Filling the Shoes

It seems that the Quinn is static sometimes, all of his pants from last year still fit and some of his shorts still don't fit. So it came as a surprise when his sandals fit one day, and then the next day he complained and pulled them off. Too small, too tight, give him some room because he's growing, even if we don't see it. Come to think of it, he's reaching door knobs and counter tops with greater ease every day. I suppose it won't be long before the size 7 shoes he doesn't quite fill out right now become Daddy's size 10s that he can't squeeze his feet into and he's towering over his 5'4" Mama. But for now he's still the little guy, clomping around in whatever pair of shoes he happens to pull out of the closet, earnestly insisting that he's ready to go outside...now.

Helter Skelter

When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide
Where I stop and I turn and I go for a ride
Till I get to the bottom and I see you again.

Do you, don't you want me to love you
I'm coming down fast but I'm miles above you
Tell me tell me tell me come on tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer.

Helter skelter helter skelter
Helter skelter.

Will you, won't you want me to make you
I'm coming down fast but don't let me break you
Tell me tell me tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer.

Look out helter skelter helter skelter
Helter skelter

Look out, cause here she comes.

When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide
And I stop and I turn and I go for a ride
And I get to the bottom and I see you again

Well do you, don't you want me to make you
I'm coming down fast but don't let me break you
Tell me tell me tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer.

Look out helter skelter helter skelter
Helter skelter
Look out helter skelter
She's coming down fast
Yes she is
Yes she is.

Baby Koah

On the trip to Sacramento, Quinn and I got to meet Koah for the first time. This beautiful baby boy is the first son of my step-sister Stacy and her husband, Roy. I thought Quinn had lots of hair...you should see this kid. Quinn sees lots of babies at day care, so he is really good and gentle with them. He kisses and tickles them and generally gives me the fear that he is thinking of a career in politics. Pictures are of Norm (grandpa) and Koah, Aunt Pam and Koah, and Quinn and Koah.

Rental Cars and Child Seats

Did you know that most rental car companies will not guarantee you a child seat if you reserve one with a car rental? Since it is the law to have your child in a car seat and if one is traveling alone, and one finds one's rental car without the seat, what is one to do? So, we always travel with ours, if we are renting a car. I have some carabiners that I use to clip the seat onto my backpack. Makes for a big load and I get lots of comments. I usually have to apologies frequently for hitting other patrons in line and such since my profile while loaded is so substantial.

Anyway, I am thinking of contacting my Congressman or Senator about this. If there are laws that you have to have a child seat, then if you reserve a car with one...it should be guaranteed.

Boys on a Business Trip

I needed to go to a CARB (California Air Resources Board) workshop up in Sacramento. We have lots of family in the area, so I always mix these trips with some visits. Now that Quinn has come along, no one wants to see me if I am by myself. Wendy had taken lots of time off for our East Coast trip...So DaDa and Quinn were traveling alone...if not traveling light. Backpack, diaper bag, and a car-seat strapped to my back, Quinn and I made our way on via airplane. Quinn is the best little traveler. He really likes airplanes and for the most part stays in his seat, eats crackers and looks out the window. Getting through security can be interesting and we were pulled aside by TSA and sent to secondary on the way back. Even the guy in secondary was wondering why the guy with the toddler and all the bags needed to have his pack checked for explosives and made a comment about the "lack of common sense of some TSA employees."

Perfect Evening

Between DC and New England, we stopped in Edgewater Maryland to visit Jana and Mike. Jana was one of Wendy's classmates at SIO. She is administrating research grant money for ecological studies of the Chesapeake now and the two of them have a great house near the bay (about a block form the water.) Part of the deal with their house is that it comes with a slip where they keep a sailboat.

When Mike got home from work, we were going to go on a short sail actually a motor cruise since there was absolutely no wind) around the bay just so Quinn could get a feel for it. The short cruise turned into a run up the bay to a restaurant with a dock that we tied up at and had dinner and beer, took blue crabs to go. The air was warm and balmy, the company was wonderful, the crabs were delicious and a beautiful sunset was on display. Huge thanks to Jana, Mike and Remy for showing us such a good time.

DC

While visiting the Anderson's, we took a day trip to DC and walked the mall. Visited many of the iconic mall locations: Capital Building, Washington's Monument (dominates the entire landscape), White House, Lincoln's Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, WW II Memorial (Quinn fell into the fountain.) Picture shows a very tired Quinn under the benevolent gaze of Abraham Lincoln. I think of this trip as more of a scouting expedition for a longer trip inn DC.

Fall in New England

We all had such an amazing time on our east coast trip. New England was beautiful; crisp and cool one day, gentle drizzle the next. We traversed the roads from Plymouth, MA (yes, I did go and see THE ROCK) to Conway, New Hampshire with the leaves growing more scarlet and gold as we went. Quinn was unimpressed by the landscape being far too interested in playing with Gracie Verdugo, daughter of our friends Megan and Pedro. The bubblefish was a charming hostess and showed Quinn her favorite place, Storyland!

Walk in the Woods

What is a family visit without a Fall walk in the woods? Melissa and Gus live on the edge of a municipal park. We walked a miles or two before we had dinner. The cousins were having a great time.

Ambitious

Before we left on Saturday morning for the Right Coast. We decided to take in one of the final Padre's home games against the Arizona Diamond Backs. Chris Young had a perfect game going in the 5th inning when Quinn started melting down. As a courtesy to our fellow patrons, we decided to pack it in. Ami lent us her apartment in town that night so we could catch a 6:30 AM flight to DC. We went back to her place and had a beer and watched the rest of the game. Joe Randa hit a home run with one out and one on in the 9th.

Skate Rat

There is no place in his baby book for "first ride on a skateboard." And yeah, I know: "Where is his helmet?" Working on it.

Packing

We leave on Saturday for the East Coast. First to DC area to visit family and friends, then to New England to visit other good friends who are hosting us in a cabin in the woods in New Hampshire. I hope to get some good pictures of DC monuments and the fall colors in New England. I have not been to the East Coast since the early 90's so this has been a long time coming.

Summer Bike Trip

Wendy had a weekend with the girls in August. So, I was left to single parenting. I decided to take Quinn on a three day bike tour. We left from Oceanside on Friday afternoon by train and traveled to Anaheim. This was the first time Quinn had ever been on a train. He sees them all the time near our house and will stare and point and say, "T..T..T." But he had no idea that people got in them. He was a little concerned when we first boarded, but when he saw the chairs and seats and other people he decided it was all OK. He spent most of the ride pointing out the window and saying, "T..T..T."

In Anaheim, we saddled up and rode on the Santa Ana River Bike Trail to Huntington Beach and then headed up the coast to Seal Beach and stayed in an inexpensive motel on the Old Coast Highway. We ate Mexican that night at a place within walking distance that had a live Rock-n-Roll band. Quinn thought it was too loud so we went back to the room and watched the Angels beat the Rangers. At one point I turned off the TV and Quinn complained loudly' "Beeball...beeball!" So, we watched to the end of the game.

Saturday we made our way down the coast; stopping every hour or so for a play break at a park or the beach. We ended up in San Clemente and ordered pizza to our room.

Sunday was a short day. San Clemente to Leucadia with a long stop at the beach in Oceanside. Quinn and I had some good "bonding" time and it was good not to play second fiddle to Mama for a few days.

Going to the zoo, zoo, zoo. How about you, you, you.

Wendy's parents bought us a San Diego Zoo membership last year. We did not use them that much (Quinn was a little young to appreciate.) But, this summer we started going often. Quinn loves animals. I wish I had a picture of the first time he saw a giraffe. He was in total disbelief. We usually go for only an hour or so. So the membership is great. You do not feel like you have to spend all day there to "get your money's worth." Here are Quinn and Mama looking at the flamingos.

Hanging out with Quinn

Summer evening of playing in the front drive.

Cross Steppinng

Wendy has a very natural sense of trim. Here is an example of her stepping out on a long left in Southern Mexico.

Quinn learns to ride a bicycle

We purchased a bicycle for Quinn at Toys-R-Us. Tiny, tiny thing. Tires are made of the foam that you find in running shoe insoles. No brakes, fixed gear (like a track bike.) With the training wheels, really it is more like a tricycle. At first he was really excited about it but he took a couple of tumbles and is less enthusiastic now. His driveway toy of choice now is a skateboard that Jared gave him before he left for law school in Oregon.

Moving from website to blog...

If you have been trying to get updates about Quinn, you probably have noticed that I have not been maintaining his website very well. So, I am moving to a blog. I hope the simplicity of posting will allow me to stay more current.

More to follow.