Octopus Baby

Eleanor wasn't so sure about the pony rides. There was a little boy on another pony wearing a dragon costume. Every time he passed his dad, the dad would call out, "There's a dragon on that pony!" After hearing that about four times, Eleanor said, "Octopus ride pony too."

Cracker

 

Don't forget to check for new photos at Matt's new Website (or add it to your rss reader): http://mattlumpkin.blogspot.com. You can get to it from the link at the side of this page, and click the "blog" tab. I'm posting my favorite non-Eleanor pictures there these days in conjunction with my Lumpkin Photography site.

Swing Swing

These are for Shelly Wyers who made action shots like these possible through generous camera sponsoring.

Cooking, Painting, and Going to Work

This morning Eleanor and I made "play-doh." Eleanor thought it was great fun. She asked for the M and S cookie cutters for "Bicah" and "Sisas" (or Micah and Silas for those of you who don't speak Eleanorese). It really cracks me up when she says things like "M for Bicah" or "G for Rarara" (translated: Grandfather).

Matt and Eleanor painted while I was at work today. I hung Eleanor's paintings up in the kitchen and she insisted that I hang "Daddy's too."


Also while I was at work, Eleanor got her things together to go to "work:" a fitted sheet (which has been a favorite toy this week), her purse (from the Northcuts, thanks!), and, of course, her Curious George flashlight.

The above was actually all from Monday. For some reason, the pictures wouldn't post then, so I waited and tried again.

Here's one more funny Eleanor story since you had to wait so long:
Last night Matt was preparing for a class discussion he to lead. He was reading the Sermon on the Mount and decided to read it out loud to Eleanor. When he finished, Eleanor promptly said, "Jesus open mouth" then demonstrated an open mouth. Matt was a bit confused for a minute, then he realized that the passage began, "And Jesus opened his mouth and taught...". Today we were having coffee with a friend and I asked Eleanor what Jesus did. She answered, "Jesus open mouth growl [like a] bu-bah [bear]." We really need to do something about this child's theology.

E is for Nanor

Eleanor is constantly impressing me with her memory. Tonight in her bath she was talking about "baby Ethan." In June, we saw some of our friends who have a baby named Ethan (and Jordan who's almost three). Ethan was asleep in his swing for most of our visit. Tonight when Eleanor started talking about baby Ethan, I asked her what he was doing. She answered, "swing swing." I think people seriously underestimate young children's memories. Eleanor is also very good at remembering people's names. Sometimes she will randomly start talking about someone by name and it will take me a long time to figure out who she is talking about.

In other Eleanor news, her imagination seems to be off and running. She mimics, pretends and narrates constantly. My calculator has become her phone. An empty medicine bottle has become alternately bubble tea or just bubbles (she pretends to pull a wand out and blow). This sheet became her "shower." I'm not sure why, but she thought it was hilarious.



Eleanor's new favorite pasttime is "play puzzles." This alphabet one is a favorite, even though it's missing the letter G. She knows most of her letters now and likes to associate them with words. M is for mommy. D is for Daddy. E is for "Nanor."

The end is the beginning.

Many astute blog readers have noticed that the title of this little blog has changed. With each major change in life we have shifted the blog title to indicate the shifting challenges and joys of each new phase of our family's existence.

First it was "Nintendonesia" (thanks Alice). Then when we were back in the States it became "Like Pumpkin but with an L" And now, well, let's just say the new title is indicative of the shift in focus this blog has taken lately.

Though the name has changed, this shall remain the place for the latest and greatest pictures of E (see below)


Eleanor on campus at Fuller


Eleanor in an apple car with a worm

Eleanor at our favorite new Chinese/Bubble Tea Resteraunt

However, this is not all the news I have to announce. In my attempts to pursue my dream of making a bit of money shooting photographs, I designed and built a photography portfolio website to that end, to peddle my digital wares: mattlumpkin.com
If you are a friend or family, beware you may find yourself in my portfolio (if you really don't want to be, just email me). But you should at least click through to find out who ended up where. Odds are if I've shot photos for you at all in the past, you're there.

I've also begun a new photoblog mattlumpkin.wordpress.com

in connection my photographic endeavors on which I plan to post my best photos taken lately and from time to time. Don't worry, if there's overlap, between what's best and what's best of Eleanor, you'll be sure to see it here too. And for those of you using google reader or some other such gatherer-together of information, the new photoblog has a handy RSS feature that lets your RSS reader keep up with checking to see if anything is new. If you have no idea what I'm talking about with all this technobabble then don't worry. The time you would save by using it would be wasted by the time it would take to learn about it and implement it.

Baby Backpack

Since Eleanor was a very small infant, she has enjoyed being worn in various carriers. We've gone from the B'jorn to different wraps and things I've made. She still loves being in the "backpack" even though usuallly she's on my front. I wish she would ride on my back, that would be much more comfortable. Since a lot of the people we live around walk most places they go, we constantly see babies being worn in slings or carriers of some sort. Today Eleanor found a pair of tights and was trying to fashion a "backpack" to carry her baby around in. I found some soft fabric and made a simple sling for her. She loves it.

Bubble Bath

Coffee, Shopping and the Girl in the Mirror

The other morning Matt and Eleanor shared some coffee. Matt enjoyed his more than Eleanor enjoyed hers, but she really liked the little "Eleanor-sized" coffee cup.

Yesterday Eleanor and I went shopping. She needs new shoes. I found some online and decided to take Eleanor to the physical store to have her try them on. The store had a very small selection compared to the website, so we ended up not getting shoes. We did, however, find a belt, tights, and some giraffe panties. She wanted to try everything on together when we got home.

At lunch time today our doorbell rang. It was the postman with a box for Eleanor. She was very excited about the new dress. Thanks Meme and Grandfather!

Matt starts classes on Monday. It looks like our three schedules (Matt's classes, my work, and Eleanor's nap) are going to work out quite well together.

Pasadena Public Library

We have a great library. It is two blocks from our house. This is so convenient we walk there regularly to get DVD's comics and occasionally books.


Eleanor loves to put book after book on the reading table in the children's section. She rarely reads them because there are so many more to pick out.


When we get ready to leave she likes to run around in the outside courtyard with the fountain.






"Oh. Hello there." Says the man with funny socks.


Library time is fun.

A Weekend at Forest Home (Ojai, CA)

And so it turns out that where we were going wasn't Santa Barbara after all. But in fact, a great deal East of there. Now we had been warned that we were going "South" of Santa Barbara. However, this was a metaphorical South as in, South on "the 101." Ah well. It was still a delightful place and we had plenty of time to spend relaxing and getting to know lots of other Fuller folk. Melody even had time to squeeze in a zip-line ride and I a mountain board ride.

What is a mountain board you say? Think this:






Well... More like this:

Though, after 8 hours of childcare we were exhausted, we all had a good time and got another social headstart on the school-year.

Stay tuned, up next, a post about a walk to the library with Eleanor. Don't miss it!

A Visit to the Giant Octopus

Today Melody and I braved the California DMV. While Melody wrangled with the many-armed beaurocracy of the Department of Motor Vehicles, Eleanor and I visited Fry's Electronics. The space alien theme of the massive superstore is undercut by the tired distractedness of the employees.

Perhaps they were more dismayed at Eleanor's creative mouse restocking strategies.

When I asked Eleanor what she thought the Octopus wanted there in the store she said: "Eat."
"Eat what?"
"Bite."
"Bite what?"
"Nanor."

Despite any nefarious intentions sensed by my child she insisted on returning to the computer section, with tables made up of the creature's tendrils literally bursting through the floor tile. A fun place.

We'll be on internet hiatus for the weekend (not that it will make much difference for all we post) as we've hastily taken on the duties of childcare for a Fuller staff retreat this weekend in Santa Barbara (it's a paying gig).



View Larger Map

Now for those of you who are geographically challenged like I am when it comes to California I've included a map from those nice folks at google who are busy reading all our emails and blogposts and stealing all our best ideas. Hi guys!

E is for Eleanor

 

Eleanor's favorite letter is E.

New Friends, Sno-Cones and a Slip-n-Slide

We moved into a wonderful community of Fuller students and their families. Our community is comprised of families, couples and single people. There are about ten kids ranging in age from in utero to about eight years old. It's a great place to be and we are all enjoying it immensely. Eleanor is loving having so many other kids to play with and fun new places to play. About twenty times a day she asks (or begs) to go to the "blue car," which is a toy in the shared courtyard across the street. Part of the reason she loves going to the blue car is because most of the time there are other kids out.

Today there was a community event thanks to a Sno-cone machine that didn't have to be returned until Tuesday. After Eleanor's nap, we went to the "green area" for Sno-cones and fun. Don't be fooled, the green is really fake grass.

Here's a picture of the Sno-cone party:


After the Sno-cones were gone, the slip-n-slide came out. Eleanor watched with interest as Andrea (4) got a running start then threw herself onto the slide. Eleanor tried to do it exactly like Andrea. Here's the photo sequence:

Hmm...

 

The morning after Eleanor and I flew into this great land, we went for a walk on Fuller's campus. This sculpture is one of the first things we encountered (Matt took the picture when he was here in April). I was a bit concerned how Eleanor would react to this graphic portrayal of Christ's crucifixion. Eleanor is a child who gets upset when reading Hop on Pop because of "sad dad." Before we got very close to the sculpture, two grade school aged kids approached with their father. They proceeded to climb all over Jesus. I was a bit taken aback, but at the same time somewhat relieved that I didn't have to explain the crucifixion to a two-year-old.

The Young Girl and the Sea

 

Eleanor throughly enjoyed her first encounter with the cold water that is the Pacific Ocean. She also really liked chasing the sea gulls (although she called them eagles).