Sesame Street Smarts

We've been bragging that Jessica knows all her Sesame Street characters and I figured it was about time that we showed some proof. Here's a video showing off her Sesame Street smarts.

Gulfarium

Last Friday Jess and I met Nathan, Kathryn and Megan at the Gulfarium in Fort Walton Beach. Here's a picture of the terrific trio in a giant clam shell. This was the best shot I could get, after all, Nathan can only hold onto one squirmy little girl at a time. Thank you Nathan.The Gulfarium was really small but it was packed with fun. We got to see two dolphin shows. Jessica actually paid attention to the first show.The kids could look through these little peep holes and watch the dolphins swim around.Here's a video of the kids looking through the peep holes. I think Jessica fell back when Kathryn hugged her but Nathan saw it differently, he said she pulled Jess down. Hard to say, even with video playback.





By the time we got to the second show the kids were more interested in the view of the parking lot. I had to take Jessica's shirt off periodically because it was hot n' muggy and she can't wear shorts because her knees will get scratched. Actually, this was when Jess said "mama" for the very first time. The 2nd dolphin show featured a mother/daughter duo so she heard the trainer saying mama and she looked right in my face and said an unmistakable mama. I was more excited about that than those dolphins! In fact, she hasn't stopped saying mama and now everything is mama. When it rains it pours.
Kathryn had to take off her shirt since Jessica did. Here's a shirtless Kathryn watching the sea lion show.
Megan and I seem to instinctually coordinate Kathryn and Jessica's outfits.

There was a big aquarium inside the gulfarium too. It was air conditioned, so that's where I wanted to hang out.

Jessie loves the freedom of crawling around and Kathryn loves a cherry Icee.Sharing her cherry Icee is a different story though, see for yourself in this video.

The fun didn't end with the Gulfarium. We got to spend the entire weekend with K8, N8 and Megan! Originally, Joe was going to be gone for work for the whole weekend but when he found out how much fun we were going to have he somehow managed to get out of it, hmmm.

Nathan was sure happy to see Uncle Joe. I think Nate was more excited about Joe than he was about the Gulfarium. Here Bunker is giving Nate, Joe and Jess a tour of his hunting grounds aka our backyard.Jess peeked in the window at me while I was on the computer.Nathan is quite the comedian, even when he's not trying to be funny. Here he is doing an impression of Aunt Lexi. I should have seen this coming. He did tell me that my belly was really big that morning. In this video Jessica is trying to make Nathan help her walk.

After our fabulous weekend I can't stop thinking about Nathan and Kathryn. Everything seems to remind me of them. It's a good thing the fun is not nearly over. Our next fun adventure will be at the zoo, so stay tuned!

Major Milestone

Jessica is walking sporadically now. I finally caught a few steps on video. It wasn't easy since she likes to practice while I'm not looking.

She also said Mama yesterday while we were at the aquarium... I will try to get proof of that too.

More Cousin Collaboration

We got to visit with K8 & N8 and Megan last Friday and I have a few cute pictures to share. First, here's Jess with her babies in her favorite chair with her favorite shoes (she brought them to me and stuck out her foot so I would put them on). Lady made Jessica and Kathryn matching Tennessee jumpers. Jessica is wearing hers because it's game day and Joe's team needs all the help/support they can get. She didn't want to sit still for the picture until...Daddy gave her the remote. I wanted to turn the game off when she started trying to say "baaa..baaall" which meant "football"... she still hasn't said mama yet! We went to the TT Wentworth museum downtown to check out their children's play area. It was fun and perfect for Jessica to explore/play. She zeroed in on some fake rats and played with those practically the whole time.

The most fun was had when N8 n' K8 showed up at our doorstep on Friday morning. Nathan got to spoiling with attention right away. Jess was ready to show off the Sesame Street jumper that Lady made her (with beads to accessorize, which she added herself).

I wonder if Nathan got any good pictures? Kathryn tried to stay out of Jessica's arms reach most of the time but still managed to have fun playing with her toys while Nathan had her distracted.

At one point Jessica just crawled right up to Nathan and forced her way into his lap, too cute.

The ball blowing machine was still a big hit.I knew Jessica was getting ready for her nap when she sat quietly for 10 minutes flipping through her books, even with Kathryn nearby! Joe came home early from work so he could show off his Mustang "sports car" to Nathan (who's been talking about it ever since he came over to help us move).

Nathan even got to ride in it. Megan put his carseat in the back so Joe could drive him less than a mile to the pizza place on base. I think it was the best 5 minutes of Nathan's day.We had an early dinner/ late lunch together. Jessica thought it was hillarious when she honked Nathan's nose.

This little ball of energy won't stay seated for long. This is a cute picture, they are both trying to sit in Megan's lap while trying to push the other one off. This is what I have to look forward to.After we ate we played in the park for a while. Jess likes to climb up the slide. Here's a video of the three on the merry go round.

And another video on the swings.

A San Francisco Treat

Joe came out to California to take me on a special getaway to San Francisco. This trip was dedicated to Ali since we took a trip to Seattle when I was pregnant with Jess. (Jessica stayed with Mooma and Grandad and didn't seem to even know we were gone.) But, first things first, Joe had to get a picture of himself in front of the state capitol to add to his collection. I snuck in for a happy couple picture too.

We spent two days in San Fran. We stayed in the financial district, only one block from the Trans America building.

We picked up a map of the "MUNI" bus route and got right to it. We found this pretty view of the city while I was looking for a restroom... most of our time was spent looking for restrooms.

We ventured into Chinatown. The shops all smelled like fish and they sold strange foods that I've never even heard of.

I got a smoothie at the Ben & Jerry's in the Haight Ashbury district. We also had to do some people watching in the Castro District. It was a fruitfull experience (hee hee). Some things I had to only glance at because I didn't want the images burned into my mind. We walked across the Golden Gate Bridge too, well, halfway across.

Me and Ali on the Golden Gate.Joe thought this sign was interesting.

View of San Fran from the Gate.

After the bridge we headed over to Fisherman's Wharf for lunch. I got some authentic clam chowder in a sourdough bowl, yum.View of Alcatraz from the shore.We took a night tour of Alcatraz. It was dusk when we boarded the ferry. Here's a view of the Coit Tower from the ferry.Alcatraz from the ferry.Inside the cellblock.Inside a cell.

The creepiest part was the operating room in the hospital but we didn't get a picture of that.