You Belong In The Zoo...

Not the San Diego Zoo, (as the 80's song suggests,) but the Oakland Zoo! Nolan and I spent all morning at the zoo with our friends Jen and Caleb. We had such a fun time despite the fact that it was 100 degrees!. Nolan is very "into" animals these days. Although he'd been to the San Diego Zoo quite a few times when we lived down south and had passes, this was Nolan's first zoo trip that actually "impacted" him. We had been talking about going to see the animals all week and this morning when I got him out of bed I said "We get to see the animals today!" and he was ecstatic. I quite likely deflated some of that excitement when we stopped at Starbucks on the way there. The poor kid asked the entire time we were at Starbucks where the animals were. Oops!

Of course nothing compares to the "World Famous San Diego Zoo," but I was actually quite impressed with the Oakland Zoo. Since it was smaller you felt closer to the animals as you visited each habitat. Nolan's favorites were the "efints," "algators," "mukeys," "raffs" and goats. He squealed with delight petting the goats and brushing their fur. He also found it simply hilarious to try to cover them up with hay. We'll definitely visit the zoo again soon!

With the "raffs"

Big boy on a big frog

Brushing a goat

One Month From Today...

• Nolan turns 2!
• The new season of The Office begins!

I can't wait!

Oh Boy, Obama!

Seriously? Joe Biden? We here in the McCain camp are doing the happy dance since you practically shot yourself in the foot adding Biden to the ticket. There's footage splashed all over the news of your running mate stating (a few short months ago!) that you, Senator O, are too inexperienced to be President. What's even more curious is why you would choose someone who has gone on the record stating that your opponent, Seantor John McCain, would be a good President. Thanks for tipping the scales toward the Republicans, buddy.

Sharing Gone Overboard

Bingo! Lesson Learned!

Mamma Mia! And Other Female Fun

Trust me, if you are female you HAVE to see this movie! It's too much fun and will have you humming ABBA tunes for days. I don't get to the movie theater very often, but this week my friend Valerie from San Diego was here for a visit and we were able to swing a girl's night out. (Thanks, Todd!)

Tomorrow afternoon I am going to see a production of Les Miserables at the local youth theater. I've seen Les Mis three times, read the book four times and practically know the musical score by heart. Needless to say, I am a proud Les Mis junkie and have literally dreamt about what it would be like to play the part of Eponine on Broadway. (OK...back to reality!) However, I am quite curious as to how a musical adaptation "for kids by kids" will re-tell this story considering that one of the main characters is a prostitute. Should be interesting!

I didn't even bother to ask if Todd would like to attend the show with me tomorrow because 1) I knew he'd say no (he's "endured" Les Mis before,) and 2) Nolan needs parental supervision. Todd's simply not the musical type and that's totally fine with me. I do give him kudos, though, because when we were dating he saw Chicago with me. His response when I asked if he liked it? "It was great except for all the singing and dancing!"

To each his own!

One Crazy Summer

For some reason this summer seems particularly crazy to me. Maybe it's because we haven't been home much or it could simply be because we now have a very energetic and mobile child who is constantly on the go. Whatever the reason, this summer is flying by and it hasn't been as relaxing as most. As a student and then as a teacher, my summers have always been time to rest and enjoy life in the slow lane. Our summer has definitely not been slow, even though we are trying our best to rest. Todd's job has kept him busier than ever before. It seems I am running from park to play date to park again with Nolan. We've had quite a few visitors. We are still transitioning to life in NorCal. Things just seem frenetic and there's no "easy rhythm" to this summer season.

Of course we've traveled a good deal this summer, too. Thankfully, traveling with a child hasn't proven difficult for us, just different. I've always been a compulsive list maker, but now my "to do before we leave" lists are much longer and more detailed. I've become a "boy-scout packer"...including everything I could possibly need for any possible situation. Forget cleanliness...preparedness is next to godliness for this mommy.

Then again, this summer may feel especially crazy to me because I can no longer "keep up" the way I used to. I am 36 now and not as "lively" as I was ten, even five years ago. Who truly knows? All I know for sure is that I'm strangely looking forward to fall. No gearing up for fall this year. I plan to wind down.

One Hot Mama...

I swear that the heat follows me wherever I go. Last week we had 100 degree days at home and it was nice and cool down south. This week, while Nolan and I are visiting my "thrifty" and "air-condition-less for the last 25 years" parents in Orange County, it's in the high 90's. Right now it's 83 degrees in the house at 9:05. Todd said it was barely 70 degrees at home today.

Am I bitter? NO!!! Just clearly hot and bothered!

Nolan-Speak

I have a little chatterbox on my hands. Nolan's vocabulary has exploded in the last month or so and it's just fascinating to have little conversations with him. Here are a few of my favorite words that he can't quite correctly pronounce...

noonles = noodles

poopul = purple

boobies = blueberries

wamermemen = watermelon

wook = work (as in Daddy goes to work)

Ginesign = Einstein (as in Baby Einstein)

I'm in awe that he's learning (and correctly using) so many words that I haven't "taught" him. He knows a few of his colors, practically every animal, counts to five and proceeds to talk to every person he meets. When, on occassion, people don't respond to him, he seems surprised. He looks at them like "My Mommy and Daddy understand me, why can't you?" Soon he'll be speaking in mini-sentences...and shortly thereafter the "Why?" stage will begin. I have more fun all the time being his Mommy!

The "NO!" Season

I was really hoping we'd bypass it, but it came nonetheless. Nolan has always been sweet and very agreeable but in the past couple of weeks he has exerted his will like never before. If I had a quarter for every time he yelled "NO!" at me today I'd be able to fill up my gas tank. In today's economy that's a lot of no's! Truthfully, it catches me off guard. I don't expect my cuddly baby to be so passionate about what he wants and doesn't want. When he's especially belligerent Nolan lets his no's be known with body language as well. He practically stages a sit-in and plants his little tushie right on the ground in defiant opposition to my parental authority. And it's just not cute. It's annoying and it makes my blood boil. There, I said it! I am definitely not the most tolerant mommy in town.

Now that I've publicly decried my child, "mommy guilt" is kickin' in and I probably ought to even out the scales a bit. In the midst of the "NO!" season, Nolan is still a kick in the pants and laugh out loud funny. We were in Seattle at Todd's step mom's house this last wekeend and he followed Oliver the cat around for four days straight, meowing at the top of his lungs. He loves that cat (even minutes after Oliver stratched his face in four different places!) and talked about "cat" on the plane ride home. For the record, we are not getting a cat. The meows would be even more unberarable than the no's.

Our Trip To Tahoe

We had a great getaway to Squaw Valley, home to the 1960 winter Olympics. As this was a business trip for Todd, he wasn't able to have as much free time as Nolan and I did. The majority of the time that the three of us were able to spend together was in the pool. Nolan was ga-ga about the water slide and couldn't get enough of it. Every time he reached the bottom he'd shout "Gin!" (translation: "again." For the record, my child is not a juvenile alcoholic!) One afternoon Nolan and some friends and I took the cable car up to High Camp above Squaw Valley. Unfortunately, the view from the top was rather unspectacular due to the smoke and haze from nearby fires. We also drove to the South Shore of the Lake and visited my "home away from home" in the summer of 1992.

Todd flew out this morning for Seattle and Nolan and I will join him on Thursday. We will spend the weekend with Liedahl family and friends, many of whom we haven't seen in four years. This will be my first time flying alone with the little guy and I am a tad bit nervous. Prayers are appreciated!

Looking out the cable car

A little smoky, eh?

Beautiful Emerald Bay

Fun in the pool