Summer Shots

We have a new summer routine, I ride as fast and safely as I can to pick up Tatum from day care on the bike. As expected, I always have cool "aqua" (yes, she is saying aqua now) and snacks. The first day I went to pick her up on the bike I quickly realized that we needed to add a front basket to the bike to carry my work things and her day care things. So off we road to our local bike shop to add the trusty well-used front basket. It took a while for the installation to happen, so Tatum roamed (ran) the open rows of the bike store. At first the service guys were a little apprehensive about her frolicking near bikes, but she soon won them over with her crack up laughs and giggles. Because really, now that she walks there's no way to keep her in place let alone in my arms. One bike guy engaged her by playing peek-a-boo throughout the store. It won't be long before she's on her own two wheels (with training wheels of course).

Oh yes, Tatum's new found love. She opens her drawers, rummages through her clothes, selects a garment, and puts it on her head. She may play peek-a-boo with the shirt/pants/cover-up or she just may sling it over her shoulder and continue playing around the house. She finds it hilarious, and frankly, so do we.

MMMMM - Watermelon. Tatam may only have four teeth in her little head, but two front top teeth and two front bottom teeth are all you need to enjoy the pleasures of cold watermelon on a hot summer day. MMMMM!

Walk This Way

Our little girl is now on her own two feet, taking on the world one laugh and step at a time.

Andrew compiled this quick video showing Tatum's first trans-house walk. It happened Thursday morning after I left for work. Andrew was so excited and proud that he immediately posted the video and sent me the link. It made an otherwise cruddy day at work shine. I promise this clip will bring a smile to your face.

Summer Fun

With the temperatures in the 90s, summer has finally hit Southern California. Tatum wakes up from her heat induced marthon 2-3 hour afternoon naps with her head wet from sweat. We've created a ritual of water fun to keep us cool - sink baths, spray bottles and the kiddie pool out back. And yes, we bought an AC unit for the bedroom to keep the babe from having heat stroke.

There's been plenty of parties to keep us busy on the social scene, a scene Tatum loves. Above is a picture from a friend's one-year old party where Tatum and Mauve are both chatting and texting each other.

Eagle Rock, our LA neighborhood, offers a summer concert series. We joined the Cohens on Sara's birthday to celebrate with live music, a picnic dinner, and fun. At the end of the concert Tatum performed a headstand, a new move. She revelled in delight at the world upside down. And for us, we revelled in witnessing Tatum figure out something new and different with her body.

June in Review

Wow - what a month. So busy in fact that there was little time for blogging. We had a ton of visitors: Mimi and Boo (Andrew's folks), Aunt Bobby and Uncle Dick (Andrew's aunt and uncle), Michelle and Lindsay (Andrew's cousins), Rhonda (Meg's friend), and Thomas (former MiniVoid bandmate) and his girlfriend Lisa. Not to mention we took a camping trip, attended two weddings, celebrated Father's Day, and had lots of happy hour Fridays at our favorite local burger joint the Oinkster.

Tatum started walking, still not so much on her own, but she's up and around with two handy assistants (mom and dad). This past weekend we walked all the way up to the Tasty Freeze to enjoy a soft serve cone on a hot June day. Tatum walked the entire way there; making three stops to rest. How cute is that - she rests. She'll plop down for a few moments and then raise her hands to helped along again. The walker toy came in the mail; but she is yet to become a huge fan.

Tatum Talks! Since our girl in being raised in Southern California, we are taking bets on what her first language will be: English or Spanish. So far, it seems like Spanish is taking the lead. The other day we picked Tatum up from day care to find out that she now says "Gracias." And sure enough, she does. Thank you is in her vocabulary too, along with mama (FINALLY!).

She's beginning to repeat words at random moments as well. The other day we gave her an Obama button (with the pin removed) to play with. She enjoys taking the button along with beer bottle caps and putting them into and taking them out of a jar. Andrew showed her the button, read it out loud, and Tatum repeated "Obama." Gracias Obama - what more does a girl need to say!

Tatum's temperate is changing too. Can the terrible twos start at thirteen months? I know all moms go through this, but now is our time in witnessing our precious, curious child throw fits. And i do mean throw - she'll throw sippy cups, food, books, even herself (in full splay on the floor) - when the mood is right, or wrong for that matter. A child's emotions are so raw and real; and when she feels upset, you know it, you see it. The fits don't last long, and aren't out of the ordinary for the stage of life, but it's definitely a different stage.

At the same time, her interactions are more intended. Toys that have sat untouched in the corner waiting for her development to ripen are now in full play: the stacking stars, the what's inside box, the singing bear. She is mastering motor skills and learning to dance along the way.

So thus, our June in Review.