He is here and he is perfect.

Logan Van Caldwell has finally arrived and he could not be any cuter if he tried. I finally got to meet the babe this morning and I was in heaven. Firstly, nothing beats a baby and secondly, seeing my dear Dee as a Mother was intoxicating. I will never forget the smile that crept over her face and the giggle that emerged when Logan began crying. Even his cry was music to her ears. It was music to mine too.

A mother now...

Check out all those diapers drying in the morning sun! As my grandmother says, laundry gets whiter and smells cleaner when hung to dry in the sun...

Nine pounds! Holy baby!



P.S. Check out Logan's digs - crisp new Peter Rabbit sheets and a warm hue on the walls...I almost climbed in that crib for a little nap myself! Alas, babies only.

Baby Lo {gan} ve

Today we wait.

Wait on baby.

A baby that belongs to Mitchell and Amanda.

Who have waited long and hard to welcome him.

I can't wait to see my dear cousin, for the first time, as a "Mother".

I also can't wait to get my hands on that sweet, sweet baby.

P.S. I think Amanda makes the "with child" look very fashionable and just plain adorable.

Weeknight Delights

Last night we had soup, salad and grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner and welcomed the return of 24.

Tonight, I try on my wedding dress for the first time.

Feed the poor

Last night Ryan gave a beggar man $2. I questioned his generosity. But today I am proud. Proud that his heart is bigger than mine and grateful that his heart belongs to me.

This is how we roll

A "let there be love" gathering.

A quiet January day.

A walk across town.

A sunset photo shoot on the Highway 29 overpass.

Yah, we're classy like that.

Members:

Trevorkian

Ever Bear

Rosie

Lorraine

Every day with these three is a little adventure. Never fails. How I love them....

The peak of Everest

I got to spend the day with these two kids yesterday...

We took a long, scenic drive, accompanied by "piggy" , whose tail Everest likes to carefully twirl between his fingers...

Everest is such a joyful companion. Whatever we do, he is typically happy and content, except when restrained by high chairs - so barbaric!

Our drive took us to Casa de Awesome where we scampered about with the chickens. Again, Everest was happy to join in on the fun.

Our mid-day hunger led us to Genova's Deli where Everest sat in a big boy chair and ate tuna (his mother's favorite) like a champ. We thought about an impromptu drive to the beach, but ultimately decided a nap for all sounded better. Later, Everest showed me his new trick....

Meet Amby and Lefty.

Katie and I spent part of New Years Day discovering that we are really quite good at racquet ball, even though we are not exactly familiar with the rules. We took the match very seriously and I learned that Katie has a mean back hand.




In fact, Katie can play ambidextrously and I am strictly left-handed. Thus, our official racquet ball nicknames...

Lefty and Amby! Watch out!

P.S. We built up quite an appetite and headed to Tower Cafe to re-fuel. Because we were having a "same-sy" kind of day, we both ordered coffee with cream and the tostada salad. We spent nearly the entire meal complimenting the salad. It was one of best salads of my life!

Good to see you 2010!

To bid 2009 farewell and greet 2010 we headed to the lovely McCormick and Schmicks for a holiday dinner (thanks to Grandmas Phyllis and the generous gift card she left under our Christmas tree)


What a treat-they even had holiday hats!

Of course, due to my new found love for head pieces, I had to sample it.

I think Ryan looks so dreamy in the glow of twinkle lights. Well.....any light, really.

One of me and Ryan's shared hobbies is indulging in oysters whenever possible. We also started a new tradition: making a list of the year's best/shocking/memorable/noteworthy moments.

The night ended with a fire that Ryan dubbed a "RAGER", firecrackers in the street, and most delicious champagne. Just. the. way. we. like. it.

2010.....welcome.

We all love pad thai. And Christy.

Christy had a birthday, she told us she was turning 25, and we agreed that a trip Lemon Grass to celebrate our dear friend was a must. We realized it was her first birthday as a married woman, and that birthday dinners with the four of us have been a tradition for eight years. It felt very adult to say those facts out loud.

Five things you should know about Christy: she is silly, and very funny, she wakes up with the sun to run, she has a tender heart, especially for dogs, she married a gentleman named Charles this year and she is a loyal and devoted friend.

Tracey and Sara are very cool dinner companions. Tracey gave me a booty pop and I laughed and laughed but secretly could not wait to get home and try it on. Later, I did just that.

We all ordered the pad thai and it was phenomenal. Truly. I packed up my leftovers and thought about what a treat pad thai for lunch the next day would be....

But I thought about how one should share such wonderful things with others and thought Ryan would be grateful. He thought that was really nice and he gobbled it all up as I watched him with pride and amusement.

And yes, Ryan is wearing panda bear flannel pajama pants.

Had myself a merry little Christmas...

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

We wore party hats and played monopoly at the Kelly's Christmas! (My egg nog was a hit, so much that we were all ready for naps before we even ate)

That Mama Marsha sure knows how to set a table...the prime rib was memorable.

Silly kids...

All in all, Ryan loved his new knife, candybars and deoderant.
Mama was very surprised with her new button shoes and even let out a couple of squeals.
We were sent on a scavenger hunt and found new luggage hiding.
Ryan recevied size XXXL snorkeling flippers to use on our tropical honeymoon.
Dad discovered that his solar radio comes in clear as a bell.
Rachel has promised to whip up some new culinary delights as found in her new Pioneer Woman cookbook.

My parents gave us a silver serving tray for our engagement present. It is so shiny. And so beautiful.
Emily looked luxurious in her fluffy new white robe (and I learned of her hatred for chalk, after I gave her a chalkboard picture frame of course)
Grandma's cinnamon rolls were perfect, as they are every year.
Mama gave me another embroidered hankerchief, after I complained at losing mine at a wedding in August.
Ryan gave me a snowman ornament with my name on it from a shop we visited in SF. He is very sneaky.

It was my favorite gift.

When we got home, we put on our new pajamas and carefully laid out all of our presents so that we can marvel at them for days.

It was a perfect Christmas.

It's Christmas time in the city...

Early on a Saturday morning, we woke up to ice and fog, donned our scarves and mittens and hopped on a train with Mama Marsha and Daddy David...

After mimosas, cards and cinnamon rolls we arrived at Pier 39 in the glorious San Francisco. Of course, we had to take a photo by the ginormous Christmas tree.

We considered taking a ride on this...

But ultimately decided to see this...

IN 4-D!!!

We ventured to Union Square...which is just full of hustle and bustle during Christmas. It always reminds me of the time that Ryan and I stayed there for a weekend and walked the city into late in the night...talking and blushing.

We all agreed the travel had made us thirsty and headed to an Irish pub for cocktails and stout...

(I fell in love with this little guy and the garland)

After our bodies were warm and our thirsts quenched, it was time for THIS....! Wicked at the Orpheum was hilarious, and wonderful. The costumes and set were simply DIVINE.

We walked back towards Union Square to catch a cab... the ride was a bit like a roller coaster, but we made it.

And had the most wonderful dinner at this little Italian secret on the wharf...

It will be hard to forget the prawn and mushroom saute and crusty bread...mmmm.

A memorable day indeed...what a treat.