Now in Seattle!

We have made it safely to Seattle!!!! Things were a little scary for the guys as they drove up I-5 in WA. They were diverted because of the flooding but they still made it here in two days! We are so thankful for all of the wonderful help we received from our church and family.

PJ is adjusting nicely. He loves all of the new people that he is meeting. We are finding that he is a very social baby, always wants to be around other babies. Though he misses his friends in CA.

Steve has been doing some construction work. He was building stairs for my Mom and now he is working for his Mom in her construction business until he finds a nice office job!

The holidays, our anniversary, and PJ's b-day are all within the next week, so we will be very busy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Enough said!

Party, Party and dirt

We had a big weekend. We started celebrating PJ's birthday early with our church and then we asked the guests to stay late and party with us at our going away party. We had lots and lots of fun. At times it was a little much for PJ but he did pretty good. He was not a big fan of his cake or presents, but I pretty much expected that.

He has also been discovering outside this last month. Since we are moving to rain capital USA I have been trying to make the most of our sunshine and play with PJ outside. We are able to get out about an hour each day. This last week he found our gravel driveway and rocks. He loves them. He will sit in the gravel and rake over them with his hands squealing in delight.

Enjoy the pics!



A Lion cake for PJ! This was my first decorated and from scratch cake! I loved making it.


A Wii remote for PJ to eat!


He wasn't sure what was going on.


He is not so sure about the cake and the fact that he can now eat his Wii!


Playing in the dirt is so much fun!


Look Mom no shoes!


The joy of having a boy!

Happy Halloween

PJ was a puppy for his first Halloween. I think that he would have had a better time if he didn't have a fever! Oops! He started to feel hot while we were at the party. But for being sick I thought that he did pretty well. We even visited a few houses, he sat in the stroller. Enjoy the pics!

On the way to Toddlerhood!

PJ started to walk on his own on Tuesday Oct 23rd (10 mos.) He started to let go and make his way to different destinations. We love watching him grow and accomplish these milestones!


Playing with Daddy's stuff!

Moving to Seattle

We are in the process of leaving Southern CA to move back to our hometown of Seattle. Over the last year God has been working on our hearts and placing in us a desire to be in an urban city environment. In August, an opportunity at Marshill Church opened up for Steve to become involved in worship at the new Wedgewood campus. We have also been longing to back with our family. We will be moving at the beginning of December, we have been working on many details but there are many more left to figure out. The biggest detail will be finding Steve a new job; we are excited and nervous.

We are sad to leave our church here; they have become family to us. But God has happened opened this door and we must follow. Please pray for us!

Pumpkin Patch

We went with our friends the Lee’s to the local the Pumpkin Patch. So much fun! The kids had some fun, we went through a corn maize, watched pigs race and played in the pumpkins. PJ didn’t really understand what we were doing but it was fun nonetheless. He also really liked the petting cage, so much so that was he holding on to cage all by himself. He was too small to actually touch the animals (yeah for us!)



Everyone but Steve.


About the best picture of PJ, it was windy and he hates the wind.


PJ hanging onto the animal cage, you will have to imagine the photo vertical (sorry)


At the corn maize, PJ was helping Steve with his chocolate ice cream cone!


PJ and Catie playing in the grass!

LegoLand

If you know Steve well then you know he has loved Legos forever and has amazing amounts of them. Well we couldn’t leave Southern CA and not visit LegoLand. Our friends the Calvi’s had some free tickets and we all went together! It was lots of fun. They showed us all the best sites, miny city replicas, rides, the ice cream shop and more.


Cute Boys!!!


The White House


Pirates, Arghhh


Calvi kids!


PJ with his first waffle cone! He loved it!


Jim and Steve duking it out with the Calvi kids on one of the rides.

13 Steps!

That is right, PJ took 13 steps in a row yesterday!!! He took them of course outside on the concrete towards the rose bushes, is he a boy or what! Just wanted to let you know!

Check-Up today!

PJ had his 9 month visit, he weighs 19 lbs 10 oz, so close to moving forward in the carseat, which is good because he likes to play with sun shade, his new toy! He is also 28 in long. He is in the small category but that seems pretty normal to me because let's face it Steve and I aren't going to out for the NBA ;)

PJ has also taken a few steps, he loves holding our fingers and walking. Tonight he loved walking in the grass which is a little strange for babies. He is also climbing on stuff, chairs, up the couch, up the coffee table and using his toys as stepping stools! What a sight to see, not fun when he falls though.

I love to sit and watch him problem solve, I often wonder where these new skills will take him when he is older. Steve has also become one of his most favorite people these days, he loves giving him hugs, usually a couple at a time. What a blessing it is to saty home and watch him grow!

The last month!

PJ is developing mentally so much, he has such a personality all of a sudden. He is very talkative, the loudest in the nursery. He usually has a story to tell during his meals. He also likes to stand at the top of the stairs and talk to the Hinrichs who live below. He only kind of says three words, Mama, Dada and Hi. Nothing really distinct yet. He is also working on his 4 front top teeth! Yeah! Here are some pics.


When he learned to stand by himself! Notice the guitar guarding the top of the stairs, he has tumbled down the 1st 4 stairs, but it didn't really phase him.


Celebrating Labor Day with some friends, not our baby in the seat, that is Catie!


Eating raviolli for the first time, he is definatly right handed!


Playing with his Puppy Oscar, he loves him so much!


Having fun with Mom and the camera!

80's Rock!!!

Last night Steve and I went to a benefit dinner for Empowering Lives International - theme was the 80's. We were trying to raise 14K to build out the walls of a school in Sudan, I think that we came close. It was so much fun to dress up and dance to some rockin tunes.

PJ has been into everything this week, he is a crawling machine! His most favorite thing though is to pull himself up on anything that is stationary, even if he towers over it. There have been a couple moments where he standing by himself! Here are some pics.


PJ on the prowl, some first steady crawling pics!


While I was getting ready for the big night out, who can resist a white face and bright red lipstick! PUCKER UP!!!


Me, totally tubular in 80's! I crimped all of my hair!


The pair of us!


Just plain cute!!

Crawling!!!

PJ started to really crawl today when we got home for church! I didn't really count what he was doing earlier as crawling. He repeatedly used his knees and arms to get different places while we were hanging out talking. We don't have pics or video yet because he stopped when we finally decided he knew what he was doing and it was worth caputuring!

It is hot today, but not humid so that is nice! Have a great day!

Growing so fast!

This week PJ has started to pull himself up on the coffee table. He has done it once each day for the last few days. Heis not really sure what he has done but he is so excited when he sits back down. He is still army crawling, but now with an agenda! He is starting to understand when I say "come here" and crawls to me. No new teeth yet!

He also is starting to explore feeding himself! First I let him play with his food, he loved playing, no eating though! Then I gave him some banana and cheerios. He loved both and managed to get some in his mouth!


PJ pulling himself up on the ottoman! He is so excited.


Eating Cheerios for the first time.


What is this stuff?


"Thanks mom that was so much, can I do it again?"


bath time fun


In the pool with Dad! So much fun!

Like a new kid!

PJ has grown so much in this last month, it is like he is a different kid. He got his first two teeth, he can get from sitting up to his knees like he will crawl at any moment, he loves his baths now, he is always telling us stories (he has a good set of lungs from his Dad). Every day he is full of surprises and many many smiles. He loves it when I tickle him and throw him in the air. He is generally a very happy baby, and that is such a blessing.

We have been back for a week from our vacation, I am so sorry that I haven't gotten to posting till now, I have been reading the new Harry Potter book - very engrossing! Vacation was such a good time for us to get away and see family and friends. We were very refreshed. I know that PJ loved meeting all of the new people, maybe not initially but he is a social butterfly at heart and has been kind of lonely since returning home. Here are some of my favorite pics from vacation.


PJ meeting my sister's dog Ninja, PJ wanted to eat him!


My Dad playing with PJ!


A family photo from Steve's side, not very good but the best we could come up with!


From 4th of July, he was the center of attention around his Great Grandparents at my Mom's!


Having dinner with the Dionne's in Spokane, he loves them so much, look at the smile and the drool!


Playing with the Parker kids, he learned how to get to his knees from his friend Zoe!


This one is for Grandma, zwiback toast! He loves it!


One of the first time PJ got to his knees!


Taking a bath Sammy and Abigail, not a great photo, but the only decent one, girls let me know if you want the others.


Zoe and PJ sharing a toy. (But neither one wants to share!)