Snapshot #568: Solar Eclipse 2012

May 20, 2012.  San Jose, California.  We watched the solar eclipse today with some friends.  This picture is to prove that Hazel was there. (Do you see the crescent sun on her forehead?)

Snapshot #567: Happy Birthday Dave

May 15, 2012.  Mountain View, California.  I insisted that Dave take the day off work so that we could celebrate his birthday together.  We had a fun-filled day at The Tech Museum in San Jose then a savory dinner at Vive Sol in Mountain View.  

Snapshot #566: Gift of Motherhood

May 13, 2012.  San Jose, California.  The first time I held our little Hazel was one of the most precious moments of my life.  I am profoundly grateful for the gift of motherhood.

Snapshot #565: Pier 39

 

May 12, 2012.  San Francisco, California.  Dave, Hazel, and I spent the day in San Francisco with my brother--reminiscing the good old days when that beautiful, foggy city was our home turf.

Snapshot #564: Visitor from Japan

May 11, 2012.  San Jose, California.  My brother, currently stationed with the Navy on the USS George Washington in Japan, has flown to the Lemoore Naval Air Station for training; only three hours from San Jose.  Lucky for us, we get to spend this weekend with him.  

Snapshot #563: Custom Headboard Design

May 9, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Long ago I promised to post photos of my "homemade headboard" and then I never did.  So...here you go.  Custom Headboard designed by Keri Wood, built in 2009 by Keri, Dave, Keri's brother and Keri's dad.

Snapshot #562: Biking to Work

May 7, 2012.  San Jose, California.  A photo of Dave heading to work this morning.  He has started to bike to work several times a week.  Go Dave!

Snapshot #561: Hazel's 9 Month Photo Shoot

May 5, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Hazel is 9 Months.  She brings great happiness into our lives.

Snapshot #560: Before & After

May 4, 2012.  Sunnyvale, California.  My latest service project (for a friend).  It took 2-1/2 gallons of yellow paint, 3 coats of painting (over a pale blue), and 28 hours of labor.  The end result is quite lovely.  And sweet little Hazel needs a shout out...she was an angel!  She happily played with toys and crawled behind me circling the room over and over again.        

Snapshot #559: Seed Starter

May 3, 2012.  San Jose, California.  I'm so excited to be starting that garden I've wanted for years and finally have the backyard for.  I've never done this before (that I can remember) so we'll see how it goes.  I've planted seeds for basil, cilantro, cucumber, green onion, yellow onion, bell pepper, mesclun salad mix, beefsteak tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, and zucchini.  I'm sure you'll get a photo update soon.   

Snapshot #558: Music Please

May 2, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Whenever Hazel hears music she raises her arm and waves it like our choir director at church.  She also knows that our piano makes music.  So today she crawled over to the piano and started waving her hand.  I walked over there and turned the player on and she got the biggest smile on her face.  Then she pulled herself up and started dancing (aka bouncing up and down and swinging her head side to side).  She is such a joy to be around!  I love my little Hazel so very much.  

Snapshot #557: Sweet Potatoes

May 1, 2012.  San Jose, California.  I make all of Hazel's baby food and so far I've been very happy with our purchase of the Ninja Master Prep...and glad we didn't spend five times the cash for a Vitamix.

Snapshot #556: Bath Time

April 30, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Hazel has graduated to the big person bathtub.  And...she loves it!  hahahaha (actually she really does enjoy bath time, but today she got frustrated because I wouldn't let her stand up in the tub...too dangerous.)

Snapshot #555: Helping Hands

April 28, 2012.  Sunnyvale, California.  We're out in a park today assisting the City of Sunnyvale with nature restoration; adding mulch, planting trees, general cleanup, etc.  I enjoy being out of doors.   

Snapshot #554: Ragnar Napa Valley

April 27, 2012.  San Jose, California.  PICTURE THIS:  The Golden Gate Bridge.  Wine Country.  Me and 11 friends running day and night, relay style, through some of northern California's most beautiful scenery.  It's the Ragnar Relay Napa Valley.  San Francisco to Calistoga.  September 14-15, 2012.  And I'm signed up!  I will be running three different legs of the relay over the course of 36 hours.  My first leg will be 3.5 miles, then 8.9 miles, and finally 3.8 miles.  I have butterflies already. 

Snapshot #553: Mowing the Lawn

April 26, 2012.  San Jose, California.  The older Hazel gets the more scared of the lawn mower she becomes.  I guess that's a good thing.  

Snapshot #552: April Showers

April 25, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Both Hazel and Zazu enjoyed the calm before the storm today.

Snapshot #551: Springtime

April 24, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Springtime means more time outdoors...yeah!!

Snapshot #550: Morning Jog

April 23, 2012.  San Jose, California.  A snapshot of Hazel and her new little friend glad to be out of the stroller after this morning's jog.  

Snapshot #549: Hazel's First Swim

April 21, 2012.  San Jose, California.  It got into the high eighties today...the only escape was to find a pool.

Snapshot #548: A Swimsuit for Hazel

April 20, 2012.  San Jose, California.  I found this adorable swimsuit for Hazel at Outrageous Outgrowns (a semi-annual weekend event hosted at the Santa Clara Fairgrounds).  I wish there were a matching one for mama!

Snapshot #547: Ring Stacker

April 19, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Yesterday evening we made an emergency run to Babies"R"Us for more binkies.  Hazel got a new toy out of the excursion...one I remember from my childhood...a ring stacker.

Snapshot #546: Red Roses

April 18, 2012.  San Jose, California.  My thoughtful husband came home from work with an armful of red roses...acknowledging several long, difficult days at home preparing taxes.  Ahhhhh!  

Snapshot #545: Eating Sand

April 17, 2012.  San Jose, California.  At the park today Hazel was determined to experience the taste of sand.

Snapshot #544: Red Hat

April 16, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Hazel looked so darling yesterday at church in her red hat...but it is nearly impossible to get a picture of her any more because she won't stay still for even a second!  (hence all the videos you've been getting lately instead)

Video Snapshot #543: Cruising

April 14, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Hazel has started to cruise around her crib..

Snapshot #542: Nap Time

April 13, 2012.  San Jose, California.  After Hazel talked herself to sleep this morning, I went in to put a blanket over her and this is what I found.

Snapshot #541: Easter Baby

April 12, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Hazel becomes more fun to be around every day. (Even with an ear infection)

Snapshot #540: Ear Infection?

April 11, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Hazel and I are headed to the doctor to find out if she has an ear infection.  Poor girl keeps grabbing her ear and crying.

Snapshot #539: Hazel's 8 Month Photo

April 11, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Today's trick...single-handedly getting a wiggly, curious baby to hold still long enough to snap her photo.

Exploring California: Snapshot #537: Mount Tamalpais

 

April 7, 2012.  Mill Valley, California.  We braved the crowded roads this holiday weekend looking for a mountain retreat just north of San Francisco and ended up on the top of Mount Tamalpais.  The views of San Francisco and the bay were spectacular...AND it was one of those rare days without fog.  Look close, you can see the skyscrapers of San Fran in two of these photos.

Snapshot #536: Story Time

April 6, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Look who flew in for story time!  Grandparents!

Snapshot #535: Crawling Together

April 5, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Early this morning Hazel was crawling across the floor when Dave decided he would shadow her.  She giggled and giggled whenever she took a step and he mimicked her.  He's an incredible Dad.

Snapshot #534: Cruising

April 4, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Hazel turns 8 Months today.  Can you believe she's already pulling herself up and starting to cruise around her crib?  It's making for more action-packed nap times, that's for sure.

Snapshot #533: Easter Egg Hunt

April 3, 2012.  Sunnyvale, California.  A friend hosted an Easter Egg Hunt in her backyard today.  Fun times.  I am thankful for the sociality of other Mom's with interests similar to my own.

Snapshot #532: Before & After

April 2, 2012.  San Jose, California.  I still need to varnish (hence the blue tape) oh yeah and sand, tape, prime, paint, stain the other three chairs--but they've been too much work not to deserve a post today. They're going to take another couple weeks (at least) to finish (I can really only work during Baby's nap times) yet I couldn't wait that long to share!   I am infatuated with the added splash of color in the house.

Video Snapshot #531: Playing a Game

March 31, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Hazel loves discovering new games.  And check out that dimple!