Jessica and I have been in California for the past few days and I am sure Joe is missing us terribly. This blog is for Joe and Megan because I have been slacking on my blog duties lately and Megan made it known that she needs her Jessica fix. Here's a picture that Joe took of Jessica the day before we left. He heard her making strange noises and got alarmed that something was wrong with her, when she looked up at him this is what he saw. Yep, someone has a pretty severe paci addiction.
The plane ride out to California was every bit as difficult as I thought it would be. Even though the flight attendants felt sorry for me and moved people around so I could have an empty seat to stow Jess in. They said that they were afraid I would go into labor if she bounced on my belly for three hours straight. I was SOOO grateful. She still managed to put her mouth on everything, tear up some magazines, throw a fist into a 90 year old man as he walked by on his way to the restroom, pull a strangers hair, put her fingers in a sleeping man's mouth and try to poke his eyes, and smear crackers all over. Not to mention the constant babbling.
It could have been worse, she could have screamed the whole way. Nonetheless, I know that Joe is probably dreading the flight back, she will embarrass him. She looks so innocent here with her Elmo sippy cup and bottle though.
The difficult trip was definitely worth it. Grandpa took over Jessica duties right away. It is nice only being necessary for snuggle time. Grandpa has a couple really nice playgrounds in his neighborhood and Jessica enjoyed the California grass and the swings.
Jessica discovered the thrill of a good slide too. I never put her on the slide in our playground because it is either too hot or too dirty. This one was just right. She started to throw herself down it after the first time. She is a daring fearless little girl. She giggled and squealed with sheer joy.
Grandpa showed Jess how to workout with Grandma's one pound hand weights. She grunts as she lifts them up and waves them around, it is too funny.
We got to visit with Jessica's cousin Audriana too. Audri is 1o months old and she is Grandma Kari's youngest son's little girl. Jess crawled right over to her and started taking things from her immediately.
The look on Audri's face is very familiar to me, I've seen the same look on Kathryn's face dozens of times. Jessica has to be nicer to her cousins or they won't like her very much when they get older.
My dad watched Jess while I shopped to. Somehow Jessica ended up with more stuff than I did when we got home from the shopping trip... hmmmm.
We got to visit with Great Grandma Pat (GGP) this morning. And, oh yes, more glorious California grass!
Jessica stomped around barefoot in the luscious grass for a long time.
Then I got some great group pictures.
All the excitement was too much for Jess and she passed out on the way home. Unlike most kids she has to be pretty tired to fall asleep in her car seat.
Here's a video of Jessica jammin out to a pretty awesome sesame street jam that Grandma and Grandpa found on Youtube for her.
Here's a video of Jessica stomping around GGP's backyard.
We also had a nice visit with Great Grandpa Ray and Rosemary.
We had lunch and then visited at their place for a little while. Jessica was pleased with their little hyper doggies... I think they were more excited about her than she was about them though.
She was exhausted after the visit so she fell asleep in her car seat watching Elmo on the DVD and clutching her bath time baby by the leg.
On the Friday before Labor day we went to get a 3D ultrasound of Jessica's little sister at the same place we had Jessica's done.
Here's a belly shot.
Here's a funny picture of Jessica about to feed her "lil' sister" doll a miniature bottle... the look on her face is pretty intense.
On Labor Day we met up with more family at my Aunt Mel and Uncle Rick's house for a pool party.
After we splashed around in the pool for a bit we took the kids inside to play. Aunt Mel has a lot of great toys at her place and Jessica had no problem helping herself. Addison, my cousin Desiree's daughter, was very sweet to share all her toys.
Jessica had a blast at Mel and Rick's place.
Addi and Jessi played well together.
Here's a cute picture of Grandad holding Jess.
We took Jessica back to Bidwell Park to play around a bit. Mooma helped her practice walking. 
She got so tired from all the walking that she fell asleep in her stroller. It was a beautiful day in the park, as you can see.
Mooma and Grandad have perfected the art of spoiling. Just look at Jessica's playroom in the picture below. (Yep, Jessica is their only grandchild so far so this is all for her!)
Their cat, Louie, thought it was for him. 
Jessica's favorite toy was the pink car.
She liked to climb in and out, open and closed the door, and put her Elmo sippy cups in the cup holders. She somehow knew how to honk the horn and turn the steering wheel while Mooma or Grandad pushed her around.
I normally only let Jessica have her pooh bear when she is napping but at Mooma and Grandad's her every whim is their command and she took full advantage.
Jessica likes to dress up so the beaded necklaces were a big hit. She puts them on herself.
She found some red horns on the dollar rack at Target and she thought they were cool so I got them for her. She is wearing her horns while Grandad feeds her grapes in the picture below.
She has a little red leather chair that she sits in while she watches her Elmo.
Mooma and Grandad fueled Jessica's all powerful Elmo obsession too. Notice in the next two pictures that she is eating with an Elmo fork from an Elmo bowl and drinking from an Elmo sippy cup. And Mooma also found her some Elmo slippers and Sesame street figurines.
Louie, the cat, was Jessica's sidekick for the week. He is sure going to miss following her around and pouncing her.
Louie is Uncle E's kitty. Jessica was more enamored with Uncle E than his cat. 
There was plenty of outside time too. Jessica got to play in the dirt and... 
her very own miniature pool.
Stay tuned for more posts from our Cali adventures... 
To keep on the Elmo theme, Jessica had a nice little surprise in the mail this morning. Aunt Megan sent her a picture of her favorite Muppet and she had to show mommy.
Jessica is still getting into the cat toys and putting the jingle balls in her mouth.
