The OC, Part 5

This dance is awesome! Need I say more?

The OC, Part 4

Micah really, really enjoyed playing outside in the Heis backyard, as you'll be able to see in this nice little video. Also appearing: Ruthie!

The OC, Part 3

We had the privilege of staying with our friends the Heis' while visiting the OC. The first pic, of course, must be a picture of Clara, who couldn't help but find herself in front of the camera. Her shirt says it all!


For those of you who miss them dearly, here are some nice pictures of them all.

The UC Irvine campus is very close to a large ecological preserve. Here is a nice family picture taken after we took a walk there.


Here's a portrait of Clara, taken at the same reserve.


Ruthie is banging these cups together at high speed.


Micah really enjoyed a week with two fun sisters! They challenged him to become more mobile. Mealtimes were also more fun with a companion.

The OC, Part 2

The next day Sarina, Karina, and Micah went to Irvine Spectrum, a very nice mall. We ate at a Mexican restaurant because I was really craving Mexican. :-) Micah enjoyed some black beans off my plate, but he really enjoyed the lemons, in that "Whoa that's sour! Give me more!" sort of way.




We were later joined by Karina's parents, Mirta and Luis. We ate together, then went outside and enjoyed the nice weather for a bit.


Karina, and Micah and I then took a ride on the carousel. Micah seemed to really like it. :-)


While in the OC, we stayed with some good friends from Pgh, the Heis family. We will post some pics from our time with them in subsequent posts. We simply felt that Micah's encounter with their screen door couldn't wait.


And Micah hanging with Karina at their house after dinner.

The OC, Part 1

I'm sorry it's taken so long to get this post up ... I've been sick this week, and it's been all I could do just to get to work and home again.

We were in southern CA all of last week, ostensibly so I could attend Design Automation Conference once again, but really so that we could visit the Heises and see Sarina's friend from UCSD, Karina.

We went to dinner with Karina and her beau, Pete, on Sunday night. We ate at a Vietnamese restaurant, Pho Bac, because Sarina wanted to try some "authentic" pho, or at least more authentic than what the trucks on Carnegie Mellon campus have to offer.

Micah, miraculously, cooperated to the extent that a 10 and a half month old can (he was 10 and a half months old at the time; he's 11 months old now-- Sarina wanted this to be clear). He only dumped most of his crackers on the floor, and sat for at least five or ten minutes before needing to cruise around the patio. When we got him back in his seat, he spotted a problem that only a 10 and a half month old can solve: there was a door that needed to be closed.


Micah couldn't help but stare, almost longing at this door that needed to be closed. If only he wasn't trapped in his high chair, then he could crawl to the door and close it! Micah loves closing doors ... and then opening them, and closing them again ... and again ... and again ... you get the picture.

We topped of the night with some frozen yogurt and a photo op.

Update from Orange County

We're all out in California this week, so I can attend Design Automation Conference again this year. Because DAC is in Anaheim, which is pretty close to Irvine, we're staying at Chateau Heis!

Because we're out of town, there probably won't be any blog posts until after we return; check back on June 16th! If you're obsessed with Micah, like Karina is, you might be rewarded by checking back before then!

Memorial Day

We went to a Memorial Day party at a friend's house. Micah's friend Andrew was there, and Micah was happy to see him.


It's a lot of fun to watch babies interact, since they tend to do things to each other that they don't do to adults.


Then Micah spent some time working on his lock picking skills. He needs more practice, evidently.


Of course, there's always interesting things to look at in the grass. Micah has figured out that he can take his pacifier out to drink from a cup, but hasn't made the connection with eating things yet ... thankfully.


Micah has figured out clapping! What I haven't figured out is why he claps. I'm not convinced he does it for the same reason we do (to indicate that something is good). You can tell, even with his pacifier, that he isn't clapping right now because he's overjoyed.

Gardening Part 1

I have recently discovered a love of gardening. It all started when I got completely sick of the forest of weeds growing in our front yard. We rent the second and third floor of a house owned by a really good friend so I asked him if I could do some landscaping. He said yes. I consulted a friend with a green thumb and she helped me pick hearty, low-maintenance perennials to plant in the front yard. Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of the yard before I did all the work. Below are pictures of the front yard after I finished planting. The only things that were there originally are the four lilies, the azalea, and the ground cover on the hill. Everything else I planted!

Florida, Part 4: A dog!

Micah didn't discover his love of dogs in Florida, but the trip presented the first opportunity to document it. Micah and company came across a local golf-cart-riding dog during a walk.


Micah saw a dog up close first at his friend Sierra's birthday party a couple of months ago. He "chased" Indy, a giant lab, all over the place, giggling and grinning as wide as his cheeks would allow.

His response to seeing any dog is quite predictable: giggling, chasing and grinning. And patting/grabbing when he's close enough to do so.

A couple dogs Micah has encountered have also been kind enough to give him licks. Micah seems to appreciate this as well (indicated by, if possible, increased giggling and grinning).

Despite Micah's undying love of dogs, it remains to be seen if Micah's parents will oblige and buy him one of his own.

Florida, Part 3: Swimming

And we're back!

Micah also discovered a love of swimming in Florida. At first, it didn't look promising, and like most things, Micah approached it with grave seriousness.


Then, Micah realized that he was, in fact, sitting in an enormous cup! Joy! Would Gran let him drink from it?


If not Gran, would Granddad let him drink from it?


Woo hoo! This is awesome!


Alas, the large cup isn't for drinking, but it's pretty cool when Granddad blows bubbles.



We've since started Micah on swimming lessons, and he absolutely loves it. Especially the look-mom-and-dad-I'm-in-an-enormous-cup! part. The swimming is nice too.

Florida, Part 2: The Joy of Reading

Micah also likes to read. He has his favorite books, too, which is cute, because he'll walk to the bookshelf and consistently pick them out. One such book, is the Peekaboo book. Each page obscures a picture of a baby with a large flap. Because this book is a favorite, it made it to Florida. Apparently, having books to read on the plane is a great way to distract someone who would otherwise not be contented sitting in the same place for two hours.

The process is:

1. Turn the page.
2. "Where's the baby?"


3. Micah reveals baby.
4. "Peekaboo!"


It's a blast. (Really.)

Incidentally, Micah has recently lost interest in this particular book. He's trying to branch out, but not always with success. For instance, he'll go to the bookshelf and consistently pick out "Big Red Barn," but after a couple pages he remembers that he doesn't quite have the patience for it, and goes back for another.

The attraction "Big Red Barn" could be the cows. Micah is currently obsessed with cows. More on that later ...

Florida, Part 1: Driving

Micah and Sarina went to Florida last month to visit Sarina's parents for a week. They had a wonderful time, and Micah got to experience many things for the first time. The subject of today's post: driving.

Micah likes to drive. And don't you even think about putting your hands on the wheel: he was born for this.

Flashback: Church Retreat, Part 3

And sadly, the adventure in nature comes to and end ...

Micah was quite excited to be outside.


For a while, he had the best seat in the house, and was able to play with the leaves on the trees above. Also, he experimented with how to direct me by pulling on my hair. Go left! Go left!


Micah spent a bit more time on another rock, this one covered with moss. He's trying to decide whether or not to put the acorn in his mouth.

Flashback: Church Retreat, Part 2

The adventure in nature continues!

Do you remember the first stick and rock you played with? No? You mean your obsessive parents didn't take a picture of them? You must be truly dismayed at your misfortune. Micah, however, will experience no such disappointment!


Apparently dried leaves are also very interesting.