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More from Uncle Graham!

Happy 30th Daddy!

We celebrated Zack's 30th birthday with a big backyard BBQ at Benvenue in Oakland with lots of family and friends. It was a perfect day. It was a big day for Beatrice too. Besides waking up every hour on the hour to wish her Daddy a happy birthday, she got to have breakfast with Cousin Eleanor, and she also learned to crawl FORWARD (for one of Eleanor's toys) after Eleanor demonstrated how it should be done. Unbeknownst to us, she also learned to pull herself up into a standing position.

Some pictures of the party - it was fun! Wish you all could've been there.

Beatrice and Eleanor playing

Pinata time...all the kids took a few turns until Zack tried to put all of their eyes out...

Crawling...

Ending the evening with beer pong...what else can you do if Douglas is visiting??

8 months old!

Dear Beatrice,
Today you woke up and celebrated being 8 months old (27 inches tall, 19lbs - estimated). We called your Daddy at work, and he said "Happy Birthday" and you squealed with delight and uttered something that actually resembled "hi" - it was spooky. I think it made us both realize that real talking might be just around the corner.
As usual you were very happy to see me this morning. Today you were on all fours rocking back and forth, ready to get out of your crib. We said good morning to each other, and then to Daddy's picture, and then you did your ritual squealing at the shrine to Cousin Eleanor. I can't wait for you to see her again tomorrow! After a quick bottle (you drink 8oz in about 3.5 minutes flat, which you have to hold yourself), we changed you into your new pretty dress and prayed for no spit-up for 20 minutes.
Then it was pictures with Flat Bear.

This was alot easier when you were immobile...

Now I was going to sit here and write you a little letter about all of the fun things we've been doing over the past month and all the new things you're learning. But instead you learned to pull open drawers...while I was typing. So we're skipping that. Nothing like a real-live 8 month old to teach me the meaning of the word flexibility.

Love,
Mommy
ps - for all you Beatrice-junkies, your picture fix will come tonight!

***

We drove up to Oakland in the afternoon. Beatrice did well until we were about an hour away. Then she hated it. We all sat in Bay Area traffic for a long while. Like the picture of the lady driving next to us - she is wearing her visor over her face! Got to see Grandpa Glen when we arrived which was great.

Photos!

Pictures (finally!) from our first few weeks settling back into California life...
From the Welcome Home party at Jane's house - Beatrice enjoyed meeting everyone, including her Great Aunt Annie, and Ryan played some Chicago for us


Before heading down to Santa Barbara we also took the opportunity to toast champagne with Shirley at Benvenue. And that night Will babysat so Zack and I could go out to dinner. Ah...

Then on Sunday 15 July we headed south to Santa Barbara. Found a great "picnic" spot for Beatrice and got our first real glimpse of the ocean.

In Santa Barbara we've been enjoying the weather, the cuisine (B likes avacadoes), BBQing out back on the deck, and exploring the city

Beatrice has also been trying and trying to crawl...with mixed results. She gets so frustrated! At least now she can get up from her stomach into a sitting position.

The view from our bedroom in our vacation rental

During the week last week I finally got Beatrice out somewhere where she could play with some other kids. It's called MY GYM. Not sure if we'll go regularly but Beatrice (Zack's Mini-Me)loved the toys and the other kids. I dressed her funny though...

Yes her t-shirt says, "My Mommy Loves Me" - it was $1.49 at Target.

Beatrice also had her first IN-N-OUT experience. For those of you on the East Coast, it's a bit like Zesto's only BETTER! She charmed everyone waiting in line.

And of course...our new car! Beatrice broke it in for us. (Seriously 1 minute after we bought it she ALMOST spit-up in it, missing by inches and covering Zack's shoes instead)

Sunset on the porch - wow

"Mommy, there's a monkey on my back!"

Our trip to the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum. Beatrice loved the butterflies and all the kids


More photos of Santa Barbara soon ... to convince everyone to come and visit!