Crawling, Partying, Biking, Cuddling

Tanner started crawling during President's weekend while my parents were here. He took his first three crawling steps when my dad placed a can of Dr. Pepper a few feet away from him. During the subsequent days, he spent most of his time rocking back and forth on his hands and knees, scooting his legs forward and pushing back ward with his arms. This made it so that he either moved nowhere or backwords. Here, he pushed himself backwords into the couch, and he couldn't figure out how to move forward!

Look at my chubby bud!

During the next few days of crawling, Tanner did a lot of pivot turns on his belly, and tried taking a few steps on his hands and knees. Here, he made it forward under the piano bench to see the golden piano peddles, but then he got stuck!

Within two weeks of his Dr. Pepper move, he was roaming all over the house. His favorite places to play are at the laundry pile in our room, the crack in the kitchen where we keep the broom, and anyplace that has a rug. Huh, who would have thought that a rug could be so entertaining? But I guess when you're on the ground all the time, it can easily become a point of interest.

Also in Feb, we went to my friend, Taryn's housewarming party in West Hollywood. We couldn't find a sitter, so we had to drag Tanner with us. He was such a good little guy!

This is my friend, Christie at the party. All three of us- Taryn, Christie and me- were teachers in the same hallway at our school.

 Tanner loves rough housing. He can ride on Jeremy's shoulders without holding on! He loves flailing his arms around and batting Jeremy's head. He also loves pulling Jeremy's hair and ears.

 I hope that Tanner's infatuation with paper lasts a really long time. It's the cheapest toy! I love it when he shreds the advertisements and ads from the mail because I hate them so much.

 We found a bike helmet for babies so that Tanner can ride safely in his bike trailer, but I think it's too big for him, haha.

 Every morning, Jeremy gets Tanner diaper changed, dressed, and feeds him breakfast food while I get ready for the day. It is the best thing ever to have Jeremy do this! Jeremy also brushes his own teeth with Tanner in his arms. Tanner loves feeling the electric toothbrush vibrate.

 Tanner and I always have some fun cuddling time right when I get home from work.

 Before Jeremy left for China, I made sure we got a good picture of him in case he died. We also got a family photo. Our brother Zach was actually in town for a business trip, so he took the pictures for us.

Two Different Worlds

On Thursday, March 15, Jeremy was in China. Here's what he wrote to me about the world he was in:
"Since my dinner plans were canceled, I wandered around aimlessly in the city for about three hours. Saw some interesting things. It's kind of like looking at the tide pools...at first it doesn't look like anything interesting is there, but when you really take some time to look you start seeing all kinds of cool stuff. Even though it was about 10pm and raining, the streets were bustling with people, car horns, bikes, and mopeds. Really active and interesting stuff. Oh, and I ate at KFC. Why? Because I felt like it. That place is seriously a part of Chinese culture now so deal with it. Also, 7-11's don't sell Slurpees here. I asked the guy where the Slurpees are and he looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language. Probably because I was speaking a foregn language. But yeah. No Slurpees in China. I couldn't believe it. This must be a third world country. haha It was good to know that no matter where I went I could just get a taxi to take me to the hotel, so I could wander wherever I felt like. Great experience for me."


Meanwhile, I was in Huntington Beach. Here's what I wrote to Jeremy about the world I was in:
"LOOOOONG day today. Taught all day and then directed the JH musical tonight. Long story short= Kathleen Shepley picked up Tanner from daycare and took care of him at our house all night while I stayed at teh school alll day. Tanner did not like how someone else picked him up from Daycare. I didn't really anticipate that. I think he might have done better if I picked him up and took him to another house. Very interesting what Kathleen said he did throughout the night- calling ma ma, studying her face and then getting mad, looking around the house and then getting cross with her. but he still played and smilied, and ate. he just wasn't happy right when they got to the house and around bedtime.

The JH show was AWESOME!! The kids really pulled it off. they were hilarious, really gelled into their characters and made them come alive. The audience (and me) was rolling in laughter... Now I've got to get ready for Janae's wedding in Utah tomorrow. I havent even packed yet and it's now 1:00am. oh yah, and last night i didn't get to sleep until 2:00 am doing report cards that were due, so i'll be pretty tired sometime soon."

Letter From China

Jeremy is in China right now learning about various businesses with his MBA program at USC. He went with 70 of his classmates. They will be enjoying lectures, touring offices, visiting production plants, stores, and markets. Here is a blurp from one of his first emails that he sent a few days ago!! He's gone from March 9-March 18. I am super jealous, but so happy that he gets this experience!

"Really a fun day today. We did lots of shopping/haggling/bargaining...
We went out a few times and tried to just see as much as possible. People have no personal space issues. They just push right past you...even old ladies! Especially old ladies! 

It's fascinating to see super modern luxury things right next to crappy old junk. Like the roads are filled with luxury mercedes and BMWs and also rickshaws and rusty bikes with whole families piled on. The buildings look brand new, but everyone dries their laundry outside, even underwear. And they don't even put their laundry on their own windows. They tie lines all over the sidewalk posts and just hang their blankets and shirts and underwear right in everybody's way. You have to literally push somebodys bra out of the way so you can walk down the sidewalk. 

We went in a buddist temple on the best day...Buddah's birthday! The place was packed, but the guide said that was normal. Really interesting statues and people dropping and praying all over. And the incense is still making my eyes burn.

Checked out a wet market and saw the live & dead toads, snakes, eel, chickens, snakes, etc. Watched them gut the snakes for a while. Fun job that guy has! "

Sweater Photos

My mom knitted this BEAUTIFUL sweater for Tanner. It was a big undertaking for her; it was her first time knitting something that isn't just straight like a scarf. A few weeks into it, she was told that she chose one of the hardest sweater patterns out there- esp for a beginner.

I'm so honored at the amount of love that Mom put into every stitch- and restitch, and re-restitch- of this sweater. It took her hundreds, probably thousands, of hours. And it paid off. Tanner looks soooo handsome in it. Thank you, Nana. We love it!!

I took these pictures on our couch when he was 7.5 months old (last month). And the little trooper was a very happy sport, despite having a 102 fever and a double ear infection at the time.