California love

This past week, we had the opportunity to spend time in California visiting both GeeGee and Safta, Zadie and the gang! We started out in LA, spent a few days with GeeGee at the house, doing fun activities and going for walks, and then drove up to Visalia on Wednesday for the next part of our California adventure.

Everyone flew into town and by Wednesday evening, it was the four of us, Linda and Claude, Patricia, James, Harvey and Rachel.  We filled the house with bags, babies, noise and fun.  The boys all had a great time paying together and sharing toys and tubs and it was cute watching them all interact together.

On Friday, we loaded up the cars again and headed back to Hollywood for the next round of fun.  We had a gorgeous house in the hollywood Hills so we could all spend more time together.  

Our last adventure was to Universal Studios where we spent the day trying out new rides, dodging raindrops and convincing Riley to try new things.  We all had a great time on the rides and spending our last day together.

On the last day, we went back to GeeGee's house for a few hours of visiting before heading back to the airport and going home.  The only part of the week that didn't go to plan was the ride to the airport.  We had an Uber driver who got us pretty close but 1.5 miles away, the traffic was terrible and we made the decision to walk the rest of the way to make our plane in time.  So with 2 kids, 2 suitcases, a stroller and carry-ons, we hoofed it to the airport - along with the other passengers who made the same decision. It wasn't an ideal way to end the trip but we made it and that's all that counts.

We had an amazing time on the West Coast and can't wait for our next visit!

Hasta la vista helmet!

Last week, we were supposed to go get Asher's head laser measured to see if we could be done with the helmet, but as luck had it, the scanner was down and we couldn't get an official measurement or suggestion on if we could stop with the helmet.  But the scanner is back up and running so I told them that we had to come in this week.  They fit us in the schedule and I got to spend some extra time with Asher around lunchtime.  He was happy to be sprung from school and even happier that there were toys to play with!

If you remember from the first scan, they put him in a little do-rag to hide his amazing hair, lay him down in the scanner and 2.5 seconds later, the scan is done.  A few buttons here, a few calculations there and voila, we are given the clear to stop using the helmet!  

Asher started off with a difference of 11.5mm from one side to the other.  The suggested level for a helmet is anything over 6mm and today, we measured at 4.2mm!  That means that we are done and that the helmet will find a new place to rest - and we can spend all day looking at Asher's adorable face with all that hair.  I think he looks like a totally different kid, and everyone keeps saying how grown up he looks without the helmet.  Now we just have to ease him into a few activities and remind him that he will hurt himself if he knocks around as there is nothing left to protect him.  Depending on the level of bonks, we may just put it back on him for protection!

I was hesitant at first to put on the helmet but 3.5 months flew by and besides getting knocked in the mouth a few times and having to work hair drying time into the schedule after bath, it really wasn't that big of a deal.  It absolutely worked the way we wanted it to and now moving forward, we will know that we did everything we could to keep him as perfect as possible!

Election Day

Well, Election Day has come and gone and while I am certainly not happy with the outcome, I can say that I am glad it is over.  The past 18 months has been an epic battle full of lies, mud slinging, frustration and fear but the country has voted and we will see what is to come.

I have never been political but found myself engaging in this election much more.  Thanks to Stacey for my daily education, I can say that I am more knowledgable on the subject of politics - and while I am certainly no expert - I feel confident in what I learned through the experience.  I hope that we also opened Riley's eyes to the idea of democracy.

We didn't watch much coverage through the primaries and debates because I didn't want him hearing and seeing much of what was happening, but instilling the idea of making your voice heard and voting as soon as you can is one that we will continue to focus on.  When he did see the nominees on tv, he would ask why the boy was mad and yelling and would ask if we wanted the girl to win.  Yes, we wanted the girl to win...  

We made a big deal of the fact that it was a special thing that we got to go and vote and Riley woke up on election morning and asked it it was time to go.  Although next time around, he will hopefully understand the difference between the fact that we are 'voting' rather than 'boating' - gosh was he disappointed when I told him that we weren't going on a boat...

People are now saying that they they are ready for the next four years to fly by and for the next election to come, but I can't say the same.  They next four years are when my babies will be growing up, so I want to enjoy the time and not wish it gone  I am apprehensive of what a Trump presidency means for the country but am confident in the fact that no matter what happens outside my door, I can always come home to my family where I will feel safe and loved and happy with a smile on my face!

Trick or Treat!

Happy Halloween!  The countdown is over, the costumes are on, the candy is collected and I am exhausted!  Riley has been asking for weeks when he could wear his Iron Man costume and the time has finally come.  He got to wear it twice, actually, as we had a practice run this weekend for the Halloween parade and a birthday party, but tonight he got to wear it for the real deal of trick or treating.

We went to Bibi and Zee's house for dinner.  After the meatballs were devoured, we suited up and headed out.  Zee and I took Riley around their neighborhood and let me tell you - they must bus kids in cause there were hundreds and hundreds hitting the blocks around them.  Riley started out strong but half way around the block gave up and insisted that Iron Man needed to fly, so Zee carried him.  Even just going half way around the block, though, he still made a pretty good haul (and I got a few snacks too)!

Meanwhile, Asher stayed with Bibi to hand out candy and seemed to do pretty well.  He liked seeing the kids and most of the costumes, until one scared him and he was done.  It was also past his bedtime too, so I can't blame him for being upset and ready to leave.

I left a big bowl of candy at my house and was half expecting it to be empty when we came home cause a teenager got a hold of it, but we get so few kids in my neighborhood that more than half the bowl was left when I came back.  Oh well, more for me!

We missed having Chris here but knowing that he won't be going to this same conference next year makes me happy - now I have a whole year to come up with outfits for us where all four of us can dress up together!  The suggestion box is officially open!

Getting ready for Halloween

It seems as though Riley has inherited Safta's affinity for Halloween and has been asking for  weeks to decorate the house in anticipation of the upcoming holiday.  Who am I to deny him this pleasure so last week I took him to the Dollar Store and let him go nuts in the Halloween aisle.  He clearly had a vision cause he knew exactly what he was looking for and knew what to avoid.  The only thing I had to veto was a motion activated wiggling rat - I just couldn't be on board with that one.

Chris and the boys decorated the front yard last week and I think it looks great.  Be sure to look at all the places they decorated - even the guest skeletons saying hi from the front window.  We will be going to the Halloween parade tomorrow morning and then to a Halloween birthday party so we will be getting a lot of mileage out of our costumes this year - stay tuned for pictures!

So our house may not be the most decorated house in the neighborhood, but I am totally ok with that.  We all know that Zadie and Safta's house will be the house in our family that knows how to dress the part and Riley is hoping the the witch who tells stories will still be out when we go to visit Visalia in November.  

Tiny tooth time

It's hard to get a picture to prove it - especially when toys are being swung at my face - but Asher has 2 tiny teeth coming on the bottom!  Chris felt one at the end of last week and we have been keeping an eye on it, and today I saw the second one breaking through. 

He has been waking up a few times at night, usually just wanting his paci, so we are hoping to get back to his full night sleeps soon - but also, I just know that he is going to look so freaking adorable with little teeth in place, so I also want them to come in already.

Asher is doing a great job eating and has learned to mash up all kinds of food without teeth. He loves avocados and bananas, chicken and pancakes, eggs and cantaloupe.  To be honest, I don't think we have come across a food yet that he doesn't like.  And all 23 pounds of him can prove that he is a great eater!

Update: I got a picture where you can see his tiny teeth!

Asher is 9 months old

We just got back from the beach - which will get its own blog post - but I just wanted to take a minute to recognize the fact that Asher turned 9 months old while we were out of town.  

He is a very happy guy and everyone who meets him says two things.  1. That he is very happy and smiley and 2. That he is a big baby.  I can attest to both of those!  He is almost always in a good mood and makes friends easily.  And he weighs over 22 pounds which is getting more and more difficult to tote around.

We are taking him in for his 9 month check-up next week so we will see where he stacks up, but I know this linebacker, bruiser of a baby is going to be tipping the top ends of the chart.  But at the end of the day, he is so happy and healthy and cute, and those are the most important things to be checking in on!