It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

The year end is upon us and we are teaching Z all about materialism and bright lights, to the best of our abilities.

She had a not-so-pleasant visit with Santa, he couldn't say her name right and she didn't trust him to hold her. We had to explain that he doesn't have to drive the sleigh, which is why it is probably OK for him to be tipsy.

Why is he staring at me???

shark face

Z loves visitors!

Z had another great visit to the aquarium, this time with her Uncle Bo Jangles and Aunt Fancy Pants. At some point, we have to stop letting people call themselves whatever they want (P.Pa seems so street tough). Bo Jangles will get a pass, we kind of like it.

Z's newest milestone is Kissing. She grabs, opens her mouth and plants one. She will kiss Chow Yun Fat (her Panda), Carl the stuffed dog, talking Kenny and any human baby she can get her hands on.

We fear she will walk any day, she stands on her own and has taken a couple of half steps without thinking about it. Stay Tiny!

2010 - Greatest Year Ever! Looking forward to lots of fun in 2011!

Here are the latest videos. Hope to see you all soon!

Happy Merry Joyous Feliz Christmas:Festivus:Hanukkah:Kwanzaa:Navidad
and  a Happy New Year to All!

Thankful!

Z's first Halloween was a blast!


This year we were "spotted" walking around our neighborhood, at the library for Halloween story time and  parade, at the playground and a Halloween party and music class. Phew! Definitely got our money's worth out of this costume!






Halloween came and went so fast and November has been a blur. With Turkey day upon us, we have so many things to be thankful for.

Z has been the greatest gift either of us could have imagined possible. Thank you, Universe, for bringing us our baby.

New Milestone - Pointing. She also claps, stands and cruises!

We are thankful for our friends who have treated us like family this year.

World's Greatest Babysitter

Thanks to everyone in our family who sent us well wishes and visited baby Z!

Z learns about caterpillars

Thank you, Benjamin, for being the greatest person I know.

We are all thankful for our good health, good times, and all the love in our home. Looking forward to Christmas photos of Z, first visit to Santa, decorating the house and trying to keep her from getting into all of the ornaments! See you soon!

Marine Biologist Training Camp

Channel Islands

We took a weekend excursion to Ventura, including a tour of Channel Islands. Only 2 hours away from home, Ventura is where Venice meets Newport Beach. Not geographically, of course. Great boats, some freaks, local restaurants, hesh patrons on the streets. It is something to see. Alligator lizards in the air, indeed.

Z saw dolphins, sea lions, flocks of pelicans and.......A BLUE WHALE. That's right, we saw the elusive Blue, the largest animal (ever) on the planet, and one of only a few thousand left in the entire world. Blue whales were almost annihilated by people, over 99% slaughtered by their only enemy. A blue whale takes in over 16,000 gallons of water per mouthful! Amazing. I don't know of two people who could have been more thrilled to share this experience with their child! This whale was a total surprise bonus, the first the boat had seen all summer. Of course, it was spotted by Ben when they were showing us a dolphin pod. Check out the videos!

We had fun walking around with the baby in Ventura. Most restaurants seem mom and pop and although the quality was hit and miss, it is fun just strolling down main street, or going down to the harbor for some seafood. One dinner we had was at the Anacapa Brewing Co. We try to make it a point to try brew co's wherever we go and have done so in numerous states and three continents. Anacapa, sadly, ranks just above Newport Brew Co, so not very high. Oh well, we liked their pint glasses and bought two, a new tradition.

Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach

We continued our Junior Marine Biologist's lessons at the aquarium. Once again, Z was an interested participant. When given the opportunity to pet sharks, she didn't hesitate. The sea horses might be her favorite! 

Here Z meets the moray eel:

NEW MILESTONE!

CRAWLING!!! She has been pushing backward for quite a while, but now the gear goes forward. Here is Z CRAWLING and High Fiving! She is amazing!

Another new trick is pulling things off the table. Mango! Yum!

 Z says "See you 'round. Y'all."

SEPTEMBER IS FALLING FAST!

First Carapace!

JUNIOR ZOOKEEPER!

Z had another visit from Uncle Jim and Aunt Lucy! This time we checked out Santa Ana Zoo, a small zoo not too far from us. Jim and Lucy came out to visit during our heat wave. They must have brought the heat with them because as soon as they left it was cold again. Z had some close encounters of the furry, scaly and toady kind!

Possum!

MORE TEETH!!

Beauty Queen

Baby has FIVE teeth! She has two top center incisors and three below! More are on the way! 

Suprised! Yes, she just woke up!

NEW SKILLS REPORT

Sitting on all fours and face-planting, swinging, screeching, saying DA-DA-DA, growling, getting mad when something is removed from mouth or hand, hugging with all her might. She will be crawling any second and is trying to pull herself up. You know, the usual. 

Please stay tiny so we can SQUEEEZE you!


TIME FOR SOME VIDEO!!!

Here is Z with her new walker, JUPPY. We love JUPPY! JUPPY, JUPPY, JUPPY!!!!!

MOONWALKING!!!


Ben playing his latest song, Earle of Sandwiche. His greatest fan is surprised how great it is!



More song, more cute.

Z says, "I hope to see you around the playground or in yoga. TOODLES!  Da, Da, Da, Da." 

Z Sees a PANDA!!!!

Panda Hawk Spots Potential Next Meal. 

Z is only eating bananas now, (see below) and maybe an avocado, but she is already looking at some delicious bamboo eating animals. 

Z's Poppa shows her a Polar Bear 

Overall, Z did an amazing job of being an interested participant in her first zoo trip. We are long time patrons of San Diego Zoo and are excited to share our love of animals with her! She made it through the entire zoo, what a trooper! Her cousin Heather carried her and felt the burn.

We all came back from the zoo slightly less than fresh, so we scrubbed our zoo keeper down and put her off to bed with her new stuffed Panda, a gift from her cousin Heather. We have named him Chow Yun Fat and Z adores him!

Easleys LOVE to EAT!

Z is eating and making faces we have never seen her make! We are pretty sure she likes bananas more than avocado, but it is obvious she likes eating like a big girl!

Here are 5 faces Z had never made before she met her banana!

Play Time!

Z shows us how she sits up!

We took Z to the playground early in the morning so she could get some fresh air in the long shadows!

Z had fun her first time sitting alone in the playground. She's ready to take on the other kids! 

B & Z Easley try out the slide! Z is looking forward to future play dates where she can show off her new skills!

Z says, "Au revoir, hope to see you soon!"