California visit

Last weekend we traveled to the Bay Area. Dana participated in a moot court competition, and Alex and I tagged along.

Alex is a very good traveler.

Alex and Mr. Bear peruse the drink selection

Alex picked an orange juice + soda water mix

Mr. Bear chose a screwdriver

On Friday night, Dana and I had a night out with her Aunt Josie and Uncle Armand. It was a rare night out without Alex and we really enjoyed seeing Josie and Armand, and eating at Mario's Italian Restaurant We had a wonderful meal and spent the evening catching up. Naturally, I forgot to take pictures...

After the Moot Court competition, and our short stay in Palo Alto, were over, we drove out to Stockton to visit Ryan, Heather and Rowan. To our surprise and delight, Rowan is a big boy already! He's nearly as big as Alex, and already walking and talking at 15 months. Alex and Rowan had a good time playing with trains, trucks, cars, balls, etc..

Rowan is on the left, Alex on the right

On Sunday, Grandma and Grandpa hosted an outstanding brunch where we saw Jean, Grove, cousin Keith, Sam, Maryo, Kristin, and others. Again, no pictures. In fact I was distracted for about 45 minutes trying to convince Alex to take a nap. He finally did, and slept for a good 2 hours, which made our trip home much more enjoyable for everyone.

Alex's last 2nd Birthday Party

Alex blowing out his 2 candles

Yesterday we celebrated Alex's 2nd birthday for the final time. He has had at least 3 "official" birthday parties before, during, and now after his real birthday.

"The boys" - Lucas, trying to hold Max, Wes and Alex

This was a big party with everyone we could think of who knows Alex. Ryanne and Lucas were there, of course, and Eric and Melissa and baby Julianna, and Priya and her family, and several of our neighbors including Bob and Marion, and Steve and his daughters Autumn and Abby. Max and Wesley and their moms came too. It was a full house, to say the least.

Mandy, Tyr, Autumn, Abby and Steve

Everyone waiting for the cake and ice cream!

Ryanne and Alex

Julianna and her Dad Eric

Earlier in the day, our neighbor 2 doors down was having her 2nd birthday party too. Maebe Rose is just a couple of weeks younger than Alex. Her parents moved in just after she was born, but then had to spend several months away to help a sick relative. Now they're back, and Alex and Maebe are at just the right age to start playing together. I hope we can trade lots of play dates. It's hard to beat having a close neighbor as a friend.

In other news, Dana is doing very well with baby #2. No significant discomfort, or at least none that she is complaining about.

The weather has been unseasonably warm, with highs for several weeks now in the 60s and even some days in the 70s last week. We keep expecting another big storm, but so far, so good. If past years are any indication, we will get at least one more big snow, probably around Dana's birthday.

Next weekend we are going to the Bay Area for Dana's Moot Court competition. Alex will be hanging out with his grandma and grandpa while we're there. We also hope to see Dana's aunt Josie and family, and Ryan, Heather and Rowan. I'll do my best to take lots of pictures.

It's a Girl!

This morning we got up early and stopped for dough-ees on the way through Longmont to the hospital. We wanted the new baby to be all bouncy for the big picture show so that it wouldn't hide any of its bits and pieces.


You wouldn't know it from the pictures (except you, Aunt Sarah), but they tell us it's definitely a girl. Believe it or not, the picture above is one of the few that are even marginally recognizable. I'll look through the DVD again to see if I can pick out some others, but it might have to wait for a later photo shoot. For all I know, the sonogram tech could have been showing us pictures of Jello salad.

But all the signs are normal and healthy. She's bolted on in the right place, she's got a strong heartbeat, she's very flexible, and a little bit shy like her brother was.