Go Hummingbirds!

Ethan just finished another gruelling season of soccer! Ok, it really wasn't all that gruelling...it was only 6 weeks so how can I possibly complain? This year, because he is just that much older and "gets" the game at least more than his first year, Ethan did really well. He was right up there with the top players on his team (the Hummingbirds) and did a great job moving the ball down the field. He is also an excellent goalie. He enjoyed himself a lot more and never wanted to miss a practice. Next year should be fun with both kids playing!

Surprise Trip!

Todd has been working in San Diego as of late, so we surprised the kids and went out Thursday afternoon to meet him and stay overnight. We enjoyed a delicious dinner at Karl Strauss' where, I believe, we had the only kids in the place. This particular location is nestled right in the middle of San Diego's tech center...so it was all business clientele. Thankfully it was loud enough that no one really noticed us!

The next morning we took the kids to Sea World (thank you to Jody for the free tickets!!). Now, in all my 34 years and after having lived in So Cal for most of them...I have never been to Sea World. So, this was my first visit to see Shamu along with my children. I have to say - I did not expect to feel so much emotion watching these magnificent animals and their interaction with their trainers and the audience! It was truly amazing! I had goosebumps and even a bit of "water coming out of my eyes" :)! I honestly wished I could go back in time, rethink my course of study, become a really good swimmer, and be that trainer out there with the killer whales. Talk about loving your job! We took in a few shows, got drenched in the front row by the dolphins, handled the starfish, saw a bunch of really cool animals up close, and fed the bat rays. This was pretty dang cool! Their big lips suck the fish (and your fingers) right up! What a cool feeling that was and what amazing animals! Anyway, Sea World was a hit and we'll be back for another visit very soon.

Andrew Walks!

Today Andrew took his first steps! I have not been dreaming of this day - in fact, I would've been happy had it taken much longer to get here, but I underestimated how much enjoyment I would get out of watching him stumble towards me with arms stretched wide. He was just so cute! Fortunately, we had the camera close by (you'll have to forgive the horrendous sounds that came streaming out of my mouth-I suppose I was a bit over-excited).

Nothing but a bit of water in my eyes...

Ok - so I have always made fun of my dad (and my mom as well, but dad is worse) for the fact that he tears up over everything...even the Kleenex commercials. As I got older, my eyes got a bit misty as well but I fought like a champ to keep from becoming as bad as he is. After 3 kids and a few additional life experiences, I have fully given up. I cry for everything! I cry even more because Todd expects me to and if there is anything even remotely happy, sad, or tender, he is looking over at me expecting the waterfall. Of course, this is what brings it on.

So today I was watching E.T. with my kids and during the part where Elliot thinks E.T. is dying I notice out of the corner of my eye that not one, but both of my children are wiping their eyes with their blankets. I had to tease them...just a little. How could I resist? But they both claim, "I wasn't crying. It was just a little water coming out of my eyes." Well then.... me too!

10 Months

Ahhh...10 months and counting! Well, Andrew has grown. Not much though. He is my little peanut weighing in at a hefty 15 1/2 lbs. stretched out over his 28 inch body. This puts him at average for height and way way underweight at about the 2nd or 3rd percentile. Oh well. This is oh so normal for my kids. I think my back is my most richly blessed body part as it fares rather well after porting around my children all day!

Andrew is a climber. His favorite is the ladder to the top bunk. Not a safe zone but thankfully he (just like my other two) stays close by my side whenever humanly possible. He doesn't do much "free" climbing, if you know what I mean!

He is figuring out that standing completely unsupported isn't so scary and really not all that risky. But when it's time to move, he much prefers the comforting safety of a well-grounded crawl.

He's eating well most of the time. He's got his 4 front teeth with the top two just wide enough apart to drive a truck through! Hopefully that will change someday! Still won't touch a bottle (or a sippy cup for that matter) if it's supposed to take the place of the "real" thing. This really is not as difficult as I thought it would be as he only really eats about 4 times a day at this point. He isn't starving so if I'm not around for a feeding and he refuses the bottle, well, he just goes to bed. I suppose he'll learn when I'm not around for a longer stretch of time. There are other ways to get the milk!

Andrew loves to be outside...and really, who doesn't? I just need to get out more often! Now if only we could teach him to talk so that he will stop screaming for everything and disrupting whatever small amount of peace I might have in my day! You know, at one point I did think the screaming was cute - wow! Are those days over! But needless to say, I won't ever be over his cuteness!

Rhythm? What Rhythm....?

As I'm dancing to the radio in the car (with great energy, I might add), Ava commands from the backseat, "Mom! Stop dancing!"
"Why?" I ask.
"Because it looks funny." I suppose it was about time someone was brutally honest!
Well Ava, I hate to tell you, but it's only going to get worse and way more embarrassing! I used to wonder how people got to be such bad dancers...you know they ones you see trying their best at a sporting event or a wedding but no matter how they move, they just can't seem to find the rhythm (much less keep it). Well, I guess dancing is not quite like riding a bicycle - you do forget and boy does it get awkward!

Hello! I'm Cinderella.

Andrew's favorite toy (for the moment)...

When you push the heart on the glass slipper it says, "Hello! I'm Cinderella."

I can only imagine his first words....