First time on the swings!

While in D.C., we stopped at a little park where Satchel went on the swings (swang on the swings? swung on the swings?) for the first time and loved it!

Satchel hamming it up a little.

(this is my favorite)

Also went on the slide for the first time (with Liz).

And the teeter totter, too (the new improved safe variety).

Me and Sarah (Liz and Christian's daughter).

Visit to D.C.

Several weeks ago we paid a visit to our friends Liz, Christian, and Sarah in D.C. We also met Richard and Mamie there, who were in town for a conference. Here are the pics:

Matt and Satchel in front of Liz and Christian's house

Hangin out on the mall

Liz and Sarah

Satchel does downward facing dog

Visiting Obama at the White House

Traveling around D.C. is tiring.

Satchel's first rally (for immigration)

Rallying for immigration is exhausting.

The cherry blossoms just coming into bloom.

More of what I'm up to lately:

Wearing sunglasses, because I'm cool.....

Reading magazines (the seed catalog is my favorite).....

Sitting in boxes - always great fun.....

and eating beets! (Can you tell?) At first they made me gag, but now I like them.

Look out world! She's crawling!

Last weekend we visited our friends in D.C. (pictures of that visit to come). Over the weekend, Satchel learned how to crawl - a sort of commando style crawl on her elbows. We think that she was encouraged by Sarah, our friends' 18 month old daughter, who was walking. Satchel suddenly saw a new world of possibilities and decided it was time to get moving. Here she is in action at home (notice her newly cut bangs).

Satchel also discovered that she can sit up (though she hasn't yet figured out how to get back down on all fours again from sitting, so she'll either cry out until she falls over or someone comes to help her). Now that she's sitting up, her two favorite toys are the rattle and the shaker egg which she likes to use simultaneously if she can manage it.

Satchel's Baptism

A couple of weeks ago, Satchel was baptized at Wicker Park Grace. It was the church's first baptism and it was an incredibly beautiful service. We were both humbled and overjoyed at the excitement that the community shared with us in welcoming Satchel into the community. Here are some shots from the weekend. Almost all taken by others (thanks Nick and Grammie!).

Folks in the community made a special baptismal banner for the occasion.

Children's time - bringing and preparing the elements for the baptism.

Satchel didn't make a peep through the whole thing.

Remembering our baptisms.

Satchel is wearing the same baptismal dress that her great great grandfather wore.

With Grammie, Auntie Meredith, Auntie Michelle, and Uncle Jeff after the baptism.

Shots from the rest of the weekend:

Lots of reading:

A trip to the cultural center:

And lunch out at a Japanese restaurant:

The best toy at any restaurant is the napkin. We always leave a pile of shredded napkins behind at every restaurant we visit. We're sure to leave a generous tip along with it.