Archive for November, 2011

Baby’s first biker bar

Posted in Dining, Family, H. sapiens var. Simon on November 17th, 2011 by rmd – 1 Comment

Actually, it was just our local greasy burger joint.

Leftover grandparent photos

Posted in Family, H. sapiens var. Simon, Uncategorized on November 17th, 2011 by rmd – Be the first to comment

from back in early Oct.

Pumpkinhead (another hopelessly outdated post)

Posted in H. sapiens var. Simon on November 17th, 2011 by rmd – Be the first to comment

Here is the requisite Halloween photo of our offspring.

Boo!

This is the best we could do this year, what with the sleep deprivation and constant whining and screaming. If Sally hadn’t got him the Curious George-pumpkin onesie, he wouldn’t have had anything Halloween-appropriate.

I know he won’t remember. But it seems that posting photos of your costumed kid to Facebook is one of the joys of parenthood. I must be missing the boat on this one. We’ll try harder next year.

Simon-sized pumpkins (and squash)

I told Peter to get a “Simon-sized” pumpkin but there was some confusion. I meant proportionate to Simon — baby-sized. He thought I meant about the size of a baby — equal to Simon. The little green pumpkin is a Kabocha squash that we grew. That’s what I meant by Simon-sized.

pumpkinheads

We spent All Hallow’s Eve strolling around the neighborhood and admiring the house decorations and costumed kids. We were relieved to know that the kids here trick-or-treat at the proper time — after dark. At least Halloween wasn’t canceled, like back in Ringwood.

Our observations helped us establish some family rules for future Halloweens:

  • No trick-or-treating until you’re fully ambulatory. (No wagons or strollers, unless they’re part of your costume.)
  • No candy until you can pronounce “trick-or-treat” correctly. (No tWeats.)
  • No sexy anything. (Even the boys’ costumes are all weird and muscle-y these days.)

Simon’s first vacation

Posted in Family, H. sapiens var. Peter, H. sapiens var. Simon, Outings and Adventures on November 8th, 2011 by rmd – 1 Comment

We all went along on Peter’s biz trip to SF in early Oct.  P went to work, R took care of S (work), so I guess Simon is the only one who got a proper vacation. And he doesn’t know the difference!

But we did have a yummy dinner at the Fifth Floor.

Peter ordered the Sazerac as usual

 

And our hotel room had a deep spa tub so we all piled in and gave Simon a bath. (No photos of naked people on this blog. Only naked babies.)

We visited P’s office, which has a view of the ferry building and the Bay Bridge. More importantly, Salesforce.com has a lactation room. How enlightened. That’s how you get on those best companies to work for lists. (No photos of boobs on this blog.)

Peter's under-utilized cubicle at the SF HQ

 

More after the jump.

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Fall harvest

Posted in Vegetables on November 8th, 2011 by rmd – Be the first to comment

(To the tune of Frere Jacques)

Watermelon, watermelon

See it drip, see it drip

Up and down your elbows, up and down your elbows

Spit the pits, spit the pits

We also grew a cantaloupe (or as the Aussies say, a rock melon) that produced really well. We had almost 2 dozen melons ripening all at the same time. We couldn’t keep up with them. Luckily the chickens love buggy melon.

Simon looks great in a dress.

Posted in Family, H. sapiens var. Simon on November 8th, 2011 by rmd – Be the first to comment

Simon was baptized back on Oct. 1. It was also the Blessing of the Animals at St. Dominic’s that day. Babies, animals — what’s the difference in God’s eyes?

Both sets of grandparents came and we threw a big party. J.P., who came from Maryland, and Joanna, who drove down from her new digs in Santa Cruz, were deputized as godparents and entrusted with the kid’s soul. Gabe came from the other side of LA and Tom, Paula and Ben came all the way from Chicago.

We have lots of photos to prove it. It was a well-documented event. Here are some of the highlights.

Who’s your stylist?

Posted in H. sapiens var. Raquel, H. sapiens var. Simon on November 7th, 2011 by rmd – Be the first to comment

For the record, I did not give Simon a faux-hawk. His hair ‘do — a sort of reverse tonsure, sparse on the sides with a completely bald spot in back — is the product of rubbing his little head against the crib mattress and the floor.

Some moms at a breastfeeding group asked me if I cut it that way. I did not. He has his daddy’s wispy, fly-away hair. It sticks up like that when it’s clean. I just brush it straight back so it doesn’t stick to his forehead and get oily. When it’s greasy it gets plastered to his scalp.

He has baby-pattern baldness. The only cure is time and learning to sit up.

 

Developmental milestones

Posted in H. sapiens var. Simon on November 6th, 2011 by rmd – 1 Comment

It’s been a while since we posted so here’s an update on Simon’s many talents:

  • He can roll over, sort of. He’s done it 3 times so far, but we think only one of those moves was intentional.
  • He grabs toys and gums them, reaches for things and swipes at them.
  • He can fit his hand in his mouth.
  • He seems to be aware that he has feet.
  • He is fluent in Dolphin and very articulate with his squeaks and squeals.
  • He’s a skilled negotiator and usually gets what he wants.

 

Water baby, Aqua-Man

Posted in Family, H. sapiens var. Simon on November 6th, 2011 by rmd – Be the first to comment

Simon took a bath to entertain his grandparents.

I love the smiles on Sally and Bob’s faces here… Aren’t Simon’s grandparents cute!

 

More grandparents

Posted in Family, Outings and Adventures on November 6th, 2011 by rmd – Be the first to comment

Bob and Madeline came West for Simon’s baptism and big party. Here they are at Descanso Gardens on a hot afternoon.

redwood/eucalyptus/camellia grove

Simon and his grandfather

After the jump is a diaper change photo of our little Nature Boy.

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