On language acquisition 2

This one killed me.

Grace and I were talking while I was changing her diaper and we got onto the subject of (not) using the potty (not even close).

Me: Nope, you're not potty-trained.

Grace: No, I not choo-choo* potty.

*As in choo-choo train.

Another one, "all done!"

After my second year of college, the summer I turned 20, all my roommates went abroad. I connected with some acquaintances for the big move off campus. One of those new roomies was Ashley, whom you’ve met here before. We became fast friends. We lived together for three years during and after college, then I moved across the street, but we continued our habit of taking long walks in the evenings, part for exercise and part just to chat endlessly and accost every golden retriever we met. and often having Sunday dinner together. She and Steve also become good friends and she stood up with us and read at our wedding. These are the friendships life is made of!

While we were overjoyed when she became engaged to Paul last year, I was heartbroken that we were unable to join them in Mexico last month for the ceremony. Total schedule misalignment made it impossible. But, we finally had the chance to celebrate with them on Saturday when they threw a great party in San Jose.

It’s hard to express in words how happy I am to see such a dear friend find her partner. But it’s easy to point out how darn lucky Paul is!

The new Mr & Mrs (I mean, Dr. - she finished residency about two weeks before getting married! Yay!) What a beautiful bride!

Let’s see a playmate for Grace, soon, guys!

Until she found the dessert table, Grace was entertained by the dog, Lily. But the light was funny so I had to crop the dog out of the picture. Sorry, Lily.

Celebrate!

PS, Ashley – aren’t you glad I’m traveling and can’t access the photo of you with the bowl o’ margarita from Casa de Pico? It would have been the perfect complement here…

On language acquisition

Yesterday, the three of us were having breakfast and I took a calcium supplement. Grace asked her litany of "whys" and Steve explained how calcium helps bones.

Today, as I reached for the calcium bottle:

Grace: What are you having?

Me: Calcium.

Grace: No! That bones!

Me: Ohh, it's to help my bones.

Grace: For the doggies?

Some evenings

You start the weekend with a timeout. And then, just as you are putting the finishing touches on big shrimp salads for dinner, your husband comes into the kitchen wearing scrubs, the telltale sign that all those pages weren't the good kind and he's heading to the hospital. After corralling the two-year-old who desperately wanted to accompany Daddy to the hospital and wants "one more kiss" and to say "i love you!" one more time as he leaves, you wrap the salads in plastic to put them in the fridge. Then your finger slips, and the bowl bounces off the fridge shelf and breaks, splattering salad everywhere. Luckily, the two-year-old is occupied climbing on a box and jumping off over and over again while you clean up and place the bowl, one from your favorite set that is now three, into the waste basket. You sigh and think how disappointed you are to have broken the bowl, after all the moves it has been through (5), then realize it wasn't actually new because your mom gave the set to you when you moved into your first apartment after college, ten years ago. Ten years ago.

Then you feed the two year old ice cream and get her into jammies and cuddle and read, and Daddy shows up just in time for goodnight prayers and kisses. And it's all ok.

Party weekend

Big fun times last weekend because Cousin Katy got married! Or, as Grace puts it "got married, all done". We headed out to Pleasanton Saturday morning and headed immediately for the hotel pool since it was just our second day of summer. Once we convinced Grace to wear her floaties and taught her how to jump into the pool, she had quite a good time playing with GoGo, Bucket (she is still calling my brother Bucket with clear conviction and diction; that train is long gone) and Lindee.

After naps (Steve and Grace) and a quiet hour reading Bossypants in the sun (me), we left for the wedding. It was a lovely ceremony and so grounded in Katy and Anthony's faith and love for each other. Grace was doing so well and was pretty quiet... until the vows. All churches should have crying rooms so you can hear the action while no one else can hear your kid because at least I got to hear the ring part of the ceremony by going into the crying room!

What a joy to be able to celebrate the marriage of two such special, wonderful people. We love you guys and hope you're having a fabulous time on Maui!

The whole extended fam.

The smaller gang.

Just us.

The reception was so elegant and fun. Grace especially loved the dancing. However, she would only dance with me holding her. I tried to bribe her with cupcakes so I could take a break and she kept pointing back at the dance floor and yelling "dance!" I don't think there was a dry eye in the house during the father-daughter dance - you go, Uncle Hilary!

And we grabbed a few moments with the bridge and groom. We swore that this would be the one night for no Giants/Dodgers trash talk, but Anthony started it... And can we take a moment to note what a beautiful bride Katy is?

The two year old rock star put in an appearance.

Grace was there to help with the dress selection so I believe she is confirming with Katy here about the perfect choice.

Sunday morning we headed over to brunch at Aunt Kristie and Uncle Hilary's. It was such a treat to sit in the sun and enjoy time with everybody. We were so content and lazy that the only pictures we managed to get were of Grace and Jessie playing in the waterfall. She was drenched so rocked the cardi and diaper look while Katy and Anthony opened gifts.

GoGo, Bucket and Lindee hit the road north, and we had a hard time tearing ourselves away, but had to get across the bay to Burlingame to a farewell shindig for Emily and Adam. I am so excited for them as they set off on a new adventure, and a bit envious if I'm honest, but I'm so sad that they are leaving!

Comparing Sox caps with Adam.

Final sendoff. I do not like this part.

Notwithstanding the whole good-bye to Emily part, it was such a good (and warm) weekend. And a wonderful break to reconnect with the family and friends for such a important occasions! All the pictures here.

This picture has nothing whatsoever to do with last weekend, but i never got around to posting it... we tried to go hiking a couple of weeks ago in Tennessee Valley. Instead we were so soaked from the fog that we gave up halfway to the beach and went home to huddle under blankets. This is just further illustration of what summer fog in SF really means (and it does not lift like the San Diego marine layer, lest anyone be similarly dismayed as I continue to be).