The Adventures of Lucía & Jonas

A Big Wheel and a Big Girl

2012-01-21T06:48:00.000-08:00

Getting her game face on.

Riding the big wheel makes anyone happy.

If the Shoe Fits

2012-01-19T00:12:00.000-08:00

This is what happens when mommy leaves her slippers unattended. Although when Lucía is wearing them, they look like skis rather than slippers.

7 Months

2012-01-17T00:15:00.000-08:00

Our little boy turns seven months today. We knew he would change our lives and he has indeed. In particular, he's shown us that the only thing better than having a child is having children. No matter how bad the day, when I come home and see my family, life is good.

We love seeing this little face every day.

Father and son admiring ourselves in the mirror.

Family Heirloom

2012-01-15T19:48:00.000-08:00

These sweet looking overalls are a blast from the past that we almost missed out on being able to use. They originally belonged to Kira's older sister so they're classic 1970s denim. When we had Lucía try them on, we realized that they were getting a bit snug so this was her first and last time wearing them.

The Thinker

2012-01-12T21:58:00.000-08:00

Here's Lucía taking in an episode of The Backyardigans. I was lying on the floor playing with Jonas when I looked up at the couch and saw her expression which made me smile. So I quickly grabbed the camera to capture one of life's little moments.

Farewell 2011

2011-12-31T21:20:00.000-08:00

2011 was a great year for our little family. It was full of adventure, full of surprises, and came with lots of twists and turns. The biggest adventure was adding Jonas to our family. After that we had some sadness with the passing of my Abuelo. Around the same time we had an unexpected job change which turned out a lot better than we could have imagined. Through it all, we were reminded that the only thing that really matters in life is our family and we're grateful for ours. To finish our year, we spent the whole day with family. We visited my parents and my Abuela who is in town from Costa Rica then took her and Sam to dinner with Kira's family. As we look forward to 2012 and the unknown adventures that it will bring, we hope everybody will have a happy and healthy new year.

Christmas 2011

2011-12-26T07:30:00.000-08:00

Christmas was an action-packed day for us. After leaving some milk and cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve, we got up early to see what he left for us. Fortunately, none of us received lumps of coal in our stockings so we were pretty pleased by that. From there, we were off to church and then to visit Kira's side of the family. Somehow the kids were able to get in their naps but mom and dad weren't so lucky. We were, however, able to stuff our faces with some good food and I think I'm still full right now.

Jonas excited for Christmas right off the bat.

Lucía, on the other hand, had to warm up a bit before she got excited.

Lu starting to warm up.

Finally the excitement kicks in.

Jonas liked mommy's finger more than presents at first.

But then he realized a toy phone was more fun.

All smiles for Christmas

Ariana was shocked that Jonas tried to open his presents with his mouth instead of his hands.

Lucía excited about some new clothes.

Lu was cautious opening a present that was about as big as her.

Even with a crowd around her and lots of kids excited about presents, Lucía was still able to concentrate on coloring.

We hope everybody had a good Christmas. While presents are fun part of the day, we're also glad for the opportunity to reflect on the greatest gift of all. Without Christ, there would be no Christmas. Merry Christmas everybody!

Christmas Eve 2011

2011-12-24T21:32:00.000-08:00

For Christmas Eve we got together with my side of the family for some dinner, dessert and, of course, presents. The food was good and spending time with family was even better. After all, family is what holidays are all about. Lucía is at an age where she understands that Christmas is an exciting time and it's fun to watch Jonas experience his first one.

Giving Uncle Sam the look.

Jonas wishing he could eat some of the big people food.

Look at the steam coming off of Sam's plate.

My food which I tried to make into a ram by using the rolls as horns.

Karlee showing us what she was eating.

If Abuela is holding you up to grab things off the tree then it must be okay.

Sam showing the proper way to watch the Grinch.

Lucía doing some Christmas coloring.

Kira and Lucía opening presents. Lucía was excited to get a Dora tent from Uncle Sam. Kira, as you can see, is pretty excited to open this present from Daniel and Vanessa. It was even better when she opened it but we're not at liberty to say what it was just yet. Suffice it to say, that it's amazing.

Jonas playing with Grandpa.

Jonas opening his first present.

When the hands don't get it done, it's time to use the teeth.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Christmas Card 2011

2011-12-20T17:35:00.000-08:00

This year, as usual, we did our family Christmas cards. After a lot of addressing, licking and stamping, we sent out our very limited run so if you received one you were part of a very exclusive club(more exclusive than Costco). We have been blessed with more friends than resources so we weren't able to send one out to everybody that we would if we could. So for those who didn't get one in the mail, here's our Christmas card and we really do wish you and yours the best this Christmas.

Sibling Santa Time

2011-12-18T07:29:00.000-08:00

Last night we had the Christmas party at church. Surprisingly, the highlight for the kids isn't the dinner or the dessert, but rather Santa Claus.

We had been talking to Lucía all month about going to see Santa Claus and how she would get a chance to tell him what she wanted for Christmas. She seemed pretty excited about the whole thing. But when we got there, she didn't really want to go see him, as you can plainly tell from the picture. She did better than last year, though. Jonas, on the other hand, is too young to know what's going on so he was content to sit there on his lap. We're sure that will change next year.

6 Months and a Few Firsts

2011-12-17T09:23:00.000-08:00

Jonas turned 6 months today which is a big milestone for Kira and me but in his eyes it's probably just another day. This week we had a few more firsts for Jonas. When you think about it, though, his whole life is pretty much a series of firsts but some are more exciting than others. Not to be outdone, Lucía also did something for the first time today too.

We've started putting Jonas in the high chair to feed him his solids. The chair looks so much bigger with him in it than it does when Lucía is in it.

We put together the jumper for Jonas this week too. He was pretty excited when he got in it for the first time. It was a little overwhelming for him because there were so many lights and sounds to draw his attention.

Today was also the first time Jonas used his sippy cup. He picked it up a lot sooner than his big sister but that doesn't mean that he's more advanced. In fact, it's probably because his parents are a little more advanced this time around; we didn't really try to get her to use one until later.

Since Jonas is now eating in the highchair that means Lucía has been upgraded to the regular table. This was her first time sitting at the regular table with us.

Visiting Grandpa and Abuela

2011-12-14T22:15:00.000-08:00

On Sunday we went over the river and through the woods, so to speak, to Abuela's house. Jonas and Lucía had a good time hanging out with Grandpa and Abuela as well as spending some time with their Uncle Sam.

Lucía the Grouch

2011-12-13T23:41:00.001-08:00

This past weekend we visited some friends for their annual tamale day. It was a lot of fun, as usual, and very tasty.

Lucía climbed into one of the pots and pretended to be Oscar the Grouch.

Jonas getting in on the tamale making fun.

In addition to the tamales, Lucía discovered candy canes on this occasion.

Christmas Card Outtakes

2011-12-12T20:50:00.000-08:00

'Tis the season for Christmas cards so over the weekend we worked on our Christmas card pictures. It can be tough to get your kids to look their cutest on demand so we had lots of outtakes from our attempt. The cards are going out this week so if you're one of the chosen ones, you'll get to see it soon. If not, we'll be putting it up on here later but in the meantime, you can enjoy some of the ones that didn't make the cut.

Jonas was tired of taking pictures after just a few minutes.

Lucía giving us the eye roll.

Jonas didn't seem too happy to have Lucía holding him.

December in the Park

2011-12-08T21:46:00.000-08:00

Have we ever mentioned how we love the weather here in California? Even in December it's warm enough to do things outside without fear of frostbite. Over the weekend we went to the park to have some fun and let Lucía burn off some energy.

Jonas keeping an eye on things.

Lucía keeping an eye on Jonas keeping an eye on her.

Gotta love that smile.

Lucía in action.

Jonas doing a modeling pose by staring off into the distance instead of looking at the camera.

Family riding time. Lucía's expression is priceless.

Things Seen While Driving

2011-12-07T19:55:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you see some good stuff while you're driving around town. A couple days ago, this was what I saw in my mirror. The mirror says that objects in mirror are larger than they appear so that sun visor must be huge because it looked really big in the mirror.

Getting a Taste for Solid Food

2011-11-29T22:16:00.000-08:00

Jonas recently started eating rice cereal. These are some pictures from his first time trying something besides milk. When Lucía first tried the rice cereal we could tell she wasn't too keen on it since she would spit it out and make faces. Jonas, on the other hand, smiled and ate it up.

Black Friday Zoo Trip

2011-11-28T08:10:00.000-08:00

On the Friday after Thanksgiving Day, we decided to avoid all of the wild animals at the store so we went to the L.A. Zoo for the day. Lucía is able to recognize a lot of animals from her books or when she sees them on television, so we figured it was about time we took her to a bigger zoo than the ones around here. We went with Kira's parents and our nephew, Aidan and enjoyed the 80 degree weather in late November. Say what you will about California, but the weather is definitely a big plus here. There are a lot of pictures in this post so if anybody's still using dial up, this is going to take a while to load up.

The whole gang walking in.

Koala

Gorilla

Zebras

We found a couple of monkeys on the loose.

Nubian Ibex.

Giraffe

How can you not love that face.

A sad chimp.

Elephant

How Jonas spent a lot of his time at the zoo.

Orangutan getting some leaves from the other side of the fence.

Jonas and Pop

Jonas laying low in his stroller

Lunch time with Aidan

Pop helping Lucia get a closer look at the hippo.

Riding the L.A. Zoo Choo Choo

Flamingo

Aidan and the prairie dog.

Every other time we've taken Lucía to a petting zoo she wanted to run away. This time, for some reason, she had no fear. It was fun watching her chase after the sheep and try to give them a big hug. The sheep here is running after she snuck up from behind and gave it a bear hug.

A goat at the petting zoo.

Getting a closer look while she brushes the goat. It was fun watching her brush the goat. She kept saying "I'm cleaning the goat." Then she smile and told it, "All clean!"

As the daughter of a health inspector, she knows she has to wash her hands after touching animals.

Father and son.

Lucia and her new hat.

Jonas borrowing Lucia's hat.

Chewing on his Chain

2011-11-27T14:59:00.000-08:00

Lately, Jonas has been chewing on his links every chance he can. It's fun to watch him rolling around on the ground and gnawing on them. One of these days he's going to chew right through them and then we'll have to get him some heavy duty ones like the ones people get their dogs.

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-26T15:38:00.000-08:00

It's the time of year when we gather as families to count our many blessings. Our family has truly been blessed beyond measure and we are grateful for that. Obviously this year we are grateful for the new addition to our family and the extra joy that Jonas has brought into our lives. Family is the greatest blessing there is and we're glad that ours continues to grow.

We were supposed to have Thanksgiving with my side of the family this year but due to a sick cousin our plans changed at the last minute. One of the good things about having both our families close by is that you can still have a family Thanksgiving meal even if your plans fall through at the last minute. So we ended up with Kira's family for the day.

The table before the meal. I didn't get any pictures during the meal because I was too busy stuffing my face. But this is what it looked like before we devoured the meal.

I'm glad there was a place for me.

Lucía and Ariana having a pre-dinner sandwich because even at a young age they know you have to keep the stomach stretched so in order to maximize your gluttony.

Lucía playing Sherlock Holmes with Aunt Teri.

Jonas in a staring contest with Pop.

Jonas and Cousin Kelsey.

Early Morning Fun

2011-11-24T07:11:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday Kira got up for an early morning run and left me and the kids to have some early morning fun. I was playing with Jonas when I looked up and saw this. Lucía was sitting next to Elmo and writing in her little note book as she went over the alphabet with him. I love those little moments. Also, those moments are always better when they include bed head.

Our Drooling Fuzzball

2011-11-20T21:17:00.000-08:00

Last week Jonas turned five months which seems to have really flown by. Right now he's at that stage where his original hair has fallen out and been replaced by some pretty sweet looking fuzzy hair.

It looks extra fuzzy with the back light from the window behind him.

Jonas has started teething now too so he's drooling a lot.

We've had a lot of Jonas on here lately so here's Lucía showing off her smile in the background.

Sleeping Like a Baby

2011-11-17T21:59:00.000-08:00

They say that anybody who says they slept like a baby never had one. I think that's only if they claim to have slept like a baby at night. During the day, babies can sleep through anything. We recently went to our nephew's soccer game and Jonas had an easy time sleeping there. In his defense, however, youth soccer matches are pretty boring if you don't have your own kid in there.

Having a Ball

2011-11-15T19:44:00.000-08:00

These days Jonas is picking things up on his own and studying them. Usually after he's done looking things over, they go straight to the mouth. It's fun watching the wild animal in him come out when he starts chewing on things.

Halloween 2011

2011-10-31T08:07:00.000-07:00

This past Friday, we had the annual trunk or treat event at church. Since it started at 5:30 and Jonas goes to bed around then, Kira stayed home with him and I took Lucía to go get me, er...I mean... her some candy. One of the nice perks of being a parent, aside from the obvious tax benefits, is that there's a daddy tax on all candy collected on Halloween. Last year, Lucía was in the 100% tax bracket but now she's received some tax relief and gone down to the 90% bracket. You have to start teaching them about taxes at an early age so they won't be disappointed when they get their first paycheck.

Time to go get some candy.

She's not scared of any witches.

Getting some candy from the bowl all by herself.

Checking out the goodies in her bag.

Getting a little taste of her candy haul.

On Saturday Daniel and Vanessa had their trunk or treat at church so we took Lucía to go for another round of candy hunting with her cousin, Karlee. It was fun watching them go from car to car in search of treats and, more importantly, it was good to see their friendship grow.

Lucía and Karlee all dressed up and ready to get some treats.

The girls giving me the "Don't you dare try to eat any of my candy" look.

Excited about getting some chocolate.

Karlee trying to take away a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. Can you blame her? Those things are tasty.

Dads and daughters.

Moms and daughters.

Pumpkin Patch Part 2

2011-10-30T14:43:00.000-07:00

This past Thursday we took the kids to another pumpkin patch and were able to get some pictures of both of them this time. Lucía was very excited to be there while Jonas didn't really have a clue about what we were doing there. It was fun watching him soak up the world around him and all the new things he'd never seen.

Music Makers Costume Parade

2011-10-29T09:19:00.000-07:00

Every Wednesday, Lucía goes to her Music Makers class where they sing, dance, march and play. This week they had a costume parade so Lucía got dressed up in her costume and Jonas put on his Great Pumpkin Onesie.

Jonas soaking in the scene.

Lucía being serious while she waited for everything to start.

Marching with our friend, Rebecca.

Lucía's clown costume is a vintage piece circa 1975 and made by Kira's grandma.

The clown making people smile.

Jonas getting in on the parade.

Pumpkin Patch 2011

2011-10-28T07:53:00.000-07:00

On Monday we took some time to head to the local pumpkin patch to take the culturally required pictures of our kids with pumpkins. So that we wouldn't be complete free loaders, we bought a pumpkin for Lucía while we were there. Later in the day, I saw the same pumpkin for about half the price at the grocery store which made me feel ripped off at first until I realized that the extra cost goes to the background for some nice pictures.

We went during nap time for Jonas so he's hiding under the blanket.

Lucía got excited by the very first pumpkin she saw.

My precious.

Lucía was so excited that she ran to find more pumpkins.

Hanging out with Daddy and the scarecrows.

Waiting (im)patiently to pay for her pumpkin.

Holding her very own pumpkin. She kept repeating the rules we gave her: "Don't drop it, don't lick it."

A Wheel Fun Time

2011-10-27T13:36:00.000-07:00

Lucía loves cars and pretty much anything with wheels these days. Here are some pictures of her enjoying some fun on wheels from about a week and a half ago.

Going for a ride with her cousin, Aidan.

Getting a chance to get behind the wheel.

Adjusting the mirror because she likes to put safety first.

Going solo.

Taking a turn on the big wheel.

Daddy helping her go fast.

Look mom, I can go backwards.

Jonas woke up from his nap in time to supervise a little.

All About Jonas

2011-10-26T13:41:00.000-07:00

Here are some recent pictures of Jonas. He's now four months old and tipping the scales at over 16 pounds. Since he spends a big portion of his time asleep, it's not always easy to get as many pictures of him as his big sister but we're trying to make a little more effort to capture his life in pictures.

Jonas is pretty good at staring.

Here he's staring at the fun house mirror which makes his face seem a little like an alien.

Showing off his muscles in a sleeveless outfit.

A Basket Full of Fun

2011-10-25T10:47:00.000-07:00

A couple of weekends ago, I was making pancakes for breakfast. I looked up and I saw Lucía bringing me a basket full of laughs.

A Weekend of Riding

2011-10-24T17:09:00.000-07:00

We're running a couple of weeks behind here on the ol' blog. So we'll start to try and catch up to the current time with a few posts. At the beginning of the month, we went to the Irvine Global Village event. If you define "global" as being asian, then it might make sense. Basically it just meant the park was extra crowded, parking was a mess, and there were booths from different cultural groups but I wouldn't go so far as to say it was global in scope.

Since it was at the park, however, Lucía didn't care what the event was, she just wanted to run around and play. Jonas was sleeping in the stroller so he didn't make it into any of the pictures, proving that if you snooze you lose.

Lucía trying to get me to chase her from the other side of the table.

Enjoying some time on the playground with Mommy.

After the global event, we were getting sick of the heat and the crowds so we went to the mall to enjoy some A/C and to let Lucía have a chance to ride the carousel.

The pre-ride safety check with Daddy.

Lucía showing us that she's a big girl and can do it by herself.

Fortress of Solitude Expansion

2011-09-30T22:13:00.000-07:00

Lucía has expanded her original Fortress of Solitude to include her Lego table. That means we have to look twice as hard when we're trying to see if she's pooping.

Brother and Sister Time

2011-09-17T17:12:00.000-07:00

Here are a few recent pictures of Jonas and Lucía spending some quality time together. It's nice to see Lucía enjoying the big sister role more and more.

Two Years Old

2011-09-12T18:15:00.000-07:00

Two years ago today, our lives were forever changed when Lucía joined our family. At first we thought she turned our world upside-down but really she turned it right-side up. In spite of the lack of sleep and the poopy diapers, we've loved every minute of it. Even though she seems really big next to her baby brother, she'll always be our baby girl. You can see her grow from a newborn to a big girl at our "Lucía of the Month" set at flickr.

Lucía's two year old picture. She loves Sesame Street, especially Elmo so we thought we'd get a picture with her best friend.

We had a little birthday party for her last week since everybody was around for Jonas' blessing. This is the ice cream cake Kira made for her.

She didn't feel like blowing out the candles. At least we don't have to worry about her playing with fire.

The birthday girl enjoying a piece of cake.

Sitting Like a Big Boy

2011-09-10T15:31:00.000-07:00

Sitting in the Bumbo chair for the first time. Jonas really enjoyed the new experience from the start.

But it didn't take long for him to get over the novelty of it all.

Lucía played the big sister role very well. She went up to him and consoled him with some hugs and kisses.

Just like in our tummy time post, Lucía couldn't resist the opportunity to show her little brother how it's done.

The Princess on Her Throne

2011-09-07T19:07:00.000-07:00

This has to be a good sign, right?

Double Dose of Smiles

2011-09-03T20:08:00.000-07:00

Jonas is getting more and more social as he gets more aware of what's around him. He's a happy boy and loves to smile. Here he's having a good time playing with Kira.

If you were to ask Lucía what she had for dinner, you wouldn't need to wait for the response. You can see the lasagna all over her face. Little moments like these are the best part of having kids.

Three Times the Love

2011-08-26T10:27:00.000-07:00

Kira, Lucía and Jonas sharing a special moment.

Bye Bye Ants

2011-08-24T11:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture from a recent trip to the park. In case you can't tell by looking at the picture, Lucía saw some ants in the cracks and crevices of the concrete and stopped to take a closer look. Once she was done, she told the ants, "Bye bye, ants." Having little kids around really makes you stop and appreciate the little things in the world that we adults take for granted or choose to ignore.

The Starry Eyed Dreams of Little Girls

2011-08-22T18:21:00.000-07:00

Lucía picked up these sweet glasses in her party favor bag at cousin Karlee's birthday party. Unfortunately, they didn't last too long in this form as she quickly discovered how to pop out the lenses and play with the stars. Either way, the party favor was a hit with her.

Karlee and Lucía at the party. Lucía gets excited talking about Karlee and seeing her pictures but for some reason, these are the kinds of faces we get when they're together in person.

Two Months

2011-08-21T09:49:00.000-07:00

Jonas hit the two month mark this past week and is now tipping the scales at about 13 pounds and growing. Sometimes it feels like the two months have flown by and other times, such as when he keeps us up at night, it feels like it's been longer. Sleeplessness aside, we love having him in our family and are enjoying the ride.

Warming up for a staring contest.

He still likes eating, sleeping and pooping but he's also added tummy time to his list of favorite activities.

He's also pretty good at burping.

Lately we've started having him take his daytime naps in the crib. Since he shares a room with his sister, we're waiting until he's sleeping through the night before fully transitioning him to the crib.

Jonas enjoys the simple things in life like watching the monkey mobile spin around.

Bath Time Double Feature

2011-08-16T10:54:00.000-07:00

We finally got some pictures of Jonas getting a bath. Let me make clear that it's not because we haven't been bathing him but just that we haven't taken any pictures of it yet.

Jonas giving Kira the "What the heck are you doing to me?" look.

Scrub a dub dub it's a baby in the tub.

Jonas enjoying being clean, at least until he soils his next diaper.

Check out Lucía's hair. All the curls give it some serious volume.

Lucía is getting more and more independent so now she likes to take the towel and dry herself. You can tell by the smile that she loves it.

Even when she's all wet, she's more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

Beach Day in Oceanside

2011-08-13T10:59:00.000-07:00

This week we found ourselves with a little bit of free time so we took an afternoon at the beach. Kira's family and some friends that are like family invited us down to Oceanside for some beach fun. This was the first time at the beach for Jonas but he didn't really get to experience much of it. Lucía still isn't a big fan of the sand but she forgot about that while she played with her cousin Ariana.

We only live about 5 miles from the water but we don't make it to the beach that often. Once I stepped into the water and froze my foot in the middle of the summer, I remembered why we don't go that often. The water is cold and/or dirty but it's nice to be out there feeling the sun and relaxing to the sounds of the waves hitting the shore.

Trying to decide if she wants to actually get off the towel and brave the sand.

Exploring the beach with Nana and Ariana.

Finally on the sand all by herself.

Hanging out with Ariana.

Jonas taking refuge from the sun.

Will and Ariana relaxing after some serious fun.

Lucía and Ariana devouring some cheetos.

Father and son avoiding the sun.

Tummy Time

2011-08-10T21:02:00.000-07:00

Lately we've been having Jonas work on tummy time to build those neck muscles. When he's on the ground, Lucía sees an opportunity to smother him so he's also learning survival skills.

It's crazy to think how much effort it takes for a baby to lift their head when we do it so easily.

Here Lucía's watching Jonas and thinking, "I can do better than that."

Lucía showing off her tummy time technique.

Soaking Up the Sun

2011-07-31T15:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, in an effort to escape the summer heat, we went to a local park that has some water fun. It took a few tries before Lucía was comfortable getting in there. Once she did, though, she enjoyed herself. Jonas, on the other hand, was being a baby so he didn't get in the water. His preferred method to beat the heat was to stay in the shade and drink lots of milk.

Trying out the water canons.

Showing off some of her dance moves.

Here Lucía is trying to karate kick the water into submission.

Jonas loving life under the big beach umbrella.

Lucía contemplating whether or not she wants to brave the waters again.

Here she's inching closer and closer to the water.

More fountain karate.

A direct hit. You sank my battleship.

This is what having fun looks like.

Happy Birthday to Kira

2011-07-27T01:11:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday to my wonderful wife! I'm looking forward to many more cakes with many more candles.

Two Weddings and Not a Funeral

2011-07-26T21:30:00.000-07:00

Last week we had two weddings to attend. It was just like the movie with Hugh Grant but with half the weddings and no funerals. On Thursday, Kira's cousin Jaime got married down in Dana Point. We had a lot of fun down there but made sure to save some energy for the second wedding. There wasn't a pro photographer so I helped out taking a bunch of pictures. You can see the rest of the set here.

Here's Jonas hiding out under a blanket. Everybody was looking forward to meeting him but he was eating and sleeping the whole time so this was what everybody saw.

Lucía walking off some energy with Nana.

Lucía and the rest of the kids getting ready for their big moment walking down the aisle.

Uncle Larry walking Jaime down the aisle.

The newlyweds.

As you can see, Lucía has inherited her mom's love of dance. She was having a great time on the dance floor.

Then on Saturday, my cousin Ethan got married at the temple in Los Angeles. We had a great time meeting new people and catching up with others that we hadn't seen in a while.

Here's Lucía entertaining herself while we waited for the happy couple.

The happy couple.

I actually made my way into a picture.

Lucía and Jonas met their great-grandma and great-grandpa for the first time that day. Lucía really enjoyed being around great-grandpa, as most children do.

I think the flowers really bring out Uncle Mike's eyes.

More fun with great-grandpa.

He may not be a great-grandpa but Lucía thinks he's a pretty good grandpa.

A Really Big Catch Up Post

2011-07-18T23:02:00.000-07:00

Here's what we've been up to in the ten days since our last post:

Kira's parent's came over to visit one day on their way home from Dana Point. Lucía had a lot of fun with Pop while he read books with her.

Lucía turned 22 months and loves climbing on things and trying out her balance. She really enjoys standing on Kira's footstool but we'll let her practice some more before letting her balance over flames or a bed of nails.

Over the weekend we went to Daniel's birthday party. Lucía got to spend time with her cousin Karlee but for right now Karlee loves Lucía a little more than Lucía loves her.

But Karlee loves her daddy even more than Lucía.

Although she didn't want to spend too much time with Karlee, Lucía loved spending time with her Grandpa.

Jonas got to spend some time hanging out with Abuela.

As you can see by her face, Lucía loves chocolate. Fortunately, she got more birthday cake inside her mouth than out.

After the party we went to Kira's parents' house to spend the night.

Jonas still loves to sleep.

Lucía is getting good enough with a fork that we don't have to worry about her poking her eyes out when she eats.

Did we mention that Jonas likes to sleep?

Lucía was able to take some time away from having fun with her grandparents to read with her daddy.

Jonas woke up for some fun with Daddy too.

Jonas turned one month over the weekend. He's now over 10 pounds and growing fast. To celebrate his one month birthday, Jonas drank some milk, pooped his pants and slept.

Sleeping on Mommy while she watches the Women's World Cup final. That means keep cheering to a minimum.

Having fun with Pop.

Water table fun with Nana.

Hiding behind the water.

Sitting on the bouncy ball with Pop.

After such a long post, Jonas and Daddy were wiped out so it was time for a nap.

Inside vs Outside

2011-07-08T12:21:00.000-07:00

The difference between our kids:

Jonas likes it inside...

...while Lucía dreams of being outside.

Independence Day 2011

2011-07-05T20:46:00.000-07:00

Our original plan for Independence Day was to spend a quiet day at home. But at the last minute Kira decided she wanted to declare her independence from being at home all weekend so we decided to risk all the germs and take Jonas out of the house. So with a full tank of gas and a big bottle of sanitizer, we made our way up to Claremont for the city's Independence Day parade.

Lucía waiting semi-patiently for the parade to begin.

You can't have a parade without a fire truck.

Lots of kids and a few adults decorated their bikes but this was probably the most interesting one we saw.

An extra tall version of Uncle Sam.

Uncle Sam and the Mustang.

Aidan keeping an eye on things.

Lucía checking out a band.

Kira enjoying the view of the parade while Jonas enjoyed the view of Kira.

3/4 of our family watching the parade.

Maybe some day these little feet will get to be in the parade.

Lucía checking out a patriotic tow truck.

Snacking and watching at the same time.

This guy looks he could be the original Uncle Sam.

Dancing with Aunt J

Aidan and the sparkler.

Teddy Keeping a Watchful Eye

2011-07-03T21:41:00.000-07:00

Meeting Abuela and Grandpa

2011-07-03T15:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my parents were able to meet Jonas for the first time. They were in Costa Rica for a family reunion when he was born and just got back. Lucía was also happy to see Grandpa and Abuela again.

Getting to know his grandparents.

Lucía and Grandpa having a tickle fight and I think it's pretty clear who's winning.

Lucía and Mommy getting some reading time in while Abuela and Grandpa keep an eye on Jonas.

The Week in Review

2011-07-02T20:50:00.000-07:00

Since I had to be back to work this week, Kira was outnumbered by the kids. Fortunately for her, she was able to get some help as her sister was able to come spend a couple of days over here. Then her mom came for a couple more days at the end to relieve her. Jonas continues to eat and grow while Lucía seems to be getting better at her big sister role.

One of the days they were down here, J, Aidan and Lucía went down to the pool for some relief from the summer heat. Lucía enjoyed playing in the water with her cousin.

This is what happens when you leave Daddy in charge of bath time. One of these days we'll have to try it with gel or hairspray.

Jonas is starting to stay awake a little longer and observing his environment more. Here he is trying to figure out who the crazy guy holding him is.

Here's Jonas living the good life.

And here's Lucía reliving her glory days in her old chair which is a little small these days.

Sloping Slightly to the Right...

2011-07-01T20:40:00.000-07:00

That's because you only have one sock on.

Daddy-Daughter Weekend Plus More

2011-06-29T21:01:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Daniel and Vanessa came by to visit us and meet Jonas. Before and after that, and on several occasions throughout the weekend, I took Lucía out so she could get some quality time with her daddy and so Kira could get some quality time with her pillow.

Lucía's fortress of solitude was invaded by her cousin, Karlee. It was fun to watch the interaction between the two of them, especially because Lucía seemed to be more scared of Karlee even though she's about twice her size. I'm sure they'll become good buddies at some point but it's funny for now.

After Daniel and Vanessa went home and Lucía took a nap, we went to the park to go for a little walk. I guess I should qualify that as a little walk for me and a long walk for Lucía. By the end, she wanted me to carry her, that is until she saw the playground. At that point, she miraculously regained the strength in her legs and was able to run all the way there.

In-flight refueling. While I was pushing her on the swing, Lucía asked for her water. We were able to execute the transfer as seamlessly as sprinters passing the baton in the Olympics.

Shadow swinging.

How much is that doggie in the window? One of our other stops was to Fashion Island in Newport Beach where we found a pet store with lots of puppies. I practically had to drag her out when it was time to go.

Now for an update on our other kid. Jonas continues to do well. He's eating and pooping but eating more than pooping since he's growing at a healthy clip. Stay tuned for some more pictures of the little guy over the weekend.

A Little Swing and a Big Swing

2011-06-25T00:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, both Jonas and Lucía spent some time on the swing. Jonas wasn't able to go as high or as fast but his swing does have the benefit of playing music while he swings. Lucía, on the other hand, has to sing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" or "The Wheels on the Bus" if she wants any music.

One of the benefits of living so close to work is that I get to go home for lunch. And on nice, sunny days like yesterday, it's nice to be able to take Lucía to the park for a daddy-daughter picnic so Kira can get a little break.

The Good Life

2011-06-22T12:41:00.000-07:00

It's the little moments like this that help me realize how good my life is. It doesn't really get much better than this.

So Far So Good

2011-06-21T21:22:00.000-07:00

One of our biggest concerns about bringing Jonas home was how Lucía would react. Would she be upset that she's no longer the center of the universe? Or is she too young to know any better? Here's a picture from earlier today which looks like it bodes well for the future. Hopefully they're always this loving to each other.

Introducing Jonas

2011-06-20T05:40:00.000-07:00

We were pleased to welcome Jonas Eric Durham into this world on Friday morning. He tipped the scales at 8 pounds, 4 ounces and measured 21 inches. After a couple minor bumps in the road, we were able to take him home last night. Kira and Jonas are doing fine, except for some sleep deprivation. Below are some pictures from the first 3 days of his life. You can see the whole set on our flickr feed (there is a link on the left hand side of the blog). You just need to add me as a friend on flickr and you'll get access.

After getting up early on Thursday morning and getting ready for what we thought was our scheduled induction, we were told there was no room at the hospital. We had to keep checking in every couple of hours to find out if there was room. Finally around 6p.m. we were able to go in. Being a little tired can cause silly faces.

Luckily for us, the hospital had Wi-fi so we were able to keep everybody up to date. This is Kira updating her facebook status to something like "I'm in Labor."

Here he is fresh out of the womb and already doing acrobatics.

The big guy and his new little guy.

Lucía meeting Jonas.

He's a little bigger than her dolls so Daddy had to help Lucía hold Jonas.

A quiet moment with Mommy at the hospital.

Working on his tan. On Sunday morning we found out that the little guy was battling some jaundice. That extended our stay while he got to receive some photo treatment. It kind of looks like a tanning bed but without all the harmful UV rays. We have a follow up appointment today but things are looking better.

Our little monkey in his monkey outfit ready to go home.

A family picture on our way out the door at the hospital.

Check back often for updates and pictures. If they aren't up fast enough for you, we're probably trying to catch up on some sleep or trying to come up with a new blog title.

The Waiting

2011-06-15T20:03:00.000-07:00

The past few days, we've been eagerly awaiting our son's arrival. Apparently, he doesn't share his father's penchant for punctuality. A couple of nights ago, we went out for a family walk after dinner to see if that would help coax him out. Lucía had fun at the fountain, as she always does, and we had fun watching her and wondering how life is going to change in the near future.

She loves to watch the water go up but doesn't like getting sprayed when the wind catches the water.

Here she was playing peek-a-boo with us. She thought it was the funniest thing to hide and then peek her little head out to see what we would do.

Sometimes you have to stop and smell the flowers.

Tonight is the last night of waiting. We have an induction scheduled for tomorrow morning so if he doesn't come on his own tonight they're gonna go in after him. It'll be an interesting change to our lives but we're looking forward to it. So stay tuned for pictures of the little guy which will be coming soon.

Hiking the Baby Out

2011-06-14T19:40:00.000-07:00

On Sunday we went for a hike at Carbon Canyon Regional Park to see if we could try to convince the baby to come out. Luckily for us, he didn't decide to come out when we were in the wilderness as I don't think I'd like to carry a laboring, pregnant woman a couple of miles to the car. Other than that it, didn't seem to have too much effect on his arrival.

I guess this is to help all the city slickers know how they're supposed to behave on the trail. I don't think it was too effective as we were almost run over by a mountain biker. Also, it says you're supposed to yield to the horses, which we did, but the sign didn't provide much info on the proper way to handle horse poop encounters. Thankfully, we didn't step in any land mines but we did cut it a little close once or twice.

At the end of the trail there is a grove of redwood trees that were planted at the park in 1975. They're not nearly as impressive as the redwoods in Northern California so even in pictures they look like plain old pine trees. The dam at the end of the park was more impressive, in my opinion. With the watchtower it almost looks like a prison for the water.

Saturday Adventures: Graduation Edition

2011-06-13T21:24:00.000-07:00

Saturday was my brother, Daniel's master's graduation. So we packed up the car and headed north to the Cal Poly area for a dinner and the graduation. Before the dinner, we made a stop off at a park for Lucía to do some playing and we went for a little hike.

Lucía was a little hesitant to go down the slide which isn't like her at all. Perhaps it was the after effects of the water slide or maybe it was just an unfamiliar park. We may never know since she doesn't speak in complete sentences yet.

A bridge we found on our little hike.

Abuela and Karlee. We wanted to get a picture of Karlee and Lucía together but Lucía didn't want anything to do with Karlee that day. Karlee, on the other hand, was fascinated with Lucía.

Driving through the lens. I wonder what the drivers of the oncoming cars thought when they saw somebody driving with a DSLR stuck to their face. It's pretty much the same as driving normally except you only have one eye so you lose some depth perception and everything is way closer than it appears.

Graduations are full of speakers who think all the guests came just to hear their lame speeches. This one was no different. As you can see, this guy couldn't take it. He left just a couple minutes after this, probably in search of a pillow.

The Big Slide Challenge

2011-06-12T21:17:00.000-07:00

This past week Lucía finished up her swim classes. The final event for the class was a trip down the big water slide. The way it works is the moms take their kids up the steps of the slide and then drop them through the tunnel of darkness where they land in the water and are caught by the instructor. I know what you're thinking: There's no way anything can go wrong with that.

I think we forgot to teach her not to look down.

She came out sideways because she tried to stop herself by jamming her feet on the sides of the slide but it didn't work out the way she thought it would.

Getting congratulated by the instructor for not drowning.

Kira trying to hug away the fear.

On the whole, the class was fun but the long term psychological effects from the last session are yet to be determined.

Life's a Beach

2011-06-10T12:54:00.000-07:00

On Sunday afternoon, after Lucía had taken a nice 3 hour post church nap, we thought we'd go out and enjoy the nice weather and natural beauty around us so we went to the coast for a picnic dinner. It was nice to just relax and enjoy the simple things in life as we spent time on the beach towel together.

Lucía is still not a big fan of sand.

Our view from the pier.

I love capturing little moments like this. Also, from behind, you can't even tell Kira is over 38 weeks pregnant.

Bath Time & Slow Reflexes

2011-06-09T18:54:00.000-07:00

On Sunday Morning we were awakened by a 10 wipe poop (it took at least 10 baby wipes to clean it up) that had breached the boundaries of Lucía's diaper. At first I was wondering why she had chocolate on her hands but we quickly figured it out. So just to make sure we got everything clean, we threw her in the bath where she had a good time in her own little water world. But as soon as I went to go get the camera to get some nice candid pics, she noticed and started posing. It's still cute but not quite the same. So the moral of the story is keep your kids close and your camera closer.

Soccer Practice

2011-06-08T19:55:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Kira had a baby shower to attend (not for her this time) so Lucía and I headed to the pitch for some fútbol practice. She's getting better at it all the time and it helps work off the little belly she has. Here are some pictures from our adventures on the field.

Here she has her game face on.

Keeping the ball away from daddy.

Working on her moves.

After a grueling session, trying to decide if it's worth going after the ball.

Memorial Day Mini Pool Fun

2011-05-31T18:21:00.000-07:00

Remember how when you were a kid it was fun to get the inflatable pool out or set up the Slip n' Slide on the grass? As a kid, you didn't think it could get any more fun than that but it's even more fun to see your kid having fun doing the things you used to do. Here's a part of what we did on the holiday.

The inflatable pools have gotten way more sophisticated than they used to be.

Giving the birdie a kiss.

Happy Memorial Day

2011-05-30T08:54:00.000-07:00

On this Memorial Day, we are grateful for all those who have laid down their lives in the defense of our country and our freedoms. Yes, it's nice to have a day off from work and to go to the beach or to barbecue but we wouldn't have the day to remember if it wasn't for those whose efforts must not be forgotten.

The flag at Balboa Pier in Newport Beach.

Bird watching on the pier.

This one didn't care that we got too close.

We love the face she makes when she says, "cheese."

Lucía in Flight

2011-05-29T15:58:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of pictures from a trip to the park this week. Lucía was having a great time on the swings. The swings at this park go a lot higher than the park we normally go to and it didn't seem to bother Lucía at all. Mommy, on the other hand, didn't want to be as adventurous so Daddy dialed back the throttle a little bit.

The Fortress of Solitude

2011-05-28T12:35:00.000-07:00

Superman had a good idea with his Fortress of Solitude. The only thing is that his actually provided solitude. Lucía's, on the other hand, only provides her with the illusion of solitude. She thinks that if the door is closed there is no way anybody can get her.

If the door's open, all are welcome.

If the door's closed, she's either pooping or up to no good.

If she doesn't want you to know she's looking at you, she'll use her "peep hole" instead of looking through the door.

Daddy Daughter Day - Part 1 (The Zoo)

2011-05-24T21:11:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday since Kira had some baby business to take care of, Lucía and I got to spend some quality time together. We got the fun started by heading to the Orange County Zoo. It's not a big or impressive zoo but for $2 you can't expect too much. Lucía had fun and I enjoyed watching her excitement as she got to see things that she normally only sees in her books.

Driving to the zoo with Daddy.

Here she's not looking too excited but fortunately we were able to recover from the poor start and have a good time.

From this side of the fence everything is fine.

On the inside, however, she didn't want to get near the baby goats in the petting zoo. The only time she let go of my hand was to make a run for the exit.

Back on the safe side of the fence, she enjoyed the chickens and roosters.

Here she's trying to get a better look at the snakes. She recently started walking on her tippy toes but that wasn't quite high enough. Luckily for her, Daddy is tall so she was able to get a nice look at them when I held her.

Daddy Daughter Day - Part 2 (The Choo Choo)

2011-05-24T21:10:00.000-07:00

After the zoo, we headed to the other side of Irvine Regional Park (FYI - it's in Orange not Irvine) to the Irvine Park Railroad.

Walking along the path to the ticket booth, we heard the whistle blow and Lucía got really excited to see the "toot toot" approaching.

After getting our tickets and waiting in line, she didn't seem as excited once we actually got to the train.

Not even having her Daddy sit next to her seemed to get her too excited.

After the ride she was all smiles next to the locomotive.

Hanging out with the engineer after the ride.

Still smiling in front of the Railroad building. Notice she's still clutching her ticket in her hand.

Daddy Daughter Day - Part 3 (Car Wash & Park)

2011-05-24T21:09:00.000-07:00

After the zoo and the railroad, Lucía was tired so we headed home for a nap. After the nap, we resumed the fun with a trip to the car wash to get Daddy's car washed for the first time in 2011.

She quite enjoyed watching the car go through the wash.

After we went outside she was sad that she couldn't see the car from where we were sitting. She kept saying, "Daddy car?" in the saddest little voice so we had to move to a better vantage point.

Once we moved closer to the cars she kept wanting to see all the cars as they'd come out from the wash. This is her straining her neck to peek around the corner at the next one.

After the car wash we went to In-N-Out for some dinner and then ended our day at a different park.

One of the fun things about Daddy Daughter Day is that you get to try things that your mom wouldn't necessarily approve of. So here's Lucía going down the slide all by herself.

The plastic slide causes some pretty strong static electricity build up.

All in all, it was a fun day but we definitely missed Mommy.

Lucía & The Belly

2011-05-22T15:14:00.001-07:00

Before her brother's arrival, Lucía is already bonding with him. So far she's pretty nice to him as you can see, but whether or not that changes after he arrives is still to be determined.

Giving her brother a kiss.

Giving him a gentle pat.

Snuggle time on the bench.

Swim Class Time

2011-05-19T22:06:00.000-07:00

Now that summer is right around the corner, that means it's time for swim classes again. This year we've been getting two kids for the price of one but we've had to sneak our boy inside Kira's belly. Luckily they haven't caught on yet or we would be in trouble. We didn't know if it was possible but Lucía is having even more fun than she did last year. I was able to sneak away from work for a little bit yesterday to catch some of the action and loved watching her have so much fun.

Getting ready for class and pointing to where the fun is.

By the size of the smile, you can tell she's pretty excited.

With mommy just before jumping in.

Laying out like Superman.

It's fun to see Lucía making the same facial expressions as her mom.

She loves jumping into Kira's arms.

This is our favorite picture from the day.

Smiles all around.

Slapping her teacher five.

Trying to keep warm after class.

A Birthday Party and a Fiesta

2011-05-10T18:52:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from our adventures this past Saturday. We started the day off by visiting my mom for Mother's Day Eve. We couldn't go on Mother's Day since that was the only day that we could get for the hospital tour before the baby comes. After Lucía visited with her abuela, we went to a first birthday party for the son of one of Kira's childhood friends. After the party we went to a fiesta (The OLA Fiesta) and introduced Lucía to the world of Carnies.

Hanging out with the birthday boy.

Enjoying some coloring time.

Getting to know her balloon monkey.

Lucía's first carnival ride.

Playing with the stuffed animal her cousin, Aidan won for her.

I was trying to get a picture with some good sun flare in it but she didn't want to sit still for too long so this was the best I could do.

Self portrait in the bee's nose. Not quite the bee's knees but I'm working on it.

Easter 2011

2011-04-27T17:59:00.000-07:00

Our busy Easter weekend concluded with a long Easter full of family fun. We spent the night before at Kim and Jeff's house after the birthday party and went to church with them on Easter morning. Afterwards, we headed over to Nana and Pop's house for an Easter brunch and to hunt some Easter eggs. After that, we went to visit Abuela and Grandpa for some dinner. You can tell it was a long day because Lucía is wearing 3 different outfits in the pictures. All in all, a fun day full of goodies and fun times with family.

Easter dresses with Ariana.

Sisters and cousins.

The little bunny found an egg

On the hunt with Mommy.

Whiffle balls can be more entertaining than Easter eggs.

Kira's grandma made her this bunny beanie which Kira used to use at Easter when she was a kid.

Playing with Uncle Sam.

Good times with Abuela.

Easter Eve and a Birthday Party

2011-04-26T17:58:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we had an action-packed day as we spent time with family for the Easter weekend. We started off by visiting the Claremont Easter Egg Hunt (they call it a Spring Egg Hunt but I won't get into my disdain for that term) where things got off to an interesting start. After practicing the last week at the local Easter Eggs-travaganza, Lucía was ready to hunt for some eggs. Unfortunately, for her age group, they were just going to give away a bag full of eggs so we moved her up into the 3 to 5 year old category.

Lucía was excited to go hunt for eggs. Once they signaled for the start, she found two eggs really quickly but then things got chaotic. Parents were supposed to stay on the sidelines but it seemed like we were the only parents following that rule. Little Lu's fun ended when she was run over by a dad who was trying to get eggs for his kid. In the spirit of Easter, I decided against punching him in the face but it's frustrating to see how our society has devolved to the point where the pursuit of cheap plastic eggs is more important than class and decency.

After the egg fiasco, we went to visit my mom and dad for a bit before heading east for Ariana's 2nd birthday party. Lucía had a ton of fun there playing with the other kids. In particular, she enjoyed the magnetic fishing and the parachute.

Making a Good Friday Great

2011-04-25T19:59:00.000-07:00

On Friday we had a nice little treat as work ended early for Good Friday. So to take advantage of the extra free time, we headed out to the park to play. Lucía enjoyed playing a little bit of soccer. Our favorite thing about playing soccer with Lucía is watching her dribble the ball as she says, "Go, go, go." After wearing her out at the park, we then made the afternoon even better by going to In-N-Out for dinner.

A Bird Must Not Live on Bread Alone

2011-04-20T18:17:00.000-07:00

On Sunday afternoon we headed to one of the local lakes here to feed some ducks. A couple weeks ago we came across them on a walk and this time thought it would be fun to take some bread and actually feed them. We found out that they love Hawaiian bread as much as we do. Also, we learned that Lucía loves Hawaiian bread so much that she would rather eat it herself than waste it on some birds. But after her tummy was full, she decided she could share after all.

Pool Time

2011-04-19T17:40:00.000-07:00

It's sort of like tool time but more fun. After the Easter Egg hunt on Saturday, we thought we'd take advantage of the nice weather and go for a dip in the pool. It took a little time for Lucía to get used to the water again but she had a bunch of fun. Kira also liked it because she couldn't feel the weight of the baby when she was in the water.

Easter Eggs-travaganza

2011-04-16T18:40:00.000-07:00

We took Lucía to her very first Easter Egg hunt today. We actually had to sneak her in because it was for ages 2 to 4 but we figured she was ready. Luckily for us, they didn't ask her for ID. Mommy helped her with the first egg but that was all the help she needed. She started grabbing two at a time and quickly reached her egg limit of 8; in fact, she was one of the first to get to the limit. So take that whoever set the age requirement at 2 years old.

Girls Love Shoes

2011-04-15T17:45:00.000-07:00

Luckily for us, however, she's content to play with everybody else's shoes for now. Once she realizes that a girl can never have enough shoes even if several pairs look exactly the same to the untrained, male eye, her daddy will have to get another job just to pay for all the footwear.

Three Generations

2011-04-10T18:50:00.000-07:00

You wouldn't know it by the way they're dressed but it's spring time in Southern California.

Things Seen on a Sunday Afternoon Walk

2011-04-06T17:32:00.000-07:00

Running Free

2011-04-05T07:33:00.000-07:00

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

2011-04-03T11:21:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we took Lucía to watch a ball game as her cousin, Aidan had a little league game. We all had fun and Lucía enjoyed herself but it's tough for her to sit still that long. So We watched the game on the field and played chase Lucía at the same time.

Aquarium of the Pacific

2011-03-29T17:48:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the cold, potentially rainy weather this weekend, we decided to do some indoor fun for our Saturday adventure. We headed up to Long Beach to visit the Aquarium of the Pacific and had a good time. Lucía loved seeing the fish and would probably have been content to stay at the first exhibit the whole time but we convinced her to explore the rest of the place.

The Court Jester

2011-03-22T18:52:00.000-07:00

Lucía thinks it's funny to wear her pants like a hat. These pants are probably the most fun to wear because they make her look like a little jester. What a character; she must get it from her mom because her dad is super serious all the time.

A Bad Case of Bed Head

2011-03-21T12:20:00.000-07:00

This is what Lucía's hair looked like when we got her out of bed this morning. Luckily for us, she's too little to worry about bad hair days so she'll happily let us take pictures.

Field Trip to the Poor Man's Zoo

2011-03-19T16:07:00.000-07:00

There's never a shortage of inexpensive fun to be had, no matter where you may be. Whether you're saving up for a big purchase, a dream vacation, or just won the lottery, free fun can be the most fun. Lucía loves puppies and other animals these days so today we took her to Pet Smart to visit them. It didn't cost a dime but the fun was priceless.

18 Months

2011-03-13T09:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a big day for our family as it marked 6 years of marriage and Lucía's 18 month birthday. At her 18 month appointment earlier in the week, Lucía was measuring 34 inches and tipping the scale at 26 lbs, 6 oz which means she's in the 99th and 85th percentile, respectively. Lately she's becoming more and more independent, talking up a storm, loves dancing, and enjoys playing with her baby dolls which is good because in 3 months she'll have a real baby brother to entertain her. Here are some 18 month pictures we took yesterday. We took them in the same spot we took her 12 month pictures so we could easily see the changes from the last 6 months.

Demonstrating the Appropriate Respect

2011-03-08T11:49:00.001-08:00

Kira's tried to instill a love of soccer in Lucía. Based on her worship of the ball, it looks like the message was taken a little too seriously.

Make a Wish

2011-03-06T16:29:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to Grandpa

2011-03-06T16:20:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we had a fun time for Grandpa's birthday. Since it was a nice day, we went to the park for some food and fun. Lucía enjoyed running around the park, kicking her soccer ball, and playing on the swings. But she especially enjoyed spending some time with her Grandpa.

Gangster or Plumber?

2011-02-27T16:25:00.000-08:00

With the way Lucía's jeans were sagging today we figured she's well on her way to being either a gangster or a plumber. Obviously we'd prefer plumber since that's a more honorable vocation. However, we'd prefer that she aims a little bit higher in life. You should keep both your expectations and the waist of your pants up.

What Happens When Daddy Does Your Hair

2011-02-26T10:16:00.000-08:00

Pizza Night Fun

2011-02-17T18:59:00.000-08:00

Our family's Friday night tradition is to have homemade pizza. It's a fun little event that we all look forward to each week. Last Friday, we thought it would be fun to invite Daniel, Vanessa and Karlee over to share in our pizza night fun. Karlee and Lucía had fun playing with each other. They especially had fun when they got down to just their diapers. Not only are they cousins, they're buddies.

Saturday Adventures

2011-02-13T08:39:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we had loads of outdoor family fun. We started off by making the quick drive down to Newport Beach. We walked around the beach, checked out the pier and had a picnic lunch (leftover pizza from our traditional Friday night homemade pizza night). Lucía loved exploring and especially enjoyed pointing out the birds.

After nap time, we took Lucía to buy her first soccer ball. As soon as she had it in her hands she wanted to run outside and play with it but we had to explain to her that we couldn't leave the store until after we paid for it. After what seemed like an eternity to her, we were able to check out and we headed over to the park to play with her new ball. Looks like she got the soccer genes from her mommy because she was kicking it like a natural.