Sunday morning at the Zoo

A beautiful Sunday around here, and we had to take advantage of the weather.  So off we went to the Oakland Zoo, met up with our friends the Westcoats and the Readels, and had a great time getting some Vitamin D and checking out the animals. 

Eddy and Ryan, James and Hadley Readel

Let there be rice!

Yes....FOOD! We started Ryan on rice cereal last Thursday, and so far so good.  He's a big fan of this new experience, although most of the cereal has ended up on his chin, hands, and bib.  We're hoping he gets the hang of it and actually swallows some of it soon.  At least he's having fun.  Here are a few pictures of the new dining experience. 

 getting excited, pre-cereal (and check out those 2 teeth!)

 first bites

 getting the hang of it, but still not too sure

 yea, this is gonna be alright

A few other random pictures of our little man...

how is it possible to be this flexible?

already getting into things, and he can't even technically crawl yet

why are the adult toys way better than kid toys? 

Santa Barbara

We took a few days away from home base and drove down to Santa Barbara to meet up with our good friends Cory & Laura Middel.  Their first vacation away from their kids in over a year, and we bring our 5 month old.  They sure were patient with us!  It was a great getaway, fairly good weather, and fun to explore new things with Ryan...the beach, lying on grass, wine tasting in Solvang, shopping on State Street, and we even saw some dolphins swimming by at breakfast one morning. 

our morning walk along the beach

love this view of the mountains

Laura & Cory -- no kids! 

breakfast at the Boathouse...where we saw the dolphins swimming close by

exploring the grass

Wine tasting in Solvang

cute town of Solvang

photo op in front of a winery

all giggles and wiggles

first stroller ride like a big boy, without the car seat...although we probably jumped the gun a tad, the stroller kind of swallowed Ryan up

bath time at the rental house...and Ryan could not find it in him to sit in the sink, standing only.  Makes for one slippery baby!

and this is the wrestling match that has become changing Ryan's clothes and diapers...he is one constant wiggle

Laura, Ryan and I met up with Cory and Eddy after their golf game to enjoy some drinks and a beautiful sunset, and Ryan got his first taste (literally) of the game his dad truly loves

I swear Ryan was having fun, his facial expression in this picture just doesn't capture it

one of the many ways we tried to keep him entertained on the 7 hour drive down

a few new tricks

We go away for a few days, and look what Ryan learns how to do...

This clip demonstrates his lovely new high-pitched squeal. Makes his momma proud.

And this captures his newest trick...up on all fours, and not quite sure how to make crawling happen. We filmed this tonight, after spending 7 hours in the car driving home from Santa Barbara, so he's a bit cranky. We found it hilarious, despite all the screaming.

I will post pictures from our great long weekend in Santa Barbara very soon. Once the dust settles from unpacking the car, doing laundry, etc.

Austrian connection

Last night we got to see a very good family friend, Lukas Kerschbaum and his fiancee Karin.  They live in Vienna, Austria and were out here traveling for a few weeks...exploring the great wild west.  Fortunately they were able to find their way to my parents house, and we were able to share a great meal and catch up on the last few years of happenings in our lives.  And we were so glad they got to meet Ryan, who looked a bit puzzled at their accents (even though they both speak perfect English, just with a twist), but he seemed to warm up to both of them quickly. 

Easter

HAPPY EASTER!

It feels like we spent the entire weekend celebrating Easter, despite the cold and rain that greeted us outside both days.  Saturday we colored Easter eggs and had my parents over for an Easter-y dinner. 

I filled these plastic eggs with jelly beans, so they'd make some good noise for Ryan.  He had fun for a minute, but then I think he was a bit overwhelmed. 

Today we spent the day with Eddy's family, starting with an awesome brunch at Auntie Dana's house.  Then, after church, we made the drive to the peninsula to visit the rest of Eddy's extended family.   Of course Ryan was the life of the party.  

 Dressed in his Sunday best

love this picture!

 The Bayer Boys...3 Generations

 Uncle Chris and Auntie Andrea...and soon-to-be baby girl, we can't wait to meet her!

 the only way to keep a 5 month old happy at a restaurant

 Ryan did such a great job being so social all day, with very little nap time.  He was such a trooper!  Until the hour drive home, I think he cried for about 45 minutes of it.  And to top it all off, we think he's come down with his first cold as we noticed yesterday he has a little cough and sounds a little bit congested.  Poor thing...he was spent!  Now he's sleeping soundly, and Eddy & I just enjoyed a dinner of egg salad sandwiches.  Delicious.  Perfect end to a great weekend.  And tomorrow our little boy will be 5 months old...time flies.

 Hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend!