Nyquist

Help me reach my goal!Sponsor Me at March for Babies!

2011-04-27T20:23:00.001-07:00

Help me reach my goal! Sponsor Me at March for Babies!

2011-04-18T23:02:00.001-07:00

Every day, thousands of babies are born too soon, too small and often very sick. My nephew Riley was born 5 weeks early and although he was healthy and happy in the long run, the experience was stressful and frightening for the whole family. I'm walking in March for Babies because I want to do something about this. And I need your help.

The March of Dimes champions the needs of moms and babies in our community and across the nation. The money we raise for March for Babies will help:

- support all-important research offering preventions and solutions for babies born too soon or with birth defects
- educate women on things they can do to increase their chances of having a healthy baby
- provide comfort and information to families with a newborn in intensive care
- push for newborn screening and health insurance for all pregnant women and children

If you are able, please help by donating today! Even a donation of just $10 can help. Making a secure donation is easy: just click the button on this post.

Thank you for helping me give all babies a healthy start!

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The mission of March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.

Your gift will support March of Dimes research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives. And it will be used to bring comfort and information to families with a baby in newborn intensive care.
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Downstairs Bathroom Remodel: Day 07

2011-01-01T23:50:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! Ian decided to take a much needed rest today. Consequently that meant a bit less then anticipated was done on the bathroom today. He did get most of the drywall tape and spackel (sp?) up. He just has the closet to finish. Then once it dries he can sand the walls down and maybe get the texture sprayed on. Kyle wants him to hurry up and get to the painting part because that is where he gets to help. :)

~ Christina

Downstairs Bathroom Remodel: Day 06

2010-12-31T23:32:00.000-08:00

Today was all about drywall. Ian got all of the pieces cut and screwed into place. He decided to make shelves for the storage closet out of drywall as well. So that meant he needed to make wood frames for them and then cover those frames in drywall. Tomorrow he plans to tape and spackle (sp?) the walls. And if there's time, maybe even get the texture sprayed on.

I hope everyone has a fun and safe New Year's Eve celebration!

~ Christina

Noon Year's Eve 2010 at CDM

2010-12-31T15:05:00.000-08:00

The kids and I (and Nana too!) went to the Children's Discovery Museum today for their "Noon Year's Eve" celebration. We have a family membership and always enjoy going. The ball drop and confetti they did for the celebration was pretty fun too.

~ Christina

Downstairs Bathroom Remodel: Day 05

2010-12-30T22:46:00.000-08:00

The Bathroom remodel is still chugging along. Today Ian got the grout in, although its hard to tell what the floor will look like until its all cleaned up. That will have to wait until the drywall, texturing and painting is done.

~ Christina

Downstairs Bathroom Remodel: Day 04

2010-12-29T21:32:00.000-08:00

Hooray! Ian got the tile floor in today. Well at least the tile has been laid. The grout will go on tomorrow after the tiles have set for 24 hours. I'm excited to see what it will look like once the grout is in and its all cleaned up. Tomorrow he is going to try and finish the floor and put the drywall in. That's a big amount of work considering he still has his "day job" to do as well. :)

~ Christina

Downstairs Bathroom Remodel: Day 03

2010-12-28T19:20:00.000-08:00

Again very little visual progress today, but Ian did get the frame for the closet doors in. Of course he also made several trips to the hardware store too. ;)

The checklist items completed so far:

- Rip out old sink/cabinet, storage closet, medicine cabinet and mirror.
- Remove toilet (keeping and will put back in)
- Take down drywall from three walls
- Frame out storage closet

Tomorrow's goal: Get tile floor in. Good luck Ian!

~ Christina

Cucina Bambini: Cheese Twists

2010-12-28T16:09:00.001-08:00

Kyle and I (well really just Kyle) took a cooking class at Cucina Bambini today. They made Cheese Twists. There were 7 kids from 3-5 years old in the class and it was really cute to see them all so entertained and interested. The class started with each kid donning an apron and decorating a chef hat (including their name so the teacher would know it). According to Kyle his hat was decorated with snail trails and dangerous snakes. This was a good way to kill time until everyone arrived.

The teacher brought out some puff pastry, wax paper, flour and a rolling pin and each student got to take a turn rolling out the dough. While students were waiting for a chance to roll the dough she gave them a block of cheese and a grater to start grating the cheese.

Each student then got to sprinkle some salt on the dough and spread some of the grated cheese on one half of it (they used both the cheddar they had grated and some mozzarella that was already prepared). The teacher also added some minced garlic.

She then folded the dough back onto itself and sliced it into strips. The students they got two strips each to twist. They were then placed on a cookie sheet and the kids coated them with egg.

The teacher placed the Cheese Twists in the oven and then read them two books while they waited for the twists to bake. The class ended with everyone getting to eat two twists (and sharing some with their parent). They were pretty good and Kyle asked if we could make some for dinner tonight. I think we'll serve them with some pizza sauce for dipping!

~ Christina

Downstairs Bathroom Remodel: Day 02

2010-12-27T19:16:00.000-08:00

There isn't much progress visually, but Ian assures me that much planning and purchasing happened today.You can see in these photos the ceiling drywall has been cut for the closet door frame and the floor tile has been laid down (sort of). I can't wait to see what it looks like at the end of day 03!

~ Christina

Downstairs Bathroom Remodel: Day 01

2010-12-26T19:59:00.000-08:00

We're remodeling our downstairs bathroom. I think the sink and cabinets were from when the house was built and the linoleum is pretty nasty. We're keeping the toilet and sink faucet. Everything else is being replaced. We also decided to replace the cabinets that lined the back wall with a folding door and when we removed them...surprise, the wall behind them is a different color (green). I forgot to take some truly "before" photos, but you kinda get the idea from some of these.

~ Christina

Joelle's 1st Bike "Ride"

2010-12-26T17:42:00.000-08:00

Joelle got a new bike helmet for Christmas and went on her first ride today using Kyle's old balance bike. We drove to Togos for lunch and then the kids and I rode/walked to the park while Ian went home to work on the bathroom remodel. She did pretty well for her first time, even if it was very slow going. :)

Movie Clip:

~ Christina

Cool Cat Joelle

2010-12-26T12:36:00.000-08:00

Joelle feels very comfortable in her new look. She took a grocery shopping trip around the house this morning in some cool blue shades.

Christmas 2010

2010-12-25T20:21:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful Christmas with our family. The kids got up at 7:15am and found the gifts that Santa brought for them (Kyle got an Ironman Helmet and a Imaginext Batcave. Joelle got a shopping cart and play kitchen. Santa gave them an easel to share.). Then we opened our stockings and started on the gifts for each other. Grandpa Ian came over around 9:30am and the Nana arrived around 10am along with the Hay and Jackman families. I served a egg/sausage/potato casserole and some coffee cake from Hobees for Brunch. The grown-ups did a white elephant gift exchange this year which was a fun change. The kids exhausted themselves and everyone left around 12:30pm. Shea and Lauren stopped by for some coffee cake and "Christmas Box" around 3:30pm. We hope everyone had as joyful and exciting a Christmas as we had. We are so thankful. We hope to see you in the New Year!

Movie Clip: Christmas Box

Apple Picking at Gizdich Ranch

2010-09-27T22:21:00.000-07:00

The Las Madres South Valley 2007 Playgroup had a field trip to Gizdich Ranch to do some apple picking. Afterwards we ate a picnic lunch and played among the hay bales. It was a fun...and hot...morning.

~ Christina

Tahoe September 2010

2010-09-13T21:45:00.000-07:00

We took a last minute trip to Tahoe for a three day weekend. The kids and I drove up Friday morning in a caravan with my Dad and Lorraine and Ian met us up there Saturday afternoon. We attempted to see the Reno Balloon Races Saturday morning but got there too late and only saw the last couple go up. The kids thought it was cool though. Looking forward to more trips up to the cabin next Spring.

~ Christina

Oakland Zoo

2010-08-28T16:21:00.000-07:00

We had a great time with the kids and Hay & Jackman families at the Oakland Zoo.

Into the great wide open...

2010-07-09T08:02:00.000-07:00

Ian left this morning for a bike ride to San Luis Obispo. I hope he has a fun and SAFE time! See you on Sunday Ian!

~ Christina

Tahoe July 2010

2010-07-07T08:14:00.000-07:00

We had a great time up at my Dad's cabin in Tahoe. We went for bike rides, a hike along the Rubicon Trail, saw fireworks, played on playgrounds, gambled at the casinos (and went home ahead), threw rocks in the water, played in the sand, visited with Shea, Lauren and Big Ian, went for a pony ride, foraged for wood, walked the neighborhood, ate in yummy restaurants...All-in-all a great few days. Thanks Dad for letting us stay up there!

I Can Feed Myself!

2010-06-24T13:42:00.001-07:00

Joelle has been showing a desire to use a spoon and feed herself for a while now but I've held off because I know how messy this process is going to be. Here are some photos and a video of her first attempt...before I had to put her in the sink and wash her down from head to toe.

~ Christina

Water Play

2010-06-22T19:24:00.000-07:00

We turned our slide into a waterslide this afternoon and Joelle played at the watertable for the first time. We also turned the sprinklers on to cool off. Summer is finally here!

Father's Day 2010

2010-06-22T19:18:00.000-07:00

I hope Ian had a great Father's Day this year. He got to sleep in and we brought him a Jamba Juice smoothie and oatmeal for breakfast. It's the least we could do to show him what an amazing Father we think he is. We went on a bike ride in the afternoon (Joelle's 1st!) and met-up with Ian Sr. for dinner. All-in-all a nice, relaxing day.

Joelle's 1st Birthday Party

2010-06-19T20:34:00.001-07:00

We had a bright and sunny Birthday Party for Joelle to celebrate her first year.

Baja 2010 - Days 6 & 7

2010-05-25T16:07:00.000-07:00

Still having fun in Baja. :) On day five Ian, Kyle and my Dad went on a quad ride down one of the arroyos. Kyle really enjoyed riding on "Scrambler". On day six we went to the bat caves. They smelled awful. Really awful. But it was cool to see such huge caves with so many bats. And of course we have had lunch several days at El Viejo so that Ian can get his beloved fish tacos.

Baja 2010 - Day 5

2010-05-22T17:20:00.000-07:00

We went to an awesome waterpark today. It's about 30 minutes drive from where we are staying. They have tons of fun slides and pools for the kids along with some bigger, faster ones for adults. We had a great time...especially Kyle.

~ Christina

Next Baja May 2010 Post:
Days 6 & 7

Baja 2010 - Days 1-4

2010-05-21T20:57:00.000-07:00

We're having a great time in Baja. We had quite an adventure getting here, starting with the shuttle we hired to take us to SFO breaking down and ending with Ian leaving his back pack - with our laptops in it - on the airplane after we had gotten off the plane in Baja. Luckily he was able to convince some of the airport workers (with some cash) to get his backpack for him. After all of that excitement things have calmed down and we are relaxing and enjoying our time. We've been in the spa and the pool, on the boat, playing in the sand and squid fishing. Here are some photos.

~ Christina

Next Baja May 2010 Post:
Day 5

Skip Hop Model

2010-04-13T01:44:00.000-07:00

Who is that cute baby on the Skip Hop homepage? Why that's Joelle! :) Thanks for a fun photoshoot Jenny. Now we have a great story and 1/2 a second of fame...sorta. Plus that good looking family can be our Christmas card this year. Hooray for multi-tasking.

Joelle's 9 Month Photos

2010-04-07T20:18:00.000-07:00

I took Joelle to Picture People today to get her 9 month photos taken. It was fun and the photographer did a great job capturing her personality.

~ Christina

Monday Funday

2010-03-01T20:01:00.001-08:00

I snapped more cute photos of the kids today (I might be biased). They really love to play together.

It was another nice day today (well it wasn't raining) so after naps we headed to Vista Park to play with Lissa, Paul and Riley. When Lis and I were kids we would ride our bike to this park. Afterwards we stopped at Wienerschnitzel for a hot dog. Our Nana would take Lis and I there when ever she would visit. Good times.

~ Christina

Sunday Afternoon Walk

2010-02-28T19:47:00.000-08:00

It was such a beautiful day that we decided to go on a walk/bike ride on the trail behind our house. It was so nice to get outside in the fresh air.

~ Christina

Siblings

2010-02-20T20:56:00.000-08:00

Joelle is finally big enough to wear separates (as opposed to onesies) and Ian dressed her in one of my favorite outfits today. I took the opportunity to snap a few shots of her and of course Kyle had to get in on the action. It was fun watching them. We went to Costco after that and it was the first time the two kids had been in a shopping basket together. They were hilarious and couldn't keep their hands to themselves. We saw Lis, Paul, Riley and Nana on our way to the register and so we all had lunch together at Chevys. On the way back to the car Kyle found a "tunnel" to crawl through but unfortunately he was too big to fit.

~ Christina

Joelle Tried Peas

2010-02-05T11:30:00.000-08:00

We're moving along in our quest to introduce Joelle to food. This morning she had peas for the first time and I captured the experience on video. How do you think she felt about them?

~ Christina

Trip to the Park

2010-01-29T21:55:00.000-08:00

Kyle, Joelle and I went to the park today. Kyle rode his new red bike and Joelle toke a ride in the stroller without the car seat. Once at the park Joelle went in the swing for the first time and Kyle showed me how he can climb the wall "ALL BY MYSELF"! I can't wait for the spring and more sunny days.

~ Christina

IHOP & California Academy of Sciences

2010-01-03T20:05:00.000-08:00

Sunday morning we woke up (after a horrible nights sleep, noisy guests in the courtyard until 2am), checked out of the hotel, stopped for a quick sit in the courtyard fire pit lounge area, had breakfast at IHOP and then drove over to the California Academy of Sciences. Most of the exhibits prohibited photography, but I got a photo of the dino bones. Kyle really enjoyed the coral reef exhibit. They had cards with photos of some of the fish in the tank and Kyle and I sat and tried to find each of them. It was fun. On teh drive home Kyle (and Joelle) crashed out. I might have dozed a bit too. ;)

~ Christina

Exploratorium & Rainforest Cafe

2010-01-02T19:50:00.000-08:00

We decided at the last minute (as in the night before) to take a trip up to San Francisco this weekend. We booked Saturday night at the Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf. That day we went to the Exploratorium, to the hotel for a nap, and then to Fisherman's Wharf for some sightseeing and dinner at the Rainforest Cafe. It was a great day!

~ Christina

Bike Ridin'

2010-01-01T19:44:00.000-08:00

Santa (with some help from Kyle's Uncle Ryan) brought Kyle an awesome red bike for Christmas. We put the training wheels on until Kyle gets comfortable with pedaling - he also has a push bike that he can balance and steer well, but it doesn't have pedals. So far we've made many trips around the court and to the local park.

~ Christina

CDM Noon Year's Eve

2009-12-31T22:31:00.000-08:00

We went to the Children's Discovery Museum today and they had a Noon Year's Eve celebration. They did a countdown and a ball drop after which they dropped confetti. Kyle LOVED the confetti. It was pretty cute. Of course he loved all of the museum exhibits too.

Happy New Year!

P.S. Here is a cute photo of Joelle trying on her Daddy's hat.

~ Christina

Joelle's 2nd Day Eating

2009-12-30T08:58:00.001-08:00

I managed to get some better photos on Joelle's second day eating. She had rice cereal again today. This time she was a more active participant, she kept trying to grab the spoon and shove it in her mouth.

~ Christina

Joelle's First Food - Rice Cereal

2009-12-29T10:09:00.000-08:00

Joelle had rice cereal for the first time today. Didn't get too many photos (we'll have to take more tomorrow). But here is what we have.

~ Christina

Thanks Mandi!

2009-12-23T19:02:00.000-08:00

I could probably start each week saying that. My friend Mandi is awesome! Seriously. She is extremely generous, very thoughtful, really smart, exceptionally funny and patiently kind. Her parents are pretty great too. What has brought about this latest thank you (in a string of many)? She brought Joelle and Kyle pretty cool Christmas gifts. Joelle received some adorable clothes and Kyle got a SpaceFrame Builders Kit. He (and Ian) have had so much fun building cool forts. Kyle's favorite though is a puppet theater. My Mom stopped by for a visit and was cajoled into performing a puppet show.

Thanks Mandi!

~ Christina

Joelle Models for Jenny

2009-12-19T22:39:00.000-08:00

One of Ian's college roommates, the very talented photographer Jenny Pfeiffer, needed an infant model for a photoshoot for SkipHop. We didn't have anything to do that day so we met Jenny, a "Dad" and a "Mom" model and jenny's assistant at a park in Oakland. Jenny gave me a CD with some of the photos of Joelle (with the other models cropped out).

~ Christina

Yum Yum Chomp Chomp

2009-12-18T19:14:00.000-08:00

Joelle Puts EVERYTHING in her Mouth. Seriously. Everything. Kyle wasn't like that so this is new for us. It means we're going to have be extra vigilant when she starts crawling. Yikes!

Cutting Down a Christmas Tree

2009-12-14T19:22:00.000-08:00

It's a tradition. I've done it every year since I was a child. And now I get to do it with my children. So cool. And this year we went with Ryan, Ali, Tristan, Shea, Lauren and Big Ian. Three trucks and two trees later we were done.

~ Christina

Camilla's Birthday Party

2009-12-13T19:44:00.000-08:00

Kyle had a great time at Camilla's 3rd Birthday Party. It was a princess party and Veronica (Camilla's Mom) had a crown for each kid to decorate, a game of stick the crown on the princess, a pull-string pinata, yummy cupcakes and fun goodie bags. Hooray for Playgroup friends! We have so much fun with them!

~ Christina

Nutcracker Ballet

2009-12-12T19:53:00.000-08:00

Kyle, Nana (My Mom) and I went to see the Nutcracker Ballet at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. This is Kyle's second year going to the kids 1 hour matinee. He loves the music, but he does NOT like the canon shot. :) I wish they would rework the matinee so that it included some of the "dream" performances. Currently (as well as last year) it's just the first half of the ballet. Kind of boring for kids.

~ Christina

Kyle's First Trip to the Dentist

2009-12-09T19:58:00.000-08:00

Kyle went to see Dr. Rabbitz for the first time today. They showed him how to brush his teeth, took X-rays amd gave him a teeth polishing. He did a great job and I give partial credit to the dentist and his staff for being so geltle and explaining everything to Kyle in a kid-friendly way. Having a T.V. with Dora playing on it didn't hurt either. :)

~ Christina

Snow!

2009-12-08T20:04:00.000-08:00

We picked Kyle up from school and took him and Joelle up to the Summit to see snow for the first time. Ian and Kyle had fun throwing snow balls and making a snowman. Joelle and I watched them and did our best to stay warm.

~ Christina

Bad, Bad Blogger! Bad!

2009-11-28T22:15:00.000-08:00

Yes, I have been a horrible, terrible, no good, very bad blogger. I could list off the usual excuse of not having enough time, but instead I'm just going to say that I've decided to just post photos - and if I have time, some text - rather then trying to commit to writing long posts. It will be more like a photo journal than a blog, but hey, its my blog so I make the rules. I'm even going to post date some photos. So there.

~ Christina

Gilroy Gardens

2009-04-05T21:28:00.000-07:00

We went to Gilroy Gardens with Nana, Rob, Jen and Maya.

Las Madres Easter Park Playdate

2009-04-04T21:17:00.000-07:00

We had an Easter Park Playdate at Cahalan Park with our Las Madres South Valley 2007 Playgroup.

Kyle the Builder

2009-04-03T21:13:00.000-07:00

Kyle decided to "help" build his new room.

Children's Discovery Museum

2009-03-26T21:00:00.000-07:00

We had a Playdate with the Las Madres South Valley 2007 Playgroup. The kids had so much fun!

2009 Caribbean Trip - Day 8 & 9 - Barbados and Travel Day

2009-02-12T23:36:00.000-08:00

February 4-5, 2009

Once back in Barbados we returned to the Villa for one last day/night before we returned home. We walked the beach and then went down the street for dinner. It was a nice, relaxing end to our trip. The flight home was uneventful and tiring. We're so lucky to have had the opportunity to take this trip.

~ Christina

2009 Caribbean Trip - Day 7 - Dominica

2009-02-10T23:08:00.000-08:00

February 3, 2009

Well the day we were in Dominica I was in bed all day with a really bad stomach bug. It was awful. So Ian and Kyle went on a hike to a waterfall. This time Ian took photos so I could see what I was missing. That night we celebrated Ian Sr. and Jo's wedding anniversary with a cake that the boys bought for them.

~ Christina

Next Caribbean January 27 - February 5 2009 Post:
February 4-5 Barbados and Travel Day

2009 Caribbean Trip - Day 6 - St. Thomas

2009-02-09T22:59:00.000-08:00

February 2, 2009

In St. Thomas, Ian, Kyle and I started the day off with a trip to a butterfly farm. It was amazing. Kyle got to hold several butterflies - which Ian caught. They were all around you. And they were beautiful. Then Ian, Ryan, Shea and Jo went on a parasailing adventure while Ian Sr., Kyle and I took a sky tram to the top of a nearby mountain and watched a bird show. I gave the camera to Ian (and he forgot to take photos while up in the air), so no photos of the bird show. It was pretty cool though: parots riding unicycles on tight-ropes, playing instruments and doing tricks. Kyle really enjoyed it.

~ Christina

Next Caribbean January 27 - February 5 2009 Post:
February 3 Dominica

2009 Caribbean Trip - Day 5 - San Juan, PR

2009-02-06T22:46:00.000-08:00

February 1, 2009

In San Juan Puerto Rico we decided to tour the "El Morro". It was a hot day, I was pregnant and there was a lot of walking. Enough said. Except it was a beautiful view and a nice piece of history to see.

~ Christina

Next Caribbean January 27 - February 5 2009 Post:
February 2 St. Thomas

2009 Caribbean Trip - Day 3 & 4 - Antigua & St. Kitts

2009-02-05T22:27:00.000-08:00

January 30, 2009

In Antigua the rest of the gang went on a canopy tour while Kyle and I hung out on the ship. I didn't go on the tour, so I don't have any photos. I do have a cute photo of Kyle in a swin suit in our room though that I'll share.

January 31, 2009

We had a great day in St. Kitts. Probably one of my favorite days of the vacation. We had a fun day on the beach, splashing in the water, playing in the sand and laying in the sun. And at the end of the day we were greeted by a cute towel animal.

~ Christina

Next Caribbean January 27 - February 5 2009 Post:
February 1 San Juan, PR

2009 Caribbean Trip - Day 2 - St. Lucia

2009-02-03T20:05:00.000-08:00

These will be long posts as I’m using them as a “diary” of our trip. Check back in a couple of weeks if you want to see the photos that go with the posts as I forgot my camera cable so that I could download the photos.

January 29, 2009

We woke up the next day at 10:30am when our continental breakfast was delivered to our room. Kyle and I ate that while Ian went up to the “Mediterranean” dining room to have a buffet breakfast. I then got Kyle and myself cleaned up and dressed and when Ian got back we headed off of the ship.

Ian’s parents and brothers had already left the ship, ad we didn’t really know what there as to do on the island. We decided to rent a taxi and go to a nearby beach. Of course I hadn’t brought along a bathing suit for Kyle or I, so we just stripped him down to his shirt and diaper and he and Ian played in the water for a while. Another family enjoying the beach offered up their pair of water wings and donut-raft for us to use while they went to go grab a bite to eat at the restaurant on the beach. After the swim we changed Kyle's diaper, put hs shorts back on, and I took of one of my tank tops (I was wearing two) and we put it on Kyle. He looked like he was wearing a tank dress!

We had asked the taxi that had dropped us off to pick us up at 2:30pm, so at around 2:15pm, after unsuccessfully trying to grab a snack from the restaurant ourselves, we headed to our pick-up spot. We went back to the ship, grabbed a buffet lunch in the “Mediterranean” dining room and then I put Kyle down for his nap. When Kyle woke up it was time for dinner again. This was supposed to be a formal dining night so we met up with Ian’s parents and brothers in the “Mediterranean” dining room for a buffet dinner instead. After killing some time we headed to the theater for the early show (8:45pm Caribbean time). It was a variety show with dancing and singing that Kyle really enjoyed. Then it was back to the room to order Kyle’s “dinner” from room service. I went to the “Mediterranean” dining room for some ice cream while Ian out Kyle to bed.

~ Christina

Next Caribbean January 27 - February 5 2009 Post:
January 30-31 Antigua & St. Kitts

2009 Caribbean Trip - Travel & Day 1 - Barbados

2009-01-29T19:54:00.000-08:00

These will be long posts as I’m using them as a “diary” of our trip. Check back in a couple of weeks if you want to see the photos that go with the posts as I forgot my camera cable so that I could download the photos.

January 27 & 28, 2009

Wow, what a long flight! We left SFO for Miami around 11:45pm. Kyle fell asleep in his car seat shortly after the flight took off, but after about an hour he woke up and fussed until I took him out of his car seat. He then fell asleep on me. We slept for about 30 minutes and then I was woken up by a commotion behind me. The man sitting in the row in front of us had gotten up out of his seat and walked to Ian’s Dad, who was sleeping in the row behind us, and had pinched his nose and covered his mouth. Ian’s Dad woke up because he couldn’t breathe and Ian and his brother Shea had grabbed the guys arms and were telling him to sit down. The flight attendants quickly arrived and told the man to take his seat. He kept saying that he was sleep walking and that Ian’s Dad had grabbed him. The flight attendants told him to sit back in his seat and that the authorities would be waiting in Mimi to talk to him. He was clearly very drunk. After that he kept looking back at Ian’s Dad (or Ian, we couldn’t tell) and glaring and shaking his fist. We were nervous to go to sleep after that, so I got total of 30 minutes sleep that whole night.

We arrived in Miami around 8am and got off the plane for a 2 hour layover before getting on another plane to fly to Barbados. Kyle slept in my arms for most of the layover, but was then awake for the whole second flight until 5 minutes before we touched down. He then slept in my arms until we had our luggage, were through customs and were getting in a cab to go to the Villa we had reserved.

We were so happy when we arrived at the Villa. It was beautiful, clean and spacious. We had the beach right out the back door (and down an elevator as we were on the 4th floor). After we dropped off our bags and freshened up we went down to the beach and Kyle, Ian, Shea and Ryan played in the water. Kyle loved it! Ryan, Shea and Ian took turns body surfing and lifting Kyle over the crashing waves. It was a lot of fun to watch. The water was really clear and the perfect temperature. We then went to the resort next door and ate dinner at their beachside restaurant. The food was Ok, but the view and atmosphere was great. I almost wished we could spend the whole week there.

After dinner we went back to the Villa and Ian got Kyle ready for bed. I had arranged for a crib to be delivered and set-up so after a quick shower and a few books Kyle was asleep. The rest of us attempted to watch some TV but about 10 minutes into it most of us were asleep. I got up and went to bed in our room with Kyle. It was only 9pm in Barbados – 5pm our time! Around midnight (Barbados time) Kyle woke up crying. We realized it was because it was like an oven in our room. After 30 minutes of fiddling with the thermostat we were able to get it on and we all fell back asleep until 10:30am (Barbados time).

I got up before Ian and Kyle and took a quick shower. Ian’s parents and brothers were gone (they had gone to breakfast) and they got home just as I was getting out of the shower and Ian and Kyle were waking up. I got Kyle dressed while Ian did some work on the computer. Then the three of us walked to a little store on the corner to buy cereal, milk and yogurt for breakfast. Ian’s Mom had thoughtfully thrown our dirty clothes in the washer that was in our villa, so we were just waiting for that to be done so we could head to the cruise ship. We called the taxi driver who had driven us from the airport to the Villa and he came and picked us up and took us to the port. We just barely made it on the ship in time!

After getting checked in we went to our rooms to drop some stuff off and I wanted to make sure that we had a crib in our room for Kyle (which we didn’t). Then it was up to the Lido deck for a late buffet lunch. I then took Kyle back to our room for his nap while Ian went to check out the ship and hang out with his brothers. Kyle slept for about 2 hours and then it was time for dinner (we had the 6pm seating). The food was good (I had a quesadilla starter and a mushroom risotto main course followed by a melting chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream). Just as we sat down the ship set sail.

After dinner I took Kyle to the kids “Camp Carnival” for a trial run. I filled out the paper work and then gave me a cell phone so that they could call me if he got upset. I said “Bye Bye” and went to go find Ian and his parents/brothers. They were right around the corner playing ping pong. After about 45 minutes, just as we were about to go to the Comedy Show, I got a call on the phone saying Kyle was crying for me. L I went and got him and he went to the show with us. He lasted until the last 15 minutes, and then Ian took him outside while I watched the rest of the show. Then it was “dinner time” for Kyle (we were keeping him on CA time so that we weren’t stuck in the room with him starting at 7:30pm). We ordered him room service (they didn’t have much for him to eat – no kids menu) and then Ian washed him up and put him to bed. I stayed in the room with Kyle while Ian went to hang out with his brothers.

~ Christina

Next Caribbean January 27 - February 5 2009 Post:
January 29 St. Lucia

Egypt day 1 - Cairo

2008-09-24T04:05:00.001-07:00

Sorry about spelling. Writing this on a bumpy road in a bus from my iphone. Woke up at 7:15am. I'll finsh this later when I'm not on a bus.

King Tut Mask

Shea and Ryan in front of Sakkara Pyramid?

- IAN

Fun Summer Evening

2008-08-29T22:08:00.001-07:00

We had our friends Jen, Rob & Maya over for some drinks and a dip in the "pool" for the kids before Ian and Rob went out for the 49er game and Jen and I and the kids went to Chevy's for dinner. We emptied the "pool" that we use as a ball pit for Kyle and filled it with water so Kyle & Maya could splash around and cool off in this heat wave we're having. It was a fun evening and I hope we can do it more often.

~ Christina

Dream Dinners - August 2008

2008-08-29T15:01:00.000-07:00

I loved my first experience at Dream Dinners so much, as well as the food itself, that I went back a couple of weeks ago for more! This time I assembled/made:

- Chicken Parmesan with Garlic Bread
- Grilled Island Shrimp
- Pecan Crusted Chicken
- Tuscan Steaks
- Chicken Paella
- Italian Stuffed Shells
- Gorgonzola Cheese Burgers
- McCormic Honey & Dijon Glazed Salmon

Grilled Island Shrimp, Pecan Crusted Chicken, Chicken Paella, Italian Stuffed Shells, McCormic Honey & Dijon Glazed Salmon

Plus a few other meals for my Mom, sister Lissa and Mother-in-Law to try. My sister Janene joined me and made some meals of her own. And because I had so many to make she helped me make mine too.

So far we've already had the Chicken Parmesan, Pecan Crusted Chicken (tied for my favorite), Italian Stuffed Shells (Ian's favorite), Honey & Dijon Salmon and the Chicken Paella (tied for my favorite).

It was so much fun and I can't wait to do it again next month.

~ Christina

Stuntmen

2008-08-09T21:02:00.000-07:00

Our friends the Milito Family have two adorable boys who celebrated their 2nd and 4th Birthdays with a fun pool party. Ian went in the pool with Kyke and after watching Sean (2 years old) doing stunt diving with his Dad, Ian and kyle decided to try some stunts of their own. And they had a great time doing it. :)

~ Christina

Yummy! Jamba Juice!

2008-08-08T19:55:00.000-07:00

Kyle loves Jamba Juice. It's like candy to him. And his Grandma Jo found this out the hard way when she tried to drink one in front of him. I think she actually only got to drink about 1/3 of the Jamba Juice. Thanks for sharing Grandma Jo!

~ Christina

Swimming and Motorcycles

2008-08-03T22:41:00.000-07:00

Ian's brother Ryan and Ryan's wife Ali drove across country with a truck load of their stuff and a trailer hauling Ryan's motorcycle. Shortly after they arrived we celebrated Grandma Jo's Birthday with a pool party. Kyle had a great time splashing around in the pool with Ian and his Uncle Ryan. Afterwards he spotted the motorcycle and really wanted to try it out. He was lucky and his Uncle Ryan let him sit on the seat and test out the strength of one of the side buckets. The food (Jo's super yummy BBQ ribs and a friend's tamales) was really good and the company was even better. We stayed a little past Kyle's bedtime so his Aunt Ali kept him occupied and happy by reading him "The Hungry Catapillar". It was a great day and we feel so lucky to have our families close by.

~ Christina

Family Backyard Playdate

2008-07-31T20:21:00.000-07:00

Since my two of my sisters live so close by and we each have a kid born in 2007 we decided to try and get together once a week for a "Cousins Playdate". One such playdate also corresponded with a visit from my Dad and Stepmom Lorraine. My Mom also stopped by for a while. We had a great time playing in the backyard (even though it was a bit warm out) and even managed to get a photo where everyone in it is kinda looking at the camera. Success!!

Top to Bottom, Left to Right: Family Photo: Lissa, Riley, Christi, Kyle, Janene, Chloe, Grandpa John, Chica, Grandma Lorraine; Family Photo: Lissa, Riley, Christi, Kyle, Nana; Riley on blanket; Chloe in tunnel; Kyle giving Grandpa John a high five; Kyle giving Nana a kiss; Messy Kyle in chair

~ Christina

Dream Dinners

2008-07-26T21:24:00.000-07:00

On Thursday I went to a Dream Dinners Sneak Peek where they told us how Dream Dinners worked: you review their monthly menu, choose the entrees you want, then show-up - everything is already prepped/cut for you - and assemble the meals in freezer bags. Once home you put the meals in the freezer and move them to the fridge as you're ready to heat/eat them.

They also let us try two menu items and then we got to make one item and take it home for free. I was so jazzed about it that I signed up right then and ended up making 7 more dinners, another of which was free.

I assembled/made:

- McCormick Seasoned Sirloin
- Summertime Pasta
- Garden Tarragon Chicken
- Fishermen's Grilled Salmon
- Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwich (I did 2 of these)
- Stir-Fried Chicken with Cashews
- Chicken with Honey, Garlic and Orange

McCormick Seasoned Sirloin, Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwich, Fishermen's Grilled Salmon, Chicken with Honey, Garlic and Orange

They were quick to make and I was done in 30 minutes. It was really nice to have everything right there in front of you, already cut up and prepped. And I didn't have any mess or dishes to wash afterwards!

Tonight Ian and I had one of the Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwich meals. It was very yummy! I'm excited to try the rest of them. I pulled the Chicken with Honey, Garlic & Orange out to try on Monday.

~ Christina

VolunteerMatch

2008-07-19T12:42:00.001-07:00

I just came across this really great website and wanted to share it. It's called VolunteerMatch and it's where you can go if you want to volunteer for a cause or just help out a local non-profit. You can search by location and key word (such as "kids" or "environment").

http://www.volunteermatch.org/

Anyhow, just wanted to pass it on!

~ Christina

Fun in the Pool!

2008-06-26T21:13:00.000-07:00

Ian's brother Shea is in town so we all went over to Grandma Jo and Grandpa Ian's house for a swim in the pool. Kyle loves being in the water and had a great time watching Uncle Shea dive, swim and jump into the pool. Grandpa Ian was great entertainment too. And of course Daddy could make him laugh the hardest.

~ Christina

Surprise! Grocery Lesson.

2008-06-24T14:48:00.000-07:00

I took Kyle with me to the grocery store yesterday. After we did our shopping I buckled him in his car seat, put the groceries on the seat next to him and got in the front to drive us the short distance home. Once in the driveway I got out of the car and went to the back to get the groceries out before getting Kyle out.

Surprise!

Kyle had found the yogurt in the grocery bags, somehow opened the container, and proceeded to make a huge mess.

I couldn't resist snapping some photos before cleaning up the car and Kyle. Lesson learned: don't put the groceries in the back seat next to Kyle.

Beach Ball Sprinkler Fun

2008-05-15T20:00:00.000-07:00

We're having a little heat wave this week so today we got out our Beach Ball Sprinkler for the first time. We had the Las Madres 2007 South Valley Playgroup over and the kids had fun playing in the water. Then when Ian got home we went out and played with it again. It's a great way to cool off and it tires everyone out!

~ Christina

Back from Baja!

2008-05-09T16:35:00.000-07:00

We went to Baja again this year to visit G'Pa John and G'Ma Raney. Lissa, Paul & Riley went as well. Kyle was afraid of G'Pa John for the first few days, but I think his "stranger anxiety" (or really his anxiety around anyone but Mom and Dad) is in full swing right now. The spa in the front yard and the swing in the back yard were favorite spots for Kyle. As were the beach and the pool. He also loved reading books with Lissa.

Kyle went in the Ocean for the first time on this trip - and he loved it! The water was really clear and warm and the weather wasn't nearly as hot as our last trip there (94 degress this time). Kyle also practiced floating in the pool while wearing a cool wet suit G'Pa John & G'Ma Raney had. He just wanted to relax on his back and enjoy the cool water while Ian held onto his hands. Riley also went into the ocean and the pool for the first time on this trip. He looked so cute in Kyle's turtle floaty! It was fun to watch both of the kids experience so many new things for the first time. And of course Lissa and Ian got to make a few trips to their beloved taco stand. ;)

~ Christina

Uncle Ryan Visits

2008-05-07T16:21:00.000-07:00

Kyle's Uncle Ryan came into town a few weeks ago and we had a great time visiting with him. Kyle & I met Ryan, Ian and G'Pa Ian at the Outback for dinner on the day Ryan came into town. It was funny to watch Kyle's confused expression when three men, all looking very much like his Dad, came around the corner. After staring for a few seconds he was able to figure out which one was his dad. A few short minutes later Kyle was on Ryan's lap smiling and goofing around. They got along really well.

We got to see Ryan again the next day for a BBQ at our house. Ian and I needed some time to get the food ready so Ryan showed Kyle how to work our video camera and then read him Dr. Seuss ABC...about 15 times (thanks Ryan!).

We wish Ryan and Ali (and Shea and Karri) lived closer so we could visit with them more often.

~ Christina

A Day in the Park

2008-04-25T16:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Kyle & I went to Corte Madera for a Park Picnic Playdate with our friends Maile & Ella. We had a wonderful time.

Kyle is usually a little shy around people at first and so I have to hold him until he gets comfortable. Not this time. He walked right up to little Ella and gave her a kiss! So cute. The playground was closed that day but there was a large open field that Kyle could run around in without me worrying that he was going to run into a street. We laid our park blanket out and the kids chased balls and bubbles, read books and ate lunch. Afterwards we went back to Maile & Ella's so Ella could take her nap. Kyle explored the kitchen while Maile and I chatted. It was a really nice visit and I look forward to seeing them again.

~ Christina

A Week of "Firsts"

2008-03-12T16:32:00.001-07:00

This week has brought a lot of "firsts" for Kyle. On Monday he climbed up on the family room couch all by himself. On Tuesday he opened a door using the handle all by himself. And today he used a spoon to feed himself yogurt all by himself. I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!

~ Christina

Kyle's 1st Birthday

2008-01-28T10:31:00.001-08:00

We had a wonderful time celebrating Kyle's 1st Birthday with friends and family yesterday! Kyle enjoyed playing with his baby-friends and Ian and I loved seeing so many of our adult-friends. Thank you to everyone who came and for all of the generous gifts!

Kyle wasn't sure about all of the attention when we sang "Happy Birthday" but after he got a taste of the cake he was alright, if not a bit messy.

It's hard to believe that it's been a whole year since Kyle came into our lives. We've all grown and learned so much in that time. I can't wait to see what this next year brings!

~ Christina

Fun in Capitola

2008-01-23T16:10:00.000-08:00

I had an errand to run last week in Santa Cruz so I decided it might be fun to go to Capitola for lunch afterwards. My Mom was scheduled to hang out with us that day so we invited her along too.

Kyle had a great time crawling all over the sand. Of course he got wet and had sand everywhere, but I knew I had a change of clothes in the diaper bag so he got to have his fun.

After playing on the beach we met up with Rosemary - a woman who was in a babysitting co-op with my Mom back when I was little. It was great to see her again and I could tell my Mom was really excited about it as well.

Once the weather gets better we'll have to plan more trips "over the hill" to Santa Cruz. We had such a nice time.

~ Christina

Welcome to the World Riley Howard Hay!

2007-12-05T20:23:00.000-08:00

Riley Howard Hay was born on Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at 9:32am. He weighed 6lbs, 6oz and was 19" tall.

Isn't he adorable!?! And look at all of that hair! My sister Lissa, her husband Paul and little Riley are all doing great and hope to be home from the hospital in a few days.

~ Christina

Elf Yourself

2007-11-28T20:46:00.000-08:00

My sister Janene sent me this cute elf video. It's on a website where you upload photos of yourself and then you're turned into dancing elves. I made one with myself, Ian and Kyle in it. You can view it here.

I also made one with my sister Lissa, her husband Paul and Kyle. You can see that one here. My dad and Lorraine made one of themselves and their dog Chica, it's here. And I made a Scrooge one of my Dad that you can view here.

Can you tell we're having fun with this? Make your own at www.elfyourself.com.

~ Christina

Kyle's Two Front Teeth

2007-09-19T20:24:00.000-07:00

Kyle's two front top teeth have finally broke through. Hopefully he'll feel a bit better now. I haven't been able to get a good photo yet; as soon as i do I'll post it.

~ Christina

Playdates are fun!

2007-09-05T22:26:00.000-07:00

We've had so much for over the past few months with all of our new Mommy/Baby friends. The playdates give Kyle a chance to experience new people, places and situations. And they give me a group of women I can connect with who understand (or at least try to understand) what I'm experiencing as a new Mom.

Today we had a playdate with the 2007 Los Gatos/Saratoga Las Madres group at Bachman Park. There was a great turnout and I got to meet many new Moms & babies. Unfortunately I remembered my camera after many had already left.

Kyle; Cecily & Braedon; Christina & Kyle; Aparjot & Luca; Jen & Rose; Kyle & Braedon; Kyle; Kyle & Rose swapping teethers;

Afterwards Ian met Kyle and I at the park. He said that he and his brothers went to that park when they were kids and they'd roll down one of the big hills there. Sounds fun! As the sun started to set I got some great photos of Ian and Kyle playing. I love my guys! Hopefully we can do this again soon.

~ Christina

Tahoe in August

2007-08-26T20:43:00.000-07:00

My Dad and Stepmom Lorraine spend most of their summer in a "cabin" home up in Tahoe. The home originally belonged to my grandparents, who used to go up and spend the summers there. Growing up we took summer vacations at the "cabin" and I have many great childhood memories from our time there.

This weekend we decided to join my Dad and Lorrane for an extended weekend up at the "cabin" in Tahoe. It would be Kyle's first trip there - as well as a chance for him to visit with his grandparent's again.

The drive from our house to the "cabin" is usually 5 hours (if you don't go when there is traffic, which would be, like, 3am), but with Kyle we knew we would be making several stops and planned for a 7+ hour drive.

Ian & Kyle @ Gas Station

We took our time on the drive up and arrived late in the afternoon. After unpacking the car and saying our hellos Ian introduced Kyle to the Pine trees that surround the "cabin". Kyle loves to feel the bark and leaves on the trees around our house and now he had some new trees to inspect.

Ian & Kyle Inspecting Tahoe Pine Trees

We spent the next couple days hanging out at the "cabin", walking around and eating in Tahoe City, walking the trail to Ehrman Mansion, and basically just relaxing and enjoying ourselves.

Grandpa John & Kyle on Porch of Tahoe "Cabin"

We decided to head home a day early to miss Sunday traffic - and because neither Kyle or I was sleeping well. I think it was a combination of the elevation and allergies for me and the elevation and teething for Kyle.

We've made plans to head back up in a few weeks. Hopefully we'll sleep better that time.

~ Christina

Linda & Hayden's Pool Playdate

2007-08-22T21:14:00.000-07:00

Today we went to Linda & Hayden's pool playdate and had a great time! We met Linda and Hayden through the 2007 South Valley Las Madres playgroup. Linda's neighborhood has a community pool and she was able to get us all in with free passes she had. There is a large "kid" pool that's only about 2 feet deep that's perfect four our babies to "swim" in. I brought the crab floaty we have for Kyle and many of the other babies gave it a whirl as well. Kyle loves the water, and especially loves being splashed! I remembered to pull out my camera early this time and got some great photos. I can't wait to see these kids in the pool next year!

Christina & Kyle, Karen & Emi; Maya, Jen, Linda & Hayden; Emi; Hayden; Maya & Jen; Emi & Kyle

~ Christina

Kyle Doesn't Like Peas

2007-08-19T19:24:00.000-07:00

On Friday we decided to give Kyle strained Peas for the first time. It would be the first "green" vegetable he tried (so far he's had carrots). To say he didn't like them would be an understatement.

When we put a spoonful in his mouth, he would either make a scrunched-up face and spit it out or he would make a gaging noise and spit it out. To his credit he tried about 5 or 6 spoonfuls, but it was obvious he wasn't actually getting any into his tummy.

We'll try Sweet Potatoes next and see how that goes.

~ Christina

Kyle Likes Carrots!

2007-08-16T20:00:00.000-07:00

We started Kyle on carrots on Sunday and I'm pretty sure he likes them.

He even squealed at one point to let us know he wanted more.

~ Christina

Kyle's Got Baby Friends!

2007-08-15T20:59:00.000-07:00

And I've got new Mommy friends. We had some of the Moms from the 2007 South Valley Las Madres playgroup over for a playdate today. It's so neat to watch the babies check each other out. And Kyle was even able to make on eof the other babies - Maya - laugh. So cool!

As usual I forgot to take out my camera until the very end. Oh well. I got a few good photos.

Jen, Maya & Kyle; Maya & Kyle; Gina & Emi

I can't wait for the next playdate!

~ Christina

Proof!

2007-08-08T10:23:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to get a photo of Kyle's two teeth for a couple of weeks now. I finally got it and have proof that he does indeed have teeth.

They don't look like much, but boy can he bite!

~ Christina

Six Months and Counting...

2007-08-06T19:50:00.000-07:00

We took Kyle for his six month photos on Saturday and decided to take a family portrait as well. Since I had made his appointment before the current nap schedule was in place it was, of course, right in the middle of his morning nap. So we had to wake him early and head out. As a result he was a little fussy during the photo shoot and so I was pleased that we were able to get some without tears.

Our new friends Kat, Brett and Oakley met us at the studio and we all went to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory afterwards. Oakley is such a great, happy, easy baby and it was fun to see him and his parents again.

~ Christina

Kyle Likes Rice Cereal!

2007-07-30T17:42:00.000-07:00

At Kyle's 6 month appointment the doctor gave us the go ahead to start solid foods so we decided Monday, 7/30/07 would be the day. First up is Rice Cereal. It's basically this flaky, powdery stuff that you mix with breast milk or formula. You start off with a really runny consistency and work up to a thicker texture, usually feeding only about 1-2 teaspoons the first few times. Some babies don't like solid food in the beginning and so it takes many tries to get them to eat it.

Not Kyle. Oh no. He would have eaten the whole bowl if we let him.

As it was, half-way through the first feeding he was already "helping" us with the spoon. As was expected he also managed to get it all over himself; which was so much fun to watch.

Right now he only "eats" once a day around breakfast time. Next week we'll move to twice a day - breakfast and lunch - and we'll add another food, most likely a finely pureed vegetable. Then the third week we'll be up to three "meals" a day - breakfast, lunch and dinner - and we'll add yet another type of food. I can't wait to see how it all goes!

~ Christina

Growing Up - Growing Bigger

2007-07-27T11:32:00.000-07:00

Kyle had his 6 month appointment today and its official - he's a large baby. He weighed in at almost 20lbs and is 27.5" long. That put him in the 88th percentile for height and weight. The doc said he was the right proportions for a 9 month old! Then again he also said he was "an exceptionally good looking baby". How sweet.

Since he was getting so big I moved him from his infant seat to a convertible car seat two weeks ago. I also put him in his stroller without the infant seat now as well. He seems to like it better and I think it's because he can see more now.

He also now has two bottom teeth. I tried to get a photo but it's hard to hold his mouth open without him biting you. :| Seriously. He likes to gnaw on everything. He's already nipped his Nana's cheek and his dad's finger. He's like a little piranha.

Well, we're off to a friend's wedding for the weekend. Ta ta.

~ Christina

Hot, Hot, Hot - Baja 2007

2007-06-29T22:49:00.000-07:00

Hot. That's how I'd describe our trip to Baja if I had to do it with just one word, or even three words. Lucky for us my Dad and Lorraine had installed air conditioning in the room we were staying in. Otherwise I think we would have melted.

Unfortunately the trip didn't get off to a very good start. We were pass-riding on my sister Lissa's United companion passes, which means we were flying standby and weren't guaranteed seats on the flight. I had checked the number of unbooked seats the night before and there were still 20 or so showing. That meant we shouldn't have a problem getting on...unless the airline switched to a smaller plane. Which is exactly what happened. And of course we found out about the switch after we were already at the gate (which is after we had checked our bags and gone through security with an infant). One of the gate agents tried to get us on, but once we were seated and they were about to close the doors an agent came on and told us someone with higher seniority (which is how the seats are assigned) was there and so we needed to get off.

That's when my family went into action mode. My step-mom searched for other flights (there weren't any others on United) and found one on Alaska leaving a couple hours later then our original flight. We hurried over and bought tickets. Then United agents directed us to the domestic terminal to pick-up our checked luggage. An hour and a half later (and several nervous minutes where we thought we might miss our new Alaska flight) we had our lugge and were ready to check-in and go through security a second time. At least this time we knew we had seats.

When we got to the gate we learned that the flight was delayed several hours. I was starting to worry that I would run out of formula for Kyle. Luckily we finally boarded the plane and I fed Kyle a bottle while we took off. Flights to Baja - especially those that are delayed - can be a big party. And this one was no exception. Kinda makes it hard to get a baby to sleep, but somehow we managed. And Kyle only cried for a few minutes out of the entire flight.

When we arrived in Cabo we got the "green light" at customs so we were able to sail right through and meet-up with my Dad and Lorraine and Chica. Then we hopped in the car for the hour ride to their house and air conditioning.

We spent the majority of the trip in our room next to the air conditioning, but managed to get out for breakfasts, dinners and a couple of short walks on the beach. We also took Kyle for "swims" in the unheated spa/pool to cool off. And we took him down to the beach to play in the sand for the first time.

Ian also managed to do as my dad asked and paint a compass on the roof of the room we were staying in. I think he lost a couple of pounds in sweat doing so though.

We had a nice time, and my Dad and Lorraine we generous and thoughtful hosts, but next time we'll go in January or May!

~ Christina

Busy, Busy, Bees

2007-06-18T07:45:00.000-07:00

That's exactly what we've been the last few months. It's funny, before we had Kyle and people would talk about how much work it was having a kid, I didn't really get it. I mean how hard could it be to feed a baby and change a few diapers? Now I get it. And I wouldn't say it was hard as in difficult, but more as in exhausting and challenging. Luckily at the same time it's rewarding and amazing and wonderful and great fun.

Once Kyle turned 6 weeks and we had the official go-ahead to take him out (as if I waited for that anyways) and so we really got out of the house a lot. Also, my Mom started coming over two days a week to help with Kyle. That really freed me up to do billing work for Nyquist Design and to actually clean-up the house every once in a while!

While pregnant I had joined Las Madres, a (according to their website) "non-profit public benefit organization for the support and education of young children and their caregivers.". The groups are organized by the birth year of the child and by neighborhoods throughout the South Bay. I joined both the Los Gatos and South Valley (SoVa) 2007 playgroups. Going to the Playgroups play dates, park days, creek walks and other events was another great way we kept busy.

March 2007

At the end of March Ian's brother Shea came out to California for a visit and got to meet Kyle. The first time Shea held him, Kyle let out an explosive poop and Shea decided he could play with Kyle while someone else held him!

Kyle also had his two month doctor's appointment at the end of March. At that appointment he got his first set of vaccines (2 shots in each thigh plus an oral vaccine). Yikes! He actually did really well with the shots themselves. He cried while he got them but stopped crying about a minute later. Then he got pretty sleepy and slept for about 4 hours. When he woke up he had his bottle...and then he got really grumpy. He cried and cried, so I called the doctor's office and they said to give him some infant Tylenol. About 30 minutes after he had that he calmed down and went back to sleep. I gave him a second dose 4 hours later and he was OK the next morning.

April 2007

April was when Kyle started shoving his hand, well fist really, into his mouth. And drooling...a lot. The day before Easter we had a family portrait taken for the Los Gatos United Methodist Church Directory. It was fun to dress Kyle up in "fancy" clothes. And luckily he didn't poop or spit-up on them!

In the middle of April, my Dad and Lorraine surprised us with a visit. It was so great to see them and watch them play with Kyle. We're lucky they're able to fly here as much as they do.

At the end of April, we participated in Pat's Run. I wore Kyle in the Bjorn and we walked the course. Ian pushed the stroller in case I needed to put Kyle down. And our friend Khurshed walked with us. It was fun and I saw several people I went to Leland with. It was like a mini reunion.

On April 28, 2007 Kyle turned over from his stomach to his back for the first time. It was so cool to see him growing and learning. It won't be too long now before he's crawling! Crazy!

May 2007

In the beginning of May, Kyle and I had lunch with Dina, Heidi, Gloria and Gloria's 1 year old Kailani. They were so excited to meet Kyle and took turns holding him so I could eat. We were celebrating Dina's Birthday and it was so nice to get out again with friends for lunch.

For Mother's Day Ian gave me a beautiful necklace with diamonds in hearts that were placed next to each other in a circle so that they formed a flower. He also gave me a day to do whatever I wanted. It was so great!

Kyle and I went in mid-May to get 3 month portraits taken of him at The Picture People. Our new friend Katt and her 3 month old Oakley joined us. Katt and her husband were in our birthing class and I met her on a walk I did with the LG Las Madres playgroup.

At the end of May, Ian's other brother Ryan, and Ryan's fiancé Ali, came out to CA for a visit. They spent the day at our house playing with Kyle and then Ian went and bought a Wii and we all (well except Kyle) played until we were sore. That weekend we also tried to take Kyle into a pool for the first time, but I think it was too cold, and he was too tired. He cried as soon as his foot touched the water.

The end of May was also time for Kyle's vaccinations again. He did even better at this appointment and didn't even cry until he got his last shot. But as with before, a few hours later he became inconsolable and needed some Tylenol.

June 2007

In the beginning of June, Ian, Kyle and I went for a lunch playdate at Pat, Lisa and Clarity's house. Paul, Agota and Peti were there too. We had a great time out on the deck and watching the other kids get pushed in the tree swing. My sister Janene also had a Baby Shower that weekend. She's due in mid-July! Ian watched Kyle for the day and the two of them got to have some father-son bonding time. We also got Kyle and Activity Center and he LOVES it. He really likes be able to sit/stand/bounce rather then be on his back all of the time.

The following week Kyle and I went up to Marin to meet my friend Maile's new baby girl Ella. We had a wonderful visit. Ella is a joy to be around...and she was so light compared to Kyle! This trip also marked Kyle's first drive over the Golden Gate Bridge (not that he'll remember). The following weekend I had a Las Madres SoVa playdate at our house on Friday and then on Saturday we had some of the SLO Eaters (Geoff, Amanda, Jenny & Justine) over for dinner and to meet/visit with Kyle. As usual, after Kyle went to bed we played Wii until we were sore. And thankfully no one broke our TV.

This week Kyle and I had lunch with Dina & Gloria. As usual they were so sweet and took turns holding Kyle so I could eat too! Kyle and I also met Katt and Oakley during the week and went to Petroglyph to make Father's Day gifts for the boy's Dads. We painted what would become BBQ platters and put the baby's hand and foot prints on them. They turned out so great. Then on Saturday we went up to the Mena's house at Pajaro Dunes. I took Kyle for a walk on the beach, but he was all covered up in the Bjorn and sleeping, so I'm not sure if it really counts as his first time at the beach. Then yesterday for Father's Day we did whatever Ian wanted, including trying to take Kyle into a pool again. This time it was a success - Kyle loved it! I hope Ian had a good day.

We leave tomorrow for Baja to visit my parent's. I'll post about that once we get back...and I have time!

~ Christina

My Soldier

2007-03-27T08:54:00.000-07:00

My sister turned me on to this great website "My Soldier" that hooks civilians up with soldiers as pen pals. I'm not in support of the war in Iraq, but I am in support of the soldiers. The website has a link to some neat care package themes as well as a "Starter Kit" that includes a list of items that you can and can't send. And since March is Women's History Month the organization is offering a special opportunity to participate in a program called "Her Story". This program, unlike the regular My Soldier pen pal program is "...tailored to those groups or individuals who want to send some support without making a continuing commitment."

My sister has adopted a soldier and I'm planning to adopt one as well. Maybe you should too? Hopefully the letters and packages we send will brighten someone's day. Because hey, the world needs a little brightening.

~ Christina

Kyle's First Few Weeks

2007-03-13T09:58:00.000-07:00

Kyle is taking a nap so I have a few minutes to post. We've reached the 6 week mark so Kyle's immune system is stronger and we can go out in public more. I say "more" because we've already ventured out a bit in the last couple of weeks. I was just feeling too bored and cooped up in the house and needed to get out.

It feels a little like groundhog day around here every three hours - eat, change diaper, play, (Kyle) sleep, (Christina) clean bottles, pump, do laundry, etc. - repeat. But there have been some amazing moments.

In the few weeks since Kyle was born he has: had his first bath (rather then just a sponge bath), visited Ian at the office, taken walks in the stroller, visited with Nana, gone to the Doctor's for weigh-ins, gone furniture shopping (we bought a new couch!), visited with Aunt Lissa & Uncle Paul, been carried around in the Baby Bjorn (my new best friend), gone to Costco, visited with Grandpa John and Grandma Lorraine, smiled at Ian and I, peed on Ian and I, visited with Grandma Jo & Grandpa Ian, laid on his Baby Einstein Playyard, been in our backyard, visited with Maile, had some monster farts, started using a pacifier, visited with Mandi, Khurshed, Alan & Patti, lost his umbilical cord, gone up a size in diapers, visited with Aunt Janene, Uncle Marshall & Zach, slept 5 whole hours at one time, gone grocery shopping, visited with Brandi, Chris, Jen & Dave, stopped breast feeding, started bottle feeding (formula & breastmilk), visited with Erin, met Chip, Trooper, Chica & Franky, been on a playdate, visited with Nick, swung in his swing, moved to sleeping all his naps in his crib in his room, visited with Matt & Michelle, stopped needing to be swaddled all the time, repeated a sound made to him, visited with Dave, had his nails filed, gotten diaper rash...It's been a busy and exciting time.

~ Christina

Kyle John Nyquist Has Arrived!

2007-02-03T12:30:00.000-08:00

Kyle was born on Saturday, January 27 at 11:05pm. He weighed 6lbs, 11oz and was 18.5".

We brought Kyle home on Monday and have spent the week getting to know him and learning how to be parents. Once things settle down a bit and we get into a groove (will that ever happen?) we'll post more.

~ Christina

36 Week Ultrasound

2007-01-11T18:06:00.000-08:00

We had another ultrasound at 36 weeks. It was to determine the position of the baby and to get an idea of his size. He is in the head-down position and the Dr. said he is 6.5lbs!

It's a little hard to tell what is what in the ultrasound, so I had to do alot of labeling. Ian thiks he looks like Abe from the video game Abe's Odd World.

Anyhow, the pregnancy is progressing great and hopefully we'll get to meet the little guy in a few weeks!

~ Christina

Baby Shower Cocktail Party

2006-11-15T21:07:00.000-08:00

Ian and I are so lucky! My roommates from college, Brandi, Jen, Maile & Mandi, otherwise known as the "Mill St. Girls", threw us an amazing couples cocktail party/baby shower last weekend. The party was at Mandi's parent's house (amazing people who are like second parents to me) and it was a great time.

The invite list consisted of couples that were friends of both Ian and I and the theme was "Vegas Baby". Basically the girls think we're "risk takers" for having a baby! All of the food and drink had cute Vegas or Baby related names and everything, as usual, was really yummy. They also created this great board where all of the guests could guess the due date, weight, height and name of the baby. And they had a "time capsul" for the baby where there were cards with words of current items/events/etc. and guests could write a description (usually a funny one) of what the word meant.

It was a late night but well worth it and great fun to see everyone. I don't have any photos, but if I can get some from some the girls who had cameras I'll post them.

~ Christina

Baby Shower Tea

2006-11-07T18:10:00.000-08:00

My very sweet and generous sister Lissa threw me an amazing baby shower at Lisa's Tea Treasures last weekend. There were about 15 guests at the shower, consisting of many of my female friends and family. Lissa did a great job keeping everyone entertained and the shower moving along.

Once most people had arrived we all took our seats at two tables and were served the cutest tea sandwiches and two varieties of tea. While we ate Lissa came around with a board she had made that had photos of several babies on it. Everyone was given a sheet and they were supposed to try and match a list of names with the correct baby photo. Some of the photos were of shower guests and some were of celebrities. It was fun!

We also played a game where Lissa gave everyone some yarn and they were asked to cut it when they thought it measured my new belly circumference. I then went around and tried each piece of yarn around my waist so we could see who was the closest. Of course my knitting-designer friend Tina got it right (she does measure out yarn all day long!).

After we finished our tea and sandwiches Lissa had me move to the front of the room to open gifts. Between each gift she gave an answer to the baby photo game. One gift I knew about beforehand was a beautiful baby blanked Lissa had knit for the little guy.

After the gifts were done it was time for us to leave. Lissa had made adorable mint favors and her sister-in-law Heather had made yummy tea cookie favors.

All-in-all it was a great shower and I feel so lucky to have so many generous and kind friends and family.

~ Christina

Healthy Baby Boy

2006-09-13T18:51:00.000-07:00

We got the results back on the Amnio and it shows negative for Down syndrome. It also confirmed that we really are having a baby boy. Oh my, a Nyquist boy, I think I might be in for a handful. :)

~ Christina