Introducing Theo

"Cinco" arrives at last! A big warm welcome to Theo Canada, born on September 23, weighing in at over 8 pounds.


We stopped by to introduce Spencer to Theo... and to break Grace's fast from sushi with an absolute feast of raw fish, off limits for the last 9 months!

Upon learning of Theo's arrival, Spencer wanted to send a welcome message, complete with a little trash talking. His t-shirt reads "Meine Mama Ist Hubscher Als Deine," which roughly translates to "My Mom is Cuter than Your Mom." (Courtesy of Dad's first trip to Heidelberg since Spencer's arrival)


Theo has a little bit of catching up to do size-wise, but he's well on his way... gaining a couple of ounces a day!


What do you think... BFF?


Theo + Cinco = "Thinco". Congrats Grace & Alonzo!

Checking out Nancy's New Digs With Adam

Adam's out for a work trip to the Bay Area, so we took a trip up to Larkspur to check out Nancy's new digs.


She has a great porch, practically in the shadow of Mount Tam.


Spencer checks out Uncle Adam while Nani holds his hand.


Happy in Adam's arms....


...and happy in Nani's. Here we are at a yummy Italian place in Larkspur. You've found a pretty good set-up Nancy... we look forward to coming by again!

Spencer-mobile

Functioning as the daily Spencer-mobile for our now 17+ pound baby, Eunice is determined to find a new carrier with better back support.


Here, Eunice tests out the Baby Bjorn "Active," which includes lumbar support and an adjustable waist strap.




Coincidentally, Spencer's hat matches the "sporty green" fabric of the Baby Bjorn.


"Enough with the photo shoot, let's get this show on the road!"

Purisima Creek Sunset Hike

Eunice's mom, Terry, flew in to town to spend the week in San Mateo during Ryan's business trip to Germany. Before Ryan took off for Waldorf, we all went on a late Sunday afternoon hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, just a 20 minute drive from home.


This is the first time Spencer has had enough head control to face forward in the Baby Bjorn. He loved being able to look out at the trees and the sky. It's clear this boy is going to be a nature lover!


Sun peaking through pine trees as we descend on the North Ridge Trail.


Great views over Half Moon Bay through the forest.


Eunice, Ryan and Spencer along the redwood-lined trail.


Ryan enjoys a mid-hike granola bar as he watches the late afternoon sun filtering through the trees.


The only downside to hiking at Purisima is that all the trails head straight down off of Skyline Drive, so every hike home is uphill - especially a challenge for Ryan with Spencer strapped to his front, and a daypack on his back.


Terry charges one switchback ahead and poses for us in front of the ferns.


Back up on Skyline, we stop to watch the sun set over the Pacific Ocean.


Going...


...Going...


...Gone. What a perfect end to a Sunday afternoon.

Sunny Afternoon in our Backyard

A sunny afternoon in our backyard with Spencer, especially alert and smiley! Click here for a slideshow...

Vegas, Baby!

The 3 of us are off to Vegas-- SAP had a technical conference there, Ryan had to go, Eunice said "not without me," so we decided to make a little two day vacation out of it! Spencer's first trip on a plane... a warmup for our big trip to Hawaii in January!



Spencer was actually fantastic on the plane-- the guy next to us is just feigning despair...we had no idea that he saw us taking the photo!


Where else but Vegas could we settle into our palatial top-floor suite at the Veneitian and roll our 2 month old baby down for a fancy midnight dinner at the base of a 20 foot Buddha, set to the beats of a DJ spinning upstairs? Tao was our hippest dinner out with Spencer yet-- the Kobi Sashimi, Sea Bass over asparagus, and a bottle of Reisling. Welcome to Las Vegas!


Spencer enjoying a little late night nurishment, Eunice enjoying the view over the strip from the living room of our suite at the Venetian.


Spencer gets dressed and ready for his first big day out in Las Vegas!


Ryan spent Tuesday inside the conference center-- Eunice and Spencer had a slightly more pleasant day exploring the pools and shops around the hotel. Let's hope the running water didn't give Spencer any ideas...


Spencer asking Eunice: "So where is Dad's next business trip?" She doesn't have the heart to tell him that it is in Germany... far less glamorous.


Ryan got a couple hours off at the end of the day for a quick dip in the Las Vegas heat.


Vegas dinner #2-- this time at an "outdoor" cafe along Venice's "Grand Canal," complete with singing gondoliers and St. Mark's Square. The only difference from the real thing? A never changing sky, which is actually a painted dome over the restaurants and shops. (Truman Show, anyone?) But the "outdoor" environment was great for a meal with the little guy... 100 yards in the stroller on the "cobblestone" streets combined with ambient noise were a sure bet to put him fast to sleep. The family next to us at dinner had 2 hapa kids of their own... they told us to enjoy the easy traveling while Spencer is young, because it doesn't get any easier! One thing is fore sure-- we defintely felt like the center of attention carrying around such a cutie.


Walking the strip for another late night jaunt-- our first excursion outside of the hotel (why leave, really?). Highlights included the sexed-up pirate show with fireworks at Treasure Island (now rebranded "ti") and these huge waterfalls pictured above outside Wynn hotel and casino. We discovered the main disadvantage of pushing around a stroller everywhere, especially in a city like Vegas with non-stroller-friendly escalators to take you up and over every cross street.... our little walk involved 6 different 1 story elevator rides!


The end of our final night in Vegas. We had such a good and easy time with Spencer along that we talked about joining forces on all future business trips. The next morning was a little bit of wake-up call... It took us four times as long as normal to get ready, and we ended up missing our flight home. Oh well-- Spencer played the slots at the airport and paid for the entire trip! :)

Spencer's 2 Month Checkup

Setting off on our stroll down to the doctor's office for Spencer's 2 month checkup.



Spencer recovers like a champ from 4 seperate vaccinations with a warm bath back at home. We'd expect nothing less from what the nurse called "Super-Baby," after seeing him weigh in at a very chubby 16 lbs, 25 inches, the size of an average 6 month old! But the doctor was most impressed by Spencer's gas, commenting, "That's a very big sound coming from a little body!" That's our boy...

Storytime at the San Mateo Public Library

Nikki, Denise, and Eunice decided to check out "storytime" for infants and toddlers at the new San Mateo public library. Imagine 50 moms singing children's songs in unison while hoisting their babies in the air in time with the lyrics. Intense.


Denise and Lucas get into the spirit of the "ladybug" song...


Spencer, possibly the youngest baby in the crowd, thoroughly enjoyed himself (i.e., he slept through the whole thing!).

Grace's 31st Birthday

Nikki and Eunice helped celebrate Grace's 31st birthday by treating her to a mani-pedi at White Orchid Spa. After planning a huge birthday bash for her husband in the midst of experiencing "practice" contractions (!), Grace deserved to be pampered!

Dropping by Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center

Eunice and Spencer dropped by the Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center to catch up with her colleagues. Here, Spencer meets his first poet, Experience Corps volunteer Rich Yurman, who made a special trip to the office to meet him.


Cheryl carries on a lively conversation with Spencer...


...and gets him to give us one of his biggest smiles yet!


16 pounds is nothing for Michael who remembers carrying around his twins, one in each arm!


Janet isn't sure she's ready for motherhood any time soon, but that's ok since she's busier than ever running the Experience Corps Bay Area kingdom. :)

Spencer in Dino Outfit

More Spencer funny faces! Click here for a slideshow...



Back home, bathed and clean, Spencer shows off his organic dinosaur onesie (a gift from Grace), and his ability to sit up!

Labor Day Weekend in Santa Cruz

For Labor Day weekend, we headed to Santa Cruz to celebrate our friend Alonzo's 40th birthday. Here, Eunice and Spencer relax at the beach house before heading for the beach.


Ryan engineers a make-shift "roof rack" for his skimboard on Spencer's stroller.


Grace, 9-months pregnant, catches some rays with Nikki, Colter, and Annie.


Spencer's first time at the beach.


Nikki looks ready for kid #2!!!


Nikki with Eunice and Spencer.


Steve and his daughter Zoe share a private moment on the beach.


Ryan hits the waves with his skim board.


As sunset approaches, a pod of dolphins frolic near the shore.


Family photo!


We return to the house for a gourmet dinner and some delicious German chocolate birthday cake.


A special gift for the "old man" - happy 40th, Alonzo!


Afterwards, we go back to the beach for a late-night bonfire. We forgot sticks for s'mores, so Alonzo improvised a marshmallow melting platform using a plank.


Altay manages to toast his marshmallow with a wilting reed found along the beach.


The next day, Alonzo and Ryan explore the seashore by bike.


Beautiful stretch of beach


Meanwhile, Grace, Eunice, and Spencer rest at the beach house.


Spencer takes a nice, long nap.


Ryan and Alonzo return from their bike ride with a full slab of ribs, coleslaw, chili and french fries. Mmmm!


Alonzo and Grace's friends from Switzerland, Regula and Thomas, join us for some late afternoon relaxation on the beach.


One last beautiful sunset before we say goodbye to Santa Cruz.