Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Celebrating Grandpa Spike's 60th birthday in California
We trekked out to California for my dad's 60th birthday party and had a terrific time. It was the first time we had gotten all three Evans grandchildren together, and I'm totally bummed we never got a group shot with the grandparents. The amazing part of the trip was that Charlotte, Peter, and Sonia got to hang out with all five of their maternal great-grandparents at the same time. They may not realize it now, but that's a pretty unique thing. Here are some shots from our first few days in California, which included the actual birthday party:
Monday, August 9, 2010
A new addition to the family!
Happy birthday Maisie! Charlotte and Peter have a new cousin! Maiya (Maisie) Kathleen Sanderson joined Steph, Don and Quinn yesterday. Charlotte is very excited about her new cousin. She told me Maisie can come play with her in the tent (a great honor, apparently).
I'm heading out to Minnesota in October to help out a little bit and Corey is very jealous that I will meet little Maisie first. We will all be together in Michigan for Thanksgiving, so expect lots of chaotic photos of the four cousins in one big pile. Or something like that.
Here's a shot of Maisie that I stole from Steph & Don's blog:
Isn't she sweet? I think it's cool she was born on 8/8 and Peter was born on 12/12. I can't wait to meet her and see how Quinn handles being the big brother in the house. I hear Quinn will be meeting Maisie today. The photos should be so much fun!
I'm heading out to Minnesota in October to help out a little bit and Corey is very jealous that I will meet little Maisie first. We will all be together in Michigan for Thanksgiving, so expect lots of chaotic photos of the four cousins in one big pile. Or something like that.
Here's a shot of Maisie that I stole from Steph & Don's blog:
Isn't she sweet? I think it's cool she was born on 8/8 and Peter was born on 12/12. I can't wait to meet her and see how Quinn handles being the big brother in the house. I hear Quinn will be meeting Maisie today. The photos should be so much fun!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Great strides
We're finally back from California and my mom (who flew home with me and the kids) is on her way to Illinois to hang out with my sister for a few days. I left California before remembering to put the photos we took on my flash drive, so I don't have anything to post just yet. I do have lots and lots of news about Peter though!
Peter started officially crawling in California! He did it a day or two after Corey left to come back to Tennessee, unfortunately. So, I can confidently put in his baby book that he started crawling at about 7 1/2 months -- just about the same point his sister learned to crawl. He's also starting to pull/push up into a standing position, but he's not quite there yet.
Peter also sprouted THREE new teeth while at my parents' house! His second bottom one was virtually through by the time we got there, but we couldn't really see it well for a few more days. He also busted out both of his top front teeth. I could tell they were through when he started GRINDING them against his bottom ones. It's creepy to hear. Not at all pleasant, in fact. He better stop it soon or else I'm going to lose it.
We are also very proud of his new self-feeding skills. Unsurprisingly, he loves the Little Crunchies (kind of like healthier baby Cheetos), puffs, freeze-dried apple pieces, and yogurt melts. We also gave him little bits of banana. His pincer grip is still a little off, but he manages to use some odd techniques to work the food into his mouth. I'm feeding him yogurt in addition to the fruit and vegetable purees, and he has even now tried one of the meat and veggie mixes.
Peter also chose our time in California to debut a sleep regression routine. For over a week, I was up with him many many times each night as I tried to keep him from waking up his sister, cousin, great grandpa, etc. Finally, when it was just my parents, me, and the kids in the house, I let him cry himself to sleep to put himself down for the night. I also didn't go in when he woke in the middle of the night. It was not pleasant, but now he's back to sleeping through the night like a log. He screams for about 10 minutes and then finally gives up. Not a surprise -- his sister did exactly the same thing. Now I just have to remember how to get used to listening to my favorite little boy crying his eyes out. Well, you never get used to it, but you can at least learn to block it out. Now I just need to get him consolidated down to two naps a day. He still likes to catnap up to four times each day, which is kind of a pain to deal with. Again, this is very similar to what his sister did, but it's still annoying.
My toothy, crawling, self-feeding, cry-it-out boy is growing up so big! He'll be eight months old next week. I can't wait to see what next month brings! Juggling? Composing symphonies? I just hope I can keep up...
Peter started officially crawling in California! He did it a day or two after Corey left to come back to Tennessee, unfortunately. So, I can confidently put in his baby book that he started crawling at about 7 1/2 months -- just about the same point his sister learned to crawl. He's also starting to pull/push up into a standing position, but he's not quite there yet.
Peter also sprouted THREE new teeth while at my parents' house! His second bottom one was virtually through by the time we got there, but we couldn't really see it well for a few more days. He also busted out both of his top front teeth. I could tell they were through when he started GRINDING them against his bottom ones. It's creepy to hear. Not at all pleasant, in fact. He better stop it soon or else I'm going to lose it.
We are also very proud of his new self-feeding skills. Unsurprisingly, he loves the Little Crunchies (kind of like healthier baby Cheetos), puffs, freeze-dried apple pieces, and yogurt melts. We also gave him little bits of banana. His pincer grip is still a little off, but he manages to use some odd techniques to work the food into his mouth. I'm feeding him yogurt in addition to the fruit and vegetable purees, and he has even now tried one of the meat and veggie mixes.
Peter also chose our time in California to debut a sleep regression routine. For over a week, I was up with him many many times each night as I tried to keep him from waking up his sister, cousin, great grandpa, etc. Finally, when it was just my parents, me, and the kids in the house, I let him cry himself to sleep to put himself down for the night. I also didn't go in when he woke in the middle of the night. It was not pleasant, but now he's back to sleeping through the night like a log. He screams for about 10 minutes and then finally gives up. Not a surprise -- his sister did exactly the same thing. Now I just have to remember how to get used to listening to my favorite little boy crying his eyes out. Well, you never get used to it, but you can at least learn to block it out. Now I just need to get him consolidated down to two naps a day. He still likes to catnap up to four times each day, which is kind of a pain to deal with. Again, this is very similar to what his sister did, but it's still annoying.
My toothy, crawling, self-feeding, cry-it-out boy is growing up so big! He'll be eight months old next week. I can't wait to see what next month brings! Juggling? Composing symphonies? I just hope I can keep up...
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Daddy in LA
On Thursday, Niki, Charlotte, Peter, and I flew to LA to visit the Evans' and attend Grandpa Spike's 60th Birthday Party. We did not take the Nikon - Niki is using her mother's camera and will post pictures from Thousand Oaks.
On Friday morning, while Niki and the kids slept in, I drove into LA for a few meetings.
We rented a 2010 Ford Fusion SE - just a 6-speed auto 4-cylinder. I was shocked how fun this rig was to drive.
Since I was on my own, I drove into LA from Ventura County by taking Decker Canyon down to PCH, then in Santa Monica Boulevard to Century City. I started out in the fog, and climbed above the clouds, where Decker Canyon intersects Mulholland.
I parked in my old parking garage in Century City. Only here can you find an old Rolls Royce Corniche Convertible with a Minnesota plate parked in a compact parking spot. 1 hour 45 minutes here cost me $34!
After leaving my meeting at the Century Plaza Hotel, I drove through Beverly Hills to my favorite old car store/used car-bookstore in West Hollywood.
I bought a used book about Oldsmobiles (you can take the boy out of the Midwest, but not the Midwest out of the boy), and left to find our old apartment off of Melrose.
Melrose Avenue - always bleak in the morning, but always exciting in the evening and weekends.
Once done on Melrose, I headed over to Amoeba Music in Hollywood. Love this place!
I had a great meeting Downtown (1 hour parking - $25), and lunch with an old colleague in Studio City, then I pointed the Fusion west on the 101 and headed out of the Valley back to Ventura County. On the way, i found this old gent thundering along in his old Vette.
Peter and Charlie met their Great Aunt Sibyl, we had a great party on Saturday, and when Sunday rolled around, I had to head back to Nashville. Of course, I took PCH down to LAX.
Me on the coast. Niki and the kids are there for another week. I look forward to having them home!
On Friday morning, while Niki and the kids slept in, I drove into LA for a few meetings.
We rented a 2010 Ford Fusion SE - just a 6-speed auto 4-cylinder. I was shocked how fun this rig was to drive.
Since I was on my own, I drove into LA from Ventura County by taking Decker Canyon down to PCH, then in Santa Monica Boulevard to Century City. I started out in the fog, and climbed above the clouds, where Decker Canyon intersects Mulholland.
I parked in my old parking garage in Century City. Only here can you find an old Rolls Royce Corniche Convertible with a Minnesota plate parked in a compact parking spot. 1 hour 45 minutes here cost me $34!
After leaving my meeting at the Century Plaza Hotel, I drove through Beverly Hills to my favorite old car store/used car-bookstore in West Hollywood.
I bought a used book about Oldsmobiles (you can take the boy out of the Midwest, but not the Midwest out of the boy), and left to find our old apartment off of Melrose.
Melrose Avenue - always bleak in the morning, but always exciting in the evening and weekends.
Once done on Melrose, I headed over to Amoeba Music in Hollywood. Love this place!
I had a great meeting Downtown (1 hour parking - $25), and lunch with an old colleague in Studio City, then I pointed the Fusion west on the 101 and headed out of the Valley back to Ventura County. On the way, i found this old gent thundering along in his old Vette.
Peter and Charlie met their Great Aunt Sibyl, we had a great party on Saturday, and when Sunday rolled around, I had to head back to Nashville. Of course, I took PCH down to LAX. 
Me on the coast. Niki and the kids are there for another week. I look forward to having them home!
Michigan Pix from Dad's Blackberry
During our trip, I took a few pictures with the Blackberry:
Peter buckled in and ready to go!
First, I drove. Then, Mom drove. Then, Charlie took the wheel for a while.
Peter headed up front to help his sister drive.
One of GrandDad's buddies has an old Suburban . . .
. . . with a 502 V8!
An old-school bumper sticker from the UP.
Peter buckled in and ready to go!
First, I drove. Then, Mom drove. Then, Charlie took the wheel for a while.
Peter headed up front to help his sister drive.
One of GrandDad's buddies has an old Suburban . . .
. . . with a 502 V8!
An old-school bumper sticker from the UP.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
We drove back to Rochester on Monday morning.
After the long drive, Peter settled in for a nap.
Granny Great and Grandpa Great came over for dinner. After dinner, Grandpa Great settled in to play with Peter.
But, what started as a nice, heartwarming moment featuring the eldest and youngest TFMs (Taylor Family Members) became less so, as Charlie and NanaB turned the Japanese House of Friendship into a fortress and started a war by throwing balls at Niki, Grandpa Great, and Peter.
After Grandpa Great and Granny Great left, Charlie and GrandDad had an adventure.
How do we get where we are going? Use the map!
The intrepid explorers on their way.
Charlie leads the way to the goal - the Charlotte Garden.
Yup! We found it!
Charlotte waters the Charlotte Garden.
The Stringer Men.
On Tuesday, we turned Charlotte's beloved Big Red Van south and left Camp NanaB on Cobb Creek. We'll be back in November. Thank you, GrandDad and NanaB for such a great week!
After the long drive, Peter settled in for a nap.
Granny Great and Grandpa Great came over for dinner. After dinner, Grandpa Great settled in to play with Peter.
But, what started as a nice, heartwarming moment featuring the eldest and youngest TFMs (Taylor Family Members) became less so, as Charlie and NanaB turned the Japanese House of Friendship into a fortress and started a war by throwing balls at Niki, Grandpa Great, and Peter.
After Grandpa Great and Granny Great left, Charlie and GrandDad had an adventure.
How do we get where we are going? Use the map!
The intrepid explorers on their way.
Charlie leads the way to the goal - the Charlotte Garden.
Yup! We found it!
Charlotte waters the Charlotte Garden.
The Stringer Men.
On Tuesday, we turned Charlotte's beloved Big Red Van south and left Camp NanaB on Cobb Creek. We'll be back in November. Thank you, GrandDad and NanaB for such a great week!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Up North
After I flew back to Michigan, we drove up north to Up North. After checking into our motel and a quick nap, we headed over to the Jolli Lodge just south of Leland, Michigan.
GrandDad and Charlotte went down to the beach to wade in Lake Michigan for her first time. Peter also dipped his little toes.
While the family speculated whether or not the rope could hold my weight, I found out that I'm still terrified of swinging on the rope swing.
Enjoying Uncle Doug's grilled whitefish dinner on the shores of Lake Michigan.
The next day, we headed over to Traverse City to take in the Cherry Festival Parade, Charlie and Peter's first parade. Charlie sat up front with Ellie and her friend.
After the parade, we hit a few wineries.
On Sunday, Peter, Charlie, Mom, and NanaB took it easy on the beach at Suttons Bay while GrandDad and I had a sail.
GrandDad, NanaB, Charlie Jo, and Peter on GrandDad's boat.
Skipper Charlie Jo takes her place at the helm, and Peter is appropriately concerned.
Once Peter put one of our two heirloom ancient life preservers on, he was ready to go.
GrandDad and Charlotte went down to the beach to wade in Lake Michigan for her first time. Peter also dipped his little toes.
While the family speculated whether or not the rope could hold my weight, I found out that I'm still terrified of swinging on the rope swing.
Enjoying Uncle Doug's grilled whitefish dinner on the shores of Lake Michigan.
The next day, we headed over to Traverse City to take in the Cherry Festival Parade, Charlie and Peter's first parade. Charlie sat up front with Ellie and her friend.
After the parade, we hit a few wineries.
On Sunday, Peter, Charlie, Mom, and NanaB took it easy on the beach at Suttons Bay while GrandDad and I had a sail.
GrandDad, NanaB, Charlie Jo, and Peter on GrandDad's boat.
Skipper Charlie Jo takes her place at the helm, and Peter is appropriately concerned.
Once Peter put one of our two heirloom ancient life preservers on, he was ready to go.
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