...


Spontaneously giving us the sign-language for 'more'- apparently 200+ baby chicks aren't enough


Ursula contemplates octopi tentacles at the 20th Annual Berkeley Kite Festival.

Hmmm ... nice kites. Wait - is that grass?!! I love grass!

One gecko and one ... um ... manta ray?

"I like this Rothko guy...soft, pretty"

July 30th., Ursula got to see some great artwork this weekend. The DeYoung Museum is a wonderful architectural gem. The no flash on camera rule dampened our spirits in some of the darker exhibits- we wanted to photograph the large wooden antique African nursing mother with child statue- Ursula not suprisingly gave the sign-language motion for milk...on Saturday we took Ursula down to the dogpatch to see the 'street' art aka graffiti. Beautiful colors and textures.

The best quilts ever made in the whole world...Gee's Bend exhibit at the DeYoung.


One of our old favorite sculptors- Cornelia Parker


"Dad, his Ocean Park series is fine- but these Berkeley series paintings are the bomb"


Kicking back in the dogpatch


"Mom, why is daddy crabby today?"


Ursula's Strawbeary Shortbread

July 28th., Ursula has begun her Opus. Here is the first chapter, typed on Wednesday: "d1FJMN^nmnmGGIK     B  2 D,GG1111`Qq!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!xzcx dAws@!QX" we like the exclamation points, which really help communicate her urgency and despair with the emptiness of life - and lack of cheerios. Then yesterday dad propped her up at his computer to work on the second chapter while I was in the other room. I soon heard a horrific wail - "NooOOoo! Oh god nooo!" Well, she hadn't typed any bad words *phew*, instead she'd grabbed hold of his coffee cup and drizzled it all over his keyboard. After drying out all night it looks like the computer has survived (I'm sure there will be much backing up of files today ...), but I am sad to note we lost Ursula's second chapter. Here's one mommy blogger's perspective on what toddlers are really thinking when they can finally speak: http://www.dooce.com/archives/daily/07_21_2006.html


Getting innoculated at the Safeway Market

July 25th., Another day of tourism around SF so that we can be conscientious tour guides when friends and family come to visit (ahem, hint, hint). We started with a taco (at La Taqueria) in the Mission, recommended by colleagues and The New York Times, drove down to Hunter's Point to check out some artist studio spaces, then up to see the "crookedest street in the world" (Lombard) and Coit Tower, got stuck in ugly traffic driving through Fisherman's Wharf, and looked for chocolate samples at Ghiradelli Square. Watching the cars from a distance descending Lombard Street was surreal. Today we visited the Ferry Building Farmer's Market. Not as hip with street cred as Alemany, but hey, you gotta get your truffle oil somewhere. Plus, the Ferry Building has lots of birds - which are about as cool as cats and dogs right now to Ursula. She's struggling to say "bird" but actually having more success signing (!) it. And remember that impressive word "book"? Well, it turns out that everything is book. The cat is a "book," the TV is a "book," mama is a "book." *sigh*


Local falcon on Coit Tower...resting before snacking on the parrots.

How many more stairs? The grade of the hill can be felt the next day...


We had to take Ursula up and down "the most crooked street in the world"


Ms. Busy Body at the famous La Taqueria in the Mission.


Why do kids love getting so close to the TV?

July 23rd., We spent the afternoon on Saturday visiting Great Aunt Nancy where Ursula discovered the joys of stair climbing. She crawled up without hesitation - like she'd been doing it all along. This was all very entertaining to the adults until she decided to crawl back down head first. Since we prefer her face unsmooshed and blemish-free, Nancy tried to show her an easier method, descending backwards. Ursula's response was " aaaAAAaaaahh! uUh!" which roughly translates to "I can do it myself."Later that evening, handling a book at a dinner party, Ursula pronounced a crystal clear "book," well, more like "booookhh."We were very impressed with the second half the syllable, since it finally distinguishes the word from "ball," which persists with a very weak "L."Mama" is used all over the place, but especially in the presence of mom. Could it be that she's just humoring us since we so desparately beg for language by pointing at ourselves with "mama" and "dada"? We'd like to think she knows what it means, but who knows

"I like strong water pressure"

July 21st., Just got back from the SF Zoo. We just missed the big cat feeding...by the time we got to their yards...catnaps all around. Supposedly, they got rabbit for lunch. Ursula is having a fun time barking, meowing and 'bocking' for the animal sounds. All birds say 'bock' and all 4 legged animals say 'ruff.'


Ursula Frances meet Ursa Horribilis


Picture for Papa Hongisto


Penguins in California...


She looks scared, but giggled the entire time


The goats waited so patiently for their handlers to open the pens...Ursula parked alongside for fun


Prairie Dogs and Ursula's dogs


Urban babies wear black

Did you miss the last couple weeks of pictures?