Monday, August 31, 2009

Meeting Ronald


Last week we had a very special invitation. Our friends work at the Ronald McDonald House here in San Francisco and they let us know that Ronald would be visiting. So we picked up our friends Addi, Max and Jack and headed to the San Francisco McDonalds drive-through. How did I not know there was a drive-through in this city? We acquired our happy meals and we were on our way to meet the man with the big red shoes. I didn't know how Sarah and William would react, but thought it would be fun to find out. They did great. Audrey even let Sarah borrow one of her princess costumes. So lucky!


Sunday, August 30, 2009

Made it to the Valley


He did it. As far as we know, he was the first in my family to make it to the Salt Lake Valley on our exercise trek. Way to go Rog!!

Now he needs to heed Brother Brigham's rescue call and rescue me along the trail. I stopped keeping track back in April. I definitely need to hitch up the wagon. Carry on!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Take Me Out to the Giants Game!


On Monday night, Rog and I were flipping through our 2007 blog book and it hit us ... Will hasn't been to a baseball game yet. On Tuesday I looked up the schedule and found that the Giants had a home game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday and we could get bleacher tickets for $10. Perfect!

Thankfully, Sarah took a nap from 1:30 to 5. (A small miracle since she hadn't taken a nap the four days before.) We packed up, picked up Daddy and Cyndi, and off to the park we went.

Since it was William's first game we stopped by Guest Services to get his certificate. We didn't know about the certificates before tonight, so we got one for Sarah since it was her first ticketed game. (Those younger than 2 get in free.)


We got tickets in the outfield near the Coca-Cola slide and miniature ballpark area - definitely a fun place to be.


Sarah got a base hit and eventually made it back to home plate. Of course she loved it.




Sarah then got to go down the twist-off slide all by herself. Daddy cheered her on from the bottom and I followed her down from the top.


We had bratwurst, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, pizza and french fries. Pass the TUMS, please.

Did I mention it was FREEZING at the ballpark? Having a stadium right next to the bay is beautiful, but when it's cold, it's really, really cold. Good thing Sarah was dressed in her parka Cassandre sent her. Next time I'll bring a blanket for EVERYBODY, not just the one I brought. Oh and I can't forget to mention Roger's new orange coat. Perfect for cheering on the Giants.


Near the end of our time at the park (we left after the 7th inning stretch) we headed over to the Ghiradelli cable car to play and take some pictures.




As for the game, we did watch some of it, but it was pretty uneventful. Cyndi, Sarah and I were in getting food when the first run (Diamondbacks) was scored. Two more runs (Diamondbacks) were scored while we were "watching the game" and we saw a home run for the Giants on our way out. I just checked the final score and the Diamondbacks won 3-1. I guess we didn't miss much leaving early.


I definitely recommend parking in the Borders/Safeway parking lot across from the stadium. It's $5 cheaper and I think it's easier to get in/out of.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Twinkle Twinkle


My sister Kim sent us an awesome package. In it were these glow-in-the-dark stars. Sarah had a great time helping Daddy put them up all over her ceiling. Thanks for such a fun treat Kim!



Sunday, August 23, 2009

Barbara's Shower


Sarah's friend Laura is going to get a little sister in a couple of weeks and we can't wait to meet her. On Saturday, we celebrated the little one's arrival.





Congratulations Barbara!

Friday, August 21, 2009

Mommy ...

"I want to watch a movie, Mommy."

Great. Sarah's first real complete, grammatically-correct, perfectly enunciated sentence. Awesome.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Mary's Shower


When I moved down to the resident manager's apartment 2 years ago my first job was to fill my newly vacated apartment. I knew I would never be able to find someone to replace my cousin Natalie - whose position I was filling - but I also never dreamed I would find someone to rent the apartment to who would become my friend so quickly and so permanently. I met Mary 10 days after Natalie's departure and I couldn't have asked for a better tender mercy. Mary has been my friend to talk to about anything and everything, Sarah's friend when Mommy needs a break and my friend I can call on for anything - whether it be a cup of sugar or some goodies she's just baked. (The best goodies ever by the way.) And, of course, she's the one who introduced me to Twilight. How can I ever repay her?

So naturally, when Mary told me she was pregnant I was so excited for the opportunity to throw her a baby shower. Cyndi, of course, was the best hostess.


Her sisters-in-law and mother's friend made fantastic decorations.



It was so fun to share in her special day.









I couldn't resist ...


Now just don't talk to me about Mary leaving ... I'm really trying hard not to cry.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Milestones

I really tried to post last week for Will's 9 months and Sarah's 2 1/2 years milestones. I even tried taking pictures, but as you can see that didn't work out so well ...




On top of that, I forgot to ask the doctor about William's height/weight/head circumference percentages when I went in on Monday. I had to wait 3 days for a nurse to call me back with those. Now that Will is napping and Sarah is watching Care Bears (not in Spanish) I will give some updates and some pictures.

William 9 Months (August 11, 2009)


Weight: 20 lbs 4 oz. - 50th percentile
Height: 29.5 inches - 75th percentile
Head Circumference: 45.5 centimeters - 50th percentile

It appears William is leveling out. He's pretty tall but fairly evenly dispersed. And lucky him, his head is average.


Other milestones - things to note:

* Eats pretty much everything in sight. He is LOVING the freedom of feeding himself. His favorites are bits of fruit - particularly blueberries and peaches - bits of bread - pizza bread is sooo good - and noodles. He still insists on pureed veggies to fill him up. And of course there's nothing better than cream. He loves it so much he thinks he needs to have it in the.middle.of.the.night. ugh.

* Still wakes up at 2 am or 4 am. I know. I know. He doesn't need to eat in the middle of the night. I really just need to tough it out and listen to him cry himself back to sleep. That's my goal this next month. Hopefully when I do his 10-months-old post I can happily say he's accomplished that.


* Babbles. I love to hear him say dadadadadadada and mmamamammmmmamamama in addition to his pterodactyl squeals.


* Loves to crawl, climb and pull himself up - especially up over Sarah. It's fun to see him able to interact more with her. They really are so fun together.

* Wears size 3 diapers and size 12-18 month clothes.

* Eyes are getting darker. He may be a brown-eye boy after all. Mommy's genes are pulling through.


* Loves blocks, little people and anything with wheels. He loves to make the wheels spin. Will also plays a game where he knocks a toy in front of him, crawls after it, and then knocks it again. Just like a puppy. So so so cute.


* Has got his first tooth! You can see the little glint in the above photo. Sorry, it was the best I had. Will's bottom-right-middle tooth broke through just after we got back from the family reunion. I am definitely not complaining that my kids are later in the teething department. I'm glad the little bugger has come in and hope that the following ones are a little less painful.

Sarah 2 1/2 Years - August 13, 2009


Weight: 29.6 lbs - 25th to 50th percentile*
Height: 35.5 inches - 25th to 50th percentile*
Head Circumference: 51 centimeters - 95th percentile*
Percentages calculated on baby center.

These pics just typify my little princess:




Now about Sarah:

* Loves to do anything princess and fairies.

* Loves "Belle Song" and "Aurora Song." I had a request for "Snow White song" the other night and couldn't think of anything but the chorus from "Heigh-Ho." Luckily, it worked. She loved it. Apparently, the platinum edition of Snow White comes out this November. It's in our Netflix queue.

* Would watch Sleeping Beauty all day every day if I let her. However, sad for her, she won't be watching it for a while. I think it's making her too scared. I may bring it out again down the road, but for now, we're sticking to more light movies, such as Care Bears and Word Factory.

* Loves Makeit (make up). Her glistening self in the above photos is a direct result in her putting her make up on her neck. I'm not sure why the neck, but whatever makes her happy, right?

* Is talking up a storm. Most of the time, she talks just to make sure I know she's independent. Here are a few of the phrases I've heard lately:
** It's my turn. My Turn! (When she doesn't want any help with her prayer, singing a song, or any other activity.)
** Sarah dos it. (ditto)
** Sarah's a friend. (when I put her on time out and she wants to come out.)
** No YOU TIME OUT! (also, when I put her on time out.)
** No Sarah's awake (typically when she doesn't want to take a nap or go to bed.)
** Sarah helps.
** I want more Mommy. I want more.
** That one.
** Daddy's work.
She also is quite the parrot. We need to be a little more careful with our vocabulary these days. On the last day of our reunion, I heard Sarah say, "Oh Shoot!" (Which I am guilty of saying from time to time.) But when we turned to my sister Kim and asked where Sarah learned that, Kim said, "I don't say that. I say, 'Oh Crap!'" (A favorite Gubler phrase I'm sheepish to admit.) Instantly, Sarah chimed in, "Oh Crap!" We all gave her such a great reaction, she repeated it 8 more times. Awesome.

* Loves to be a helper. She is really good at helping me put in different ingredients in whatever I'm making.

* Loves the pool. She often pulls out her swimsuit from her drawer and ask to go to the pool. Someday we'll have a backyard with a baby pool for you to play in Sarah.

* Loves to turn on music. She often turns on my clock radio to find a fun dance-music station. She loves to dance.

* Loves to play dress up. I love that she can't get enough of necklaces, bracelets, high heels, make up, ruffly dresses, etc.

* Is a great runner and jumper. She absolutely LOVES to run. run. run.

* She can't get enough of playing with the kids. She loved hanging out with her cousins and looks forward to playgroup and nursery.

* Loves to give Mommy, Daddy and Brother kisses. She even uses her arm to wrap it around her kisser's neck and pull them in. Love it.

* Sleeps without a sleep sack. She gave up her sleep sack this last month. She's been doing great without it.

* She's hit or miss with her naptime. If she does have a nap it's usually closer to 2-2:30 before she's out, making a later bedtime. I'm still deciding whether it's worth having her have a nap and go to bed at 8 or 8:30... or not having a nap and go to bed between 7 and 7:30. hmmmm.

I'm sure there's more, but Care Bears is over and William is up. To end, here are some fun pics of our two munchkins together: