Equipment

Babies need a lot of stuff. And now that Jonie is getting bigger, all the stuff we're acquiring for her is getting bigger, too.

I got this amazing REI backpack for only $50 on craigslist (did I say how much satisfaction I get from a good score on the list?). Tunes loves to be out and about, and this is much easier on me. We decided we needed one of these bad boys at the end of hiking 6 miles with her in the Baby Bjorn. Love the Bjorn... for short trips.

With all the eating Jonie is doing now, it was time for a high chair. Following our friends' lead, we opted for a compact travel chair, rather than a giant "needs-its-own-room" high chair. Jonie loves to be up at the table with us.

And last but not least, our friends Jaime and Laura loaned us the exer-saucer that Simon used to love. I was leery of it at first—mostly because it is gigantic (see comment about high chair above) and looks like a circus—but Jonie loves it. No, LOVES it. She smashes, she spins, she bounces. I mean, check her out:

One Million Kisses from Auntie Jenn

Auntie Jenn and her friend Brian came by to visit with us for two days on their road trip through California. So, instead of spending Tuesday with the nanny—as Jonie usually does—she got to spend the day with Auntie Jenn! It was great for both of them. Clearly.


It was so great to see you, Jenn. We miss you already! Tunes is coping by grabbing her feet. (No idea where that other sock went.)

A Visit from Grandma Carrie!

Grandma Carrie was in San Francisco for business and hopped the BART to come visit us in Oakland. We grown-ups enjoyed some Indian food, and Jonie enjoyed her first try of pears. So nice to have some family in town, if only for an evening.

Wonderful Weekend

I was having a bit of a meltdown in the middle of last week and, wonderful partner that Anne is, she made a quick intervention for the sake of my mental health: she reserved a tent cabin at Big Basin State Park so that we could spend a little family time in the woods. Here we are getting ready to head out. Jonie's rocking this great onesie from her Auntie Jenn. (It is hard to believe that she is already big enough to wear this!)

Grandma Carrie knew that a girl this sophisticated would need some equally sophisticated shades.

Ordinarily we wouldn't use a tent cabin (this is basically a wooden cabin with an awning roof), but it was perfect for Jonie's first camping trip because it had a wood stove inside and we were able to keep the cabin warm all night long. We did some hiking and lots of hanging around outdoors. Jonie loved to lay on her blanket and look up at the canopy of redwoods above her.

Anne and I really hadn't had any time away together since Jonie was born. It was so nice to have evenings by the campfire outdoors after Jonah went to sleep. I am so lucky.

Home again and time to wash off all that campfire smell. Jonie loves to stand up all the time these days. The tub is no exception.

After we got cleaned up, it was back to playing. (We had to get her in this outfit at least one more time, Grandma Val. She is growing so fast! Tipping the scales at 16 pounds these days.)



Some new tricks: sitting up (with a little help to keep that giant noggin from tipping her right over) and foot examining (endless fascination).

Good Morning, Grandpa Doug!

Here are a few photos to start your day, Dad. (Everyone else can enjoy them, too.)

Our morning routine starts between 6 and 7am, when the little one wakes up and joins us in bed for her breakfast. Here she is looking sleepy and full. Anne unsnapped the top of her pajamas and thought she looked like a lounge singer. I see a future there.


Tummy time used to make her crazy, but she's become a pro.



All that playing wore her out. A few books and some time in the rocking chair, and she went down like a ton of bricks.

Anne is busy frosting cupcakes for a friend's birthday party tomorrow. I am watching some baseball (so glad it is back in season!), and Jonie is babbling to herself in her crib, soon to be sleeping... we hope. All is well.

Overdue Update

It has been awhile since we posted. Things have been, well, busy. As usual, there isn't much time to write now—we're on our way to the store—but I did want to get a few photos up.

The Sock Bandit! Jonie has gotten pretty good at grabbing her feet. And pretty good at tugging her socks off. She dropped this one on her chest.

Here are a few photos from our recent trip to Denver. We traveled there for Anne's work conference.


Enjoying some middle-of-the-road Thai food.


A sleepy little girl in a very big bed. It was so nice to have a king size bed! All three of us could sleep in there and still have plenty of room.


Getting some mom love. (Oh, the chunky thighs.)

When Sock Monkeys Attack

This morning I hustled out to the living room in response to Jonie's distressed cries. She had been attacked by a ruthless sock monkey. And little Tigger sat idly by and watched the whole thing. For shame.