Andrew. Andrew, Andrew!

Andrew is 7 months old and officially crawling, can pull himself to standing, waves, holds his own bottle, eats solids and naps in his crib.

He also still does not sleep through the night, pulls hair, has learned to blow raspberries while eating, and refuses to stay still for a diaper change.

Eh, you win some, you lose some... and with Andrew, we feel like we've hit the jackpot. 

Here are a few pictures of Andrew with some of his favorite toys!

Aunt Amanda gave Andrew a bouncer for Christmas...

...he loves it, but still hasn't figured out the bouncing part.



Andrew's Dinosaur Popping Toy - from Grandma Foster...
he LOVES this toy, but frequently takes headers into it because he insists on using it to stand!!

See?

Plastic bottles are fun too!

Great Grandma Palm gave Andrew this puppy
who talks and sings to us... all day long!

Look what I did!

One handed!

Blowing raspberries while eating vegetables...
not good restaurant behavior.

Eating pumpkin and bananas... Yum!

I'm ready to start playing ball!  Or at least walk...

Julie, Madeline and Tim gave Andrew this musical table for Christmas...
he loves trying to walk around it and play all the different noises.

I love greeting Mom at 4:00 am standing in my crib!

Andrew loves his mobile!

Look Ma!  No hands!

For your viewing pleasure.  This was in the middle of Target.  I gave him a pouch to see how he would take it... well, he loved it... kinda.  You'll see.  Oh, and for those of you wondering, the flavor is Banana, Beets and Blueberries:

If you're going to San Francisco...

... be sure to wear your Grateful Dead onesie!

Thanks again to the Tizers for the Dead onesie!

Having Linda drive out with Mike, help us unpack and get settled, and most importantly watch after Andrew for the last few weeks has been an invaluable gift for which we will be forever grateful.  My parents arrived on Wednesday 2/22 to relieve Linda of her duties.  Since Saturday was Linda's last full day with us before heading back to wintry PA, we decided to do something special and headed to San Francisco for the day. 

It was Andrew's first train ride!

 We started at the Ferry Building on the bay, and walked up to Fisherman's Wharf.  The Ferry Building had a Farmer's Market that included a ton of merchants selling everything from jewelry and art to fresh fruit and veggies.  As we worked our way up the pier, we stopped for lunch before taking in the views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alacatraz, and the famous sea lions.  (Unfortunately, Mike and I forgot our camera, so the amazing scenery wasn't captured quite the way we hoped it would be... oh well, at least Linda and Dad remembered theirs!)

Pretending I was in L.A. instead of San Fran

Grandpa and Andrew after yummy fish and chips

The Golden Gate Bridge is in the background! (very small)

Looking at Alcatraz (I think)

Sea Lions!  Apparently they've been there for 22 years!

I wanted a picture of Mike, Myself and Andrew in front of the
Sea Lion Family statue, but that didn't work out so well.

Tulips in February!  I'm loving California weather!

Sourdough Bread Characters!  Too cute too eat!
And too expensive! ($20 for an alligator)

We made it to Fisherman's Wharf!  Some say the most touristy place in the city. 
We didn't really do much here, and probably won't be rushing back.

We then worked our way over to Ghiardelli Square, which was disappointing because it didn't compare to our memories from the first time we visited.  Linda and Mike wanted to see the "crookedist" street in the world - Lombard Street - so we headed UP about four blocks.  We got to the top of Lombard Street and realized, it's steps the whole way down, and we have a stroller.  So, Mike did what he does best, ignored the signs alerting pedestrians to stay off the road and walked the empty stroller to the bottom of the street, while I carried Andrew down the countless steps. I guess that was better than Linda's job of pushing the stroller up to the top of the hill.

Mom declared this her last time visiting Lombard St.

The Fosters are in much better shape than the Elstons!

Phew! We made it to the top!

Where's Waldo?  See Mike pushing the stroller?

And there's me! Carrying Andrew down the street!

Andrew enjoyed his trip to the city!

Saying Goodbye is Hard To Do

The below was written and never posted because I originally thought I'd add to it but never got around to it with the chaos of the move... IOh well, better late than never!

Up until the past week, I have been truly excited for our new lives and what the future has in store. But, somewhere between the stress of a To-Do list a mile long, Mom-Mom and Aunt Cyndie crying at our last dinner before the move, my last drive home from work, and seeing our house completely empty, my excitement has been replaced with sentiment.  I guess it has finally hit me - I'm leaving the first home I've owned, put tons of money and energy into, got engaged in, and brought my first baby home to... :(

Luckily, we've had the opportunity to visit with many of our friends and family prior to the move.  Amanda threw us a Going Away party (the day after my parents left for Florida).  A few of the guests are below.

Aunt Amanda and Andrew

Presley, Jenn and Me

   

Lizzie!

The Newly Engaged Kristen and Jack

BFF

The DiMarcos

Siblings

Matt and Dana

The Tizers

Mark, Mike and Kyle

Our third sister

 

Petra and Andrew - the morning after!

Looks like we made it...

...finally! 

Aunt Amanda, Andrew and I flew out of Philadelphia on Wednesday, 2/8 at 2pm.  Mike picked us up in San Francisco at 5pm (6 hour flight for those of you who need help with the math).  We were happy to finally be in California and together again. 

After two nights in a hotel, our belongings finally arrived on Friday and the work began.  The movers unloaded the truck, and for anyone who hasn't had the pleasure of someone else doing the heavy lifting for a move like this, let me give you a brief synopsis.  Two men (who didn't appear to be in all that great of shape) showed up at 9am, and the trucker showed up at 9:45.  The trucker got off and the movers went straight to work.  They worked for a good six hours straight, without even a lunch break.  The one mover said he would go home and play racket ball.  I will never underestimate how "in shape" someone is again.  My job was to play "Bingo".  I was given a sheet called the "Bingo Card", and as boxes came off the truck, the movers would tell me the box number that had been assigned to each box, and I'd check it off my Bingo card.  The only "work" I did, was trying to decide where all the boxes should go. I kept thinking how much my Aunt Julie would've enjoyed it... I basically played Bingo, got some sun and drank Corona all day!

The next day was where we got to work.  Aunt Amanda's job was simple (but not easy by any means) - keep Andrew happy.  Linda got to work in the kitchen, and I don't even know what Mike and I did, but I know I felt completely unorganized and scattered.  I definitely was wishing my mom had been there to help.  I think my Dad's words were "Been there, done that, no thank you."  Smart man.  Anyways, you cannot believe how many trees we killed doing a professional move.  Mike and Andrew enjoyed the paper (see pics below)... Linda, not so much.  She took on the task of folding it all so it would consolidate into boxes.

At this point, we've got the bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen done.  Don't worry, I'll post pictures once I've deemed the house post worthy.
 


First Stop -

 We managed to have a little fun while Aunt Amanda was still with us in California... maybe a little too much fun?  Here is a montage of our winery tour on a nice Saturday afternoon.  Notice that our composure goes down the tubes as the day wears on.

Mommy's Sippy Cup



Age Gets Better with Wine and
What Happens at the Winery Stays at the Winery

 Second Stop - Bent Creek Winery - our favorite so far! 
   

 

Andrew and Aunt Amanda Montage


How do I drink this while holding a baby?

  

 

Don't get any ideas kid!



Melissa and Amanda Montage

Mom and Dad - get the London trip reference here?

Andrew's first smell of lavender!

Getting sillier

Amanda showing off the view

Later that night at the bar...

Please don't call Child Protective Services - it was just water!!!  :)

Time for Some Shopping Fun!



Andrew's first time using the Shopping Cart Cover



Grandma and Andrew taking a break in Target



Wente Winery in Livermore

All that drinking left Andrew tuckered out!