Baby's First Haircut

BEFORE & AFTER

"Awww...I don't know if I like this mom..."

"OK!OK! I love it!"

Beach Bum

The weather has been fabulous! (Not too hot or cold and the water feels great.) Dustinn said he can tell if it's been a beach day because Bradshaw'll have sand in his ears and diaper.

Everytime I pull out my chapstick he begs for some

THE TURKEY MONSTER

He loves meat & potatoes.

The other day I boiled some potato chunks in beef broth and the way he devoured them I could've sworn his mother never feeds him!

Road Trip to San Francisco

Dustinn & I have talked about visiting San Francisco ever since we moved to LA. We took advantage of the long weekend and drove up.

.

DAY ONE

We opted to take the longer (but prettier) route along the coast.

McWay Falls. Look at the color of that water!

Bradshaw loves to rub noses

To break up the drive, we stopped and hiked along the bluffs. It was very picturesque with brussel sprout fields to the our right and cliffs/the beach to our left. From the cliffs we could look down on untouched little pocket beaches. We were able to climb down to one of the beaches. Along the rocky cliff wall we found a cave full of ferns.

(The cave was really deep. We only ventured about 10% of the way in.)

We were standing on the beach and talking about how romantic it was. Dustinn leaned over to kiss me at the exact moment when waves crashed around us and we both ran off screaming. (I even had seaweed stuck to my jeans! It was comical, because prior to that moment, the tide had never come within 10 feet of us.)


DAY TWO
In the morning we visited my old address. The house is in the Blue Hills and, as children, these hills were a backyard; we built huts and explored and had daily encounters with all sorts of wildlife.
Dustinn and I spent a few hours hiking/exploring Blue Hills; he was very patient with my endless reminiscing.

Dustinn's only request was to see the redwoods so we went to Muir Woods next.

(These giants stood during the founding of our nation!)

Next, we went to East Tamalpais Peak to watch the sunset. We knew exactly what to expect--but nothing could've prepared us for how amazing the view was. (Dustinn & I think this rivals Machu Picchu! We recommend this to anyone.) I'll try to describe it. The peak is high above the fog line. It looks like the whole earth is under this fog line except for you on this rock sticking out of the clouds (I imagine Dr. Seuss could illustrate it well.) As evening came, lights came on in the city and glowed beneath the fog. Then later the fog rolled back. It was absolutely breath-taking.

Most of you know how camera-happy I am. Well, I was so stunned that I forgot about my camera! BUT here are some images from stops along the drive.

DAY THREE

We enjoyed the city...the view of Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, etc. The seals at Fisherman's Wharf were especially entertaining.

Then it was time to head home. Poor Bradshaw. He can only fit in his car seat with his shoulders hunched and head tilted. (We are scrambling to find him a new seat.) But he was very affable despite the circumstances.

Great family trip!

Mr. Watermelly-belly

Clean-up time!
I say "Where's Bradshaw?" I hear tiny muffled laughter.

Ode to my Mother

Birthdays give you a chance to celebrate the many reasons why you love someone. Today is my mom's birthday.

My mom is one of the strongest & toughest people I know.

When I was little, my dad's work was in Japan and he traveled back & forth for many years. This was before international calls were cheap or cell phones were around. My mom had 6 little kids (and cloth diapers only.) Did she complain? No. Were we deprived of any attention? No. She made us quiet books and taught each of us to read. She planned amazing themed birthday parties. She made us costumes. Everyday in the summer, we'd lie on the carpet and she would read to us (Mrs. Pigglewiggle, Mr. Popper's Penguins, the Salt & Pepper Gang.) She is the funnest/most playful mom I could ever imagine.

My mom is the most compassionate person I know.

When my appendix ruptured in Brazil...my mom stayed by my side in the hospital (sleeping in the chair beside me every night.) Back in the states, she waited on me day after day. Over a month later, I'd wake up (in the middle of the night) in pain and she'd be right there.

She also saved me when Bradshaw came. Dustinn had to go to Boston right after he was born. My mom drove me & 3-day-old Bradshaw from Utah to California. When we arrived the apartment was empty (no bed, no fridge, just a huge stack of boxes.) She single-handedly scrubbed the whole apartment, unpacked everything and moved us in. (And emotionally supported me with my nursing & cesarean complications AND physically supported me with nutritious meals, big glasses of water and taking the baby for several hours each night.)

My mom has a great attitude. One of the lessons my mom has taught me is to:

Bloom where you are planted.

For example: maybe our furniture isn't the nicest/our apt. is cramped. What can we do? We can keep our home clean and fresh. We can make sure everyone who enters feels welcome.

course, the phrase "where you are planted" does not necessarily refer to the city you live in. It is relationships, job environment, talents, health, weaknesses, callings, etc.

I love you Mom. Happy Birthday. Your grandson says he loves you too.

What a Ham!

Bradshaw has been so funny lately!

He'll do something goofy...and then we laugh ...and then he'll do it more and more. It's as if he knows when he's being funny.

Just little things. For example, Bradshaw grabs a baby wipe and stuffs it in his mouth and then opens his mouth wide for me to see and starts to laugh his head off.

Or this morning, his shirt did not pass the head test. (Meaning it goes in a "too small" bag.) With the outfit wedged on his head he starts bopping up and down and making what only can be described as ostrich noises; and then he can't stop laughing at himself:

This afternoon we went to Costco to get Dustinn glasses and when we put some on the boy he just thought he was hilarious:

Oh and this wasn't funny but I was in the kitchen when I heard a bang. I look over and Bradshaw had pulled over the kitchen trash can and was eating leftovers from a dirty paper bowl and had a wet napkin stuck on his arm. Ewww.

Bungee Jumping

No....definintely not me, I'm petrified of heights.
A few nights ago, my sweet little sister Genny said, "Hey mom, since Lindy is getting her wisdom teeth out tomorrow could we borrow the car and go have a little fun tonight."
"Sure!"
And this is what they did:

Poor little Linders looks like a rag doll. (Btw, these same sisters also went skydiving.)

All I want for Christmas is my...

TWO FRONT TEETH! Both only halfway up. Can you see them?

Bradshaw likes to "pretend" to read

(Or at least that's what we think he's doing.) He just turns the pages and babbles.

Snips & Snails & Puppy-dog tails

So Dustinn & I were picking up a few things at Alberston's tonight and this little boy goes running past us saying, "Mommy mommy I saw another baby girl!" The mom says, "where?" and he points directly at Bradshaw. "Oh what a pretty little girl," she replies.
Dustinn thinks it's stupid and mutters under his breath that there is nothing girlie about him.

We head to the check out and our cashier is a familiar face (everytime we are in the store she says "I love you; yes, I love you" to Bradshaw and gushes about how lucky we are....naturally I like this woman.)
So our-friend-the-cashier, the bagger and the neighbor cashier all begin commenting on our "beautiful little girl." Dustinn corrected them multiple times to no avail. Each time someone says "girl" (which must've been at least 20 times) Dustinn grows angrier and I laugh harder. I'm trying so hard to be polite and choke the laughter that I'm snorting.

Anway, so the news is that our little guy is getting a crew cut. =(

Hike: The Grotto

It's 10pm on a Saturday night--Dustinn's working & the baby's asleep--so what should I do? Post something, right?
This morning we hiked a trail in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Valicia, Kelly, Dustinn & the babe.

There were gorgeous views and canopied meadows.

Our little hiking buddy

(He was only mischievous once: At the halfway point, I couldn't find his binkie. On the way back, I stopped to admire the tadpoles & salamanders in a stream and there it was! Just bobbing along in the water. Dustinn was never very close to the stream so Bradshaw must've really chucked it.)
At the end of the hike, you climb down some huge boulders. This picture peeks into the cave beneath the boulders.

The final destination: The Grotto. You can wade in the water inside this huge cave.

FOR CURTIS: