The Aunts Come Marching In

I don't know if it was the California sunshine or this precious little goose, but either way were able to lure my Aunt Teetsie (remix of Theresa by one of us when we were young) down from Seattle for a week to hang out with us back in May. We had fun walking along the beach, a quick trip up to Redondo for cousin Dom's second bday party and lots of shopping and lunch dates. We really tried to make her miss Cali by taking her for a cruise to La Jolla topped off with a fun lunch at the La Valencia Hotel where the Goose (and her monster stroller) got the royal treatment.

But quite possibly the most valuable discovery of her trip was the magic of the 'Jump in the line/Shake Senora' song that prompted Makenna's first outward chuckle at 2 and a half months old. We all know Pandora can throw some wild cards at you, but this just might have been the wildest. In the full throws of her reflux angst, butt naked and wearing a ducky towel, this song came on and we went from distress to pure heaven and it continues to make her laugh to this day. I'm sure Winona Ryder would have been proud (name that movie!).

Fancy shmancy at the La Valencia

Seals in La Jolla

And speaking of SEALS. . . .

My sister (you may know her as the 'Seal') made her way to the mainland for a visit back in June. Now I know it wasn't the California sunshine that brought her here from Hawaii ('Dina - how can you live here? It's so COLD in Southern California!') so I'm going to say it was the Goose. Either way it was so nice having her here to spend time with us!

No this photo isn't in black and white

In other, less fun, news I was contacted by Boston University to participate in a study as they are researching birth issues that don't run in families or have any known causes, and since we've got this times three I figured I better sack up and do it. The only discomfort listed was the 'anxiety that may be caused by some questions' asked during the phone interview which had me a little apprehensive before we began. All in all I realized that because I'm a worry wart (something that DOES run in the family) I was neurotic about doing everything 'right' during my pregnancy and ate enough leafy greens to make even Popeye blush, so I wouldn't do anything different and that these things sometimes just happen.  I don't know if that makes it better or harder to understand, but I do know that this kid is amazing and that all of this crazy stuff she has had to (and will have to) endure will only make her tougher and even more awesome.