The post where I suffocate and Chris has the best sleep of his life.

I'm just trying to get all caught up on this here blog.  So here are some pictures from when we made our way to California.

We decided to take the longer, scenic route down the 101.  

We stopped at the beach along the way.

Chris had a fun time climbing all over the rocks.  I had a fun time trying not to crash head first into one of those little tide pools while holding Jack.  And Mandi...brace yourself....that purple mass is in fact barnacles.  A whole slew of them.  Breath....and recover from this.  (FYI, Mandi and I have an intense fear that involves barnacles.)

We made it to the half way point from Grants Pass to San Jose and decided to stop for the night.  We rolled in about 11pm to this shady little Motel.  We walked into the office to check into our room and this little old Indian man at the desk was doing a strange jig.  I thought he had a stool behind the desk and was working on building up his calves, because he kept hopping up and down, up and down.  But then while he was walking around getting things ready for our room he still kept going up and down, up and down.   And when he was running our card he had to time his button pushing so his finger would make contact on his downward descent.  It was like up, down, push 4, up, down, quick push 5, up, down, fast get your finger over to the 9.  It was quite a thing to behold.  

This little encounter made me a little nervous about this Motel.  Our actual room wasn't bad...except is smelled strongly of bleach.  Strong as in, I had to sleep with a T-shirt over my face strong.  And because I've seen too much CSI, my first assumption was that someone had been murdered in our hotel room and had used bleach to clean the mess.  Meanwhile, Chris had the best sleep of his life.  OF HIS LIFE.  THE best sleep EVER.  Apparently the mattress was softer than the softest of clouds.  Chris strongly contemplated stealing the mattress and strapping it to the top of our car.  So, I guess I thought the mattress was okay.  But it changed Chris's life.  Forever.  For-ev-er.  You think I'm being sarcastic, as I thought Chris was being when he was telling me of his new love affair with this mattress, but he loved it that much.

 After Chris's night of euphoria and my night of near asphyxiation (remember: t-shirt over face) we headed back on the 101 and stopped at this beauty.  Chandelier Tree.  A redwood so big you can "easily" drive thru...but make sure you tuck in your side mirrors. 

I spent the weekend with my sister, while Chris went to Manteca and got our apartment set up.  I came home to find everything all ready for Jack and I.  Complete with my favorite Costco muffins.  

 And these beautiful flowers.  I just love that Chris.  He is the cutest little fellow ever.

While we are on the subject of Sexy Chris...check him out wearing this lovely bucket-yamaka.

I'm glad we took the scenic route to Manteca and so far we are loving California.

There is a lot more about our California adventures to come.

Update, Chris's comments about the mattress:  I can't even begin to explain the wonderfulness of that mattress. If i had to use just one word... the first word that comes to my mind is divine. Not only did i contemplate stealing it then, sometimes i wake up remembering how lovely that mattress was and i find myself plotting the perfect motel mattress theft.

Jack at 7 Months

Jack's 7 Months Top 3's

Top 3 Cutest Things He Does:

1. He does these little fake coughs when he wants attention.  At first we thought there was something caught in his throat.  But it's just his way of saying, "Oh hey parental units...Look at this cute little thing...me."

2.  If I put my head towards his, he'll stick his forehead on mine and giggle. 

3.  I love when I am doing my own thing and I notice Jack is being quiet.  Then I look over at him and he is just staring at me and smiling.

Top 3 Least Cute Things He Does:

1.  Digs his nails into my face.

2.  His spit up has started to stain our carpet.  I can't keep up with all of the spots and our carpet is starting to look cheetah print. Nasty...carpet cleaning here we come.

3.  Tries to roll around and drink his bottle.  Then he gets mad when he can't get any milk.

Top 3 Favorite Things:

1.  Our shoes.  He spends a large part of his day eating our shoes that we keep by the door.  One time I looked over and he was vigorously licking the bottom of Chris's flip-flop.  It was like he was trying to get it clean with his tongue.  Apparently I'm not too worried about germs because I never try to stop him...insert awkward "I just realized how this may appear to others" face here. 

2.  Electronics and wires.  I am constantly arranging cords so he can't reach them.  And he learned to scoot by trying to get to Chris's phone.

3.  When Chris comes home.  He gets so excited, he just giggles and flails about.  His arms go back and forth super fast. He's laying on his stomach, so it looks like he's trying to swim away.  It's like he is so surprised that his favorite person isn't gone forever.

Top 3 Dislikes:

1. Waiting to be pulled out of his car seat...still.

2.  Being hungry.

3.  When he can't get to something he wants to play with.

Top 3 Accomplishments:

1.  He's learned to scoot.

2.  He can sit up on his own.

3.  I think maybe, hopefully he is starting to recognize his name.  

Top 3 Funniest Things He Does:

1.  Sometimes I will hear random little wails and it is because he has gotten his arm caught on the straps from his diaper bag.  He can't figure out why he can't roll away.

2.  We took him to the pool the other day and when we put him into the water he did these little gasps and made the biggest Wallace and Gromit face I have ever seen on him.  Which is saying something, because he has pulled out some beauties in the past.  It sounds heartless, but his little panicky self is hilarious. 

3.   His personality has changed around strangers.  He used to laugh and giggle at anybody.  Now when people he doesn't know try to talk with him and get him to smile, he just stares at them.  Unblinking.  Like he couldn't get anymore bored.  It's funny but also a little distressing.  I don't want people to think I hate them because my spawn gives them a judgy face all of the time. 

Throw a little more judgement in this photo, and you have the face Jack makes to strangers.

I just continue to be amazed at how much Chris and I love our Little Thing.