Croup.

Hello friends & family!

SO...the past week of our life has been consumed by croup. Yes, Babycakes caught that nasty, horrific bark-sounding cough that keeps sad babies and worried parents up at night. We went to the doctor last week and even though she was sick, Lucie seemed to love every second of being in the office. Fancy gown. Mirrored wall. People outside to wave at. Lots of things to play with! Anyway...very thankfully, she is on the mend and things seem to slowly be getting back to normal around here. 

Banging on the window at passers by. Lots of people waved to her...it was pretty entertaining! 

So, after quarantining the poor kid for the week, John and I decided to let her experience some freedom and fresh air over the weekend. We went to a nearby park. And, well...

...I think she enjoyed herself!

Yay!

Wee!

Can't get over how much she does NOT look like a baby anymore...

Hahahahaha this face!!!

Learning how to walk in her new shoes (like a drunken sailor!)!

You'd think she'd never seen grass before!

She wasn't too sure about it that day...

We had a great time and we have been THOROUGHLY enjoying the cooler temperatures. It has given us a chance to break out some of her winter clothes. Let me tell you...the hand-me-down hooded vest below is quickly becoming my new favorite!

It makes for great "lounging around on a cloudy day" wear!

In case you're wondering what she is staring so intently at: Disney's "Enchanted." 

She L-O-V-E-S it. 

Happy, almost healthy girl!

Oh my.

OH MY.

Happy Fall!

Pumpkin Patching

Happy Fall, everyone!

I'm feeling especially fall-ish today. Perhaps, it is because the temperature high is only in the 70's (thank the Good Lord!!!). Perhaps, it is because I am eating a slice of my mom's homemade apple pie at noon. Perhaps, it is is because I am eating two slices of my mom's homemade apple pie at noon. Ya...that must be the reason.

To officially welcome the autumn season, the Hubs and I took Babycakes to a pumpkin patch over the weekend! We decided to go to Tanaka Farms in Irvine. Why all the way to Irvine? Because the place is humongous and rustic and dusty and beautiful and if Charlie Brown's Great Pumpkin really existed...it would probably live there. That's why. 

Side note: If you want to know where "hipster" college students go to pick out pumpkins...go here. Never have I seen so many TOMS shoes-wearing, skinny jean be-decked millenials with pumpkins in hand (whereas having a child automatically throws us into the "you've become slightly dorky and might not be able to pull off those skinny jeans anymore" category). It was quite a sight to see! 

Also, we didn't even buy a pumpkin here. Woops! My parents grew a perfect pumpkin at their house that they had brought us a few days before...so our trip to Tanaka was basically a photo op (and a fun, new experience!). I mean, come on. We have a new-ish baby. Everything is a photo-op.

On that note...here are some photos...enjoy!

She started out generally confused by everything...

Then, we let her sit IN the pumpkin patch...and she loved it! 

Confused again... 

Kind of getting it...

Nope, still pretty confused... 

It was a gorgeous day! But, a little windy...

Wee!!!

Lulu...distracted in a family photo? That's odd...

We had a great time! Thanks, Tanaka Farms! :)

Beach Day

Well, it continues to be a thousand degrees here in Southern California. I don't think I'd mind the heat so much if we lived near the beach...but man. If you drive 20 minutes inland from the coast - ridiculously hot with little relief! So after church yesterday, we packed our little babe into the car and set our sights towards the sea!

BUT first...a quick detour to the Irvine Great Park. No offense to Irvine - but the Great Park wasn't that great. I think that the "Great Park" name conjured up images of giant trees, lots of cool shade, fantastic play areas, splash pads, duck ponds, petting zoos, etc. etc. Basically, we got our hopes up (and probably didn't do enough pre-trip research). In its defense, there were "coming in 2013" signs everywhere for different features of the park - but not much was available to us yesterday. 

We planned to high-tail it to the ocean but decided we should take advantage of one of the free park features before we left: the merry-go-round! So, we got in line. Well, John and Lucie did. I did not. Want to know why? Because merry-go-rounds make me want to hurl. Even watching them go round and round makes me motion sick. So, John will now and forever be the designated parent companion on any and all amusement park rides that make me want to lose my lunch. 

As I said, John and Lucie got in line...only to be rejected at the front for not having a hand stamp. So we went to the visitor's center for the stamp that you can only receive after signing a waiver allowing them to use photos of you and your family in their Great Park advertising ventures. I thought this was weird...but whatever. It was free. So, keep an eye out for John and Lucie's photo on the Great Park website! Because, look at how much fun she's having!!!! Or...wait...nevermind...

In a word: unimpressed. 

This was the largest smile (or smirk) she cracked the entire time. I think she was confused and hot (it was almost 100 degrees!) and annoyed that she had to be strapped in and that John wouldn't allow her to taste the brass pole in front of her. All in all...maybe a little too young to enjoy the merry-go-round. Haha oh well. We'll try again in 2013. :)

SO...we quickly enacted Plan B: Laguna Beach. 

Hello, lover. 

"Who needs a merry-go-round?! THIS. IS. AWESOME!!!!!"

Gazing. 

Attempting to run into the ocean!

I love them.

WEEEE!!!!!

Attempting to run into the ocean...again. We'll be watching this one like hawks when she can walk on her own!

"Pointing" is her new thing. Not so much pointing at things...but just pointing in general. I think that she thinks it helps her balance while toddling around. :)

Blurry photo...but love this face! 

"Why'd you have to put this hat on me, mother?"

And now for the family photos:

Thank you Lord for two of your most wonderful gifts: family and the ocean!