C A L I F O R N I A !

Thanks to a frequent flyer ticket from a good friend, Ian and I spent last week with my folks in CA. We sure did miss Scott, but had a fun time getting re-aquainted with Grandma and Grandpa Ogden.

Here are some pictures from our trip -- it was very relaxing, with the bulk of our time spent showing Ian off to various long-time friends. With Diana Moore -- a dear friend of mine from my hometown stake, and my very favorite college roommate.
Grandma Ogden played with Ian while I had dinner. Ian just loves the view from there.

My kitty Connor bowing to Sir Ian.

Making fishy faces during a bath in Grandma and Grandpa's sink.

Grandpa found this Baby Einstein excersaucer at a garage sale for a price that couldn't be beat. He got it to collapse nicely for the plane ride home, though I got a lot of questions about the the tire-shaped cargo.

Cousin Tyler, Aunt Val, cousin Katelyn and Uncle Scott checking out the inside of Ian's mouth through the pacifier. It is an amazingly insteresting view.

The Reedy's with Ian.

Ian and Uncle Scott really hit it off.

Story time with Uncle Jason.

Green Eggs and Ham, anyone?

Relaxing on Grandpa Ogden's lap. They were insta-friends and Grandpa was an expert at getting Ian to giggle.

After a fabulous lunch with childhood friend Heather and mom Kathy.

Evening with three generations of long-time friends the Brunks.

Ian and baby Cheyenne loved each other and took turns cracking each other up.

The three of us gals have been friends since elementary school.

Sleeping

The good news is we discovered that Ian can put himself to sleep. (Too bad we didn't discover that 4 months and thousands of rocking/bouncing/ssshhhhing sessions ago.) It is really satisfying to swaddle him, give his bed a couple rocks, and then sneak out before he is even asleep. And he really seems to PREFER it to us rocking him -- he actually falls asleep much faster most times. And I suddenly have a lot more spare time.

Bad news is he thinks 5:00 a.m. is an appropriate time to "Rise and Shout." Hopefully this is just lagged time zone adjusting from our CA trip, and it will work itself out shortly.

Rrrraarrrr!

I am so tough, I eat raw elephant for breakfast!

Visual Development

When I found out Ian can now see color, I became concerned that his world was too bland. (He doesn't have any brightly colored toys yet). So I made this poster for him out of construction paper. The first time I set him in front of it, he quietly gazed at it for more than 40 minutes. Whenever he gets bored with it, I only have to turn it clock-wise to gain a few more minutes attention.