FYI: Los Angeles does not have a football team!

Earlier this year, Bill and Paige were inviting people to be in their fantasy football league. I told Brian that I thought "we" should have a team and he informed me that it would be in our best interest if it was his team and I could be the official cheerleader. After our conversation today, I guess I can understand why he wouldn't want to be my partner...

Me: Does New York have three football teams?
Brian: Yep.
Me: Isn't that a lot of teams for one state?
Brian: Nope. (Notice the one word answers. He hates watching football with me!)
Me: I guess we have four teams so it'ok for New York to have three.
Brian: California doesn't have four teams.
Me: Yes we do: Oakland Raiders, SF 49ers, San Diego Chargers and Los Angeles Angels.
Brian: LA doesn't have a football team.
Me: Yes, they do. The Angels.
Brian: They're a baseball team. (Said while shaking his head.)
Me: Oh, I knew that!!

Turkey Day Fun!

Brian, Andrew and I went to my aunt and uncle's house for Thanksgiving. As usual, they were terrific hosts and we all had a great time. Andrew had the chance to try sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. Gma also made sure that he tried some whipped cream (the spoiling has already begun!).

The best part of the evening was watching Andrew and his amazement with the fireplace. We sat him up on the couch and he would just stare into the fire. At one point, Gma had to take him away because his little face was getting to hot!

Andrew watching the fire

Having fun with Gma

Zio (Bob) and Andrew

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our friends and family. This year Brian and I have much to be thankful for.

• Our gorgeous, happy, healthy little boy.
• The best family and friends.
  
• Our jobs. At times they may be tough but at least we have one.
• A house we can call a home. Even though it is worth less than what we paid for it, we are still blessed that we have a house and can still afford the monthly payments.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us, encouraged us and loved us this past year. It is days like today that we should all stop and take a moment to be thankful for what we have and how wonderful our lives are.

6 months

Dear Andrew,

Well, daddy and I have managed to keep you alive and out of any harm for six months now! These last six months has been the most enjoyable learning experience of my life. You have taught me more about love, patience and sleep deprivation than any book or class ever could have. I can now navigate our entire house in the dark and I still love you when I come into your room at 2:00am.

You are quite the happy little man. Not too much upsets you which makes mommy and daddy's life a whole lot easier. You're smile is absolutely infectious and just so darn cute! It only takes a moment for you to warm up to a new situation and then you are the star of the room. Just about everything is funny to you.

This month you reached quite a few milestones: you started eating rice cereal, sweet potatoes and squash. You've become a master jumper and quite the rolly polly. You and Bella have formed a new friendship that is very funny. You think it is funny when she starts running around the house and she gets excited when you start jumping like crazy. Together, you two are very funny to watch.

Unfortunately this month you have decided to stop sleeping through the night. You go down each night at 7:30 and then you are back up around midnight and again at 5:00am!! I'm not quite sure what has brought this on but if you could go back to being my good little sleeper, mommy would sure be happy! Each night I go to bed telling myself tonight is tough love mommy night but each night, you get the best of me and I come to rescue you. I pretend it is because you miss me and want to spend a few moments, just the two of us!

I am so proud and honored to be your mom. You are the greatest gift I have ever been given and I promise that daddy and I will do our best to teach you, inspire you and encourage you to be the best little man. I'm so excited to see what life has in store for you and where your place in the world is.

Thank you again for another great month! I love you more every day.

-Mommy

Jumping Bean

If Andrew's excitement for jumping is any indication of what lies ahead of us, I think Brian and I are going to have our hands full!

Sleepy Boy

This is what happens when the little man misses his before dinner nap:

*Eating is tiring work!*

Ode to the fancy camera!

Paige's sister Candace is the inspiration behind today's blog for 2 reasons: 1) Candace is the original "blogger". She got Paige to start her blog and Paige got me to start mine. Without Candace's influence (and Bennett and Mallory's endless supply of material to post about) I would have never started blogging. 2) Candace got a really cool camera a while ago and it takes AMAZING pictures. I told Brian I wanted one to and he informed me that we already had one. Last year we spent way more money than I ever thought was appropriate to spend on a camera but Brian just HAD to have it. I've never actually used it because to be honest, it scares me. There are a lot of buttons and things that I don't understand about it. Brian keeps telling me to just put it on auto and start clicking.

Well, with some time on my hands, I decided to start clicking away with the "new" camera. I am now in love. The pictures are so much clearer and I was only using the auto setting. Brian says if I actually learn how to use all of the different settings, I will be able to take really good photos.

So, thanks to Candace for starting this little obsession I now have and thanks to Brian for buying the super expensive camera that I swore at the time was a little much!

Would have been a lot cuter if he didn't have a big drool mark on his shirt!

Andrew still loves his swing!

This is what happens when you take a self portrait and your hand is over the flash! The picture comes out red. Good to know for next time.

Andrew is such a happy boy.

Probably my most favorite picture of our little man.

"OK mom, how many more of these are you going to take?"

Look at those cheeks....they are so cute!

Bella wanted her picture taken too!
(I can't believe how crisp and clear the blades of grass are!!)

Far Niente

On Sunday we took Bob and Sharon out to Far Niente winery in Napa. We were celebrating Sharon's birthday and their wedding anniversary. We've talked about going to this winery for over 1 year now so it was about time we went! We had a fantastic time and were amazed at the level of hospitality we received. Helene, the wife of my old boss, works there and was nice enough to come out on her day off to show us around and give us the VIP treatment.

Bob, Sharon, Brian, Helene and Me

Sharon, Me, Brian and Bob

In the caves at Far Niente

More cave pictures

The weather was absolutely perfect and we all had a great time. Thanks to Lee and Darlene for watching Andrew for the day so mommy and daddy could go and play!

Is it really November?

This weekend it was 80 degrees here in Sonoma County. I can hardly believe it is the middle of November and I'm still dressing like it's the middle of summer!

As usual, we had a busy weekend. On Saturday Andrew and I went with Jen to pick up her wine club shipments at three different wineries. Andrew was quite the trooper and Jen and I put on a show at each winery we went to. I don't know what it is about a pregnant lady, and a lady with a baby that make people give you funny looks when walking into a winery.

*Andrew and I enjoying the weather*

*The perfect wine tasting pair: nursing mom and pregnant Jen!*
(Don't worry, we were just out picking up wine club orders!)

*Andrew's new high chair*

Start saving your pennies

Well, Northstar posted their 2008-2009 ticket prices today. $79 for a lift ticket! Can you believe it?! Do you think I can pass for a 70+ year old lady? Then I would only have to pay $30 for a ticket. Maybe Oma will give me her drivers license and I can use it as a fake id!!

2008.09 Rates

Type / Age Group	Single Day
Adult (23 - 64)	$79
Young Adult (13 - 22)	$69
Child (5 - 12)	$30
Senior (65 - 69)	$69
Super Senior (70+)	$30

Im ready for snow!

Northstar-At-Tahoe is scheduled to open in 10 days! I can hardly wait. It is my goal to ski on opening day at least once in my life time but, that isn't going to happen this year. Maybe next year!

I went on their website to see what riduculous rates they are going to charge for a lift ticket this year. Last year it was $74 for an adult and this year it's _____?? That's right, they don't know what they are going to charge yet! I went online and the new rates weren't up so I just called and the lady told me they won't know until next week! HELLO, you open in 10 days! How can you know know what you are going to be charging? Maybe with the state of the econony, lift ticket prices will go down. A girl can dream can't she?!

Another Fun Weekend

Brian went on the annual Pumpkin Hunt this past weekend and Andrew and I stayed here to play. Here are a few of our weekend pictures....

Bath time is fun!

On Saturday we went to visit Oma and go to the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) meeting.
(Andrew is wondering what is on Gma's head! In case you're wondering, it's the hat the members wear at the meetings and events.)

The poor pumpkins that were hunted over the weekend.

Yum, Yum, Yum

Tonight we decided that it was time for Andrew to have something besides breast milk. I've had the rice cereal here at the house now for about 1 month but I've found many reasons not to start feeding it to him. My biggest (and most selfish) reason was that once we started doing rice cereal I was going to have to start doing it every night. That just means 1 more thing I have to do each night before I go to bed. Now, before anyone comments that it would be a great job for Brian to do, let's all be realistic and except the fact that I will be feeding Andrew each night. Brian can be the official photographer!

*Andrew's ready*
(I still haven't found a highchair that I like so for now...it's the Bumbo chair!)

*I'm not too sure about this mom*

*Not too bad for the first time*

I did....have you?

What a great sound!