Monday Picture(s)

Today you get two. Because Mike is super cute and I'm generous like that.

At Prospect Point in Stanley Park in Vancouver.

Yum, tasty avocados

Vacation!

Annually, Brad and I like to take a nice week long vacation. We usually go somewhere south with lots of warm weather and fruity drinks, however, since we had Mike in tow this year we decided to go a different route. We started out in Wyoming visiting my family and checking on my mom who had just had surgery. My dad claims that we brought the best possible medicine in the form of an adorable little boy who was more than willing to coo at and snuggle with grandma.

Snuggling with grandma


Having a screaming contest with grandpa perhaps???

Sarah and I hanging out in the COLD weather (thanks for letting me borrow your coat mom...not that you even knew I borrowed it).

While we were there Mike had his first horseback ride. Well, honestly it was more of a horseback sit. I don't think he actually rode anywhere because it was so cold that day.

Mike and Brad on Dutch

Mike trying desperately to figure out what this thing dad is always drinking is.

As a side note immediately after this picture he spit up...right into the beer...and then Brad drank it anyway. My how being a parent changes your perspective on things.

After our weekend in Wyoming we headed here:

Ok, ok, perhaps that isn't quite enough for you to figure out where we went next. Maybe this will help a little more???

Still not getting it, ok, ok...I'll make it nice and obvious...

Yep, we were off to Seattle where we spent the next few days. The first picture in this sequence is at the Seattle Aquarium. Mike was MESMERIZED by the fish. We also visited the Pacific Science Center (which was awesome) and the Experience Music Project, as well as taking a harbor cruise and doing a few other random things (such as driving to Tacoma for breakfast one morning just because).

Mike sitting in a duckbill dinosaur footprint that the science center.

Crazy sculpture at the EMP that played music.

Part of the outside of the EMP.

After a few days in Seattle we headed even further north. Yep, to Canada aye.

This is actually on a little beach in very northern Washington. We saw a sign for it as we were heading to Canada and decided to take a quick detour.

Look at that...Canada!!! This is where Mike became an international baby.

Our first day in Canada was a bit of a bust. As we were driving to the border, I got a migraine, or something similar to a migraine. We rushed to our hotel where they were nice enough to let us check in extra early. I literally crashed while Brad took Mike and drove around for a while so I could get some rest. They returned about 90 minutes later with food. I was still a bit shaky, but after another food run I was feeling good enough to get out a little bit and explore Vancouver. We headed out to Stanley Park and walked around for a couple of hours in the rain. Note to self...it rains a lot in the Pacific Northwest. Mike slept during the entire walk and was nice and dry underneath the canopies of his stroller.

Our second day in Vancouver went much better. We signed up for a whale watching expedition.

Mike on the boat with his carrot.

We were lucky enough to see a TON of marine wildlife. Shortly after leaving the dock we saw a bunch of sea lions and then after we got out a ways we started to see whales...and lots of them.

Orcas

On the way back to dock we went past a couple of islands and saw tons of seals, more sea lions and a bunch of eagles. It was all very cool. Best part, during the 4.5 hour trip Mike was the poster boy of a good baby.

After a few days in Vancouver we headed up even further north toward the little town of Squamish. This waterfall (Shannon Falls) is located right outside the town and we could literally see it from our hotel room.

Mike hamming it up at Shannon Falls.

We did some hiking while we were up there. This is on the Brohm lake trail.

After our time in Squamish we decided to head up to Whistler for half a day or so.

I think the sign kind of sums it up.

View of the resort.

Me modeling a lovely moose hat.

Mike petting the bear statue.

It was a great vacation but boy and I glad to be home. Other items of note that happened during the trip. Mike cut his first tooth. He started being able to use restaurant high chairs and he decided that little paper ketchup cups are his favorite new toys.

Back

Sorry I've been MIA all week. The Warlick family went on vacation! I will write a nice big post about it tomorrow, or maybe Monday...In the meantime here is a picture from our trip to tide you over.

Monday Picture

This week's Monday picture is posted on Sunday because I won't be around a computer tomorrow. Hope you enjoy!!!

Fancy Book Learning

Reading is very important to us. We try to make sure to read Mike at least one book everyday with hopes that he will develop a life long love of literature. As of now he is much more interested in attempting to eat his books than read them, however, he does seem to enjoy the time spent with mom and dad.

Mike demonstrating the proper way to hold a book and NOT eat it.

Enjoying Big Bad Bruce with dad. This is a book that Brad insisted we add to our library. Of course, Brad got the honors of reading it to Mike for the first time ( I think he liked it...though he did get a little fussy during the "scary" part).

How fancy, a play mat with your name right on it!

As a side note please have my mom in your thoughts tomorrow. She will be having surgery and we are all wishing her a quick and easy recovery! We love you mom!!!

You Know You're a Mom When...

You know you're a mom when you think your child gets cuter every single day, yet at the same time have no idea how it is even possible for them to be more adorable.

As an example:

Here is Mike at about 6 weeks. Totally adorable

But wait, here, at 4 months, he is even cuter.And finally (for now) at 5 months EVEN more adorable.

What IS that???

Mom, what have you got there? That looks fantastic I REALLY want some.

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy I'm getting some of this magic, non-milk liquid. SCORE!!!

What in the hell? Why oh why would you give me that???

By the way...it's water.

Monday Picture(s)

I couldn't decide which of these I liked better, so you get both...Happy Monday!

Sitting Pretty

It is official. I have a little boy that can sit...unassisted...for long periods of time. If he starts to fall forward and fold in half, he can pull himself back up. He still has no power over the backwards fall though. I can't believe how fast he is growing.

Fashion...or lack thereof

I don't really have much of a fashion sense...I'll just come right out and say it. My mom disagrees with me everytime I bring this up and says I have a great sense of style. Well she is my mom and would love me if I was wearing a sack (i.e. she has mommy goggles). I think I look ok most days. I don't wear polka dots with stripes anything blatantly obvious like that. However today I am a little worried. I thought my outfit was just fine...perhaps even a little fashionable, but I have already had two people say "wow, that's really bright." The first was my husband. The conversation went something like this:

Him: wow that's really colorful

Me: yep...is that a bad thing...

Him: shrugs shoulders and walks away

The second was a guy at work and the conversation went like this:

Him: you're really bright today (as he looks up from his desk when I walk in his office)

Me: you're the second person to tell me that. You know, with it being so dreary outside, I thought it would brighten things up a bit.

Him: yeah, I was going to wear bright clothes today but decided against it. End the conversation by giving me a "wow that's bright" kind of look.

So what do you think? Is my outfit awful? Do I look like I should be part of Rainbow Brite's posse, or perhaps like I'm trying to mimic Barney? Or do these men just even have less fashion sense than I do?

Apparently this is my new posse. I wish I could ride the horse.

Hi Folks, my name is Erin the dinosaur...I love you, you love me...

Daily Dose

Just in case you haven't gotten enough of Michael today...

You know you're a mom when...

You know you're a mom when you read the following excerpt and tear up a little bit because you realize how true it is (at least I did):

"As my daughter is placed in my arms, the solitary aspect of this endurance is over. I now realize, in the moment of her birth, that I will never be alone again. This child will be with me always. When she is no longer in my arms, she will be in my thoughts and in my prayers. And every decision I make, I will consider the heartbeat of my child. In the instant of her birth, my life no longer belongs to me. Although I share my life with her father, I give me life to her. This is my new vocation, parenting a child.

With my gift to my child, I am given another in return: fear. I fear for the frail infant. I fear for her safety, her health. I worry if she will be happy and content with my husband and me as her parents. I fear for my own life, too, my own health and safety. I have a responsibility to protect my own life now, so I can protect this child and she will not suffer loss."


Written by Maraya Goyer Steadman.


That's the one...the little boy who has stolen my heart.

Beware: Flying Babies

We were playing with the settings on our new camera. This is how we tested its ability to take action shots. I think it turned out pretty good aside from the look of terror on my face (as Brad so kindly put it).

Whew, safe and sound back in mom's arms and sucking on his toes.

Monday Picture

Mike relaxing in the shade while mom and dad did a little gardening.