Children's Fairyland

This weekend, we took Virginia on her first visit to an Oakland institution - Children's Fairyland. It is a play park for young children that has rides and play structures out of the classic fairy tales. It was built in the 1950s, and hasn't changed much since then. Nothing high tech and nothing commercial, so it is a great place to just let kids have some old-fashioned fun.

Virginia had a blast! We took her through the Alice in Wonderland maze and she climbed aboard a Peter Pan pirate ship. She especially enjoyed the petting zoo. Since Fairyland is just a 10 minute trip across the tunnel from Alameda (and admission is cheap!), I have a feeling we'll be visiting often.

In Her Easter Bonnet

Virginia paid her first visit to the Easter Bunny (a.k.a. the Easter "Button") this weekend. She got all dolled up in her Easter best - a white smocked dress from her great grandmother, Nanny. Since she's been battling some occasional stranger/separation anxiety, we were a bit worried that she would not be pleased when being handed off to a perpetually-smiling oversized rodent. Our worries were unfounded - she was all smiles. We think he reminded her of her stuffed animals back home.

Computer Nerd

Virginia really, really likes our computers. She offers her assistance every time we need to check email, load up photos, write blog posts, or basically do anything else remotely close to a computer.

Laugh In

Virginia is laughing more and more recently. She has begun laughing when we play games that she knows and likes, like peekaboo and "Where's Virginia?" A good old tickle on the belly is pretty reliable too.

National Corndog Day!

Today is that most special of holidays, National Corndog Day. This year was the best ever. New house, more space, more people, more fun. We had over 50 participants at our house. We set a record for number of baby participants (15) and boxes of corndogs consumed (10).


Usually we like to post a few action shots, but this year it was so busy we did not have a chance to take any. You'll just have to imagine the beautiful scene.


After a feast like the one we had today, I always take a moment to think of those who are less fortunate and did not have a chance to consume corndogs, tater tots, and beer all day long while watching the NCAA basketball tournament. To all such people, I would simply remind them that they too can sign up for a party next year at the official Corndog Day website, www.corndogday.com.

Mrs. Lawnmower Man

Virginia has been attending a public scheduled playtime for babies in Alameda known as "Wee Play." At the Veteran's Memorial Building near Park Street, the Parks & Rec Department sets up little play areas in the playhouse and lets the kiddos wear themselves out. Virginia has loved these events from her very first visit.

Today at Wee Play Virginia found herself a little lawnmower walker. This was her first experience with a walker. It didn't take her too long to figure it out and take it for a spin. We're going to have to put her to work in our own yard.

Carpe Anything

Virginia is a busybody. Here is one of the games we try to wear her out before her bath.

Tahoe Trip

Last weekend Leslie, Virginia, Grammy, Poppy, and I went for a ski trip! This was Virginia's first time to Tahoe and first time seeing snow. The trip up there was a grueling, suspenseful, white-knuckle ride, in which the whiteout conditions on I-80 caused CalTrans to close the highway at the mountain pass for several hours. We were on the verge of giving up and returning to Roseville, California (45 miles in the wrong direction) just to get a hotel room and some sleep. But in the end we waited it out and, after the road eventually reopened, picked our way into North Lake Tahoe and our condo at Northstar. It took us almost ten hours. We were drop dead exhausted.

But the weekend proved to be worth the trip. The snowstorm laid fresh powder all over the mountain, and apparently suppressed attendance. We had great snow and manageable lines all day long on Saturday. And Grammy got to cruise all around the Northstar Village with Virginia.

My buddy Nathan joined us for skiing on Saturday. Despite the fact that this was just his second outing ever (the last one was with me last year), he cruised all over the mountain with us. At the end of the day he successfully navigated his first black diamond run. I knew he had it in him. Leslie got a chance to get her ski legs back after a pregnancy-induced hiatus last season. And on Sunday, since no one else wanted to ski, I was able to bomb around the mountain on my own and set new land speed records.

All in all, a great trip. Glad we got at least one in before the end of the season.

Stand and Deliver

Over the past few weeks, our little Worm has learned to stand on her own! She began by gradually letting go and balancing a few seconds to full-blown standing for a minute or more. Getting a photo of the feat proved pretty difficult... she usually sees something across the room that she wants and leans over to crawl towards it before we can grab the camera.

And even more news - we're officially calling Monday, March 8 as Virginia's first steps! She managed to string together two mini-steps before falling over. It wasn't very graceful or glorious, but we are counting it nonetheless. Thomas and I both witnessed it - but she hasn't replicated it since. We think she is still a few weeks from real walking, but she's definitely making some progress.