Damien Rides the Choo Choo

After many months of wanting to go, Momma finally took Damien to ride the choo choo train in Tilden Park. Damien's buddy Kellen and parents Jeff and Laura made the drive up from Mountain View and after a brief visit at home, we made it to the trains (finally). Damien, who fell asleep on the drive up, was soooo excited. He kept saying choo choo over and over. We just missed a train when we arrived, and remarkably, Damien waited patiently for the train to come back after momma reassured him that the train would be back - prompting Damien to say choo choo back, over and over. He LOVED the ride, he clapped his hands and said "yay" a few times. After our 12 minute ride, we took a walk under the train track and D loved watching the train come and go. He had a blast. We will definaitely be back, especially while he is still free.

On the train - he looks rather unimpressed but the picture with a smile was too blurry.

Our train.

After our fun ride.

Enjoying a snack under the train tracks.

A bonus trip to a new playground after the train.

Damien loved the slide, especially going down head first.

Round and round the boys went!

Damien Loves Chicken Soup, The Great Outdoors and His Slide

Damien is a simple man really. He has a few things that are high on his top priority list. A few of those are 1) his slide his MaGa Linda got him (which MaGa drove up from LA - and we have moved inside because it's D's favorite toy right now); 2) chicken soup that MaGa made him (he goes bananas for this); and 3) the good ole outdoors with balls, bubbles, rocks, and cars. He's a bundle of energy and generally does everything with gusto! See for yourself.

"Picue" (aka picaboo) - "I see you." D loves to use the slide to slide, to play picue and to propel objects down.

So proud of his ability to climb by himself.

Watch out - here I come!!!

"mmmmmm mmmmmm" slurp slurp slurp.

Oh chicken soup how I love you!

Good to the last drop!

Yay, I love cars (and I love saying that word over and over)

It's fun on the inside and out.

"Wheeeee" "Yay"

Hello? Sputnik, are you there?

Damien Goes Oystering

Momma asked Papa for a Saturday off when Papa returned from Nicaragua. So, on a gorgeous day in the bay area, little D went on an adventure with Papa, and friends David, Katie and Ashby. They all piled into D's car, and even though it took almost 2 hours to get there (and D doesn't love long car rides) he had a blast playing with Katie (who was jammed between two carseats). One they finally reached their destination, D loved running around and playing with the rocks and making new friends with all the fellow osyter hunters (eaters really). D slept most of the way home (staying awake long enough to enjoy one of Katie's delicious chocolate chip cookies), and didn't make it home till 7pm! A long fun day.

Checking out the shore with Katie.

Busy busy.

Even the parking lot was fun.

Gorgeous sunset.

Damien is a Silly Monkey

These pictures were just too funny not to share. Helping Dad tidy up the room, D came across momma's bra. Hilarious. He will love these photos when he's a teenager, don't you think? Thanks to Papa for capturing, and Momma for sharing with the world!

Ohh, what is this?

How do you work this thing.

I think it goes like this.

Alright, who's lookin good now.

Damien Gets a Visit From "MaGa"

Papa had to go to Nicaragua for blueEnergy's board meeting, so D and momma were sans Papa for two weeks! One week just the two of them, and then, THANK GOD, Grandma Linda came up to help out. D was sick the WHOLE time papa was gone. He was just getting over a cold when Papa left, but his back up day care left him with a worse cold, pink eye and an ear infection! Grandma Linda to the rescue. She arrived just as Momma was about to loose it and was a HUGE help (thank you Grandma Linda). She watched D while mommy was at work - a big feat to watch a sick D while it was raining, and hence no outdoor play. She also made delicious chicken soup - twice - that D and Momma devoured. Both D and Momma were so sad to see her go.

While she was here, D got to go to a special indoor playland called Studio Grow and to the Berkeley Hall of Sciences to let him stretch his legs during this long rain period. D is an outdoor kid, and rainy days are super challenging. D loved both places so much. It was a little challenging sharing toys and such with the older kids, but once he got the hang of both places he had a blast. At studio grow he watched his first puppet show. He was mesmorized.

D had such a great time with his grandma. He nicknamed her "MaGa." It was so cute, he would call out to her when he needed her or just wanted to say hi. Grandma of course loved it. Such a great visit, despite all the illness.

Our sickly boy, lovin the bathtime bubbles though.

Someone loves his "MaGa" and the hat she brought him.

D also loves to use the dust buster (Just like his mom did apparently).

D loved stealing his MaGa's olive bread and butter, he would/will only eat this from MaGa.

The BIG ball pit at Studio Grow.

Balls and snuggles with MaGa = Awesome.

Someone loves slides.

Rainy day activity - finger/body painting.

Talking to Dada while he is away.

Moving big blocks at Lawrence Hall of Science.

SCIENCE!

Sensory fun!

Damien is a Ladies Man

Damien loves the ladies. He's been having quite a few play dates recently with some girlfriends and having a blast. He favors the older ladies, but loves them all. He just loves to kiss them. Soooo cute. Although given that it is cold season, it's caused a little bit of bug swapping. All in the name of love though right?!

Markers with Isabella and Andrew

Our Picasso.

Kisses from Isabella.

Playing in the rock garden (aka driveway) with his girls Adeline and Juna.

Full service!

Blocks and lots of laughs with Adeline and Juna.

A new park adventure with Elyse.

After hitting Elyse, Momma said only kisses were acceptable, so D went in for the kiss.

And nailed it!

Damien Is 15 Months Old!

Well, our little boys keeps on growing and growing. 15 months - that's just crazy. D turned 15 months of Friday the 13th - lucky Damien. He's a very active boy right now. He loves to walk, run, and get into everything. Some of his favorite things right now include balls, balloons, bubbles, watching Elmo (aka "El-Mono") on TV, reading his Elmo Christmas book, cats (aka "Meow's"), dogs, crackers, cars, slides, sand, singing and dancing (row row your boat the absolute favorite) and hide and seek. He's getting into art - trying some painting and markers and stampers for the first time. He likes it, but like most things, only for a few minutes until he's ready for the next thing. A SHORT attention span. Which makes entertaining him a challenge sometimes, especially when it is raining. D is an outdoor kid, he's so happy to be playing outside in the dirt, rocks, leaves, running up and down the street looking for the neighborhood dogs and cats, yelling at cars. So, our go to plan right now involves as much outdoor play as possible.

Damien is very verbal in both Spanish and English. His words include shoe and zapato, adios and bye bye, hello and hola, agua and water, bananna, apple, "ra ra" for raspberries, eggs, dog, cat, momma, dadda, no, yes, si, yeah, all right, uh oh, mess, avocado, crackers, cheese, night night (which means both his blankie and bedtime), bubbles, ball, car, music, mono (monkey), mucus, owie, book, baby, balloon, meow, up (which means both up and down), bath, outside, slide, choo choo, and bottle. He likes to repeat what we say - dangerous at times!

An expressive guy - here he is telling Momma that he needs help down the stairs.

Shocked and excited to see the Choo Choo (Aka BART)

Loving the BART commute to the City for daycare.

Damien's best friend Elmo.

Our handsome devil.