San Diego, Part I

San Diego doesn't know what has hit 'em. Our family, along with my parents, grandparents, the Morgans, and Uncle Larry have trekked down to San Diego for a week's vacation. Yesterday we all went to the San Diego Zoo. Dillon's favorite part was the guerrillas and monkeys. Connor was just happy to be outside all day.

After the zoo, the guys went to the Dodgers-Padres game. We were hoping to see the Dodgers clinch the NL West with a win but they lost a close game, 3-1. The seats were great and cousin Nick was able to join us. Nick is going to San Diego State and took time away from his studying to hang out with us.

I have a ton of pictures but can not upload them at the time because the Internet connection at the hotel is very slow.

The (Pale) White Album

The Beatles: Rock Band finally arrived in the mail last week. Of course, I have insisted on playing it so much that Christina is ready to break my plastic drums and guitar in half. Occasionally she will join in on vocals while Dillon shreds on his guitar.

Below is a picture of Dillon and I wailing on our axes to "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." Eric Clapton wasn't available to join in on this version.




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Now playing: B.Reith - The Comeback Kid
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First Steps, Connor Edition

Today Connor took his first steps. His new trick is to stand up on his own, without the aid of the couch or my leg. He learned this trick yesterday and tried to walk but he kept falling on his face after step one. But today he was able to string together five steps before tumbling to the floor.

Connor is exactly the same age as Dillon was when he took his first steps. Now the fun begins because it is only a matter of time before he is running around the house.



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Now playing: Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run
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Oh Boy!

Christina had a sonogram today. And the sex of the new baby will be ....... determined next month. The little stinker was not quite ready to expose itself to us. It wouldn't get in the right position for the nurse to give us a definite answer. We found out that Dillon and Connor were going to be boys around this same time in the pregnancy as Christina is now, 19 weeks. This time we have to wait four more weeks.

At Last

Twenty years after building their house, the Cummings finally put in a pool. Christina and I went to Fresno Pacific with the pool's designer. He did a great job of blending the pool and waterfalls with the natural landscape.

The shape of the pool is meant to resemble that of a pond. The deep end is on the left and the shallow is on the right. As you can see, the shallow end also has an extended shelf allowing for more play room for little children.

The top of the two waterfalls make for great places to lounge. They also provide a relaxing white noise while sitting poolside.

The view from inside the pool. The infinity edge is framed nicely by the rocks and overlooks the hillside.

The video below is a quick snippet of Dillon showing off his moves. He loves to pretend that he is Buzz Lightyear while swimming. You can hear him calling Buzz's name out in his first few jumps. In the last jump he says, "To infinity and beyond!" One note, when this video was shot the temporary fence was still up by the deep end.




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Now playing: Beck - Where It's At
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Only Connor

I've always heard that the first kid always has more pictures taken of him/her then the children that follow. That trend has taken a hold of us, so here is my attempt to break the pattern.


Eating is Connor's first love. He weighed in at 22 pounds and 7 ounces (75th percentile) and measured 31 inches (95th percentile) at his nine month checkup. It should be noted that he was actually ten months old by the time we got him to the doctor because of the pregnancy.


Now that Connor is mobile, Otis has learned to keep his distance. However, we caught this rare moment on camera of the two playing nice together.


Otis was really waiting for Connor to throw the ball. But Connor kept trying to eat it.


Connor has already started trying to imitate his older brother. Check out the last picture of this post from 2007.


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Now playing: No Doubt - New
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Connor in the Middle

If you are wondering why the blogging has been so light over the past two months, it's because Christina has been sick. The extended sickness is due from one thing...pregnancy. Just like with Connor, Christina has had to have a take home IV over the past eight weeks. And just like before, our family has been wonderful helping with the boys and Christina while I am at work.

Christina is 13 weeks along now, which puts the due date on February 14th. Dillon will be four months shy of four years old and Connor will be 16 months old. It also means it will be the sixth (calendar) year in a row for my parents to get a grandchild, a streak I can guarantee we will not continue in 2011.

This pregnancy was a complete surprise to us but we look forward to the little bundle of joy. We knew we wanted a third child but was hoping to wait a couple of years. Now we will have two in diapers for a while.

We would love for you to keep the baby, Christina, and us boys in your prayers for the next six months. Christina should be turning the corner on her extreme morning sickness within a week or two.

I have posted two new pictures below to make up for my lack of blogging below. Plus their shirts are very fitting for the subject matter, even though Connor's shirt will be "out of style" in six months.





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Now playing: Phoenix - Countdown
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Hotrod

I decided to record a daily occurrence around our house. Dillon would ride his tractor around the house for hours at a time if we let him. In the video below you will witness the havoc he creates when he does ride.




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Now playing: Eddie Kendricks - Keep On Truckin' (Part 1)
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Connor's Talent

Yesterday Connor discovered the piano at the Cummings house. Below is a video of his playing and singing.




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Now playing: Billy Joel - Piano Man (Album Version)
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Swim Lessons

Dillon finished his two weeks of swim lessons, but not before I was able to snap a few pictures.

His teacher showed him how to have "big arms" while swimming.

Dillon did very well during his two weeks. He only cried on the second day, claiming he did not want to go to swim classes.

By the third day he was going under water with his teacher. In the second week, he was going under water by himself.

Now he can't wait until Grandpa Mike and Grammi's pool is finished.

World Champs

I was saving this picture for when the Lakers got eliminated from the playoffs. Thankfully, I can share it knowing the Lakers won their final game of the season.

Happy 3rd Birthday Dillon

Takedown!

This weekend we went to Grass Valley, where Dillon and Taylor loved playing on the trampoline. During that time, Jason captured some rough play on camera. Poor Taylor never saw it coming.







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Now playing: Paramore - crushcrushcrush
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Manteca Trip

On Friday we went down to Manteca to visit Uncle Larry. We spent some quality time with the Morgans, Grandma Sharon, Papa, Grandma Dede, and Pops. Below are some pictures.

Uncle Larry spoiled the kids by letting them play with squirt guns and bubbles in the house.

Play doh was also a part of the indoor activities.

Grandma Sharon feeding Connor while Pops makes smart alec comments.

The three musketeers outside of the Bass Pro Shop.

Grandma Sharon and Taylor running from the bear. I was surprised by the number of stuffed animals at the store. Glad to see the taxidermist is not suffering from the recession.

Connor tried to convince Uncle Larry to buy a ski boat. It didn't work.

I thought getting a good picture of four kids was tough, now we have to add a fifth for an added degree of difficulty.

Let's Get Ready to Tuuuuuumble

Today Dillon had his first tumbling class. We needed to find something for Dillon to burn off his excess energy and this was a great opportunity.

Another plus of this class is that Dillon gets more interaction with other kids. I think he gets tired of picking on Connor and Otis.

I have a feeling Dillon might be trying this move from the top of the couch when Christina and I are not looking.

Next week Dillon will also be taking his first swimming lesson. Let's hope he has as much fun as he did today.


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Now playing: Coldplay - Strawberry Swing
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