Funny Face

EJ loves mirrors.

Happy Birthday, Johnny!

          EJ's cousin Johnny turns one today!  I have no idea how a year went by so quickly.  In just two months, Johnny and EJ will finally get to meet each other, and I can't wait to see them play together.  Johnny can teach EJ all about sitting up, crawling, and having teeth.  Happy birthday, Johnny!  We love you!

More Hullabaloo

Hullabaloo came to play after Stroller Strides last week.

The kids loved it!

EJ got to hold this scarf during one of the songs.

He tried to eat it.

Then he got to hold a maraca during La Bamba. He tried to eat it, too.  

This is the smile of a boy who doesn't fear the germs found on communal toys.

Green Beans

Date Night

          Two weeks ago, Peter and I got to go to our first movie together since EJ was born!  A theater near us has a promotion called Mommy and Me Movies, which are movies that you're encouraged to bring your baby to, so we saw Neighbors and went out to dinner.  EJ ate and napped during the movie and was super smiley at dinner.  Success!   

Hypnotized by the screen.

Apparently, EJ loves Five Guys!

Nap Time

Exersaucer

          These pictures are from a little over a month ago when we first got EJ's Exersaucer.  I was pretty excited about it, because I got it, a Bumbo seat, and a Johnny Jump Up all at a garage sale for $30!  I was also excited that it comes completely apart for cleaning, because eew.

      

Sock Thief

     

  EJ helping to fold the clean laundry really means EJ grabbing every sock he can reach.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

          Happy birthday to EJ's Grandpa Terry!  This post is two days late (Sorry, Dad!), but we still hope that you had a wonderful birthday!  Would it make you feel better if I named my first born child after you? :)
          These hold-this-sign-while-I-take-your-picture photo shoots are getting more and more difficult as EJ gets older.  It was almost impossible to stop him from crumpling up the paper and trying to eat it, let alone to get a smile from him, but we did our best!

          Happy birthday, Dad!  We love you!

And because we truly do want you to have a happy birthday....

Technical difficulties.

Lake Miramar... Again

          Last week, when EJ's and my original plans were derailed by this:

....we decided to abandon our plan and the traffic and go to our old standby, Lake Miramar.  I was very annoyed by the traffic because it took us over 15 minutes to go less than half a mile, and we still hadn't gotten to the freeway entrance and were too late to go to the class we were trying to get to.  As much as I love the lake, I was disappointed that we didn't get to do what I wanted to, very frustrated by the traffic, and not excited to run at the lake when it was a million degrees out.  I only point this out because I think my mood contributed to my impulsive decision to take the stroller off the main paved trail at the lake and down onto a dirt trail.

This hill seemed a lot smaller when we went down it.

          There are tons of trails all around the lake, but when I'm alone with EJ and the jogging stroller, I tend to stick to the main path because the trails are all either uphill or downhill from it and the dirt is loose with lots of rocks.  This time, I saw a spot where I thought I could take the stroller down to a dirt trail near the water and went for it.  Once we got to the bottom of the hill, it seemed much steeper than it had from the top and I wasn't sure how I would get the stroller back up!  This adventure seemed much better suited to a time when Pete was with me and could muscle EJ back up to the main trail, but I was on the lower path now, so I figured I would at least walk around for a bit and hope to find an easier place to get back up.

          I loved the little path we found! All the trails we've explored before have been above the main path, never down below it.  This path went along the very edge of the water, so it was beautiful.  It was also cool with the breeze coming off the lake and shady from all the trees.  It was a little rocky, but the bumps weren't enough to wake EJ.  Luckily, we did find an easy way back up, and now I can't wait to bring Pete back with us this weekend to explore the trail further.

Matching

         I realized after we got home that EJ and I were very color coordinated for our jog at Lake Miramar a few Saturdays ago.

 Running really wears EJ out.