We stole away from the Bay Area for a hastily-planned, but rejuvenating, one night away in the Napa Valley. We soaked in the warmer, beautiful scenery. Here are two quick videos of our trip.
Ada loved the fountain.
and a club pool we used for a few hours!
ahh… what a few hours away can do!
Here’s a too cute video of Ada getting ready for bed in our hotel room … Can you say Maggie Simpson!? We were cracking up.
Here’s a test of a photogallery
Ada and Griffin have been friends since they’ve been a few weeks old, as a part of our mindfulness parenting group. Today, they went to free day at aquarium at the Cal Academy of Science in Golden Gate Park. An adventure with tons of people, a cool aquarium, amazing animals, and a living roof. They loved it! But most of all, Ada was enthralled with the fish. Here is her & Griffin’s first glimpse. A few minutes later she was running around through people’s legs from display to display clapping and stomping her fee, exploring exploring exploring – and signing ‘fish, fish, fish’!
So the backroom (i.e. my office & the dog sleeping room) is now the most desired part of the house – basically, it is almost always blocked off. When we look up, Ada can be found at the gate, arms up, shouting for us to come and show her the computer. Iif the gate is open, we find her rustling like a bank robber with the ‘authorities’ coming – quick get the papers, pens, stapler, folders… I guess restriction makes the backroom pure joy. How scarcity creates desire!? The second best thing in life is finding unput-away contraband in the house, a cell phone, a laptop, a power cord, keys, all for sucking. On this fine day Ada gets her wish come true, the glory of sitting at Mama’s desk and playing office. Did she just say ’email’? Eek, not yet!
Here is a list of Ada’s words (roughly in order):
– Beeeeeeeeeeebeeeeeeeeeeeeebeeeeeeeeeeee
– Baba !? (Hamid)
– Puppa (‘puppy’, Iman)
– Papa (Lhakpa her nanny)
– Maamaa (Rebecca)
– Cheese (yummy!)
– Baaaaa (sheep noise)
– ehh (egg)
– Fish, said ‘wiish’
– Yaahh (yes)
– Bye bye
– Hi!
Mama is pretty happy making it above cheese.
Images of Ada in her tutu from Grandma on a Tuesday morning in April.
Ballerina Tuesday
Ballerina Tuesday
Ballerina Tuesday
Ballerina Tuesday
Ballerina Tuesday
Ada had fun at the park. She loves the slide! What else matters on a sunny Sunday?
So Ada is walking walking walking. She loves to take laps, check in on everyone, and keep on walking. Pink high tops and tights dont get any cuter! Here’s one of her cute transect circumnavigations of the livingroom, diningroom, kitchen from a Sunday in April.
Ada celebrated her birthday (for a second time) with all the family in DC in April. What a pretty birthday girl in her special dress!
Pretty Birthday Girl
Pretty Birthday Girl
Pretty Birthday Girl
The whole family…(just missing Navid, sorry you weren’t there!)
Family Portrait
And “Here we are at the beach… Hooray!!” (Ada raises her arms and smiles when we say this — its from one of her books! Everyone is joining in the fun.)
Hooray!!!
Some more great pictures
Ben's photo
Grandma June's dress for Ada
Grandma daddy Ada time
Grandma June, Hamid, and Ada