Even Better Than Christmas?

This picture of Annabelle and Matthew (the neighbor boy) was taken about two months ago. I thought it was pretty funny then but even more so now after talking with Matthew's mother yesterday... Apparently Matthew was very distressed on Saturday because our car was missing from in front of the house and he had not seen Annabelle all day. When we finally arrived back home and Matthew saw the car he started screaming "MOMMY, MOMMY, ANNABELLE IS HOME!!!!!" and then followed up with a "THIS IS THE BEST MOST HAPPIEST DAY IN MY WHOLE LIFE".

Water Babies

You've got to love those life jackets! They look adorable on but, I'm not sure how useful they even are. The kids kept flipping over with their faces planted straight in the water!!! Sure they will keep you afloat in the event you accidentally fall in, but it's up to you to work out how to flip over and get your face out of the water... not an easy task for a drowning toddler, I imagine!

Face planting aside, Annabelle and Jack had so much fun swimming in the big pool with their big cousins that they stayed in the water until they were blue. Which was great, not for the fact that they were a really cool shade of blue, but that they were both so tired they fell asleep in the car on the way home and slept through until 9am (I think we will be doing a lot more swimming this summer).

It's a shame about the life jackets though, I was sort of looking forward to just letting them loose to bob around in the pool by themselves.

Sugar And Spice And Not So Nice

This latest meltdown occurred because I wouldn't let Annabelle play with a tray of ice cubes.

Has It Been A Year Already?

Time sure is whizzing by these days... It was one year ago today that we boarded a plane at LAX and headed East for the big move. Who knew what was in store for us then. With all of our worldly possessions hauled away by what would later become known as "the worst possible moving company ever", we set off to start our new adventure. (Unbeknownst to us at the time, it would be at least 4 months until we saw any of our stuff).

What seemed like an eternity spent living with my parents has since faded into a rose tinted memory... Ahhh, the good old days of being able to go out to dinner on a whim (once the kids fell asleep of course). Yes, those days have long since past and we are now almost fully settled in to our own home, complete with a couple of carpets and newly updated electrical.

Yup, it's usually right about now that we start thinking about the next move...

Los Angeles-July 2005

Sleepy Belle

We had The Electrician here yesterday banging around for most of the day, finishing up the electrical work. Because of his loud tinkering Annabelle never managed to take a nap during the day... And fell asleep while she was having supper!

Hmmmm, Lots to Ponder

Like: Why do mosquito's dig my forehead so much?

Or: Do I prefer cheddar goldfish to the original flavor?

And: What sort of antics can I get away with today?

Also: Why is my mother constantly bothering me with that flashing light thingy she calls a camera?

Jack Invents New Use For Exersaucer

I've found him in there twice now, and both times with that same red car! Seems to be his new favorite hiding spot... or maybe a good surface to roll the car?

Puzzle

Annabelle shows Jack how to do the puzzle... Jack looks like he is saying "I don't think that piece goes there".

Happy Birthday Nick!!

Nick turns 35 today!!!

... And has finally perfected his "photo face".



The team goes out to lunch to celebrate... (no one seems the slighest bit interested in the lady with the camera).

Annabelle masters the art of drinking through the straw hole without the straw.

Jack has a good gnaw on his straw.
It was a bit chilly in the restaurant so Nick made Annabelle a special hat out of a napkin. The hat also doubles as a cape.

Jack decides to pack up his food to go...

Planes, Trains, and Motorcycles

We loaded up the gang and drove to New Hampshire for a couple of days to visit my uncle at his lake house. Annabelle and Jack had a great time exploring the new territory, Jack especially liked stealing the remotes and knocking over everyone's drinks. Annabelle enjoyed tossing her ball off of the deck, then pretending to be upset about it so that she could go and get it, all the while plotting a way to sneak over and play with the neighbor kids.

While we were in N.H. we took a ride on the Hobo Train, which is a scenic train that runs along the shoreline of Lake Winnipesaukee. We all had our Hobo lunches and got a special hobo sack as a keepsake. While we were waiting for the train to arrive we checked out the arcade on the pier, and since the kids couldn't work out the video games they spent most of the time on the action/adventure rides.

I would have taken pictures of the train but I was too busy trying to keep Jack from climbing out of the window. We also went on a long scenic boat ride, again no pictures... THAT Jack, always causing trouble, he just HAD to get sick on the boat.

I suspect Annabelle's favorite part of the trip to New Hampshire was discovering Uncle Billy's red motorcycle. She spied it in the garage upon arrival and begged and begged and begged, until she was allowed to go and see it up close. After she saw the bike she asked to see it again, and again, and again...

First Haircut

"It's about time!" I'm sure will be the general reaction. It was about time, I'll admit it. Jack was starting to sport a mullet and, well, we can't have that now can we!!

Who knew that mommy was so talented?

Woooohoooo!!

We're so excited that Mommy is back from her weekend away!!

Oh, wait a minute, no... just the cookies.

Fifteen Months

Jack is 15 months old today. At 15 months he is still the happiest, most easy going baby around.

He loves playing with cars and banging on the glass door to the entertainment center with his little hammer.

He still steals and drinks any and all sippy cups, but is starting to become a bit finicky with food... and a VERY messy eater.

He is becoming more mischievous, he likes to watch me while dangling various bits of food over the tray to his high chair and then drop them as soon as I make eye contact.

He is able to walk but prefers to crawl.

He can say mama (but doesn't very often), dada, car, uh oh, no, hi, bye, go, num num, quack quack, and a few others... I swear I heard him say cookie the other day.

He loves to pipe in to a chorus of Bob the Builder; when you sing "can we fix it" he'll respond with an enthusiastic "yeah!!".

He loves music and does a little groove when a song he particularly likes is on... Some of his current favorites are: I'm the Map and I Love My Boots from the Dora the Explorer CD.

He laughs out loud when the song I know a Chicken by Laurie Berkner is playing.

He loves to laugh and be tickled.

He occasionally throws his head back (some may call it a "temper tantrum") when he doesn't get his way.

He likes looking at picture books and being read to.

He likes to make the "itsy bitsy spider" motions with his hands.

He loves to splash in the tub and have his head rinsed under the faucet. Of all his bath toys, the shampoo bottle is usually his choice of entertainment.

He likes to listen to the recording of my voice on the exersaucer and will often press the button several times until he finds it.

Much to my sadness he is becoming less of a Momma's boy and only likes to be cuddled if he wakes in the middle of the night, which isn't very often...

He loves his teddy bear and falls asleep hugging him almost every night.

At his fifteen month check up Jack had 2 shots. He weighs 27.5 lbs and is 31.75 inches tall.

Happy Daddy Day!

Annabelle, worried that Daddy will get a sunburn on his head, carefully applies watermelon

Daddy consoles Jack after he dropped his ice cream...

then shows him the proper way to eat

Talking Santa

That Santa mysteriously showed up at our house around Christmas time. For some reason he never got packed away with the rest of the decorations and has been living on the back porch along with a strange furry dog that barks jingle bells.

Periodically Jack will try to grab at Santa but, apart from pulling out a few random tufts of beard, has so far been unsuccessful. Annabelle has taken absolutely no interest in Santa, until today...

When, for some unknown reason, she turned him on... and when Santa started reciting Twas the Night Before Christmas in a slow, ominous tone, she stepped back in horror. Then froze.

As I tried to break her from her trance it occurred to me that she could very well be scarred for life. What might I possibly say to her that would snap her out of it and keep from sending her running to the nearest corner to rock back and forth every time she saw a man wearing a red suit?

I did the only thing I could... I told her that she shouldn't be afraid of Santa because he brings toys. Once I mentioned the "T" word she perked right up. "Toys!!?, For meeee???"

Next thing I know she was leaning in, kissing talking Santa and asking him for a new ball... a blue one.

And You Are How Old?

While watching Dora the Explorer, Annabelle turns, looks at me and says "Mommy, I think Diego is cute".

HELLO!!! YOU'RE TWO. Two years, four months to be exact... you shouldn't be thinking ANY boy, not even a cartoon one, is cute. Well, maybe your little brother... but that's it!

Some Jack Pictures...

Actually being allowed to play with his cars while "the boss lady" napped.

Little Man Walking!!!

Jack took his first few steps on Thursday!!! Of course I didn't have the camera with me to capture the moment and have been following him around with it since then... I finally caught him in the act today! Not the best picture but, he IS walking!!!!

*Daddy says: Jack will be donning the England football shirt until they win the World Cup... England beat Paraguay today 1-0.

Playing Together

What is not visible in the photos: Annabelle passing the little people to Jack through the door... Jack giving them a good chew, and then handing them back...

Maybe I Should Seriously Consider "Farmer" As A Career Option

To add to the long list of "random fruit and vegetables discovered growing in various places we have lived", I proudly welcome: The Strawberry.

Other items on the list include:

• Lemons, Oranges, Grapes, Kumquats (L.A. house #1)
• Lemons, Limes (San Francisco)
• Watermelons, Apples (San Mateo)
• Lemons, Peppers, Figs, Grapes, Oranges (L.A. house #2)

*The 8 foot marijauna plant, discovered at the house we rented in L.A. (before house #1), was not included due to it's lack of fruit/vegetable characterization... that, and the fact that it was prematurely "removed" by the gardener (in the middle of the night).

Baby Got A New Pair Of Shoes... And Lost One 3 Days Later

How does that nursery rhyme go:
One shoe off, the other shoe on,
Deedle, deedle, dumpling, my son's shoe is gone!

I was just about to have a good rant about how Jack lost one of his new shoes in Macy's department store today and then the phone rang... It was a woman from Macy's calling to say that someone had turned in the shoe (and saved me from having something to complain about)!

Baby Got A New Pair Of Shoes

Jack got his first official pair of walking shoes on Saturday! He's not quite walking yet but has been increasing the length of his "hands free" standing and cruising the furniture like nobody's business. I think he may be taking that first step very soon...

Truth be told, I had planned on waiting until after he started walking to get him "real" shoes but, it's not often that you walk by an empty Stride Rite
(the most ridiculously crowded and expensive children's shoe store in 18 countries) so we had to take advantage. The sales staff were more than eager to help and even gave Jack a special keepsake album with a photo of him wearing his new shoes... now that's the kind of service we like!

It Sings!!

Annabelle has always been one to make silly voices and hum along to music in an attempt to sing. Over the past two weeks her "singing" has really come along... we can actually understand her now! Her new favorite is "London Bridge" and it goes something like this: "Lon-don bridge is fall-ding down, fall-ding down, fall-ding down, London bridge is fall-ding down, my bad lady". Sometimes "bad lady" is "fat wady" or "bat wady".