Now with VIDEO!!

First Playdate

Riley had his first playdate with Taylor, who is three days older. Taylor's big sister, Katelyn, and Holden go to daycare together. Taylor and Riley will start there on the same day - Jan. 2.


She seems to be thinking, "Where's his hair?"

It's nice to have friends.

Road Trip

Last weekend, we took our first Road Trip as a foursome. We went to San Diego to watch Kevin's cousin, Brian, marry Beth Ann. Holden can't tell you much about the wedding itself, but he loved hanging at the hotel with his cousin, Clayton, 3, from Colorado. They hit it off immediately. Their similar tastes extended beyond fashion. Turns out they both enjoy airplanes, swimming and flopping around on a neatly-made hotel bed.


The wedding was at a seaside park in Del Mar. Both boys were really good during the ceremony. Riley woke up part way through and got some bouncing off to the side.

This was our first attempt ever at getting a picture of all four of us. Didn't work out so great.


Holden wasn't in the best of moods after being told he had to wear white socks. He chirped up pretty quick, though.


Grandma Sheila with the groom at the reception on a hotel terrace overlooking a beautiful sunset.


Grandpa Steve and Grandma Sheila gave lots and lots and lots of helping hands over the weekend.


The beautiful bride and groom getting the party started. Unfortunately, we had to leave just as everyone started to get down since we had to drive back to Los Angeles with two sleepy boys. Holden, who was very much looking forward to party cake, was sad to leave. But, he felt much better after a quick stop at am/pm, where we changed clothes and ate Donettes and Twinkies before hitting the road.

Big and Little

Stuff on the Baby

Being a Stay At Home Mom can sometimes be boring. I've challenged myself to find new ways to stay amused.

Tummy Time

Hates it!

The Blue Bowl

Since his First Vomit experience (see previous posts), Holden has added the blue bowl to his repetoire of security items that previously was made up of Hippo and Dino. All three accompany him to bed every night.

Just Before The Incident with the Poop

Holden, as you may have guessed, is a creature of habit and hates change. So, needless to say, for the past couple months, we have waged a battle over shoes. Holden has refused to wear any shoes except his one pair of tennis shoes. Granted, they're pretty cool and light up when he takes a step, but they're getting pretty grimy. With a wedding and a full weekend of family activities planned, it was time to put our feet down and insist Holden put his feet into something different. To achieve this task, we discovered we are not above the tactic of bribery. We got him to try on shoes at the store by promising we'd go to the beach afterward. We had a nice time on a chilly autumn day and took lots of great pictures before The Incident.






Since we were having such a nice time, we, as always, pushed our luck and went to one of our favorite eateries, The Kettle, for dinner. First, Riley got all riled up and Kevin and I took turns eating while the other walked him up and down the street. Then, almost in the clear, Holden asked to go the potty. We'll spare you the details, but let's just say Kevin found himself in a horrific situation without wipes (he had Riley's diaper bag but had taken the wipes out earlier and forgot to put them back in) and without a change of clothes - for either of them. We are not sure we'll ever be allowed back at The Kettle again. And did we mention how excited we are about this whole potty training thing?

And Then There Were Four...

Brendan Matthew Messinger was born Oct.12! Josh, Jami and big sister Hallie are very excited, and so are we! Congratulations!

Chug-A Chug-A

On a recent Sunday, we realized we had a whole day with no plans and a 2-year-old who needed some entertainment. So, we decided to take a train ride to downtown Los Angeles via the Metrorail. We rode three trains for an hour to Union Station (much longer than a car ride there, by the way), just to get out of the house.



Holden loved it and was so excited. He kept saying, "Chug-A Chug-A, Chug-A Chug-A, Choo-Choo!" We thought it was adorable, but the other passengers didn't quite agree. What Holden didn't realize was that the line passed through parts of Los Angeles otherwise unexplored by his parents - and for good reason. We rode through Watts and South Central Los Angeles, where some of the city's most, uh, colorful and, uh, interesting residents are very unexcited about a ride on the Metro.




At Union Station, we had a snack and a diaper change and went to see the real trains. We don't have any pictures of the passenger liners, though, because Holden was so scared and overwhelmed by their size and noise that we had to leave the platform immediately! He loves trains, but it is something else to see them so up close and personal!

What's wrong, Daddy?

Riley: Two Months

If I have to spend 24 hours a day, seven days a week doing nothing but worrying about what goes in a baby's mouth and comes out the other end, then there's no baby I'd rather do that for than Riley. People often talked about "good babies," and that was a concept lost on me until Riley. Of course, he fusses and cries, but in general he's really kick-back - sleeps good long stretches at night, eats with vigor and has some awake times checking out the world and offering smiles and giggles.


When Riley does cry, it usually doesn't take long to figure out what he wants or, at least, a way to stop it. There is something about an infant's cry that makes you want to - need to - respond immediately. Sometimes, I feel bad because Riley will have to cry a little longer than I would like because he's not the only little one around needing attention. He doesn't seem to hold it against us.


At first, Riley wasn't so big on riding in his car seat, but he's getting a little better and we're venturing out a little more. He likes being carried in the Baby Bjorn, and usually crashes out with his face pressed against our chests, vigorously sucking away on his pacifier. He sleeps swaddled, and often smiles as he's getting wrapped up. It's so hard to look away when he locks his eyes on mine and smiles. I try to look away because I've read that eye contact is very stimulating to infants, and all I want is for him to crash out.


Mostly, it's been fun to watch him chunk up into rolly-polly baby. His cheeks and legs are so plump and yummy we can't help but kiss them.


The other night, we were talking about how weird the world and life must seem to Riley. Everything he sees, hears, smells and touches is brand new. What does he think of all of this? And how does he think without labels like words or emotions to define what he is thinking? I know we all did it, but imagine being such a clean slate with every experience being new and completely out of your own control, including your own body functions. Luckily, complex, existential and philosophical musings quickly fade away when Riley is curled up in my arms, cooing softly with heavy eyelids. Life gets boiled down to the most basic of needs and the most purest of emotions. For all that he learns and all that he becomes, Riley is innocent and loved.

Bouncing

We spent the morning Sunday brunchin' and bouncin' with Cassidy and her parents Sandie and Denis. Amazingly, after all that fun, both kids only took about one-hour naps. Oh, the humanity. Oh, the backfire.