THe Happy (and Sleepy) Hiker

On Saturday, we met Miles and Tim's folks up in Soda Springs. Saturday's weather was awful - cold, raining, and tons of hail. We mostly stayed inside, but when we went out to get more wood from the caretakers cabin, we actually got caught in a hail storm and took shelter in the eaves of the big house roof. We were only there for about 5 minutes, and it turns out Miles was very interested in the hail and loved to eat it.... good to know.

On Sunday morning, the weather was nice and we put Miles into his hiking back pack. Grandpa carried him down to Cedar lake and then we headed up the trail to Tahoe crossing. Miles got about a 20 minute snooze in the backpack and genuinely enjoyed himself. When we got home, it was lunch and then naps for Miles and I while the Reeths baby proofed the deck rail.




And falling asleep...




And at Tahoe crossing

Cheers & Cute Kisses

Day dreaming at the office missing my little man....

Miles loves to "play" morning coffee with us. Typically he's fine with his sippy cup, but sometimes he wants a commuters cup with a little water in it...




And in another one, Tim and I both agreed that Miles just looked to stinkin' cute that we had to capture it. Not much to this one, but cuteness and kisses. What a great little guy we have.

Instructions to the grandparents

I loved this email. Tim sent this to his folks yesterday morning. Do you think we miss him a little?

Mom & Dad - here is a basic schedule and meals for Miles. Miles typically lets you know when he is done or doesn't like something. He will scrape foot off the table onto his lap or drop it on the floor when done. If he doesn't like it...well you'll see him spit it out and make faces. Most everything below he likes, but may not take at the time. For instance, turkey may not work at lunch, but he devourers it at dinner. We also sometimes mix a little mayonnaise (as his fat) with his protein to give a little flavor - chicken salad style. This also allows you to mix in corn or peas. As you can see, Miles has Milk around him all day - it goes with him everywhere. He should drink 3-4 of those sippy cups a day at minimum.

We give Miles milk when he wakes up, after dress and while we're preparing his breakfast.

Breakfast - start 8:00AMish
Usually give him Oatmeal, english muffin OR a warmed up waffle
- Oatmeal - mix in yogurt to help cool and/or fruit pieces to add flavor
- Frozen Waffle (microwave in paper towel 20sec to keep soft for chewing - toasting dries the waffle out)
- Soft English Muffin - spread butter and jam or yogurt on it. Chop up.
- Fruit (likes many you already know)
- Milk

Lunch - start 11:45AMish
Protein, Vegetable, Starch, Fat and Fruit
- Chopped up chicken, ham, or turkey.
- Cooked/steamed sweet peas, corn, Lima beans or carrots
- A few crackers toward the end
- Cheese - string cheddar, mozzarella (Miles likes most ANY cheese...so provolone from a sandwich works)
- Fruit
- Milk

Snack - After Miles wakes from nap
- Milk
- A few crackers and/or cookies

Dinner - 5:45PMish
Same food options as lunch

Bath - 6:15PM

Bed Right after bath
- Milk

** We try to get him down now around 6:30pm.


Hope you are having a great time together!!!

Love,

Tim & Lina

When the mouse is gone...

that cats are lonely....

On Wednesday, Miles started his first overnight trip with Grandma and Grandpa up in Reno. That allowed us to celebrate our anniversary and have a date last night and not have to worry about Miles. It has been wonderful for us and him, but I am missing my little guy now!

On Wednesday night, we went to the great Italian restaurant in Burlingame, and it was a meal to remember. I don't know the last time we have eaten so well: carpaccio that melted, gnocchi that could make you cry, and the perfect corner table in a crowded fabulous restaurant. It was a wonderful way to celebrate our anniversary.

Last night, we grabbed a quick bite in San Mateo and then went as saw "UP" in 3D. Pixar did it again. What a wonderful movie. Both of us got a little misty throughout the movie - its amazing when a cartoon can tug on your heartstrings that way. When we got home from the movie, we both went into Miles' room, just to see if we could smell him and to feel close to him. As wonderful as the last 2 nights have been (and they have been) we are really looking forward to waking up in Soda Springs tomorrow and have the Reeths bring our little boy back to us.

3 Years!

3 years ago today, we were married in CT. I can't believe it was actually that long ago, part of me feels like it was yesterday, except we now have a 15 month old. Life has been wonderful, busy, and rewarding - and it is a joy to remember what a special day it was 3 years ago.

Hungry, Tired, Wet, and Cranky....

All a good combination...

Last week, Miles spent some time in the garden with Tim, helping water plants etc. As such, he got soaked and tired himself out. After Tim removed his clothing and changed him, the following took place. Not his finest moment - but super cute and some faces I want to remember...

Miles Meets Some Fish

This weekend, Tim's brother Kevin played the part of the single Dad as Jeannie was out of town. As such, we all decided to go down to Monterey Bay Aquarium where Miles went crazy with his cousins and got a good dose of fish. Miles spent a bunch of the morning chasing Kiely and Cody around, then we all had lunch together. Afterwards, we headed back to the aquarium where Miles sacked out in his stroller for an hour. Part of the joy of parenthood is being able to look at things with the lens of a child seeing things for the first time, and it was wonderful! For a little more than the cost of 2 tickets, we became members of the aquarium, which means we have to go back!!!

No one is more fun than Dad...

Dude loves corn...

We were up in Soda Springs this weekend, and I decided to throw some corn on the cob at Miles to see how he would do. He did great! And we ended up feeding him corn all weekend. I can't tell if it is the actual corn itself, or the newness in eating something differently. He is recently really interested in no more bite sized pieces and likes to pick up a bigger piece and take his own bites. He is growing up so fast!!

Sunday Morning in Soda

I know this is a longer video than we normally post, but I am doing it for myself who likes to take a moment (or 2) at work and watch Miles. This was just our morning. Miles was going nuts with the sound machine and just going about his business. He is such a good little guy, and we really enjoy just hanging out with him.

First Weekend at Soda Springs!

Last weekend, we opened up our cabin in Soda Springs. We arrived early on Saturday morning, after a night at the Motel 6 in Auburn. Miles fell asleep on the road in, and as he finished his nap in the car, Tim and I moved furniture. We finally work him up and got on with our day. Though filled with unpacking, cleaning, and hauling mattresses, it was a great weekend. Miles took some tumbles and came home with new bruises and scratches, but nothing he (or I) couldn't handle. We are starting to plan our summer up there and really look forward to having Miles as a little boy up there.

On the big new tree that fell down across the meadow:


the waterfall early season...


Tim and Miles up at Sneader Snoozer...



On the lower bench...


At Cedar Lake...

Miles and the slide...

As we wait for daycare to start, Miles and his dad have been spending a ton of time on playgrounds. Miles is trying to learn how to go down slides. At this point, I think he has mastered it, but documented is his journey...

Favorite room in the house

Nothing is more fun than dismanteling the pantry...


...mess, who me?!!?

What sound does a piggy make?

Miles figured this one out on his own...

Memorial Day

We spent Memorial Day with the Reeths... all of them... up in Shasta this year. I have never been up there an it was simply beautiful. We stayed at a great resort near the mountain, and spent tons of time outdoors, hiking along lakes and waterfalls. While we weren't the best parents about setting time for Miles to sleep in his crib, he did pretty well sleeping in the ergo baby carrier on me and Tim. When we got home, he did take a MONSTER nap to make up for his loss of sleep over the weekend!

At "castle lake"

Miles asleep on the trail...

... Long overdue

As much as I love to blog about ur family, it seems to be the first thing to drop off my plate when things get hectic... and hectic they have been!

The big news: We are no longer with our nanny share. We think Miles needs a little more social interaction than he was getting and we are enrolling him in an in-home daycare run by the in-laws of one of our groomsmen. This was a very hard decision, and I still have working mom's guilt about it, but we believe it is the right next step for his care. He starts in about 10 days. We are super sad to see our nanny go, but hopefully she can stay in Miles' life as a babysitter - and who knows, maybe Tim and I will actually go out on a date?!?!?