Mark's Birthday

So Mark and I are trying to get better at life's celebrations, (i.e. birthdays) We tend to be last minute about everything these days. I had come up with a great idea this summer for his birthday--it was to be the birthday of all birthdays. I would whisk him and Isabella away the night before to my parents' house for a surprise BBQ and a Cherries Jubilee BR ice cream cake. My parents' gift to Mark was a gift certificate to REI, so after dinner we would pop over to the store so he could pick out a treat. Then we'd get up early Saturday morning and take a long drive out to the ocean for a day of kayaking. (Mark is an avid kayaker, but has not been out since moving to California.) I was so excited to execute my plans. A total surprise. A birthday to not be forgotten. As it turned out the week before Mark's birthday both he and Isabella got sick. Kayaking postponed. BR ice cream cake order pushed back a week. Then I got a call from the kayak rental that there were no kayaks available for the following weekend. Kayaking postponed again. BR ice cream cake order pushed back yet another week. Family plans interfered with the weekend after that. Kayaking canceled. BR Cherries Jubilee ice cream cake would have to be eaten by Dad. Bummer. In the end, I did whisk Mark to Mill Valley on the last weekend in September. The BBQ turned into a quick lunch of clam chowder and Dad and Mark ate the BR ice cream cake (Mom and I opted for Its-its). Mom babysat Isabella while we headed to REI for Mark's b'day treat. Better luck next year.

Dad was on his way to a Cal game but not before singing the fight song for the Isabubs.
I think the growling scared her.

Happy Birthday Mark. :)

Daddy's Girl

Who knew that one of life's greatest joys is watching a father and daughter interact. Isabella LOVES Mark. It just so happens that Isabella will often be contentedly drinking her bottle as Mark walks in the door from work. The bottle slips from her mouth, and she follows Mark with her eyes as he washes his hands or puts his things away. Afternoon feeding is over. And if he makes one of his noises or funny faces at her--forget it. She's gone to her happy Daddy place.

5 months, 2 weeks

I'm not sure why but for Isabella this week seemed to mark that magical transition from newborn to bona fide baby. She suddenly seemed more comfortable in her own skin. She tolerated tummy time for more than 10 seconds. The Baby Bjorn was no longer Public Enemy #1. She flipped from side to side and didn't need to be swaddled for her naps. And the ultimate: she suddenly figured out how to put her toes in her mouth. It seemed to be a magical transition for me too-- as if all those sleepless nights and emotional ups and downs of the first few months suddenly had a place and a purpose. It was motherhood on a whole new level.

And then came the first taste of rice cereal.

And then the first laugh.

And then the first tooth.

Where's Isabella?

Mill Valley "The Spa", California

Bald is beautiful.

Mill Valley: A quaint, hippie town where my parents have lived for the past 10 years. I like to refer to it as "The Spa" because it was my respite especially when I lived in New York and traveled home for the summers. Walk up the street from my parents' house and get a pedicure. Walk into town from my parents' house and get an ice cream cone. Go see a movie in the tiny two screen town theater. It's close to the ocean and the redwoods and the second town in from the Golden Gate Bridge. The air smells like eucalyptus or something yummy all the time(or maybe it's just fresh??) Anyhoo, I love it there and I love that the summer mornings are cool and foggy. That said, I kind of like my early morning walks with Isabella when she wakes up at the crack of dawn and won't go back to sleep. (Well, I like the Isabella part, not the waking up at the crack of dawn part. )

How could you not want to take this cute face on a crack of dawn walk?!

How could you not want to take this cute face on a crack of dawn walk?
A classic I tell ya. I'm going to have to really think hard about a brilliant caption for this one.
P.S. She fell asleep about 2 minutes into our walk. No fair.

Isabella's Tea Party

Our dear family friends, the Stiefvaters, treated Isabella to her first tea party--a fabulous way to celebrate girlhood in all its glory! Isabella also officially received her Indian princess name as chosen by the great East o' the Sun, West o' the Moon: Princess Spring Vine. Way back when we were kids several of the Theta Chi daughters were given special Indian princess names by Annie Stiefvater (East of the Sun, West of the Moon). We spent long summer hours playing outside and swimming in the pool at Casa Accampo donning our Indian Princess monikers. I was Princess Fishing Water, Mary was Princess Plum Tree and Kate was Princess Moonbeam. It seemed only fitting to have our new little princess receive a name of her own. Welcome to the tribe babe!

East of the Sun and West of the Moon with Spring Vine

Princess Plum Tree and P.S.V.

Marion Bratton, another wonderful family friend joined us too!

The Princess enjoys her "tea"

The site of the tea party was the beautiful Sheraton Palace in San Francisco

Sitting close to us was a group of women, the Sisters of the (Tea) Leaf, who once a month get together to have tea somewhere in Northern California. They were the sweetest ladies and we were envious of their hats and wraps.

Before we knew it Mary had become one of the Sisters...

The cute girlie tea party clothes came off (the baby, of course) as the fatigue set in. Nothing like sitting in a chair fit for a Queen as you are drifting off to dream land.

Our mini trip to SoCal

So the idea of a vacation (even a short one) is so much more fun than the reality of traveling with a four month old. (Actually, Isabella was probably the least cranky of us all. ) In the end we were glad we went but accepted the fact that 3 days away was the absolute most we could handle. :)

The purpose of our trip was to visit Cousin Jack for his 8th year birthday party!! The pool party was Ninja-themed. (Kudos to Christa for the attention to detail and all the delicious Ninjian food).

How Isabella passes the time during the long car ride. That and sleeping. zzzzzzz

Lest you think Isabella is really a snowbird on her way South to Florida...
I don't know why I felt like propping the kid up in front of a bunch of cans of pea soup.
It's Anderson's and they're famous for their pea soup, what else is there to do?

Nana and the babe.

A bunch of firsts for Isabella: First toe dip in a pool, first toe dip in the ocean, first toe dig in the sand. Isn't life grand?

Surviving the heat by eating her shirt.

The pool party!

Ninja Jack

The cake!

Christa the Queen of all things Ninja...

Meeting cousin Erin for the first time!!

There's that darn snowbird again...