You Say Its Your Birthday!

Well, the little dude turned one. I can't believe it. I still think of him as tiny, then I see these pictures and he's ginormous. We had a wonderful party here at the homestead, good friends, good food, and happy babies everywhere! It couldn't have been nicer. Then to top it off, the next day we spent a gorgeous day at an incredible beach. Sometimes life does not suck.



Now that he's a big one year old, Tank is practicing a lot of standing unsupported. He gets so proud of himself, he makes sure you see him and then giggles and waits for praise. We even coaxed and goaded him into taking his first step, because we didn't want it to happen at daycare without us! He's not quite ready to run the sub 4 minute mile, but he is... umm literally... taking the first steps! Yay big Tankster!

Meet Me On The Lido Deck!

I have been bitchin' and moanin' a bit recently because I can't find enough playmates to go do crazee things with me, like climbing, hiking, mountain biking etc. Most of you know this already, but I am happiest when I am performing my Julie the Cruise Director duties of organizing, motivating, and executing Days O' Fun. And for some reason, despite living on the borders of one of nature's biggest playgrounds I have been having a dickens of a time scrounging up girlie playmates. (Yes, yes, I know boys will do in a pinch, but I do love me some estrogen time...)

Anywhoo, we have a neighbor who has been itching to get out and do a bit of kayaking on the old Merced river. So we hosed the spiders out of the boats, shimmied into our high fashion '90's river gear and hit the tiniest wave imaginable to test out the oh-so-rusty river skills. And I have to say that it was awesome. I will be the first to admit that kayaking scares the bejeebus out of me. But this was fun and manageable and just enough exciting to make me want more! Lookit me!


Funny story about this day though, I forgot to put in my contact lenses, so I was Squinty McBlindeyPants out there, see?

I sure didn't! Tee hee.

DEET Flavored Pyjamas

So this is the third night in a week that I have been woken in the wee hours of the morning by an insidious whining. No, not by my wonderful offspring, as he does not whine, he bellows! No, this whine was of the insectal variety.

Somehow an insect violated the secure and sterile (aaah ha ha ha ha hah hah heh heh ahem...) environment that is our modular home! And not only that, but it got (gasp!) into the baby's room! And I was hearing this deafening whine through the the wonder of modern technology known as the baby monitor. (Yes, we live in an insanely quiet environment.)

So here I am, knowing that my son is being plagued by one of God(dess)'s most annoying critters and there's not really a durn thing I can do about it. Two nights now I have grabbed the headlight and quietly crept into Tank's room to see if there was anything I could do. Um, the answer seemed to be no. The second I enter, the evil beast ceases and desists with the noise making. So I wait for a bit. Nothing. Head scratch. Wait. Yawn. Wait. Tiptoe out.

Back to bed and of course, instantly loud and clear "Zweeeeeee eeeeee eeeeeeeee EEEEEEEEEEEEE eeeeeeeee".

I won't even mention the possibility of West Nile! Any ideas?

D) All Of The Above

Wee Little Tank Baby has been down with a Really Big Sickness this week. It seemed to include a little taste of all illnesses, sore throat, sore ears, one vomit and one diarrhea plus a healthy serving of phlegmy coughing and continual fever despite the regimented dosing with various flavored infant "drops". One bonus to a Really Big Sickness is all the cuddling involved.

Other than that it was no fun. He seems to be coming around as of today with only a residual side dish of crankies and the worlds pluggiest nose. When exactly do they learn to blow? Anyone?