Our trip

Sunday morning we touched down at grey, depressing Heathrow and I felt pretty sad that the last 10 days spent in Washington and California had come to such a quick end. We were so busy while we were there that the holiday literally flew by. The flight over wasn't great, from now on we will definitely do direct only, however Calum was as good as you can expect a toddler to be after 14.5 hours on a plane stuck on Mom and Dad's laps.

We spent our first few days at my Dad's in Arlington and then headed down to Redmond on Friday for a mini-reunion at good old El Torreador with the girls who hadn't been together since Tara's wedding 2 years ago. The next day was my birthday, celebrated with everyone (including babies) at Ashley's for a BBQ. That night I had a family dinner in Issaquah at this really great new restaurant called the Flat Iron Grill which was amazing. It was a special treat to have my cousin Jake come over from WSU where he's attending summer school to celebrate-next time I see him is likely to be back in Pullman next year when he graduates, can't wait to show Mark where I went to college! On Sunday we spent the day with my Mom, doing some shopping and heading down to Spuds on Lake Washington where Calum enjoyed Mark's strawberry milkshake. That night Mark took Calum swimming in the pool at my Mom's and on Monday we went to the Mariner's game with my Dad and my Aunt Sue. Unfortunately Mark had to have an emergency tooth extraction so photos from that day all show him with quite the "long" face!

Family dinner
Calum, Westyn and Makena

Our attempt at a baby group shot (minus Keri and Kena!)
El T's
In Pioneer Square on the way to the Ms game

We headed down to LA on Tuesday where we spent the first two nights in the OC. Tara and Justin took us to "the Wedge" in Balboa to watch the big waves and crazy body boarders who rode them, then to the OC Fair which was a true American experience for Mark who couldn't get over all of the food, rides and good old American white trash. We saw a rodeo, took Calum and Jackson to the petting zoo where they had a blast, and made Justin and Mark (and even Tara!) go on some scary rides. The BBQ carne asada Justin cooked up that night was a treat. The following day we went to Laguna Beach and had fish tacos, then to a "secret" beach Justin knew of that had 1000 steps (or maybe more like 300) going down to get to it-not ideal when carrying a 27 lb baby! The beach was worth it though, so pretty and picturesque-I could have stayed forever but we had to get back up to LA and needed to avoid the insane traffic there that had already eaten up hours of our trip.

Calum and Jackson at the fair
Calum and Mark at the petting zoo
Family pic at "the Wedge" in Balboa
Dett, Tara and I at Laguna Beach
Besties-Jackson and Calum

We checked into our amazing hotel just off the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica and spent the first evening just the 3 of us, the first time we had spent any time just the 3 of us since we got to the US! The next day Dett was an amazing tour guide, taking us through "LA in a Day"-we drove through the valley, Beverly Hills, past Mann's Chinese Theatre and the stars on Hollywood Blvd, down Sunset and past the Viper Room and then on a side tour to the Century Plaza for some shopping and Pinkberry, an LA must. We then headed to the Farmer's Market and the Grove which was probably the highlight of the day for me. That night we all had drinks around the fancy pool at the hotel (Calum and Jackson included-as Tara says, they totally partied!) and then had a great dinner in Santa Monica (thanks Mark G!).

Tara, Dett and I at the pool bar at Shangri La in Santa Monica
Enjoying a drink at the LA Farmer's Market
Farmer's Market

Come Saturday morning I have to say I really wasn't ready to leave. We had such a good time with everyone and I think Mark was really starting to get into LA, I completely messed up by scheduling such an early flight and not giving us more time in LA to have a look around. None the less, on the drive to LAX Mark did say that he's sure we will be back lots over the next couple of years so there is still hope!

What Calum's Doing Now....

This weekend we didn't celebrate the 4th of July like everyone else back home but we did manage to get out on Sunday for a little picnic at the park behind our house where they were having a neighborhood get together to celebrate the addition of a few new play toys in the playground. After a day up in London buying bits for the house the day before, it was nice to have a chilled out family day. The weather here has also been amazing so it was nice to actually be outside enjoying it.

As Calum is getting older we are realising more and more that he needs to have activities to do and isn't always going to be content tagging along with us anymore. Besides, this is the age we've been waiting for-those first few months with baby are lovely but it's so hard not being able to get any reaction back from them or being able to do anything with them. Calum is tons of fun these days, loves rough housing around with his Dad and he and I have lots of fun playing games together and having a laugh.

Other things Calum is doing these days:

*He loves to brush his teeth-I think this is mostly because of the taste of toothpaste but at least he likes it! He's now got 4 top teeth and 2 on the bottom. Unfortunately he also likes to grind his teeth from time to time so the ones in the front are a bit rounded and look like real baby teeth. Does anyone know how to get them to stop this? Worst sound in the world and the more I react, the more he does it!

*He also loves to brush his hair and has even realised that my brush is for the same, even though it has plastic bristles and is about the size of his head. Whilst he doesn't realise how good looking he is (I'm his Mom so I'm allowed to say this!), I think he's catching on-the past few times I've come to collect him from the creche at the gym he's been staring and talking to himself in the mirror.

*He says "night, night", Dada, Mom Mom, Nana, Gotcha, and makes barking and quacking noises. We have lots of fun at dinner saying words and having Calum try to repeat them back to us.

*He loves the Goodbye Song from our Talking Tots class that we do every Thursday. I think it's finally taught him when you use Goodbye. Anyway, this class is awesome-it teaches toddlers how to communicate and use their words and in the few weeks we've been going, I've noticed a big difference in Calum. The song goes something like- Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye. Goodbye, Calum. Goodbye, Calum. Goodbye, Calum-we'll see you soon. Everyone goes around the little circle at the end of class and sings it and then the toddlers go up and get their sticker for doing good in the class. Pretty cute to see Calum's little face light up when it's his turn.

*Calum isn't walking yet but we're thisclose. He stands by himself without holding on to things but rather then trying to take a few steps when I stand near, he thinks it's a game of falling forward onto me or backwards onto his bum. I'm hoping he saves his first steps for America, but we'll see!

*He's started feeding himself, but will only really do his desert (a small pot of strawberry yogurt every night). If you say Calum does it, he will grab the spoon and feed himself. Finally he's also learned not to throw the spoon on the floor after every bite. If you make the mistake of feeding him desert, be prepare to face the wrath of Calum-he hates you taking away his chance to get praise for doing it himself.

*He's started throwing temper tantrums. Like serious temper tantrums. Don't even think about taking something away from him or interupting him if he is into playing with whatever it is he is playing with. I'm a bit worried about this actually, Mark has a notorious temper he inherited from his Irish Mum and I've been known to throw a strop or two myself so this house can't handle another one!

Anyway, no need to fill you guys in on anymore because in exactly a week's time we're going to be able to see you and you can see for yourself! Have a great week x