Dylan's New Trick

I never had the opportunity to post an 11 month post since life at this Fredrick house hold is a little crazy so this will have to do:)Here is the story behind the truck you see above - When I showed up at the nursery to pick Dylan up after my work out the attendant said, "Dylan show your mom". Up he popped off the floor grabbing the handle of a push toy. He then proceeded to walk all the way across the room to me. When he was halfway to me the instantaneous emotions of my heart bursting with excitement and dropping to my toes (because he is growing up so fast) overwhelmed me and I let some tears out. Dylan stops and just look intently at me. I encouraged him with a large tearful smile and said that it was OK these were good tears. That was all he needed to hear and he made it the rest of the way.

Of course this afternoon after visiting Michaela we headed out and bought a 3-in-1 haul and ride. As you can see he uses it as a walker but will also be able to ride the truck and haul his toys around. To haul his toys around you can pull the steering wheel up and forward therefore the dump truck is like a wagon. The steering wheel also has buttons which produce the sounds of a truck starting, a horn honking and other "truck" noises

Oh yes, the tongue of concentration was out the whole time

Here is a video of Dylan walking down the hall




I will eventually get back to the CA pictures but not for a while. Rory's parents are coming in town this weekend for a quick visit so the blogging will pick up next week.

Congratulations!!

Congratulations to Michaela and Jeff
on the birth of their daughter
Lily Ann
7lbs 6 oz
on June 25th

Mommy and daughter are doing great!

A very proud Daddy and precious older brother - how cute is the shirt

You can't fully tell in this picture but she is beautiful!

I am so thrilled for the Lester family
We love you four!!!

CA-Day Three

A day to feel the warmth of the California sun on our faces
as we took in the beaches.

Del Mar

We are all decked out in our bathing suits and lathered in sunscreen.
We were ready to hit the beaches of California. Of course, knowing we wouldn't stay that long since we had little man with us.

Daddy and Dylan in the surf.
We saw a couple volleyball matches in full swing - some of the players even seemed decent. I only say that because we saw a whole lot better players later as we headed up towards LA. There were also families out in force. It was great to see people of all ages enjoying the gorgeous outdoors. The beach area was very well maintained and had a grassy picnic and jungle gym area across from the parking lot.

Little man needed his shades:) We put his hat on instead

As we were driving through Del Mar towards the beach we saw these homes right in next to "normal" houses. Someone was very original to make their home look like a a dry docked boat house.

Torrey Pines

Once again uniquely desert/coast beauty.
This picture was taken from our "hike"

Thankfully we chose to head to the Torrey Pines area on this day since it was packed the next day and then for a while with the US Open. You paid to get into the park and drove - or if you were a local you jogged - up a hill which was located right along the coast. From there you could go hiking. Obviously it wasn't strenuous hiking since we hiked in our bathing suits and flip flops.

Dylan found the hiking to be overwhelmingly stimulating.
Actually getting a snugli ride from Dad was the perfect way to catch up on some sleep

Vacation Isle

What a great place! This was as it's name implies an island area that you drive past on the Interstate - since Rory was the navigator he would be able to explain better. It was a large park area, beautiful lush green grass, ponds with mini yacht racing (as you see above), badminton nets, volleyball nets, wide open spaces to participate in your outdoor activity of choice and of course places to barbecue.

Here at vacation isle Dylan experienced grass for the first time.
He was not a big fan. When we sat him down he tried to keep his legs up off the grass. After he got tired of holding his legs up he thought he would crawl to one of us to sit on our lap. The sweet little guy put his hand in the grass to begin to crawl and that hand popped up so fast then the frown came. We picked him up before the tears could make an appearance. He sat with Daddy for a while then we tried again. He let his legs touch this time, but would not crawl. As you can see below he began to pick at each blade of grass - investigating the strange green prickly stuff.

Dylan's first pool experience

Dylan loved it!! Daddy slowly walked him into the heated pool and from there was it was all fun and games. We were able to enjoy the pool multiple times during our stay.

Dylan was relaxing for sure in his baby inner tub with the handy sun shade. It was really precious when he would lean his head back resting it on the inner tube with his arms up over the sides - he was king of the pool.

CA-Day Two

DAY TWO...

Pacific Beach

We started the day by meeting two of Rory's high school friends, Jen and Kristi in Pacific Beach for coffee/breakfast. Their breakfast our coffee since we had been up with Dylan and had breakfast earlier at the hotel.

Presidio Park/Old Town

We headed over to Presidio Park (we really didn't take that many pictures -though I do have some from our last day since we picnicked there). It was a gorgeous area and the homes up the hill behind the park were pretty nice. I am thinking pretty pricey as well.

On to old town which as you can see claims to be the birthplace of California.

We ate at you guessed it a Mexican restaurant - Casa de Reyes. Delicious meal with huge portions. The ambiance was amazing we were outside under multiple cloth "tarps" (for lack of a better word) with blooming bougainvillea winding up the support pillars, a well made into a fountain in the center and mariachi singers playing for our enjoyment. When the mariachi singers were performing for another couple Dylan was dancing away in his high chair so... When they came by and asked us if we wanted a song we said yes. They proceeded to ask if we wanted sad, romantic or funny for the baby? uh mm not a tough one for us, we went with funny for the baby. They played, It's a Small World - who thinks that is funny? Maybe Mexican Mariachi men do. i think of a not so great Disney ride. Dylan stared at them with a frown on his face and didn't dance at all. Rory and I silently laughed at the whole thing. So much for giving our boy an opportunity to dance to a funny song.

Point Loma

After eating in Old Town, we decided to forgo the shops and head to Point Loma to take in the views and the gorgeous California outdoors.
In these two pictures you are looking back over San Diego from Point Loma.

At Point Loma there is a monument to Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo who led the first European expedition to explore what is now the west coast of the US.
Point Loma became a military reserve in 1852. During World War I & II it provided vital coastal and harbor defense. In one area, there is a cemetery which seems to be dedicated only to Military. Almost like an Arlington Cemetery of the West Coast with a peaceful view of the water.
This picture was taken as you drove down to the tidal pools.
It is a Coast Guard base! How gorgeous!

Our family- It was wonderful being together
These pictures were taken in the tidal pool areas at Point Loma.
Obviously the tide was too high for us to actually see any of the tidal pools.

Next stop the Sunset Cliffs- seen below

The San Diego area is a beautiful yet strange combination of palm trees and desert like foliage with rolling hills and the crashing waves always nearby.
Dylan made it all the way up the stairs with Daddy as a security net.
This was the first time that he has climbed steps.

Nanaban - our housing

IMPORTANT JAPAN INFO

Hello All
I am posting some important Japan info in lieu of the next day on our California trip.
I just received word from Rory this evening that we have been assigned housing in Japan
Our first preference - Yokosuka main base!!! This is an amazing blessing. It will be much easier for me to go to the gym and grocery shop, etc... without a vehicle. Otherwise, I would have been hoping on a couple trains to get to the main base - yikes
We will be in a high rise apartment building in a unit with 2 bedrooms which is approx. 1000 square feet. Yes, quite the down grade from our home here in Va, but this way whatever we end up with in Fl will be huge! Obviously we will be keeping most of our possessions here in storage. I call it indoor Japanese camping:) since we will not have a lot of the "extras". The unit does have a laundry room, balcony(ies), storage areas and what they say is plenty of cabinet space (I am guessing that was written by a man - he he) All units are also equipped with stove, refrigerator, microwave, washer and dryer. I have a floor plan print out that I will try to scan into the computer to post - we will see how that works
I found a website which has a great aerial of the base for those of you who care. http://wikimapia.org/15119/
a map of U.S. Naval Base Yokosuka should come up (give it some time) We will be in the large peninsula jutting out to the right in the map. I think but am not sure that we will be right in the middle. If you zoom in you can see an area with about 6 high rise buildings - that is my guess of where the high rise we will be in is located.
Just wanted to share our joy of being given housing!

CA - Day One

Dylan and I arrived in Sunny San Diego, California on June 5th eager to see Rory!

He met us at baggage claim with a rose for me and tons of hugs for both Dylan and I.

Rory had already picked up the rental car and checked in at the hotel where he left me a welcome basket full of goodies.

What a man!

The airport was right across from the harbor area and it was gorgeous! I was greeted with blue skies, sun and palm trees. We grabbed some dinner or late night snack for me whatever you want to call it:) Then we went back to our room at Residence Inn. It was way passed Dylan's bed time and after our rough plane trip out there I was more than ready to put him to bed.


DAY ONE...
was an easy one for us. We took our time getting up and around then headed over to Coronado Island. At the Naval Station, we did some grocery shopping and saw the good ole' GW. For lunch we headed to a local place in Imperial Beach. We had heard from someone who lived there it was safe and tasty.
Los Panchos was the name of the establishment (though establishment may be a little too nice sounding) Believe me, you had to be a local or know a local to stop there. It was delicious authentic Mexican fare but the restaurant was shady looking. We got Mexican Aqua to go with our lunches. Yes, that could be scary but since it wasn't truly aqua we were safe. Rory got Aqua Horchata, a traditional rich and creamy drink made with rice milk and cinnamon and I got the Aqua Guava or Guayaba. Both were delicious though Rory's was very sweet more like a dessert drink in my opinion.
After enjoying our lunch we walked out onto the pier. The above picture is a shot looking back at Imperial Beach the mountains in the back ground are a part of Mexico.
Look that those two in their shades:)
Above you can see (barely) one of the helicopters that was guarding our border. Two helicopters would fly in wide circles over what we deduced was our border. In the picture below, Dylan and I are standing in front of the sign for the Tijuana Refuge. Farther behind us is Tijuana - no we did not go. Uncle Sam told Rory no and we heard that it wasn't much of a family area. Also, lately there had been some Mafia hits on tourists. Multiple reasons to stay on U.S. soil

We did drive to the border - we had a blast hoping there was a turn around and wondering if we should have exited at the last exit in the US!
Check out all the cameras
- I think no matter what, you are going to be on some camera. They seem to catch every angle (driving angle that is)
Yea! there was a u-turn to the USA.
We paused at the end of the road: one because Dear Rory was letting his wife take her million pictures and two because we weren't sure how to merge in with the entering US traffic. I guess we were paused too long because a border patrol man came out and waved us on. Rory and I were cracking up at this point. I think the Border Patrol was trying hard not to laugh at us since he had one of those "oh you crazy tourists" looks on his face and the side of his mouth turned up though he was trying to look serious.
OK this next picture is one that I saved from the Internet.
I had turned the camera off to save the batteries after we did our Mexican Border u-turn so I didn't get my own picture.
Not a mile down the road we saw this sign NO LIE on the side of the highway. Rory and I died laughing.

Some of you may remember that Carlos Mencia did an episode about this sign - it is real!

California Trip

Dylan and I are back from our wonderful trip to San Diego to see our precious Husband/Dada. Currently we are trying to get caught up on our sleep since our flight home was an overnight one. Dylan slept about 4.5 hours and I think I got in 1 hr. Ouch is right

I will be putting up posts from our CA trip one day at a time so you can follow a long with the fun we had as a family experiencing Southern California.

It was so wonderful being a family again!! Such a tease but we know that it isn't long until we are living together again with Dada (in Japan)

Welcome Trey!

Congratulations to Megan and Jimmy!

James Edward Ellis III (aka Trey) was born on 6-8-08 at 3:30pm.

8 lbs 13 3/4 oz

21 1/2 inches long

Check out the link to the Ellis family blog for more pictures!

Meet Dylan

Hello All - I just wanted to fill you in on what life is like for me:)

I am fascinated when mom takes the shower head down and sprays me with water
I absolutely love bath time...

and long runs in the stroller - it is a great way to get the morning nap in

Do you like trucks? I find them to be a wonderful toy.
The first time I played with this big blue one I knew exactly what to do.

I think I am going to be an explorer are you up for adventure?

I see (just barely) a big world out there just waiting for me

Oops mom caught me... We all have our oddities. Mine is playing with the diaper champ - it is the perfect height. Mom is just thankful for Clorox wipes! She says it makes cleaning the diaper champ a breeze.

I sleep like a champ, at night that is ... Mom said not to go into detail about how nap time is

I don't have any pictures but I love to eat. I have to have energy to explore the world. Feeding myself is the best part!
Finger foods rock!
I am eating peeled grapes mom still slices them up, Gerber has great finger foods, and steamed broccoli and cauliflower are amazing you should try some. I also eat adult oatmeal for breakfast made with mom's milk


So no pina coladas and walks on the beach
But it if you like stroller rides (sometimes in the rain), playing with trucks and steamed veggies give my mom a call (she still screens my play dates)