Christmas Morning - Year of the Tiger

Nana got matching nighties for us, and I think Juliet's will probably still fit her next year! Juliet didn't quite know what to make of the fuss on Christmas morning. We set up the video camera and brought her into the living room. She seemed a little perplexed by the tricycle (even though she has been hinting that she wants one for ages!). I guess the big reaction will come next year when she really gets what is going on. We asked Grandpa & Mary to spring for the kitchen and we picked it up in advance so that she would have it on Christmas morning. We spent about two hours on Christmas Eve assembling it - whew! - but it was worth it. She adores it and plays with it all the time (and it is a big hit with all of her friends who come over; especially Chloe!).

One present that got a surprisingly strong reaction was Tiger from her Derham cousins (thanks, Bob, Ryan, Jack, & Will!). It was love at first sight. She sleeps with him every night and has now seemed to develop an interest in her other stuffed animals that she had ignored previously. Now we need to find an emergency replacement tiger because I am terrified that we will lose him and it will break her heart. We think that Tiger may have become the object of Juliet's affection because she no longer has Nina around to snuggle with. Lately, we have taken to recording nature shows about tigers because she likes to watch the big ones on TV. She will probably ask for a trip to India to see the Bengals when she is 5. I don't think we will tell her what happened at the SF Zoo the day she fell in love with "Tiger". Crazy coincidence...

The living room is no place for a tricycle, so we were off to the playground (where we were not the only ones showing off new Kettlers!).

After nap, we were off to Uncle Bob's to see the rest of the family. Juliet got a ridiculous amount of loot and ate loads of pumpkin pie, courtesy of Nana. We all had a lovely day.

Tiburon Yacht Club Christmas Party

Aleesa brought us to the Yacht Club's Christmas Party in Paradise Cay. Juliet had a great time running around, eating treats, and banging away on the piano. She was not a big fan of Santa, but his elf gave out candy canes, so she recovered quickly. After this experience with Santa, I was glad I didn't stand in line at the mall! Maybe next year...

Hunt for the Perfect Tree

In years past I have dragged Michael around to see every tree in the lot (and in the lot across the six lane street) to make sure we get the best tree. Interestingly enough, having a toddler in tow (and one in the belly making me queasy) made for a much speedier excursion. I went along with the first tree Mike picked out. "Perfect, let's get out of here!"

In my sorry state I only managed to get lights on half of the tree, but the next morning I woke up to a fed child and a tree with lights all the way to the bottom. Hurray for helpful husbands! Juliet loved having the tree in the house and enjoyed pointing out her favorite ornaments, and for the most part didn't touch. Nina's ornament got a special place front and center. Juliet took to kissing the ornaments, especially the bride & groom, the dog, and the angel. Very silly and cute.

First Trip to Oakland Zoo

We don't travel to the East Bay often, but we were out and about and near the 80 entrance looking for something to do when the idea struck. On a whim, we headed to the Oakland Zoo, which we were happy to learn is half off for SF Zoo members. I had seen the bat exhibit on TV and was curious about it, but had never made the trek, since the SF Zoo is so much closer and we have a membership. Now that we have visited the Oakland Zoo, I am glad we made the drive. It is hilly and has tons of mature trees and feels more like being out in nature than viewing the old concrete exhibits we have in the city. If I were in captivity, I would want to be there! There is a great children's area (part of which is the petting zoo with goats below). My favorites were the sun bear exhibit and the bat exhibit - very creepy and cool. We will definitely go back.

Trip North

We decided to get out of town for the weekend and went up to Healdsburg for the day. We had lunch at Ravenous, a restaurant that belongs to a friend of Michael and his mom. We had been there before when we were wedding site shopping and sat outside in the sunshine. This time we had our little booga with us, who loved running around the patio and living dangerously on the stairs. They make the BEST bread! Next time we will have brunch at their cafe around the corner.

We spent the day hanging out at the central square and walking around. Then we headed to Santa Rosa and checked in to the Flamingo Hotel for the night. We had to drive around to kill time for a bit while Juliet slept and we came across a very special street sign! We never find her name on Christmas ornaments or barrettes, but here it is spelled correctly on a little street in Santa Rosa.

BBBbbrrr!!!!

Sadly, our house really gets this cold! It is summer yet?

Reading Girl

Juliet can't get enough of books. If she had her way, most days would be spent on a warm lap in the rocking chair under a blanket reading story after story after story after (well, you get the picture). Unfortunately, her appetite for reading books exceeds mine, so I usually have to beg her to go play with something else to get a break. Even asking if she wants to go to the park usually is answered by a finger pointed to the bookshelf. Hopefully this means that she will be a better student than I was! See video of the bookworm:

Cozy Slippers

Just in time for winter, Juliet has grown into her little shearling slippers from Nancy. They are the perfect gift, because our house is FRIGID in the winter time. Insulation and central heat were great inventions that, unfortunately, came after our flat was built. Anyway, the slippers are darling and Juliet loves them.

Pumpkins, Take Two

Juliet and I went to lunch in Half Moon Bay with some friends and their munchkins. Then we all headed to the pumpkin patch at Pastorino Farms. When Juliet saw the little scene with cutouts for photo ops, she went right behind it and stuck her face through the hole for her picture. She must have remembered the concept from our trip to Fairyland. She surprises me every day with something new (I have probably already said that on another post, but it's true!). There are more photos from the outing on Nikki's blog (I knew she would show off and post her photos of the day first!).

See Juliet exploring and smelling the flowers.

The petting zoo:

Juliet had a big first at Pastorino: her first pony ride!! The other pumpkin patch we went to doesn't allow kids who have to be accompanied by parents, so I assumed that we were going to have to wait a few years for ponies, but not here! I wasn't sure how she was going to react. She just looked a little puzzled. Not really scared, but not enthused either (I think I was excited enough for both of us, anyway). See for yourself...

Our last adventure was the train ride. After that we were beat and it was time to head home. I expected that Juliet would take her nap on the way home. No such luck... The beautiful drive up the coast had a rather unappealing soundtrack. I will never again neglect to pack milk when I know I will be in the car with her for a long stretch. We've been cutting back on the (soy) milk per doctor's orders, but it was not worth it in this instance!

Another Day, Another Trick

Juliet learned to drink out of a straw today while we were out to lunch with Lisa H and Francheska, fellow escapees from Alliance Residential. I ordered her mac & cheese at Nordy's cafe and it came with apple juice in a covered cup with a straw. It took her a few tries to figure it out, but she did it. I wanted to bring it home, but by the time she and Gaby were done with carrying the straw around, I thought it best to leave it for the trash. They had fun playing and terrorizing the other diners together while the three of us chatted, periodically taking breaks to chase one or both of them down. We went to the zoo with Gaby and Francheska last weekend, but I didn't get any photos of them together, so I made up for it today.

Watch Juliet being coy with Gaby.

The problem with lunching at Nordstrom is that the Cafe is on the same level as the children's section. I tried the Ugg boots that I have been coveting for Juliet on her as we were leaving. She had a darling pair from my uncle Gerry and aunt Deedee, but she has now outgrown them (although I have still been squeezing her into them, they are really meant for pre-walkers and have a soft sheepskin sole). I was very close to buying new ones for her, but decided not to (okay, what I really decided was to wait, but the point is I resisted - even though they are SO cute - they look better with the top standing up, more like a traditional Ugg). She just got new boots on Friday, so it seemed a little excessive to spring for a second pair already. Maybe for Christmas.

Leaves Changing (for Nikki)

No photoshop here, the leaves in California really do change colors! I captured proof for East Coast transplant, Nikki. We stayed in Foster City with Nana while Mike saw friends in LA and, during our visit, took a little trip to Ryan Park (where Juliet got hugged nearly to death by another toddler, but we won't get in to that - big owwies, ugh!). The weather has been unpredictable. It was rainy and gross on Friday, but sunny and beautiful on Saturday.

Don't Touch!

Juliet was standing on the couch and reaching over the back to touch Nana's new curtains. I asked her a few times not to play with the curtains, then in a high pitched funny voice I said "Don't Touch!". Without missing a beat, Juliet repeated "Don't Touch!" right back to me in the same shrill voice. My mom and I just looked at each other and started cracking up.

At her 15 month pediatrician appointment, Dr. Kelly asked what words Juliet is saying and he warned us that she will start repeating things when we are least expecting it. This was definitely unexpected; and hilarious.

Lemos Farm

After the trip to Lemos Farm was rained out on Gabriella's birthday, we were excited to have another opportunity to go. My mom and I took Juliet there to see her Monday afternoon buddies. Joy, one of the mom's in my group, took some great photos of Juliet (what a treat to have a pro around!). Lemos Farm goes all out for Halloween, so it was fun to see and made for some great photo ops of our little dragon. We also had some pumpkin ice cream (next time I will hold out for Mitchell's - oh well, Juliet liked it!). Thanks for the outfit, Shirley Liu!

Tour De 580

We took Juliet for her first trip to Children's Fairyland on Lake Merritt in Oakland. It is a land of storybook sets that the kids can touch, run around, and explore. It's a cute place in an old, funky way. Juliet had a blast looking at the animals and running around (they make a mean PB&J too). She rode the carousel (twice) and went through the Alice in Wonderland house and maze. We had to get a photo in front of the big whale, since that is what my parents both remember from when they were children visiting Fairyland. The place definitely looks like it has been there since 1950, but I think that is part of its charm.
Here is Juliet going down the slide with Daddy in the Alice in Wonderland house.




Note her clutching the storybook key. She carried it around all day and is pretty close to figuring out how to insert it and turn it the right way to start the music and storytelling.






We left Fairyland hoping that J would fall asleep in the car so that we could pick up lunch somewhere and make our way to the Little Farm at Tilden Park, but no such luck. She would NOT fall asleep, so we went out to lunch instead (risky, but it worked out), then we took our tired little trooper to the Little Farm sans nap.


I had intended to stop for lettuce or celery since I had studied up and knew that either can be fed to the animals at the farm, but we didn't get around to it and showed up looking like a couple of rookies with no veggies for the animals. I think we were the only ones to show up empty-handed. We got a couple of lettuce donations and along with some foraging for discarded pieces of celery, had stuff to offer the cows and goats (who, by the way, want nothing to do with the mini center pieces of yucky celery, so don't even try it).


Juliet especially liked the rabbits at the farm. I think it might be because there were grey and white ones like Nina. We practiced "what do the rabbits do?". I scrunch my nose like a bunny, but she just breathes in and out of her nose loudly, thinking that she is doing what I am doing but not moving her face at all. It's pretty cute.

We definitely got our money's worth out of the bridge toll and Juliet slept like a log through the nightmarish traffic on the way home. A successul venture all around and sunny to boot.

Hot!

The other day Nana reported that Juliet was blowing on her food. She copies the funniest things, like brushing her hair, talking on the phone, putting a napkin on her lap at restaurants (by stealing mine off of my lap), dipping fries into ketchup, and recently, applying face cream.

I had to see for myself and capture it on film.

Miss Kitty

We went to one of our favorite spots, the Discovery Museum, with Riley and Nikki. Instead of spending all of our time at the tot spot, we went to the Miss Kitty show. I didn't know how much Juliet would really pay attention, but she got into it and started dancing once she warmed up.

M(oat)HAWK

This is why Juliet is served breakfast before getting dressed for the day...

New Family Member, Pearl

My Dad and Mary have a new kitty, Pearl. errr, I mean Rory.

The Shannon family has a bad habit of giving pets more than one name. It started with Patches who was known only to my father as Magee. Dad apparently thought it would honor his mother to name the family pet by her maiden name. Hmmm.

Pearl/Rory ended up with two names because he was originally thought to be a girl, but turned out to be a boy (hence my father's insistence that the name be changed to a more masculine "Rory"). Mary isn't budging on the name, so now the cat has an alias.

Juliet is anxious to befriend the kitty.