This is our campsite on Anini Beach on the north shore of Kauai. We are in our second night here and I’m pretty sure I font ever want to leave. Camping is definitely a bit rougher than the resort lifestyle common for travelers to the island, but we have had a chance to explore so much more of the island and experience everything Kauai has to offer. No roadside stand too small, no scenic overlook too inconvenient. We have met some real characters during our brief stay so far: a state sanctioned marijuana farmer from Colorado, a recently emigrated family from Alabama, a Mexican vagabond, and a all-American soccer star that suffered a career ending traumatic brain injury. The recently relocated family invited us to their campsite for an amazing feast of fresh crab wontons, fried chicken, steak, potatoes, and s’mores! Everyone we have met has been so friendly and welcoming, native and howlie alike.
With the spooky and the scary upon us, we headed out into the beautiful morning sunshine for a costumed parade around the neighborhood. Many shop owners were handing out candy, but we avoided the handouts (much to dad’s chagrin). I feel bad for those teachers. The kids were loading up on all things chocolate on the street, and the good stuff too. Not those cheap peanut butter taffy things in the brown and orange wrappers. Nor were there any smarties to be had in this quaintly affluent hood! Then each toddler had a giant frosted sugar cookie awaiting them on the snack table AND they were giving out heavy pours of full-strength Hawaiian Punch. Did you ever see that scene in District 9 where all the aliens rip apart the security officer once his weapons were empty? That’s what I’m talking about. Good thing for Tucker’s teachers he only got a bottle.
So here they are, I couldn’t choose so I’m posting a whole mess of ’em. I defy you to not want this little monkey trashing your next party!
Tucker’s buddy Luke was stomping all over the place. You can only point elephants in the right direction though, don’t try to tell them how to get there! The floppy ears were the best.
Tucker was not subtle about his feelings for dad’s shaggy head messing up the cute vibe he had worked so hard to culminate.
This is a pretty recent picture of Tucker and I where he’s using me as his personal trampoline. It’s his favorite game.
Below is a picture of Ben and Tucker from about three weeks ago when we were fridge shopping.
Yes, Ben has had a hair cut since then.
Tucker and I went on a photo spree together.
Often out-of-focus and almost all done on the iPhone, enjoy.
who knew we had the same bangs?
We’re playing a little bit of catch up with photos from before the move. Sure wish we had an excuse for all the photos we didn’t post before the move, but let’s blame that on new parenting.
Good thing we moved, someone was getting a little big for the sink.
It’s moving week and an exciting one it’s been at that.
There were a few surprises like needing to buy a last minute fridge, but for the most part it went smoothly. Except for the fridge, we still don’t have one. But otherwise, we’re pretty comfortable and all moved in to our new home in Manhattan Beach.
A big reason we’re completely unpacked is thanks to our nanny, Karla. Who worked tirelessly with her daughter to help us move in. They unpacked, cared for Tucker and made us lunch. It’s funny thinking back on the circumstances when I took the picture below. It was my first day back at work and I was getting the photo as evidence in case she should steal Tucker for the slave trade. I made Ben take a picture of her license plate too. (Someone watched too much Law & Order SVU over her maternity leave.)
Tucker had fallen asleep on her before I left for work.
Saying goodbye to Redondo Beach.
First nap in our new home.
Everyone says Tucker looks like Ben when he’s cranky.
May 15th, Tucker is almost 12 weeks old and Mom played her first post pregnancy game against Tucson Roller Derby.
So there we were in deepest West Hillywood attending the first reunion of The Sanctuary birth class of early 2010. Five families started with similar birth plans which resulted in five completely different birth stories. Overall we had two cesarean sections, one hospital birth, and two water births at home. It was so nice getting together again, we share a mutual obsession for our own babies and each others. All the babies had met previously during our many hours of class time, no surprise they were completely comfortable with each other and so curious! At one point one of the babies let out a big belch and a unanimous roar went up from the whole crowd.
Here’s the first yearbook shot of all these babies:
From left to right: Cassius, Tucker, Mylo, Emerson, & Shyela.
And here’s their fan club …
We’re about to star the early summer visitations. Aunt Catherine is comic tonight to mee the little man forthe first time, and then grandma & grandpa Friedel are arriving on Monday for a week of all the cuteness they can handle. Tucker has been training up for all the excitement by eating. A lot. All the time. 🙂 Since heather’s no longer pregnant, I can’t call my resiliant paunch “sympathy weight” any more, now it’s been cristened “solidarity weight”. Tucker and I are on a race to double our weight, so far he’s killing me. But I’ve stocked up on cereal and I plan on eating only after 10pm. Show this kid how we used to do things in the 80s.
