And it’s official! Carrie is now an auto reviewer for Motherproof.com, a wonderful resource for moms shopping for a car who need to know the things that matter to a mom. I’m not going to write too much here as I don’t want to steal Carrie’s thunder, but watch this space as her first review will up on the site very soon. Be sure to check out her bio on this page. I’m so proud of her!
Author: Ed
Ruby loves bubbles!
Ruby has been really enjoying bubbles lately. And I love how she rises up in the beginning like a phoenix or like a bubble-popping droid booting up!
Ruby has truly entered a new stage of playfulness. She wants to play, and she wants to be engaged. I truly love playtime with Ruby!
Carrie Runs Her First 5K!
Carrie and I both want to be good examples to Ruby when it comes to diet and fitness. To that end, Carrie and a few friends had started doing these aggressive hikes up and down nearby Signal Hill a couple times a week. Later, they heard about a 5K happening here in Long Beach, so it sounded like fun to walk it.
But wait…Carrie wondered aloud why she should walk it when she could run it? Well, here’s a reason: she’s never really run before, and running without proper training and equipment can have really adverse effects. So, Carrie and I spent several weeks training, using a step by step program to make sure we wouldn’t hurt ourselves.
She did it. Day by day, her distances got longer and by raceday, she was ready!
Warming up…
Our friend Jen did it too! Runners ready to kick butt.
Ruby ready to cheer mom on!
Carrie flew out of the gate, listening to a custom music playlist I had created just for this run. The course entailed lapping part of El Dorado Park four times, and she quickly got out ahead of the walking crowd.
By the time she was finishing the first lap, she was so far ahead of the pack that she was nearly alone!
She’s in it to win it…
And here she comes in toward the finish line! Random pedestrian in the way…
And she finishes! Blurry pic, but you can see that her makeup and hair were still perfect.
Just after Carrie came Jen…so Carrie went back to run through the finish line with her.
The babies are proud of their mamas!
And here’s the sign me and Ruby made to cheer Carrie on!
Ruby and I are so proud of Carrie! She is STRONG!!
Our First Mother’s Day!
It didn’t hit us until a couple weeks before Mother’s Day, but this year marks the first time Mother’s Day applies to Carrie, and not just our moms! Unbelievable! So what to do? Well, a Mother’s Day brunch would be just too predictable and not to mention crowded, so we opted instead to head out to Palos Verdes for a seaside picnic and hike. Given our new little family’s newfound love of the outdoors, it only seemed appropriate.
Our friend had told us about Terranea, a relatively new seaside resort in Palos Verdes set on top of dramatic bluffs overlooking the ocean, and its many stroller-friendly trails. So we hopped in the neat Chevrolet Volt electric car I was testing that weekend and headed out that way.
First things first: lunchtime! We brought all sorts of tasty stuff to eat out there. We found an amazing picnic spot overlooking the ocean. Seriously, the lunchtime view could not have been better.
No alcohol yet for Carrie (we don’t want Ruby getting drunk during her feedings!), so some festive bubbly apple cider filled in for champagne.
After that tasty lunch, it was off to walk the trails. Spectacular views were everywhere, and Ruby – who loves being outside – loved it too!
It’s amazing what we have in our own backyard; it’s all too easy to take it for granted. I mean, this is 25 minutes away from home!
It was a wonderful way to spend a Sunday, especially Carrie’s first Mother’s Day. And as you can see here, little Ruby had a blast too.
Click below to see the entire album.
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| 1st Mothers Day |
Ruby Goes to the Long Beach Aquarium
Even though Ruby’s only five months old, we thought we might spend a fun day at the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, where we’d been told the spectacular displays and colors are exciting even for really little babies.
It had been quite a while since either Carrie or I had been there, but we did remember what a great place it is. Split into numerous areas that represent different parts of the Pacific Ocean, the Aquarium of the Pacific educates and entertains in ways that both adults and kids can truly appreciate.
Ruby, of course, didn’t really understand what she was looking at, but there was no doubt she was fully engaged in the experience. Her eyes followed the numerous swimming sea creatures; it was really neat to see her so into it!
Naturally, it was best to travel by Baby Björn.
Here’s me pointing out some interesting sea creatures to Ruby.
And here’s Carrie and Ruby in front of the sea lion tank.
Are we sane parents for letting Ruby stick her hand in the shark tank? No need to call child protective services…these are very friendly and harmless sharks and rays!
Me and Ruby at my favorite part: the BIG shark tank! No sticking fingers in here, of course!
Carrie shows Ruby some sealife native to the northern Pacific.
Oooh, big jellyfish!
And finally, some serious Ruby cuteness, if I do say so myself…
Awesome day; click here to see the whole album!