44 Weeks Old!

Hi all,


Week 44 was another great week. We spent most of it in Carlsbad and San Diego.


My parents are in Carlsbad, California during the month of December, so we visited them for a couple of days before heading to San Diego, where John had a work training course.


Carlsbad is about a 2 hour drive from Redondo Beach. Avalon had fun - both Bronte and Cole (my parent's dog) were there and played with her.


Carlsbad photos:

Playing with Grandpa's flashlight!

We spent three days in San Diego, which was great. John was in training all day, so my parents drove down to hang out with Avalon and I. Our hotel was close to Balboa Park, so we explored the park, the Botanical Gardens, a couple of musems in the park, and the highlight - the San Diego zoo.

We also did some sightseeing with John and checked out Coronado and the Gaslamp Quarter, which is a great food and shopping district.

Here are some pictures from Balboa Park and the Botanical Gardens:

I loved this mosaic pattern in an art area in the park.

A Dr Seuss decorated Christmas tree...there are things from "the Grinch" all over the tree!

I love photographing old doorways for some reason...

We checked out the Museum of Man. I tried to wake Avalon up (she was sleeping in her stroller) to get her to check out the HUGE mock-up of an extinct relative of the gorilla. It was about 15 feet tall!

Our day at the San Diego Zoo with my parents was fabulous. For those of you who haven't been before - the SD Zoo is an especially amazing zoo. The grounds are gorgeous and they have every type of animal imaginable in natural environment enclosures. Avalon had a great day! Here are a few pictures:

One very cool part of the day at the zoo, is that Avalon got a chance to meet Santa Claus! I'm glad we didn't have to wait in line for ages, because Avalon HATED Santa!!! The second she got into his lap, she freaked out completely...he tried everything to get her to smile. :) Here's the best picture that I got of her first Santa experience:

John, Avalon and I also checked out the Island of Coronado (driving over the bridge to Coronado was gorgeous), and the Gaplamp Quarter. We had dinner at a place in the Gaslamp where they had a jazz trio playing. Avalon is loving music more and more, and she was captivated by the music. She kept doing what I call a "happy shriek" - essentially very loud high pitched screaming - whenever the music got especially exciting. It's so great to see her so captivated by music.....we think that this could be her big interest.


Here are a few random pictures from San Diego:

John being silly at a beach in Coronado.

The lights on the Hotel del Coronado.

Hope that you are all doing well, too. More soon...including this week's post showing Avalon's amazing first Christmas.

Love to you all.

J, J, + A

43 Weeks Old!

Hi all,


Christmas is almost here...and we are all decorated and ready for the festivities!


I love decorating for Christmas...putting the tree up and pulling out the ornaments. John likes to watch me decorate :) and Avalon really liked watching! I'm not sure that she knew what was going on, but she was definitely interested. Next year, I'm sure that she'll want to help trim the tree.




Here are a few pictures of our tree and other festive decorations:

In Redondo Beach, where we live, Santa Claus visits each street during the month of December. During Week 43, Santa came to Carver Street!

John and I have always loved this event, and it was even more fun with Avalon this year. We got all bundled up since it was a chilly night, and said sat in Santa's sleigh. Instead of reindeer, the sleigh was pulled by a truck and there was a police escort! Non-traditional perhaps...but still a good time!

John has been talking about getting Avalon into the swimming pool alot lately...so he signed her up for some swimming lessons. Avalon's friend, Taylor, is taking the lessons too. So, John and Taylor's dad (Juan), took the girls for their first class. I went as the designated photographer.

The girls are learning to float on their backs, to jump off the side of the pool into dad's waiting arms, and to go underwater. It's amazing to watch...and of course, Avalon did a great job! She really seems to love the water - clearly something that she has in common with her daddy.

We hosted a fun playdate this week with two of Avalon's friends, Carter and Stone. They are all crawling around and are much more interactive now. Avalon shared her toys and everyone LOVED her Mickey Mouse truck! :)

Avalon is getting really confident standing and pulling herself up now. She's starting to walk along the couch while holding on. We aren't sure quite how close she is to taking her first steps, but we aren't rushing it! Mommy and Daddy are trying to savor these last few - days? weeks? -when we don't have to run after her in all directions!

Here's to getting into the spirit of season...hope that you are all doing well.

All our love, xo
Johanna, John + Avalon