Where Did the Last Year Go?

The last year I guess I went on a hiatus of sorts. While Cole remained the most important part of our lives, Mike and Kimi decided to go on their own paths. Kimi returned to work and got so bogged down with the new job, etc., that the blog went un-updated, regrettably.

Cole has been going to his nanny in San Francisco, preschool in Walnut Creek and is frequently blessed with the presence of Yia Yia Bird. Cole's favorite thing to say is "No Way!" He also enjoys saying,"No" and "You go over there," "Okay" and "Niiiiice." He is a super happy baby boy with an awesome sense of humor and brains to burn (he gets those from Dad) and everyone who meets him falls instantly in love.

His favorite pasttimes include playing baseball, playing basketball, going to Marine World to see "Shouka the Whale" who goes "splash" in the "water!" as well as going on "Thomas the Train Choo Choo trains" at Sonoma Train Town and the steam train at Tilden Park in Berkeley.

His favorite book right now is "Gugi Gugi" a birthday present from Grampa Tim and Gramma Trish.

His one wish is for cousins from Unk Sky and Aunt Erin.

Here are some recent pix of the love of our lives.

First Birthday Boy

Here's a pic of baby (now Toddler!) Cole at his first birthday party. Need we say more...?

Well, maybe just a little more.. Cole was at the tailend (so to speak) of a virus which caused the runs and a mild fever. He was a little fussy, but nothing too bad. However, the result: approximately half the partygoers seemed to catch some form of the flu within 12-24 hours of the party!! Sorry, everyone. Guess you won't be making it to his 2-year birthday party!

What a CRAWK(er)!

Well, our little Cole Michael, has always been just a little behind on the physical aspects of life. Not that there's anything wrong with that! For example, he got his first tooth at 10 months old. Well, Cole has just started to become mobile at the ripe old age of 11.5 months! He isn't crawling, mind you.. oh no, that would make too much sense and be too easy! Instead, he has taken to locomoting by planting one foot on the ground and dragging his other knee on the side of him. He looks, dare I say, like a maimed crab. But we're just happy he's moving. And we know he's happy too! Just in time for his 1st birthday party!

Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico (Revisited)

We have just returned from a beautiful Mexican vacation. The weather, the sunsets, the tanned skin.. all will be missed. Baby Cole had his first "real" pasta meal all to himself, which he thoroughly enjoyed. He also learned how to be a cowboy (cowbaby), or at least to look like one. Opa, Yia Yia, Cole and Kimi had a fantabulous time. Daddy was busy working overtime whilst we enjoyed Nuevo Vallarta. Next time we'll all get to go, a trip that will hopefully include mas familia!

Cole's First Baseball Game

We braved the potentially inclement weather this last week to accompany our friend Amy and her baby Nathaniel to a SF Giants game! While Cole was in and out of teething fits (fever, drooling, fussiness )all day, we managed to have a successful trip to the ballpark. Of course, due to nap schedules, we arrived in the 6th inning, but hey, ya do what ya can with a little one! Cole loved the roar of the crowd and was flirted with by many a baseball wench with beer in hand. The game was also excellent preparation for Cole's future trips with daddy to 49er games.

Sooooooooooooo Big!!

Cole is growing up! We've been saying," How big is Cole?! So BIG!" and raising our arms for months. Now, we say," How big is Cole?!" and when we say, "So BIG", he's started raising his own arms above his head. We are very pleased with him. Now, if only Daddy could get Cole to bring him a beer...
We also recently discovered, after 3-4 sleep-interrupted nights, that the baby has a little toof coming in! Very exciting.
In other news, Great Yia Yia (my mom's mom) visited the other day and we had a good time with her. She loved talking to Cole.
Mom and I had a great time seeing Jersey Boys in SF the other night. Did you know that Joe Pesci discovered Franki Valli and the Four Seasons?!? Crazy. Anyway, it was a blast.
We plan on having Easter with Yia Yia and Opa (and Sky and Erin) in Santa Rosa. And, now that Cole is almost totally weaned, I can winetaste on Saturday!

The Fired Nanny

Then there's the story of the fired Mexican nanny.
The reasons for our terminating her employment?
1. Drank a beer while she text messaged during interview (we chose to overlook this because she came highly recommended; hell, we were probably drinking too during the interview. Memory a little hazy on that one. ;)
2. Within 25 minutes of us being gone and returning, baby screaming and in crib with a bottle of WHOLE COW'S MILK next to him
3. Laughed when I told her, in rudimentary Spanish, that babies under 1 year old are not supposed to have such milk because their digestive system isn't ready.
Afterwards, the three of us got along quite well without the nanny :) Pictured is the best and most loving (and tanned!) helper we've ever encountered!
Now, if only I could find a Mexican helper who will follow me around and serve margaritas..

Mom's Surprise (40th??!) Birthday Party

This past Sunday, we all showed up at the Baird Rd house to surprise my mom for her birthday. Bob organized the special occasion and, indeed, mummy dearest was surprised! We were all feeling a titch blue after returning from Mexico, so the party was the perfect thing. Mom's good friends showed up, along with us and Sky, Erin, Doodles, Uncle Greg and Greg's dog, Katie. Having this birthday party made me start thinking about little Cole's 1-year birthday which isn't too far away, somehow.
Here's a pic of the party people round the dinner table. Naturally, Cole had to be the center of attention!