Ya...it's been a while...

Well, we survived Christmas and New Years. Though, it was not looking good for a while. Sam got the flu shot in early December and then proceeded to be sick for about three weeks. It was not fun watching him try to breathe at night and drool all over himself because he did not know how to breathe through his mouth.

Then, Lauren caught a stomach...thing...and shared it with the rest of us. We spent the week of New Years on the couch or in the bathroom. It was sad to see Sam on New Years Day, when he greeted us with a nice present in the middle of the night. He was feeling so lethargic on Jan. 1, he would just sit in our arms and not move a muscle...totally not him at all.

But, we survived and even shared the fun with Aunt Chach and Uncle Jim...you're welcome.

So, the holidays are over and the house is back to normal...if you consider living in boxes and a house full of grandma's stuff normal. The yard sales start in February...and I'm looking forward to clearing some space for much needed elbow room.

The great thing about January is the shows are back. Has everyone been watching 24?...Awesome.

Well, not much else...but here is a fun picture to whet the appetite...

Lake Arrowhead and Santa

We spent the Thanksgiving weekend up in Arrowhead with The Family. It is capitalized now because it is has reached the over ten count. There were eleven of us up there in a great cabin by the golf course...(26669 Thunderbird for future reference). Lauren did not like the three sixes in the address, but it turned out to be nothing...just our souls being taken over by the devil, Lucifer, himself.

The cabin included a loft area for the new family...mostly for Sam. A great family room with big screen for us to watch the Notre Dame "Fighting" Irish get stomped and for the family band practice we call "Guitar Hero". It also included a great game room downstairs (yup...three levels) which included a pool table, bar and our new love...shuffleboard. I believe Jim is building his own shuffleboard at home...I think I saw large lumber in their front yard the other day.

The real reason we spend Turkey weekend up there is for the sales. Yup! Forget the family time and fun times with friends...it's all about shopping...40%, 50% 60%...oh my! Van Heusen, Jockey, Bass and Izod...the four horsemen of the apocalypse came down on our checking account. But we have a new wardrobe...so how can we argue?

This weekend also introduced Sam Johnston to Santa Claus. Here are a few pictures to document the occasion...

Seven Months...

Sam is seven months today and growing by the day! He is in the beginning stages of crawling. He doesn't crawl much when you are watching him, but when you turn your back for a minute, he is two feet away from where he was before.

He is also getting his next set of teeth in. He now has three teeth on the top and one more on the bottom to make it an even six. By the way...it hurts more when he bites you now.

This past month has been mobbed by the change of scenery. My grandma gave the okay for us to move into her house, get rid of her stuff to get the house ready to sell and be first in line to buy it in June. SO...we have been hurrying to move out of our apartment, move most of her stuff out of her very full house, and move our stuff in. We are almost done...but it seems like we have a long way to go. We have a deadline of Sunday, but it is really this Wednesday since we will be in Arrowhead this weekend. Most of us have moved so you will understand how hard it is to move into a FULL house...let alone an empty one. But we are making do.

The house is growing on us. I have to admit, that sleeping in their bedroom was a little weird the first time, but the more our stuff goes into the house, the more the house feels like our own. Lauren is starting to like it more and more also...mostly because of the closet space. Of course, there will need to be some capital improvements to make it our semi-dream house...but we'll wait on those until we make the first loan payment.

I just came back from a non-profit conference in Charleston. The conference was great...if you are interested in databases and non-profit fundraising...but the walking around downtown Charleston was the best. It's the second largest historical site (only Rome is larger) in the world. We took a carriage tour around the city and a walking tour at our leisure afterwards. We had a beer in a church and dinner at a Navy landing station (Fleet's Landing). A fun week, but it was tough being away from the family for so long.

Well, that is the most of it. We are looking forward to this weekend...partly for the weather, partly for the family fun, but mostly because it means we are done moving out of the apartment.

Six Months!

Yeah yeah yeah...I haven't posted in two months. What of it! I have been a little busy. I'm taking care of the child three days a week while Lauren has gone back to work. It started out a little stressful, but now has turned into joy. We are bonding as he is learning my quirks and I am learning his. I feel a little sorry for him as mine are a bit much compared to his.

He is doing well. He turns six months tomorrow (Yay! SIDS be gone!) and we are taking him to Disneyland for the first time...well not Disneyland, but Disneyland's infant stepchild, California Adventure.

He got his first two teeth right after the last doctor's visit and he still has two teeth (bottom front) for two months now. He keeps telling us that he is about to get some more, but they haven't come through yet.

He is starting solid food...and not liking it too much...as you can see in the picture.

He is getting better at laying on his stomach and on the verge of crawling. I think he might just skip the crawling and move straight to walking. I have never seen a baby with as strong legs as him. He can stand for a long time without his legs giving out like most babies. He just has that balance thing to figure out and he will be running before long.

The days I take care of him usually consist of him waking at 8am (I know...we are lucky when it comes to him sleeping at night). He plays for about two hours and goes back down at 10 or 11am for a couple hours. He wakes up and we play some more for a couple hours. When he falls back to sleep around 2pm, I start to get ready to go to my parents. They don't know this, but they are kind of my savior. Twelve hours is a long time and it is wonderful to break it up with Uncle Jim, Aunt Julianne and Grandma. Plus, I can get my Guitar Hero fix in.

On a personal note...the Dodgers did their best in twenty years, but failed in the League Championship. I think they should only sign Manny for two or three years. But we'll see what happens. It was a fun year...but like every offseason, us fans are mumbling with phrase, "...next year".

The Trojans laid an egg on the Beaver field again. It was kind of funny hearing mom talk trash to Uncle Pat in Oregon. If there was one team in the Pac-10 to give us some competition, I like the fact that it is the school where our cousin is going.

The golf game is getting better. I still have the goal of a Senior Tour Card by 2037. But, I'm not sure Lauren will allow that much practice for me. We'll see.

Anyway...here are some pictures over the past couple months to ease the thirst for Sammy. Enjoy!

Month Four...

Sammy has turned four months and is becoming a happier baby! In the past week he has...

...gone to the doctor and weighed in at 14lbs. 7.5oz
...gotten his second round of shots and did not enjoy it
...was told that he was not teething, even though we know he is
...rolled over onto his stomach from his right side
...rolled back over
...rolled over on his left side
...ate rice cereal for the first time (wasn't quite sure what to think of it)
...took a ride in his jumper, but can't quite touch the floor yet

What a busy week!

Lauren goes back to work in two weeks (Sep. 8) and not looking forward to it...but she might enjoy the company of adults. I think she will have a much different perspective on her job now that she is a mother. I will be reversing her schedule and hope to enjoy the company of Sam for three days a week.

On a personal note...I have been welcoming the addiction to golf with open arms. My goal is a senior tour card by the time I'm 50 (in 2027). I don't know if that will happen, but the lessons start soon (thanks LO) and I have high hopes. As the softball career dwindles, the golf career accelerates...and the foot is to the floor.

Pictures...

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the past 105 days...

Summer of Sam continues...

So the summer continues and Sammy has reach 106 days old (that is 15 weeks for the normal person). At three months he seemed to switch off the collick and become a happy baby...as the picture suggests. Overall, he has been excellent. The picture below is when we found out that he loves to sit on my shoulders and pound my head like a snare drum. Maybe he will be a civil war re-enacting drummer...hopefully not.




However, starting last night, the two months of bliss ended and he has begun the teething stage. It was a long evening with crying and no solution until I zoomed over to the CVS and bought some Oralgel to sooth the gums. Poor Sammy. It hurts to see him cry.

Bill is in L.A!!

So we went to the Dodger game last night and found out that Bill Sneed never actually went to England and instead, took a job as a Dodger security guard.

Tahoe!

Tahoe was amazing. Some of the highlights include...

...Sammy surviving the ride up (starting at 5a.m.) and we visit Lauren's aunt, uncle and cousins in Murphys on the way. She made us lunch and showed us around her home. She had some baby chickens that she was raising and trying to keep from being the meals of the nearest wildlife. We made it in to Tahoe around 6p.m. and Greg was there with a MaiTai ready for Jim and I...thirteen hours is a long time to be on the road.

...A trip on the Tahoe Queen where we rode to Emerald Bay, listening to stories of the early days of Tahoe (origin of Squaw Valley, Sinatra's Casino, the oldest bar in Nevada), watched Sammy sleep the entire trip, and we all got sunburned.

...Biking in Camp Richardson and trying to beat the 6p.m. curfew the rental company gave us.

...Jim and I gambling in the casinos on Thursday and winning...and drowning...then trying to find Chris' room with a little too much alcohol in the system. Then falling asleep while everyone else went down for dinner...then sneaking leftovers from an all-you-can-eat restaurant before the manager realizes what is happening.

...Sea-Doos on the calm water...going 35 MPH. Then telling Chris and Lauren we barely got wet while they come back drenched the next day.

...Fireworks on the lake...arriving 10 minutes beforehand (when we were advised to come 12 hours beforehand to save a spot) and getting a perfect spot to see the entire show...Sammy slept through 75% of the show.

...Jim's BBQ of bacon wrapped hot dogs and gourment burgers...um...yeah.

...Gin Rummy and Phase 10.

...keeping Pat away from Sam.

...Rum-runners at Beacons...I hear they were good.

...Wet Woody's at Riva Grill...I know they are good.

...Group betting on baseball parlays and losing every time (once losing every game in the parlay...not easy to do).

...Taking a stab at poker tournaments (again) and finally realizing that cash games in casinos is the only way to use skill. Tournament blinds are raised so frequently and steeply that it really is a luck game.

...Never playing poker again while I was up there.

...The ride back through the 395, which is more wilderness and expanded beauty than the 5 going up...but more two lane highways. Also, leaving at 10:30a.m. is much different than leaving at 5a.m...in Sammy's point of view.

Here are some photos for your enjoyment...

Sammy Pictures...

Sorry for the delay...here is a slideshow that I finally figured out how to do.