Oh my goodness! It has been so long since we've posted any photos or videos on Jed's blog! We apologize for our lateness. Now it is catch-up time: below are some of the highlights from the six months since we posted last.
Jed loves to play at our local park.
This was just too cute not to post.
While Vern and Jed play at the park, I ride my new bike!
Jed and Alex play together, while all of us parents take a breather.
Vern and I go on a wine-tasting weekend in Temecula for our six-year anniversary (September 7th). It is the first time we both leave Jed. It was wonderful.
The vineyards at Ponte Winery in Temecula, CA.
Jed takes a stroll through downtown Covina.
Downtown Covina. I love the window reflections on the wall. I love this boy, too.
At the watch repair shop in downtown Covina. Vern has such a great eye for an interesting photo.
In October, we visited the traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall at Covina Park. One of my dad's childhood friends, Mike Casey, was killed there. We payed our respects. I brought a photo of my dad along, so they could be together again in a small way.
Jed, at the Vietnam Memorial traveling wall, Covina, CA.
Halloween! I wasn't going to dress up, and then I realized I inadvertently had everything in my closet necessary to be Annie Oakley. Watch out!
I made Jed a handmade lion costume, complete with an intricate yarn mane for Halloween. He loves lions. But he screamed and cried when we tried to dress him in the costume, so I had to come up with a quick plan B. So he was Jean Valjean, from Les Miserables! Jean Valjean became Prisoner 24601 (easy to remember if you're fans of the musical, because there's a whole song about it) after stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister and her family. Jed loves his loaf of bread and ate the whole thing that night.
Later on Halloween night, our little prisoner got very sleepy. Here he is all cozied up with daddy.
Vern takes walks with Jed when he gets home from work. Something made Jed a little cranky.
Walkin' out into the world.
Playtime at the park again.
In November, we went to an outdoor party at our friends, Jose and Julie's. Jed put these bells on his head. He reminds me of Puck from a Midsummer Night's Dream.
In December, Santa was at the Huntington Library. We took Jed to meet him for the first time. Jed asked for a helicopter (and Santa brought him one on Christmas!).
Jed and Santa, December 2014.
Our Christmas tradition in California is to go to Olvera Street with Vern's parents and see the Las Posadas parade/vigil. Here's Jed with his Grandpa Oldham and the new hat they bought him.
Grandma and Grandpa Oldham with Jed at Olvera Street, the oldest part of downtown Los Angeles (the area was settled by the Spanish in 1769, and adobes went up in the early 1800s). Several of the original buildings are still there.
Christmas in Colorado started off in Denver, with a visit to my friend, Ryan Taylor's house. He was my first boyfriend in high school, and we are still friends today. Here Jed is playing with Ryan's daughter, Tristan. Tristan was born February 13th, 2013, and Jed was born March 13th, 2013. In this picture, Tristan is feeding Jed his juice.
Here Jed and I are with Tristan, Ryan and his lovely wife, Michelle. They were so hospitable--they made us a wonderful breakfast and we all sat around and talked while the kids played. The last time I saw Ryan was probably more than fifteen years ago! It was great to catch up.
After our stop in Denver, we drove down to Colorado Springs. Within a day of being home, it snowed a tiny bit. I was so glad, because 1) I love snow! And 2) I wanted Jed to see snow! Here he is with Grandpa Brewer, throwing tiny snowballs. Vern sure does know how to take a perfect picture.
Jed in the snow.
Grandpa Brewer and Jed are best buddies.
Here is a short little video of Jed seeing his first snowfall! He loved it, so much. And I love the way he says "snow."
Pooh, Grandpa and Jed on Christmas Day. My mom and dad and sister got Jed Pooh and Tigger as Christmas presents. He adored talking to his new fluffy friends!
After returning from Christmas vacation, Jed and I started attending a Mommy & Me class. My friend Liz and her son, Alex, also joined. Here are Alex and Jed on the first day. Jed looks a little concerned.
This is later on the first day of Mommy & Me. Jed's nervousness has disappeared! He loved playing outside in this little car. Can you tell?
One of my New Year's resolutions was to try to take Jed on a lot of fun excursions--at least two a month (hopefully). I get the AAA Westways magazine, and they had a great article on LA parks with original play equipment. This one is in West Covina, just down the street from us, and features a real WWII airplane, covered in plaster. Vern climbed in, and I passed Jed up to him. Here Jed is, proud as a peacock to be in a plane. He loves planes!
At the same park in West Covina, in the toddler play area. Jed loves to slide with daddy.
The great thing about this park (same park as the photos above), aside from the awesome airplane, is the expanse of it! It is huge, with lots of room to run. Jed ran and ran and ran. Here he is running back to me. He loves to go explore and then turn around and say "Mama! Mama!" while he runs into my arms.
Daddy and Jed running together at the West Covina park.
The next day, a Sunday, we decided to do another fun excursion, and we drove to Legg Lake, which is only a half-hour away, in Whittier. This is a special place because, for years, Vern's grandma Kay used to go here in the mornings, just to sit and think, She also painted lovely watercolors of the geese and ducks here. This was my first time visiting Legg Lake, and it was magical. What a gorgeous place! Vern has tons of childhood memories here. This is a neat photo I took of Vern and Jed, as a bird takes flight over their heads. It seemed like a blessing, perhaps a blessing from Kay.
Jed and I down by the water. I had to hold on to the little scamp so he didn't fall in. Overalls came in handy.
At Legg Lake. There was a big hill behind where we were having our picnic, and Jed would climb to the top and then run down. It was a steep hill, and we were really impressed with his balance! He did this run about forty times. What can you say? When it's fun, it's fun!
At our Mommy & Me class, which happens every Tuesday. This is the Tuesday before Valentine's Day, and our craft was to make a V-day mailbox for all of our Valentine's greetings. My friend, Liz, took this picture of Jed and me working on his box.
Alex and Jed show off their Valentine's boxes, full of Valentines and yummy candy! Most of the candy he couldn't eat. I will neither confirm nor deny that I ate this candy.
That weekend, Vern and I decided to paint our fence. The fence has only had primer on it for years and the weather was so warm, we wanted to do something useful outside. Of course, with a baby, doing anything becomes a monumental task. Ultimately, Vern ended up painting the fence because I had to corral Jed and keep him away from the paint and the wet fence. We brought his kiddie pool out and poured sand into it--his first sandbox!
The next weekend, on February 21st, Vern and I went on our Valentine's Day date. We went out to dinner and then to hear the Vienna Boys Choir sing at Cal Tech in Pasadena. Grandma and Grandpa Oldham babysat Jed and he loved it. We loved getting out!
The next day was Alex's birthday party! Here is a photo of Vern, Jed and the birthday boy.
Vern and Jed at Alex's birthday.
It looks like there is a spider over my head. It's a plant, though, thank God. Me and my little guy.
Taking a break.
Working on his Frank Sinatra impression.
This next little sequence of pictures was too funny for us to pass up. Alex wanted to wear Jed's hat, and when I put it on Alex's head, Jed got fightin' mad! Pretty hilarious.
Poor Alex is like "It's just a hat. Relax." Jed, however, is indignant. Once the hat was back on Jed's head, things returned to normal.
Jed and I, leaving Alex's party, favor bag in tow.
This is a photo from a couple weeks ago of Jed and his new friend, Clarissa, at our Mommy & Me class. They hit it off. And they're so CUTE!
Jed and Clarissa at Mommy & Me. This is outside, by the shed that holds the trikes and cars. I was lucky there were no plastic toys or equipment in the frame, because it makes this look like a photo from the 1800s. They are just darling.
Jed likes to get into Mommy and Daddy's bed now. Here he is, all curled up under the covers and quite serious.
And here he is, enjoying the fluffy pillows.
Me, playing peek-a-boo with Jed and the blankets.
Videos
Here is a little re-cap of Jed's November and early December.
And here is a little video of Jed talking to his Grandma and Grandpa Oldham. He insisted on calling them on the phone, his first ever phone call.
Stay tuned! Jed's 2nd birthday is this coming Friday and his party is this coming weekend, so we will be posting again soon. I won't wait six months this time, I swear!
