9 Months!

*you already know ... my sister vanessa is so good

Wendy at 9 months:

• Weight: 19 pounds
  
• Height: 27 inches
  
• fave food: mangos & bananas
  
• still no teeth
• we've nicknamed her "scooter" because of the way she scoots around on her bum
  
• monkey see, monkey do- she LOVES to copy you (we have fun with this one)

* i am in love with this little puffy pink marshmallow!

The Not So Quiet Life of Mrs. Whispers- Part IV

If you know me, you know that I am deathly afraid of birds. I'll admit, there are some circumstances where I don't mind them. In fact, I love them almost anywhere: in art, pictures, jewelry, on Wendy's crib bedding, and on the National Geographic Channel. Anywhere, that is, EXCEPT in real life.  So you can imagine the panic/shock I felt when I had this conversation with Ryan over the phone:

Ryan: Hey... you might be a little mad at me.

Me: Oh no, I hate when you say that. What did you do?

Ryan: I... got us a new pet.

Me: What do you mean? Without me? It better be a beta fish. 

(side note: we've already been through 3 dogs, a tortoise, and multiple fish. The man goes through pets like crazy. And to be honest,  I'm kinda over the whole pet thing)  

Ryan: No, something WAY better. Two little love birds.

Me: Haha, very funny. (He knows I have a fear of birds, I really didn't believe him)

Ryan: I want to name one Linda and the other one Dennis. 

Me: Wait a minute. You're serious? I can't believe you didn't even talk to me about it.

Ryan: Sorry, but I had to do it this way. Otherwise you would have said no.

    

I had to laugh. He's right, I would have said no. But after thinking about it, I realized that a bird might not be that bad of a pet- under a couple of conditions: 

1. NEVER let it out of the cage with me around 

2. the cage IS NOT inside the house

3. we get to put it in a cool rounded-top vintage bird cage, something like this...

*yes, he's ALREADY traded in the 2 for a different one (what did I say about him blowing through different pets?) 

and yes, he likes to carry his bird around the house on his shoulder like a pirate. 

If You're Going to San Francisco...

*rachel, melanie, me- February 1993

... Be sure to 1. ride the trolly, 2. go to Fisherman's Wharf to see the sea lions & have some clam chowder in a bread bowl, 3. tour ghiradelly's chocolate factory/shop (they give free samples!), 4. SHOP- most of my favorite stores can be found near Union Square with 2 or more floors! 

*near fisherman's wharf

*just after the trolly ride

* waiting in line to get back on the trolly... yes she has 3 jackets on

I love San Francisco! It has more of an east coast/almost euro feel, than a California vibe. Plus the benefit of being WAY closer. My mom used to take us on girl's trips to visit her sisters in Newman, CA (a small town 45 min. away from S.F.) when we were younger.

The day after our snow trip to Yosemite, the whole Witten family (my mom's side) spent the day in S.F. It was so much fun! I vote for doing Christmas in Newman every year. Also, I would like to thank my wonderful aunts, Cathy & Terri, for living up there and giving us a great excuse to have such fun vacations in northern California.

Yosemite in the Winter

*Yosemite, Summer 1984 (my dad was SO young, 24 years old)

Some of my fondest memories growing up are of our annual camping trips to Yosemite National Park. My family has been going every year since my mom was a little girl. You might not know it by looking at me, but I am out-doorsy. I LOVE camping. And I'm not talking about that sissy motor home/cabin "camping," I mean real life tenting it (as long as there are bathrooms :).

*katie, stevie, josh, grandma, travis, melanie, grandpa, me, rachel, joey (Summer, 1987)

These are my grandparents, Dave & Meljean. They started the Yosemite tradition. They are so much fun to camp with. I can remember sitting next to the river with my grandma, while she gave my cousins & I painting lessons. I remember getting up early to go fishing with my uncles & grandpa. 

* Summer, 1992

Sadly, I haven't been to Yosemite since I've been married (almost 5 years!) which means Ryan has never been! So when I heard we were going to spend New Years in Nothern California this year, with day trips to Yosemite & San Fracisco, I was ecstatic!! Especially because I had never been there in the winter time & I knew it was going to be so pretty. 

Wendy had 5 layers on. And no, she could not put her arms down. She looked like a puffy pink marshmallow. 

Here you can kinda see half-dome behind us. My dad has climbed it a couple times. He's been trying to get me to climb it with him for years. Sorry dad. 

The ice skating rink was surrounded by trees & mountains- it was gorgeous. Then we had chilli & hot chocolate for lunch. Nothing tastes better than hot chocolate after ice skating. 

After ice skating, we took a nice, heated tram ride around Yosemite. I felt like I was showing Ryan around an old neighborhood I grew up in. I can't wait until this summer when we finally go back for a REAL camping trip. 

8 MONTHS!

*thank you nessa for making these pictures amazing!

On Christmas Eve, Wendy turned 8 months old! I remember last Christmas when I was a sick, pregnant mess. I don't know about you, but for me 2008 just flew by. I almost feel like I blacked out through half of it (probably because of being stuck in my house for 4 months after having a baby).

Anyway, here's Wendy at 8 months:

• Weight: 18.5 pounds
• Height: 27.25 inches
• favorite words: "dada," "momomom," and "babababah" ( I really don't think she quite knows what she's saying)
  
• gives forehead kisses (not really kisses, but if you lean your forehead in she'll lean in and touch foreheads with you- this might sound lame but I LOVE it).
  
• starting to get stranger anxiety- she won't go to just anyone anymore. 

That last one makes me a little sad. For some reason, I feel personally responsible when she cuts down someone's self-esteem by not going to them. Every time I hand her over to a great-grandparent, or friend I just think, Please don't cry, please don't cry, please don't cry... Other parents, is there any remedy for this?

Christmas 2008

*notice how he's holding down her arms- she LOVED his beard & really wanted to pull it off

Christmas with a baby is so much more fun (and draining). It will only get more exciting as she gets older and realizes what's going on. This year, her favorite part was the wrapping paper. 

Tamale Night!

*The Becerra family! (notice: at this point I was the only blondie)

I love the fact that I married into a family with such a rich latin background and fun culture. I love the fact that Wendy has this interesting line of ancestors added to mine, I love it when Ryan speaks spanish to his grandparents, and I love the new traditions I get to enjoy...

Every year, Ryan's family celebrates the tradition of Tamale night. The whole family gets together and makes hundreds (no really, i'm not being sarcastic with that number) of tamales from scratch. We spend hours together with the whole extended family in the kitchen cooking and then we eat a bunch of them for dinner and freeze some to eat on Christmas Eve and to give to other people. This will mark my 5th year.

* I love to watch Wendy with her Great-Grandparents