Monday, December 28, 2009

December 2009

Yay, it's December. I'm 14 months now. When do we stop using "months" to tell how old I am? Anyway...we moved into our new place and I'm getting used to all the new places to play. My mom had a hard time finding some things like cards and stuff for baking cookies, but we found everything just in time.
We went to my grandma's house in New Mexico for Christmas. I got to see a lot of family and snow! I'm not content with walking, so I'm practicing running, and I'm able to say some words like "Dis" for things I want/can't reach/or to be lifted. I also call both my parents "Dad." Here are some pictures from December.

Playing with lights at a nearby neighborhood where they had the most colorful lights I've ever seen!

Ready to bake, people.

Had fun walking around in the snow with daddy and my cousins.

I like my Christmas present from grandma.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Thanksgiving Weekend--2009

It's already Thanksgiving and there's a lot happening. My mom has been putting stuff in boxes and we had this big bird to eat with family who came from New Mexico. My mom says they came to help us move. So, here are a couple of shots from the weekend.

Here I am in possession of my favorite new toy--Garlic Salt. I think this will come in handy when my parents cook for everyone.

The weather was beautiful and warm over the Thanksgiving weekend, so we took some of our visitors to the beach for awhile.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Goofy Bedtime Reading--Nov. 2009

My mom kept laughing at me experimenting with my "moo's", laughing at my own jokes, and saying "bye" to the book before dumping it for the night.

Kinda Walking--Nov. 2009

Well, I'm doing it...I'm walking. I'm getting better at it and am walking more than crawling now. Mom recalls me taking my first steps the latter part of August, and since then I've graduated to cruising, walking between furniture, then wobbling around solo. Here's a little bit of footage of me walking to my dad.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Halloween Time Baby! 2009

Happy Halloween! It seems like we've been celebrating all week, and I've enjoyed it! My mom's friend said she had a costume for us and we were all excited to see that it was a lion. I've been practicing and can sometimes muster a lion roar, too. I think my favorite part of the costume are the paws. The hood gets a little annoying and old pretty fast but those paws are sooo cool.

On Halloween night we went Trick or Treating as a family. My parents were dressed as "Sleep-deprived Parents." It was a lot of fun checking out the neighborhood and seeing other kids dressed up, too.

Getting ready for the first party and telling my mom, "Put 'em up, mama, put 'em up!"

Checking out my pride in music class.

Notice how I stealthily move as I go in for some other kid's bell.

Bestill my eyes, what is THAT in my bag?

Taking a closer look.

Woo hoo--checking out my loot!

Trick or Treating with my Newbie, Sleep-deprived parents.

Monday, October 26, 2009

More Partying--October 2009

It has been so much fun celebrating my birthday--so much so that we had another party--this time it was with some of my local friends and parents' friends. We came together to visit and have more cake!
Since it's fall time, we also have been to places they call "Pumpkin Patches." I don't think they REALLY grow the pumpkins at these places, but they were fun to visit anyway.
We also got some chances to make some day trips up to visit friends in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

Having some more birthday cake. I think I skipped all my naps after this!

It was a warm day, so I practically jumped into the bin that had ice and water.

A day later I finally started to open presents. My parents let me go at my own pace and I think it took a good week. I was fascinated by all the colored paper, and then after I got through that I found presents! It was so cool! Thanks everybody!

I thought a white pumpkin was just too funny.

Playing at Rocky Nook Park in Santa Barbara.

A culinary tour of Santa Ynez led me to Aunt Telma's for a lovely chocolatey dessert. Yum!

Monday, October 5, 2009

Birthday Party Weekend in NM--Oct 2009

To celebrate my birthday and to celebrate my daddy making me laugh back in December, my parents, grandma, uncles and aunties organized a party for me in my mom's hometown. I had a good time visiting with my relatives at the party and sharing some birthday cake--plus offering them some candy and mountain salts. Here are some pictures of our weekend. Some of them are from stops on the way back.

Here's a picture of my birthday cake with some of my Legos as decoration.

Dad put the cake in front of me and I went at it face first.

Then, I used my hands.

On our way back we stopped for lunch and had some GOOD barbecue.

I just couldn't part with my rib bones, so they came home with us. (That reminds me--I better ask my mom for them cause they're still in her purse.)

Thursday, October 1, 2009

It's my Birthday!--Oct 2009

So it's the beginning of October and I'm officially a year old. I'm not entirely clear on what this means but everyone is feeling so festive I'm gonna roll with it...plus, there are presents! For my first birthday, my dad made me a very special cake called Tirolier. It's full of chocolate goodness with some ground almonds and walnuts, too. After I had some, I got to open presents from my Opa & Grossi.

Wow, birthdays involve cake? Yay, I'm so excited to try some!

Still soooo excited!

I want my wish to come true, so I'm taking this blowing-the-candle-out business seriously.

Mmmm...wishing I could have Tirolier cake everyday!

One of my presents from my grandparents. First I'll have warm milk in it, then when I'm older some coffee like my dad.

Friday, September 25, 2009

My First Haircut--Sept. 2009

So, recently my mom channeled Edward Scissorhands and went to work on my unruly, semi-curly mane. I think it was actually the comments my mom received about what a "pretty daughter" she has that pushed her and dad over the edge... Anyway, she succeeded in getting my hair "did."

Here's a "Before" photo. Notice how much older I looked.

"I hate to be a skeptic, but Mom, are you "sure" you know what you're doing?"

Here's the evidence folks. Gone are my youthful curls.

Right side done. Here's where I get bored and crawl all over the counter.

Here's a shot from the front. I'm waay more aerodynamic and fast with this new do.

A "profile" shot as they call them of my do from another angle. Mom said I need to wear a polo shirt and jeans, then I'll surely be a mini-Juerg.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

I can relate to Garfield--Sept. 2009

I found my first love! It's a delicious dish that I carefully and meticulously eat called "Lasagna." My dad made some over the weekend and I can't get enough of it. My parents comment that it's the first meal where I sit still and am quiet the entire time.

"I feel ya Garfield, I feel ya." Yummy.

Devouring and loving every morsel.

I'm leaving nothing to chance that I left something on this plate.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Having Fun

September is going quickly! Luckily, there was a day called "Labor Day" and my dad, mom and me were able to spend some more time at the beach. Whether at home or outside--all around me there are so many new things to learn about, taste, and maneuver with my hands. This sometimes causes my parents to get annoyed, but I think they enjoy watching me and seeing what I'll do next.

Someone left a perfectly good truck for me to play with at the lagoon.

That's me about to take my turn at the lifeguard station.

This blogging stuff is a lot of fun.

While mom mixed her batter for dad's cake, I was helping her organize the pans.

Check em' out--these are my first pair of shoes. They are fast!

Friday, September 4, 2009

I'm 11 months old! September '09

It's the beginning of September and I'm now 11 months old. I'm not quite walking but can get around fast when I crawl. I still cruise along the furniture and when I don't realize it, I can stand a few seconds by myself. It's a little freaky. I can utter words that sound like "Hi" and "Bye" and can sometimes coordinate waves when I say them. Mom's working on teaching me "Daddy." It's coming out more like "Dah--eeh". Here are some pics of me keeping busy around the house.

My first ride.

Ever have one of those days where your hair just has a mind of its own?

Sitting next to a sunny window checking out "A Letter for Tiger."

Monday, August 31, 2009

Beach Time--Tail end of August

Well, here we are at the end of August! I am enjoying the end of the summer and the mini heat wave that hit us. I enjoy the sand and beach more than ever now that I can crawl around quickly. I love to chase seagulls and whatever birds that land within my vicinity. Mom and I went to the local lagoon where there were lots of families enjoying the water and beach, too. Later, I went out with my dad and we had our own fun at the beach!

Checking out the scenes and wondering when I can actually get in the water!

"That was fun mom, but I got all these little grainy things around my eye...they don't taste like much either."

Dad and me enjoying a cool summer night at the beach.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

10 months old and getting into everything. August '09

Boy I am getting around! I can crawl on all fours but believe I am more stealth and efficient doing the army crawl. I fascinate, yet worry my parents with my curiosity and desire to explore the stairs, the heater, the glass doors on the entertainment center, and my obsession with opening every cabinet door I'm near.
I'm pulling myself up along side furniture and am starting to cruise along them. I'm mustering the courage to try to take those one to two steps that will get me from one piece of furniture to the other. For now, I'm settling for dropping to my bum, rotating, then pulling myself up to the desired piece of furniture.
To keep me occupied while she's cooking or doing dishes, mom has put me on the kitchen counter where she's given me the coolest set of drums. Dad keeps me occupied by encouraging me to crawl up all the stairs. I think he's proud of me but something in his eyes tell me he's also hoping I'll get tired and go to bed before 10 p.m.
Towards the middle of the month we were once again in New Mexico to visit grandma, my uncles, aunties and cousins. This time, we flew. It was fun!

This is my "I'm not doing anything" pose.

Jam session with my home-made drum set.

August 1st was the Swiss National Day. We celebrated with the Santa Barbara Swiss Club and took our turn blowing on the Alp Horn.

Loving me some ribs. I have four teeth that I really put to use.

What did I tell you about that look in daddy's eyes?

Spaghetti requires a lot of concentration to eat.

My cousin, Winni, and I decided to take an inventory of the toys at grandma's house.

Looking out at the planes.

"Careful with my luggage, guys. Thanks!"