Mom turns 30

For my 30th birthday, we went to Marin to hike Mount Tamalpais. I'd been talking about hiking Mt. Tam for my 30th birthday for the last year, so Luke and I were determined to make it happen. We drove to Fairfax on Sunday, and then started out Monday morning for the hike. My friends were able to join us, as well the other birthday girl, Annie. 

It was a glorious hike!  We met at the Mountain Home Inn in Mill Valley at 10:30 am.  It took us about 90 minutes to make it to the west summit of Mt Tam (http://westpointinn.com/), where we had a picnic lunch. My friend Gadiel brought his camera and took some amazing pictures!

Start of the hike

Mel and Sharon

Walking up the mountain

Amazing views...

... and delicious lunch!

My boys!

Look at his blue eyes!

Family portrait

Sharon and baby

Annie, Sharoney, Gadi and Mel

Kodak Moment

Birthday Girls

I cant believe we've been friends for 10+ years!

We pushed Clay to the top in the Bob stroller, and then Luke carried Clay down the mountain.  I loved sharing the day on the mountain with my son.
 
That night, we had a mexican pot luck dinner with my family. There were so many November birthdays to celebrate, so we were celebrating them all! (my dad, niece Katherine, brother in law Michael, Annie, and my Grandpa).  My mom's birthday is also in November, but she was very careful to remind us that hers was late November, and therefore we'll have to do another separate party for her. ;)

Katherine, Annie and I

I'm 3 Months!!!!

Clay made it to 3 months!!!

At 3 months, Clay is just getting to know his hands. He doesn't yet grab toys, but on his activity mat he'll bat them around. He's babbling a lot, smiles like crazy and is just starting to laugh. He loves it when Luke and I grab his hands and pretend we're going to eat them. He has a weird sense of humor, I think he gets that from his dad. :)

Halloween in Davis

The holidays are so much cuter with a baby.  I had been looking forward to Clay's first Halloween since I found out I was pregnant last December. Babies in costumes are so fun, and as the mom, I just couldn't wait to pick out Clay's costume.

Isn't he a scary piranha!?

I got the idea of dressing Clay up as a piranha from our first days of nursing together. Piranhas are known for their over eager gnashing of their prey, and that's how Clay's first days of nursing were with me.  I sewed teeth, eyes and angry eye brows onto a grey fleece hoodie.  With the matching grey fleece sweatpants, we had a complete baby costume!

Eyes, angry eyebrows and teeth sewed onto grey fleece hoodie.

Here's the finished product:  Scary Piranha Baby

In addition to making Clay a costume, Luke and I also were excited to bring Clay to a pumpkin patch.  Babies and pumpkins are also so adorable.  We took some fun family portraits at the pumpkin patch in Davis off Hwy 113, Road 29.

Pumpkin Patch in Davis

Piranha & Pumpkins

Halloween Family Portrait

Baby Piranha Human Skeleton

 The weekend before Halloween, we got together with Clay's Steidlmayer cousins.  This was the first time we got all the kids together! 9 cousins in total. 

NINE Grandkids! I can't believe the Steidlmayers have the Sasans beat in the # of grandkids!

Karen, Levi, Clay and I

Clay and his silly dad

Clay enjoying Anna's company

On Halloween, I brought Clay up to Rocklin to go trick-or-treating at the Oracle Office (i.e. I used Clay to get some candy for myself).  Everyone brings their kids into the office on Halloween and each cubicle is decorated for the little tricksters.  I brought Clay cubicle to cubicle - everyone thought he was a shark and I had to nicely correct everyone. Wasn't it obvious?   :)

What a great Halloween! I'm looking forward to the holidays with Clay!!!

Adventures in Palm Springs: First Airplane Ride and Dip in a Pool

On Thursday, October 10th, Clay, Luke and I flew down to Palm Springs for a long weekend with Cindy and Leo. Luke and I were nervous for Clay's first trip on an airplane. Here we are at the Sacramento Airport trying to get Clay to fall asleep before we board:  

Luke is trying to rock Clay to sleep...

... and then I try to rock Clay to sleep.

Clay wasn't tired, and so we waited to board our plan with a very awake baby.  While we were waiting, we noticed a small group of parents gathering near the front of the gate with babies. One perk of having a small baby while traveling: priority boarding!  Walking through the airplane, passing row after row of passengers, I noticed that no one would make eye contact.  It seemed that no one wanted to sit next to us.  Our little baby looked so cute; it was their loss. :)  

This is actually a picture of Clay before our flight home, but he looked just as cute on our way to Palm Springs.

We found an empty row of seats at the back of the plane and Clay was really good during the flight. He slept the whole way!

We had a great time with Cindy and Leo in Palm Springs. The weather was amazing! At 85 degrees, Luke, Clay and I were able to enjoy being outside each day. I went to exercise classes with Cindy and Luke was able to play tennis with Leo.  It was a truly relaxing few days.

Leo relaxing by the pool. Notice the beautiful desert in the background.

Clay, Luke and I walking to the resort.

On our last night, we went for dinner over looking a beautiful PGA golf course.

Luke and Leo enjoying the evening.

Cindy made a delicious lemon meringue pie!

Erin and Cindy enjoying coffee by the firepit.

Clay had a blast. We went for walks to the La Quinta Resort where we watched tennis, and we relaxed by the pool at Cindy and Leo's house.  Luke brought Clay into the pool.  The water was warm, but Clay didn't like it. He preferred relaxing on the lounge chairs.

All smiles on the lounge chair by the pool!

Luke brings Clay into the pool.

He's not that into it.

Luke isn't able to convince him that the pool is fun.

And so he's back into hanging out in the lounge chairs.  He's just like his mom.

Clay loved hanging out with Grandma Cindy.  He smiled and coo'ed all weekend!

We had a great time at the desert, and we can't wait to visit again next time!

Here's a picture of Clay and I waiting for our flight back home. Matching outfits! How long will I be able to dress identical to my son before he protests?

I'm 2 Months!!!

Clay made it to 2 months!

At 2 months, he's been smiling and coo'ing a lot. He also cries a lot when he's tired and/or hungry, but Luke and I are thankful that there's usually a reason.  I spend a big portion of my day trying to get Clay to laugh. If I make weird noises while I suck in air, I'll usually get a chuckle.  I'll do anything for a baby laugh. :)  It's hard to believe that just last month Clay didn't smile or coo since these days he's so animated. 

I have a bag full of newborn clothes that Clay has already grown out of.  He feels so big in my arms when I pick him up. I know he's just going to keep on growing, but it's so weird to already see such huge changes. At his 2 month appointment, he weighed in at 15 pounds, 9 ounces.

Who's the boss?

Who's the boss here! Baby Clay? Or, Luke and I?  While we navigate naps and bedtime routines, it feels like we're still figuring that one out.  It's possible that the little nugget below might be in charge.

September started off with a bang in Fairfax where Clay, Luke and I celebrated labor day weekend and enjoyed visiting with friends and family.  
 

Labor Day Party - Charlie, Joey & Tommy

Labor Day Party - the family!

 

Kristen Haynes visits with Clay in Davis

 More visitors in Fairfax: Melissa, Kim, Sharon, Auntie Annie & Rachel.  Clay was an angel as he was passed around!

 Since that busy weekend, Luke and I continue to figure out this parenting stuff.  I'm finding myself preoccupied with things like diaper rash, naps, correct latches for breast feeding, feeding schedules and bedtime rituals.  Clay, on the other hand isn't worried about a thing.  He's growing like a weed... or a happy growing sumo wrestler.  I brought him in to Kaiser on September 18th, and the nurse double checked the scale when it read 13 pounds 9 ounces! He's a nice chubby baby, and we're happy he has gained so much weight... although we laugh and call him our bowling ball.  :)

Bowling Ball / Sumo Wrestler

Besides figuring out how to put Clay to sleep for naps and analyzing his every fuss and smile, there have been a few fun events so far this month...

Clays first smile caught on camera at 4 weeks!

Since then, he's given us plenty more. At first he was stingy with those smiles, but now we get to look forward to them every morning.

Lots of tummy time each day... Clay doesn't seem to like this, but he's slowly getting better at holding up his gigantic head. :)

My first little bit of exercise postpartum - soooo exciting

 

Making new baby friends

Cousin Levi!

Clay and Mateo Merino

Clay and Bodhi Bruso.  Clay was a teensy bit fussy here.

Clay and the ladies:  Avery Fuller and Adelyn White

Clay's first bottle. At first Clay wasn't sure what his dad was doing, but when he realized there was food in the bottle, he was quite happy.

And finally, fun pictures taken around the house.  There have been so many times when Luke and I will tell the other to grab the camera because Clay is doing something adorable... whether or not is actually is adorable to the world doesn't matter to us. We are having so much fun!