December Delights

In December we visited Grandma Sohair's house. I begged her to share her yummy oatmeal with me and she did. We practiced walking in the backyard at Teta's house.

Dipping Cookies

Fisher used to follow Mom from room to room, crying if I wasn't holding him. Now he crawls as fast as he can in the opposite direction to go exploring. Look what he found at Granny's house. (Janeen provides the commentary.)


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Almost Walking

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The spot on my nose is a rug burn. If I were wearing antlers I'd look like Rudolph!


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Thanksgiving 2006

The Beach Family joined us for Thanksgiving dinner on board Persistence in San Diego.
We dressed up like Indians and I would screech and squeal in excitement when we played together. They even took turns feeding me breakfast.

During our weekend I took a bath in the sink, shared my snacks with Dad and played with the faucet during a harbor cruise. Our friends Jeff, Jan and Emily Bernards stayed with us Saturday night. Emily has a little brother and like pretending that I was her little brother too. We watched Mary Poppins together and she called me Fisher-man.

Fun Firsts

In November I went to my first parade, the Cattle Call Parade in Brawley, followed by my first rodeo later that afternoon. My second cousin Serena was this year's Cattle Call Rodeo First Princess and I watched her ride in the parade and at the rodeo.


I fed myself for the first time. This dinner was fusili pasta and broccoli.

I Discovered my tongue. Three upper teeth came in. Left side tooth followed by the front two, weeks later.


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I started making "fish lips" and lots of baby-talk babble.

My first words are "yes" and "look".

Autumn Amusements

DADDY DAYCARE: "Kid's got a sweet tooth, what do you want me to do?"

Fisher as a puppy and Bosun as Super Dog (which he always is to us)

Saying goodbye to Granny and Poppy before they leave for two weeks in Israel.

First haircut at Central Barber Shop.

Mom learned the difference between a trim and a cut.
Onboard Persisitence with Grandma Sohair and Kimberly (George's granddaughter).

9 Month Checkup

The doctor says he's a healthy, big boy with strong lungs. He let the doctor know he wasn't happy about being taken away from Mommy to be examined. He weights 20.3 pounds (50%) and is 31" tall (95%).

Favorite Foods: Anything green. Kale, Swiss Chard, Split Peas, Green Beans, Zuccini, Avocado. Forget fruit, grains and veggies are his favorites. He also eats egg yolk, tofu, yogurt, cheese, bread and peanut butter. Yum!

Nicknames: Sticker, Fichyssoise, Fisher Buddy, Sugar Bear

9-month photos can be viewed at http://mystudio.kiddiekandids.com/viewshare.asp?c=036005702Z4K6WN46

8th Anniversary

Mike surprised us with a pair of new bikes for our 8th anniversary. We all pile in for rides around the neighborhood or to my parents house. Fisher is happy wearing his froggy helmet and smiles at Bo when we pass each other.

I'm Crawling

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Lazy Days of Summer

Swinging at the playground on Shelter Island

Tired after shopping in Coronado with GG (Grandma Gaddis)
Spending a fun day in Balboa Park with the Ansiels

Standing up on my own
Storytime with Poppy
Taking friends to see the goats, geese, horses, dogs, miniature horses and calf at my great grandma Rosie's house

*SCROLL DOWN TO SEE NEW PHOTOS ADDED TO ALASKA CRUISE*

Southern Hospitality

Mom and I accompanied Dad on a business trip to Atlanta, Georgia. We toured the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. I made flirty eyes at girls passing by.

Played in the Fountain of Rings at Centennial Olympic Park.

Took in a panoramic view of the city from atop the Westin Peachtree (sister hotel to the Bonaventure in Los Angeles where Mom used to work).

Watched the Braves play the Marlins at Turner Field.

Enjoyed authentic Southern food at Pittypat's Porch. Mmmmm... fried chicken, mashed potatoes, blackeyed peas, collard greens and corn bread. And, we visited the new Georgia Aquarium (impressive, but doesn't compare to diving in Cozumel).

Silly Smiles

See my two teeth! When I'm really excited I wrinkle my nose and tilt my head. My latest trick is to sing and clap.

Alaska Cruise

Lets go Dad! I'm ready to see Alaska.
I cruise through the airport in my carseat with wheels attached.








My first limo ride. This is fun!

A highchair and pureed vegetables awaited Master Fisher at dinner each night.

We all boarded a helicopter for a flight to Mendenhall Glacier. Mid-air the flight was called off due to deteriorating weather conditions.






More photos coming soon!

Cherry Cove 7/06

This was our first trip to Catalina in the new boat. I slept soundly during our smooth crossings. My favorite activity was watching dogs. Bosun went with us and friends we met there brought their dogs. I met Darwin a labrador, Sailor a Schipperke, Gus a Dachsund and Gracie a Jack Russel. I giggled during bumpy dinghy rides and tolerated my bulky life jacket. I met two new friends, Adelaide, only three weeks old and Waylan, five months old. This was my first time on a "big kid" swing and it was so much fun I couldn't stop laughing!

Two Teeth

Two bottom center teeth are breaking through the gums. He's biting everything he can get in his mouth.

Almost Crawling

I can push up onto my hands and wiggle my hips.

"Milk" "Milk"

For several months I have been showing Fisher the sign for milk each time I feed him. He woke up this morning and before I fed him he intentionally made the hand sign for milk. As soon as we noticed, Mike and I simultaneously said to each other "he's doing it". Then Mike said "If I hadn't seen it myself, I wouldn't believe it."

Other signs we're working on are eat, drink, all done, more and waving bye-bye.

Summer Fun

A Baby's Hug

We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a highchair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking.

Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, "Hi." He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment.

I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map. We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled.

His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists.

"Hi there, baby. Hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster," the man said to Erik.

My husband and I exchanged looks, "What do we do?"

Erik continued to laugh and answer, "Hi."

Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then
at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby.

Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, "Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek-a-boo."

Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk.

My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments.

We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot.

The old man sat poised between me and the door.

"Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or
Erik," I prayed.

As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's "pick-me-up" position.

Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man's. Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love and kinship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time. I stood awestruck.

The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, "You take care of this baby." Somehow I managed, "I will," from a throat that contained a stone.

He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, "God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift." I said nothing more than a muttered thanks.

With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, "My God, my God, forgive me."

I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not.

I felt it was God asking, "Are you willing to share your son
for a moment when He shared His for all eternity.

The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, "To enter the Kingdom of God, we must become as little children."