Misc Photos from February

Todd got to go snowboarding with our friend Dario up on Mount Hood

Reese sported her "preppy" look - popped collar and all!


She also channeled the spirit of the islands in her Hawaiian get-up

She shared her dinner with Daddy - yes, that really happened

And she discovered her favorite "hiding"place in the house!

First "steps"....assisted of course!

For Christmas, Reese got this very cool little walker toy that converts into a ride-along toy once she is a little older. This video is of some of her first "steps" using the walker.....a bit shaky, but still unbelievable to us that she has come this far already!

Headed to the coast!

One of the wonderful things about living here in Portland is the fact that in just over an hour, you can get to the beautiful Pacific Ocean. Yes, although it is still February, we had a "warmish" weekend and decided to head out to the coast for some fresh sea air. Gotta get out of the house we have been cooped up in so far this winter! Of course, we were not the only ones with this bright idea....I think about 1/2 the population of the greater Portland area, decided it was a good idea to head west. Regardless, we had a great day. We started out with lunch at the Rogue Brewery. Yes, despite the focus on beer, it is a very family friendly establishment and as you can see, Reese tried to fit right in as one of the "regulars"....

"Sometimes you wanna go, where everybody knows you name...."

After lunch we headed over the beach in Seaside. This was the first time we went to the beach since Reese has been mobile (or able to sit up on her own for that matter), so we decided she deserved to run her fingers through the sand on the beach (and her toes, and her hair, and her face....) All joking aside, it took her a few minutes to realize that sand is an OK thing, but once she realized all was good, she enjoyed every second of it!

And of course, you cannot go to the coast without finishing up the day with a nice ice cream cone. The wee one is not allowed to have this delightful treat yet, so it was quite a trick for Todd to carry her around in the Baby Bjorn and keep her curious fingers out of the ice cream. Yes, I know it seems a little cruel, but hey,we deserve some simple pleasures too right?? This time next year, she will be able to have her very own cone....I am sure that will make for some wonderful pictures as well!

Our little Valentine

Throughout this first year of Reese's life, we have gotten to rediscover the simple joys in the holidays that we may have taken for granted for some time now....simple joys like receiving a colorful valentine in the mail! The pure wonder and joy that she sees in the simplest of pleasures is so refreshing!

What is even better, is the lack of inhibition that surrounds everything that she does! If she loves somethings and wants to learn more about it, she simply puts it in her mouth....now come on, that is something that you can only get away with for a very small portion of your life. Otherwise, people will talk....

And yes, even as busy new-ish parents, we found some time to do somthing that we do well to celebrate Valentines Day....we cooked a meal that was far too big and enjoyed every bite of it!

Reese's Very First Balloon

There is something magical about that little piece of rubber that inflates into a mysterious floating orb....or some may call it a balloon!!! I remember that I ABSOLUTELY loved balloons when I was little so when the kind lady at our local Trader Joe's offered to give little Miss Reese her very first one, I simply couldn't resist. And of course I grabbed the camera about as fast as I could! As you can see, she wasn't too sure at first....

But as she explore it more, she realized that maybe, just maybe, this new toy was pretty cool after all....but still didn't trust it fully.....after all, it was following her wherever she went....

But like most things, once she has a little while to explore and figure it out, she decided that Yes, this was a very fun toy indeed!!! In fact, we couldn't get it away from her when we had to go run more errands!!

Like mother, like daughter. Now, if only I could get the Trader Joe's lady to offer ME a balloon even when Reese isn't with me.....