Santa Cruz

Steve had to work in Santa Cruz and I jumped at the chance of having a paid vacation on the coast. I loved my trip. The hotel location was phenomenal (thank you, Steve!) and I was minutes from both the beach and downtown Santa Cruz. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! Especially when it is 100 + degrees at our current home.

The climb to the top of the street was worth it. I had a chowder bread bowl on the wharf with Steve and his co-workers.

It is cold on the boardwalk and I want out of my stroller!

Okay, I will go if I have to.

Are you sure about this, Mommy?

A more comprehensive view of the Carousel.

Climbing

So Jenna has decided that climbing is one of the only things worth doing.

Here she is climbing Buddy:

Speaking of the dog, I also caught Jenna washing her sock in the dog water. I didn't get a picture because I had to put a stop to it fast!

She is much better at entertaining herself. She has learned how to fall on her bottom, which is much less scary than falling backward. She crawls more so when she gets bored she can easily look for something else to do. She also follows me (crawling) around the house while I do chores. After about two full house laps she gets frustrated.

So she is crawling well. As for walking, I am torn. I would like her to be able to be more independent, but I know that once she starts walking she will get faster and have more potential for getting into trouble. I guess I'm not really encouraging it! Though it does stress me out when I see this in the morning:

Jenna has a lot more personality. She laughs a lot at silly things and likes being social. She talks alot. Her current favorite is growling. She is fun to be with and I am excited to get to know her more as she gets older.

Oh, and she is starting to resist spoon feeding. I guess motherhood is a job that constantly changes...

Whenever I go shopping I get comments about how she looks just like the Gerber baby. That is fun. Also, I have recently had strangers tell me that I am a good mother. Awkward, but nice.

Kind of random, but I also like this face:

Crawling Forward

Jenna has figured out how to crawl forward! She had backwards and sideways down a month ago. Within the last 48 hours she went from fumbling to moving effectively in any direction she chooses. Buddy has learned he liked Jenna better before she could crawl to him and mess with his face!

In other news, I got a daddy motorcycle. Big, heavy, road rumbler--not a zippy death machine. Still working on it to get it tuned up and checked out before riding seriously though. Probably should post pictures of me and my riding babe mounted up once it's to that stage!

--Steve

Washington D.C. Again

We went to Washington D.C. again, this time with an almost 7 month old. More laid back then last time. Good vacation.

We went to:
--National Zoo
--US Botanical Gardens
--Arlington National Cemetery
--Library of Congress
--National Archives
--Franciscan Monastery

Good times. My favorites were Arlington and the National Archives. I admit that I got a little emotional.

Only one person was able to sleep on the subway.

mmmm-BAHH

Suzanne said that we can't call this Jenna's first word, but I definitely think it is. Her first word (according to me) is mmmm-BAHH, written phonetically.

mmmm-BAHH means "I am happy and I like talking with you." So it's really an efficient word. The "mmmm" is slow and quiet, while the "BAHH" is shorter and more forceful.

Of course that's not in Websters dictionary, but I contend that a word is a defined sound that has a specific meaning, and can be used to communicate. mmmm-BAHH has all those qualities. She makes the sound the same each time (defined, consistent), and always communicates the same meaning because she only uses it around her Parents and only when she's content and giggly.

Suzanne is waiting until she says "MaMa" to claim first word.

--Steve

Jenna Bear

It's official--Jenna Bear is the name that stuck. My bear has mastered the "almost-crawl"! She has successfully pushed up on her arms for over a month. These days she couples that with the raised hips, but does more of a bobble (thing table with 4 wabbly, crooked legs). I tried to get a picture, but they're rare moments and don't last long.

Our fruit trees have lots of fruit on them. Cherries will be first to ripen--within a week or so, then stretching out for a few weeks following. Jenna Bear likes when I hold her near the trees and she feels the leaves in her hands.

Deloitte work has slowed down after the busy season slowed in April. I have been home nearly every night since then and enjoy spending more time with Suzanne and Jenna Bear.

Don't forget the step child! Buddy came to work with me last Friday for the end-of-busy-season party at a lake resort. He played in the water the whole time and tired himself out for 2 days.

Suzanne has finished her latest cross stitch and started a new one which should finish in a month or so. When not putting out Jenna fires she is watching all the past seasons of the TV show Bones. Jenna Bear even recognizes the intro theme music!

Next week Jenna Bear's second cousin Olivia Hamm (3 months) comes to visit so my baby can show off how much she's learned!

--Steve

Competition

Already Jenna has two boys competing for her attention. There are two little boys around her age at chuch (and one a month older whom she hasn't met yet who is also a very cute little boy). One of the boys (M) was actually born in the same hospital, on the same day! That boy's grandma (a very sweet lady who I really like) jokes about wedding invitations. M and Jenna had a fun moment together a few months back. He was talking up a storm and she was smiling her classic Jenna smile. But they really haven't had very much interaction.

Jenna has spent more time with the other little boy (B). B and Jenna have spent a few "play dates" together while his mother and I have have traded babysitting. Jenna has decided that B's hand is very, very tasty. Though Jenna is more interested in B (those big eyes just like to look and look and look), they both tolerate each other.

Both boys have spit up in Jenna's presence. I guess this is how little boys impress little girls.

I really like both of their families. Whom to choose??