Kidspace

Today we all headed to Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena. It was super fun for a few hours on a Tuesday vacation morning. It was a little chilly, but nothing like what we're in for later this week!

Here is Milo piecing together a bug. Next he's pictured going up and down the same three steps. I had lots of time to take this picture since this is all he wanted to do for about 20 minutes. Lyman and I were so bored, but he was loving it.

Milo really loved the bike track. His feet didn't reach the peddles, but that didn't stop him from scooting around.

Ho Ho Ho

Here are the few pictures I took at the zoo with our cuties and the man in red.

Santa at the Zoo

Sunday we headed to the zoo with our best friends Jenny, Sophie and Maddie. I lifted all these cute pics of their blog. Maybe later I'll upload my own!

We all took a turn on Santa's lap. Sophie and Milo were very pouty, but no big wails. Maddie was most comfortable and prepared. She brought along her Penny's Wish List catalogue (which is a lot smaller than when I was a kid) where she had circled her favorites. She did tell Santa that she also liked surprises. I love a girl who knows what she wants.

This was a great first weekend of vacation. We started with a nice breakfast with Lesli and Ivan at our favorite breakfast place, I took a nap Saturday and Sunday, a trip to the zoo and a visit at my old high school friend Mandy's house. Milo had a great time, as always, playing with Mandy's son Jullian while the Daddy's played video games and watched football. Now, it's Monday, I'm still in my pj's and drinking my 3rd cup of coffee. These are the weeks I love my job the most. This is really what I envisioned when I chose my career. I wanted to spend as much time with my family with the same school/work hours. There is a lot of drama at school with possible cuts to health care, increased premiums, cut salary so maybe a strike. It's not uncommon to feel a little under appreciated in an inner city public school. My boss spends too much of her own money trying to say thanks for what we do, which is a nice gesture. The kids who actually improve and the few parents that genuinely thank me are the most motivational. But these three weeks of restful holiday with my friends and family do the most good for the spirit.

The most wonderful time of the year...

Things were much better this week after Milo stopped puking. By Sunday, he was back to eating normally with no fever. We all had a busy week of work, daycare, Daddy daycare, meeting up with friends and crossing off the Christmas list. Now I am 100% ordered, bought and wrapped for the season. It feels good to have that finished. All that's left is sharing the gifts and spending time with family and friends. So, readers, we look forward to seeing many of you soon.

ER

Considering how adorable Milo is lately, it's amazing how few pictures and posts I have made. I can blame it all on hectic work schedules and cleaning up puke. Milo started a fever on Thursday, and began projectile vomiting on Saturday morning. From 10 am until 8 pm when our pediatrician said to go to the ER, he vomited four times. I saw everything he had eaten and drank on my carpet and my shirts. He was so sad and scared when vomiting and all smiles the rest of the time. Even in the ER, he was laughing and playing. They gave us some pills to take every six hours to help with his nausea and stop the vomiting and he's to take small sips and bites to eat all day until we're sure it won't come back up again. In other news, he really couldn't be cuter, smarter or more loving. He enjoys hugging and giving kisses, identifying objects in books, hopping, and learning new words. He can say Santa! Lyman's schedule is a little lighter, so they are spending lots of time together. In ten school days, I'll be with them all day too!

learning young

Fall... maybe

I took these pictures a few weeks ago at the zoo on a cool morning; we haven't had another since. Which one is the cutest? I can't decide.

More Halloween

We spent Halloween night with our good friends Lesli and Ivan. Thanks to them, I have these pictures to share.

Milo helps hand out and "sort" the candy.

Here is Milo's current favorite toy Mr. Gecko. Milo likes to point out and shout about his eyes and drive him around making a vacuum sound.

All dressed up and somewhere to go this year! We went to about four houses and then he didn't let go of my leg, so we went back and helped hand out candy. Thanks Lesli and Ivan!

Finally

When I was 6 or 7 years old, I had my first voting experience. I went to the polls with my Dad at the Armory or American Legion. After Dad checked in, he let me go in the booth with him where I stood in front of him, and we pulled the curtain behind us. After he voted, he let me pull the lever to cast his vote. After I turned 18, I went to vote with him again during some smaller election. He was making a big deal out of helping me learn how, and, being a teenager, I was making a big deal out of doing it alone. Yesterday, I went to the polls with my son. He wasn't the only kid there. There were several young Latino and African American kids with their parents, and all their smiles couldn't be any bigger. The excitement in the polling place was palpable. For months, I haven't let myself get too optimistic for fear being let down. Living in So. Cal. it's easy to forget that the rest of the country doesn't always feel as the majority does here. But yesterday morning, my fellow voters in line knew it was coming. Change is here. Finally.

Halloween Hokey-Pokey

Milo was not impressed.

Joy

Milo and Daddy ride the scooter.
So what if it's 90 degrees; this hat is too cute to wait for the cold!

Just before releasing these balloons,

Madeline danced into the room singing Joy to the World. Indeed.

Baby's First

We were honored to help celebrate the first birthday of the son of my cake decorating buddy, J. Milo loved playing with all their toys, but don't give him too many ideas Miss. M!

Here is a nice picture of J and I. I would like to take credit for these shots, but I lifted them from the talents of her main man and my friend, L. Here is a beautiful picture of mom, dad and birthday boy. Older brother E is not pictured. Thanks for including us you guys! PS. She made the cake; it was great!

Gymboree Halloween Party

Friday night we went to a Halloween party at Gymboree. He was too overwhelmed to enjoy most of it. I think the clown and all the kids in costume really freaked him out. There was a parade, story time, crafts and snack. Nonna got Milo his little susper-cute costume. Sadly, this is one of the only smiles, and I took this picture as we were leaving the party.

More Party Pictures

Story Time

Milo really enjoyed the storytime part of the party.

Zoo Fall Fun

Here are some pictures from the zoo last weekend. It looks very fall-like, but it's because it's 10:30 am. When we left at 11:30, the temp was creeping up towards the 90's again. I hear you Hoosiers are cooling off. I'm jealous.

Growing and Growing!

Here are some shots of Milo at the park. I took over 20 pictures, but these were the only decent ones as he moves quickly these days! His friends Maddie and Sophie move even quicker!

This park has a lot of musical toys. Milo's sense of rhythm gets better all the time. At the Gymboree class we take, they have this activity where they beat on this air log in time with the music. When the music stops, they out their hands on their heads to "freeze." In the silence of the freeze, he, alone, lets out this magical giggle. It's kind of embarrassing to tear up at Gymboree, but my kid is so amazing to me.
Milo can say many more words lately: cheese, shoes, eyes, hi, DaDa and now Mommy! I love it. It's music to my ears. He also likes to hold my hand when walking or going up and down stairs. Before he would dig in and pull away, but now he reaches up his tiny hand to mine. In this last picture, we were headed toward the ducks. I swear he would have jumped in with them. Some friendly people gave us some bread to share with the ducks (K there is a sign posted not to, but everyone does.) he loved throwing the bread and watching them dive. Thankfully he didn't take a dive.