Weekending

Summer is coming! I always think I don't like it, until I get a taste of it. We spent the entire weekend outside. Here we are at a little festival. There was music, and planting, and crawling on the grass. We ate duck fat garlic fries and ice cream (sorbet, for me) sandwiches. Then we went and took a little part in Jaimie Oliver's Food Revolution. HA!

Did you have a nice weekend? Either way, happy Monday!

These guys

So, Mother's Day? It was actually about these guys. I mean, obviously. Is there really anything else?

If you must know, this is what I wore. And I was spoiled silly with this and this.

Happy Half Birthday

We had a little birthday party...kind of. Six months came on Monday and I made Dashiell a half birthday cake. Made from sweet potatoes and cinnamon, with an apple puree icing. Clearly, I am having trouble letting go, thus feeling the need to make the day celebratory. Also, I did not intend for him to become a complete mess in the process. I set the cake down for a half second, while I turned around to set the candle aside. In hindsight, that stack was just asking to be knocked down. These are the lessons you learn.

You'll forgive me for the ick factor, because that face is just darling, right? 

Happy birthday, my sweet boy...kind of ;)

Pool time

Some new favorites in this bunch, from San Diego. It wasn't much different from last time, except there was less beach time, and more playing at PETCO Park. Baseball season just draws you to the stadium that way. Especially since Tim's office opens into the park, which meant lunch picnics with daddy in the stands. Still, there was pool time. Lots and lots of it, because Dashie is older and really getting a hang of vacation life.

See how good he is at the lounging? Perhaps it's time to think up an island getaway?

That moment

This is what we were doing yesterday when I heard some sad news. We lost a friend, unexpectedly. I wanted to preserve that moment. Somehow.

Playing in the warm spring air, doing a little shimmy to get to the toy.

Rest in peace, my beautiful Luiza.

5 months

I realized I was still counting Dashiell in weeks v. months. If we want to be exact, 5 months comes on Friday, but I couldn't help posting the photos now. I took them almost two weeks ago. Or, 7 years ago in baby years, because I've taken about 400 newer photos since then. And let's face it, these photos are now old.

So, 5 months. Here we are, and it is just delicious. Our two bottom front teeth are in. And that first white nubbin I was worried about at 4 months? That one hasn't come in much more at all. Growing babies can be quite puzzling. Though I am sure he is discovering all sorts of new things that are much more interesting than sleep. Last night, he decided 3am was prime time to practice rolling around. I should have insisted he go back to sleep, but instead I sat up, cleared space for him on the bed, and watched as he rolled all around, giggling and cooing, all proud of himself. One of us wears the pants around here, and it isn't me. He also moves in all sorts of other directions. He spins in 360 degree circles and I find him in all corners of the rug. Though, I can't really be sure how he gets himself where he wants to be. A mobile baby is not far away. Oh, and the food! His most fave thing to go after these days. He eyes it closely, reaches out for it, and tries to get bits of this and that into his tiny mouth. A food lover. A boy after my own heart. But who are we kidding? The boy owns my heart.

How'd you like those? Too many? I'm sorry, I couldn't get enough. Obviously.

P.S. 3 months and 4 months.

When we were engaged

We visited the spot where Tim proposed in Half Moon Bay. It was meant to be all romantic and cute, but really it was bitterly cold and windy, for us at least. But we braved the elements and trekked to the very cliff where I said yes. And there we stood, as three. We left almost as quickly as we arrived to seek beer and warmth.

And not to worry, Dashiell had some serious layering happening underneath that chevron number. Doesn't he look thrilled?

P.S. That day, in 2008. 

Spring is coming

Spring is coming, which means even more time at the beach and the park, doing all the things that are more fun for mommy than they are for baby. For now, at least.

Dashiell, frame by frame

Something for your Monday, because my baby is certain to cheer you up.

Do you love him? I do :)

4 months

Sooo, remember when I said he was drooling everywhere? HA. HA. HA. I was being a silly mom, because now we drool everywhere. Damp babies are the regular. Luckily, we're on a daily schedule with the belly laughs too. Blowing raspberries usually do the trick. As do fake sneezes and a strange sound that Daddy makes, best described as a honking duck. Obviously. And we've quickly moved on from babbling to making loud noises eerily resembling a pterodactyl. Sprinkled in here and there between all the fussiness, of course. Because we're officially teething! There's a teeny tiny white tooth peeking through those pink baby gums. I do think I am more excited than terrified. Things are a changing!

P.S. 3 months

San Diego

Waking up while on vacation is the best. No real need to jump out of bed and get things done. So far, vacays with a baby are good for waking up, and rolling around and playing in bed until it's time for a nap. Works especially well when the hotel serves chai in the mornings. We must have chai. Otherwise, our days went like this: park-beach-pool-lunch-nap-park-beach-pool-dinner-sorbetto-bedtime. The sorbetto was also kind of a must. The blood orange flavor was my favorite. 

This is what our mornings looked like.

Our weekend

Yet another perfectly warm and sunny weekend. We padded around some shops and had a yum lunch while Dashiell made googly eyes at the table across from us, hung at the park and the beach, and generally basked in the sun. However, it is pitiful how little use I've gotten out of my scarves and coats this season, considering how often it's been pushing 80 in this neck of the woods. See? It's not all chip chip cheerio at all times ;)



We're hopping in the car to drive to San Diego for the week. More sunshine, more warmth, etc. etc.

Photos by Daddy, at The Grove.

3 months

I get it. I get what everyone says when they say it goes fast. I always believed it, but now, I really get it. What happened to my little baby? Now, we drool everywhere and chomp fiercely at our fists. We laugh, coo, and make the silliest sounds. We kick our legs and reach for toys. But you know what really gets me? When I pick him up and he wraps his little arms around my neck and grabs on tight. Sigh. It starts to slow down, right, all this growing business?

I love you, little guy.

Happy weekend, lovelies.

Crazy baby

Vacation life can be hard when you're a wee one. So many new things to see and do. Dashiell loved it, but started to look more and more like a crazy man every day. Here he is, halfway through our trip. Look at those eyes! That tongue!

Half Moon Bay

We're home! While we were up north, we spent some time in Half Moon Bay to visit some dear friends and it was easily my favorite part of the entire two weeks. I feel so relaxed and refreshed when we visit. Their family lives on 20 acres of land, on a secluded hill above the ocean. It's quiet and peaceful, except for the animals. The sun sets right in front of you and floods the entire front of the house in an orange glow of light. I love that house and I might or might not pretend that I live there. Would you like to see?

First, my new friend. The raddest donkey you've ever met. I couldn't get enough of him. He was found somewhere in Mexico, many, many years ago.

The backyard. I love the picnic table. Picnics there are fun, when it's any other season but winter.

And when the sun sets, it takes your breath away, and makes everything right in the world.

Can you believe it? So worth braving the cold to watch this.

That night some more friends came over, a turkey was deep fried, sweet potatoes were roasted, football was watched, beer was had, stories were told, and lots of laughing could be heard late into the night. It was a bit like Thanksgiving. Then we retreated to our own little room at the b&b and had a good, long sleep. It was one of those warm, cozy weekends that fill your soul.