The Grand Finale

The playgroup officially turned three during today's group celebration, which thankfully took place on a very sunny day in San Francisco. Cheers all around for sticking together for so long. Can't wait to see what the next year brings. Here's the photo gallery:

The Playgroup Turns Three

A Billion Down, One More to Go

Today was Dailey's Snow White Birthday Party, remarkable for a couple or reasons. First, the princess entertainment was quite welcomed by Mia, who sported her Cinderella ball gown for the occasion. Second, it marked the last of the individual playgroup birthday parties. Tomorrow, we gather one more time to celebrate the playgroup itself turning three. While I suppose the growing baby inside my belly is probably the more likely culprit, I think I'll blame this burgeoning tummy bulge on the month long cupcake and ice cream binge.

Here are some more photos from today:

Dailey's Third Birthday Party

The Rare and Elusive Blue Panda

We are in panda country -- not China, but San Diego, which meant that the face painter at the San Diego Zoo was more than happy to oblige Mia's request for a blue panda makeup job, likely the first request she's ever had for such an animal.

Here are Fred's adorable photos from our trip. Too short, but filled with much fun.

Corey Kiddo, Part Deux

It appears that there is a sequel in the works. Mia will become a big sister approximately on March 3rd of next year, a year that is thankfully not a leap year. So far, so good. The first trimester queasiness seems to be disappearing and today's ultrasound confirmed all looks fine. We'll keep you posted as we find out more on this little one, including the gender which we can't wait to find out (mid-October). As for now, we are also elated to bring you the news that Mia tells us she is expecting, too -- depending on the time of day, she has 5-10 pandas in her belly. Those bamboo.com bills are going to be outrageous.

Party Hoppers

The never ending Month of Playgroup Birthdays continued this weekend with shindigs for Colton, Lily and Luke. Each was wonderful and provided the sugar high to which Mia is becoming quickly accustomed. Colton's party had a fire truck theme and included a real fire engine that the kids "drove." Lily's party was at My Gym, an old haunt from our SF days. Luke's was at Crissy Field, on a gorgeous late summer day. Below are links to the albums, featuring a bunch of very happy toddlers.

Lily's Third Birthday Party

Luke's Third Birthday

They're Back!

Our friends, Brigette and Dailey, have returned from their year abroad in Sweden. We are so excited to have them back! We had the playgroup over for a swim and sun day at our house this morning/afternoon and as it often happens with these kids, some impromptu dancing and shaking erupted.

Toddler at Work

On this sunny day at the Discovery Museum, Mia could be found seriously getting to the bottom of the gravel pit with her pink shovel. Her preferred uniform differs ever-so-slightly from the traditional construction worker.



After all that digging, one must relax, something easily achieved with an after-dinner ice cream cone.

Time Out

We took a brief respite from all the playgroup birthday parties this morning with a family trip to the Oakland Zoo. David and Mia enjoyed the skyride together, where they saw some lion and bison (Mom enjoyed a blue raspberry slushie back on the ground). Mia also took her record breaking gazillionth merry-go-round ride.

A wonderful belated birthday present was delivered in my inbox this evening -- here are Big Papi's photos from Mia's birthday weekend. He more than made up for our lack of decent pictures of the big day.

Tally Ho!

Alexis and Grandma wanted to squeeze in a horseback riding trip before they returned to Florida and Mia and I drove with them to Point Reyes today to make their wish happen. An unexpected surprise was that Mia was allowed to go for a mini-version of what her older cousin did -- a guided ride on top of Snape, a nineteen year-old gentle giant. Mia looked very teeny riding on the big guy, but she remained cool as a cucumber. She was all smiles, especially when we twice came across a most adorable baby fox.

Birthday Lunch

With the grandparents (and cousin) in town for Mia's birthday and David with a rare day off, Lara took advantage and made a lunch reservation at Brix Restaurant in Napa for Mia's actual birthday. The weather couldn't have been more perfect -- and the scenery wasn't so bad either.

Also, in the Mia birthday file, we had Mia's annual checkup today. As I suspected, a recent growth spurt keeps Mia officially in the string bean category. She weighs in at thirty-one pounds and measures a tall thirty-eight and a half inches tall (50%, 90% respectively). No shots made for a happy visit with the pediatrician, with Mia chatting up the good doc about her favorite animal, the panda. Don't tell Piggy.

Happy Birthday, Mia!

Hard to believe, but the little one is not so little anymore. Mia celebrated her third birthday today. We were twice blessed with both sets of grandparents (and Cousin Alexis) in town, a special treat that continues tomorrow on Mia's real birthday with a special Napa lunch. Today, it was all about the party --a party that featured a fairy princess, a hot dog cart, and a blue panda cake, along with all of Mia's favorite buddies from both playgroup and school. She is still digesting her bounty of presents (as well as that cake), but an early front runner appears to be a guitar from Dada. More pictures to follow, I hope, as others fill in the gaps left by two parents of the birthday girl who were too busy to pick up the camera.

And Why Not?

Mia wanted to wear her fancy blue dress to camp today and when she looks this cute in it, how could I argue?

Coffee Klatch

Our friend, Megan, and her adorable new girl, Hazel, visited San Francisco for the first time since Hazel was born (they are former SF residents). The four girls met for some coffee (with Mia opting for chocolate milk) and we managed to sneak in some park time, too. Great time catching up among old, and new, friends. After that get-together, our action packed Sunday continued with a Going Away Party for friends leaving the city for the 'burbs. There were a zillion children there and Mia quickly found a few girls with whom to hang.