The Meester-8 & 9 month update...

Who wouldn't want to wake up to this little face-- what a FUN age!

Because it's California, we just keep this in the garage and put her out here when the kids are riding bikes or we're working outside 

Mia is surrounded by all her favorite things here...besides me :)

This past month or so she's discovered the piano and loves to play on it and listen to Zanna and James play too, she even claps after their performances :)
She also LOVES to dance whenever she hears music and l love seeing her bouncing to the beat

A true bonding experience for us-- her first McDonald's cone (not the ice cream yet :)

Mia's two bottom teeth came in at 8-months and then we were surprised to see these fangs come in next...we think she's just trying to keep up with all the Vampire hype these days :)

9-months old and sweet as ever!

"So Big"
This was her first 'trick' she learned at 8-months old and I was so excited to feel like we were really communicating!

Sweet girl

She's already being a stinker and pulling off her headbands!

Bath time is always a happy time :)

Playing at Bol Park-- she loves Zanna's lunchbox :)

She still Loves to eat, but is becoming a bit more picky.  She actually didn't grow at all between December and now so we are going back in for a weight check in a month.  She seems chunky, healthy and happy to us so we're not worried-- it may have been wrong measurements or the fact that she's been sick, we'll see...

This is her FAVORITE place to hang out right now-- the changing table.  She LOVES to play with all the lotion bottles, Aquaphor, wipes, neosporin tubes etc. and holds her legs out so you have to sit her down after every diaper change...fun times. 

Mia thought these chocolates were for her-- not yet babe!

Mia LOVES tissues, napkins, paper towels- any paper product really and gives you the stink eye if you try to take them from her

resting between push-ups

Finally pushing up more and not hating being on her tummy so much

digging for treasure

Playing puzzles for the first time

the giggly girls

Mia LOVES dogs, has learned to "bark" and gives Maddie kisses daily--so cute!

this one is for you mom :)

no words to describe...

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

IN THE WINTER!

Dave was asked to give a lecture at an Emergency Medicine Conference in Yosemite last month so the whole family got to go (thank you Stanford!).  It was only about 5 hours away and even the drive was beautiful too! We stayed at the Inn at the Falls and just loved having this little getaway trip to the mountains.  Our pictures don't capture the beauty of this place because you are just surrounded by these cliffs and mountains and peaks, but I kept telling the kids to take pictures in their heads and when we got home, right before James fell asleep he said, "Mom, I still have those pictures in my head."

enjoy...

We stopped for pizza on the drive and Mia was showing off her new trick...

 "SO BIG!!"

girl party at the hotel... 

and, yes, my eye was infected this whole trip so I look like the sister in Meet the Parents who got hit in the face with the volleyball

hiking up to the falls

how funny and cheesy is this?

half dome

the Lower Falls

the view from our hotel

sunset on Half Dome--amazing!

what's cuter than little polka dot baby bums?

our version of a hot tub this trip :)

we found a playground at the elementary school for Yosemite Valley and it was quite a scene to be playing on the bars and slides with The Falls, Glacier Point and Half Dome in sight

the weather was perfect... everything was beautifully covered in snow, but it was sunny the whole time we were there and just cold enough to need a jacket but not freeze.  

I loved the fresh mountain air and sun on my face!

we even got lucky enough to see a family of deer come down from the mountains to the village right in front of the Ansel Adams store

just having some snacks with Dad 

These last few pictures are on the drive out of the park and there really are no words to describe the beauty and grandeur of this place! This is El Capitan-- granite face formed by glaciers

we stood at this same spot almost ten years ago when we first got married and lived in Cali for the summer...fun to see how we've changed :)

What a BEAUTIFUL, AMAZING, INCREDIBLE, BREATH-TAKING, FUN, RELAXING trip!

We are hoping to come back when we can do more hiking around in the summer....let us know if you want to join us!

mini me's

Heather and Anthony came to see us in January and is was so fun to see our little babies together for the first time! I saw Anthony when he was only 6 weeks old but this was the first time my family met him and the first time Heather met Mia so everyone was so excited for this visit. 

little minis of us...

I think this picture shows how much our babies resemble us

We took a little stroll around Stanford campus and it was our first time being "moms" together...how fun after being best friends since 5th Grade :) 

our trusty side-kicks

no, we didn't mean to dress alike but great minds do think alike...

Heather and Mia bonding over apple chips (heather's obsession) and puffs (Mia's obsession)

we girls love our food!

Saturday morning we "Hiked the Dish" and let me remind you that this was on JANUARY 22nd!!!

It was beautiful!

Zanna and James LOVED playing with Anthony and talked about how cute he was for days after they left.  He is such a fun little guy and reminds me so much of his momma...

We headed down to Half Moon Bay and the Fitzgerald Preserve to play in the tide pools and just enjoy the ocean air.  It was a little chilly but the view, the waves, the sea anemone and the sea lions made up for a little wind.  I am really going to miss living so close to the ocean...

We were just walking along and came upon all these sea lions basking in the sun (the long, rock-like looking things in the background)

the babes being babies...they felt so big up on the bunk beds!

and here is what we did most of the weekend...EAT and make REALLY big MESSES!! 

These little guys kept us busy and I learned from this trip that I need to let Mia just feed herself and make huge messes and be happy about that (thanks for reminding me of that Heather and Anthony!)

Heather and I went out on Friday night to "Plutos" on University in Palo Alto after taking and hour and a half to decide on a place! We walked up and down the streets with the babies asleep in their car seats and I'm sure looked pretty funny to everyone else. 

We made muddy buddies, peanut butter cookies, and chocolate/oatmeal/cranberry cookies with powdered sugar that were amazing!!  I love hanging out with this girl and am soooo lucky to have her in my life.  The visit was too short but very sweet and I loved seeing Heather as a momma and getting to know Anthony.  Thanks for coming honey, we all love you guys!!!