Carcassone Prodigy

Last night Porter and I played Carcassone after I put Jonas to bed.  Porter was steadily beating me and I'm pretty sure he would have beat me if we'd seen the game through to the end before he picked up all his guys and said he was done.  Fortunately I did beat him at Go Fish earlier in the day so I can maintain some of my pride.  But, then I remember there is absolutely no skilled involved when playing Go Fish.

A Child's Prayer

Tonight when I was putting Porter to bed we sang one of my favorite songs together, A Child's Prayer.  I love to hear his sweet voice sing the words of a song that I have always sung when I was struggling.  He knows both the "boy part"  and the "girl part".  

Do you still love me?

Tonight Porter asked, "Do you still love me even when I drive you batty?"

The answer will always be, "Yes!"

We often run through these two questions:

"How much do I love Porter?"

Porter's answer, "So much."

"How long do I love Porter?"

Porter's answer, "Forever."

"I love you to infinity and beyond."

We love our boys.  We love our family.

Family Pictures (10/31)

I love getting family pictures so I can remember us at different stages.  And, I love the not so perfect photo showing personality.

10 months old (10/31)

Jonas is 10 months old. It's hard to believe that in 2 months he'll be a year.  Where has the time gone?

About this sweet, little man of ours:
Continues to crawl in his nontraditional way
Climbs stairs like a champ.  It basically took him a day to get it down and he's quick.
Finally getting more teeth, but not many.  He has two bottom teeth, one front tooth and one canine is coming in.
He is a good eater and loves to eat.
Becoming extremely "vocal" with his opinions.  It is very easy to tell what he wants or doesn't want. He sounds somewhat like a pterodactyl squawking.  It is loud and ear piercing.
He also knows how to hold his own.  If Porter is doing something he does not like or takes something from him, Jonas will go after him until he gets him.  And by getting him, I mean until he bites him.  Then he goes on his merry way back to whatever he was doing before while Porter cries or is so upset that Jonas got him "messy".
Jonas has started throwing tantrums.  Do not take him out of the bath before he is ready.  He loves the bath.
He babbles, smiles and gives you those sweet, flirty eyes.
He adores Porter and Porter adores him.  It's a mutual love that is my favorite to see.

San Francisco (11/13-11/17)

David had a Biomedical Informatics Conference in San Francisco, so Jonas and I tagged along.  We had Kandy fly up from Phoenix so she could stay with Porter.  I would have loved to bring Porter along but the thought of two kids in a hotel room and trying to man Porter around the city by myself sounded like more work than vacation, so we opted to leave him at home.  Although, we sure did miss him and all his antics.
We started out our trip here with some Indian food.  I have been craving good, more authentic Indian food.  We found a dive and picked up some food.  We were given one warning by the hotel staff, do not go behind the hotel.  So, what did we do, we went behind:).  Definitely a sketchier part of town, but we managed to find some good Indian, good Thai and then okay pizza.
We did do a lot of crazy stuff this trip.  David spent the first two days working on a grant, so we did some wandering around by the hotel, shopping and just enjoying being outside.  We went to church downtown.  It always amazes me how no matter where you are, you can go to church and it feels like home.  It is the same.  You know what to expect.

Porter was having a blast at home.  Staying up late, not being able to make it all day without a nap, taking a nap too late and then staying up late again because he can't fall asleep.  A vicious cycle.  He gets to play with Kandy and then had a sleep night over with Gayle who took him shopping and spoiled him rotten.   His sleep night over included staying up until midnight and then crashing the next night around 6pm and sleeping through until the morning.  Wish I saw that in person:).

Monday Jonas and I took off to ride the Cable car (Trolley) and see the ocean.  David was finishing up his grant proposal for the LRP through the NIH, so it was good for us to get out of his space so he could focus...and I wanted to get out and see some stuff.

It was a beautiful day and I loved taking Jonas to the beach so he could touch the ocean and the sand for the first time. We went to Aquatic Park, Ghiradelli Square (where I was fooled into buying stuff there and realized the exact same thing was half as expensive at Walgreen's), Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 to watch the sea lions. We also enjoyed some clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl.  Yum.

People have been so kind and friendly.  I think it's Jonas.  Everyone asks about him and talks to him. It's so sweet.

Bonding.

The view from our room at the Parc 55 Hotel, 26th floor.

Lucky for this kid his mom loves ice cream and I'm willing to share.

He loves it too and I just wasn't quick enough with the spoon so he was taking matters into his own hands (or mouth).

Enjoying Thai.

Loving the view.

Exhausted.

Our first cable car ride.

Aquatic Park.  First trip to the ocean for Jonas.

Pier 39 and the sea lions.

After our trip to the ocean, Jonas and I walked almost 2 miles back to the hotel.  We experienced the steep hills of San Fran by foot.  And between walking home from church yesterday and walking today, we saw new parts of the city up close and personal.

My last night, David and I were able to go on a date for sushi.  A friend watched Jonas for us after he went to bed.  It was a nice way to end the trip.  David gets to stay one more day.  But, I'm ready to see my other little boy at home.

Putting on the Whole Armor of God (11/9)

For FHE we had a lesson on putting on the Whole Armor of God.  Once David went to work, Porter and I went to work on making his own whole armor.  It came together quickly and Porter loved wearing.  I'm not sure he remembered what every part represented, but he sure knew that his sword could be powerful and engaged in many "battles" with it throughout the rest of the day.

Catch up

 Jonas meeting his new friend just like Porter did when he was younger.

Movie night with dad.

Playing Legos. A favorite pastime.

Sweetness.

Coloring his face with eyeliner.  At least it's his face and not the walls. Faces are washable.

The grocery store has a free playroom for while you shop.  Greatest idea ever!

A bathroom break.

My loves.

Play date with Kenna and Tanner Mitchell.

We love when the construction comes right to our street.

Dracula.

Jonas wants to join the fun.

Handsome.

Telling stories by the fire.  These two are best buds.  "Peacock!"