Emma and Kate

One of the best things about our trip to California is that we finally met Kate, Emma's cousin. They are only 3 weeks apart, and we are all excited for them to be friends. It was so fun to watch them play together. Here's a video so you can see for yourself:

Emma Crawls!

Emma has been getting up on all fours since May, and has been "rocking" back and forth for at least six weeks. On Wednesday she managed to crawl across her entire bedroom (about 10 feet). We shot this video of Emma in action on Thursday night. Enjoy!

Cali Vacation 2007: Day 6

Friday was our last day in California. Everyone else had to leave at noon, but our flight wasn't until 9 pm. We had a leisurely morning packing up our stuff and watching TV while Emma napped. Then we headed to Monterey. Our first stop was the aquarium (Dave is a fish aficionado). Emma liked the parts that were outside, though she was wary of the exhibits with low lighting, so we didn't stick around too long. Like the zoo, I think she had more fun watching all of the people than the animals.

Next we went to the wharf and took a short cruise around the bay, where we saw otters, sea lions, harbor seals, and fish in a kelp forest. Emma, of course, loved the boat. It was nice and tame for us, but when she's old enough I'd like to try a whale watch. We ended the day with a late lunch/early dinner. Emma had her first taste of bread, which she quite enjoyed. Then we headed to the airport so Emma could roll around on the floor for a while (don't worry, I had a blanket) before the red eye flight. She slept through it, though Dave and I spent the next day in a daze.

It was a great vacation and a wonderful time with our family.


Otters at the aquarium.


Dave and Emma on the boat.


This sea lion seemed to be waiting for us under a pier.


More sea lions. Check out the big guy on the left, compared to the others on the right.


A jetty with sea birds and sea lions.

Cali Vacation 2007: Day 5

Thursday dawned a beautiful day. Since the baby girls were up anyway, we decided to take an early morning walk on the beach. Last year we saw a whole pod of porpoises swimming in the baby around the same time of day, but this year didn't see any, though there were a couple of seals bobbing in the water. After breakfast, most of the group went to the beach but the babies took naps. When they woke up we took them swimming. Emma was as enthusiastic as ever in the water, but Baby Kate is still deciding what she thinks. We did go down to the beach later and Emma had a great time playing on a beach blanket. It was another perfect day.

That night Grandpoppy and Uncle Jim took us all out to dinner at the resort's restaurant. The food was excellent, but the best was dessert: vanilla bean creme brulee. I shared mine with Emma and she was quite the fan.


On the morning walk: Amy, Kate, Matt, me, Emma, Justin


Dave and Emma


We love the pool!


Emma showing off her swimming skills.


Playtime with the girls.




This is how we crawl: Emma likes all fours, whil Kate prefers Army style.


Grandmacita and Baby Kate.


Me, Emma, Grandpoppy.

Cali Vacation 2007: Day 4

Wednesday started off cloudy and cold, and nobody but Matt wanted to go to the beach. You'll notice that I don't have a lot of pictures of Matt (age 13) or his cousins (Colin, 17, Miles, 14, and Justin, 10), because they were always in the water long before and after Emma and I arrived or left. We basically hung out around the condo, let the babies have a morning nap, etc, before deciding to drive down to Carmel for lunch. The fog burned off by the afternoon so we went back to the beach. Emma only lasted maybe an hour, so we cut it short and took a bath with Baby Kate. There was also a spectacular sunset that night, so I got some scenery pictures as well.


Aunt Julie, Jocelyn (Julie's daughter), and Emma at lunch


Baby Kate liked the whole menu.


Grandmacita, Amy, Baby Kate, me, Emma, Grandpoppy


Yet another beach shot.


Clean girls Emma and Kate.


The view from our room.

Cali Vacation 2007: Day 3

We started out last Tuesday with a big breakfast--Grandpa Cummings made his famous pancakes. (I am currently kicking myself for not taking a picture of him cooking, complete with an apron and a chef's hat). After breakfast we set out on the road for the 2 hour drive to Moneterey Bay. Baby Kate rode next to Emma the whole way (which I also neglected to get a picture of) and they both actually took naps, at least part of the time. But even when they were awake they were good car pals.

We stopped off in Santa Cruz to have lunch on the boardwalk. Dave and I rode the log ride, which was a pretty tame log water ride with one big drop and a fabulous view of the ocean. In Santa Cruz Emma had her first taste of ice cream, and she's definitely a fan.

We couldn't get to the beach fast enough for Matt, but we finally made it there in the late afternoon after checking in to the hotel and renting some beach umbrellas. Emma seemed to enjoy her first foray into the ocean, though from her squeaks I think she thought it was a little cold.


Emma tasting ice cream.


The "after" ice cream shot.


Emma testing out the waters.


Whew! It's a little chilly...


Amy, Baby Kate, Me, and Emma


Not sure what to think of the cold water...


Emma looking like a Jedi in her towel (thanks, Becca!).

Cali Vacation 2007: Day 2

Last Monday, Dave, his dad, Matt, Emma, and I headed into San Francisco. Our destination: Alcatraz. (We wanted to go last year, but it sells out weeks in advance in the summer, so we planned ahead this time.) Emma was even sporting an Alcatraz onesie that Grandpoppy bought her last year when she was still in utero. Dave and I had debated whether or not to bring Emma, but I won out and she came. And I was right! She absolutely LOVED the boat ride--it was like a 20 minute roller coaster with the wind. This child is definitely going to be a bit of a thrill seeker.

The tour of Alcatraz was great. They had a wonderful audio tour that was about an hour long and told you just as much information as you wanted to know. After Alcatraz we went out for crab. (Well, the boys did, I had fish and chips. I'm not really one for crab.)

That evening we went out to dinner with Dave's parents, grandparents, Aunt Julie, and cousins. Unfortuately, I didn't bring a camera to the dinner, but it was another fun family gathering. Emma even fell asleep with the babysitter!


View of Alcatraz from the boat.


My favorite picture of the day: Emma in ecstasy in the wind.


Holding back the hair...


Emma doing her crinkly nose face.


Emma says, "Wahoo!"


Grandpoppy pushing Emma up the big hill.


Dave and Emma pose in front of a cell (check out Emma's prison stripes).


Matt, Dave, Grandpoppy, and Emma posing in front of the recreation yard.


Matt, Grandpoppy, Dave, and Emma hanging out in D block.


The view of San Fran from Alcatraz Island.


Matt with his crab. He ate the WHOLE thing, then proceeded to pick from Dave's plate.

Cali Vacation 2007: Day 1

This last week we went to Northern California, where we met up with Dave's parents, brother, sister, niece, cousins, and grandparents. We had a wonderful time. It would take too long (and I have too many great pictures) to recount the vacation all in one post, so I'm going to do it over the next week.

Last Saturday night we flew out to San Jose. Emma only slept for one hour out of six, but she wasn't too bad--just looking at all of the people on the plane. We scored a spare seat by us so we could bring her carseat, but of course she hardly wanted to be in it. We made it to the hotel by 11 pm, Cali time, and though Emma only took a short nap in the car, she took umbrage at the hotel's crib and cried for the next two hours (yes, if you're keeping track, that's one am PST and FOUR am EST). We tried everything from putting her into our bed and taking a walk on the hotel grounds. Finally we just let her cry it out. Sorry to Grandpoppy, Grandmacita, and Matt, who were sharing the hotel suite with us.

Though exhausted, we got up and went to church on Sunday with Dave's Grandma and Grandpa Cummings. There we also saw Dave's sister, Amy, and her daugher, Kate, who is three weeks younger than Emma. We were excited to meet her for the first time, and she was excited to meet us, as evidenced by her bouncing up and down all during sacrament meeting. Emma was a trooper and we only had to stand in the hall for 10 minutes out of the 3 hours, though she did start to wail right as Dave's grandma was introducing us during Relief Society.

We went to lunch at Grandma and Grandpa Cummings' house, and then it was back to the hotel for naps. Well, we wanted naps, but mostly we let Emma play on the bed between us while we tried to get some rest. For dinner we went to Dave's cousin's house. Sarah also had a daughter born in November--there were four great-grandchildren born to Grandma and Grandpa Cummings in November, so it was nice to get three of them (Emma, Baby Kate, and Sarah's daughter Holly) together for the first time. Dinner was lovely. Below are the some of the many family pictures we took:


The Novemeber babies playing while we ate dinner: Holly, Emma, and Kate


November babies and moms: Amy holding Kate, Sarah holding Holly, me holding Emma


Me, Grandma Cummings holding Emma, Grandmacita Kern holding Kate, Amy


Me, Emma, and Uncle Gordon


Grandpa Cummings, Dave, Emma, Grandpoppy Kern


Dave's brother Matt (Uncle Matt) with Emma and Kate

Fun at the Park

Today we went to this great park in Hoboken with some friends for playgroup. My friend Shelly had been to the park before and mentioned that it had a "water feature," and boy, did they ever! There were fountains and buckets of water that dumped from up high, along with the usual slides and swings. Emma tried the swing for the second time (the first time she was really tired and didn't like it) and she had fun. I put her in the water too and I'm pretty sure that she liked it--she was making squeaky noises that could go either way, but she didn't cry so I hope she had fun. I think she was a little surprised by the water and it was a little cold, though the sun dried us quickly. We had a lovely time--thanks to Emily for organizing it! Here are some fun pictures of our adventure:

Emma hanging out with Damon.


Kaia and Emma on the swings.


Emma, looking stylin' in her sunglasses and flipflops.



Playing in the water.


Playing in the water from behind.


Does that look like a happy face to you?