Friday, January 23, 2009
Books
Thanks to my friend Missy, I'm reading my way through the Twilight series of books. Count me among those who typically have no interest in vampire stories but still find themselves intrigued. I guess a well-written love story is a well-written love story, bloodsuckers be darned! It's definitely an easy, entertaining read.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
CHEESE!
In the last couple of days Sara has started to say "CHEESE!" for the camera. She said it right before I started recording this video, and then again with some mom-couragement. :)
Another play date!
Today my friend Aydee came over with her younger son Aaron. Aaron is just two months older than Sara. It was so fun to watch them kind of play together (more like beside each other) and to see the differences between boys and girls. Aydee was impressed with Sara's vocabulary (and Sara seemed to show off a bit for her); I was impressed with Aaron's physical coordination and problem-solving. We had a fun time and are hoping for better weather next time so we can head out to a park!
Isn't Aaron adorable?
Sara looks intrigued
Sara has learned how to do the "CHEESE!" smile
Isn't Aaron adorable?
Sara looks intrigued
Sara has learned how to do the "CHEESE!" smile
Happy 34th, my love!
Larry decided that he would like to celebrate his birthday this year by hauling our trailer down to the beach for the day. That might have seemed like a questionable idea, given his January birthday, but the weather gods could not have cooperated any more than they did! We enjoyed warm temperatures and sunny skies. A good time was had by all!
Sara's first trip to Disneyland
Tante Carla and Onkel Alex gave us the very generous birthday gift of a Disneyland annual passport. This will allow me to take Sara to the park for a few hours just about any time I'd like.
On Monday, January 12, Tanja and I took Ryan and Sara for a few hours in the morning. Anyone who has spent much time around Sara knows that she can be sort of "slow to warm," especially in places with tons to take in. Disneyland was no exception. She just wanted to look around more than actually participate in anything. :)
There were no meltdowns, but I'd rank the rides we went on in the follow order from her favorite to least favorite:
1. Dumbo's Wild Ride (no smiles but no negative reaction at all)
2. Casey Jr. Circus Train (same reaction as Dumbo, but Mommy likes Dumbo a little better. LOL)
3. Merry-go-round aka King Arthur Carrousel (She didn't like it when the horse first started moving, but she calmed down pretty quickly. Again, no smiles.)
4. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (She started crying during the dark, loud parts, but it was her "complaining cry," not actual tears.)
5. Peter Pan's Flight (Same reaction as Mr. Toad's but on this one I sat beside her instead of with her on my lap, so I think she felt less secure.)
Waiting in line
Ryan and I on Casey's Train
Tanja and Sara on Casey's train. The ride is actually moving, not that her reaction shows that. :)
It will be interesting to see how Sara's reactions to Disneyland change over the course of the year. I can only hope and assume that she will eventually realize that it's The Happiest Place on Earth!
MONSTER TRUCK jam
On Saturday, January 10th, Larry and I went to an event that even two years ago I would have thought would never interest me: The Monster Truck Jam. I suppose as much as anything or anyone I have my precious nephew Ryan to thank for my interest. He LOVES monster trucks, so just the idea of seeing his enthusiasm made me want to go. Turns out it's a very fun time!
This night was made all the more special because Tante Carla and Onkel Alex watched Sara for us, and she spent the night over there! (This was her second night away from home. My parents watched her when we went to a USC game back in November.) Carla reported that Sara slept from about 7:45 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. I guess she didn't miss us too much!
Of course, the weekend after we went, a boy up in Washington was killed at a similar event. :( Sitting in the crowd did not seem remotely dangerous to me, but if we go to another event, I'll make sure we sit up high again.
This night was made all the more special because Tante Carla and Onkel Alex watched Sara for us, and she spent the night over there! (This was her second night away from home. My parents watched her when we went to a USC game back in November.) Carla reported that Sara slept from about 7:45 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. I guess she didn't miss us too much!
Of course, the weekend after we went, a boy up in Washington was killed at a similar event. :( Sitting in the crowd did not seem remotely dangerous to me, but if we go to another event, I'll make sure we sit up high again.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Something I've dreaded
On Sunday I received a text message from a former student informing me that one of my other former students, Andrew Martinez, had been killed in a car accident Saturday night. Finding out was like being punched in the stomach, to be honest. This was an inevitability that I had always feared from the moment I began teaching. (Ironically enough, my student Christopher Murray committed double homicide a couple of years ago. That one it had never occurred to me to dread.)
About two weeks ago, Andrew found me on Facebook, a social networking tool that I spend too much time on these days. Prior to that, I hadn't spoken to him in probably four years. He graduated in 2001. I would have remembered him regardless, but to have spoken with him so recently has given his passing an extra little pinch of sadness.
Andrew was the kind of kid I have always enjoyed teaching. He was outspoken, witty, intelligent, and respectful. He wasn't necessarily the most conscientious student in the room, but he had a lot to offer in class and interesting ideas. Andrew's biggest passion was music. I remember seeing the chorus to Incubus's "Pardon Me" scrawled across the front of his binder, and it reminded me of my own teenage angst, so I kind of liked it.
When I ran into Andrew a few years ago at the Brea Mall, he was getting ready to tour with his band, Up Syndrome. He even gave me a copy of his CD. He was so excited to be pursuing his dream--something he continued to do up until his passing on early Sunday morning.
Andrew, I'm so sorry that your life was so short. I'm very proud of and inspired by the passion with which you lived your life. Thank you for sharing that lesson with everyone who knew you.
About two weeks ago, Andrew found me on Facebook, a social networking tool that I spend too much time on these days. Prior to that, I hadn't spoken to him in probably four years. He graduated in 2001. I would have remembered him regardless, but to have spoken with him so recently has given his passing an extra little pinch of sadness.
Andrew was the kind of kid I have always enjoyed teaching. He was outspoken, witty, intelligent, and respectful. He wasn't necessarily the most conscientious student in the room, but he had a lot to offer in class and interesting ideas. Andrew's biggest passion was music. I remember seeing the chorus to Incubus's "Pardon Me" scrawled across the front of his binder, and it reminded me of my own teenage angst, so I kind of liked it.
When I ran into Andrew a few years ago at the Brea Mall, he was getting ready to tour with his band, Up Syndrome. He even gave me a copy of his CD. He was so excited to be pursuing his dream--something he continued to do up until his passing on early Sunday morning.
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Andrew, I'm so sorry that your life was so short. I'm very proud of and inspired by the passion with which you lived your life. Thank you for sharing that lesson with everyone who knew you.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Sara's words as of 1/9/09
1. ball (this was the first she clearly used with meaning)
2. mama
3. dada
4. book
5. more (word and sign; it seems to also mean yes and again)
6. cheese
7. nana (banana--sorry Nana Paula. :) )
8. ear (with pointing to ear)
9. butt (button)
10. bye-bye (with waving; also uses to dismiss something she doesn't like)
11. eat (signs only)
12. shoe (sounds like zshooo)
New this week:
13. eye
14. hi
15. no (complete with head-shaking)
2. mama
3. dada
4. book
5. more (word and sign; it seems to also mean yes and again)
6. cheese
7. nana (banana--sorry Nana Paula. :) )
8. ear (with pointing to ear)
9. butt (button)
10. bye-bye (with waving; also uses to dismiss something she doesn't like)
11. eat (signs only)
12. shoe (sounds like zshooo)
New this week:
13. eye
14. hi
15. no (complete with head-shaking)
Fourteen months old
Welcome to toddlerhood! You know, it wasn't all that long ago that Sara was basically our little lap baby. She would sit contentedly on our laps and just be adorable. She didn't do much, but she warmed our hearts just the same.
Now, we have a walking (basically exclusively since Christmas), talking (over 10 words), independence-asserting little human being on our hands. If we do something that she doesn't like, she will let us know, usually by making shrieking type noises that, I can't lie, drive me insane. It used to be she would eat anything. Now, she's much more selective and quite unpredictable. One day she likes turkey; the next she's throwing it on the floor. Every time we think we are done baby proofing, she takes her exploration to a new level. Example: Just this past week Sara discovered that the cabinets we had installed under our stairs were CABINETS. Once Larry got the hooks on those, she discovered the drawers on our end tables.
These are exciting times as we watch our sweet Sara Jo grow and change and become much less of our baby and more of her own person. Please pray that God grants us the patience and wisdom to give her just what she needs to flourish! We are toddling right along with her as we figure out this next stage of parenting. :)
Now, we have a walking (basically exclusively since Christmas), talking (over 10 words), independence-asserting little human being on our hands. If we do something that she doesn't like, she will let us know, usually by making shrieking type noises that, I can't lie, drive me insane. It used to be she would eat anything. Now, she's much more selective and quite unpredictable. One day she likes turkey; the next she's throwing it on the floor. Every time we think we are done baby proofing, she takes her exploration to a new level. Example: Just this past week Sara discovered that the cabinets we had installed under our stairs were CABINETS. Once Larry got the hooks on those, she discovered the drawers on our end tables.
These are exciting times as we watch our sweet Sara Jo grow and change and become much less of our baby and more of her own person. Please pray that God grants us the patience and wisdom to give her just what she needs to flourish! We are toddling right along with her as we figure out this next stage of parenting. :)
New Year's FAIL
On New Year's Eve Larry, Sara and I packed up the trailer and headed out for a few days in Glamis. We had packed enough alcohol to ring in the new year with as much debauchery as might suit our fancy and were looking forward to a good time with the Tyners and their friends.
What we got instead was a smoking tire, some demolished wheel bearings, and a New Year's spent at the 76 station in "Salton Sea Beach." HAPPY NEW YEAR! :)
The bright side: With help from our dear friends and family, we were able to limp the trailer out to Glamis, and we were able to get it repaired. We enjoyed the rest of our trip in Glamis and were reminded that life is what happens while you're making other plans!
What we got instead was a smoking tire, some demolished wheel bearings, and a New Year's spent at the 76 station in "Salton Sea Beach." HAPPY NEW YEAR! :)
The bright side: With help from our dear friends and family, we were able to limp the trailer out to Glamis, and we were able to get it repaired. We enjoyed the rest of our trip in Glamis and were reminded that life is what happens while you're making other plans!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Sajo and Zozo
A few days after Christmas the Rosas stopped by for some pizza (thanks, guys!), conversation, and a playdate for our little ones. It was absolutely adorable. The girls actually kind of played together at times! Zoey has always shown a little bit of interest in Sara, I think, but this time Sara showed some interest back. The two seemed to follow each other around. It was a very sweet sign of things to come.
As a side note, the first few pictures are from our little Canon point-and-shoot camera. The others are from Brian and Melissa's more sophisticated camera. You can certainly tell the difference!
As a side note, the first few pictures are from our little Canon point-and-shoot camera. The others are from Brian and Melissa's more sophisticated camera. You can certainly tell the difference!
Make new friends, but keep the old...
On December 26th Larry, Sara, and I headed down to San Diego to visit with the Gouldens as they celebrated their cousin Aimee's wedding and Anna's son Sam's first birthday. We just saw Jason, Shauna, Charlie and Tanner up in Los Gatos a few months ago, but we hadn't seen Anna and family since we were both pregnant in the summer of 2007. This was her first time meeting Sara and my first time meeting her younger kiddo Sammy. It was as wonderful as always to see such dear, dear friends.
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