Wednesday, December 30, 2009

For Dahlia...

Mommy says she promises to post pictures of our trip to Maryland (October), Halloween, and Christmas when she gets back from visiting Minnesota in the dead of winter. She always says this with a very unpleasant tone or sighs after. She also says we don't have any Thanksgiving photos because we decided to take a 2 hour nap on the floor of Grandma's den during the middle of our celebration.

Friday, September 18, 2009

My Birthday (aka Mommy & Daddy's Anniversary) part 3

Later that night, Mommy & Daddy (tried) to take me out to dinner for my birthday and their anniversary. We went to Buca di Beppo - a vibrant and tasty Italian family dining restaurant - where Mommy's favorite thing to eat is green beans. I wasn't very fond of any of the food they ordered. I also decided that I would rather run around the bar and outside (where I proceeded to take a head dive INTO A WALL) than sit with Mommy or Daddy. For some reason they decided that the 3 of us would no longer be going out to dinner together...

Happy Anniversary Mommy & Daddy!

My Birthday part 2

On my actual birthday, Daddy took the day off to hang out with Mommy & I (it was also their 5th anniversary so I guess he wanted to make her day a bit easier). Where did we go? The San Diego Zoo! I had never been to the actual zoo so Mommy thought it was a good time to go.
First, we went to visit the giraffes. Their new enclosure is so much nicer and lets little kids like me take a real close look. Mommy wished she had her big camera. I was still sleepy from my nap so I wasn't very excited to see them.
Next, we took Daddy to see the Pandas. He had never seen the ones at our zoo, just the ones in Washington D.C. Mommy held me up so I could see Zhen Zhen eat her bamboo. Mommy also told me that a mommy panda just had a baby boy!

Finally, we walked through the next exhibit Elephant Odyssey. It had to many neat things to touch and look at! Mommy was in total nerd form and was telling me all about the statues as well as the live animals. I was really impressed with the Mammoth statue (looking up at the tusks and trunk) and Mommy showed me all the sharp teeth that the big kitty had (Saber-Toothed Lion). The actual animals that I saw included African Lions, an African Elephant getting a manicure, a Secretary Bird, and California Condors (Mommy used to research these birds at for the zoo's conservation program). It was great because Mommy & Daddy just let me walk around and didn't try to strap me in my stroller. I want to walk and run EVERYWHERE now!

My Birthday part 1

Mommy (and Daddy) threw me an EXCELLENT first birthday party complete with guests, food, drinks, and cake of course! I got the hang of opening presents rather quickly and the real treat was playing with the paper and boxes everything came in.


I also got a whole cake from Costco to eat and share with all of my friends. At first I wasn't too thrilled with the idea. It was funny looking and mushy - also, Mommy reeled me in and put me in my high chair to eat it which I was NOT a fan of at all. Once Mommy picked me up I decided the cake was actually pretty tasty.


Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Ventura & the Greats

Last week Mommy and I traveled up the coast to Ventura to visit my great grandparents and my great auntie Chinh and great uncle Greg. Grandpa John came with us too. The best part about the trip was that I got to chase a dog around all day long! She wasn't too fond of me though...I guess I made too much noise or something. Mommy thought the best part was the weather. While warm in the mid-80s, it was much nicer than the current weather at our house (mid-80s inside the house, ranging up to 100 outside).

Everyone was delighted to see me walk. I also impressed them with my throwing prowess and very toothy smiles. One afternoon, we all went for a walk to the park where Mommy and Auntie took me down the slide and let me splash in the pond. Not quite the same as a pool, but still nice and refreshing!

Friday, August 7, 2009

Look Out World...

I am now technically a toddler. Check it out.


And yes, those are supposed to be shorts I'm wearing but unfortunately I seem to have inherited Mommy's short, strong legs.

Mommy says she needs to get some video of me practicing throw-ins. I can even pick up her big person ball while standing and toss it! However, I haven't quite got the hang of kicking the ball yet. Next step on my agenda: RUNNING!!!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Spinning, Standing, & Stepping

Here are a couple videos Daddy took of me. The first one is this crazy sit and spin move I do when I'm happy or excited.


This second one is me using my musical play table as a walker. Look at me go!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Birthday Party!

A couple of weekends ago I went to my "cousin" Kahlie's birthday party. She turned 1 and is such a big girl now! We bought her some very stylish Adidas apparel (blues and greens of course) and had a lot of fun at the party.

Mostly we played in the bouncy when the bigger kids weren't in it and Mommy even took me down the bouncy slide a couple of times! I think I liked it...I didn't scream or cry so Mommy took that as a good sign.

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Mischeivious



I've been up to a lot of no good lately despite Mommy trying to keep me busy. We are trying to go swimming at least a couple days a week now that Grandpa's pool is done. Too bad the May grey weather has put a temporary damper on that situation - I'm hoping June isn't as gloomy!

Daddy and I also accompanied Mommy to help her coach her little girls at their first soccer tournament. She coached 8 games (2 teams, 4 games each) over a 2 day period. The girls played amazing while Daddy and I hung out. Check out my sunscreen fauxhawk and the piece of licorice Daddy seemed to think it was ok for me to eat.



I am also crawling EVERYWHERE and have figured out how to pull myself up - on the couch, on the chairs, against the sliding glass doors, using mommy's legs, on my toys, and even on the stairs. Mommy has her hands full once again - she needs to be careful what she wishes for!


Saturday, May 16, 2009

Just Keep Swimming...

Mommy signed me up for swim lessons!  I go once a week to my official swim lesson at a very nice and warm indoor pool.  We sing songs and splash and eventually I'll even get to go under the water.  Here is a picture of me and Mommy at our first lesson:



Also, just in time for summer, Grandpa John's pool got completed and heated!  So, on days I don't have lessons, I can go splash around with him and Mommy's cousin Rachel in that pool - although it is outdoors (sunscreen - makes for a slippery baby but a REALLY cute faux hawk) and a wee bit cooler than our lesson pool.  So far I have only gone in the small pool (unheated hot tub) because the big pool was not done heating up.


Although you can't see them, I have two very cute pairs of swim trunks: a Quiksilver pair (because, yes, I am a blonde-haired blue-eyed California surfer boy) and a Finding Nemo pair.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms we know!  Here is a photo of what I got Mommy for her first official Mother's Day:
Daddy helped me pick it out.  I think it's more for me, but we have fun playing together.  She makes the engine rumble and I spin the tires or chew on the lights.  Then Mommy will roll it across the floor to see if I'll go get it.  Most of the time I'm too lazy to scoot after it and just find another toy that is closer to where I'm sitting.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Tidbits

So Mommy once again realized how lazy she had gotten at updating my blog and figured there were plenty of things going on with me to tell everyone about now that I'm 7 1/2 months old.

I made my first trip to a major soccer tournament last month when Bubba was playing State Cup out in Lancaster.  Mommy hated Lancaster.  I wasn't such a big fan either since it was super windy and cold - and a 3 hour drive each way.


Mommy and Grandpa John also took me to Sea World for the first time.  I wasn't nearly as impressed with the animals as I was with all the other kids running around.  Also Mommy and Grandpa completely failed at taking any adorable pictures with the exception of my first experience with a starfish.  Mommy had even faux-hawked my hair with sunscreen!  Oh well, next time.

And most importantly I am mobile!  I can effectively scoot forward pulling (mostly) and pushing myself towards something I want.  My main problem at this point is that I really just want to walk, so I'll get up on my hands and the soles of my feet, but then have no clue what to do next.  I see Mommy and Grandpa crawling around to show me what to do but I think they're silly since they can just get up and walk.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

1/2

As of St. Patrick's Day I was officially 1/2 years old!  We didn't do anything to celebrate so here are some recent photos of me looking adorable while playing, eating, and just hanging out.

Playing in my jumperoo and kicking the ball on one of my playmats!

Contrary to what Mommy says, I do sleep!

In my JJ Cole outfit at the Helix soccer banquet and trying my first bite of sweet potatoes.

Actually for my birthday, we went north to Point Mugu/Port Hueneme/Ventura for Daddy's work and to visit the Platz family.  Auntie Chinh was smitten and the Great Grandparents were super impressed with how strong I already am!

Friday, February 20, 2009

FOOD!



Tonight, after getting the go ahead from our pediatrician, I tried my very first "solid" meal of rice cereal.  And of course, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!!  Check out the video (above) and pictures (below) of me and mommy making a complete mess while I sit on the dining room table in my Bumbo.  Daddy did an excellent job recording the event.

     

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Rollin'

We haven't been up to a whole lot lately.  Mostly just coaching and trying to figure out a daily routine including naps and sleep.  I still want to eat every 3 hours (this includes during the night) so Mommy gets frustrated with the lack of consistency.  Even so I still have time to hang out with my boys:Mommy and Daddy also realized that I love to hang out upside down!  I can be in the midst of a good screaming session and burst out laughing if they just invert me.  Here are some photos of me playing and getting tickled on Daddy's lap:

I am also figuring out how to roll from my back to my tummy.  I know Mommy likes to put me on my tummy, and that when I'm in that position I can push myself up and try to push off stuff with my legs, but I still don't go anywhere.  Ergo, I get easily frustrated with the lack of mobility.  Here is a photo of me rolling onto my tummy for the first time (without the aid of a soft, slightly depressed bed) and my best second effort.  No one told me how tiring this stuff could be!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Wild Animal Park

Last Friday, Mommy took me to the Wild Animal Park with Grandma Sue and Auntie Sammy.  It was my first real outing other than soccer games and walks around the neighborhood.  Mommy carried me most of the day in our Baby Bjorn.  I like facing out and being able to see everything!
Our first stop was at the African elephant barn.  We saw a few of the big elephants and even a couple of the babies!  They are a lot better at getting around than I am.


Next we went to Condor Ridge and visited the California Condors.  Mommy told me she used to watch and study them at the WAP and introduced me to Sespe (one of the captive condors).  I wasn't as impressed as she hoped.  They just looked like big ugly birds to me.

After that we meandered through the Heart of Africa trail and saw some lions, a lot mo
re birds, an okapi, gazelle, rhinos, giraffes (my favorite!), etc.  Lunch time came, we all ate, and then went to see the gorillas.  Mommy read about gorilla babies and how they are just as helpless as us human babies when they're born.

At the end of the day I was super tired and started to fall asleep in Mommy's arm.  Yet she still managed to get a few photos of me with the girls and with the famous rhino statue.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

So when you're only 3 months old, there isn't a whole lot to do on Christmas. Mostly other people coo at your Christmas-y pj's and open your presents for you. And apparently Mommy and Daddy didn't do such a stellar job at taking photos of me...Mommy will have to ask other people for theirs! Here are some cute ones though:

Helping Daddy unwrap my present...

Playing with Mommy on Christmas morning

Don't I have the most adorable face you have EVER seen?

Apparently the holidays wore me out though...here's one of Mommy and I doing some after-Christmas shopping at Target. Please note how I am completely passed out in her arms!

I also wanted to wish everyone a very Happy New Year despite not even making it to the east coast celebration. Instead I woke up Mommy at 1 am so she wouldn't miss out too much!