39 Weeks

I can't believe how fast this pregnancy has gone by - but I am five days away from my due date now for baby boy #2! I am feeling great, sleeping well (relishing that part since things will be different soon) and can't wait to meet the little guy and see what he's like. So exciting!!!

Andres & Emily's Wedding Weekend Pics

At the dinner table:


Andres & Emily's first dance:

With Keith - it had been 8 years since we had seen him, but felt like no time had passed:


Dylan poses for the camera after a few rum & tonics:


Serious times with Travis & Kevin (at the after-party):

Stanford group pic - Scott, Juan, Larissa, Dylan, Travis, Kevin, Dan (after-party):


Travis & Dan at our dinner table:


More after-party fun:

Juan & Kevin:



Emily & Andres the morning after the wedding, post-breakfast, before leaving for their honeymoon:


Group pic:

5 Year Anniversary

Yesterday we celebrated our 5-year wedding anniversary. After a fun Saturday with Connor doing errands and things around the house, we hired a sitter and enjoyed a dinner date out at George's Ocean Terrace. It was a beautiful afternoon - low 70's and sunny with a picture-perfect sunset view from our table. Here we are with Connor and Kiki before leaving the house (pic taken by sitter Debbie):


At our table enjoying cocktails and the honey-gold sunset view:


About to dig into skirt steak with spinach, roasted garlic & onion rings (Dylan) and mahi mahi with artichokes, pancetta, arugula and shitake mushrooms (Dana):


We told our server we weren't in a hurry and between pre-dinner drinks, shrimp cocktail, salads, the beautiful entrees pictures above and then lattes and a complimentary dessert with a candle (George's anniversary gift to us!), we managed to spend more than two and half hours at the restaurant relaxing, chatting and enjoying ourselves. Next it was off to the wedding site for a moonlit stroll through the tiny park that we marvel at every year for being "perfect for us". It was dark, so I couldn't see very well, but I could feel so much. The salty sea breeze was fragrant, the waves were crashing, rosemary and lavender were in full bloom, and our love for each other was just as vibrant.

Manners

I tried to see if Connor would talk on camera about how much he liked the Easter ham (a whole lot!), but he wasn't in the mood. He did see something he wanted on the table, and showed just how polite he can be when he wants to:

Artichoke Harvest

This is the first artichoke of the year from our plant in the front yard. Last year both plants flourished while we were away in Japan, when there was a lot of rain. This year things are happening later and we aren't getting as many. The plant that gets most of the sun has several more small 'chokes still growing, while the more shaded plant has just one tiny fruit this year. We will eat this jumbo specimen tomorrow night:

Easter Dinner

We tried a new recipe from Smitten Kitchen, Crispy Potato Roast. We added sharp cheddar cheese for the last 35 min. of cooking time. This was in addition to our roasted brussels sprouts and spiral-cut ham from Trader Joes:






Delicious meal, with toddler and parent plates shown above. Dylan and I loved everything, but Connor went totally nuts for the ham. We had never tried a ham on him before, and he thought it was the best thing ever. This one had a great maple glaze, and we heated it in a bed of pineapple and pineapple juice. While I put the leftover ham away, Connor wandered in from the bath with no clothes on asking to "have just one last taste!"

Counting En Espanol

Connor is now counting to ten in Spanish:

Connor Dinner

Dinner for Connor is getting more and more fun. Tonight: sliced flank steak, avocados, cherry tomatoes, pesto-dressed chickpeas, fresh mozzarella, raspberries and blackberries. He is a good eater and really into mozzarella and berries right now. He eats our leftovers from the day before without any complaint - I don't blame him - we are good cooks!

The Zoo

Sunday morning: beach, zoo, then Alladin for lunch. The peacock was putting on a big show as we went in the entrance to the zoo. After the flamingos and duck pond, Connor requested giraffes which we had luck with, and that was followed by a visit to the elephants and jaguar. Then came a request for polar bears, but unfortunately their cages were being cleaned when we got there. On the way back to the entrance we saw the baby hippo, then it was time for lunch at Alladin.

First Day of "School"

Connor had his first day of Discovery class this morning - an eight week program for kids who will start nursery school in the fall. The program is at La Jolla United Methodist Nursery School, about five minutes from our house. We are good friends with several of the folks who will have kids starting the fall, and several others are acquaintances from around town. The Discovery class is for the toddler and a parent to attend together, and was lots of fun with circle time, singing, art projects, snack time and unstructured play both inside and out. In September, when the actual nursery school program starts, Connor will attend by himself two days/week for 2.5 hours each time.

Earlier this week when we were at the beach chasing seagulls and collecting rocks Connor looked up at me with those big blue eyes and said, "Mommy, where do rocks come from?" I said "from the earth," but realized that I need to brush up on my geology before the more complicated questions come. I think our little man will be ready for school in the fall!

Connor's B-day Pics

It was a good 2nd birthday for Connor! Balloons, a new trike, friends singing on the doorstep, talk/skype with family and chocolate cake for dessert:

Connor's New Chair

Here is a video of Connor sitting in his new chair, sent to him from Tulsa by grandparents Nancy & Clayton. Dylan and Chelsea used the chair as children at their grandparents' house. While sitting in the chair playing with toys, Connor had a sudden realization:

123 on Bed

Letter B & Letter C

Letter B:



Letter C: