Dan & Hillary... Life by the Bay

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

"Til next time!"

Friday, April 21, 2006

"Going to the park with Mom and Dad... they don't want my flawless baby skin to get burnt:-)"

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Dan's mom's birthday is today so this is the picture we sent with her card.

Russell's new toy was given to us by the tenants upstairs:-) It was so nice of them to think of us when their son outgrew it! Russ kicks the blue part and the toy plays a song and the parts move.

Saturday, April 15, 2006

"I love you, Mom."

"I love my swing!"

Taking a little break during tummy time to enjoy a suck on the fist (he hasn't found his fingers yet but loves the fist).

Monday, April 10, 2006

April (from SD) and Cassandra (from Seattle- moving to Hawai'i) came to visit on Friday and they stayed until Sunday. It was great to see them again and visit in person rather than over the phone. Dan had to work over the weekend but he was able to visit with them when he got home:-)

Downtown SF- very busy and a lot to see!

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

"Eating a little candy while watching 'Dreamer' (Kurt Russell, Dakota Fanning)... a 'feel good' movie but not bad for the first movie I've seen!"

"Every morning I get to lay in the big bed which is so nice because it has a lot of room and is really soft. Mom puts me here because I like it and I can see her get ready for the new day."

Saturday, April 01, 2006

Story from my e-mail... for all women

A woman, renewing her driver's license at the Motor Vehicle's office, was asked by the clerk to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. "What I mean is," explained the clerk, "do you have a job or are you just a...?"

"Of course I have a job," snapped the woman. "I'm a Mom."

"We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it," said the clerk emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient and possessed of a high sounding title like, "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar."

"What is your occupation?" she probed. What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out. "I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations."

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest,"just what you do in your field?"

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and in the field,(normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters, (the whole darned family) and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money."

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up and personally ushered me to the door. As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another Mom."

Does this make grandmothers "Senior Research associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations" and great grandmothers "Executive Senior Research Associates"? I think so!!!! I also think it makes Aunts "Associate Research Assistants."

Friday, March 31, 2006

Two Months Old

Today we went to the peditrician for Russell's two-month-old check-up. He is 12 lbs/9 ozs, and is 22 3/4 inches long (he's grown 3 inches and over 5 lbs). Russell is very alert and holds his head up quite nicely and does well on his three hour sleep/feed/awake schedule- except for early evening when he gets a little fussy, but who isn't tired by this time of the day?

Russell also likes listening to his music- a jamming lullaby CD and Psalty's Praise Music for Lil' Praisers, and my singing (well, he doesn't complain!). We were given a nice swing for Russell as well, and he swings in it while I make cookies or any other Mom-kinda-things.

There has been a boy-baby boom at our church... eight boys born so far this year. I think Russell was number three. It is neat to see the other boys and talk with the other moms and dads. Incidentally, the four pregnant gals at church are all having girls (summer babies) so we will have to put Russell's name in early for an arranged marriage;-)

Thank-you to everyone who has been so kind to send or drop-off gifts... all clothing is/will be used and once Russell's a little older, so will the plush toys.

"Me and my friend Will on our playdate- actually, our moms just ate lunch and talked... we mostly napped:-)" (The boys are three weeks different in age)

Visiting with Dan's cousin Jon and his wife, Maria and their little 17 month old, Joanie, in Lodi, Ca, on Saturday.

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Russell's regular evening spa treatment. Very modest, he likes the cloth on him so he doesn't feel naked (i.e. he'll cry until the cloth is put over him).

"Pooh n' me hanging out...- hard to tell the difference, eh?" (Pooh is from Mom's friend Sangeeta in Duncan, BC)

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Russell is getting ready for his daily walk with his grandma- needless to say, it has been quite cold and damp here. The snowsuit is from his great-grandma Waitt in Victoria.