Meet Walter Owen...

after bath

2009-05-22T12:59:00.000-07:00

bathtime at the island

2009-05-17T13:11:00.000-07:00

obstruction island may 9-13

2009-05-17T13:03:00.000-07:00

fun with Alan and Sue

2009-04-20T14:44:00.001-07:00

I really like splashing in Zoe's water bowl.

Sue is so understanding...

Friends

2009-04-20T14:29:00.001-07:00

Kelly and me.

Kellan and me.

Kellan, Maneesh, baby Nik and me.

Kelly, baby Nik, dad and me.

Jen, baby Zenith, mom and me.

New toys

2009-04-20T14:07:00.000-07:00

My friend Sam got me this cool tonka dump truck.

I'm pretty excited about my new yellow school bus.

Birthday Party

2009-04-20T13:52:00.000-07:00

Mandy and Kellan playing some hoops.

Josh, Ingrid, Anne, Kelly, Nikhil and Stacey.

Soren and Maneesh playing some table tennis.

Walt's First Birthday

2009-04-20T13:43:00.001-07:00

A triple chocolate cupcake all to myself!

Auntie Kathy's kitchen

2009-03-20T10:09:00.000-07:00

Hanging with family on the North Shore

2009-03-20T10:03:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it's bitter cold in Hawaii, like 70 degrees. Auntie Kathy and I had to put on coats, sweaters, and ski caps to ward off the chill.

My cousin Sophie is so beautiful, it makes me want to sing into my toothbrush.

If I brush my teeth well enough, someday I'll have a nice toothy grin like my cousin Blaise.

Papailoa Beach

2009-03-20T09:52:00.000-07:00

Hanging out on the North Shore with the sea turtles.

hiking at waimea

2009-03-06T11:30:00.001-08:00

I sure do like my new pack.

Walt's third Hawaiian adventure

2009-03-06T11:24:00.000-08:00

My mom and I travelled to Oahu for the 3rd time in my short life-thus-far. Dad is going to be joining us in a few days (he had to swing by Washington D.C. to do some work). Hawaii is like my second home. As proof, I finally found some slippers that fit.

Pre-Inaugural Obama cupcakes

2009-01-28T14:38:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Mom

2009-01-28T12:07:00.000-08:00

Mom, me and dad, on my mom's 35th birthday, Jan. 18, 2009.

Me and Ike

2009-01-28T11:45:00.000-08:00

That's a good looking toy you've got there my friend.

Is she too young for me?

2009-01-27T20:04:00.000-08:00

Hanging with my pal Talia Eve (1/17/2009).

Walking at Greenlake

2009-01-27T20:01:00.000-08:00

Me and mom, Jan. 17th, 2009.

Weldin boys

2009-01-27T19:58:00.000-08:00

My dad, me, and my dad's uncle Alan, Jan. 16th, 2009.

I can't wait to draw on the walls.

2009-01-27T19:54:00.000-08:00

Here is the cool chalkboard wall that my dad painted in our kitchen.

Happy new year!

2009-01-27T19:51:00.000-08:00

My parents ate crabcakes and steak for dinner. I stuck with the champagne.

Walt's first Christmas

2008-12-28T09:40:00.000-08:00

Grandma Jan came to our new house for the holiday. Her plane was delayed because of all of the snow we've been getting in the Northwest. I'm glad that she made it. White Christmas is the best.

December 26th - Happy Boxing Day!

2008-12-28T09:37:00.000-08:00

My dad had to work lots during Christmas this year, and wasn't at home. So we waited until Dec. 26th to open our presents. I think that waiting made it extra fun. Bart likes to help me with the paper, as you can see here.

Sweaters from the aunties

2008-12-19T09:48:00.000-08:00

This sweater was made for me by my auntie sue.

This one came care of my auntie denny. I sure am lucky to come from a family of such knitters.

-12 degrees here in Richland, Washington

2008-12-19T09:46:00.000-08:00

Putting on my layers for a brief walk out in the snow.

Mele Kalikimaka

2008-12-19T09:44:00.001-08:00

Hawaii sunshine provides a good Vitamin D boost

2008-12-02T17:28:00.000-08:00

Meeting baby Noah

2008-12-02T17:05:00.000-08:00

Walt goes to Hawaii (11/17-11/26)

2008-12-02T16:56:00.001-08:00

Josh, Nikki and I all went to Hawaii again this November. My parents were celebrating their 7th wedding anniversary on the 17th, and we were all there to attend Julia and Geoff's wedding on the 22nd. Here we are on the Makapuu lighthouse walk near Kailua.

Jennifer, my mom and me.

Blaise and Walt

2008-12-02T16:53:00.000-08:00

Sophie and Walt

2008-12-02T16:30:00.000-08:00

Sam & Walt

2008-12-02T16:08:00.000-08:00

Japanese Maple Tree

2008-10-28T15:09:00.001-07:00

The Japanese Maple in front of our house makes a nice backdrop for some fall photos of mom and me.

However, sometimes I must say no to the paparazzi.

Walt's first two teeth

2008-10-28T15:01:00.000-07:00

Rice cereal

2008-10-10T13:59:00.000-07:00

My mom and dad have started feeding me solid food. Well, if you can call cereal solid. I like it!

Me & my pal Kellan

2008-10-10T13:55:00.001-07:00

Mandy, me and Kellan

Shoes

2008-10-10T13:52:00.000-07:00

Ahoy!

2008-10-10T13:48:00.001-07:00

Here I am hanging out with my beautiful auntie Jessica. Yes, you can call me Captain.

Four Generations!

2008-09-19T08:58:00.002-07:00

Great Grandma Emmy, Great Grandpa Dean and Walt, Grandma Jan and Josh. Grand Rapids, Michigan, 17 September 2008.

Granny is sooooo good at holding babies.

Holding my Great Grandpa Dean's finger.

Walt's trip to Michigan

2008-09-19T08:58:00.001-07:00

Man, I've been on airplanes a lot lately. Too bad babies don't earn frequent flier miles. As you can see, I'm exhausted.

Here I am with Nilay and Hayley, my dad's cousin, who just got married on 13 Sept. Congratulations guys! My parent's said that your wedding was lots of fun. Personally, I enjoyed some pay-per-view and room service at the hotel room with the sitter.

We went up north, to the family's cottage near Yuba on Lake Michigan. It was cool, so I had to wear a knitted hat.

My dad and his uncle Fred caught an 8 lb. king salmon, which made a very good dinner that night. Nice work pops!

There's nothing like putting your bare toes in the sand. I love Michigan, and hope to come back here to visit my family for many years in to the future.

Walt's wooden rattle

2008-09-08T15:24:00.000-07:00

Walt's uncle Alan made him a wooden rattle, which he loves, as you can see... Here he is with Grandma Jan, up at Obstruction Island, on Friday, 5 September 2008.

Four Generations

2008-09-04T08:21:00.000-07:00

Grandma Jo, Nikki and Walt, Grandpa Brad, and Great Grandma Alice - a visit to Bend, Oregon, 1 September 2008.

4 months old - 12.5 pounds!

2008-08-21T21:23:00.000-07:00

Here is Walt, chilling on the sofa, sporting his new t-shirt, which his Auntie Julia sent to him from Oahu. It features the pulelehua (Vanessa tameamea), one of two butterflies endemic to Hawaii. Here is what we learned about the pulelehua: "Its host plants are the native nettles, like mamaki and olona. These little guys weave a chrysalis that looks like a dried mamaki leaf. The young caterpillars are leaf-rollers, which means they cut a crescent-shaped flap into the leaf of the host plant and roll themselves in it for protection. Fond of sunny days, these creatures are most active when its nice out." Cool huh? Check out this site: www.kealopiko.com

new sweater

2008-08-08T12:29:00.001-07:00

I know it's August, but my Auntie Sue just knit me this killer sweater, and I just have to show it off.

Neighborhood Welcome Party for Walt

2008-07-10T09:16:00.000-07:00

Our ultra-sweet neighbors just threw a Welcome to the Hood party for Walt.

July sunning

2008-07-08T06:31:00.000-07:00

Walt's first trip to the San Juan Islands

2008-06-30T07:39:00.000-07:00

We made our way up to Obstruction Island yesterday, by way of the Paraclete water taxi and our friend Capt. Rok. Walt is loving the island scene already. Wildlife sightings thus far: one bald eagle. We're hoping for otter and deer sightings soon. Also looking forward to our friends Anne and Soren, Joan Scott and Theo, Kelly and Maneesh, and maybe Tell joining us up here for the 4th of July weekend!

Happy Father's Day!

2008-06-15T09:48:00.001-07:00

Walt loves his daddy.

Sunset, Sunday 25 May 2008

2008-05-29T12:39:00.000-07:00

Now weighing in at 8 lb. 8 oz.!

2008-05-29T12:37:00.001-07:00

May 25 - Walt getting some love from his auntie Kelly.

Walt's Hawaiian plate lunch

2008-05-29T12:30:00.001-07:00

Dad and Walt

2008-05-29T12:27:00.002-07:00

The Hot Shop

2008-05-29T12:17:00.001-07:00

Walt's uncle Geoff owns a glass blowing studio in Kailua, and he wanted to check it out. Man, was it hot in there.
http://www.islandglassworks.com/

Little Walt goes to Hawaii

2008-05-29T12:06:00.000-07:00

April 30 to May 9th - Walt decided at the last minute to drag his parents along on a trip to Oahu. He really wanted to meet his aunties and cousins there, and check out the surf. How many 3 week olds do you know that get to fly first-class to Hawaii? He could get used to this kind of jet-setting...

Walt's views on George W. Bush:

2008-04-29T12:54:00.000-07:00

He's taking this political stuff pretty seriously for a 2 week-old. I told him to just relax and enjoy being a baby, but he was like, "Dad, I've already got a blog...I know what I'm doing."

Next up on MTV's "Cribs"...

2008-04-29T12:51:00.000-07:00

Walt just sold his Escalade and got a Prius. This Green movement is fo real.

The Zoo - part 2

2008-04-29T12:45:00.001-07:00

Farley has put a vibrating baby chair on his 2008 x-mas wish list already.

Who Doesn't Like the Sofa?

2008-04-29T12:29:00.001-07:00

Walt's First Bath on 51st Street

2008-04-29T12:17:00.000-07:00

Maybe we should have used warm water. Are those jazz-hands Walt?

Walt makes some outings

2008-04-18T15:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we had an amazing lactation visit with our nurse pal Marie at Evergreen who is an incredible person and resource...she reinforced the great feeding that Walt and Nikki are doing. Walt had his first pediatric visit today with Dr. Lenna Liu at Odessa Brown Childrens Clinic. He thinks OBCC fits him just right and is looking forward to seeing everyone again next week. He's doing swell and is within an ounce and a half of his birth weight. Good job Nikki and Walt! After our visit, Walt was sleepy so we had a quick trip to Uwajimaya and Big John's PFI for musubi rolls, pancetta, olive oil, and dorothea with coriander (that's cheese). Don't worry - Walt didn't eat all of that stuff at once.

Do you think we should keep him?

2008-04-18T15:28:00.000-07:00

Pretty sweet huh?

We're Home!

2008-04-16T12:04:00.000-07:00

We got home Tuesday April 15th and are doing great! Walt is a terrific eater for a slightly preterm guy...we're going to see one of my lactation nurse friends (Marie) tomorrow at Evergreen and have our first pediatric visit on Friday with Lenna Liu at Odessa Brown Childrens Clinic (where I worked for a bit before medical school). Keep checking back for more updates!

The Zoo

2008-04-16T11:41:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, Walt is not really our first child...well, first human child. The animals are getting used to the new member of the pack. Bart is characteristically very curious and happy to sleep in the crib, on the changing pad, or in the co-sleeper...He thinks it was really nice of us to get him all this new stuff. Horace doesn't seem to care as long as somebody will still pet him. Dot and Farley are a bit unsure of who, or what, Walt is, but are pretty mellow about the additon. Dot disclosed in a private moment at home that she really is looking forward to the start of solid foods and when the baby might be dropping some treats on the floor.

Thank goodness for King beds.

Grandma Jan comes for a visit

2008-04-16T11:35:00.000-07:00

Walt loves his Grandma already...and I'm pretty sure the reverse is true too. I'm not sure who is most excited about this baby...When I called my mom to tell her that we had a baby boy on Sunday morning April 13th, I think she arrived in about 90 seconds. Mom - were you just waiting in the parking lot all night?

Let's Hope He Looks Like His Mom...

2008-04-16T11:25:00.000-07:00

This is on Walt's second day of life - still in the postpartum unit at Swedish. Nikki is looking fairly incredible I think you will agree (this is Josh typing obviously, although it would be funny if Nikki was typing that about herself). Walt has a bit of the old-man preemie look with the receding hairline and overriding sutures, but we still think he's adorable.

Let's Go Streaking!

2008-04-16T11:19:00.000-07:00

Hmmm, pretty self explanatory. Sweet naked baby.

Wash behind the ears...

2008-04-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

Baby Walt's first bath from one of our incredible labor nurses...

Mmm...Magnesium

2008-04-16T10:37:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, Baby Walt came about 3 1/2 weeks early. This was ostensibly due to the mysterious disease known as preeclampsia (characterized by high blood pressure for Nikki and not feeling so hot), although we think he was just eager to meet everyone. One of the treatments for preeclampsia is a constant infusion of intravenous magnesium for the mom. Magnesium makes you feel pretty horrible (nausea, vomiting, and kind of "out of it"), but is protective against preeclampsia progressing to worse complications (like seizures). The baby can also have some effects of magnesium and that is the look Walt was showing in this photo...wide awake, but a bit goofy. I want to get him a Peter Tosh "Legalize It" shirt based on this picture...

Walter Owen Weldin - The stats

2008-04-16T10:29:00.000-07:00

Born Sunday April 13, 2008 at 0746 AM at 36 and 5/7 weeks gestation

Weighing in at 2418 grams or 5 pounds, 5 ounces

Measuring 45.5 cm or 18 inches