Californ-I-A!

Am I the only one who knows that Beach Boys song?

It has been more than a month since we went on our trip, so lets see how much I remember (while I am distracted with Dora in the background).

It started by flying into San Diego to go to Josh’s cousin’s (dad’s side) wedding. It was really nice and we had a great time with his family out there. I have an interesting story about how I met the bride, but I am not sure it is quite appropriate to post here – but make sure to ask me about it sometime. Don’t ask me why we didn’t get out our camera until we left here because it would have been nice to have more pictures of family.
While we were out there we got to see our friends from BBC, Matt and Christa. It was so great to see them. They are the kind of friends that we really easily reconnect with. We enjoyed dinner with them, spent the night (yes, the three of us), and went to church with them the next day. Their church is great – really solid and I learned some things about echtypal and archetypal knowledge (ask me about it). Josh even got to play bass b/c Matt leads worship. That afternoon we went to a wild animal park that is nearby. Check out the sweet pictures.

This is one plant - and a stork is standing on it.

Watching a bird show

The next day we hung out with Josh’s fam again and then left Monday morning for LA. We drove through downtown LA and into Beverly Hills and Belair (I was humming the Fresh Prince theme song the whole time). We also stopped at Grace (Johnnie Mac's church) where the Huff's used to attend. That night we stayed with some friend's of the Huff's and it was there that Charis took her first steps, real ones anyway. After our time in LA we drove the six hours up to Santa Cruz.
Okay, side note. I was horribly sick this whole trip. I puked multiple times everyday, including in the car, when I couldn't wait to get into a bathroom. I would start to mentally freakout everytime we had a drive ahead of us. So yeah, not so fun.

Silly time with mama in the car

Can you see Charis?

First steps

Santa Cruz was great! We walked the pier, played in the ocean and ate good seafood. We even found a donut place called Ferrell's Donut House. I was so excited that I made us stop and get a donut. (Yeah, that sat well in my system while we drove another couple hours.)

Charis LOVED the ocean!


We finally made it to San Francisco, to Toni's mom's house. She has such an interesting place. It is decorated Japanese like, and they have a shower with a picture window (imagine the wall that keeps the outside out being a huge window - floor to ceiling. She said "it's like you are showering outside." I look out and I see the neighbor's window - no joke.) We spent time with Toni's family and I got to meet people whom I have never met before.
On Thursday we went to downtown San Francisco. We got to see Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39. I ate Clam Chowder in a sourdough breadbowl while sitting on San Francisco Bay. We got Charis some little Alcatraz (I started to type Azkaban) pajamas that look like prison clothes. The streets were amazing and you can only imagine what they did to my system. We got to go on Lombard street though, which was an ... experience.

At night we stayed with Toni's dad. They were so nice and it was great to stay in one place for a couple nights. We even got to go in their hottub each night - ahhhh! And they have a whole flock, herd, gaggle? of hummingbirds. It was amazing! On Friday we celebrated Yom Kippur with them and the rest of the family. It was very yummy.
And we got to head up to Napa Valley ~ Wine Country! We went to the Mondavi vineyard and had some amazing wine. In fact, I found my all time favorite wine. It is sweet, but actually has a wine aftertaste, not the koolaid aftertaste that comes with most sweet wines. Anyway, we couldn't tour the place because of Charis, but we had fun walking around anyway.

So we had a fun and busy trip to Cali. Not exactly a vacation where we rest, but I am glad we did it. Until next time!

Random: I was surprised how hilly and brown everything is - definitely not that pretty, but then again I didn't get that far north.

Her First Birthday

Yes. I am finally going to post pictures and tell you about her birthday.

The actual day of we were at my cousin's wedding, so she had fun with grandpa and grandma. (I was only kinda sad that I wasn't with her - not that she remembers. And I knew they would shower her with love on her special day.)

We had her little shindig on Labor Day. I meant it to be simple and informal, with just immediate family, but because it was Labor Day the extended clan was over. I didn't mind that at all, but I didn't want them to feel they had to bring gifts. They did anyway. It just shows how the family loves everyone of us, even as we get more and more removed. (BTW, does anyone understand the whole great-aunt, cousin-once-removed, 2nd-cousin thing?) Charis had so many gifts and frankly she wasn't quite into them. While I am proud she has learned to be content with one toy for a while, it made it difficult to keep the gift opening going when she wasn't really paying attention.


Then we tried the cake. We set it up outside, but the mesquitos were HORRIBLE, so after two minutes we were back inside. Charis was not interested in her cake. This was her first real taste of processed sugar and she didn't want it. Grant it, the frosting was really sweet. She wouldn't play in it either. (See we taught her so well - "don't play with your food," "you don't need sugar," "be content with the toy you have"...) She eventually ate a little cake, but it wasn't the glorious and messy feast that I was hoping for.

All in all, it was fun yet stressful day. I will leave you with some pictures of her enjoying the cake batter I prepared earlier that day. (At least she kinda likes sugar!)

Puking and Lab Tests

I had my monthly doctor's appointment this past week and I lost another three pounds. Not a big deal in my mind, but it has been accompanied with puking. So my doctor made me go to the lab to get blood work to check my thyroid and she gave me a perscription for my nausea. I don't see what the big deal is. With Charis I think I lost 15 pounds in the first trimester, but I guess I wasn't throwing up. I don't get it.

Sometimes pregnancy sucks...

... but I have been feeling the baby move.

Check out Josh's Blog

You will see a fabulous update!

http://thejewfirst.blogspot.com/

Packing

So we leave for California in 39 hours and I haven't begun packing. That is pretty frightening for me. Especially now that Charis has been added to the list. And not only that, she doesn't just need clothes and toiletries. She needs her whole world to move with us to California. I mean how many of you bring your bed, lunch chair, eating utensils and all your food with you when you go on a vacation? Not many I would guess. I am just glad the airlines let you bring 3 items each. But realize that since Charis is not paying (but sitting on our laps for 4 hours!) she does not get to bring 3 items. I estimate the 6 items Josh and I have will be 1 car seat, 1 pack and play, 1 stroller and 3 pieces of luggage (I hope to pack her booster seat and fan - HA!). This would all be fine if we owned 3 pieces of BIG luggage. But no, we have the big, medium and small, which isn't "just right". (Yes, I am thinking of Goldilocks and the three bears.)
Oh and speaking of flying... I asked the doctor how I can knock out my child on this trip. He told me unoffcially that Benedryl sometimes works. He then qualified it by saying, check it first, because some kids gets wired. Yeah, Charis gets wired. Well, at least I am glad we tried it out before we got on a plane with an off the wall, non-walking, but wanting to be moving toddler.
So anyway, I need to pack. Yeah, I am going to wait until tomorrow.

Dunkin Donuts

I am not sure if I get cravings, but I have definitely been wanting some Dunkin Donuts recently, more specifically a white long john and a boston cream. So good. Josh got it for me about a month ago. He walked in to wake me up from my afternoon nap to some yummy donuts. It was wonderful... and I have been wanting it again.
Jordan and Crys sometimes get them Sunday mornings, and I almost called them to pick me up some. Too bad that they didn't even go that morning. Then Sunday afternoon Josh said he would go get me some. I was so excited. I went to my nap anticipating yummy donuts when I woke up and felt 100% okay with not sharing with my bible study girls who would be there when I woke up. 4:30 rolled around and I happily bounded out of my bed looking for the blessed orange and pink bag... but I didn't see it. I looked at Josh and asked him if he was able to run out and he said that they were out of my donuts!

I was seriously, seriously bummed.

And today was jammed packed with a quick run to the doctor to look at a TB shot and then up to Algonquin for a petting zoo with Em and her girls. But I squeezed in my Dunkin Donut run. It was wonderful and if any of you want to get me some more I will happily take them!

My Baby Turned One...

...and I can't find the camera cord. As soon as I do you will see some adorable and hilarious pics. Hey, can someone tell me how to post a movie?